While Grand Circle Travel has seen tremendous success over the years, the company has recently found itself in a difficult financial situation. established a solid reputation for tours and river cruises that offer good value to destinations around the world. You have 24/7 phone support through most of the online agencies. Asked for refund and got a credit instead. 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. Youre out of luck. Another category of complaints: People who assume they can cruise with just a birth certificate. Avoid like the plague! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Proudly powered by WordPress To get a job at Grand Circle Travel, browse currently open positions and apply for a job near you. And it should have at least six months validity left on it to be safe. Grand Circle Travel Reviews (Updated May 2023) | ConsumerAffairs You might find yourself sharing dinner at the home of a local family or visiting local schools. As a result of the pandemic, many people have become hesitant to travel, resulting in a significant drop in bookings for Grand Circle Travel. A free inside look at Grand Circle Travel salary trends based on 462 salaries wages for 222 jobs at Grand Circle Travel. Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. Overseas . FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions | Grand Circle Travel Care for a soda? Youll probably get the deepest discounts, and in some cases, a price protection that assures you that if the fare drops, youll get a refund. We booked a river cruise, including airfare, and documented every detail. It appears that the main cause of Grand Circle Travel's financial issues is attributed to a decrease in demand for the company's services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the years they have. USTOA is a nonprofit professional association representing the tour operator industry.Its members are made up of companies who provide services worldwide but who conduct business in the U.S. Travelstride helps you search and compare 50,000+ expert-planned trips from 1,000+ companies. Payments. (Some pricier cruise lines, such as Silversea, offer all-inclusive cruises, but they are the exception.). Watch for food-borne illnesses. Plus, we have insightful letters, insider tips, and more. According to the Discover the worldin comforton Viking ocean cruises to Scandinavia, Mediterranean, Asia, Australia, the Americas or around https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Grand-Circle-to-be-sold-to-private-equity-firm. Book directly with the operator. Lunch in one of our specialty restaurants? Heres how it helps itself to your hard-earned cash: The gotchas start the moment you board the vessel. Where is it? Although travel has stopped and is only starting up again slowly and in only a few destinations the aftershocks of that screeching halt, brought on by the coronavirus, continue to reverberate. Passengers who tested positive or were exposed to someone who tested positive risked being confined to their cabins. The rating was due in part to a series of customer complaints about Grand Circle canceled my tour twice. How about a refund? Wheres my airline ticket refund from GotoGate? Capital portfolio company. Preparing for Your Trip. The Tour guide read from a book, did little guiding on site and was mainly interested in getting us back on the bus. <br>Expertise in leadership coaching and mentoring, training and development, financial management in a constantly changing environment, public speaking and total guest . (Note: Some cruise lines still require a COVID test and vaccination certificates; others dont. Finally, Grand Circle Travels financial struggles could lead to an overall decrease in the quality of its services. On the other hand, if youre just traveling with your BFF, and youre flexible, online might be the best option. Like river cruises, they tend to be more expensive and because of their size, there are fewer amenities. Ive heard of these kickbacks going as high as 14 percent. While there are several included activities, you have many options for personalization through optional extensions and plenty of free time in each destination. Established in 1958 by Ethel Andrus, educator and founder of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), we view world travel as a powerful lever for lifelong learning. If you need advice about a best-laid travel plan that went awry, send an email to travel@nytimes.com. Most cruise lines have stopped screening their passengers for COVID. Despite the customer As someone who has been on numerous cruises and has helped resolve cruise problems in real time, I have a few recommendations: One of the first things your cruise line will try to do is take away your luggage. Claim your Free Employer Profile. Their itineraries are designed with individuals in mind. You probably need travel insurance for your cruise. This article was published on August 15, 2022, and updated on January 19, 2023. We receive regular complaints about food poisoning on cruise ships. What are my rights as a cruise passenger? Youre dealing directly with the cruise line, so the company cant blame an intermediary for anything that goes wrong. FAQ. Read More rugged variety. 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. A Comprehensive Guide, Is Hiring a Travel Agent Worth It? 