vantage deluxe travel

Vantage Deluxe World Travel Company Profile

River, Small Ship, and Land Journeys With Vantage Travel

Vantage Deluxe World Travel  is a group tour operator founded in 1983 by entrepreneur Henry Lewis. It is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The company is both a cruise and land tour operator that has served over a half-million senior travelers with deluxe land, river, and sea travel programs over the past 30+ years. One of the main goals of the company is to design itineraries that introduce travelers to local people where they live, work, and play and to use the very best regional guides available to educate travelers to the places they call home.

Vantage has been sailing the rivers of Europe with its own fleet since 1999. Currently, Vantage has over 60 different Memorable Journeys -- land tours or cruises visiting 80 countries on all seven continents.

The company has two primary divisions. Vantage Deluxe World Travel includes river cruises, European small ship cruises, and land tours. Vantage Adventures is comprised of small ship cruises and small group land journeys. 

Vantage's river cruises are its most popular programs. The company owns and operates its own ships on the Rhine, Main, Danube, Moselle, Seine, Saone, and Rhone rivers in Europe. It charters ships for the Elbe and Douro. Since 2011 in Asia, Vantage Deluxe World Travel has offered river cruises on privately chartered vessels on the Mekong, Irrawaddy, and Ganges rivers. 

In 2016, Vantage introduced its first luxury river vessel, the ms River Voyager. This European river ship joined the company's four deluxe river vessels. Vantage also began offering cruises in the United States, starting with a cruise on the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes.

Vantage Deluxe World Travel Ocean Cruise and River Ships:

Vantage Travel owns and operates five river vessels in Europe. These ships have a maximum of 176 guests. 

• ms  River Venture  (built in 2013) -- 134 guests
• ms  River Splendor  (built in 2013) -- 176 guests
• ms  River Discovery II  (built in 2012) -- 176 guests
• ms  River Navigator  (built in 2002, refurbished in 2013) -- 134 guests
• ms  River Voyager (built in 2016) -- 176 guests

I sailed on the ms River Voyager in March 2016 and loved the comfortable design of the river ship, its accommodations, and cuisine. 

The company charters the 78-guest ms Frederic Chopin on the Elbe River in Germany. The ms Douro Serenity joins the fleet as a charter ship in 2017.

Vantage charters these yachts and small cruise ships in Europe. I sailed on the yacht-sized Variety Voyager a few years ago and loved the ship and the fascinating ports of call. The company also charters small ships in the Mediterranean . 

Vantage charters these vessels in Asia, the South Pacific, and the Indian Ocean.

Vantage Deluxe World Travel Passenger Profile:

Most of Vantage Travel's guests are 55-80 years old, travel frequently, and are past passengers of the company. More than half of the guests are women, and about 40 percent are single. The company often offers "free single supplements", which makes their cruises and tours attractive to solo travelers.

Prior to 2015, Vantage only marketed its Memorable Journeys to mature, English-speaking travelers in the USA. Starting in 2015, the company formed strategic partnerships with established travel agencies in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia and began selling its tours and cruises to English-speaking travelers in those countries.

Vantage Deluxe World Travel Contact Information:

The company markets its cruises and tours using email and direct mail. Vantage buys directly from travel suppliers and sells directly to its customers. 

Reservations & General Information Toll-free: 1-888-514-1845 Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM ET Saturday, Sunday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM ET 

Customer Service Toll-free: 1-888-982-6824 Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM ET Saturday, Sunday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM ET Email Vantage Customer Service

President's Club Exclusively for travelers who have traveled three or more times with Vantage. Toll free: 1-800-833-0899 Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM ET Saturday, Sunday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM ET Corporate Headquarters Vantage Deluxe World Travel 90 Canal Street Boston, MA 02114-2031 Phone: 1-617-878-6000 Fax: 1-857-313-6400

Budapest is Vantage's river fleet headquarters and main European operations base, but the company has regional offices around the world.

