All Things Vantage

[pbnjrockette]

Hi PBNJROCKETTE - Your last post re: Vantage President's club perks you mentioned that there is a 10 percent discount on optional tours. We've been on 6 trips with them and that was never mentioned for our President's Club deal. Willard

 

I think this may be a new perk as we just got it on this years cruise. We pre-booked a few optionals and paid them before we sailed. I was surprised to note that they were cheaper than the website listing. When we got onboard we were told about the 10% discount.

[Hydrokitty]

I think this may be a new perk as we just got it on this years cruise. We pre-booked a few optionals and paid them before we sailed. I was surprised to note that they were cheaper than the website listing. When we got onboard we were told about the 10% discount.

 

I think they've done 10% on optionals for at least a year but I had to remind them to take it off my invoice. You also have to remind them to remove increase in trip insurance if you prepay ootionals! There's a glitch in the software, although now they have a new web page maybe they updated other software too. Other new perks fot president's club: 20€ per person in on board laundry; 10% on all on board purchases including drinks, wine and the dreaded corking fee!

Edited August 30, 2014 by Hydrokitty

[me@sea]

Curious as to any feedback about going solo on a river cruise. I really like one of the tours.

[pbnjrockette]

Curious as to any feedback about going solo on a river cruise. I really like one of the tours.

 

 

I just copied this from their website. One of our friends always travels solo... books early and gets a great deal.

 

You can count on the best value in the industry when you travel solo with Vantage, beginning with one FREE Single Supplement on each departure of most Small Ship Cruises and Escorted Land Tours. We also offer among the lowest Single Supplements available. Even some of our trip extensions offer FREE Single Supplement. And on the newest members of our Vantage fleet of deluxe river ships – the ms River Discovery II, the ms River Splendor, and the ms River Venture – you’ll enjoy single-occupancy staterooms. It's our way of making deluxe travel even more affordable - and more enjoyable - for singles.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

The laundry is a nice perk, and getting it on each leg is great ..

[FuelScience]

Tell me about the corkage fee. How much is it? We've cruised Viking, and they never charge a corkage fee. Of course, with free wine on Viking, drinking your own wine means that you're not drinking theirs. Maybe Vantage will drop the fee next year when wine with dinner becomes standard on all their cruises.

 

FuelScience

[Hydrokitty]

Vantage has always had a corkage fee for wine you purchase off the ship. I don't mind that but when we all bought wine from a Vantage "trusted vendor" I think they should have uncorked free. But that's just me. They charged 7€ per bottle and gave me 10% discount. I doubt they'll ever give it up!

[npphotog]

Re: Vantage web site - The French Waterways starting directions/dates do not match the catalog listing for June. Called them with that question and the sales person really pushed to have me book that day. p.s. Still waiting for the check in the mail for recommending a couple for there first Vantage trip. They just might lose this "President's Club" member. Looking into Viking.

[CPT Trips]

Re: Vantage web site - The French Waterways starting directions/dates do not match the catalog listing for June. Called them with that question and the sales person really pushed to have me book that day. p.s. Still waiting for the check in the mail for recommending a couple for there first Vantage trip. They just might lose this "President's Club" member. Looking into Viking.

 

When did their trip end?

[npphotog]

Hello CPT Trips - Vantage started in Marseille (June 2nd) and ended in Chalon-sur-Saone with a bus trip (I think) to Lyon for the flight home. Their web site says the opposite way and the catalog has it the right way. Very rude and pushy sales person when I just called to find out which was the correct direction. Been on 6 trips with them and they have been great but this sales person was bad. Hope Vantage reads the Cruise Critic. It is a 12 day trip.

[Hydrokitty]

Hello CPT Trips - Vantage started in Marseille (June 2nd) and ended in Chalon-sur-Saone with a bus trip (I think) to Lyon for the flight home. Their web site says the opposite way and the catalog has it the right way. Very rude and pushy sales person when I just called to find out which was the correct direction. Been on 6 trips with them and they have been great but this sales person was bad. Hope Vantage reads the Cruise Critic. It is a 12 day trip.

 

I think you should write and let them know in detail what happened here...then if you are not satisfied with response you can always change companies. We both have had too many good trips and wonderful experiences with Vantage to give up all our perks based on ONE person in the sales Dept.

[ez_gene]

Hydrokitty,

We'll be doing the Gateway to the Black Sea next June with our own extension to Vienna and then to Prague. May I ask a few questions of you at a later date? This will be our second Vantage cruise. We did the Moscow to St. Petersburg cruise with the Baltic's extension in 2013.

[Hydrokitty]

Hydrokitty,

We'll be doing the Gateway to the Black Sea next June with our own extension to Vienna and then to Prague. May I ask a few questions of you at a later date? This will be our second Vantage cruise. We did the Moscow to St. Petersburg cruise with the Baltic's extension in 2013.

