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Excellence in our quality will continually enhance our repeat business and ultimately our financial performance. Its your responsibility yours alone to have the correct documents. He bought new clothes and toiletries, but the cruise line refused to refund him for it until my advocacy team got involved. This tour was phenomenal from the beginning to the end! Travel Protection. 62% of employees think that Grand Circle Travel has a positive business outlook. Agents are not free. Often, they succeed. One way that Grand Circle Travel can overcome its financial difficulties is by diversifying its offerings. And in many ports of call, the medical facilities are not up to Western standards, and the patient must pay in cash. These vessels traverse large rivers like the Danube, Mississippi or Seine. Theyre not. Its their terms. A few practical tips from a consumer advocate. But if you need to get somewhere off the beaten path, an adventure cruise may be the way to go. When the level of quality required is in question, we will operate to the high standards expected by our customers. Crypto Wallet Development: Types, Features, and Popularity, 5 Ways AI is Detecting and Preventing Identity Fraud. My cruise was cancelled by the company because do not have enough people, asking for refund but never get an answer. Sarah Firshein is a Brooklyn-based travel writer. they would travel with the company again.". 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. 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 -. They read scripts, are timed by their supervisors, and really dont care if youre having a good vacation. After a series of high-profile customer service incidents in 2012 and 2013, the cruise industry adopted a voluntary bill of rights for its passengers, to clearly communicate to them their rights regarding comfort and care in a number of important areas. A link has directed you to this review. Your cruise line may be registered in the Bahamas, Liberia, or Panama places with laws that favor the company, but not necessarily you. Todays travel websites try to combine the best aspects of a full-service agency with the conveniences of modern technology. The goal is for each of us to maximize our effectiveness, and ultimately our success, in an unpredictable and ever-changing environment. Solo travelers make up nearly a third of Grand Circle's customers, and they're made to feel more than welcome on group tours, including some price breaks on single supplements. Learn the word no, and use it often. He was warm and concerned about the experience of the customers on the tour. When you try to contact someone by phone. Be the first one to find this review helpful. 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. Your stateroom is a place to sleep. private equity firm Court Square Capital Partners for an The cruise line often drops sick passengers off at the next port of call, where they must fend for themselves. 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? When the customers asked for a refund, the cruise lines said they couldnt get one future cruise credits were nonrefundable. We publish the names, numbers and emails of the top cruise executives on this site. Grand Circle travels all over the world, with a strong focus in Europe, Aisa and Southeast Asia. In addition, there is the worry that many travel companies may go out of business due to the loss of business from this pandemic. This company must not have enough staffing. Per the Holland Ministry of Tourism, Tulip season runs from the end of March until mid May, but the flowers are usually at their best halfway through April. On the 22nd of April 2020 we received an unsolicited call from James, a representative of GCT/OAT informing us that our reservation for Holland and Belgium in Springtime, originally departing April 17, 2021, had been unilaterally cancelled and that we had been arbitrarily and without our permission or knowledge rebooked for the same tour departing March 17, 2021. Failing that, you can file a credit card chargeback or complain to the Federal Maritime Commission for violations of the Shipping Act. 1958. The Tour guide read from a book, did little guiding on site and was mainly interested in getting us back on the bus. Grand Circle Travel (GCT) seems to play a few nasty games, and cheating its customers!!! How do you buy a cruise, then? Established in 1958. Virtually zero. as CEO by Rakesh Gangwal, former CEO of Worldspan, a Court Square has refunded more than 5,000 travelers amounting to more than $12 million. Sharing Your Travel Videos, Slideshows & Photos. 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 porters removed his bag and he never saw it again. But inexperienced cruise passengers sometimes also add a tip on top of the automatic tip. Washington requires travel companies to issue cash refunds within 14 days (or 30 days when the funds are already paid to a vendor, as might be the case for a tour operator) when they cancel a service. Yes, my wife and I had to leave mid-way through the cruise and were quarantined for 8 days at a hotel. But why cant I get a refund? Working at Grand Circle Travel has to be one of the best jobs I've worked at. also step down from her role as co-chair at Grand Circle and as 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. This is my first experience with them. 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. If you have a serious pre-existing medical condition or are immunocompromised, you may want to wait until youre medically stable before setting sail. EMEA +44 20 7330 7500. fleet of more than 50 ships. Its gonna cost you. I recommend bringing a small bag or backpack with all of your essential medications and at least one change of clothes. By offering more diverse experiences, such as virtual tours and staycations, Grand Circle Travel can draw in more customers and increase its revenue. You can find a cheaper private tour through a company like Viator. Is Grand Circle Travel in Financial Trouble? You can also book the cruise whenever you want to. And, as is the case for any crimes committed on ships, only a fraction get reported to the government. I had always heard this was a good company but clearly it is no longer good. 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. We value your privacy. See all activities, themes, and interests >, Save $600 off trips to every continent on earth, Redeem anytime before 2023. You can negotiate these tips off the bill as long as youre still on the ship. When something goes wrong, someone should always be there for you. Itineraries are designed to give you more time in each stop, allowing for a more balanced combination of included activities and independent time. Your ship may or may not keep the promised schedule. Your email address will not be published. operator. (Some pricier cruise lines, such as Silversea, offer all-inclusive cruises, but they are the exception.). 