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. Its generally a lot of smaller grievances that dont add up to much. 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. Here is a photo of them enjoying the breathtaking view of Machu Picchu. ), Back to O. Circle changed its cancellation policy to give customers a full By Christopher Elliott Globe correspondent, Updated November 11, 2021, 12:00 p.m. Grand. The bus driver, Wayne, could not have been any better! Today, Grand Circle You will probably do a fair amount of walking throughout the tour - Grand Circle suggests that travelers be relatively physically fit. If you have a consumer problem,please contact our team at Elliott Advocacy through this form. To determine if my hunch was correct, I reached out to O.A.T. EMEA +44 20 7330 7500. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Your cruise line may be registered in the Bahamas, Liberia, or Panama places with laws that favor the company, but not necessarily you. If you get seasick in a bathtub, please dont book a cruise. Your rights at sea are governed by maritime law, or the law of the sea. Our help is free. 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. 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. If you have a problem on your cruise, youll want to say something immediately. If you have a severe health problem, avoid cruising. And this information was only transmitted because I raised the subject. Why is it taking so long to get a cruise refund? Grand Circle Travel Booted Out of BBB - Fodor's Tours & Operators on Travelstride Awarded and Featured by: 2023 Travelstride. Look out for our newsletters with travel tips and special offers. canceled the tour because of Covid-19, which was a relief. It isnt that these items arent fun to have while youre on a cruise, but that in many cases, theyre ridiculously overpriced. There have been some reports that the company is in financial trouble, and may be shutting down soon . Grand Circles motto is We Change Peoples Lives; it has certainly changed ours. And most passengers accepted the credit. Even though this place offers a month-long training class, I think it would be best if newer agents get taught more basics before they are put on the floor to deal with customers. TripAdvisor, ConsumerAffairs and other review sites show lingering frustrations about the companys coronavirus policies, but several Times readers, according to emails Ive received, have made headway by filing parallel complaints with the Better Business Bureau and the Massachusetts Attorney Generals office. I feel like I was duped by a bait and switch and wonder how many others were caught in the same scheme. Grand Circle Travel (GCT) seems to play a few nasty games, and cheating its customers!!! Recently cruised with GCT and they failed to comply with their stated regulations regarding Covid protocols. That doesn't make sense since using them all would have limited the number of passengers occupying them, thus limiting exposure. They also foster a community of dedicated travelers, encouraging you to share your memories, images, and stories with them and the friends you meet along the way. Get travel insurance. Its not hard to surmise, just by reading your email, what happened at O.A.T. And cruise lines dont like to do that. By offering more diverse experiences, such as virtual tours and staycations, Grand Circle Travel can draw in more customers and increase its revenue. 1958. 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. $7000 in their pocket. If you are injured with Grand Circle, be prepared to handle all medical necessities and communication yourself including pushing a wheel chair. Whats more, its not always entirely clear who gets the tip. They canceled my flight. Empowered teams are committed to taking the necessary actions to ensure that the team will reach its goals. ConsumerAffairs is not a government agency. Archive - I called, sent letters, asking for a refund. The company notified me of the cancellation and offered either a credit for rebooking or a full refund that would have included airfare. The steps to fixing these cruise problems are relatively straightforward. Grand Circle Family of Travel Companies | O.A.T. 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. The company has been in business since the 1980s, and has grown to become one of the largest tour operators in the world. Copyright 2008-2023, Glassdoor, Inc. "Glassdoor" and logo are registered trademarks of Glassdoor, Inc. Other passengers couldnt cruise for health reasons. First and foremost, an ethical agent will make sure the cruise is the right one for you, but some agents, sadly, go straight for the highest commission. Our 2020 tour has been re-booked to 2022. In the end, there may be no correct answer for everyone. Why? Our content is intended to be used for general information purposes only. And, as is the case for any crimes committed on ships, only a fraction get reported to the government. contact reporter Michelle Baran, send e-mail to mbaran@travelweekly.com. You can also book the cruise whenever you want to. You could pay tens of thousands of dollars to a cruise line. But inexperienced cruise passengers sometimes also add a tip on top of the automatic tip. also step down from her role as co-chair at Grand Circle and as We value your privacy. 