EXPERTS TO SERVE YOU, SHIP TO SHORE
During your cruise you’ll be well taken care of, including with daily briefings about upcoming ports conducted by your Cruise Director. Your Cruise Director is also the point person for coordinating social and cultural activities on the ship, and the person who will ensure that your experience is the best it can be. Lectures on your journey will be conducted by handpicked Resident Lecturers. To lead your included shore excursions, we’ve selected the best regional guides. If your program includes a land stay (or if you’ve chosen an optional extension), you’ll also enjoy the service of a Program Manager to steward your journey to its very end.
CRUISE DIRECTORS MAKE YOUR TRIP "SMOOTH SAILING"
Your Vantage trip will be led by a seasoned Cruise Director who will ensure your comfort and satisfaction. Think of him or her as your onboard “host” — the person to turn to with questions about your itinerary, updates on the day’s activities, reservations for optional tours, and so much more.
Kathi Cullin
Working in travel for most of her life, Kathi is excited to show Vantage travelers the wonders of the United States — and she’s been to all 50. She loves highlighting the different characteristics of the Great Lakes and America’s national parks, each boasting a distinct personality and beauty. With her insider’s knowledge, Kathi enhances every city tour, museum visit, and lighthouse view with in-depth regional history and local expertise. “I love going on adventures with a new group — you just never know what’s going to happen, what might stand out as the most memorable part of the tour, or how travelers are going to react,” she said.
FROM START TO FINISH, PROGRAM MANAGERS ARE THERE
To ensure your fullest satisfaction, you’ll also enjoy the services of a dedicated Program Manager to coordinate shore activities, organize entertainment programs, and oversee operations, including embarkation and disembarkation. When you’re traveling on a pre- or post-trip extension, your Program Manager will also join you to make sure your experience is top-notch from start to finish.
Ruby Gatins
When she was just 5 years old, Ruby traveled with her family throughout Europe, with an emphasis on France. “When I was 6 years old, I already knew French, English, and Spanish, so it was a natural consequence for me to work on the tourism field,” she says. “I got my bachelor’s degree in journalism and communications, which gave me a strong base for working independently and having a lot of confidence in myself — qualities that are necessary to be a guide.” When it comes to traveling with Vantage, Ruby loves “seeing the excitement of guests when they’re having a wonderful trip and I love knowing that I’m contributing to this,” she says.
NEW! ENHANCED COMPLIMENTARY WORLDWIDE CONCIERGE SERVICE
Before your cruise, during your cruise, our worldwide Concierge is here to assist. If you have a special request or personal interest you’d like to pursue during your journey, let our worldwide Concierge work for you — and best of all, it’s complimentary for all travelers. If your cruise is still months away but you’d like to plan a party, track down a bit of your family’s heritage in one of your destinations, secure restaurant reservations, and beyond, we’ll get to planning early. Or, if you’re onboard and want to visit the spa, make hotel reservations, organize a pub crawl for family and friends, your onboard Concierge service can make your travel dreams come true.
To request Concierge service prior to your journey, simply log in to MyPortfolio, submit a pre-trip request to Concierge@vantagetravel.com, or call 1-888-982-6824 and you'll have your answer from our Concierge within two business days.
Kathleen Fitzgerald
With more than 30 years in the travel industry, Kathleen is something of a jack of all trades. “I’ve held roles in tour operations, sales and marketing, meeting and event planning, and more,” she says. But a few years ago, she decided to become a full-time guide. A self-dubbed “actress and a natural storyteller,” Kathleen enjoys sharing with others the places she loves and teaching Vantage travelers about the destinations that have intrigued her, including America’s national parks, Brazil, Germany, and the U.S. Eastern Seaboard. “I have a boundless sense of curiosity,” she adds. “I enjoy bringing a new place to life for my guests with information on history, current events, flora and the fauna, and geology.”
RESIDENT LECTURER
We’ve handpicked these regional experts to join you on your journey and oversee your historical and cultural enrichment specific to your destinations. Through them, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of major chapters in world history and other, in-depth subjects relevant to your travels.
REGIONAL EXPERTS IN EACH PORT
No one knows a destination better than an insider, so in addition to your Cruise Director, you’ll enjoy the services of experienced, English-speaking regional experts to lead your included excursions on shore. Their deep command of regional history will certainly enrich your viewing of important attractions. But these “insiders” go a step beyond, sharing insights on behind-the-scenes aspects of local culture that ordinary tours overlook. How do families in this area get by? What are some of the local legends? What do the decorations on a particular house mean? Your regional experts are eager to bring it all alive for you.
