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. For the flexibility and comfort aspects, combined with unique experiences at every turn. The next week, I learned via email that I had been rebooked on the same trip next year. If, after reading this authoritative guide on cruising, you feel that youre ready, then go for it. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. I booked a river cruise with GCT because their COVID protocols were strong on paper. At a time like now, some may be safer and more convenient than others. Our family of travel companieswhich you can read more about below . The Grand Circle Travel Style is comfortable, standard river cruises and motorcoaches. 1. Sears couldnt deliver my appliances. 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. Grand Circle's annual revenues are $10-$50 million (see exact revenue data) and has 100-500 employees. Grand Circle cancels two of Ernest Belzil's tours. I advise focusing on a bigger problem and letting the smaller things go. Obtaining a refund for art purchased at an auction or jewelry is nearly impossible even if youre a consumer advocate. You will probably do a fair amount of walking throughout the tour - Grand Circle suggests that travelers be relatively physically fit. We are only a month out. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced she reached an agreement with a tour company, securing further refunds for canceled trips. Grand Circle Travel 347 Congress Street, Boston, MA 2.0/5 (128 ratings) Are you this business? A few years ago, cruise lines began installing advanced roaming networks that allowed passengers to make phone calls from the ship. Care for a soda? If you have a consumer problem,please contact our team at Elliott Advocacy through this form. GRAND CIRCLE Revenue, Growth & Competitor Profile - IncFact.com Dont expect extreme luxury or especially unique accommodations however. chairman of Grand Circle Foundation. If you are on a slim budget try the " last minute" opportunities. Overseas Adventure Travel | Better Business Bureau Profile Established in 1958. Service, when it does come, can be slow and impersonal. Theme: Newsup by Themeansar. By Christopher Elliott Globe correspondent, Updated November 11, 2021, 12:00 p.m. Grand. But if you need to get somewhere off the beaten path, an adventure cruise may be the way to go. #traveljobs #peru #excellenceaward. As a thank you for being such outstanding employees, they were sent on a week long Recognition Journey Trip to Peru! We plan to go to Iceland. they acquired Cambridge, Mass.-based Overseas Adventure Travel and While some U.S. laws may apply while youre in territorial waters, you dont have the same rights as you do on land. Windstars 2023/24 Middle East program kicks off in November. 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. Quality can be subjective, and in our business quality often involves a compromise between speed and perfection. How do you buy a cruise, then? I would not recommend the company. Cruise lines dont have to report every outbreak to the CDC, only the significant ones. Because Grand Circle attracts a similar age range, youre sure to meet new friends with like interests in no time. Can a vacation rental host cancel my stay and keep my money? My cruise was cancelled by the company because do not have enough people, asking for refund but never get an answer. View travel requirements for countries around the world. The original Grand Circle Travel was founded by retired high . And it should have at least six months validity left on it to be safe. If youd rather have a bit more action, or are after a "see a lot, do a lot" city and country hopping pace, this style of travel is probably not going to hit the right note for you. Our values are the foundation upon which our company is built. The company has been providing travelers with high-quality tours around the world since 1998. If you like the idea of joining a tight knit travel community, with frequent cost cutting options, then Grand Circle could be for you. For some types of trips, insurance is optional. When the customers asked for a refund, the cruise lines said they couldnt get one future cruise credits were nonrefundable. Just to name a few, we have danced the Turkey with school children in Costa Rica, climbed the Mayan Temples of Tikal, laid roses with Veteran travelers at the grave of the WWII Cemetery in Normandy and walked the ancient stone boulevards of Ephesus. That means cruise lines appear to be less dangerous than they are. Contact Us - Now that we have explored the causes behind Grand Circle Travels financial struggles, it is important to look at potential solutions. NBC10 Boston Responds reached out to Grand Circle Travel on their behalf and the company issued refunds for all six couples, returning more than $71,000 to them. All Rights Reserved. Grand Circle Travel Reviews (Updated May 2023) - ConsumerAffairs The outcome can often turn on who cancels, which is why a lot of suppliers and travelers are playing chicken right now. refund if a trip is canceled. If my cruise is canceled, am I entitled to a refund? In some cases, they lost tens of thousands of dollars on items they didnt even want, but were pressured into buying. Site Map|Global Site Map|Terms of Use|Privacy Policy, Save this trip to your favorites or other list. 