All Things Vantage

[pbnjrockette]

I have 2 questions...

 

Where did you find a video of the Perouges optional excursion? I looked at most of the videos, and did not see one re. Perouges.

 

Also, does Vantage send anything out by mail before we sail...like luggage tags, name tags, who will be meeting us, etc.?

 

Stan

 

You will need to download copies of your documents (I also recommend making hard copies in case your phone or iPad isn't working or charged --happened to someone on our trip) The luggage tag is a skimpy little piece of paper. We used old Vantage tags from previous trips. I have emailed them and told them that their tags make the company look "cheap"!! You may or may not get name tags when you get there. There was a large group of 20+ on our tour that were given name tags. The rest of us had only old ones or none. Several of us emailed Vantage from Portugal and lo and beyond the tour director was sent a box of name tags and had to print our names on them! They are useful when on the ship and at meals. Do not recommend them when walking around on tour.

[pbnjrockette]

Here is a video of Perogue... not from Vantage but will give you an idea of the town.

[Car-Stan]

Here is a video of Perogue... not from Vantage but will give you an idea of the town.

 

pbnjrockette,

 

Thanks for the info and the video. A very pretty village...reminded us of Lucca in Italy a little bit.

 

Where are you in NJ? We used to live near Summit for years before moving down here to NC.

 

By the way, weather-wise, we are getting constant and fairly heavy rain, but so far are ok and have power. East of us there is flooding of roads, some vehicles submerged, and a state of emergency has been declared for the entire state. We and many counties around us have flash flood warnings for the next several hours.

 

Of course, the terrible weather and state of emergency have not stopped any of the local universities - UNC, NC State or Duke from holding their football games as scheduled - State just finished beat Notre Dame in a washout bowl), UNC and Duke recently started.

 

Stan

[Car-Stan]

I e-mailed Vantage to ask about tags and being met in Lyon. Here is their reply:

 

We will be mailing luggage tags prior to the tour. Name tags are not provided prior, only available on board. Please note you will be met for the transfer in your final destination after you have passed customs and the baggage claim area. You will see a representative who will have a Vantage sign, and your names will be on a list with them. You may have to wait up to an hour for other passengers flights’ to arrive before your transfer leaves.

 

This seems reasonable to me.

 

Stan

[pbnjrockette]

I e-mailed Vantage to ask about tags and being met in Lyon. Here is their reply:

 

We will be mailing luggage tags prior to the tour. Name tags are not provided prior, only available on board. Please note you will be met for the transfer in your final destination after you have passed customs and the baggage claim area. You will see a representative who will have a Vantage sign, and your names will be on a list with them. You may have to wait up to an hour for other passengers flights’ to arrive before your transfer leaves.

 

This seems reasonable to me.

 

Stan

 

Good to know!! Several of us who have traveled with them numerous times (we have 13 trips) emailed them from Portugal about the name tags and luggage tags! Glad to see they are listening. I think the words we used in our emails were that the paper tags they had us email looked "cheap" and that if they were going "green" and not sending name tags, why were our mailboxes always full of their brochures!! LOL

 

Don't worry about being met at your final destination. We have never missed seeing the Vantage sign!

 

Happy travels!

[Mimosa09]

I thought we would be on the same coach to the ship. If we can find a CruiseCritic sign or something we had made for a cruise some time ago, I will have it visible so you can recognize us both in Philly and in Lyon.

 

pbnjrockette - thanks for the info on our stops. I was going to ask a question about the Village of Perouges optional excursion.

 

Anyone else want to share their thoughts on the Village of Perouges excursion or any of the other excursions or choice points?

 

Stan

 

 

We went in May of 2014 on Vantage & loved the Village of Perouges. Lots of opportunities for photos, at least we thought so.

- Rose

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[CPT Trips]

I sent an email to the concierge earlier this evening requesting reservations at a restaurant in Lyon. Since it's Saturday, I don't expect a reply for a couple days.

[CleverScubaCruiser]

Does Vantage have walking sticks on board for passengers to borrow?

 

Also, I don't recall seeing a luggage tag image in the final documents that I downloaded. Is there somewhere else on their website that I should look for one?

 

We leave Saturday for the Rhein and Moselle - hoping water levels improve. I'd gladly send some of the water from hurricane Matthew here near St. Augustine.

[CPT Trips]

I didn't get luggage tags with my emailed doc's. Frankly, I'm not concerned, all they need to do is get my bag to the cabin and there are lots of ways they can accomplish that.

 

We did the Rhein and Mosel on another line and really enjoyed it. Lots to see and, of course, the wines are great. Enjoy!

[zogrand]

We're all packed and waiting for our ride to Logan! We have old Vantage luggage tags we're using - no new ones. But we have to collect our own luggage in Lyon before meeting the Vantage rep. so not worried.

 

I don't ever remember having walking sticks available on a Vantage tour.

 

Provence, Burgundy, and Beaujolais here we come!!:)

[snonomo]

We have hiking sticks that collapse to fit in our luggage from back in the day when we actually went hiking in the mountains. Come to think of it they may be ski poles....whatever, they collapse!

[TravelerThom]

...I don't recall seeing a luggage tag image in the final documents that I downloaded. Is there somewhere else on their website that I should look for one?

