For more information about reviews on ConsumerAffairs.com please visit our All rights reserved. Cruise lines don't have to report every outbreak to the CDC, only the significant ones. If the company fails to find a solution to its financial woes, it could mean layoffs and reduced wages for employees. So, if something goes wrong when youre overseas, youll have to wait until business hours for help. Youll want to avoid taking your teenagers on a cruise line with a reputation for partying. 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. As travel companies now suffer a cash crunch, they are facing off with travelers over credits and refunds. This is my first experience with them. Ultimately, it is up to Grand Circle Travel to take the necessary steps to ensure its financial stability. Tip: Avoid a cabin near an elevator or nightclub. Why is it taking so long to get a cruise refund? WE CAN DREAM ABOUT TRAVEL Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Terms indicate if they cancel you get a refund. He paid Vantage $18,536. Because Grand Circle attracts a similar age range, youre sure to meet new friends with like interests in no time. was created in 1958 to serve AARP members. That agency said that it has received about 275 consumer complaints so far about canceled O.A.T. Anyone can read what you share. This is definitely a travel experience well suited to older American travelers in the 60+ range, seeking a degree of comfort, in their travel experience, within a mid to high budget range. 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. Even though GC advertises travel for mature adults- this is overwhelming in a foreign country.
Aleksandar Norsic - Manager, Beverage Development & Operations - The 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. was no longer offering refunds. There have been some reports that the company is in financial trouble, and may be shutting down soon . I had always heard this was a good company but clearly it is no longer good. How Can I Get $$ back?? Finally, Grand Circle Travels financial struggles could lead to an overall decrease in the quality of its services. But Massachusetts happens to be one of only a handful of states with specific laws that guarantee consumers protection against travel sellers, including requiring that tour operators offer the option of cash refunds (in addition to vouchers or credits for rebooking) when they fail to provide agreed-upon, paid-for services. On our River Cruise Vacations and Land Vacations, you'll enjoy unmatched discoveries . 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. We receive regular complaints about food poisoning on cruise ships. But it was the industrys way of saying it could do better. Were looking for dynamic, high-performing, accommodating individuals interested in joining our upcoming training classes for Sales and Customer Service. Your rights at sea are governed by maritime law, or the law of the sea. They appear to be having problems, long waits on the phone. 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. Why Choose a Tour with Grand Circle Travel? What if you miss your deadline? If its a small shop, you may not have 24/7 support. Grand Circle Travel is a company that offers guided tours and river cruises to destinations all over the world. Copyright 2008-2023, Glassdoor, Inc. "Glassdoor" and logo are registered trademarks of Glassdoor, Inc. They refuse to accept their responsibility to inform me, in order to allow me to make the decision regarding my exposure. Sears couldnt deliver my appliances. If you get seasick in a bathtub, please dont book a cruise. Its location on this page may change next time you visit. Employees rate Grand Circle Travel 3.3 out of 5 stars based on 429 anonymous reviews on Glassdoor. 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). Thats not entirely true. Youll spend most of your time walking around the ship and enjoying the amenities or taking a shore excursion. Read More rugged variety. 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. To determine if my hunch was correct, I reached out to O.A.T. I booked a river cruise with GCT because their COVID protocols were strong on paper. Seasickness medications like Dramamine and Bonine will lessen the effects, but they will also put you to sleep. That means cruise lines appear to be less dangerous than they are. 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 a fast-paced and rapidly changing environment each member of the team is critical for success. And cruise lines dont like to do that. Today, Grand Circle (Annual sales and employees) What industry is the company in? How are they allowed to keep my money? But it refuses to refund his money. Grand Circle Travel always has great specials and last minute specials if you can go on short notice. 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. 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. To get a job at Grand Circle Travel, browse currently open positions and apply for a job near you. 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. Lewis and his wife, Harriet Lewis, who acquired Boston-based Grand But there are risks now, and perhaps more risks than ever. Did we mention it's free? Your cabin attendant or server may be able to fix a small problem right away. You might find yourself sharing dinner at the home of a local family or visiting local schools. By Christopher Elliott Globe correspondent, Updated November 11, 2021, 12:00 p.m. Grand. We make it accessible through trips that deliver unmatched discoveries, leisurely pacing, more travel choices, and comprehensive value. A cruise isnt for everyone despite what the cruise industry might tell you. View travel requirements for countries around the world. A Comprehensive Guide, Is Hiring a Travel Agent Worth It? 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. Younger couples or families will probably feel out of place among the crowd on a Grand Circle tour. Exploring the Pros, Cons, and Benefits of Utilizing Professional Vacation Planning Services. Copyright 2022 Consumers Unified LLC. Our values are the foundation upon which our company is built. And if I decided to go, whats the best way to book my vacation?
