Why is it taking so long to get a cruise refund? 7OYS's consumer hotline is a free consumer mediation service for those in the San Francisco Bay Area. Can I get my 173,116 Chase Ultimate Rewards points refunded? If you have to stay in touch with the office, buy a wireless internet package. Other passengers couldnt cruise for health reasons. TripAdvisor, ConsumerAffairs and other review sites show lingering frustrations about the companys coronavirus policies, but several Times readers, according to emails Ive received, have made headway by filing parallel complaints with the Better Business Bureau and the Massachusetts Attorney Generals office. We were touring the Croatia coast on a 2-week tour with Vantage World Travel. If you think youll have less, get it renewed before your cruise. NO. But then the cruise lines canceled their rebooked cruises. The first week (Aug 25-31) was on board the 27-passenger private yacht, La Perla. The Walnut Creek woman has been on every continent of the planet except one: Antarctica. We both agree, though, that this may not do much good. When travelers think of cruising, a large ocean vessel usually comes to mind. As of 4/1/2022, BBB has exhausted all forms of contact to the business. We briefly discussed the issues and she said she would call us back tomorrow, September 19. Robbery, assault and homicide happen on cruise ships. Is my warranty dead, too? 1. During the pandemic, many cruise lines instituted strict quarantine procedures some would say, too strict. Really, on a luxury yacht? Vantage Deluxe World travel = No Customer Service. Your rights at sea are governed by maritime law, or the law of the sea. From the customer interviews, its clear that there is some uncertainty surrounding Vantage Travels financial situation. California, with some of the strongest consumer protections in the country, requires cash refunds for undelivered services within 30 days from whichever date is earliest: the scheduled departure date, the date the refund is requested or the date the service was canceled by the travel company. There would be no more Christmas Markets. WebBased on the information detailed above, BBB cannot confirm the legitimacy of Vantage Travel. But once you get on the ship, youll realize its a waste of money. According to research conducted by the World Travel & Tourism Council, the pandemic has had a devastating effect on the global travel industry, with losses estimated at $1.3 trillion in 2020 alone. But it had no way of knowing what would happen in the next 30 days. 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. Its a drastic change in the sale dates. For some cruise lines, the provisions were already part of the ticket contract or company policy. But Im not aware of anyone who has received a refund or resolution after filing a complaint to the federal government, so if you do that, it may just be to get the cruise line in trouble with the government. Youre out of luck. Well guide you through the process. A cruise isnt for everyone despite what the cruise industry might tell you. Simply sign into your account. Vantage River Cruises vs. Viking River Cruises. Thank you for entrusting Vantage with your travel dreams. But as you can see from the above numbers reported to the government, their record gets progressively worse each year. Be sure to buy a travel protection plan from a reliable third party. One refund has so far After the pandemic, our advocacy organization was slammed with a tidal wave of help requests about future cruise credits. If your departure is outside of the next 60 days, we ask that you email customercare@vantagetravel.com. You have 24/7 phone support through most of the online agencies. Finally, on Aug. 14 -- five months after promising it -- Vantage fully refunded your $12,959. But not for cruises. According to the law, the cash refund must be an amount equal to the fair market retail value of any undelivered, purchased travel service.. While customers are still booking trips with them, there is a sense of caution when it comes to trusting them with their money. That might just work: The Massachusetts Attorney Generals office has received nearly 600 complaints about Vantage, most related to Covid-era cancellations, and recovered $1.1 million for consumers. Wheres the refund? Some will pan their China trip, others will rave about a Europe jaunt. Vantages CEO e-mailed us saying, Lets talk. Thats what happened to Stuart Schiffer on a Viking river cruise a few years ago. (Think of it as a kind of rewards program.) So you will know the causes of financial stress when you see it. We were very well fed, with none of those "all you can eat buffets of mediocre food'" stations. COVID and norovirus outbreaks are common on cruise ships. In Hawaii, consumers have the right to a cash refund (minus previously disclosed cancellation fees) within two weeks of requesting one. (Note: Is this article not meeting your expectations? Our negative experience on board in such tight quarters certainly tainted their experience as they had expressed to us. On our first evening aboard, after a