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My Trip with Vantage to Antarctica was... - Vantage Deluxe World Travel

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Travelled probably about 10 times with Vantage. Always a great experience. Staff in the office... read more

NEVER BOOK WITH VANTAGE TRAVEL! I paid for a cruise around Ireland departing May 29, 2022. Five... read more

My Trip with Vantage to Antarctica was an amazing Voyage

I am writing in part to counter all the previous reviews which focus on unfortunate customer service issues primarily around payments and refunds. I did not cancel my trip with them so did not encounter such difficulties - though I do think that they are terribly understaffed in their home office (pandemic?) and were not available to correct, confirm and explain issues in advance. I had signed up for a trip with Vantage for their Antarctic Grandeur for January 2022, since they offered me a "deal" on what was a bucket list trip for me that was too good to refuse: no single supplement, no airfare charge and an up-graded cabin on a newly built expedition vessel. Usually, Vantage is a price point or two above my budget but this made a huge difference. And once the Tour Director got in touch with me in the weeks before departure, the frustrations I had been feeling ended. Patricio was responsive, transparent and resourceful. Though circumscribed by pandemic protocols in the US, Argentina, on board and on the Continent - this remained an extraordinary and amazing voyage. I will not say that there were no glitches and limited disappointments, but the Ocean Explorer was a beautiful ship with the most up-dated navigation and stabilization technology and designed with a ventilation system which protected against the spread of the virus. All the staff and crew on-board were exceptional - pleasant, hard-working and in the case of the Expedition Team, experienced and well-informed. Antarctica is ineffable - a destination that feels existential. And the penguins are genuinely cute and engaging. For better or worse, it is being affected by climate change and we were able to see it in temperatures which were not disabling. The staff made accommodations for the different needs of quite a few travelers for landings and zodiac cruises. The food was very good and varied. While we did not have world-renowned scholars (as operators such as Linblad/National Geographic often do) we were offered informational lectures on many aspects of the itinerary and could well have been further informed in conversations with the Team. I invite you to seriously consider Vantage for your vacation planning. I am certainly glad that I did. Perhaps, just try not to cancel.

In my recent inaction with the customer service, the agent Dave was very "robotic" in his response and absolutely did not care about my concerns and the issues brought to him. Past involvement with the company was excellent but it appears that the company's new motto is to get the most from them we can(customers) and then "screw" them as much as we can. What a tremendous change in behavior and business practice. I will never again book and travel with them again. I'm stuck with the current booking since I really have no choice but " BUYER BEWARE". They may scam you for most of what they can and will get from you!

I booked "Deep in to the Amazon...Brazil & Colombia & Peru". departing March 13, 2022. I paid nearly $12,000. for this trip less than a month ago. Vantage has cancelled the trip and has unilaterally rebooked the trip for March 12, 2023. When I informed them that this was unacceptable and that I wanted a full refund ($11.922), I was told that no cash refund would be made and that I would have to accept travel credit with Vantage. THIS IS TRULY OUTRAGEOUS.

Although we traveled previously with Vantage and had positive travel experiences, we never had to cancel a cruise until recently. On December 30, 2021, I emailed and Chatted our cancellation notice of a cruise we had scheduled for May 2022. Vantage confirmed receipt of our cancellation on the same date. The cancellation was made more than 120 days prior to departure, so it was done according to their own Terms and Conditions thereby entitling us to a full refund, minus a small cancellation fee. It's now more than 6 weeks later and we still have no refund. I have been in touch with Vantage almost daily since we notified them of our cancellation. We pointed out how quickly they TAKE our money by echeck from our bank account when we schedule a trip (sometimes while we are still on the phone with them!) and asked why it takes so long to REFUND money. No explanation other than "the world COVID situation." I pointed out that they handled thousands of calls prior to COVID (mostly calls to schedule travel); why can't they handle thousands of calls now (some to schedule travel, some to deal with refunds)? Same number of calls, just a different nature to some of the calls. "The world COVID situation." I have filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office (my home state and Vantage's home state) and with the BBB, but that doesn't seem to bother them (I pointed out that they could be processing refunds rather than spending time responding to AGO and BBB inquiries). If there is absolutely positively no chance in this world or the next that you will cancel your trip, Vantage offers some good cruises. BUT BUT BUT if there is even the slightest chance that you may have to cancel your Vantage trip AND YOU HOPE TO GET YOUR MONEY BACK, don't use this company! Other companies (e.g., Viking, Tauck) give refunds promptly -- they value their loyal customer base and the referrals generated by that base. Vantage's refund policy and practice demonstrate that they don't give two hoots about their customer base or potential referrals. They have $48,932 of MY money (some of it since June 2019) and all of it interest-free. They have other customers' money, too. So, what do you figure? Hundreds of thousands of dollars? Millions of dollars? All interest-free . . . . The AGO should be after this company and their BBB score should be F.

