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.