What are my rights as a cruise passenger? Whether youre embarking on an expedition cruise, a small ship ocean cruise, a river cruise, or a land adventure, well ensure you enjoy the journey of a lifetime. That means cruise lines appear to be less dangerous than they are. Youll also connect with other readers who want to make the world a better place. Instead, look it up on the State Department website or on the International Air Transport Associations Timatic database. In the last 2 years we have had 3 trips canceled at the Consumer Alert: No more automatic refunds for skipped ports? Too much debt. But since the pandemic hit, Ive been hesitant to book anything with them because Im worried about their financial stability., Another customer echoed these sentiments, saying: Ive heard that other tour operators have gone bankrupt due to the pandemic, so Im concerned about the future of Vantage Travel.. Asking a friend or family member for financial help can feel awkward or put the other person in a difficult position, adds Hayes. You may feel like a number. That, of course, doesnt help you if you want to spend or invest that money now. 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. Youll spend most of your time walking around the ship and enjoying the amenities or taking a shore excursion. 60 minutes featuring the brightest minds on Wall Street, taking you through the most important hour of the trading day. BBB reports on known marketplace practices. But that takes time. He bought new clothes and toiletries, but the cruise line refused to refund him for it until my advocacy team got involved. Vantage River Cruises vs. Viking River Cruises. Vantage agreed to issue a refund in 30 days. The policy will provide $100,000 of medical coverage and $500,000 of medical . As you know, the global COVID-19 pandemic has made travel very tricky. Been around for a long time. This pandemic could cause some of them to be dusted off, said Mr. Anolik. Rest assured, we have secured your spot on a later departure of your same journey or will work with you on a replacement if your journey has a single departure. Tomas was very accommodating and tried to assist and comfort all passengers. We both agree, though, that this may not do much good. | Customer Reviews are not used in the calculation of BBB Rating, BBB Tip: Need help planning a trip? I just want to compare the two companies' service and details about trips. No. But why cant I get a refund? If you have questions about your journey, we encourage you to use the chat function on our homepage. Cruise ship gotchas they wont tell you about. There should be no list because that money was specifically for my Aunt ******** estate not for Vantage Travel to pay someone else. The high seas can be dangerous, and not just in the movies. The report also found that the impact of the pandemic is expected to be felt most acutely in the leisure travel sector, which accounts for around 70% of global tourism spending. This suggests that Vantage Travel, as a leisure tour operator, has likely been affected more than other types of travel companies. Thank you for your ongoing understanding and loyalty. Dont let that happen to you. They say we are stuck with the credits in my case worth nearly $20,000. 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? In addition, 11 passengers from the lower deck cabins reported a sewage stench prevalent throughout the entire lower deck. Want a picture of you and your beautiful family? Other passengers couldnt cruise for health reasons. ), As a human being, in a perfect world, I want to say that if she paid for a service that shes not getting, she needs to get her money back, Ms. Kosciolek told me. When thinking about these common problems, each one falls into one of three areas: You need more money, you need to reduce your debt, or you need to change how you spend. 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. That eventually led to an email from Mira Delgado, a concierge services manager, who asked me to send along details about your situation, but then did not get back to me when I did. BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. Its not like its a week later, its a year later.. The one positive point I would like to make is that the ships crew was extremely nice and very helpful. By far the most common problem my advocates and I hear about is an onboard health emergency. Each time the trip was canceled we have had to discover it on our own. You can negotiate these tips off the bill as long as youre still on the ship. Plus, we have insightful letters, insider tips, and more. For bigger issues, see the cruise lines onboard guest services department. Also, weve just extended our Book with Confidence policy to cover all journeys reserved through February 24, 2021. But cruise passengers have a lot of questions as the industry transitions back to normal. Lack of savings. For some types of trips, insurance is optional. Then our columnist intervened with the Boston-based tour operator Overseas Adventure Travel. Travel agents can make 10 percent or more in commissions and overrides from your cruise. Have a look at Princess passage contract: Doctors, nurses or other medical or service personnel work directly for the Passenger and shall not be considered to be acting under the control or supervision of Carrier, since Carrier is not a medical provider. In other words, when a doctors negligence leads to the death of a family member, the cruise line is off the hook. Be the first to review! Is my warranty dead, too? If you test positive, cruise lines will confine you to quarters or to a special section on the cruise ship for infected passengers, usually for the duration of the voyage. Theres only one way to ensure you dont get caught by these fees. Want to take the kids out to dinner or to the arcade? 