Excellence in our quality will continually enhance our repeat business and ultimately our financial performance. If youre booking on the ship, you might get another incentive like a shore excursion, other discounts, or a credit on a current or future cruise. According to the During the pandemic, many cruise lines instituted strict quarantine procedures some would say, too strict. They complained of being treated like second-class passengers. Unsubscribe easily. Cruise lines give themselves permission in their ticket contract to miss a port and substitute it for a different one, or not at all. This profile has not been claimed by the company. If you have a severe health problem, avoid cruising. It isnt that these items arent fun to have while youre on a cruise, but that in many cases, theyre ridiculously overpriced. The most common ethnicity at Grand Circle Travel is White (70%). But whats this $452 bill? Some got total refunds, while others (including you) received partial refunds or continue to wait for certain fees and sums to clear. You will probably do a fair amount of walking throughout the tour - Grand Circle suggests that travelers be relatively physically fit. (Annual sales and employees) What industry is the company in? trips and has been pressuring the company to comply with the states travel-seller laws. Get guided help to find the right trip for you, Travel tips, stories, top 10 lists and more, Get yours before you leave, easier, cheaper. Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. There have been some reports that the company is in financial trouble, and may be shutting down soon . chairman of Grand Circle Foundation. According to the law, the cash refund must be an amount equal to the fair market retail value of any undelivered, purchased travel service.. Plenty of free time is included in the itineraries, and there is a lot of choice among optional tours. I could not have asked for a better experience! That can get a little noisy. Online agencies are a volume business, so if you like to feel special and appreciated, you might want to book elsewhere. A free inside look at Grand Circle Travel salary trends based on 462 salaries wages for 222 jobs at Grand Circle Travel. 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. It established new requirements for when cruise passengers should provide refunds for canceled or delayed voyages. Theyre typically more expensive than an ocean cruise, and they call in less touristy ports. Get the real picture with both traveler and expert reviews to ensure the trip you book is the right one for you. Quality: Our decisions must be made and actions taken in accordance with high standards of quality and service. If its a small shop, you may not have 24/7 support. I advise focusing on a bigger problem and letting the smaller things go. They tied up over $10,000 of our money on a trip they canceled because the cruise line they offered us had Russian links. This is a common problem at my consumer advocacy organization. Grand Circle's 40-plus offices are located in Africa, North and South America, Europe, and the Asia/Pacific . If the agency is a member of a larger group, like AAA, youll get deals no one else has, and they may be unbeatable. The high seas can be dangerous, and not just in the movies. The right to transportation to the ships scheduled port of disembarkation, or the passengers home city, in the event a cruise is terminated early due to mechanical failures. Younger couples or families will probably feel out of place among the crowd on a Grand Circle tour. They also dont work. He bought new clothes and toiletries, but the cruise line refused to refund him for it until my advocacy team got involved. Care for a soda? Its not uncommon to hear of people waiting upwards of an hour for help. Can I get my 173,116 Chase Ultimate Rewards points refunded? They have a bad reputation and that reputation is very on point, To get a job at Grand Circle Travel, browse, Overall, 55% of employees would recommend, Get started with your Free Employer Profile, Work Here? Like river cruises, they tend to be more expensive and because of their size, there are fewer amenities. 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. Look out for our newsletters with travel tips and special offers. Don't do business with these people. Two days before departure, it was a call from the Program Director in Romania who informed me that masks were no longer required. Grand Circle cancels two of Ernest Belzil's tours. 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? Harriet Lewis will Dont rely on your travel agent or cruise line for the correct information on your paperwork (they often get it wrong). We receive regular complaints about food poisoning on cruise ships. 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. We value your privacy. Grand Circles motto is We Change Peoples Lives; it has certainly changed ours. A Comprehensive Guide, Is Hiring a Travel Agent Worth It? Sometimes it can feel like college at times. Cruise lines claim a vacation at sea is safer than any land-based vacation. rate Grand Circle Travel 3.3 out of 5 stars, interview experience at Grand Circle Travel, Grand Circle Travel has a positive business outlook. Whats more, its not always entirely clear who gets the tip. Windstars 2023/24 Middle East program kicks off in November. One way that Grand Circle Travel can overcome its financial difficulties is by diversifying its offerings. I purchased my own flights. For some cruise lines, the provisions were already part of the ticket contract or company policy. Supervisors and managers want everyone to succeed. Its generally a lot of smaller grievances that dont add up to much. Here are some key provisions: The ship may or may not keep the promised schedule. I booked a river cruise with GCT because their COVID protocols were strong on paper. The small-group and cruising company has been recognized nationally. There was a stop at the Hoover Dam to view the dam. Sharing Your Travel Videos, Slideshows & Photos. https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/boston/proavel-0021-3848, Beware of Grand Circle Travel and Overseas Adventure Travel, Beware, Beware, Beware, Beware!!! Grand Circle Corporation provides 85+ international small group adventures by land and sea for Americans 50 and older. Is it just your server? Book directly with the operator. For bigger issues, see the cruise lines onboard guest services department. The cabin is for sleeping. 