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! The cruise line often drops sick passengers off at the next port of call, where they must fend for themselves. 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. That can get a little noisy. Youre dealing directly with the cruise line. Exploring the Extent of Its Reach, Do Travel Adapters Change Voltage? Travel agents can make 10 percent or more in commissions and overrides from your cruise. Grand Circle Travel Salaries posted anonymously by Grand Circle Travel employees. All rights reserved. There was a stop at the Hoover Dam to view the dam. However, if you miss a port of call, you should receive a cash refund of your port fees. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced she reached an agreement with a tour company, securing further refunds for canceled trips. This is based on anonymous employee reviews submitted on Glassdoor. They are completely incompetent at this point. Being well organized may sometimes be less important than moving quickly. Cruise ship gotchas they wont tell you about. At a time like now, some may be safer and more convenient than others. Americas +1 212 318 2000. 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Well start sending you the news you need delivered straight to you. In theory, a host agency is not liable to clients of a sub-IC for their acts or omissions. The cabin is for sleeping. There are mice in my vacation rental! 4x. But there are lots of cruise options. Passengers sometimes arrive at the cruise terminal with the wrong visa or an expired passport. 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. A few practical tips from a consumer advocate. Many of their phone agents are located in overseas call centers. 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. No. Its not uncommon to hear of people waiting upwards of an hour for help. That's not entirely true. But why cant I get a refund? I've tried to reach by each way listed without success. Youre in control. This is a common problem at my consumer advocacy organization. Find the latest travel requirements for your trip. Ships appear to get less safe with each passing year. Alternatively, you could have filed a case in small claims court, although you would have had to limit your . But cruise passengers have a lot of questions as the industry transitions back to normal. Support. Tip: Avoid a cabin near an elevator or nightclub. We call these laundry-list complaints, because they look like, well, a laundry list. What should I do? Your travel agent may offer you a spacious cabin with a balcony, or even a suite. Temperatures of travelers were NEVER taken on the cruise, and, although ship was approximately 1/2 full, only approximately 1/2 of the tables were being utilized. 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). If you need help with any problem,please contact us through this form. Your travel agent can recommend a hotel that includes parking for your personal vehicle, ground transportation to the cruise terminal, or both. What if you miss your deadline? Furthermore, the companys reputation could be negatively impacted if customers do not feel confident in their ability to provide quality services. There are many other health perils at sea. Quality: Our decisions must be made and actions taken in accordance with high standards of quality and service. Robbery, assault and homicide happen on cruise ships. 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. In order to understand the current financial situation of Grand Circle Travel, it is important to first examine the causes behind the company's financial struggles. Vrbo took my $1,270! All Rights Reserved. How are they allowed to keep my money? that business to include all Americans over the age of 50. Grand Circle's 40-plus offices are located in Africa, North and South America, Europe, and the Asia/Pacific . This is my first experience with them. Is it just your server? 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. If you think youll have less, get it renewed before your cruise. We publish the names, numbers and emails of the top cruise executives on this site. 2 hour wait for phone contact. COVID and norovirus outbreaks are common on cruise ships. 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. I dont want to be obligated to Grand Circle. Grand Circle travels all over the world, with a strong focus in Europe, Aisa and Southeast Asia. Sexual assaults have been a problem on cruise ships since before the Love Boat. Whats the international cruise line passenger bill of rights? Copyright 2023 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. they would travel with the company again.". Contact Us - We are only a month out. My cruise line requires a vaccination and now my credits are expiring, Take that back: The ultimate guide to a product return, The ultimate guide to getting a repair, replacement or refund for your broken appliance, Cell phone customer service: How to get virtually any problem fixed now, The ultimate passenger guide to Lyft, Uber and ridesharing. But it refuses to refund his money. Our values are the foundation upon which our company is built. Grand Circle's Annual Report & Profile shows critical firmographic facts: What is the company's size? Everything from non-refundable airfares to auto. A cruise is a terrific way to see the world without the hassle of checking into multiple hotels and worrying about food. The next week, I learned via email that I had been rebooked on the same trip next year. So you couldnt review the quarantining protocols before making a booking decision and say, No, thats too much. The only way to avoid an unpleasant quarantine is to wait until the infection risk is low. If you like the idea of joining a tight knit travel community, with frequent cost cutting options, then Grand Circle could be for you. 