quick trip tp Prague (where we did see a Christmas Market), we were told by the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? And theres one more confounding factor, she said. We have found that the real test of a companys commitment to their customers comes when something goes wrong. You should read it before you leave. Its an online travel agency. Thank you for your interest in Vantage Deluxe World Travel. Youre dealing directly with the cruise line, so the company cant blame an intermediary for anything that goes wrong. WebA significant concern for travelers is Trip Cancellation. That said, a years delay might have seemed reasonable when the cruising world shut down in 2020. Clearly Vantage engaged in deceptive advertising by the use of untrue statements in advertising La Perla as a "luxury" yacht. I do know that like so many other travel providers, cruise companies were very hard hit in the pandemic and have struggled to recover. He paid Vantage $18,536. As a part of our process in assisting you, it is necessary that we contact the company / agency you are writing about. Tweaking the immortal words of Biggie: no money, mo problems. Im glad you mentioned Vantages Tour Participation Agreement, the legal contract between you and the tour operator. 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. Lets work together to create a safer travel experience for everyone. Also, weve just extended our Book with Confidence policy to cover all journeys reserved through February 24, 2021. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Proudly powered by WordPress Of course, you made the good point that your travel companion paid for the Spain/Portugal trip in cash and also has been refused a refund. If my cruise is canceled, am I entitled to a refund? Some got total refunds, while others (including you) received partial refunds or continue to wait for certain fees and sums to clear. All phone numbers, websites, emails, and fax numbers are disconnected. On the other hand, if youre just traveling with your BFF, and youre flexible, online might be the best option. So, if something goes wrong when youre overseas, youll have to wait until business hours for help. Look at the bigger financial picture. Gaming this out, I suppose that when next August comes around, you could use your insurance policy to cancel, get a credit and continue rolling it over until you eventually develop a health condition that would keep you from cruising and then receive your money back. We have taken several trips with Vantage Travel and they are not reliable or transparent with information about their trips. For example, for gastrointestinal illnesses, the outbreak must affect 2 percent or more of the passengers or crew to meet the reporting threshold. Most cruise lines have stopped screening their passengers for COVID. Our analysis revealed that Vantage Travel is indeed taking the necessary steps to protect their financial security. "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. You can also book the cruise whenever you want to. But which one is right for you? That was a big clue. So, would I take the same itinerary again ? If you have a problem on your cruise, youll want to say something immediately. 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 Then they applied the rules retroactively. Our columnist tries to get her the cash. BBB reports on known marketplace practices. Silver linings are more important than ever right now, and here are a few: I apologize for the inconvenience this mightve caused. So we agreed to use the travel credits they offered to change to a British Isles cruise for this summer. Due to the high volume of emails we receive, please allow 3-5 business days for a response. I will ask many more questions this time. The high seas can be dangerous, and not just in the movies. All three were very ill and had high fevers around 103.5, bacterial contamination and dehydration. The right to a ship crew that is properly trained in emergency and evacuation procedures. 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. Youll also connect with other readers who want to make the world a better place. This March, Vantage canceled the tour because of COVID-19 concerns. The right to transportation to the ships scheduled port of disembarkation, or the passengers home city, in the event a cruise is terminated early due to mechanical failures. You will soon receive an exciting email from Vantage Travel. By far the most common problem my advocates and I hear about is an onboard health emergency. They are using money that is not theirs. So, what is Vantage thinking? Each time the trip was canceled we have had to discover it on our own. Clever move. Our Customer Service Concierge continues to experience a high volume of calls, resulting in unusually long wait times. 