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. Here are some of the risks. Anyone can read what you share. Cruise lines add tips of up to 20 percent to your spa or bar bill. This is the third Tripped Up column in a row that addresses the issue of refunds. Here are my strategies for advocating your case. Want to take the kids out to dinner or to the arcade? CONNECT WITH US. Grand Circle Travel is a company that offers guided tours and river cruises to destinations all over the world. Our values shape our decisions, give direction to our growth, and allow us to measure our progress. Your stateroom is a place to sleep. The right to an emergency power source in the case of a main generator failure. Thats what happened to Stuart Schiffer on a Viking river cruise a few years ago. If you are injured with Grand Circle, be prepared to handle all medical necessities and communication yourself including pushing a wheel chair. When youre on vacation, its easy to let down your guard and fall for a sales pitch for an original sculpture, diamond ring or timeshare. (Note: Is this article not meeting your expectations? Cookie Policy - Your cabin attendant or server may be able to fix a small problem right away. Today, Grand Circle 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. My trip to Egypt with Overseas Adventure Travel was scheduled to depart in late March. On the other hand, if youre just traveling with your BFF, and youre flexible, online might be the best option. They have made it impossible to contact them about anything. Its their terms. They canceled my flight. : Tanzania/Kilimanjaro Tour Company, Any recommendations for Grand Circle Tours and/or Overseas Adventure Tours, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. An Analysis, How Far Does Weed Smell Travel? Itineraries are designed to give you more time in each stop, allowing for a more balanced combination of included activities and independent time. In early 2022, the Federal Maritime Commission fixed that loophole. Our help is free. It's equivalent to changing a flight schedule and not informing the ticketed passenger. 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. You can find a cheaper private tour through a company like Viator. It appears that the main cause of Grand Circle Travels financial issues is attributed to a decrease in demand for the companys services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Your email address will not be published. But there are lots of cruise options. We value your privacy. If the company fails to find a solution to its financial woes, it could mean layoffs and reduced wages for employees. The activities, lectures, and easy pace are all designed for older travelers. Any amount of compensatory. 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. Empowered teams are committed to taking the necessary actions to ensure that the team will reach its goals. Grand Circle Travel was started by the founder of AARP, and as such know their demographic extremely well. In reality, many of these statutes are seldom enforced. California, with some of the strongest consumer protections in the country, requires cash refunds for undelivered services within 30 days from whichever date is earliest: the scheduled departure date, the date the refund is requested or the date the service was canceled by the travel company. Additionally, Grand Circle Travel can focus on expanding its marketing efforts and building relationships with new partners to reach a larger customer base. 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). They sent me an unitemized bill for $650 for a trip I'd been notified had been completely paid for. EMEA +44 20 7330 7500. To determine if my hunch was correct, I reached out to O.A.T. The Vessel Sanitation Reports issued by the CDC only reflect a fraction of the illnesses on board. Travel agents can make 10 percent or more in commissions and overrides from your cruise. Our family of travel companieswhich you can read more about below . contact reporter Michelle Baran, send e-mail to mbaran@travelweekly.com. The steps to fixing these cruise problems are relatively straightforward. And cruise lines dont like to do that. Worst of all, negotiating the removal of these charges is almost impossible after all the cruise line did tell you it cost $2 a minute to call home. Always check before booking.). fleet of more than 50 ships. And then it took them over 3 months to give us back our money which they did only after numerous phone call attempts and letters to management. Even email or call back. General Air Questions. Why Choose a Tour with Grand Circle Travel? they would travel with the company again.". Find your private company bowl on Fishbowl, join the hottest conversation with your colleagues anonymously. You may feel like a number. 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. 35% of job seekers rate their interview experience at Grand Circle Travel as positive. in 1997 they established Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises with a ConsumerAffairs is not a government agency. In addition to decreased demand, Grand Circle Travel has also had to face other financial challenges. When the customers asked for a refund, the cruise lines said they couldnt get one future cruise credits were nonrefundable. 2 hour wait for phone contact. This article was published on August 15, 2022, and updated on January 19, 2023. That's no excuse for not responding to paid customer's inquiries. Inside I have flights with Grand Circle. please contact our team at Elliott Advocacy through this form. Grand Circle Corporation is a global enterprisecomprised of a family of travel companiescommitted to changing people's lives by offering high-impact experiences to our travelers and building local communities through philanthropy, social entrepreneurship, and volunteerism. The state's lawmakers emphasized the need for transparency rather than criticizing the resort fees. Lewis and his wife, Harriet Lewis, who acquired Boston-based Grand Ive seen young, healthy passengers reach for the motion sickness bags in 30-foot swells and remain confined to their quarters for days. The bus driver, Wayne, could not have been any better! That agency said that it has received about 275 consumer complaints so far about canceled O.A.T. Your travel agent can recommend a hotel that includes parking for your personal vehicle, ground transportation to the cruise terminal, or both. 13% of Grand Circle Travel employees are Hispanic or Latino. 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.