If we call a spade a spade and a cancellation a cancellation, then both logic and Massachusetts law Vantage is Boston-based indicate that you should get your money back. We publish the names, numbers and emails of the top cruise executives on this site. But once you get on the ship, youll realize its a waste of money. (Like most companies, it did not repay the loan.) Youre one of a million, literally. With vaccinations now underway, theres much to be optimistic about however, the travel industry is still feeling ripple effects from Covid-19. WE CAN DREAM ABOUT TRAVEL Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Simply sign into your account. WebNone of these lines have indicated they are in financial trouble, and some of them have suggested that they, too, can withstand a cruising shutdown lasting many more months. Cruise ship gotchas they wont tell you about. To its credit, Vantage didnt. For travelers looking to book trips with Vantage Travel, it is important to remember that the company is still reliable and reputable. As of 4/1/2022, BBB has exhausted all forms of contact to the business. We both agree, though, that this may not do much good. Need for financial independence. A cruise is a terrific way to see the world without the hassle of checking into multiple hotels and worrying about food. Vantage agreed to issue a refund in 30 days. And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. "To think that, I mean he was feet away from me," said Susan Carter, who enthusiastically recalled her encounter with a leopard during an African safari. In order to gain a better understanding of Vantage Travels financial health, we accessed and reviewed their financial records. We have taken several Vantage river cruises and enjoyed the travel experiences; however, recently, we had our first experience cancelling a Vantage cruise. No longer. Travel Insurance for Medical and med Evac from Europe. We are looking into taking a river cruise in Holland and Belgium next April. Instead, look it up on the State Department website or on the International Air Transport Associations Timatic database. I would much rather travel to the markets on my own. So it is left to me to try to divine the companys thinking and come up with alternative ideas for you. But it had no way of knowing what would happen For more information on the safety precautions weve implemented on all journeys, visit Ship to Shore: The Vantage Safe Travels Initiative. This pandemic could cause some of them to be dusted off, said Mr. Anolik. There are many other health perils at sea. Pictures of the kids by the pro photographers? One-on-one service and attention to detail. According to the law, the cash refund must be an amount equal to the fair market retail value of any undelivered, purchased travel service.. Youll also connect with other readers who want to make the world a better place. Theyre not. The other 52% of the passengers which were not directly affected were also miserable as the issue dominated every event of the entire week. Did we mention it's free? We look forward to traveling with you in 2021 and beyond. I just want to compare the two companies' service and details about trips. Ask your bank to take the money back. His customer service team sent messages requesting that we call them, which we did, and our calls were never returned. We have taken several trips with Vantage Travel and they are not reliable or transparent with information about their trips. That, of course, doesnt help you if you want to spend or invest that money now. European officials will be reviewing a countrys status every two weeks; as such, we are closely monitoring the situation and will notify travelers if circumstances change. Youll want to avoid taking your teenagers on a cruise line with a reputation for partying. When the customers asked for a refund, the cruise lines said they couldnt get one future cruise credits were nonrefundable. WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (KGO) -- Consumers who have spent the last year fighting for refunds for COVID-related cancellations are finally beginning to see their money. They demonstrated a complete commitment to their customers, and although it was a bad situation, every one of the 102 affected customers was satisfied with the outcome. Now, as we adapt to our new and temporary way of living, weve made vital adjustments in our global operations to further protect you throughout your journey. Although travel has stopped and is only starting up again slowly and in only a few destinations the aftershocks of that screeching halt, brought on by the coronavirus, continue to reverberate. The outcome can often turn on who cancels, which is why a lot of suppliers and travelers are playing chicken right now. We remain committed to providing our customers with the best possible travel experience and are confident in our ability to weather this storm.. But whats this $452 bill? So should you take a cruise this year? All phone numbers, websites, emails, and fax numbers are disconnected. As the safety of our travelers is our number one priority, weve considered both traveler feedback and government advice while updating our Health and Safety protocols. But it might be a helpful piece of supporting evidence when you file a complaint with the A.G. There are a variety of ocean cruises, from budget to luxury. If your departure is outside of the next 60 days, we ask that you contact us via the chat function on our homepage or email customercare@vantagetravel.com. In addition we also left a voice mail for Nancy. Rest assured, we have secured your spot on a later departure of your same journey or will work with you on a replacement if your journey has a single departure. Clever move. You can alwaysemail us atcustomercare@vantagetravel.comor give us a call at 1-888-982-6824 please note that we anticipate a high call volume while we work with impacted travelers. How do you buy a cruise, then? As always, we made this decision with the health, safety, and security of our travelers and partners around the globe in mind. We are currently in the process of contacting all impacted travelers, and appreciate your patience as we work with guests based on the immediacy of their departures. Finally, on Aug. 14 -- five months after promising it -- Vantage fully refunded your $12,959. My travel companion and I booked a river cruise and tour to Portugal and Spain for this past July with Vantage Deluxe World Travel. Our award-winning daily newsletters keep you posted on our random