As you noted, you bought travel insurance from TripMate. ?was that problem worse than ours? As someone who has been on numerous cruises and has helped resolve cruise problems in real time, I have a few recommendations: One of the first things your cruise line will try to do is take away your luggage. My husband and I and friends have traveled with Vantage on 3 great adventures. You should read it before you leave. We know there are sunnier days ahead, and were dutifully planning for them. But it had no way of knowing what would happen The right to have available, on board ships operating beyond rivers or coastal waters, full-time, professional emergency medical attention, as needed until shoreside medical care becomes available. But in my experience, most passengers wait until theyve left the cruise to file a complaint. Consumer Alert: Your Airbnb comes with heat during the winter, but Did airlines make a U-turn on family seat fees? Check out Bay Area safety tracker, Tracking the drought: Map shows conditions across SF Bay Area, Bay Area Life; Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on ABC7, Coronavirus: Credit card chargebacks an option for those refused refunds for canceled travel, Thinking of traveling soon? Your ticket contract, the legal contract between you and the cruise line, spells out your rights. This was to be our third Vantage journey in as many years, and the second with friends. Our analysis revealed that Vantage Travel is indeed taking the necessary steps to protect their financial security. Throughout this crisis, weve remained encouraged by the resiliency of our travelers many of whom are so eager to explore the world again that they have already started reserving their favorite journeys in 2021 and beyond. We continue navigating this crisis with the health, safety, and security of our travelers and partners around the globe always in mind. But whatever you do, dont believe your cruise line or travel agent when they claim cruising is safe. Theres no form of travel thats safe right now. But there are lots of cruise options. "They said, 'Oh, Vantage took this over in, I don't know, October or November. While customers are still booking trips with them, there is a sense of caution when it comes to trusting them with their money. Why? 2023, International Association of Better Business Bureaus, Inc., separately incorporated Better Business Bureau organizations in the US, Canada and Mexico and BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust, Inc. All rights reserved. Washington requires travel companies to issue cash refunds within 14 days (or 30 days when the funds are already paid to a vendor, as might be the case for a tour operator) when they cancel a service. So, what is Vantage thinking? Been around for a long time. Onboard doctors dont have the equipment or facilities to handle a serious illness. Anyone have experiences with Vantage, good or bad? Whats more, its not always entirely clear who gets the tip. Can you help? As avid travelers, many of us are used to expecting the unexpected just one of the reasons why exploring the world is so thrilling and rewarding. I read the contract the same way you do; if Vantage cancels, you get a full refund. Vantages Tour Participation Agreement says that Vantage will issue a prompt refund for any tour canceled by Vantage for any reason. However, BBB does not verify the accuracy of information provided by third parties, and does not guarantee the accuracy of any information in Business Profiles. So when the new cruise was also, er, adjourned for a later date, it might argue that any refund should come in credits as well. WebThe travel insurance sold through Vantage will only provide a 1 year voucher, no monetary refund for a trip canceled by Vantage. Our analysis showed that while the company has seen a decrease in revenue due to the pandemic, they are still in a relatively stable position. That is a good start, but he refused to provide us with his phone number, and would not call us on the phone number that we provided to him. Dear Traveler, As 2021 nears, we have every reason to be optimistic about the future of travel. They never responded, and why should purchasing trip insurance from Vantage have any influence in their response? On March 16, I asked for a refund. You can shop around, find the best itinerary, and discover ones you didnt know existed. But whats this $452 bill? Clearly Vantage engaged in deceptive advertising by the use of untrue statements in advertising La Perla as a "luxury" yacht. There should be no list because that money was specifically for my Aunt ******** estate not for Vantage Travel to pay someone else. We both agree, though, that this may not do much good. I cannot imagine that it is a 5 star, but a very nice boat nonetheless. Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. In order to gain a better understanding of Vantage Travels financial health, we accessed and reviewed their financial records. Anyone can read what you share. Too much debt. In the end, there may be no correct answer for everyone. Check out our directory. Ill make it simple. The health, safety, and security of our travelers and partners around the globe remain paramount. The overall sentiment was that while Vantage Travel is still a reliable and reputable tour operator, they have seen a decline in business since the start of the pandemic. First and foremost, an ethical agent will make sure the cruise is the right one for you, but some agents, sadly, go straight for the highest commission. Im not a doctor or a palm reader, but after our long, entertaining phone conversation and the dozen emails weve exchanged since you wrote in, I suspect the only reason you wouldnt be available to board that cruise next August is if you finagled a last-minute spot to climb Mount Everest. But in travel-crazy 2022, Vantages claim that pushing off your sailing date by more than a year is a postponement rather than a cancellation strains the limits of semantic rationality. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. It's such an amazing service," Carter said. 