We leave Saturday for the Rhein and Moselle - hoping water levels improve. I'd gladly send some of the water from hurricane Matthew here near St. Augustine.

The boats have less than 100 cabins. If you have any sort of a name on your bags (and if there are not 2 John Smith onboard) they will find you. Unless you check in before the cabin is ready, there will be someone (cabin steward, waiter, sailor etc) to carry your stuff and escort you to your cabin. I find it somewhat embarrassing to have a hundred pound girl (probably a woman in her 20s, but far younger than I) carry those bags up or down the stairs better than I would, but just another day at the gym for them.

 

The Mosel and the Rhein are two of my favorite rivers; ENJOY! I'm looking forward to getting back to there, but I guess I'll have to settle for leaving for the Irrawaddy next week.:)

 

Thom

[snonomo]

I'm not happy with Vantage right now. We leave in ten days and still do NOT have a cabin assignment.

When I called previously they said not to worry, cabins are not assigned until 2 weeks before the trip. Today they tell me not to worry, cabins will be assigned one week before the trip.

I'm worried they are overbooked and last ones in, first ones out....or something like that.

[CleverScubaCruiser]

We have hiking sticks that collapse to fit in our luggage from back in the day when we actually went hiking in the mountains. Come to think of it they may be ski poles....whatever, they collapse!

 

I have some of the same and was thinking of taking them. I was just wondering

1. how helpful walking sticks will actually be
   
2. if they already have some aboard the boat - sounds like they don't
   

 

We're really looking forward to this trip. Although we've traveled quite a bit, my husband has never been to Germany.

[CPT Trips]

We're all packed and waiting for our ride to Logan! We have old Vantage luggage tags we're using - no new ones. But we have to collect our own luggage in Lyon before meeting the Vantage rep. so not worried.

 

I don't ever remember having walking sticks available on a Vantage tour.

 

Provence, Burgundy, and Beaujolais here we come!!:)

 

Post when you have a moment and let us know how things are.

[CPT Trips]

I'm not happy with Vantage right now. We leave in ten days and still do NOT have a cabin assignment.

When I called previously they said not to worry, cabins are not assigned until 2 weeks before the trip. Today they tell me not to worry, cabins will be assigned one week before the trip.

I'm worried they are overbooked and last ones in, first ones out....or something like that.

 

Are you ticketed? If so, I think you are good to go. If you booked last minute, they probably want The flexibility to upswell folks.

[zogrand]

Started a new thread with comments about our trip with Vantage. If you're interested see "Vantage Burgundy, Beaujolais, and Provence.

[CPT Trips]

Started a new thread with comments about our trip with Vantage. If you're interested see "Vantage Burgundy, Beaujolais, and Provence.

 

Here's the link - http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2412034

[FuelScience]

I'm doing a reply here to move this thread back up on the list. It's been inactive since October, and people are still asking Vantage questions, so this is an attempt to encourage people to use the thread so that folks can find lots of Vantage stuff in one place.

[kwbts124]

:)

I'll be happy to post our review when we return from the Norwegian coast cruise on Hurtigruten. We also did a tour of the Greek Islands. Think it was with a different tour company and the cruise portion was on the world Renaissance - Royal Olympia. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole trip. Lots of of history and beautiful sights too. Happy travels.

 

 

Just wondering how your Norwegian Coastal cruise went....if you're back.

[lonelybob]

We booked the Marseilles Rhone River cruise last March. Cruise was fine but we got stuck by the front office. Long story. We complained so they gave us a complimentary cruise called Dutch Waterways in March 2017. That was cancelled and we were booked on an April 5 longer sailing, still no cost, but they told us to switch our flights which we had booked and we would be reimbursed for fees. Wound up costing us $840 more than they would reimburse. Still a good deal, but beware of Vantage, they do not live up to their word.

[lilac30]

We were booked on vantage Danube cruise for June 2017. Booked in September cruise cancelled in October. We are still waiting for our refund. Full payment came out of our checking account in 24 hours but somehow they can't manage to send refunds let a lone compensation for the flights and hotels we already booked. We are feeling like this trip was a scam to raise cash flow or who knows maybe bankruptcy. Many calls get us no where letters going out today. Be aware.

[TravelerThom]

Just wondering how your [macsails] Norwegian Coastal cruise went....if you're back.

I also did the Vantage Norwegian Coastal trip in 2012; see msg 729 in this thread if you missed my comments. Outstanding scenery and great trip; not a mass market cruise ship.

 

Thom

[FuelScience]

We were booked on vantage Danube cruise for June 2017. Booked in September cruise cancelled in October. We are still waiting for our refund. Full payment came out of our checking account in 24 hours but somehow they can't manage to send refunds let a lone compensation for the flights and hotels we already booked. We are feeling like this trip was a scam to raise cash flow or who knows maybe bankruptcy. Many calls get us no where letters going out today. Be aware.

 

lilac30

 

So sorry that you're having issues with Vantage. I've only sailed with them once and didn't have problems. From the many messages on this thread, one theme is that people tend to have a great cruise, but no one likes dealing with the front office!

[cole]

After reading so many comments about the lack of customer service with the Boston office, I have to admit I am feeling very cautious about booking a cruise with Vantage with no travel agent to assist if something goes wrong. Anyone else feeling this way? We have done one with them and had no problem, but I sure don't want to take the chance if this is what to expect in the future.

Cole