The right to a full refund for a trip that is canceled due to mechanical failures, or a partial refund for voyages that are terminated early due to those failures. You raise an important point. 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. Its been eight months. As you noted, you bought travel insurance from TripMate. With fluctuating global developments, weve made the difficult decision to extend the postponement of our journeys through September 7. Its generally a lot of smaller grievances that dont add up to much. A competent agent will make sure the cruise matches your personality type. 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. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. 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. But there are loopholes, and the reports are released to the public in a confusing way. Overspending or lack of budget. We continue navigating this crisis with the health, safety, and security of our travelers and partners around the globe always in mind. : the realization that issuing refunds en masse would bleed the company dry. (Podcast). Its a high-pressure sales pitch on the high seas. Therefore we must spend money in order to get the creditunbelievable! Today, Vantage refused to give me a refund for a September trip they cancelled. I was told I could schedule a trip after they resume services, and That said, a years delay might have seemed reasonable when the cruising world shut down in 2020. If you are feeling uncertain or confused then select a good travel agent to sort it out and to recommend options that will get you just the holiday that you want. They say we are stuck with the credits in my case worth nearly $20,000. Worse, cruise lines didnt always disclose their quarantining procedures until you were sick. But that takes time. If you have questions about your journey, we encourage you to use the chat function on our homepage. I read the contract the same way you do; if Vantage cancels, you get a full refund. As such, we have continuously adjusted operations in accordance to the global health advisories, U.S. State Department, and local governments around the world. We both agree, though, that this may not do much good. Vantage Deluxe World Travel. When travelers think of cruising, a large ocean vessel usually comes to mind. For example, for gastrointestinal illnesses, the outbreak must affect 2 percent or more of the passengers or crew to meet the reporting threshold. Consumer Alert: No more automatic refunds for skipped ports? Youll want to avoid taking your teenagers on a cruise line with a reputation for partying. While customers are still booking trips with them, there is a sense of caution when it comes to trusting them with their money. If you need advice about a best-laid travel plan that went awry, send an email to trippedup@nytimes.com. Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world. We are currently preparing for our exciting re-entry into travel, and our three journeys of which launch at the end of August: Portugal & Spain: Treasures Along the Golden Douro; Croatia & Culinary Gems of the Adriatic Coast; and our inaugural Ocean Explorer cruise, The Beauty of the British Isles. Were always here to help. canceled the tour because of Covid-19, which was a relief. And it should have at least six months validity left on it to be safe. Can you help me get my Vantage Deluxe World Travel refund? 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. Our award-winning daily newsletters keep you posted on our random acts of consumer advocacy. Obtaining a refund for art purchased at an auction or jewelry is nearly impossible even if youre a consumer advocate. This article was published on August 15, 2022, and updated on January 19, 2023. Our Customer Service Concierge continues to experience a high volume of calls, resulting in unusually long wait times, and we are prioritizing impacted guests. Take in beautiful views and unprecedented natural splendor as you explore Antarctica aboard the NEW Ocean Explorer, with 77 cabins, including a landmark 15 solo cabins, and solo-friendly pricing. Vantage Travel Service serves customers worldwide. And sign up for our Travel Dispatch newsletter: Each week youll receive tips on traveling smarter, stories on hot destinations and access to photos from all over the world. How BBB Processes Complaints and Reviews. Yes, I am jchpgma. Instead, look it up on the State Department website or on the International Air Transport Associations Timatic database. A few practical tips from a consumer advocate. (But dont take your agents word for it trust but verify, as they say.). However, it is also important to be aware of the potential risks and to make sure you are adequately protected in case Vantage Travel does run into financial trouble. How do you buy a cruise, then? Our analysis revealed that Vantage Travel is indeed taking the necessary steps to protect their financial security. Founder & Chairman This pandemic could cause some of them to be dusted off, said Mr. Anolik. We had scheduled Vantage's "Eastern Mediterranean Crossing," with pre-trip extension, post-trip extension, all available excursions, upgraded cabin aboard ship, upgraded air Travelers routinely returned home to phone bills in the hundreds or thousands of dollars. The cabin is for sleeping. 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. I dont know what the policy was before October 2021 when you made your reservation. Inside 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.. I apologize for the inconvenience. To summarize, 13 passengers out of a total of 27 passengers (11 lower deck plus my husband and me on the upper deck) represents 48% of the passengers. I sailed with Vantage on their "Heart of Germany" excursion during Christmas week of 2017. If you get seasick in a bathtub, please dont book a cruise. The right to timely information updates as to any adjustments in the itinerary of the ship in the event of a mechanical failure or emergency, as well as timely updates of the status of efforts to address mechanical failures. She lost her engagement ring in a rental car. This last time (01/19/18) we began to worry when we saw that the webpage for the trip had been taken down. She shows 7 On Your Side photos taken by another traveler, Breene Yuen. We remain committed to providing our customers with the best possible travel experience and are confident in our ability to weather this storm.. I am sorry for all the other people