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. Consumer Alert: Your Airbnb comes with heat during the winter, but Did airlines make a U-turn on family seat fees? Elliotts latest book is How To Be The Worlds Smartest Traveler (National Geographic). Youll need to consider all of these dangers before you plan your cruise. This was not my first cruise, and cruising is not my favorite way to travel, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. ), Back to O. Cruise lines claim a vacation at sea is safer than any land-based vacation. In Hawaii, consumers have the right to a cash refund (minus previously disclosed cancellation fees) within two weeks of requesting one. Vantage Deluxe World Travel. However, if you miss a port of call, you should receive a cash refund of your port fees. Theres only one way to ensure you dont get caught by these fees. One customer said: I used to book all my trips through Vantage Travel because I trusted them to provide quality service. 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. We are looking into taking a river cruise in Holland and Belgium next April. So, what is Vantage thinking? Here are my strategies for advocating your case. If you need advice about a best-laid travel plan that went awry, send an email to travel@nytimes.com. WebBased on the information detailed above, BBB cannot confirm the legitimacy of Vantage Travel. In order to gain a better understanding of Vantage Travels financial health, we accessed and reviewed their financial records. We are a deluxe travel company trying to navigate a world in which we cannot travel right now. However, we ask that you please do not call Vantage at this time. Check out our directory. Translation: When they cancel your trip, they are legally required to offer you the money back. As 2021 nears, we have every reason to be optimistic about the future of travel. We paid in full, and bought insurance against trip interruption or cancellation through Vantage from TripMate. Its a drastic change in the sale dates. Again, these offers come by way of the relationships cruise agents have through their company or by being friends with their regional sales representative. So we agreed to use the travel credits they offered to change to a British Isles cruise for this summer. When in reality it is only acceptable to good and at best deserves a 3-star rating. We continued to report it every day thereafter. This article examines whether Vantage Travel is in financial trouble due to the impact of COVID-19 on the travel industry. Thank you for your ongoing understanding and loyalty. Theres a one-year limitation period to file a claim, and a six-month period to write a letter to the cruise line when a passenger has been injured. Here is our detailed review. If you need help with any problem,please contact us through this form. It was their problem. The right to have this Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights published on each lines website. Simply sign into your account. One refund has so far Heres what you need to know about cancellations, losing a reservation and other travel logistics issues bound to crop up in wake of the coronavirus pandemic. We had several couples on our tour who had previously traveled with Vantage and had good experiences. 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.. Its not just one problem, but many. The aggressive onboard sales agents sometimes force you to decide on a future vacation before youre ready. A: Vantage should have refunded your tour within 30 days as it promised -- and as it is contractually required to do. Really, on a luxury yacht? While on board I sent three emails directly to Henry Lewis the CEO of Vantage, Nancy Resendes the VP Contact Center, and Tomi Radic the Europe and Mediterranean regional expert for Vantage. About three months before departure, Vantage notified us the trip had been postponed for over a year and would depart in August 2023. complain to the Federal Maritime Commission, HERE'S WHAT ID IS REQUIRED FOR YOUR NEXT CRUISE, HOW TO AVOID PROBLEMS ON YOUR NEXT CRUISE, How to get your money back from a Zelle scam or accidental money transfer, Help! ?was that problem worse than ours? If your departure is outside of the next 60 days, we ask that you email customercare@vantagetravel.com. Tomas was very accommodating and tried to assist and comfort all passengers. There are mice in my vacation rental! At least one couple told us that when they returned, they were going to unsubscribe from Vantages mailing list, and would never travel with Vantage again. But that takes time. Come on! How a company responds to these situations demonstrates their true colors, and provides a good indicator of what you should expect if you do business with that company. Care for a soda? 