38 Years of Vantage: Our Story
Lourdes Galindo
October 7, 2021
Vantage has achieved many exciting milestones throughout our 38 years in the travel industry, from our very first land tours to Australia and New Zealand to the inaugural sailing of our 5-star Ocean Explorer, the first vessel in our new small ship ocean fleet. With more exclusive Cultural Discoveries and UNESCO-listed sites and experiences than anyone else, our curated small ship cruises, Deluxe river journeys, and land adventures have brought more than half a million travelers closer to the world around them.
1983 – 1985: Where It Began
Vantage was launched in the fall of 1983, with a goal to provide private affinity groups with the best luxury travel experience to Australia and New Zealand. Within a year we expanded our journeys to include the most magnificent National Parks in America. By 1985, we had added small-group tours and cruises to the public to our offerings.
1996: Sailing through Europe
By 1996, Vantage had partnered with established European travel companies and began sailing the majestic rivers of Europe — becoming one of the first companies to offer European river cruises to American travelers — and enchanting our guests with the picturesque beauty of the Old World.
1999 – 2004: From Boston to Belgium
In 1999, we opened our World Headquarters in Boston’s historic Bullfinch Triangle and launched our own Deluxe European river fleet with the m/s River Navigator. Over the next five years, we added three more European river ships to our fleet, giving our guests even more opportunities to get closer to medieval castles, trellised vineyards, and the iconic rainbow-hued tulip farms of Belgium and Holland.
2011 – 2013: Exploring More of the World’s Scenic Rivers
In 2011, we once again expanded our river cruise offerings to include Myanmar's Irrawaddy River and the Mekong River in Cambodia and Vietnam, aboard small privately-chartered river vessels. By the end of 2013, the Vantage fleet had set a new standard for Deluxe European river cruising with four additional small river ships and travelers were able to explore storied destinations throughout eastern Europe, including the homeland of the infamous Vlad Dracula.
2015 – 2016: Land Adventures and North American Cruises
In addition to the inauguration of our small group land adventures and small ship cruises — we added active lifestyle features to every journey. In 2016, we began offering cruises in North America, starting with small ship itineraries on the Saint Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes.
2018: Vantage’s 35th Anniversary
Vantage Deluxe World Travel celebrates a major milestone: 35 years as a leader in the luxury travel business!
2019 – 2020: South African Safaris and Solo-Friendly Accommodations
The Vantage-exclusive Iganyana Tented Camp opened in 2020 on a private concession on the borders of Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe’s flagship safari destination. Following acclaim from Solo Traveler and Cruise Critic for our pioneering solo initiatives, we reoutfitted our Deluxe European river fleet in 2021 to be even more solo-friendly, adding new custom-built solo cabins, many with French balconies.
2021: A New Era of Vantage
This summer of 2021 heralded the arrival of the brand-new Ocean Explorer, marking a new era of cruising for Vantage with the first of our small ship ocean fleet. The m/s Nebu, Vantage’s 5-star Nile River small ship, also made her debut in 2021. This beautiful vessel is designed with optimum luxury in mind and will give her guests a comprehensive journey through Egypt, unlocking the great mysteries of this country’s ancient civilizations.
2022 & Beyond: New Journeys on the Horizon
The future looks bright for Vantage as we get ready to welcome the Ocean Explorer’s 5-star sister ship, Ocean Odyssey, in 2022. Together these two elegant ships will offer our guests an intimate small ship cruising experience, as well as state-of-the-art expedition cruising.
Explore more of our most popular itineraries on these fabulous Vantage journeys:
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