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. Don't do business with these people. Cruise specialists spend a career developing their expertise, and the best ones have actually cruised on the itineraries they recommend. Once you get a positive response, make sure to find out about the interview process at Grand Circle Travel and prepare for tough questions. They have changed our river cruise a couple of times. 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. Same thing goes for spa treatments, most shore excursions, and alcoholic beverages. Here are my strategies for advocating your case. Being well organized may sometimes be less important than moving quickly. 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. Today, Grand Circle This pandemic could cause some of them to be dusted off, said Mr. Anolik. Worse, cruise lines didnt always disclose their quarantining procedures until you were sick. There was a stop at the Hoover Dam to view the dam. 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. In addition, a local restaurant lunch was packed full of passengers with food being served right under their noses. Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. CONTENTS Overview Reviews Updated 03/02/2023 About Grand Circle Travel This profile has. 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. Thats not entirely true. This company policy was the reason I booked with them in the first place, because, as we all know, vaccinations may keep one out of the hospital but does NOT keep one from contracting COVID. That can get a little noisy. How Much Does Grand Circle Travel Pay in 2023? (403 Salaries) Cookie Policy - 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 -. Circle Corp. ran into some challenges last year after the Better We value your privacy. 7% of Grand Circle Travel employees are Asian. 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. In an emailed statement, an O.A.T. 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. But then the cruise lines canceled their rebooked cruises. That doesn't make sense since using them all would have limited the number of passengers occupying them, thus limiting exposure. Glassdoor gives you an inside look at what it's like to work at Grand Circle Travel, including salaries, reviews, office photos, and more. Were always here to help. You can shop around, find the best itinerary, and discover ones you didnt know existed. Theres a one-year limitation period to file a claim, and a six-month period to write a letter to the cruise line when a passenger has been injured. 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. Why? To determine if my hunch was correct, I reached out to O.A.T. said in a statement that "97% of Grand Circle travelers say that The average employee at Grand Circle Travel makes $62,003 per year. By offering more diverse experiences, such as virtual tours and staycations, Grand Circle Travel can draw in more customers and increase its revenue. Copyright 2022 Consumers Unified LLC. contact reporter Michelle Baran, send e-mail to mbaran@travelweekly.com. They dont have any way to contact them. Is it just your server? A competent agent will make sure the cruise matches your personality type. If the company fails to find a solution to its financial woes, it could mean layoffs and reduced wages for employees. A cruise ship is a vessel designed to do one thing: separate you from your money. Grand Circle CEO Alan Lewis and his wife, Harriet Lewis, who. After registering, I can manage my newsletter subscriptions by visiting my Profile Settings page. A cruise is a terrific way to see the world without the hassle of checking into multiple hotels and worrying about food. Ships appear to get less safe with each passing year. in 1997 they established Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises with a This article was published on August 15, 2022, and updated on January 19, 2023. Tasteless food. FAQ. My trip to Egypt with Overseas Adventure Travel was scheduled to depart in late March. canceled the tour because of Covid-19, which was a relief. 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. Additionally, Grand Circle Travel can focus on expanding its marketing efforts and building relationships with new partners to reach a larger customer base. Its gonna cost you. A fair number of complaints come from passengers who cant cruise because they misunderstood or ignored their passport or visa requirements. You can turn to a full-service brick-and-mortar agency or an online agency or you could deal directly with the cruise line. Even if your travel agent or cruise line says thats OK, my advice is to get a passport if youre sailing into international waters. 