Vantage Travel is a rip off! Buyer beware. If you book with this company you might as well throw your money down the toilet. One travel writer has suggested that this company may be going bankrupt. My experience is long and involved but I will summarize by saying that I booked and PAID IN FULL for a river cruise for March of 2020 which was cancelled by Vantage due to COVID. I was offered a full refund (which I now know I should have accepted) or full credit for the same cruise when it became available again. The same cruise became available in 2022 however Vantage had not rebooked me, and now they want $4000 or more of my money to rebook the same cruise. I have now asked Vantage for a complete refund. Trying to get through to this company is extremely difficult, customer service is a joke. Vantage's answer to all this is yes I am entitled to a refund but they cannot tell me when I will be receiving the refund (if ever). When I asked to speak to someone with authority I was told on two separate occasions that it could be up to 12 WEEKS before I could expect a call back. DO NOT BOOK A TRIP WITH THIS COMPANY!

This company needs to go under. After reading Gerry L13Pdx's review, I can only agree with everything he said. No refunds even though the pandemic canceled traveling. We were offered a voucher for a trip that was to be rescheduled. The only way we knew about the rescheduled trip was through the group leader. Nothing was sent to us personally. We were never able to reach Vantage by phone, email or their chat line. But, hope sprung eternal and we made plans to go ahead with the rescheduled trip. When all the covid protocols came about, no one from Vantage helped us find a testing sight for the covid test required 72 hours before an international flight. We did that on our own and it was difficult. There were entry forms to fill out for the European countries and no one from Vantage helped here either. They are like a ghost company. If you have a question - tough luck. Several days before our trip, Covid advisories came out from the CDC and the American Embassies of the countries we were to visit stating nonessential trips were not advised. Vantage had no response to that. And finally, the morning we were to leave, one of the countries we were to visit went on complete lockdown and stated that all nonessential businesses would not be open. We were spend several days in that country. The group leader had trouble reaching Vantage on the morning of departure and at the last minute was told the trip was still on and that there would be "changes to the itinerary". No details. In other words, we were now to take a mystery tour. We did not book a mystery tour. We felt the trip should have been canceled after the travel advisories came out. The "change"in itinerary was the last straw. We felt our money had been wasted whether we went or not and we opted to stay home and be safe and not put up with the grief and tension that just getting ready for this trip had already put upon us to say nothing of the fear of getting covid. Either way - go or stay - we were duped. We will tell everyone we know NEVER book any trip with these scam artists. They have no interest or empathy for travelers.

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• Vantage Deluxe World Travel to be rebranded as Vantage...

Vantage Deluxe World Travel to be rebranded as Vantage Explorations

The recently appointed owner of a financially troubled Boston cruise company has expressed intentions to rebuild the brand's credibility and confidence among customers through a relaunch scheduled for 2024.

Neville Buch (Chairman of Aurora Expeditions/fleet ) stated that Vantage Deluxe World Travel will be rebranded as "Vantage Explorations", officially restarting operations in 2024.

In an email correspondence, he conveyed Aurora Expeditions' strong commitment to both enhancing value for Vantage Travel's customers who are creditors and delivering outstanding travel experiences. He acknowledged the ongoing nature of the restoration process due to the recent nature of developments and the previous uncertainties.

The Australia-based company successfully acquired Vantage's assets after submitting a US$2 million bid in US Bankruptcy Court. Vantage had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June (2023) following extended criticism. Numerous customers had raised concerns about pending refunds for canceled or postponed trips, as Vantage was reported to owe an estimated US$108 million to its clientele.

Under the terms of the acquisition, Aurora has decided to offer Vantage customers owed money the option of 100% future travel credits. These credits can be utilized for future ocean cruises, permitting customers to redeem 50% of their credits at a time based on the cruise's list price and availability. For river or land trips, customers can use 20% of their travel credits per trip.

The travel credits will remain valid until November 2028, and customers have the option to share these credits with friends and family.

Buch revealed plans to commence communication with customer creditors in the next fortnight, with the hope that they will positively consider the proposed offering. He emphasized immediate availability for ocean cruises using their fleet of Infinity class ships, while also expressing ongoing discussions with potential partners for river and land trips.