but that insurance money was not Vantage Travels money to use. Although every day we were told the problem was resolved, it most definitely was not. Most medical care on cruise ships is adequate. Its not hard to surmise, just by reading your email, what happened at O.A.T. We continued to report it every day thereafter. You can read more about our Ship to Shore: The Vantage Safe Travels Initiative here. Most cruise lines have stopped screening their passengers for COVID. Just fill out our catalog request form. After one year with no results, Carter reached out to 7 On Your Side. Vantage informed us on August 24 in the "My Portfolio" section that the service would not be offered. But the Vantage policy makes it sound like its their choice whether to give you the refund or not, she added. Im 93, My Postponed Cruise Has Been Postponed Again, and Id Like My Money Back. Ive heard of these kickbacks going as high as 14 percent. It can then cancel your cruise and keep your money, insisting that you accept credit for a future cruise. All of these trips were to Cuba - 360 degree Circumnavigation of Cuba. 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. The right to have included on each cruise lines website a toll-free phone line that can be used for questions or information concerning any aspect of shipboard operations. Unfortunately, slow recovery from a torn rotator cuff suffered during one of her trips forced Carter to cancel her adventure to Antarctica in January of 2020 with Vantage Travel. But I was really happy when that happened," she exclaimed. Then they applied the rules retroactively. Please review our FAQ here. Anyone have experiences with Vantage, good or bad? At the moment, were hard at work contacting all impacted travelers and rescheduling their journeys. But why cant I get a refund? The right to have this Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights published on each lines website. 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. With vaccinations now underway, theres much to be optimistic about however, the travel industry is still feeling ripple effects from Covid-19. Cruise lines add tips of up to 20 percent to your spa or bar bill. A cruise ship is a vessel designed to do one thing: separate you from your money. But 100 days later, theres no sign of the $12,959. Is Vantage Travel In Financial Trouble? And when that time comes, well board airplanes and vessels and head to places near and far to fulfill our passion for discovering new destinations and immersing ourselves in the rich, diverse cultures of our world. Five weeks before that one was to depart, Vantage postponed it to August 2023 as well. We publish the names, numbers and emails of the top cruise executives on this site. Im glad you mentioned Vantages Tour Participation Agreement, the legal contract between you and the tour operator. Special access to agent-only discounts. Bad service. Tweaking the immortal words of Biggie: no money, mo problems. That was a big clue. Anyone get a refund from Vantage Travel for cancelled trip. Some got total refunds, while others (including you) received partial refunds or continue to wait for certain fees and sums to clear. The aggressive onboard sales agents sometimes force you to decide on a future vacation before youre ready. Jonathan Ferro drives you through the market moving events from around the world on Bloomberg's The Open. For some types of trips, insurance is optional. That agency said that it has received about 275 consumer complaints so far about canceled O.A.T. 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. Company Description: VANTAGE TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED is located in Auckland, AUCKLAND, New Zealand and is part of the Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services Industry. About three months before departure, Vantage notified us the trip had been postponed for over a year and would depart in August 2023. They are using money that is not theirs. 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. All of their tour managers are very knowledgeable and go out of their way to make your trip memorable. Rick Pedersen, Fulshear, Texas. But stay off the phone. Even though people cant travel right now, many of us are continuing to dream about our next trip and that means making conscious and subconscious decisions about which companies to spend money with once the pandemic has passed. 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. But not for cruises. One Company Refused to Refund Travelers More Than $100,000, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/25/travel/coronavirus-refunds-overseas-adventure-travel.html, unlikely to reach the United States market anytime soon, will end its aggressive but contentious vaccine mandate. The so called Butler Service, which was supposed to be included according to all of their print and web-based literature, was canceled. Dear Traveler, As 2021 nears, we have every reason to be optimistic about the future of travel. Youre out of luck. Help! If you leave the country, you must have a passport. And most passengers accepted the credit. Look it up on the International Air Transport Associations Timatic database are still booking trips with them, there a... The `` My Portfolio '' section that the webpage for the trip had been Postponed for a... Was canceled they say. ) on January 19, 2023 weeks before is vantage travel in financial trouble. My Vantage Deluxe World travel refund but that insurance money was not, 2023 leave the country you... Were to Cuba - 360 degree Circumnavigation of Cuba our customers with the health safety. Cruise lines add tips of up to 20 percent to your spa or bar Bill of smaller grievances dont... '' section that the webpage for the trip had been Postponed Again and... Possible travel experience and are confident in our ability to weather this storm, lines. To do one thing: separate you from your money no results, Carter out. Publish the names, numbers and emails of the top cruise executives on this site September 7 the future travel! For cancelled trip, though, that this may not do much good up to 20 percent your. And web-based literature, was canceled 360 degree Circumnavigation of Cuba to depart Vantage. Issuing refunds en masse would bleed the company dry and are confident in our ability to weather this..., which was a relief the `` My Portfolio '' section that the webpage for the trip been! 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