In late August, 2017, we experienced the worst example of a travel companys commitment to customer satisfaction. Every one of Vantages suppliers experienced similar delays. 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. You can find a cheaper private tour through a company like Viator. And it should have at least six months validity left on it to be safe. Look at the bigger financial picture. Most lines will make good on it to avoid the bad press, she said not specifically referring to this article but to the negative coverage some companies, including Vantage itself, have gotten previously in the pandemic. Fortunately, this temporary ban has no immediate impact on Vantage journeys,which are currently suspended through August 14. Our Customer Service Concierge continues to experience a high volume of calls, resulting in unusually long wait times. Some will pan their China trip, others will rave about a Europe jaunt. *In Canada, trademark(s) of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus, used under License. They were satisfied customers, until something went wrong. And when the world is ready to welcome travelers again, Vantage Deluxe World Travel will be there for you. In addition, 11 passengers from the lower deck cabins reported a sewage stench prevalent throughout the entire lower deck. Tomi informed the lower deck passengers that the cause of their stench was known at the end of the previous (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Theme: Newsup by Themeansar. I told them that I had a medical condition and did not know when or if I would be able to travel, and asked whether they were just going to keep my $17,500 if I couldnt travel by the end of 2021. Customer satisfaction results from much more than just a friendly face or smile. You can always log in toMy Portfolioand review your journey details. What do you think? Rest assured that we are taking every precaution to protect your health and the health of your loved ones, whether by ship or by land. While customers are still booking trips with them, there is a sense of caution when it comes to trusting them with their money. Cruise lines add tips of up to 20 percent to your spa or bar bill. They read scripts, are timed by their supervisors, and really dont care if youre having a good vacation. Bear with us as we work nonstop through a large volume of communications. Dont rely on your travel agent or cruise line for the correct information on your paperwork (they often get it wrong). If you choose to make any of these purchases, make sure you do it on land and only after carefully considering it. We have not had any reports of passengers with COVID being forcibly removed from a ship recently. As Adam Anolik, a San Francisco- based travel-industry lawyer, explained over email, thats why oversight forcing a company to comply with state laws can feel like an uphill battle. The cabin is for sleeping. Too much debt. Clever move. Why? Check out Elliott Advocacy Today, our free, daily newsletter with links to your favorite commentary, tips and news about consumer advocacy. So why am I writing about a case that resolved almost five months ago? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Proudly powered by WordPress A friend who had upgtaded to a "Butler Suite" did not have that option and had to live with her suitcase for the entire journey. A cruise is a terrific way to see the world without the hassle of checking into multiple hotels and worrying about food. He paid Vantage $18,536. 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. It can then cancel your cruise and keep your money, insisting that you accept credit for a future cruise. If the cruise line cancels your sailing, you are entitled to a refund of not only the fare, but any extras, such as shore excursions. The worst fee Ive seen is for the end cut of a roast served at dinner. That means cruise lines appear to be less dangerous than they are. During our 38 years in business, weve weathered many storms, both domestically and around the world. It lets you cancel for any reason and get a credit or, if you cancel because of certain circumstances, including being unable to travel for medical reasons, get a refund. Some got total refunds, while others (including you) received partial refunds or continue to wait for certain fees and sums to clear. If you have a problem on your cruise, youll want to say something immediately. How do you buy a cruise, then? The aggressive onboard sales agents sometimes force you to decide on a future vacation before youre ready. Now, with the European Unions new travel restrictions barring entrance for American travelers, were updating you once more. It looks as if they were really sincere in their intent, and they stayed in contact with you (at least initially). So the refund process slowed down considerably. Although every day we were told the problem was resolved, it most definitely was not. If you get seasick in a bathtub, please dont book a cruise. If you have a serious pre-existing medical condition or are immunocompromised, you may want to wait until youre medically stable before setting sail. Cruise specialists spend a career developing their expertise, and the best ones have actually cruised on the itineraries they recommend. Approximately 70 percent of cruises are booked through a travel agent down 15 percent from a decade ago. They Our columnist tries to get her the cash. Youre in control. So you have no one to turn to when something goes wrong except the cruise line. (She is currently the senior cruise writer for The Points Guy. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Ship to Shore: The Vantage Safe Travels Initiative. Heres how to spot it, Expert advice for booking the best hotel and finding the lowest rate, Here it is: The complete guide to holiday travel. To determine if my hunch was correct, I reached out to O.A.T. Youll need to consider all of these dangers before you plan your cruise. I feel I am being held hostage by O.A.T. Worse, cruise lines didnt always disclose their quarantining procedures until you were sick. 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. A river cruise may be ideal for someone who is reluctant to leave the country after COVIDt. Empowering Lives with Nutritious and Delicious NDIS Meals! The Elliott Report is a consumer news site supported by Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that offers free advice and advocacy for consumers. You can also book the cruise whenever you want to. @jaqueline..Why would you book 3 times with a company that cancelled twice? Each time the trip was canceled we have had to discover it on our own. You may feel like a number. We remain committed to providing our customers with the best possible travel experience and are confident in our ability to weather this storm.. That, of course, doesnt help you if you want to spend or invest that money now. Ships appear to get less safe with each passing year. 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. As international travel restrictions and domestic shelter-in-place orders continue to keep people at home, many must now contend with what to do with pre-planned trips and summer vacation plans. I recommend bringing a small bag or backpack with all of your essential medications and at least one change of clothes. Thats why weve made the difficult decision to postpone our journeys through May 1, 2021. (Podcast). This is the third Tripped Up column in a row that addresses the issue of refunds. If you have questions about your journey, we encourage you to use the chat function on our homepage. A: Vantage should have refunded your tour within 30 days as it promised -- and as it is contractually required to do. In order to gain a better understanding of Vantage Travels financial health, we accessed and reviewed their financial records. 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. 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. When youre on vacation, its easy to let down your guard and fall for a sales pitch for an original sculpture, diamond ring or timeshare. All Rights Reserved. We publish the names, numbers and emails of the top cruise executives on this site. We were told repeatedly that someone would call us back but that didn't happen. If youre booking on the ship, you might get another incentive like a shore excursion, other discounts, or a credit on a current or future cruise. Ms. Kosciolek suggests writing a polite letter to the company explaining your situation and specifically requesting a refund. Travel agents can make 10 percent or more in commissions and overrides from your cruise. We have taken several trips with Vantage Travel and they are not reliable or transparent with information about their trips. However, your travel dreams are safe with Vantage and we cant wait to welcome you onboard our ships including our brand-new Ocean Explorer, which just completed its sea trials or see you on one of our land tours when the time is right. However, cruise lines are reluctant to offer a lower fare that undercuts an agency. I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way. All phone numbers, websites, emails, and fax numbers are disconnected. (How generous of you!) But that takes time. You will soon receive an exciting email from Vantage Travel. But the Vantage policy makes it sound like its their choice whether to give you the refund or not, she added. A porter will deliver it to your room. 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. Hertz billed her for eight extra days on her car. There are many other health perils at sea. Vantage Deluxe World travel = No Customer Service. The other 52% of the passengers which were not directly affected were also miserable as the issue dominated every event of the entire week. Whether its an optional shore excursion or an onboard auction, the cruise line wants more of your money than you spent on the cruise fare. This was to be our third Vantage journey in as many years, and the second with friends. According to its current policy, updated in October 2021, Vantage reserves the right to cancel a cruise or change the date or time of sailing or arrival and then to either substitute another cruise or provide a full refund of the fare actually paid by you for such cruise., In a maddening bit of irony, in the same policy document, Vantage notes that if passengers substitute one product for another, they are considered reservation cancellations and are subject to cancellation fees.. Each passing year through August 14 that someone would call is vantage travel in financial trouble back but that n't... By Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that offers free advice and for! Private tour through a large volume of communications nonprofit organization that offers free advice Advocacy. Favorite commentary, tips and news about consumer Advocacy, She added information your! A case that resolved almost five months ago deck cabins reported a sewage stench prevalent throughout the lower. 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