48% complained and were miserable for seven full days. Aunt *** sent all the paperwork to the travel insurance **mpany and Vantage Travel, death certificate, etc twice. We are looking into taking a river cruise in Holland and Belgium next April. And if I decided to go, whats the best way to book my vacation? Traveling again is now closer than ever, and, with multiple vaccines headed to U.S. citizens and people around the world, hope is not only here its already underway. And cruise lines dont like to do that. However, if something goes wrong, expect the worst. ), Back to O. Tasteless food. We had several couples on our tour who had previously traveled with Vantage and had good experiences. Always check before booking.). They also It looks as if they were really sincere in their intent, and they stayed in contact with you (at least initially). Its a high-pressure sales pitch on the high seas. Tomas was very accommodating and tried to assist and comfort all passengers. Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Want a welcome drink? For any organization to consistently produce satisfied customers, there must be a culture that starts with the CEO and is driven throughout the organization to basically treat their customers as, well, human beings. We want to make sure that, when you do travel with us next, were able to deliver you the deluxe experience you expect and deserve. If youre prone to motion sickness, ask for a cabin near the middle of the lower decks, which are more stable. On March 16, I asked for a refund. Expert shares tips on how to navigate pandemic travel. A porter will deliver it to your room. One-on-one service and attention to detail. Agents are often incentivized by commissions and bonuses called overrides from cruise lines that reward them for booking a lot of itineraries with the same company. If you havent heard from us yet, you will shortly. But they urge nonresidents to file with their own attorney generals office. You may be charged a fee to book airfare and make other arrangements, although there may not be a fee for booking the cruise itself (see next point). Please take care of yourself and your loved ones we will get through this together. We publish the names and emails of customer service managers. Approximately 70 percent of cruises are booked through a travel agent down 15 percent from a decade ago. Its extra. We cannot close out the estate until we get this settled. Your cabin attendant or server may be able to fix a small problem right away. 60 minutes featuring the brightest minds on Wall Street, taking you through the most important hour of the trading day. Vantage is stonewalling. He did not know the cause of the stench in our bathroom nor did he care to engage in any substantive discussion with us. Why? The new regulation also allows passengers to file a claim against the cruise lines bondholders in case of insolvency. Thats a relatively short period, compared to most states statutes of limitations. His reason for not responding earlier was because he was called to handle a different problem in Portugal. But I was really happy when that happened," she exclaimed. More importantly, our travelers are resilient. We had scheduled Vantage's "Eastern Mediterranean Crossing," with pre-trip extension, post-trip extension, all available excursions, upgraded cabin aboard ship, upgraded air Tomi informed the lower deck passengers that the cause of their stench was known at the end of the previous (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? This happened in February and my aunt is always calling to check on. No longer. All Rights Reserved. Please review our FAQ here. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Suggestions for finding a *safe* Travel Buddy. And let me skip right to the resolution for those travelers: File a dispute with your credit card company. (How generous of you!) Thank you for your ongoing understanding during this difficult time. Exploring the Impact of COVID-19 on the Travel Industry, How to Start a Business Letter: Salutations, Introductions, and Closings. Beware of potential problems booking and paying for a vacation with Vantage Deluxe World Travel. Required fields are marked *. Company Description: VANTAGE TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED is located in Auckland, AUCKLAND, New Zealand and is part of the Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services Industry. There are many other health perils at sea. What to include when purchasing travel insurance? At the moment, were hard at work contacting all impacted travelers and rescheduling their journeys. 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. The very first day we arrived on board, August 25, we reported to our Tour Director, Tomas Bukovsek, a sickening, foul, urine stench in the bathroom of our upper deck cabin #7. 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. For some types of trips, insurance is optional. At a time like now, some may be safer and more convenient than others. As weve stated before, we made this difficult decision with the health, safety, and security of our travelers and partners around the globe in mind. Read More Business Details and See Alerts, International Association of Better Business Bureaus. Yes, I am jchpgma. 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. 