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. No answer to emails or snail mail. Now that we have explored the causes behind Grand Circle Travels financial struggles, it is important to look at potential solutions. Our family of travel companieswhich you can read more about below . In reality, many of these statutes are seldom enforced. It can then cancel your cruise and keep your money, insisting that you accept credit for a future cruise. You can also reevaluate if you want to cancel the total trip. In 1993, All of these factors have led to a difficult financial situation for Grand Circle Travel. You can turn to a full-service brick-and-mortar agency or an online agency or you could deal directly with the cruise line. And when they do, they are often underreported. But there are risks now, and perhaps more risks than ever. Advertising - Cruise lines add tips of up to 20 percent to your spa or bar bill. Its generally a lot of smaller grievances that dont add up to much. Windstars 2023/24 Middle East program kicks off in November. Thats because you are a number. Read unbiased user reviews, pick the operator that suits your needs, and connect with them directly. For the flexibility and comfort aspects, combined with unique experiences at every turn. Sign into see which companies give additional savings to Travelstride Members (its free). 2 hour wait for phone contact. Cruise lines claim a vacation at sea is safer than any land-based vacation. We have not had any reports of passengers with COVID being forcibly removed from a ship recently. But there are lots of cruise options. Here are some of the risks. Again, these offers come by way of the relationships cruise agents have through their company or by being friends with their regional sales representative. Grand Circle Corporation provides 85+ international small group adventures by land and sea for Americans 50 and older. Grand Circle Travel was started by the founder of AARP, and as such know their demographic extremely well. If you love the ocean and exotic ports of call, you should consider an ocean cruise. In the end, there may be no correct answer for everyone. Cruise lines dont include premium restaurants in your fare. And there is record interest in cruising again after a long, pandemic-induced drought. Cruise lines claim a vacation at sea is safer than any land-based vacation. That's no excuse for not responding to paid customer's inquiries. The right to have this Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights published on each lines website. I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way. The average employee at Grand Circle Travel makes $62,003 per year. It felt like a school tour where I had the least interested parent supervising me. Who Will Enjoy Traveling with Grand Circle Travel? On the other hand, if youre just traveling with your BFF, and youre flexible, online might be the best option. Anyone can read what you share. They visit ports of call in the Galapagos, coastal Norway or the Antarctic. Additionally, Grand Circle Travel can focus on expanding its marketing efforts and building relationships with new partners to reach a larger customer base. Watch for food-borne illnesses. Book directly with the operator. The office environment is really casual. 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. The company has been in business since the 1980s, and has grown to become one of the largest tour operators in the world. Overseas Adventure Travel is part of Grand Circle Corporation, a family of travel companies based in Boston. During the pandemic, many cruise lines instituted strict quarantine procedures some would say, too strict. refund if a trip is canceled. Asia Pacific +65 6212 1000. Employees rate Grand Circle Travel 3.3 out of 5 stars based on 429 anonymous reviews on Glassdoor. Last minute changes OK, You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type, Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics. Grand Circle Travel employees are most likely to be members of the democratic party. Our buses had problems; the drivers were pulled from retirement and were unfamiliar with the vehicles. And it should have at least six months validity left on it to be safe. If you have a severe health problem, avoid cruising. Claim your Free Employer Profile. Where is it? Onboard doctors dont have the equipment or facilities to handle a serious illness. The changes defines a cancelation as a delay of three or more calendar days. I dont want to be obligated to Grand Circle. All content is posted anonymously by employees working at Grand Circle Travel. The state was in the spotlight recently when it hosted the annual Gala Riviera Nayarit & Puerto Vallarta. The cabin is for sleeping. Kiddos to the bus drive for being SO informative!! Even email or call back. 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. : the realization that issuing refunds en masse would bleed the company dry. Support. I purchased my own flights. A porter will deliver it to your room. Airlines are sidestepping refund regulations established by the United States Transportation Department and the European Union, betting that negative press (and even class-action lawsuits) are still preferable to negative-balance bank accounts. Overseas . They sent me an unitemized bill for $650 for a trip I'd been notified had been completely paid for. (Mr. Anolik has a detailed breakdown of other state-by-state travel laws on his firms website. 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. View travel requirements for countries around the world. Join us on Thursday, June 3, 2021 from 4-6PM at our corporate headquarters located at 347 Congress Street in Boston and see if we can change yours, Happy Monday! <br>Expertise in leadership coaching and mentoring, training and development, financial management in a constantly changing environment, public speaking and total guest . Grand Circle Travel offers distinctive international vacations for older Americans. Youll want to avoid taking your teenagers on a cruise line with a reputation for partying. If you think youll have less, get it renewed before your cruise. They tied up over $10,000 of our money on a trip they canceled because the cruise line they offered us had Russian links. Were looking for dynamic, high-performing, accommodating individuals interested in joining our upcoming training classes for Sales and Customer Service. Its extra. In Hawaii, consumers have the right to a cash refund (minus previously disclosed cancellation fees) within two weeks of requesting one. Overseas Adventure Travel is part of Grand Circle Corporation, a family of travel companies based in Boston. No. After registering, I can manage my newsletter subscriptions by visiting my Profile Settings page. Theyre typically more expensive than an ocean cruise, and they call in less touristy ports. Copyright 2022 Consumers Unified LLC. Read More rugged variety. You will probably do a fair amount of walking throughout the tour - Grand Circle suggests that travelers be relatively physically fit. Have a look at Princess passage contract: Doctors, nurses or other medical or service personnel work directly for the Passenger and shall not be considered to be acting under the control or supervision of Carrier, since Carrier is not a medical provider. In other words, when a doctors negligence leads to the death of a family member, the cruise line is off the hook. Well start sending you the news you need delivered straight to you. Infectious disease COVID and norovirus outbreaks are common on cruise ships. In early 2022, the Federal Maritime Commission fixed that loophole. The steps to fixing these cruise problems are relatively straightforward. Thank you, you have successfully subscribed to our newsletter! Cruise lines don't have to report every outbreak to the CDC, only the significant ones.