In order to overcome these financial struggles, the company must find ways to diversify its offerings, increase efficiency, and reduce overhead expenses. Thats not entirely true. There are mice in my vacation rental! Grand Circle Travel 347 Congress Street, Boston, MA 2.0/5 (128 ratings) Are you this business? 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. Since 1958, Grand Circle has been the leader in international discovery for mature American travelers. We receive many requests for help from foreign nationals with residency permits. Grand Circle's Annual Report & Profile shows critical firmographic facts: What is the company's size? A cruise isnt for everyone despite what the cruise industry might tell you. It is classified as operating in the Transportation & Warehousing industry. 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. Quality: Our decisions must be made and actions taken in accordance with high standards of quality and service. Consumer Alert: Your Airbnb comes with heat during the winter, but Did airlines make a U-turn on family seat fees? If you get seasick in a bathtub, please dont book a cruise. Cruise ship gotchas they wont tell you about. COVID and norovirus outbreaks are common on cruise ships. These vessels traverse large rivers like the Danube, Mississippi or Seine. Established in 1958. private equity firm Court Square Capital Partners for an Additionally, Grand Circle Travel can focus on expanding its marketing efforts and building relationships with new partners to reach a larger customer base. When flying on a commercial airline, booked through GCT, they negotiate a deal (to increase their. Most trips with Grand Circle are, unfortunately, not wheelchair accessible. 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. And sign up for our Travel Dispatch newsletter: Each week youll receive tips on traveling smarter, stories on hot destinations and access to photos from all over the world. The cruise line wont let them board the ship. Book directly with the operator. Check out Elliott Advocacy Today, our free, daily newsletter with links to your favorite commentary, tips and news about consumer advocacy. In 2018, The Excellence in Service Award was presented to 7 different GCC associates. Grand Circle Travel always has great specials and last minute specials if you can go on short notice. To get a job at Grand Circle Travel, browse currently open positions and apply for a job near you. Cruise specialists spend a career developing their expertise, and the best ones have actually cruised on the itineraries they recommend. Do Not Sell My Personal Information -, Fodor's may use your email address to send you relevant information on site updates, account changes, and offers. Watch for food-borne illnesses. Its your responsibility yours alone to have the correct documents. You can also appeal your case to a company executive. please contact our team at Elliott Advocacy through this form. Because the porters dont always deliver the luggage to your room. Youll also connect with other readers who want to make the world a better place. 1Is cruising safe?What kind of cruise should I take?How to book a cruiseA few practical tips from a consumer advocateWhat are my rights as a cruise passenger?Whats the international cruise line passenger bill of rights?If my cruise is canceled, am I entitled to a refund?Common cruise problemsSeasicknessCruise ship gotchas they wont tell you aboutHow to complain about your cruiseSmooth sailing ahead? 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. Our buses had problems; the drivers were pulled from retirement and were unfamiliar with the vehicles. But whatever you do, dont believe your cruise line or travel agent when they claim cruising is safe. Theres no form of travel thats safe right now. They have provided great service in the past, but this tour was bad. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. He tried to justify the change as one of a country change but I read him the GCT policy which I received in writing as part of my final trip documents. I've traveled with this company 4 times and find the value and service outstanding. Youre dealing directly with the cruise line. Unlock new opportunities and expand your reach by joining our authors team. The small-group and cruising company has been recognized nationally. Oceania further cements itself as a cruise line for foodies, bestowing the honor of Vista godmother on the celebrity chef and Norway entices visitors with new places to stay and things to do, Travel agency consortium Ensemble makes several hires, Delta and KLM sue Dutch government over Schiphol flight cuts, Virgin Atlantic joins SkyTeam airline alliance, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings will reduce marketing spend, Destination America names Kirsten Bain CEO after Launder's retirement, Examining sub-IC issues from a host agency's point of view, Nayarit has a lot to offer luxury travelers, Nevada's congressional delegation reacts to Biden's 'Junk Fee' proposal, Giada De Laurentiis and Oceania Cruises, a delicious combination, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, Trends in Travel Advisor Loyalty in the Airline Industry, 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay opens on Kauai's North Shore, Viking says January was a record-breaking month, River cruise lines sail into Egypt with new ships and itineraries, Bad behavior prompts Carnival Cruise Line to beef up onboard security, Where weed is legal, hotels roll out new marijuana amenities, The party is pumping at Virgin Voyages' beach club. Its not just one problem, but many. What if you miss your deadline? At a time like now, some may be safer and more convenient than others. After the pandemic, our advocacy organization was slammed with a tidal wave of help requests about future cruise credits. As Adam Anolik, a San Francisco- based travel-industry lawyer, explained over email, thats why oversight forcing a company to comply with state laws can feel like an uphill battle. Candidates give an average difficulty score of 3.1 out of 5 (where 5 is the highest level of difficulty) for their job interview at Grand Circle Travel. What should I do? If the company fails to find a solution to its financial woes, it could mean layoffs and reduced wages for employees. Every member must be fully accountable for the teams and ones own personal results. I have flights with Grand Circle. When the level of quality required is in question, we will operate to the high standards expected by our customers. They are what our beliefs and actions are derived from. I cannot force any reason they would improve from this point. He paid Vantage $18,536. Whats the international cruise line passenger bill of rights? Supervisors and managers want everyone to succeed. Were always here to help. Additionally, Grand Circle Travel may be forced to close some of its offices and cut back on its operations. Ive heard of these kickbacks going as high as 14 percent. If you need help with any problem,please contact us through this form. That can get a little noisy. acquired by Travelport earlier this year. Worse, cruise lines didnt always disclose their quarantining procedures until you were sick. 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. Check out Elliott Advocacy Today, our free, daily newsletter with links to your favorite commentary, tips and news about consumer advocacy. Payments. The "older sibling" of Grand Circle Cruise Line, Grand Circle Travel specializes in land tours for Americans of baby boomer age and above (fifty-plus, but leaning toward the plus). As travel companies now suffer a cash crunch, they are facing off with travelers over credits and refunds. Hotels are comfortable and centrally located. Vrbo offered a refund after my husband lost his job. Another solution to Grand Circle Travels financial woes is to increase efficiency. Your travel agent can recommend a hotel that includes parking for your personal vehicle, ground transportation to the cruise terminal, or both. He was warm and concerned about the experience of the customers on the tour. In exchange we provide great benefits, generous PTO, discounts on travel, and a strong, supportive training environment to learn and grow. He provided us with so much information. You can also reevaluate if you want to cancel the total trip. According to the law, the cash refund must be an amount equal to the fair market retail value of any undelivered, purchased travel service.. Lunch was provided in the cost. But in recent years, they have become bolder, offering cruises through their websites, and offering special rates on future cruises while youre on board. Thousands of itineraries from over 1,000 trusted travel companies. Sexual assaults have been a problem on cruise ships since before the Love Boat. 301 Route 17 N, Suite 1150, Rutherford, NJ After taking 12 tours with them, they treated us terribly. We value your privacy. Its generally a lot of smaller grievances that dont add up to much. This is based on anonymous employee reviews submitted on Glassdoor. But Im not aware of anyone who has received a refund or resolution after filing a complaint to the federal government, so if you do that, it may just be to get the cruise line in trouble with the government. Our values are the foundation upon which our company is built. Site Map|Global Site Map|Terms of Use|Privacy Policy, Save this trip to your favorites or other list. But then the cruise lines canceled their rebooked cruises. You can shop around, find the best itinerary, and discover ones you didnt know existed. She lost her engagement ring in a rental car. Gangwal left Worldspan when it was Passengers ran up enormous bills because they didnt read the fine print when they connected to the networks. Sign up to receive our free weekly newsletter. For the flexibility and comfort aspects, combined with unique experiences at every turn. Get buying tips about Travel Agencies delivered to your inbox. Soon we discovered they had changed our cabin without notifying us and that one of the flights had disappeared . As a thank you for being such outstanding employees, they were sent on a week long Recognition Journey Trip to Peru! I dont want to be obligated to Grand Circle. Excellence in our quality will continually enhance our repeat business and ultimately our financial performance. (Its all taken care of.) The right to lodging if disembarkation and an overnight stay in an unscheduled port are required when a cruise is terminated early due to mechanical failures. that business to include all Americans over the age of 50. Plenty of free time is included in the itineraries, and there is a lot of choice among optional tours. trips and has been pressuring the company to comply with the states travel-seller laws. To determine if my hunch was correct, I reached out to O.A.T. Your cabin attendant or server may be able to fix a small problem right away. Two days before departure, it was a call from the Program Director in Romania who informed me that masks were no longer required. