NightFlight

https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2023/06/vantage-travel-sold-to-united-travel-heritage-expeditions/#:~:text=Vantage Travel Services today announced,expect%2C according to a press

Advice from Consumer Rescue on FB for people who bought 3rd party insurance (not from Vantage) and has an insolvency clause is to use cessation of operations. Do not say canceled by Vantage as that mean Vantage is responsible to refund you. Include NewsNation article June 12 & Consumer Rescue article of June 17 as proof. Saying Vantage canceled the trip will result in denial. Again, this is for people who bought travel insurance independently & have an insolvency clause in their policy.

I understand the anger as I will be out $23k but I am tired of hearing about Ponzi schemes & all the ranting. I am looking for constructive solutions, if there are any. I bought independent insurance but I am sure they will find a technicality to deny payment. I am moving on from this mess. It does no good to dwell in misery. I want to be happy for what remains of my life.

Waiting what happens with the NY AG. I followed up on my “case” today & asked them to tell whoever is assigned what the MA AG accomplished. Also said time was of the essence as PA AG has filed too. I am hoping for a call back tomorrow.

https://www.wcvb.com/article/vantage-travel-attorney-general-money-recovered-massachusetts-attorney-general/44282389 They have done a great job. I am waiting for NY AG to do something.

For those of you who are not on Facebook, Michelle Couch-Friedman of Consumer Rescue posted this 3 hours ago: "Vantage Alert: I'm sorry to report that we've just received new from multiple Vantage employees that in a meeting this morning they were all "laid off." This would appear to be the end of the line....I will update as soon as I know more."

MossyLedge, Here is what you wrote “Maybe everyone here is a lot more wealthy than I am and I am glad you are,”. I am done with this conversation.

Exactly, according to their general counsel, Rossella Mercuri, they are in negotiations. NDAs were probably signed. I am trying to be optimistic, I can’t let this depress me or dampen my enthusiasm for travel. Below is the latest article I found. https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/vantage-travel-says-its-up-sale-employees-say-theyre-not-getting-paid/ONCVISFM6BB47EP72G244HHOOE/

Oh gosh, you must be clairvoyant to know what will be required by new owners or know that I am wealthier than you. Please see below for how Crystal Endeavor refunds are being handled by Royal Caribbean who bought it. https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-offers-protect-Crystal-Endeavor-bookings

A class action suit will get you pennies on the dollar & the attorney wealthy. Why can’t people wait to see if Vantage successfully concludes the sale. That is our best bet for getting a refund. I know people are upset as am I but a class action or bankruptcy ensures we get little to nothing.

I agree with you Billybob 79. We have taken 14 trips with Vantage: Cuba, Mongolia, SE Asia, Africa twice, Antarctica, China, etc. Always wonderful. If a known company buys them and provides the same value, I would consider traveling with them again. But I want my money back first.

I am on Ocean Odyssey Lisbon to London trip date (inclusive of hotel stays and extension) Jun 5 2023 to Jun 23 2023. I just got off the phone with Vantage customer service. I am in the Owners Suite which I booked back in 2019. I am supposed to get 1) Priority reservations for EZ bikes 100 days in advance. 2) Priority reservations for Spa 100 days in advance 3) Round trip transportation to airport from home. Per customer service: They have no way of booking spa or bikes ahead of time. Wait until I get on the ship and book. Re: airport transportation - wait until a week before departure to get information. I explained that since COVID, there are very few car services and they book fast. I was told to just wait and see. I have no faith in Vantage so I have transportation booked. After reading such dismal reviews of recent trips on both ocean and river, I decided to ask Vantage about it. Especially included tours that became paid tours and that most river trips in Portugal and German were canceled. I was told that they are not allowed to comment on the included to paid tour situation but did acknowledge the many Portugal river tours were canceled due to a damaged ship. She wasn't sure what was happening in Germany. Finally I asked about the no satellite TV in Odyssey, again she knew nothing. I am still waiting for Flights to call re: upgrade from London to Dublin. I has been a week of of emails & voicemails. I've been rewarded with silence. It is awful to say but I can't wait to get this trip in the books. Maybe it will be fantastic, but I am not optimistic.

BillyBob79, We did South Africa with Vantage about 5 years ago and it was really great. We had an excellent tour director whose name escaped me. I agree that Vantage still gives the best bang for the buck. Africa keeps calling me back. Rv6flyer, thank you. I have heard good things about OAT. I will look into them as well.

After many hours on hold, messages left, and emails sent I got a call Monday. Fontane told me that there was a problem with flight availability. I had done my homework and knew there were nonstop flights on United out of Newark. They were quickly found and I was re-booked on United. Thank goodness. This morning they were in My Portfolio and showed up in United. I realize COVID really hurt the travel industry but Vantage has taken this to a new low. Last summer I had almost non-existent customer service on Scenic before my Obergammergau/river cruise. The president of Scenic had the class to send us an apology letter telling us what happened and what has been done to remedy. I doubt Mr Lewis will do the same. Anyway, I am optimistic that we will have a great time. On another subject....I had taken the Kenya/Tanzania trip with Vantage 8 years ago. I would love to do it again. It was excellent but after this mess, I am reluctant. Any suggestions for other good companies that do African safaris?

I got my flights last Monday and they are horrible. JFK to Amsterdam to Lisbon and then Dublin to Amsterdam to NY. I have emailed and been on hold for days trying to get these flights improved. I am disgusted that this is what they put me on when there are non-stops out of JFK or EWR. This is my 14th trip with them and probably my last.