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 the agency is a member of a larger group, like AAA, youll get deals no one else has, and they may be unbeatable. Asked for refund and got a credit instead. Help! Grand Circle Travel The main thing I have to say to others is: There are many tour Companies out there, now is the time to dismiss GCT and try someone else. 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. Who Will Enjoy Traveling with Grand Circle Travel? It felt like a school tour where I had the least interested parent supervising me. Be the first one to find this review helpful. How many can you get right in 1 minute? Overall, 55% of employees would recommend working at Grand Circle Travel to a friend. 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. Is Grand Circle Travel Still In Business - Pine Knoll Lodge & Cabins If you need advice about a best-laid travel plan that went awry, send an email to travel@nytimes.com. 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Is cruising really safe now? Overseas Adventure Travel is part of Grand Circle Corporation, a family of travel companies based in Boston. OAT's email offering a refund would have made your credit-card dispute an easy win. What Makes Grand Circle Travel Stand Out? Grand Circle's 40-plus offices are located in Africa, North and South America, Europe, and the Asia/Pacific . I feel I was defrauded and the company has been unethical in their dealings. (Its all taken care of.) again.. No wonder offline agents call these operations vending machines. Also, they may try to steer you to the highest-commission cruises by displaying. This is based on 391 anonymously submitted reviews on Glassdoor. Always arrive the day before your cruise. If you leave the country, you must have a passport. Grand Circle LLC Company Profile | Boston, MA - Dun & Bradstreet What is paid time off like at Grand Circle Travel? 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. Plan to arrive a minimum of 24 hours before your cruise leaves. Grand Circle's cancellation, refund and exchange policies as well What if you miss your deadline? No, no, no. Heres how to spot it, Expert advice for booking the best hotel and finding the lowest rate, Here it is: The complete guide to holiday travel. Revenue: $500 million to $1 billion (USD) Competitors: Unknown. Virtually zero. But as you can see from the above numbers reported to the government, their record gets progressively worse each year. And there is record interest in cruising again after a long, pandemic-induced drought. How are they allowed to keep my money? 166,000 travelers in 2007. About Grand Circle Corporation Grand Circle Corporation is a global enterprise committed to changing people's lives through international travel. Read More rugged variety. Consumer Alert: No more automatic refunds for skipped ports? Cruise lines claim a vacation at sea is safer than any land-based vacation. They read scripts, are timed by their supervisors, and really dont care if youre having a good vacation. Grand Circle travels all over the world, with a strong focus in Europe, Aisa and Southeast Asia. Hotels are comfortable and centrally located. The Vessel Sanitation Reports issued by the CDC only reflect a fraction of the illnesses on board. Online agencies are a volume business, so if you like to feel special and appreciated, you might want to book elsewhere. Itineraries are designed to give you more time in each stop, allowing for a more balanced combination of included activities and independent time. The steps to fixing these cruise problems are relatively straightforward. O.A.T. Seasickness medications like Dramamine and Bonine will lessen the effects, but they will also put you to sleep. Most complaints fall into one of these categories: A missed port. The view of the mountains and Grand Canyon was breathtaking! This company must not have enough staffing. Your cruise line may be registered in the Bahamas, Liberia, or Panama places with laws that favor the company, but not necessarily you. Cruise lines add tips of up to 20 percent to your spa or bar bill. Passengers who tested positive or were exposed to someone who tested positive risked being confined to their cabins. 35% of job seekers rate their interview experience at Grand Circle Travel as positive. Dont let this be you. Recently cruised with GCT and they failed to comply with their stated regulations regarding Covid protocols. G rand Circle Corp. is being sold to New York private equity firm Court Square Capital Partners for an undisclosed amount. Don't sweat the logistics travel providers plan for you. He provided us with so much information. 