A spokesperson from Aurora indicated that the company is currently crafting travel itineraries encompassing the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Middle East, and British Isles.

Welcome to Consumer Rescue

Fiascos and Fixes

Vantage Travel assets sold to Pacific Travel Partners. Here’s what customers can expect

Michelle Couch-Friedman

Consumer reporter and ombudsman

August 20, 2023

The remnants of Vantage Deluxe World Travel have been sold to Pacific Travel Partners, a subsidiary of Aurora Expeditions, for $2 million. 

Pacific Travel Partners will operate the new company as Vantage Explorations .

This outcome has surprised many following the Vantage Travel bankruptcy proceedings since late June, as competing bidder United Travel was widely expected to emerge as the winner. 

And there were more surprises when the purchase agreement details were revealed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court on August 9. For Vantage customers, who are collectively owed $108 million, the offer from Pacific Travel Partners is considerably better than the initial sale proposal from United Travel.  

Now that the assets of Vantage Travel have been sold to Pacific Travel Partners, here’s what customers should know. 

What Pacific Travel Partners and Aurora Expeditions will offer Vantage Travel customers

As part of the sale agreement, Pacific Travel Partners will provide Vantage Travel customers with future travel credits equal to 100 percent of the value of the refund owed to them at the time of the bankruptcy. As with the original sale proposal, there are redemption guidelines and limitations:

• The credits can be redeemed with either Aurora Expeditions or Pacific Travel.
• Travelers may pay for up to 50 percent of the cost of a new ocean trip with their credits.
• Travelers may use their credits to pay for up to 20 percent of river or land tours. (Note: As of Feb. 27, 2024, river tours — operated by Viva Cruises — are available for booking through V antage Explorations .) 
• Travel credits can be shared with friends and family but can’t be sold. 
• Customers can apply their credits to as many trips as they like until they are gone (at the percentages given above) until November 2028.

What to know about traveling with Aurora Expeditions or Pacific Travel

• All passengers must be medically approved for travel.
• Each customer must independently research and purchase their own travel insurance.
• Tour payments will be placed in an escrow account until the day of departure. 
• Except for contact information, all personal details (credit card, banking, passport numbers) will be deleted ten days after the customer’s trip.  

Vantage Travel customers have questions

Since the announcement of the sale of Vantage Travel to Pacific Travel/Aurora Expeditions, questions from customers have flooded the Consumer Rescue helpline and our 2,200-member strong Facebook group dedicated to Vantage customers. 

Here are the most frequently asked questions from Vantage Travel customers.

Who bought Vantage Travel?

Pacific Travel Partners, a subsidiary of Aurora Expeditions, bought the assets of Vantage Deluxe World Travel after a bankruptcy auction held on August 7 and 8, 2023. Judge Janet Bostwick approved this purchase in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Boston on Aug. 14, 2023.

Why can’t I find any information about Pacific Travel Partners?

Naturally, when it was announced that Pacific Travel had won the auction to buy the assets of Vantage Deluxe World Travel, customers started scrolling through the internet to learn about the new company. Confusion immediately ensued when many could find no internet footprint for Pacific Travel Partners. 

There’s a simple explanation.

Pacific Travel Partners is a brand new company created solely in anticipation of bidding and hopefully purchasing Vantage Travel through the bankruptcy court. It has no employees, crew, ships, or tours available – yet. 

But although Pacific Travel has no internet footprint or reputation to boast of, its parent Aurora Expeditions does . 

Having been in business since 1985, Aurora Expeditions, headquartered in Australia, is a well-respected adventure tour operator focusing heavily on The Arctic and Antarctic regions of the world. 

Will Vantage Travel executives work at Pacific Travel?

In a word: No. The leftover Vantage Travel executives will not be hired by Pacific Travel or Aurora Expeditions.

An earlier version of the bankruptcy proposal indicated that the new owner of Vantage Travel would be required to hire the four or five remaining executives of the company. That made many Vantage customers understandably angry.

But that was before Pacific Travel became the front-runner to buy what’s left of Vantage. 

In a conversation I had with the chairman of Aurora Expeditions this week, he made it clear that was no longer the case.

