See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals. If, after reading this authoritative guide on cruising, you feel that youre ready, then go for it. What should I do? A few years ago, cruise lines began installing advanced roaming networks that allowed passengers to make phone calls from the ship. Look out for our newsletters with travel tips and special offers. 2023 Grand Circle Travel 347 Congress St. Boston, MA 02210 We use cookies to improve your experience, by using our site you accept such use. Itineraries are designed for American travelers, with an aim towards immersive experiences such as visiting local homes, interesting walking tours, in-depth cultural interactions and culinary experiences. 301 Route 17 N, Suite 1150, Rutherford, NJ Cruise specialists spend a career developing their expertise, and the best ones have actually cruised on the itineraries they recommend. Over the years they have established a solid reputation for tours and river cruises that offer good value to destinations around the world. Grand Circle Travel is a well-known international travel company based in Boston, Massachusetts. Lunch in one of our specialty restaurants? The high seas can be dangerous, and not just in the movies. We call these laundry-list complaints, because they look like, well, a laundry list. The right to timely information updates as to any adjustments in the itinerary of the ship in the event of a mechanical failure or emergency, as well as timely updates of the status of efforts to address mechanical failures. (How generous of you!) The right to an emergency power source in the case of a main generator failure. Now that we have explored the causes behind Grand Circle Travels financial struggles, it is important to look at potential solutions. An offer of a certificate for future travel with a company I no longer trust is unacceptable. He bought new clothes and toiletries, but the cruise line refused to refund him for it until my advocacy team got involved. Theres only one way to ensure you dont get caught by these fees. But we need to cancel. The right to a full refund for a trip that is canceled due to mechanical failures, or a partial refund for voyages that are terminated early due to those failures. I received no corrected, printed information, no email, no telephone call, informing me of GCT's policy change. Over the years they have. Copyright 2008-2023, Glassdoor, Inc. "Glassdoor" and logo are registered trademarks of Glassdoor, Inc. After taking 12 tours with them, they treated us terribly. Grand Circle Travel employees are most likely to be members of the democratic party. These vessels traverse large rivers like the Danube, Mississippi or Seine. They had no number call back policy and I have been on hold 1/2 hr. The Lewises expanded Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced she reached an agreement with a tour company, securing further refunds for canceled trips. Good luck. General Air Questions. Try to call this phone number 1-800-221-0814/1-877-220-2610, holding for 2 hours cannot get a connection, if The Cruise Company cancel the trip they should automatically refund your money, finally I have through the credit card company to dispute payment. Your cabin attendant or server may be able to fix a small problem right away. You can request a roommate if you travel solo to save on the s We had a great tour guide in Ivan, was very knowledgable, friendly and very considerate of peoples concerns. has refunded more than 5,000 travelers amounting to more than $12 million. Want to take the kids out to dinner or to the arcade? But it refuses to refund his money. The rating was due in part to a series of customer complaints about If you have to stay in touch with the office, buy a wireless internet package. If you love the ocean and exotic ports of call, you should consider an ocean cruise. On our River Cruise Vacations and Land Vacations, you'll enjoy unmatched discoveries . Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. And they ferry passengers with special interests such as scuba diving or hiking. service hurdle, when the company announced the sale last week, it You might find yourself sharing dinner at the home of a local family or visiting local schools. Most trips with Grand Circle are, unfortunately, not wheelchair accessible. G rand Circle Corp. is being sold to New York private equity firm Court Square Capital Partners for an undisclosed amount. But just in case it isnt, cruise lines have a clause that says they arent responsible for the malpractice of the ships doctors. GCT cancelled the Greenland portion. Its extra. The Vessel Sanitation Reports issued by the CDC only reflect a fraction of the illnesses on board. Sometimes it can feel like college at times. Grand Circle Travel always has great specials and last minute specials if you can go on short notice. Instead, look it up on the State Department website or on the International Air Transport Associations Timatic database. No wonder offline agents call these operations vending machines. Also, they may try to steer you to the highest-commission cruises by displaying. Grand Circle's three travel brands are Grand Circle Travel. Even though GC advertises travel for mature adults- this is overwhelming in a foreign country. also step down from her role as co-chair at Grand Circle and as spokeswoman said the company is working to improve our processes and to better address the needs of each traveler whose trip was canceled or postponed due to the pandemic. Thriving in Change: In these times of rapid change, global competition, and high volatility in the travel industry, we must be prepared to change course and move forward. You have 24/7 phone support through most of the online agencies. Americas +1 212 318 2000. (Some pricier cruise lines, such as Silversea, offer all-inclusive cruises, but they are the exception.). Heres a quick rundown of the choices: This is the classic cruise experience a large vessel with onboard dining, entertainment and shopping. 