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. During that time, we took several actions: We created a comprehensive safety plan to ensure the health of our travelers and associates around the globe when we resume traveling again. So it is left to me to try to divine the companys thinking and come up with alternative ideas for you. Its important to understand the larger context of the pandemics impact on the travel industry in order to fully assess Vantage Travels financial situation. European officials will be reviewing a countrys status every two weeks; as such, we are closely monitoring the situation and will notify travelers if circumstances change. Click the link above to find out more. You can find the names, numbers and addresses of the Vantage managers on my consumer advocacy site www.elliott.org/company-contacts/vantage-deluxe-world-travel/. 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). 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. Consumers with outstanding concerns are still encouraged to file a complaint for BBB records but may also wish to contact legal counsel or contact Attorney General's Office. 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. Heres how it helps itself to your hard-earned cash: The gotchas start the moment you board the vessel. But I was really happy when that happened," she exclaimed. About three months before departure, Vantage notified us the trip had been postponed for over a year and would depart in August 2023. If you cancel first you don't have many options. If they cancel, they absolutely should refund your money. 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. Our cabin was extremely small making it very difficult to maneuver, the bathroom literally miniscule with the strong urine stench and the A/C unit was inadequately sized to sufficiently cool the room. Thats because you are a number. Wheres the refund? You can also book the cruise whenever you want to. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-86615629', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cruise and thought it had been resolved. 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. WebVantage Travel Service Inc - Company Profile and News - Bloomberg Markets Bloomberg Terminal Demo Request Bloomberg Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of I know many of you are ready to get back out there and continue your explorations. This March, Vantage canceled the tour because of COVID-19 concerns. Vantage informed us on August 24 in the "My Portfolio" section that the service would not be offered. Fill out the form HERE! Care for a soda? These measures indicate that Vantage Travel is doing what they can to remain financially stable during this difficult time. According to the law, the cash refund must be an amount equal to the fair market retail value of any undelivered, purchased travel service.. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Proudly powered by WordPress Expert shares tips on how to navigate pandemic travel. Luxury Cruises - Experience Luxury Expedition Cruise Line Travel - Vantage Travel. Vrbo took my $1,270! Our trip for a cruise from Paris to Normandy was scheduled to depart April 8th and we have still not received any kind of refund. Vantage cancelled Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. Youre dealing directly with the cruise line, so the company cant blame an intermediary for anything that goes wrong. (Its all taken care of.) Company Description: VANTAGE TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED is located in Auckland, AUCKLAND, New Zealand and is part of the Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services Industry. Were always here to help. No longer. You can find a cheaper private tour through a company like Viator. When something goes wrong, someone should always be there for you. The second task is easier: You should file a complaint with the New York State Attorney Generals office. We have taken several trips with Vantage Travel and they are not reliable or transparent with information about their trips. As always, we made this decision with the health, safety, and security of our travelers and partners around the globe in mind. But just in case it isnt, cruise lines have a clause that says they arent responsible for the malpractice of the ships doctors. We publish the names, numbers and emails of the top cruise executives on this site. Airlines are sidestepping refund regulations established by the United States Transportation Department and the European Union, betting that negative press (and even class-action lawsuits) are still preferable to negative-balance bank accounts. Truth is, cruise lines dont like to issue refunds This is a cruise industry problem in general and a Vantage problem in particular. And they ferry passengers with special interests such as scuba diving or hiking. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-92629525', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Cruise Director that we could expect the country to be closed down, as the Germans take this time to be with family and friends and consider it a religious week. As we continue to navigate this global health crisis, weve all been required to change our lives and exercise increased flexibility. 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