 

I'd be delighted to hear from you. You can e-mail me directly at chydro564@yahoo.com. We did pre-trip to Prague with Vantage and IMHO the extension was really worth it. One of the highlights of the trip for me, was Kutna Hora and the Ossuary. The Hilton Old Town was wonderfully located and our group of about 24 really gelled. We'be also been to Vienna and it's another lovely and wonderful city. From Vienna you can take a ferry across the Danube to Bratislava, which is a lovely city and unfortunaetly Vantage doesn't stop there on it's Danube cruises...We went in June as well and the weather was delightful.

How did you like Moscow to St. Petersburg? We did the Kiev extension instead of the Baltics. DH wouldn't stay away for that long and I figure I can do the Baltics on Celebrity and get another night in St. Pete, and with the current situation I am so glad I did because I absolutely loved Kiev! Were you on the Tolstoy?

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Hello Vantage, Thank you for all your help today with our 21 day Treasures of France River Cruise, The service department went the extra mile to help us. I appreciate so much the friendliness of your staff. this will be our 3rd trip with Vantage I can not say one bad word about your company THANK YOU If any one has any Questions about Vantage they are more than happy to E mail me gmwg at juno.com Gail and Marty

[followyourheart]

Hello Vantage' date=' Thank you for all your help today with our 21 day Treasures of France River Cruise, The service department went the extra mile to help us. I appreciate so much the friendliness of your staff. this will be our 3rd trip with Vantage I can not say one bad word about your company THANK YOU If any one has any Questions about Vantage they are more than happy to E mail me gmwg at juno.com Gail and Marty[/quote']

 

Very nice! Thanks for sharing. Have a great cruise!

[FuelScience]

We've reserved a Vantage cruise next year that ends in Basel. Can any of you veteran Vantage cruisers tell me whether Vantage tends to fly you out of Basel or Zurich?

 

We would prefer Zurich where we could catch a non-stop to the US. We will probably do Vantage's Flightchoice. Will that allow us to choose our departure city?

 

Thanks,

FuelScience

[Hydrokitty]

We've reserved a Vantage cruise next year that ends in Basel. Can any of you veteran Vantage cruisers tell me whether Vantage tends to fly you out of Basel or Zurich?

 

We would prefer Zurich where we could catch a non-stop to the US. We will probably do Vantage's Flightchoice. Will that allow us to choose our departure city?

 

Thanks,

FuelScience

 

Usually Vantage will arrange your air free of charge...of course, the downside to that is they get to choose where you leave from and where you land, but they will also pick you up at the city of their choice and bring you to the first hotel/boat. If you choose flightchoice they will route you on the airline and cities of your choice, BUT unless you are a member of the President's club (3 completed trips/cruises or more) it will cost you at least $100 per person.

We're also doing Amsterdam to Basel next August and I have requested non-stop business class from JFK. The tour ends in Basel, so I'm fine with flying out of Basel, but I do have an advantage being able to fly in and out of JFK. I can tell you more after our flight arrangements are posted, as of last week, it was still to early. Another option is to make your own air arrangements and either pay Vantage $100 pp for transfers or do it yourself. For example, we're doing Trans Canada by train next Spring and since we've been to Vancouver and Toronto and are comfortable in both cities and with French we're booking our own air on Air Canada and saving about $700. I also know how far the airport is from the hotel and what it will cost me for a taxi, which is a wash with Vantage but I get to choose what time I leave the hotel in Toronto for my return flight at Noon.

[4774Papa]

Does anyone know when Vantage will release its cruises with prices for 2016?

[GregnChris]

We are booked on the Oct 23, northbound, Culinary French Waterways: Highlights of Burgundy, Beaujolais & Provence cruise. We are staying an extra 5 days at Le Meridien Etoile on Starwood points.

 

The question is, should we spend the first night in Paris at the already paid for Pullman CDG (part of the tour), or should we book an extra night at Le Meridien and ask Vantage to take us there with the folks that are doing the 4 day Paris add-on?

 

To help make that decision I have some questions, I hope someone can answer.

 

About what time does the group arrives in Paris on the TGV from Dijon? I assume the Paris destination is the CDG station, right?

 

For the group going directly home, I expect they bus them to the Pullman CDG for the night, then arrange for your transfer in the morning to the terminal for your flight home. About what time do they get to the hotel?

 

For the group staying on for the 4 day Paris add-on, I expect they bus them from CDG to Le Meridien Etoile, right? About what time do they get to the hotel?

 

If we decide to forego the night in the Pullman and book an extra night at Le Meridien Etoile, I will ask Vantage if they can put us on the bus with the extension folks. Anyone have any experience with this?

 

Any advice or insight will be appreciated.

 

Greg

[4774Papa]

We are booked on the Oct 23, northbound, Culinary French Waterways: Highlights of Burgundy, Beaujolais & Provence cruise. We are staying an extra 5 days at Le Meridien Etoile on Starwood points.

 

The question is, should we spend the first night in Paris at the already paid for Pullman CDG (part of the tour), or should we book an extra night at Le Meridien and ask Vantage to take us there with the folks that are doing the 4 day Paris add-on?