We have no relationship to the former owners or management of Vantage Travel business and do not intend to employ the former senior management going forward. Neville Buch, Chairman of Aurora Expeditions and Pacific Travel

This information was music to the ears of many Vantage customers, who could not imagine patronizing another company led by the very executives they blame for their lost cash and trips.  

What is Form 410 Proof of Claim?

All Vantage Travel customers who believe they are owed a refund should file Form 410, “Proof of Claim,” through the bankruptcy court via Stretto. By submitting the Form 410, you will ensure that you are on the list to receive travel credits from the new company.

At this time, it is possible to file Form 410 electronically through the link above. You can also confirm that you’ve successfully been added to the claims list by checking here (using just your last name) about 10-14 days after you’ve submitted the form.

* Dec. 1, 2023: The deadline for filing a Notice of Claim has passed.

How can I spend my travel credit?

It’s true that there are no tours available to book at Pacific Travel at this time. Until that company is up and running, Vantage customers are free to use their credits on a trip with Aurora Expeditions. 

Will any of my money go back to Vantage Travel if I spend my credits?

No. Although there is a clause in the sale agreement that says 5 percent of the sales booked through Pacific Travel Partners for the next five years will go back to the Vantage Travel bankruptcy estate, there is an important exclusion : Trips booked by Vantage Travel customers in which they use any of their credits.

Former Vantage Travel customers can rest assured that none of their cash spent with the new company will end up going back to the bankruptcy estate.

I’m elderly, and I can’t take an adventure trip with Aurora Expeditions. Now what?

We know that, on average, Vantage customers tend to be an older population. In fact, most of them are in their 70s and 80s.  That’s not exactly the prime target for a company that operates adventure travel to remote areas of the world.

In my conversation with Buch this week, he addressed the question of whether an older population could take an Aurora Expeditions tour: 

People do go on our tours and enjoy sightseeing and lectures, the main physical activity is getting in and out of zodiacs. We take healthy people comfortably into their late 70s early 80s but only when mobility becomes an issue does it become more difficult. Neville Buch, Chairman of Aurora Expeditions and Pacific Travel

But with that mobility concern in mind, Buch went on to explain that Aurora’s ultimate goal is to develop Pacific Travel into a tour operator that provides journeys more in line with the expectations of Vantage Travel’s customer base.  

Additionally, Aurora is expanding its own offerings in the coming months and years with “adventure-light” type tours, which may be more appealing to Vantage customers.  

How do I know for sure my upcoming Vantage trip is canceled?

Even though we are nearly two months into the bankruptcy proceedings, some customers are still not ready to accept that Vantage Travel is bankrupt and out of business . Nearly on a daily basis, a Vantage customer will email me and ask about an upcoming trip they hope might still operate.

Vantage has contributed to this confusion in a number of ways: 

• It filed for Chapter 11 (restructuring) instead of Chapter 7 (liquidation).
• Vantage did not send a notification of total cessation of operations to its entire customer list. 
• Its website has remained live, and customers can still sign in. The canceled tours they expected to take are still listed as active.
• In all correspondence Vantage has had with its customers, the company has refused to say these simple words: “All future Vantage Deluxe World Travel tours are canceled.” Instead, the company has consistently used the word “suspended.”

So, since Vantage won’t say it, I will. 

• All Vantage Deluxe World Travel trips are canceled. Forever.
• Vantage is out of business.
• That company will not be operating any future tours. 
• The assets of Vantage Deluxe World Travel, including the customer list, were sold to Pacific Travel Partners.
• Pacific Travel/ Aurora Expeditions can’t take over the Vantage Deluxe World Travel website because of the Personal Identifying Information (PII) contained inside, which is not part of the sale. It is expected that the current site will be taken down shortly after the closing this week. 

Note : Pacific Travel Partners will “trade as” Vantage Explorations . That means that the name Vantage will continue to live on but will not be the former company. 

How will I find out about my future travel credits?

The sale will officially be finalized this week. At that time, Pacific Travel will receive the Vantage Travel customer list and will soon send an introduction letter with a short survey to everyone on that list. 

Update: The new company, operating as Vantage Explorations now has a website and you can reach their customer service team at [email protected]

Can I still get future credits if I received a refund in some other way?