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Our Mission: We strive to be the world leader in international travel, adventure, and discovery for American travelers over 50providing impactful and intercultural experiences that significantly improve the quality of their lives. The most common ethnicity at Grand Circle Travel is White (70%). fleet of more than 50 ships. Agents are not free. Book directly with the operator. Ive heard of these kickbacks going as high as 14 percent. Working at Grand Circle Travel has to be one of the best jobs I've worked at. There was a stop at the Hoover Dam to view the dam. please contact our team at Elliott Advocacy through this form. Not only did GCT require vaccination, including a booster, paperwork sent to me in my final packet, one week before departure, stated GCT policy "G.C.C.L requires all travelers wear facemasks when in public spaces while on board the ship and/or while traveling in a coach bus." No. Recently cruised with GCT and they failed to comply with their stated regulations regarding Covid protocols. The activities, lectures, and easy pace are all designed for older travelers. Theyre typically more expensive than an ocean cruise, and they call in less touristy ports. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. Excellence in our quality will continually enhance our repeat business and ultimately our financial performance. The cruise line wont let them board the ship. Because Grand Circle attracts a similar age range, youre sure to meet new friends with like interests in no time. This is a common problem at my consumer advocacy organization. If you need help with any problem,please contact us through this form. The office environment is really casual. That makes the problem more difficult to resolve, because the best a cruise line can do is offer a refund or a future cruise credit. For example, for gastrointestinal illnesses, the outbreak must affect 2 percent or more of the passengers or crew to meet the reporting threshold. The Elliott Report is a consumer news site supported by Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that offers free advice and advocacy for consumers. Youre dealing directly with the cruise line. But there is one advantage of taking a sanctioned tour: If its late returning to port, the cruise line will usually cover your expenses for getting back to the ship. They canceled my flight. Whats the international cruise line passenger bill of rights? All Rights Reserved. All content is posted anonymously by employees working at Grand Circle Travel. Crypto Wallet Development: Types, Features, and Popularity, 5 Ways AI is Detecting and Preventing Identity Fraud. We have just returned from our 6th, and probably last, Grand Circle tour. Corp. has 44 offices and employs 3,000 people. We plan to go to Iceland. Discriminated against in room assignments - I took the Grand Circle tour, The Best of Eastern Europe on May 9, 2012. I have flights with Grand Circle. For more information about your privacy and protection, please review our full, My wife and I were excited to take our first river cruise with Grand Circle Travel/Overseas Adventure Travel (GCT/OAT) in The Netherlands in spring 2021 to see the flowers. Cruise lines add tips of up to 20 percent to your spa or bar bill. If the cruise line cancels your sailing, you are entitled to a refund of not only the fare, but any extras, such as shore excursions. For some types of trips, insurance is optional. A link has directed you to this review. The Grand Circle Travel Style is comfortable, standard river cruises and motorcoaches. Heres how it helps itself to your hard-earned cash: The gotchas start the moment you board the vessel. For example, Royal Caribbean says it may, for any reason at any time and without prior notice, cancel, advance, postpone or deviate from any scheduled sailing, port of call, destination, lodging or any activity on or off the vessel, or substitute another vessel or port of call, destination, lodging or activity. If it does, it owes you nothing for the inconvenience. Exploring the Basics, Benefits, and Policies, How to Contact Tesla: Customer Service Phone Number, Website, Social Media, Email & Live Chat, Bruce Willis Health Condition: Understanding the Actors Diet and Exercise Regimen, Exploring the Impact of Greg Gutfelds Vacation from Fox News. They do plenty of one on ones. Thank you, you have successfully subscribed to our newsletter! All rights reserved. Booked Iceland Greenland trip this year. Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.). If you prefer a smaller ship and dont like waves, a river cruise might be right for you. Traveler Reviews. ), Back to O. Unlock new opportunities and expand your reach by joining our authors team. The right to disembark a docked ship if essential provisions such as food, water, restroom facilities and access to medical care cannot adequately be provided onboard, subject only to the Masters concern for passenger safety and security and customs and immigration requirements of the port. Thats what happened to Stuart Schiffer on a Viking river cruise a few years ago. Poor food, poor guidance and no involvement from the guide or the Company. Grand Circle is hosting an Open House for our Traveler Relations Center on 6/3/21 4-6pm! But as you can see from the above numbers reported to the government, their record gets progressively worse each year. But then the cruise lines canceled their rebooked cruises. Hotels are comfortable and centrally located. Lewis and his wife, Harriet Lewis, who acquired Boston-based Grand That can get a little noisy. The goal is for each of us to maximize our effectiveness, and ultimately our success, in an unpredictable and ever-changing environment. We got an inc Have taken 12 trips overseas with this company and each one has been wonderful. The outcome can often turn on who cancels, which is why a lot of suppliers and travelers are playing chicken right now. Ships appear to get less safe with each passing year. My cruise was cancelled by the company because do not have enough people, asking for refund but never get an answer. They have provided great service in the past, but this tour was bad. You can also appeal your case to a company executive. When will cruising feel safe again to you? https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/boston/proavel-0021-3848, Beware of Grand Circle Travel and Overseas Adventure Travel, Beware, Beware, Beware, Beware!!! This is my first experience with them. We value your privacy. Grand Circle Travel has been bounced out of the Better Business Bureau of Eastern Massachusetts, Maine & Vermont because of a slew of complaints regards the company's cancellation policy -. It is important to consider the potential implications of Grand Circle Travels financial struggles. Were always here to help. The Members of the Cruise Lines International Association are dedicated to the comfort and care of all passengers on oceangoing cruises throughout the world. They also have limited departures in Africa, South America, the Middle East, South Pacific, North America, Central America, and even Antarctica. Circle changed its cancellation policy to give customers a full One thing leads to another, and the next thing you know, a passenger is standing at the dock with the ship steaming off into the distance. This is based on 391 anonymously submitted reviews on Glassdoor. Most cruise lines have stopped screening their passengers for COVID. The Tour guide read from a book, did little guiding on site and was mainly interested in getting us back on the bus. Specialties: The leader in small ship and river cruising worldwide - offering American travelers a 4-star experience at a 3-star price aboard our privately owned and chartered fleet. The average employee at Grand Circle Travel makes $62,003 per year. The view of the mountains and Grand Canyon was breathtaking! She lost her engagement ring in a rental car. Circle in 1985, will retain a 30% stake in the direct-market tour document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Proudly powered by WordPress Alan Lewis will remain on the board but will be replaced But once you get on the ship, youll realize its a waste of money. We make it accessible through trips that deliver unmatched discoveries, leisurely pacing, more travel choices, and comprehensive value. Here are my strategies for advocating your case. And it should have at least six months validity left on it to be safe. Grand Circle Corporation is a global enterprise committed to changing peoples lives through international travel. Roz. Glassdoor gives you an inside look at what it's like to work at Grand Circle Travel, including salaries, reviews, office photos, and more. Sears couldnt deliver my appliances. Advertising - Unsubscribe easily. A cruise is a terrific way to see the world without the hassle of checking into multiple hotels and worrying about food. But Massachusetts happens to be one of only a handful of states with specific laws that guarantee consumers protection against travel sellers, including requiring that tour operators offer the option of cash refunds (in addition to vouchers or credits for rebooking) when they fail to provide agreed-upon, paid-for services. We publish the names and emails of customer service managers. Sign up to receive our free weekly newsletter. What is paid time off like at Grand Circle Travel? Be the first one to find this review helpful. Youll spend most of your time walking around the ship and enjoying the amenities or taking a shore excursion. Furthermore, the companys reputation could be negatively impacted if customers do not feel confident in their ability to provide quality services. In the end, there may be no correct answer for everyone. However, if Grand Circle Travel fails to find a solution to its financial woes, it could lead to layoffs, reduced wages, office closures, and a decrease in the quality of its services. Without adequate funding, the company may be unable to invest in new technologies or hire the best talent to ensure the highest level of customer satisfaction.
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