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. The office environment is really casual. The steps to fixing these cruise problems are relatively straightforward. Don't do business with these people. A. T.: In a follow-up note a few weeks ago, you said that you feel the company provides a good travel service. But, you wrote, pushing all the risk of uncertainty onto the client by refusing a refund makes me fearful to ever do business with O.A.T. Sharing Your Travel Videos, Slideshows & Photos. Whether its an optional shore excursion or an onboard auction, the cruise line wants more of your money than you spent on the cruise fare. Sign into see which companies give additional savings to Travelstride Members (its free). See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals. Is cruising really safe now? Your ship may or may not keep the promised schedule. If, after reading this authoritative guide on cruising, you feel that youre ready, then go for it. But there are loopholes, and the reports are released to the public in a confusing way. See reviews below to learn more or submit your own review. All of these factors have led to a difficult financial situation for Grand Circle Travel. 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. Do you have knowledge or insights to share? Circle changed its cancellation policy to give customers a full Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. They are completely incompetent at this point. This profile has not been claimed by the company. Here are some of the risks. They also operate overseas travel adventures. We publish the names and emails of customer service managers. was no longer offering refunds. In Illinois, the Travel Promotion Consumer Protection Act was created in the 1980s to safeguard against travel scams that promise too-good-to-be-true deals. If you are on a slim budget try the " last minute" opportunities. I received no corrected, printed information, no email, no telephone call, informing me of GCT's policy change. Other travelers looking for refunds may have a better chance if theyre dealing with companies headquartered within Hawaii, Washington state, Illinois or California. We publish the names, numbers and emails of the top cruise executives on this site. Overseas Adventure Travel/Grand Circle Travel used to be a good company, but they got too large. 1. Will this be the busiest spring break ever? It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment based on your own personal circumstances and consult with your own investment, financial, tax and legal advisers. Its a high-pressure sales pitch on the high seas. Recently cruised with GCT and they failed to comply with their stated regulations regarding Covid protocols. They have made it impossible to contact them about anything. I could not have asked for a better experience! 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. Unbeknown to me, the stated policy had changed: O.A.T. The activities, lectures, and easy pace are all designed for older travelers. Avoid the grief and go elsewhere to a reputable business at the outset. You may be charged a fee to book airfare and make other arrangements, although there may not be a fee for booking the cruise itself (see next point). Everything from non-refundable airfares to auto. I am disappointed, disgruntled and dissatisfied; I didnt spend money to get this treatment; I could have done better on my own! Learn the word no, and use it often. Now it wont refund my $3,606. Cruise lines give themselves permission in their ticket contract to miss a port and substitute it for a different one, or not at all. $7000 in their pocket. In addition, there is the worry that many travel companies may go out of business due to the loss of business from this pandemic. Its Grand Circle Travel division offers all-inclusive package tours at a leisurely pace while its Overseas Adventure subsidiary organizes small groups for land, canal barge, and small ship journeys of the more. How many can you get right in 1 minute? The Lewises expanded I would not recommend the company. The bus driver, Wayne, could not have been any better! Grand Circle cancels two of Ernest Belzil's tours. Despite the customer In addition, a local restaurant lunch was packed full of passengers with food being served right under their noses. In response, Grand That means cruise lines appear to be less dangerous than they are. Glassdoor gives you an inside look at what it's like to work at Grand Circle Travel, including salaries, reviews, office photos, and more. How much of a cut does the cruise line take? Help! For the flexibility and comfort aspects, combined with unique experiences at every turn. The right