 

To help make that decision I have some questions, I hope someone can answer.

 

About what time does the group arrives in Paris on the TGV from Dijon? I assume the Paris destination is the CDG station, right?

 

For the group going directly home, I expect they bus them to the Pullman CDG for the night, then arrange for your transfer in the morning to the terminal for your flight home. About what time do they get to the hotel?

 

For the group staying on for the 4 day Paris add-on, I expect they bus them from CDG to Le Meridien Etoile, right? About what time do they get to the hotel?

 

If we decide to forego the night in the Pullman and book an extra night at Le Meridien Etoile, I will ask Vantage if they can put us on the bus with the extension folks. Anyone have any experience with this?

 

Any advice or insight will be appreciated.

 

Greg

Your post seems to ask if you should pass on the already paid portion Paris portion of your trip at the Pullman and book an extra night at the Le Meridian. Why would you not stay at the Pullman if you paid for it? Perhaps I should ask, why did you book the Meridian with Vantage if you planned on staying at the Le Meridian?

[GregnChris]

Your post seems to ask if you should pass on the already paid portion Paris portion of your trip at the Pullman and book an extra night at the Le Meridian. Why would you not stay at the Pullman if you paid for it? Perhaps I should ask, why did you book the Meridian with Vantage if you planned on staying at the Le Meridian?

 

I am thinking about how we will be spending time in Paris. The Pullman night is part of the Vantage base tour. The downside of staying at the Pullman is that we have to transfer hotels on our first day. That is lost time that could be used for other things, like a visit to the Musee D'Orsay :)

 

So I am wondering what time Vantage gets us into Paris. Once I know that I can decide if I want to go through the hotel switch, of book an extra night at Le Meridien.

 

Thanks for the question.

 

Greg

[FuelScience]

Usually Vantage will arrange your air free of charge...of course, the downside to that is they get to choose where you leave from and where you land, but they will also pick you up at the city of their choice and bring you to the first hotel/boat. If you choose flightchoice they will route you on the airline and cities of your choice, BUT unless you are a member of the President's club (3 completed trips/cruises or more) it will cost you at least $100 per person.

 

Thanks Kitty. You're always a great source for all things Vantage. We've already decided to to FlightChoice in order to get a few extra days in Amsterdam on the front end, so it should allow us to book a flight out of Zurich on the trip back home.

 

Thanks again!

FuelScience

[CPT Trips]

If they will book your flight out of Zurich, be certain to ask whether they will also provide your transfer.

[Shmoo here]

Usually Vantage will arrange your air free of charge...of course, the downside to that is they get to choose where you leave from and where you land, but they will also pick you up at the city of their choice and bring you to the first hotel/boat. If you choose flightchoice they will route you on the airline and cities of your choice, BUT unless you are a member of the President's club (3 completed trips/cruises or more) it will cost you at least $100 per person.

We're also doing Amsterdam to Basel next August and I have requested non-stop business class from JFK. The tour ends in Basel, so I'm fine with flying out of Basel, but I do have an advantage being able to fly in and out of JFK. I can tell you more after our flight arrangements are posted, as of last week, it was still to early. Another option is to make your own air arrangements and either pay Vantage $100 pp for transfers or do it yourself. For example, we're doing Trans Canada by train next Spring and since we've been to Vancouver and Toronto and are comfortable in both cities and with French we're booking our own air on Air Canada and saving about $700. I also know how far the airport is from the hotel and what it will cost me for a taxi, which is a wash with Vantage but I get to choose what time I leave the hotel in Toronto for my return flight at Noon.

 

I'm a little put out by Vantage right now. Apparently, Air Canada has released it's schedules now. So we've been sent our air itinerary for our cruise next July. Only one of the flights has a seat assignment on it. I checked out those seats, and they are in the very back of the plane. In looking at the Air Canada website, practically all seats of that category are available. I don't want to be in the very last row on the plane!

 

Plus - of the 5 flights necessary for this trip, the one that's 10 hours long is the only one that doesn't have a power connection at the seat. I guess we'll be running our little travel computer down on that flight. I mean, even the short 2 hour flight has a power connection at the seat. I don't need the computer so much on that flight, but I will on the loooooong one. :mad:

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

I'm a little put out by Vantage right now. Apparently, Air Canada has released it's schedules now. So we've been sent our air itinerary for our cruise next July. Only one of the flights has a seat assignment on it. I checked out those seats, and they are in the very back of the plane. In looking at the Air Canada website, practically all seats of that category are available. I don't want to be in the very last row on the plane!

 

Plus - of the 5 flights necessary for this trip, the one that's 10 hours long is the only one that doesn't have a power connection at the seat. I guess we'll be running our little travel computer down on that flight. I mean, even the short 2 hour flight has a power connection at the seat. I don't need the computer so much on that flight, but I will on the loooooong one. :mad:

 

You could call the airlines and ask to change the seat..