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. The right to lodging if disembarkation and an overnight stay in an unscheduled port are required when a cruise is terminated early due to mechanical failures. In general, 7 On Your Side recommends you purchase travel insurance independently from the company making travel arrangements. But there is one advantage of taking a sanctioned tour: If its late returning to port, the cruise line will usually cover your expenses for getting back to the ship. Login. Would I sail on that waterway again ? My Samsung tablet wont hold a charge. The Members of the Cruise Lines International Association are dedicated to the comfort and care of all passengers on oceangoing cruises throughout the world. One passenger required a trip to the hospital and one of the crew members also became ill which accounts for 12% of their crew. As you know, the global COVID-19 pandemic has made travel very tricky. For example, for gastrointestinal illnesses, the outbreak must affect 2 percent or more of the passengers or crew to meet the reporting threshold. We did tours as were listed, but it was plain weird to be the only people in sight. There would be no more Christmas Markets. Please take care of yourself and your loved ones we will get through this together. However, cruise lines are reluctant to offer a lower fare that undercuts an agency. The odds of a devoutly religious family ending up on a rambunctious singles cruise under this scenario? And when the world is ready to welcome travelers again, Vantage Deluxe World Travel will be there for you. I sailed with Vantage on their "Heart of Germany" excursion during Christmas week of 2017. Boston, MA 02114-2031. My trip to Egypt with Overseas Adventure Travel was scheduled to depart in late March. Roz. The first evening we were told by our Tour Director, Tomas, not to drink the tap water while on board. Fill out the form HERE! The travel industry is primarily a customer service industry. Wheres the refund? Wheres my airline ticket refund from GotoGate? Pros. These measures indicate that Vantage Travel is doing what they can to remain financially stable during this difficult time. She shows 7 On Your Side photos taken by another traveler, Breene Yuen. The outcome can often turn on who cancels, which is why a lot of suppliers and travelers are playing chicken right now. You will soon receive an exciting email from Vantage Travel. Contact him at elliott.org/help or chris@elliott.org. How do you start a home health care agency: A Strong Business Plan for You, Complain About a Care Home in Wales: Step-by-Step Guide, Crypto Wallet Development: Types, Features, and Popularity, 5 Ways AI is Detecting and Preventing Identity Fraud. Be sure to buy a travel protection plan from a reliable third party. 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. Customer service was a bit difficult, but we did get a good credit on a future cruise. But inexperienced cruise passengers sometimes also add a tip on top of the automatic tip. We are either rebooking travelers on another trip or providing a refund. Since mid-March, she said, O.A.T. My aunt *************** is the other **-executor. Consumer Alert: No more automatic refunds for skipped ports? 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. Pictures of the kids by the pro photographers? We assist individuals with consumer-related issues; we cannot assist on cases between businesses, or cases involving family law, criminal matters, landlord/tenant disputes, labor issues, or medical issues. BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. You can negotiate these tips off the bill as long as youre still on the ship. Our help is free. BBB Business Profiles are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. I tried to reach Vantage and by that I mean I sent emails to the C.E.O., to three customer service email addresses on its website and to all its social media accounts, including direct messages to two C-suite executives via LinkedIn. Empowering Lives with Nutritious and Delicious NDIS Meals! This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. 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. Turns out that this was their last trip of the season, and the boat was on its way to docking for the rest of the winter. Then they applied the rules retroactively. But it was the industrys way of saying it could do better. He did not know the cause of the stench in our bathroom nor did he care to engage in any substantive discussion with us. Ive seen young, healthy passengers reach for the motion sickness bags in 30-foot swells and remain confined to their quarters for days. But if you need to get somewhere off the beaten path, an adventure cruise may be the way to go. Vantage could claim it does not owe you a cash refund for the British Isles cruise, because you paid for it in credits the credits you accepted when the Spain and Portugal trip was put off to 2023. Your ticket contract, the legal contract between you and the cruise line, spells out your rights. You should read it before you leave. Our Customer Service Concierge is currently experiencing a high volume of calls, resulting in unusually long wait times. The Vessel Sanitation Reports issued by the CDC only reflect a fraction of the illnesses on board. A cruise company keeps pushing back its planned journeys, offering credits instead of a refund, and a passenger feels like the ship has sailed on her ability to enjoy a boat trip. 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. Tour within 30 days as it is contractually required to do to all! Future vacation before youre ready good experiences which is why a lot of suppliers and travelers are playing right! 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