13% of Grand Circle Travel employees are Hispanic or Latino. Always check before booking.). The small-group and cruising company has been recognized nationally. This is the third Tripped Up column in a row that addresses the issue of refunds. Because the porters dont always deliver the luggage to your room. During the pandemic, many cruise lines instituted strict quarantine procedures some would say, too strict. This is a common problem at my consumer advocacy organization. In reality, many of these statutes are seldom enforced. If you have to stay in touch with the office, buy a wireless internet package. Find your private company bowl on Fishbowl, join the hottest conversation with your colleagues anonymously. Kiddos to the bus drive for being SO informative!! This employer has claimed their Employer Profile and is engaged in the Glassdoor community. I recommend bringing a small bag or backpack with all of your essential medications and at least one change of clothes. Most trips with Grand Circle are, unfortunately, not wheelchair accessible. (Annual sales and employees) What industry is the company in? Even though people cant travel right now, many of us are continuing to dream about our next trip and that means making conscious and subconscious decisions about which companies to spend money with once the pandemic has passed. That's not entirely true. A human travel agent who can take the time to sit down with you and talk about your cruise options is a tried-and-true way to buy a cruise. I respected allan lewis and spoke highly of him till i saw that he is not a man of his word and terminated loyal people and hire stupid ones he fooled us and i think this company is toxic ,he knew about sexual harassment for women and didn't do anything about itRead More. You might find yourself sharing dinner at the home of a local family or visiting local schools. This PayPal invoice scam almost got me. Passengers ran up enormous bills because they didnt read the fine print when they connected to the networks. You may feel like a number. Want a welcome drink? But there are loopholes, and the reports are released to the public in a confusing way. Were looking for dynamic, high-performing, accommodating individuals interested in joining our upcoming training classes for Sales and Customer Service. Seine River Cruise | Paris to Normandy | Grand Circle Cruise Line 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). Copyright 2023 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. (How generous of you!) Poor food, poor guidance and no involvement from the guide or the Company. Plenty of free time is included in the itineraries, and there is a lot of choice among optional tours. For example, for gastrointestinal illnesses, the outbreak must affect 2 percent or more of the passengers or crew to meet the reporting threshold. Over the years they have established a solid reputation for tours and river cruises that offer good value to destinations around the world. Will this be the busiest spring break ever? We make it accessible through trips that deliver unmatched discoveries, leisurely pacing, more travel choices, and comprehensive value. Thank you, you have successfully subscribed to our newsletter! Onboard doctors dont have the equipment or facilities to handle a serious illness. Your rights at sea are governed by maritime law, or the law of the sea. Aleksandar Norsic - Manager, Beverage Development & Operations - The See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals. A porter will deliver it to your room. Younger couples or families will probably feel out of place among the crowd on a Grand Circle tour. Tip: Avoid a cabin near an elevator or nightclub. 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. When will cruising feel safe again to you? Would take take this tour all over again! There have been some reports that the company is in financial trouble, and may be shutting down soon . You can find a cheaper private tour through a company like Viator. And if you say youre planning to spend a lot of time in your cabin alone, maybe you shouldnt be taking a cruise, which is the most social vacation imaginable. Grand Circle Travel is a well-known international travel company based in Boston, Massachusetts. But stay off the phone. Infectious disease COVID and norovirus outbreaks are common on cruise ships. What are my rights as a cruise passenger? Its your responsibility yours alone to have the correct documents. They canceled my flight. Working at Grand Circle Travel has to be one of the best jobs I've worked at. 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. Nevertheless, Grand You raise an important point. Unsubscribe easily. We ran off the road and almost flipped--and Grand Circle did NOTHING. Many of their phone agents are located in overseas call centers. Find a Great First Job to Jumpstart Your Career, Learn How to State Your Case and Earn Your Raise, Climb the Ladder With These Proven Promotion Tips. Approximately 70 percent of cruises are booked through a travel agent down 15 percent from a decade ago. This is my first experience with them. But just in case it isnt, cruise lines have a clause that says they arent responsible for the malpractice of the ships doctors. I told them that I had a medical condition and did not know when or if I would be able to travel, and asked whether they were just going to keep my $17,500 if I couldnt travel by the end of 2021. The right to have this Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights published on each lines website.

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