FAQs

Vantage offer four different ways for our guests to travel spanning all seven continents — expedition cruises, small ship ocean cruises, river cruises, and land adventures. While these all fall under the umbrella of Vantage Journeys, they have distinct difference in the special interests they appeal to, pacing, activity level, formatting, and more. See below for more information on each type of Vantage journey.

We’re excited to invite travelers aboard our brand-new, 5-star Ocean Explorer and Ocean Odyssey for small ship ocean cruises — defined by the ultimate luxury experience onboard combined with unforgettable cultural connections onshore. While onboard, relax at the top-deck infinity pool, indulge in a relaxing massage at the spa, or try hot-rock cooking at the onboard restaurant. Then, disembark for an eye-opening tours and visits to some of the world’s most iconic cities and hidden gems alike. While certain ports may require tendering to and from the ship, the small size of our vessels gives our travelers access to exclusive ports, less queuing, and more time to spend onshore in each destination.

River cruises offer indulgent amenities while easing guests through serene and picturesque waterways. Sail along the Danube as you take in the charms of Bavaria, discover the greatest mysteries of Egypt along the Nile, or revel in the sprawling landscapes that dot the shoreline of Portugal’s Douro Valley. Whatever the destination, our hand-picked highlights and cultural connections allow you greater access and engaging encounters with locals, while guided by regional experts.

Land adventures are designed for small groups of no more than 24 travelers, giving you greater access to people and places, for a more rewarding experience. Land adventures visit a variety of destinations including Northern and Southern Africa, North America, Australia, and Asia.

You can combine all your travel and referral credits from any Vantage journey and apply them toward a future journey.

Yes, the structure of traveler rewards is the same across both brands.

Both activity level and pacing for each journey are rated as Easy, Moderately Easy, Moderate, Moderately Strenuous, or Strenuous. To make sure you fully enjoy your adventure, and make sure the fellow travelers in your group do as well, we recommend you are in good physical health, with the ability to walk at least 2 miles a day unassisted. For specifics on each Vantage Journey, please reference What to Expect on the Full Itinerary tab at the top of our website. If you have any questions about which Vantage Journeys are right for you, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 1-800-322-6677.

• FREE and Reduced Single Supplements — with FREE Single Supplements on ALL expedition cruises and small ship ocean cruises
• 5-star ship accommodations and exceptional, centrally located hotels
• Round-trip transfers to and from hotels when you purchase Vantage’s air package
• Baggage handling
• Services of an experienced Cruise Director or Program Manager
• Most meals (many with local flavor!) — including full breakfasts daily
• All port charges in the destinations you visit
• Exciting included features and Cultural Discoveries — lectures, city tours, visits with the locals, and onboard entertainment to enrich your experience
• Pre-trip electronic mailings to keep you informed before you depart on your tour
• Exclusive SmartPay Discount Plan offering significant savings
• Option to purchase additional low-cost 100% Travel Protection

Each trip requires a deposit of $500 per person and $1,000 per person for combination tours. Ocean Explorer deposits are $500 per person; $1,500 per person for combination tours comprised of three or more base itineraries; and 10% of the base price per person on Legends of Asia, the Holy Land & Europe: A 106-Day Exploration from Hong Kong to London and Vantage Wonders of the World Cruise: A 126-Day Voyage Across Cultures from Hong Kong to Stockholm. If you are able to pay in full for your trip at the time of booking, you can take advantage of our SmartPay savings. So we recommend you have your bank's routing number and account number available when you call. If you received a special promotion in your mail or by email regarding your destination please have the promotional code handy. For international itineraries, you must provide passport information at the time of booking, so it is helpful if you have your passports available when you call.

• On most escorted land tours and many small ship cruises, you can request to be matched with a roommate and you'll pay just 50% of your trip's Single Supplement. If you find a roommate, we will refund you 50% for reservations in double occupancy cabins. If we are unable to find you a roommate, you'll have your own room anyway and pay just half the Single Supplement for your trip.
• On select departures of most European river cruises and escorted land tours, you'll find designated Guaranteed Share Dates. Reserve one of these dates and you'll avoid the Single Supplement entirely, whether we match you with a roommate or not.

All U.S. based itineraries operate under the jurisdiction of Jones Act. The Jones Act prohibits all ships of Non-U.S. registry from embarking and disembarking guests at two different U.S. ports. This means that guests are not permitted to permanently disembark this journey at a secondary U.S. port of their choice, as this would be a violation of the law. Any guest who insists on disembarking the ship in a port which violates the Jones Act will be responsible for any resulting penalties. For more information on the Jones act, click here.

Yes — you need to request a change more than 90 days prior to your departure date. It’s very important that you double check the spelling of your name when making your reservation, providing us your name as it appears on your passport (minus your middle name), and checking the spelling shortly after you receive your invoice and air itinerary. If there are misspellings that aren’t corrected, your airline tickets won’t be usable. To avoid having to reissue tickets or buying completely new tickets, be proactive. And remember: You will not be able to request changes within 90 days of departure.

Please note: You will be responsible for any applicable charges imposed by our vendors. Name changes are considered traveler substitutions, which are subject to cancellation charges.

Work with your airline to rebook your flight, then call us right away. Vantage Travel is available 24 hours a day to assist you with your travel needs, including those caused by flight delays or cancellations. After you rebook your flight with your airline, call us with your updated flight information.