No, that’s what’s called double-dipping, and it isn’t legal. Vantage customers who received a refund via a travel insurance policy, a credit card chargeback, or an ACH reversal don’t qualify for future credits with Pacific Travel or Aurora Expeditions. 

Do I have to accept these credits? I want a refund instead

Surprisingly, this is a question I receive frequently from Vantage customers . I’m afraid it’s rooted in a misunderstanding about bankruptcy. 

Vantage Travel went bankrupt. The company is in debt to the tune of 170 million dollars. Unsecured creditors, like customers, are always last on the list for refunds in bankruptcy cases. And in this situation, there are no assets. Even the secured creditors will be walking away with virtually nothing. 

Of course, no Vantage Travel customer will be forced to accept or use the credits offered by Pacific Travel. But a better deal will not be in the cards. There will not be cash refunds for Vantage customers at the end of the bankruptcy proceedings.

Fact: The buyer of the assets of a bankrupt company is under no obligation to absorb the former company’s debt.

In this case, Pacific Travel Partners is offering customers a chance to receive something instead of nothing out of the Vantage bankruptcy. It’s ultimately up to the customer to decide whether or not to use those credits, but they’ll have five years to make that decision. And remember, if you’re a Vantage customer who will receive travel credits, you can also give them as gifts to friends and family if you decide you don’t want them.

Refusing the credits in anger might make you feel like you’re making a statement against Vantage, but it really doesn’t. I see no benefit from rejecting something that you may find valuable down the road after the sting of this bankruptcy dissipates — and after we learn more about the company Pacific Travel intends to evolve into.

Vantage Explorations contact information

* Note: If you are a former Vantage Deluxe World Travel customer who was owed a refund at the time of the company’s bankruptcy (or had a future trip planned) and have not been contacted by the new company Vantage Explorations, you can reach their team at [email protected] (Note: There is just one letter E in the center of the email address.

*If you haven’t filed your “notice of claim” Form 410, with the bankruptcy court make sure to do so ASAP. There is information here that explains how to file .

The bottom line

The last several months have been a long and unpleasant journey for Vantage Travel customers blindsided by this bankruptcy. 

Although Pacific Travel Partners’ purchase of the assets of Vantage Travel will not lead jilted customers to retrieve the 108 million dollars owed to them, it will hopefully give them closure. They now have the possibility of recouping their losses in the form of travel credits that can be spent on future adventures.

And that is likely the best outcome anyone can hope for in this terrible consumer catastrophe. ( Michelle Couch-Friedman , Consumer Rescue)

Dec. 31 update:

There was very good news for some victims of the Vantage Travel bankruptcy as we finsihed the year.

Jan. 21, 2024 update:

Why are so many Vantage Travel customers rejecting their credits?

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Important Announcement

On August 18, 2023, Pacific Travel Partners, a subsidiary of Aurora Expeditions, acquired the business and operating assets of Vantage Deluxe Travel through a competitive bidding process that was supervised and approved by the United States Bankruptcy Court.

Included in the assets acquired is certain personally identifiable information of former customers of Vantage Deluxe Travel, including names and contact information, which had been collected by Vantage Deluxe Travel in the course of offering its travel products prior to its sale.  Please note that Pacific Travel Partners has not acquired any credit card numbers, ACH or bank account information or passport numbers of Vantage Deluxe Travel’s former customers.  Going forward Pacific Travel Partners will honor Vantage Deluxe Travel’s policy with regard to customers’ personal information collected prior to the company’s closing, and will also make the customer information subject to Aurora Expeditions’ more customer friendly privacy policy, which can be found  here .

Former customers of Vantage Deluxe Travel may wish to ‘opt-out’ of future marketing communications issued by Pacific Travel Partners in connection with operating the travel business, and can do so by emailing [email protected] . Please note that by opting out, customers will forfeit the right to apply a Future Credit on account of a postponed trip.

Vantage Explorations

Vantage explorations are travel specialists here to help you plan a trip that matches your dreams and sense of exploration. we offer a range of experiences which are operated by aurora expeditions. , about aurora expeditions.

Aurora Expeditions is an award-winning expedition cruise company with a legacy spanning over three decades. We take travelers to some of the planet’s most incredible and sought-after places, offering ‘Expedition’ and ‘Discovery’ style voyages to Antarctica, the Canadian and European Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, Scotland, Ireland, Latin America and beyond.