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. It is unclear when typical travel will resume, however, there are steps you can take to make sure you dont lose out on the time and money that you put into your getaway. We highly recommend them. Its hard to believe, but its been almost a year since the Covid-19 pandemic effectively halted our lives and brought travel to a standstill. Ship to Shore: The Vantage Safe Travels Initiative. BBB is here to help. However, we ask that you please do not call Vantage at this time. All rights reserved. To fulfill this commitment, our Members have agreed to adopt the following set of passenger rights: If youre at sea and you encounter a problem, you may want to invoke your bill of rights.. It is unclear when typical travel will resume, however, there are steps you can take to make sure you dont lose out on the time and money that you put into your getaway. One would be about the length of the bus ride to get to a tour. Wheres the refund? Asking a friend or family member for financial help can feel awkward or put the other person in a difficult position, adds Hayes. Sexual assaults have been a problem on cruise ships since before the Love Boat. Do they distribute it among the staff? You can read more about ourShip to Shore: The Vantage Safe Travels Initiativehere. Given the uncertain financial climate, it is important to assess whether Vantage Travel is engaging in responsible financial practices. That makes the problem more difficult to resolve, because the best a cruise line can do is offer a refund or a future cruise credit. How does he get a Vantage refund? Passengers sometimes arrive at the cruise terminal with the wrong visa or an expired passport. The high seas can be dangerous, and not just in the movies. They visit ports of call in the Galapagos, coastal Norway or the Antarctic. And let me skip right to the resolution for those travelers: File a dispute with your credit card company. NOTHING. To determine if my hunch was correct, I reached out to O.A.T. Please make no mistake the travel industry will bounce back, as it has numerous times before. Travelers routinely returned home to phone bills in the hundreds or thousands of dollars. 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. And when the world is ready to welcome travelers again, Vantage Deluxe World Travel will be there for you. As weve navigated these unprecedented circumstances, our goal has been to transparently communicate the steps were taking to address any changes to your travel plans. It is recommended that you check the online "Before You Go" section of your trip for additional information, Next year, we look forward to the debut of our new 5-star, Travelers or crew who have visited or transited via South Korea, Iran, China (including Hong Kong, Macau), and Italy within 14 days of their journey unfortunately will not be allowed to travel with Vantage, During your journey, any travelers or crew members who appear symptomatic with a communicable disease will be subject to medical evaluations including, but not limited to, temperature checks as deemed necessary, Any traveler or crew member showing symptoms of any respiratory illness while on board will be subject to screening for Coronavirus and may be subject to potential quarantine and trip cancellation, Stories, tips, trends, and more about the places you love. The outcome can often turn on who cancels, which is why a lot of suppliers and travelers are playing chicken right now. Its not hard to surmise, just by reading your email, what happened at O.A.T. Five weeks before that one was to depart, Vantage postponed it to August 2023 as well. Customer satisfaction results from much more than just a friendly face or smile. 2023 Vantage Deluxe World Travel. 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. 60 minutes featuring the brightest minds on Wall Street, taking you through the most important hour of the trading day. We have taken several Vantage river cruises and enjoyed the travel experiences; however, recently, we had our first experience cancelling a Vantage cruise. Great! I'm glad you opened a complaint with the Attorney General. Let us know how things work out! A friend of mine got a refund in 4 days from Gat They are engaging in responsible financial practices and investing in new technologies to improve the customer experience. NO. 1Is cruising safe?What kind of cruise should I take?How to book a cruiseA few practical tips from a consumer advocateWhat are my rights as a cruise passenger?Whats the international cruise line passenger bill of rights?If my cruise is canceled, am I entitled to a refund?Common cruise problemsSeasicknessCruise ship gotchas they wont tell you aboutHow to complain about your cruiseSmooth sailing ahead? 1. I expected some places to be closed, but not EVERYTHING !! If your departure is outside of the next 60 days, we ask that you email customercare@vantagetravel.com. You raise an important point. The brochure, and our daily program, highlighted Christmas Markets, beer halls, coffee shops, sausage places, bakeries, etc. In March, youll recall, travel ground to an almost complete halt. Help! LAST CHANCE: Reserve early and save up to 20% on select departures with SmartPay! It looks as if they were really sincere in their intent, and they stayed in contact with you (at least initially). I tried to check with the insurance company, but they did not respond to my emails. Lets work together to create a safer travel experience for everyone. Thats 11% of the passengers. www.elliott.org/company-contacts/vantage-deluxe-world-travel/, Eli Lilly plans to slash some insulin prices, expand cost cap, Daisy Jones & The Six review: On the road with a fictional 70s rock band, with echoes of Fleetwood Mac, Ohio senators ready a rail safety bill after fiery crash and toxic chemical release, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. There are sunnier days ahead, and our daily program, highlighted Christmas Markets, halls..., and the cruise terminal with the insurance company, but a nice. Partners around the globe always in mind nears, we accessed and reviewed their financial.! 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