goatee350

I’m following both.

I have been travelling with Vantage since 2008 & has been ongoing issues all along mostly related to bad customer service. I put up with it as the trips/cruises are fantastic. Though I consider Ocean Explorer & Odyssey to be way overpriced for what you get. I paid half the cost & got free air & that was about the right price for what I got.

That’s right. I don’t think is anywhere else on the website.

I think I read about the $20 gratuities in money matters within my portfolio. Because is a smaller ship with under 200 passengers can dock places bigger ships can’t. We used zodiacs to visit the replacement island for Devils Island & that was ok. I think the food is better on Vantage europe river cruises. The ship is ultra modern & roomy. I don’t remember any issues with air con or cleanliness etc.

I sailed on Ocean Odyssey late last year & tipping wasn’t included. I think was $20 per person per day? I’ve sailed on Star Clipper’s ship Royal Clipper & the experience & food was superior to what I had on Ocean Odyssey. I got a last minute deal with Vantage for a Caribbean Brazil cruise that was cancelled & rescheduled to later last year. For what I was paying which was half the normal price was about right & I did get free air from LA. If paying non discounted pricing I think the ocean ships are way overpriced for what you are getting. For that pricing I would expect a 6 star cruise & I could get if I went elsewhere.

I continue to travel with Vantage because I like their product,they do have a lot of promotions like free air. Though I’m sure there are other river cruise lines that have much better customer service.

I agree with the interaction with locals being meaningful. It is a strong point with Vantage. I have a Christmas markets cruise in Nov & the cancelled Tulips cruise from last month re booked for April next year. Here’s hoping all our cruises run ok 👍

I’ve travelled with Vantage about 17 times since 2008. There land trips are fantastic & there river cruises are great also. On the river cruises I have gotten to know crew & cruise directors,conceirge & a hotel manager & is always good to catch up with them again. The cruises/land trips are GREAT/FANTASTIC but the customer service at times has been really bad. I think us loyal customers either just put up with the bad service or haven’t experienced it yet. I’ve seen where people have had several trips/cruises then have a major problem then they are finished with Vantage. There would be a lot of people over time who through bad experience decline to travel with Vantage again.

That’s interesting reading your response. On my 4 Croisi cruises we had a set menu on all the cruises. I found the food to be rich compared to American food. Though you probaly had a select menu more to American tastes on your charter cruises. We had a guy who was on one of my cruises checking out the ship,talking to the chef about meals for a charter this year.

I did 3 Croisi river cruises & 1 barge cruise last year & is definitely a value option but is a very different cruise experience to Vantage. Firstly in our experience we were only part of a very small group of English speakers onboard,the majority are French & the language barrier is very evident. The food is ok being what the French eat & not what I would call gourmet. The cruise staff look after the English speakers & we mostly had English translations on the shore excursions but at times wasn’t as much as the French received. The entertainment is focused on the french so not easy to relate to. They do have free drinks,coffee all day & night. I’m booked on a river cruise in November & will continue to cruise with them. So just be aware is a very different cruise experience to Vantage which is tailored to the American market whereas Croisi is for the French market.

I think the Vantage ships are great also but way overpriced unless you pay about half the list price. I find the food & experience & crew better on the European river cruises. For the price Vantage wants I can go elsewhere & get a 6 star experience with gourmet food & free liquor all day for e.g. Ponant.

I was on Odyssey last November & was able to make Skype audio calls to australia without any problems. I’m sure will work with other types of calls like Snapchat etc.