Vikto ria Takács-Ollram, the founder of Victoria Cruises Line (VCL) is in the limelight. Her company’s audacious plans for large cruise ships to make around-the-world voyages have drawn a rising tide of opposition. VCL registered as a public accounting and tax advising firm in Hungary that same year. In recent years, it has changed the way it does business – dramatically for the better. The firm has been under intense media investigation since it delayed its mooted departures and stands accused of failing to deliver on pledges to clients.
VCL’s narrative took a turn in 2022 when it shifted its primary activities to include “services auxiliary to waterborne transport” and “rental of water transport equipment.” This expansion only picked up speed into 2023, with the addition of car rental services and lending of machinery. The company announced that by January 1, 2025, its main activity would be “passenger transport by sea,” a significant pivot to a cruise-focused enterprise.
The agency’s company website is currently advertising an incredible residential cruise. It has private and shared cabins for a three-year journey to 115 countries, with costs from about US$3,840 (£2,858) per month. VCL’s ambitious project has run into some serious turbulence. In May 2023, VCL canceled the inaugural voyage only weeks before passengers were set to embark. This move put hundreds of thousands of consumers in a state of uncertainty.
Investigators have contacted people who were allegedly hired as crewmembers. They found that most of these people did not actually get false job offers. During the Utah-based investigation, the ports of departure advertised by VCL were found to be different from those that had been scheduled.
Graham Whittaker, an attorney and bankruptcy financial consultant watching the unfolding saga, has tallied VCL’s take in the millions of dollars from paying customers. In particular, he raised alarms about the increasing accumulation of undisbursed customers.
“It got dirty because we started to find scores and scores more people who had never been refunded, who had asked for their money back, who had been lied to,” – Graham Whittaker.
Until now, VCL has resisted acknowledging that there is a single “victim” in this sordid affair. The airlines claims that the 38 customers who requested a refund are unable to accept that they do not qualify for one. They’re not just whistling Dixie with this assertion. Though they eventually admitted to 132 of those cancellations, they went on to claim that zero of the complaints deserved a refund.
VCL’s site isn’t shy about showcasing photos of shiny new “settlers” on ships. A lot of these images look like stock images you can just pull off the web. This calls into question the credibility of the Shanghai company’s promotional brochures.
In light of increased public pressure, VCL has released public responses asserting its dedication to its clients. Yet they continue to argue that their operations are lawful. Major Ocean’s ship, originally called the Holland American Veendam and newly christened as the Majestic, is incredibly seaworthy.
“We do have a beautiful, seaworthy ship, the former Holland American Veendam, now the Majestic,” – VCL’s US representative.
In response to public criticism, VCL’s leadership has adopted a defensive posture.
“Yes, we will take legal action against anyone who tries to settle their complaint on social media,” – VCL.
The company’s CEO, who happens to be Takács-Ollram’s 79-year-old mother, has been mum on the growing scandal. This void of information has left room for speculation from both customers and industry watchers.
Adam Glezer, former customer
What Called Adam to Adventure
The vacation of his dreams turned into a digital nightmare. To say that Chamberlain was unhappy with VCL’s handling of customer complaints would be an understatement.
“The people that put down a deposit for this cruise were sold a dream… and it has turned into nothing short of a nightmare,” – Adam Glezer.
The repercussions from this scandal are further exacerbated by VCL’s 990 tax forms, which have listed more than $253,000 in unpaid taxes. This unexpected financial burden has made it even more difficult for the company to keep its promises to customers.
VCL’s website announces with great optimism that they are seeing a surge of interest even in the wake of the unfortunate defeats.
“Despite the delay, we’ve been encouraged by a surprising influx of new interest in recent weeks – a strong signal that our shared dream is very much alive,” – VCL’s website.
That optimism is a far cry from the reality that too many customers have faced after being left behind. Whittaker agreed that threats and harassment have turned into dire matters for some people engaged in the case.
“The threats and the harassments are getting serious for some,” – Graham Whittaker.
As this saga continues to unfold, it raises significant questions about consumer protections in the travel industry and how companies like VCL can operate amid allegations of misleading practices.