Views on Vantage

[RvrCrzr]

My facts are facts that came straight from Vantage itself. I have not sold any Vantage trips to test it out. The consumer website is built for consumers to buy direct.

Most cruise lines sell direct on the web. You pay exactly the same as you would with a TA. If you buy direct, you pay the same and miss out on all services a TA provides. I suppose it's 'possible' that since Vantage touts they don't sell through TA's...they have lowered the price but I doubt that like crazy.

[HiLo71]

Hi everyone...I want to thank you all for replying to my questions about Vantage and TA's...didn't mean to start a war here, but anyway, we have decided to put off a River Cruise for a while. Not sure it would be right for us just now, but certainly do appreciate all the comments and advice. Will keep it all tucked away for later use...and whatever cruises you all have planned, I hope they are spectacular. :D Thanks again!!

[RvrCrzr]

No worries Lois...

You know how CC is. ;) Good luck in your endevours.

[CPT Trips]

Hi everyone...I want to thank you all for replying to my questions about Vantage and TA's...didn't mean to start a war here, but anyway, we have decided to put off a River Cruise for a while. Not sure it would be right for us just now, but certainly do appreciate all the comments and advice. Will keep it all tucked away for later use...and whatever cruises you all have planned, I hope they are spectacular. :D Thanks again!!

 

No problem . . . I simply copied and quoted what is on their web site. I believe it.

 

Do give river cruising a try - it's wonderful!

[RvrCrzr]

No problem . . . I simply copied and quoted what is on their web site. I believe it.

 

I looked back at my email from Vantage they sent me in Feb. I see a little 'gray area' that I'm currently trying to clarify. I'll post my results either way so everyone knows and can search it later.

[jhagen]

HiLo71,

Just gave a quick look at ucruiser.com as seen on your countdowns and wondering how you would compare them with this board?

Looks like they do not have to many current posts and wondering if they are new or what? Or if you use them for particular information?

Don't want to seem to be critical, but just wondering.

Thanks,

jhagen

[HiLo71]

HiLo71,

Just gave a quick look at ucruiser.com as seen on your countdowns and wondering how you would compare them with this board?

Looks like they do not have to many current posts and wondering if they are new or what? Or if you use them for particular information?

Don't want to seem to be critical, but just wondering.

Thanks,

jhagen

 

Not being critical...I just use their signature thing...have never used their site...didn't even know they had one like this...is it similar with boards and comments? Now you've got me curious..:confused:

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

We always book with our TA for ocean cruises ,EXCEPT When we do Vantage..

[Talisker92]

We have sailed on 3 Vantage river cruises; 2007 Xmas cruise Budapest to Passau;2010 Budapest to Amsterdam, and we just got back from a cruise through Burgundy on the Rhone and Saone Rivers.

We have been happy with all of them, especially with the air upgrades and the air deviations. Prior to our last cruise we flew to Zurich and explored the Bernese Alps before getting on the ship.

[cruisemom123]

We have done 3 river cruises first Viking China . we were not to happy with the escorts they seem to let one couple do anything they want which meant be late getting back on thebus for every stop we make 28 people on a hot bus waiting 15 days of the same thing. The next 2 river cruises were with Vantage fantastic escorts. great food gret itinerary. first Tulips and wind mills 2009. 2011 fall we did castles along the rhrine and Danube.

This year they have a new ship and I think 2 more next year. Sometime if thewater leval is not good they have to make adjustments but I loved the locks I think there were like 68 or so. I cannot comment on Vantage and the air as I always use mile and do my own.

The escorts usually 4 of them all work together are very knowlegable.

Onthe last cruise ther wer a few cities yu had a choice of 2 different tours That was nice for the folks who may not have wanted to be so active. It might seem like the river cruising is more expensive but by the time yu add al lthe tours included I think it is about the same. both times we had french balconies one a larger cabin once the regular size but the top deck the larger the better if you have the money.

sorry I did not see this post sooner. I am jsut startingot scrap book the trip I think we took 3000 pictures linda and tim minnix

[PCruzer]

We have done 2 trips with Vantage. The first a river cruise on the Danube in Sept. 2011 the second a land/cruise tour Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands. Both were fabulous. In regard to the river cruise, we felt that we got great value for our money. The ship (Odyssey) was in wonderful shape. Everything looked brand new, even though we knew that it wasn't. The Program Directors were great and very helpful. The food was plentiful and very good. The cabins, although small, were well laid out and used the space well. The other passengers onboard were very friendly and were great to be around. If I had to point out any negative at all, it was that the desserts were not very good. Not a big deal. We had plenty of wonderful desserts and pastries in the ports that we visited.

 

Vantage markets to the USA, so we found that all our fellow river cruisers were American. We kind of liked this aspect. We usually find that many more Americans are non-smokers as compared to Europeans. So we very much like the smoke-free ships. (There are a few designated outside smoking areas onboard. We just steer clear of those areas.)

 

We would travel on a Vantage river cruiser again in a heartbeat!

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

We have done 2 trips with Vantage. The first a river cruise on the Danube in Sept. 2011 the second a land/cruise tour Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands. Both were fabulous. In regard to the river cruise, we felt that we got great value for our money. The ship (Odyssey) was in wonderful shape. Everything looked brand new, even though we knew that it wasn't. The Program Directors were great and very helpful. The food was plentiful and very good. The cabins, although small, were well laid out and used the space well. The other passengers onboard were very friendly and were great to be around. If I had to point out any negative at all, it was that the desserts were not very good. Not a big deal. We had plenty of wonderful desserts and pastries in the ports that we visited.

 

Vantage markets to the USA, so we found that all our fellow river cruisers were American. We kind of liked this aspect. We usually find that many more Americans are non-smokers as compared to Europeans. So we very much like the smoke-free ships. (There are a few designated outside smoking areas onboard. We just steer clear of those areas.)

 

We would travel on a Vantage river cruiser again in a heartbeat!

I agree 100%

[pacmom]

-River cruises in Europe are non-smoking, except in some outside areas. Vantage is not the only line that is non-smoking, add AMAwaterways, Uniworld, Viking and Lueftner's Amadeus line. The lines follow their country policy. Cannot speak of Avalon, Scenic, Grand Circle or Tauck, have not sailed with them. Been on 15 river cruises including Vantage and find that we like the international mix of pax. Pat

[thunderbird56]

Don't want to subject you to our vacation photos, but this slideshow of our Vantage trip in the summer of 2010 does have quite a bit of coverage on the ship. We thought Vantage was excellent. The ship was very nice even though it was not new. They launched a new ship this year that looks great and another new one launches in 2013. I have seen comments on this board that Vantage was a budget line but I never found that to be true in terms of accomodations, food, program managers or excursions. We would definitely go with them again. If you're interested take a look at the show.

 

Dennis

 

http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/openTheBox?sendevent=4d54677a4d5463354f54553d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link

[Carhut]

Don't want to subject you to our vacation photos, but this slideshow of our Vantage trip in the summer of 2010 does have quite a bit of coverage on the ship. We thought Vantage was excellent. The ship was very nice even though it was not new. They launched a new ship this year that looks great and another new one launches in 2013. I have seen comments on this board that Vantage was a budget line but I never found that to be true in terms of accomodations, food, program managers or excursions. We would definitely go with them again. If you're interested take a look at the show.

 

Dennis

 

http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/openTheBox?sendevent=4d54677a4d5463354f54553d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link

 

Loved your slide show. I recognize most places as I have many of the same pics.

[atlasali]

Thank you for sharing your slide show. We are busily making our pre- and post-trip arrangemnts for next May.