Our ‘Discovery’ style voyages take travelers to the heart of nature and offer a fresh perspective on iconic destinations, with an emphasis on culture and history. On these voyages, we visit a unique blend of destinations, landing at ports where possible but also utilising Zodiacs to get passengers to shore in remote historical or natural sites where there isn’t a port or dock nearby.

Aurora Expeditions is deeply committed to environmentally respectful travel to preserve the natural world’s beauty and majesty, by taking real actions for the care of the planet. We want our travellers to experience the environments and places we visit, by learning about the wildlife and history of these locations from experts in their fields.

Our voyages appeal to a wide range of passengers, including solo travellers, couples and multi-generational families. Our focus is on enabling passengers to travel in small groups to experience unique destinations aboard comfortable, safe and ultra-modern vessels. We are proud to offer a comprehensive activity program that enables passengers to choose their level of participation on an individual basis.

View Voyages – Operated by Aurora Expeditions

Discover our full range of immersive discovery voyages, expeditions and trekking itineraries in the polar regions and diverse destinations across the globe.

Explore our Arctic & Global 2024 season, full of enriching, once-in-a-lifetime adventures across some of the most pristine destinations in the world.

Enjoy life changing adventures in the seventh continent – Antarctica – in our latest brochure. Choose from 25 expeditions ranging from 9 to 23 days.

Discovery Voyages: Visit Diverse Destinations

Arctic circle, northern lights, costa rica & panama, classic expeditions: explore life changing places, northwest passage, patagonia & chilean fjords, ultra-modern, purpose-built small ships.

In 2016, Aurora Expeditions committed to three Infinity class ships – the same ship class and design recently launched by Vantage. The Greg Mortimer launched in 2019, the Sylvia Earle in 2022, and we are excited to have the third vessel joining us in October 2025.

These ultra-modern purpose-built ships utilise the latest advances in design and technology, truly revolutionising the small ship experience. Designed for discovery, they carry a maximum of 132 passengers. Travelling in small groups means that, unlike on larger vessels, you have the opportunity to explore the natural environment more by joining every shore excursion.

With expansive observation decks to bring you closer to the environment, spacious staterooms featuring ocean views (most with balconies), modern lecture lounges, multiple Zodiac platforms, world-class restaurants, a gym, sauna, library, bar and Jacuzzis, our ships are comfortable base camps for adventures around the globe. What’s more, the revolutionary Ulstein X-BOW® design allows the ship to cross oceans more comfortably and quickly, while minimising emissions and fuel.

What do our passengers say?

We are here to help! To contact our Customer Service team, call us on 1-800-322-6677 , email customercare@vantage xplorations.com  or complete the form below.

Request a customised quote

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Majestic churches, impressive historic fortresses, and palatial buildings: Moscow is a fascinating city whose emblematic architecture reflects the turbulent history that has defined Russia throughout the centuries.

The traces of the USSR can be found around every corner of the city , side by side with the iconic relics of Imperial Russia , like the mythical Red Square , the imposing Kremlin , and the beautiful  St Basil's Cathedral . 

Discover a fascinating world of Cold War bunkers, golden-domed basilicas, world-class art museums, and the legendary "palace of the people,"  as the Moscow Metro has been nicknamed. Whether you fancy watching a classical Russian ballet at the Bolshoi Theatre , perusing the fine arts at the Pushkin Museum , or marveling at the sheer size of the monuments to the Soviet state's achievements at the  All-Russia Exhibition Centre , this travel guide will help you on your way!

Where to start?

If you're going to travel to Moscow and you don't know much about the city yet, the first thing to do is to dive into its legendary history - understanding the past will help you understand the present. Next, check out our practical hints and tips on traveling to the city before discovering which of its most important museums , monuments , and attractions pique your interest.

Looking for a place to stay?

Booking your accommodation in advance is the best way to get great discounts. Our detailed guide on where to stay in Moscow  will help you decide which neighborhood you'd like to look for hotels or apartments in, and our hotel search engine will find you the best deals!

Why is our Moscow travel guide the best?

Introducing Moscow is a  city guide written by travelers for travelers  and contains personalized advice to help you make the most of your trip to the city.

All the information in this guide is valid as of December 2022. If you find any errors or have any comments, please feel free to contact us .

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