Wanderess_7Continents provided a summary of their voyage that was turned around on day 2, returning to Ushuaia, apparently due to storm damaged sustained on the previous voyage. The summary is how Atlas dealt with the cancelled voyage and subsequently getting a berth on Lindblad/ National Geographic.
Embarkation date was December 7, 2023 with Atlas Ocean Voyages aboard the World Voyager.
www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowTopic-g1-i12337-k14666509-WARNING_about_Atlas_Ocean_Voyages-Antarctic_Adventures.html#119980924đ˘ Sharing our disastrous experience with Atlas Ocean Voyages â World Voyager
Their communication breakdowns, operational failures, lack of accountability, and struggle for a reimbursement (still ongoing đĄ) turned our dream trip into a chaotic ordeal. To this day, we havenât received a clear and official explanation regarding the shipâs issues directly from Atlas.
â ď¸ I URGENTLY WARN fellow travelers about booking with Atlas Ocean Voyages. Despite the significant amount people like us spent on their cruise, their customer service has been nothing short of abysmal, leaving us with a cautionary tale for fellow travelers. đ
Unless Atlas Ocean Voyages seriously steps up their game â
better communication, service, and compensation policies â my trust in them is shattered.
While some of you may have had positive experiences,
For an unpredictable expedition like an Antarctica Cruise, where substantial investment is requiredâI strongly recommend opting for a company known for reliability and dedicated customer support. Yes, things happen while traveling, but what made this experience horrible is how they handled everything afterwards.
Here's the full story:
â Day 1: From Buenos Aires up until boarding the ship â there were minor hiccups, but overall, everything was fine. At midnight, we hit the Drake Passage, which was smooth as "Drake Lake." Chatting with staff before heading to bed, we learned of the storm prior to our sailing, which had up to 40-ft waves, tossing crew members from their beds. One crew member said it was the worst she'd seen in her two years of working there.
âDay 2: All was well until we woke up at 8:30 am to an announcement that we had turned around. Returning to Ushuaia, Atlas Ocean Voyages told us about boat inspection delays and vague promises of more info the next day. The speculation among the passengers was that the ship might have sustained damage from the intense waves from the preceding voyage, and this issue only came to light during our expedition.
Around 11 p.m., we noticed a discreet transfer of passengers to another Atlas ship. It seemed they prioritized moving those in suites from the World Voyager to the World Traveler. While we understood why, the lack of transparency to the rest of the passengers was in a bad taste. While most passengers were still left in the dark, we proactively tried to connect with someone. Thanks to our initiative, we were added to a list for a potential transfer to a Lindblad/National Geographic ship. Uncertain but hopeful, the departure was scheduled for the following evening, returning to Ushuaia (significant, considering our original endpoint was Punta Arenas). Unfortunately for most other passengers, they were not offered such an option since no announcements had been made.
â Day 3: Atlas organized a day tour in Ushuaia, delaying our return to the ship until 4 p.m. Upon badging back in, we were summoned to the Atlas lounge. David from Atlas presented a proposition: "If you really want to make it to Antarctica, would you like to go on the Nat Geo ship?"
We inquired about the status of the Atlas ship, and he said they still didnât know what had happened or if we would still make it to Antarctica if we stayed on the ship. We asked about what was included with the Lindblad/ National Geographic ship, all we got was that it was leaving soon and coming back 10 days later (Dec 19). He added that he needed to know right now, or else, heâll give the slot to someone else. He said, however, "If you go you will not receive any reimbursement for the issues experienced on the Atlas - World Voyager ship."
After deliberation, we chose the Lindblad/ Nat Geo ship, hastily packing as it was leaving in an hour. Questions about getting from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas went unanswered. Once on the Nat Geo ship, uncertainty persisted. There was confusion surrounding the inclusion of parkas, boots, and the chartered flight (which was included in our Atlas package). While parkas were eventually confirmed, the debate over charges for rental boots and the chartered flight ensued, with conflicting statements from Nat Geo and Atlas on inclusion.
Despite a late-night scramble (on limited internet) to rearrange our international airfare (now returning from Buenos Aires) and to cancel hotel and tour bookings in Punta Arenas, we still faced uncertainty about the Ushuaia to Buenos Aires leg.
â Day 4: Still no additional information from Atlas Ocean Voyages. But at least, we were now on the Lindblad/ National Geographic ship and headed to Antarctica.
â Day 5: For the first time ever, we were finally provided with written information which required our signatures. It was during this communication that Atlas informed us of a reimbursement of up to $1,000 per person for any rebookings needed, requiring receipts. However, disappointment grew as we learned that the chartered flight was not included, and they expected us to pay $650 per person for the flight from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires.
>>> On the compensation offered by AtlasâŚ
It was a meager 50% discount on a future sailing. This does little to alleviate the extensive inconveniences we endured. In fact, two months laterâwe still havenât received any reimbursements for the flights we had to rebook!
>>> Other observationsâŚ
The Atlas ship was new and beautiful but did not seem to be properly designed for the Drake Passage. In contrast, everything on the Nat Geo ship was secured, with chairs and tables tied down or bolted to the floor. This attention to safety was notably absent on the Atlas ship, as we discovered even the welcome desk was sliding around during the previous cruise's rocky journey in the Drake Passage. It seemed like a ship made more for the calm Mediterranean than the challenging polar regions. Moreover, the staff on the National Geographic ship displayed a higher level of experience, further emphasizing the contrast between the two cruise providers.
â ď¸ In conclusionâŚ
Despite our initial optimism, our experience with Atlas has been marked by continuous disappointment.
Unless Atlas Ocean Voyages seriously steps up their game â better communication, service, and compensation policies â my trust in them is shattered. While some of you may have had positive experiences, for an unpredictable expedition like an Antarctica Cruise, where substantial investment is requiredâI strongly recommend opting for a company known for reliability and dedicated customer support.
TLDR:
â ď¸Choose wisely, fellow travelers, and think twice before trusting Atlas Ocean Voyages with your plans.
#AtlasOceanVoyages #WorldVoyager #TravelWarning