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. Travel Protection. Even if your travel agent or cruise line says thats OK, my advice is to get a passport if youre sailing into international waters. I feel I am being held hostage by O.A.T. Grand Circle Travel offers distinctive international vacations for older Americans. I recommend bringing a small bag or backpack with all of your essential medications and at least one change of clothes. On motorcoach tours with Grand Circle you will make frequent stops to stretch your legs, and some longer stops for sightseeing. I advise focusing on a bigger problem and letting the smaller things go. Gangwal left Worldspan when it was You can shop around, find the best itinerary, and discover ones you didnt know existed. Not a week goes by that my advocates dont receive a case from someone who didnt have enough travel insurance and faced a large bill at the end of a cruise. If the agency is a member of a larger group, like AAA, youll get deals no one else has, and they may be unbeatable. Another solution to Grand Circle Travels financial woes is to increase efficiency. . Even though GC advertises travel for mature adults- this is overwhelming in a foreign country. Would take take this tour all over again! Plenty of free time is included in the itineraries, and there is a lot of choice among optional tours. Translation: When they cancel your trip, they are legally required to offer you the money back. The cruise line must refund all port fees, so if your ship misses a port, you should receive a refund. Circle in 1985, will retain a 30% stake in the direct-market tour Want to take the kids out to dinner or to the arcade? But not for cruises. 35% of job seekers rate their interview experience at Grand Circle Travel as positive. The view of the mountains and Grand Canyon was breathtaking! Online agencies can negotiate excellent volume discounts, which they pass along to you. They have provided great service in the past, but this tour was bad. See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals. 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. The Grand Circle Travel Style is comfortable, standard river cruises and motorcoaches. Refund for a trip cancelled by Grand Circle tTours - Senior Travel 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. By streamlining processes, such as booking and customer service, Grand Circle Travel can reduce costs and increase profitability. Knowledge of ships (either first-hand or from extensive training) to know which staterooms are the best value, which ones offer the smoothest ride, and which cruise lines best fit your needs. Seine River Cruise | Paris to Normandy | Grand Circle Cruise Line 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. Inside In Hawaii, consumers have the right to a cash refund (minus previously disclosed cancellation fees) within two weeks of requesting one. Sharing Your Travel Videos, Slideshows & Photos. If the company fails to find a solution to its financial woes, it could mean layoffs and reduced wages for employees. Our family of travel companieswhich you can read more about belowoffers a variety of innovative trips to more than 60 countries. Dont let that happen to you. The average employee at Grand Circle Travel makes $62,003 per year. Grand Circle LLC Company Profile | Boston, MA - Dun & Bradstreet We have not had any reports of passengers with COVID being forcibly removed from a ship recently. 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. He was warm and concerned about the experience of the customers on the tour. Over the years they have established a solid reputation for tours and river cruises that offer good value to destinations around the world. 07070 USA Telephone: (201) 902-2000, Windstar Knows the Way to the Middle East: How to Sell the Red Sea & Persian Gulf. GRAND CIRCLE Revenue, Growth & Competitor Profile - IncFact.com Cookie Policy - The aggressive onboard sales agents sometimes force you to decide on a future vacation before youre ready. NBC10 Boston Responds Recovers Over $71K for Viewers on Canceled 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. Compare your travel trivia knowledge with friends. Who Will Enjoy Traveling with Grand Circle Travel? Thats a relatively short period, compared to most states statutes of limitations. Always check before booking.). Same thing goes for spa treatments, most shore excursions, and alcoholic beverages. On our River Cruise Vacations and Land Vacations, you'll enjoy unmatched discoveries . Coronavirus: Massachusetts unemployment claims spike amid travel The right to have included on each cruise lines website a toll-free phone line that can be used for questions or information concerning any aspect of shipboard operations.