Please note: Vantage Travel is not responsible for flights delayed or cancelled, portions of trips missed due to such issues, or additional expenses incurred prior to joining your trip.

Plan for the unexpected — just in case. We want and hope for you to enjoy smooth travel throughout your journey, but it’s always best to be prepared for surprises.

Arrive early: Giving yourself plenty of time for traffic, check-in, security, and other unanticipated delays will help keep you feeling less stressed. Also note that many airports now have websites that provide real-time information on airport security delays.

Check your check-in times: Whether you contact your airline by telephone or visit its website, it’s always a good idea to make sure you have the latest information.

Know your “Operating Carrier”: You may be traveling on an airline other than the one listed on your ticket. If your itinerary identifies an Operating Carrier, be sure to check in with that airline for your flight.

Aer Lingus 800-223-6537
Aeroflot 888-340-6400
Air Canada 800-247-2262
Air China 800-882-8122
Air France 800-237-2747
Air India 800-223-7776
Air New Zealand 800-262-1234
Alaska Airlines 800-426-0333
Alitalia 800-223-5730
American Airlines 800-433-7300
Austrian Airlines 800-843-0002
Avianca 800-284-2622
British Airways 800-247-9297
Cathay Pacific Airways 800-233-2742
China Airlines 800-227-5118
Copa Airlines 800-359-2672
Delta Airlines 800-221-1212
Emirates 800-777-3999
Finnair 800-950-5000
Iberia Airlines 800-772-4642
Icelandair 800-223-5500
Japan Airlines 800-525-3663
JetBlue 800-538-2583
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines 800-225-2525
Korean Airlines 800-438-5000
LAN 866-435 9526
Lufthansa German Airlines 800-645-3880
Qantas Airways 800-227-4500
South African Airways 800-722-9675
Swiss Air 877-359-7947
Taca International Airlines 800-400-TACA
TAP-Air Portugal 800-221-7370
Thai Airways 800-426-5204
Turkish Airlines 800-874-8875
United Airlines 800-241-6522
US Airway 800-428-4322
Virgin Atlantic 800-862-8621

We will create your preliminary air itinerary approximately 15-30 days after you make your reservation and send it to you via both mail and email. You can also view your itinerary within My Portfolio. Please note that this itinerary is subject to change. You’ll need to contact us immediately if your first and last names do not appear exactly as they do on your passport.

Based on our routing guidelines, we’ll offer you non-stop flights whenever possible, as well as acceptable connection times of no less than two hours and no greater than four hours. If you are dissatisfied with your preliminary air itinerary for any reason, please contact us at 1-888-782-6824 to speak to a Flight Choice Agent. We’ll give you additional options around your routing and airlines, and work with you to create an itinerary that suits your needs.

In general, we strive to offer you the best value possible, and we negotiate special airline contracts — which may contain certain restrictions that affect availability, choice of seats, flights, routes, and/or specific arrival times. While we charge no administration fee to customize your air itinerary, you may be subject to increases in airline costs.

You will receive a final documents package that includes your final air itinerary approximately 15 days prior to your departure date.

Yes, but note that the airline will not always give you a seat assignment in advance. Vantage Travel will forward to the airline your request for preferred seating, and you can check for confirmation of your seat requests on the Air Itinerary page within your personalized My Portfolio. It is important to note that you DO have a confirmed reservation, even if you don’t see a seat assignment on your air itinerary.

If the airline is able to pre-assign seats, your seat will be indicated on your final air itinerary

If the airline does not pre-assign seats, we recommend that you check in early at the airport and request your preferred seat.

Please note: Bulkhead seating and emergency exit seating cannot be pre-assigned, as airlines need to qualify passengers for those seats at check-in. If you prefer these seats, we strongly recommend that you check in early.

Yes, on participating airlines. Business Class upgrades are available on most Vantage Travel journeys, at a significant discount from airlines’ retail fares. Premium Economy and Economy Plus are offered by select airlines on a more limited basis, but we’ll submit your request when available.

If you haven’t yet made your reservation, you may purchase a seating upgrade when you reserve.

If you have already reserved your trip, you can request an upgrade by calling Flight Choice Toll-free at 1-888-782-6824.

Please note: Seating upgrades are subject to availability.

Yes. We encourage travelers to make their most of their international airfare and maximize their discoveries. Subject to flight availability, you’ll have the Flight Choice option to arrange deviations at the beginning or end of your adventure—giving you the chance to travel on your own to wherever you choose.

It is important to note that you are responsible for confirming your flights, arranging your hotels and airport transports, and arriving at the proper airports for your flights. Additional air charges may also apply. You must request to deviate no later than 90 days prior to departure. Requests inside 90 days may incur a service fee.

Final payment is due 120 days prior to departure for most Vantage trips. Final payment for Ocean Explorer and Ocean Odyssey combination tours is due 180 days prior to departure. Please our see Terms and Conditions for full details.

Yes. Prior to your departure you will be asked to complete a pre-trip survey. Survey results are reviewed each week by the management team. We encourage you to let us know how we are doing so we can improve our service to you. In addition, after each phone call to our sales and Customer Concierge Staff
team, you will be transferred to a post-call survey. This allows us to monitor agents' individual service levels. We thank you in advance for your feedback