acts of consumer advocacy. Vantage sent an e-mail this morning canceling the Middle East tour. You can't get anyone on the phone there. E-mails to the Customer Care people ar Always check before booking.). It was their problem. Customer service was a bit difficult, but we did get a good credit on a future cruise. The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act requires cruise lines to report criminal activity to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Some oceangoing vessels are smaller and more specialized. Lets work together to create a safer travel experience for everyone. Tasteless food. I'm trying to get tripadvisor and/or traveler ratings on tours of Greece by small ship via Vantage Adventures and Odysseys Unlimited. (Amolson7/Shutterstock/Photo Illustration). Based on the information detailed above, BBB cannot confirm the legitimacy ofVantage Travel. It established new requirements for when cruise passengers should provide refunds for canceled or delayed voyages. Our help is free. That agency said that it has received about 275 consumer complaints so far about canceled O.A.T. My cruise line requires a vaccination and now my credits are expiring, Take that back: The ultimate guide to a product return, The ultimate guide to getting a repair, replacement or refund for your broken appliance, Cell phone customer service: How to get virtually any problem fixed now, The ultimate passenger guide to Lyft, Uber and ridesharing. Access to possible upgrades and onboard credits. As countries vaccinate and recover from the disruption that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused, all of us here at Vantage want to make sure we live up to our promise to deliver you transformational experiences at the best value and in unforgettable deluxe accommodations. Here's what the end of COVID -19 emergency means in San Francisco, At least 36 dead, 66 injured after trains collide in Greece: officials, Recent grads not 'emotionally' ready for workforce, study shows. Passengers sometimes arrive at the cruise terminal with the wrong visa or an expired passport. Again, these offers come by way of the relationships cruise agents have through their company or by being friends with their regional sales representative. You can get all sorts of answers to your question. The right to an emergency power source in the case of a main generator failure. They are cutting costs where possible, investing in new technologies, and focusing on customer satisfaction. What are my rights, and what should I be worried about? Travel advisor and passenger concern grew in August with the news that Crystal's parent company, Genting Hong Kong, had defaulted on more than $3 billion in debt payments. Under the guidance of the World Health Organization and in partnership with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, River Advice the leading independent global manager of ships on inland waterways as well as local governments, weve implemented Ship to Shore: The Vantage Safe Travels Initiative. WebWorking with Vantage Travel is the worst experience of my life. Once you disembark, the cruise line keeps the money. Fill out the form HERE! Six travelers reached out to 7 On Your Side to get their promised refunds from Vantage Travel, totaling $93,500. We publish the names, numbers and emails of the top cruise executives on this site. If you have a consumer problem,please contact our team at Elliott Advocacy through this form. Founder & Chairman Beware of potential problems booking and paying for a vacation with Vantage Deluxe World Travel. We continued to report it every day thereafter. It was on board La Perla where the problems occurred. Would you like a FREE color catalog? Exploring the World of Knowledge and Understanding. Thats a relatively short period, compared to most states statutes of limitations. There are even signs in the bathrooms saying Do not drink the water.. Vantage needs the trip insurance! He did not know the cause of the stench in our bathroom nor did he care to engage in any substantive discussion with us. And cruise lines dont like to do that. In making this tough decision, we took into account the safety of our travelers and worldwide associates, the breadth of the pandemic, and ongoing international travel restrictions and the operational challenges stemming from them. So you couldnt review the quarantining protocols before making a booking decision and say, No, thats too much. The only way to avoid an unpleasant quarantine is to wait until the infection risk is low. Other travelers looking for refunds may have a better chance if theyre dealing with companies headquartered within Hawaii, Washington state, Illinois or California. I know many of you are ready to get back out there and continue your explorations. Be sure to buy a travel protection plan from a reliable third party. The cruise line often drops sick passengers off at the next port of call, where they must fend for themselves. Most importantly, make sure you have adequate coverage for medical evacuations (if you have any doubts, get a membership in Medjet). Anyone can read what you share. The high seas can be dangerous, and not just in the movies. A porter will deliver it to your room. I felt like I was in an episode of The Twilight Zone. BBB Business Profiles are subject to change at any time. I dont know what the policy was before October 2021 when you made your reservation. Like river cruises, they tend to be more expensive and because of their size, there are fewer amenities. Passengers ran up enormous bills because they didnt read the fine print when they connected to the networks. Ill make it simple. Online agencies are a volume business, so if you like to feel special and appreciated, you might want to book elsewhere. Agents are not free. Do they distribute it among the staff? Sexual assaults have been a problem on cruise ships since before the Love Boat. Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Youre out of luck. Expert shares tips on how to navigate pandemic travel. Here at Vantage, we wanted you to know that the health, safety, and security of our travelers and partners around the globe continue to be our first priority. And, all of the passengers recognized that he was in a very difficult position having to comply with Vantages restrictions and yet keep us informed as best he could. Why is it taking so long to get a cruise refund? Sarah Firshein is a Brooklyn-based travel writer. ONE day out of 7. 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