CPT Trips

It seems that Vantage Travel has ceased operations and many people paid thousands for trips that won’t be delivered. To date, Vantage has made no formal statements about resuming cruises and tours. Neither have they filed bankruptcy.

Do you have any insight into how to obtain insurance reimbursement for these loses? Is this likely to be covered under financial default. What should we look for in our policy coverage documents? Is there any specific wording we should use, or avoid, when making the initial claim?

@Daisi, @gnome12, Gearing up for Canada Day. The first day of a four day weekend here south of the border that closes with our Independence Day. And thanks for having a singable National Anthem. 

Just a thought that occurred to me after reading @NightFlight’s post. Many of us purchase our insurance through a third party, one of the big online brokers or the travel agency that booked the trip. It can’t hurt to contact that third party for assistance. 
Get your ducks lined up before filing the claim and make sure you file in a timely fashion so that your claim is not easy to deny. 

Beetle gas heater, when it worked, would melt your Crocs. Semaphore turn signals were a great example of modern engineering. And woe be the person that gases up and forgets to close off the reserve lever. 
You want quirky rear engine cars, try the various Renaults. Who would think to put the fuel filler inside the engine compartment? The French! I borrowed a R10 for a weekend. Neither the the gas jockey or I could find the filler, had to make a long distance call (after getting change) to the owner. Just be sure the gas nozzle goes into the gas filler, not the radiator or oil fillers. 

Then there’s the early Corvair automatic transmission selector. Try to find it. 

46 minutes ago, Joseph2017China said:

All networks are public. Even the ATM is attached to a public network 

I guess I don’t know the proper term of art for those networks which are readily accessible to the public such as those in hotels, restaurants, airports, train stations, etc. Those that either are not password protected or readily distribute the password. 🤷🏻‍♂️

On 5/23/2023 at 12:47 PM, ldubs said:

95% of what I know about soccer I learned from Ted Lasso.   

Is the other five percent the offsides rule?😉🙄

Ironic that even without “Nate the Great,” the West Ham supporters made a mess in Prague after winning what some call “a third rate cup.”

On 6/16/2023 at 9:00 PM, Joseph2017China said:

Online banking you can literally pay the credit card same day so no interest 

I wouldn’t recommend that anyone do online banking on a public network. 

What? You passed up Croatia - Spain?

59 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

With all due respect @sharkster77 [which of course means with no respect...] I was expressing my feeling about Viking and explaining my reasons for not booking with them.  Am I 'less equal' than others in this Animal Farm?

59 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

When one posts as “host someone” while expressing a personal opinion it can sometimes lead a reader to suspect that the “seven commandments” have morphed into “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” 
 

With all due respect, management might consider the use of “host…” for only board logistical or rule related issues and not in personal opinion posts. 

🤦🏻‍♂️Asked by someone else about three weeks ago. Answer remains the same. 

I should add that you definitely want to join the roll call for your cruise. Its a good way to get ideas and possibly even excursion shares. 

Very good provider, book direct 

https://adventureantigua.com

We did a similar cruise several years ago. It was “old home” visitation as I was in the Berlin Brigade from ‘71 to ‘74. Here’s a place worth visiting, particularly for a veteran, while in Berlin. 
https://www.alliiertenmuseum.de/en/  Its an easy walk from the Oskar Helene Heim stop on the U3 line. 
 

7 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

So, in a real emergency would you just stay in your cabin to avoid the crowd?

AYATA? That’s why I get a balcony, just step off then the water level makes it convenient. 

14 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

Welcome to a real emergency.

Indeed! So I participate in the drill with eyes wide open and attention given where it’s needed. Then hope for, “no problem mon.”

Guess I don’t like rowdy crowds. 🤷🏻‍♂️

The safety video and then reporting to the muster station is much effective for me. I can pay attention to the instructions without having to contend with the noise and distractions of those ***** that started partying early as well as the crowded and uncomfortable conditions. Those presenting all the distractions clearly are getting nothing from the “mustard” drill and are interfering with those that want to take it seriously. 

9 hours ago, ural guy said:

I would cruise on a line that hit those marks, without Pullman beds. 

The small ships that GCT (assuming that was the bed reference) uses for ocean cruises with have regular beds, convertible queen or single. They are either 50 pax or approximately 90 some with 25 or less pax to trip leader. 
It might be worth your while to take a look. 

4 hours ago, jimdee3636 said:

So what are their tangible assets

An extensive mailing list?

From the Travel Weekly article:

“Vantage is still taking reservations, according to a Vantage agent who answered the reservation line on Tuesday. The agent said Vantage was still selling cruises but not departures that would take place over the next ‘three or four months.’" 
 

Call me a cynic. I have a hunch that in two to three months we’ll hear “oh sorry but negotiations fell through.” 
 

Did Vantage ever commission TAs?

Thank you both. 

The itinerary does matter in terms of the eastern terminus.
A few lines go all the to the Black Sea using the canal (not the least bit scenic) and the terminate in Constanta. Most lines don’t go that far, ending at or near, Ruse. Ruse is much closer to Bucharest than Constanta. A few also went further, through the delta. That route is closer to the hostilities in Ukraine and I don’t know if it is an option now.

other than where the trip begins or ends, itineraries are similar. 

@notamermaid (and anyone else with DB experience)

My bother-in-law is looking to travel, by train, from Munich to Hamburg in mid-December. Any thoughts on how far in advance to purchase tickets. 
Thanks

I was able to attend a couple races on the Avus circuit in the early 70s while in Berlin. It was a unique course that usually was part of an “expressway.” There were two parallel straights, roughly 4 km, connected by hairpins. 
Race weekends messed up traffic. 

^^^ WOW! I envy you. Was Wayne* there?
One of those big concours has always been on my list. And also Goodwood.

*https://waynecarini.com

Baldwin Works in Philadelphia, and later Eddystone, was the largest manufacturer of steam locomotives in the US and perhaps the world. They didn’t do so well with electrics and diesel electrics.