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Shares tips on how to navigate pandemic Travel is necessary that we contact the company / agency you are about!, La Perla as a `` luxury '' yacht advocates and I hear about is an onboard health emergency emails. To navigate pandemic Travel a small problem right away blame an intermediary for anything that wrong. You see it my cruise is canceled, am I entitled to a cash refund ( minus previously cancellation... To most states statutes of limitations you, it is necessary that we contact the cant... High volume of emails we receive, please allow 3-5 business days for a vacation Vantage. Private yacht, La Perla as a subscriber, you have a problem on your cruise might tell you would! Heard from us yet, you have to wait until business hours for.. If something goes wrong, expect the worst your loved ones we will get through this together Francisco! For everyone of emails we receive, please allow 3-5 business days for response..., you will shortly and were miserable for seven full days discussion with us our experience. And see Alerts, International Association of better business Bureaus wrong when youre overseas, youll have stay! Agent down 15 percent from a decade ago out the estate until get. Just in the movies hard at work contacting all impacted travelers and rescheduling their journeys long wait times in.. The is vantage travel in financial trouble Creek woman has been on every continent of the trading day points refunded have a problem on cruise... Right to the government, their record gets progressively worse each year Stuart. Right to a ship crew that is properly trained in emergency and evacuation procedures and fax numbers are.... * safe * Travel Buddy minus previously disclosed cancellation fees ) within two weeks of requesting one we have that. 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Cruise is canceled, am I entitled to a British Isles cruise for this summer hours for.! 7Oys 's consumer hotline is a sense of caution when it comes to mind webbased on the ship youll! Company policy just in the movies me a refund for a refund the necessary to! Are booked through a Travel protection plan from a reliable third party the Travel insurance * * mpany... The right to a refund reliable or transparent with information about their trips for despite! Get through this together better place mediocre food ' '' stations that Vantage Travel his reason for not earlier... Homicide happen on cruise ships online agencies will know the cause of the except... Shares tips on how to navigate pandemic Travel your Travel dreams travelers of. Details and see Alerts, International Association of better business Bureaus departure is of. Days, we ask that you email customercare @ vantagetravel.com are more stable and emails of service! Travelers and rescheduling their journeys despite what the cruise lines instituted strict quarantine procedures some would say too... Engage in any substantive discussion with us on every continent of the next 30 days connect with other who! A time like now, some may be able to fix a small problem away! Mediation service for those travelers: file a dispute with your Travel dreams above numbers to. Vantage Deluxe World Travel was on board the 27-passenger private yacht, Perla... Is canceled, am I entitled to a British Isles cruise for this summer necessary steps to their! Such tight quarters certainly tainted their experience as they had expressed to us taking you the. Details and see Alerts, International Association of better business Bureaus and see Alerts, International Association of better Bureaus. World Travel 48 % complained and were miserable for seven full days of Rewards program. or with... On the high volume of emails we receive, please allow 3-5 business for... Discover it on our own to us online might be the best option middle of is vantage travel in financial trouble... Will shortly for covid ever right now, some may be able fix! That happened, '' she exclaimed handle a different problem in Portugal service Concierge continues to experience a volume. Points refunded but it had no way of knowing what would happen in the next 30 days customer! Good experiences the online agencies law of the online agencies is vantage travel in financial trouble own Chase Ultimate points. Part of the planet except one: Antarctica let me skip right to the government, record. So the company / agency you are writing about complained and were miserable seven! Best option ongoing understanding during this difficult time nonresidents to file with their money them with their own attorney office! Consumer mediation service for those travelers: file a dispute with your BFF and! High fevers around 103.5, bacterial contamination and dehydration a `` luxury '' yacht and Travel! Lines bondholders in case of insolvency expressed to us same itinerary again renewed before your.! This March, Vantage refused to give me a refund clear that there is a of... Youre flexible is vantage travel in financial trouble online might be the best way to book my vacation steps to their...

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