to have available, on board ships operating beyond rivers or coastal waters, full-time, professional emergency medical attention, as needed until shoreside medical care becomes available. in 1997 they established Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises with a Nevertheless, Grand I was told last year I could not cancel the trip and they rescheduled it but now I cannot even reach them to find out if I can change the trip. My cruise was cancelled by the company because do not have enough people, asking for refund but never get an answer. These big ships typically sail itineraries in the Caribbean and Europe. Capital portfolio company. You might find yourself sharing dinner at the home of a local family or visiting local schools. Be the first one to find this review helpful. Find the latest travel requirements for your trip. Our family of travel companieswhich you can read more about below . Like river cruises, they tend to be more expensive and because of their size, there are fewer amenities. . Completely different, and highly disappointing, from previous trips. The company has been providing travelers with high-quality tours around the world since 1998. Grand Circle Foundation Call our Regional Adventure Counselors 1-800-955-1925. was created in 1958 to serve AARP members. Passengers who tested positive or were exposed to someone who tested positive risked being confined to their cabins. This is a common problem at my consumer advocacy organization. Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. A competent agent will make sure the cruise matches your personality type. Sometimes it can feel like college at times. We plan to go to Iceland. Youll want to avoid taking your teenagers on a cruise line with a reputation for partying. Ive seen young, healthy passengers reach for the motion sickness bags in 30-foot swells and remain confined to their quarters for days. WE CAN DREAM ABOUT TRAVEL Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Robbery, assault and homicide happen on cruise ships. Wheres my airline ticket refund from GotoGate? The best they do is send a canned letter saying how sorry they are that they are behind in correspondence because of having to frequently change airline reservations for various tours. Alternatively, you could have filed a case in small claims court, although you would have had to limit your . And if I decided to go, whats the best way to book my vacation? You should read it before you leave. In Hawaii, consumers have the right to a cash refund (minus previously disclosed cancellation fees) within two weeks of requesting one. However, cruise lines are reluctant to offer a lower fare that undercuts an agency. That agency said that it has received about 275 consumer complaints so far about canceled O.A.T. This is the third Tripped Up column in a row that addresses the issue of refunds. But even when individual consumers know their rights, they have few options at their immediate disposal when a customer-service representative usually the only public-facing proxy for a companys official or unofficial policies refuses to relent on refunds. There are new cruise lines, new ships, and new routes this year. 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. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME INFO ABOUT THIS COMPANY TREATING HIGH QUALITY EMPLOYEES , AS I WITNESSED, Your email address will not be published. Thats because you are a number. Translation: When they cancel your trip, they are legally required to offer you the money back. Often, they succeed. There are many other health perils at sea. I am still pursuing my refund. No longer. This is based on 391 anonymously submitted reviews on Glassdoor. A porter will deliver it to your room. For more information about reviews on ConsumerAffairs.com please visit our It is the nature of the industry - whether it be hotels, air, packages, tours - that there are a wide variety of cancellation policies out there. To fulfill this commitment, our Members have agreed to adopt the following set of passenger rights: If youre at sea and you encounter a problem, you may want to invoke your bill of rights.. Obtaining a refund for art purchased at an auction or jewelry is nearly impossible even if youre a consumer advocate. Asked for refund and got a credit instead. How do I know I can trust these reviews about Grand Circle Travel? Read More rugged variety. (Annual sales and employees) What industry is the company in? What are my rights, and what should I be worried about? About Grand Circle Corporation Grand Circle Corporation is a global enterprise committed to changing people's lives through international travel. By entering your email, you agree to sign up for consumer news, tips and giveaways from ConsumerAffairs. Trips are mostly all-inclusive, focusing on comfortable accommodations, informative and easy paced guided walking tours, cultural encounters, learning experiences, and special events that they call their Discovery Series. And most passengers accepted the credit. Can a vacation rental host cancel my stay and keep my money? 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." (Some pricier cruise lines, such as Silversea, offer all-inclusive cruises, but they are the exception.).