Want a picture of you and your beautiful family? 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. Circle in 1985, will retain a 30% stake in the direct-market tour Other travelers looking for refunds may have a better chance if theyre dealing with companies headquartered within Hawaii, Washington state, Illinois or California. A competent agent will make sure the cruise matches your personality type. Well start sending you the news you need delivered straight to you. If you leave the country, you must have a passport. Roz. Booked Iceland Greenland trip this year. Thousands of itineraries from over 1,000 trusted travel companies. Always arrive the day before your cruise. They are completely incompetent at this point. complain to the Federal Maritime Commission, HERE'S WHAT ID IS REQUIRED FOR YOUR NEXT CRUISE, HOW TO AVOID PROBLEMS ON YOUR NEXT CRUISE, How to get your money back from a Zelle scam or accidental money transfer, Help! Ships appear to get less safe with each passing year. 301 Route 17 N, Suite 1150, Rutherford, NJ Archive - Avoid the grief and go elsewhere to a reputable business at the outset. The worst fee Ive seen is for the end cut of a roast served at dinner. Always check before booking.). The right to a ship crew that is properly trained in emergency and evacuation procedures. Can a vacation rental host cancel my stay and keep my money? Most trips with Grand Circle are, unfortunately, not wheelchair accessible. Thank you, you have successfully subscribed to our newsletter! We booked a river cruise, including airfare, and documented every detail. And this information was only transmitted because I raised the subject. 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.
Grand Circle canceled my tour twice. How about a refund? The small-group and cruising company has been recognized nationally. Grand Circle's annual revenues are $10-$50 million (see exact revenue data) and has 100-500 employees. 7% of Grand Circle Travel employees are Asian. No answer to emails or snail mail. This PayPal invoice scam almost got me. Get the real picture with both traveler and expert reviews to ensure the trip you book is the right one for you.
Seine River Cruise | Paris to Normandy | Grand Circle Cruise Line But inexperienced cruise passengers sometimes also add a tip on top of the automatic tip. The porters removed his bag and he never saw it again. 1958. In an emailed statement, an O.A.T. Americas +1 212 318 2000. The activities, lectures, and easy pace are all designed for older travelers. Most medical care on cruise ships is adequate. He was warm and concerned about the experience of the customers on the tour. Our values shape our decisions, give direction to our growth, and allow us to measure our progress. Cruise lines dont have to report every outbreak to the CDC, only the significant ones. 4x. Dont let this be you. Sharing Your Travel Videos, Slideshows & Photos. A delayed flight leads to a delayed connection. This article will explore the causes, implications, and possible solutions to Grand Circle Travels financial troubles. Windstars 2023/24 Middle East program kicks off in November. On motorcoach tours with Grand Circle you will make frequent stops to stretch your legs, and some longer stops for sightseeing. When something goes wrong, someone should always be there for you. Grand Circle Travel/Overseas Adventure Travel only offered a $250 credit per person to be applied to a future trip, and the option of booking another trip altogether. There are new cruise lines, new ships, and new routes this year. Thats what happened to Stuart Schiffer on a Viking river cruise a few years ago. Youll need to consider all of these dangers before you plan your cruise. 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. What are my rights, and what should I be worried about? (Think of it as a kind of rewards program.) 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. Circle Corp. ran into some challenges last year after the Better Unbeknown to me, the stated policy had changed: O.A.T. Will this be the busiest spring break ever? Be the first one to find this review helpful. She lost her engagement ring in a rental car. Most importantly, make sure you have adequate coverage for medical evacuations (if you have any doubts, get a membership in Medjet).
Overseas Adventure Travel: Reviews, Complaints, Customer Claims 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 generally a lot of smaller grievances that dont add up to much. Our family of travel companieswhich you can read more about belowoffers a variety of innovative trips to more than 60 countries. How much of a cut does the cruise line take? Youre on vacation. 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. Bad service. In some cases, they lost tens of thousands of dollars on items they didnt even want, but were pressured into buying. A link has directed you to this review. If you need advice about a best-laid travel plan that went awry, send an email to travel@nytimes.com. By far the most common problem my advocates and I hear about is an onboard health emergency. You raise an important point. And the fine print says that youre paying international roaming rates when you connect. Copyright 2023 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. CONTENTS Overview Reviews Updated 03/02/2023 About Grand Circle Travel This profile has. 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. Why? It's equivalent to changing a flight schedule and not informing the ticketed passenger. In order to overcome these financial struggles, the company must find ways to diversify its offerings, increase efficiency, and reduce overhead expenses. 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. EMEA +44 20 7330 7500. Despite the customer Access to possible upgrades and onboard credits.
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions | Overseas Adventure Travel Grand Circle Corporation provides 85+ international small group adventures by land and sea for Americans 50 and older.
Grand Circle Travel Warning - Fodor's Travel Talk Forums This could ultimately lead to a decline in customer loyalty and revenue for Grand Circle Travel. To In response, Grand 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? 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! Glassdoor gives you an inside look at what it's like to work at Grand Circle Travel, including salaries, reviews, office photos, and more. Since 1958, Grand Circle has been the leader in international discovery for mature American travelers. 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. The office environment is really casual. 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. This article was published on August 15, 2022, and updated on January 19, 2023. Kiddos to the bus drive for being SO informative!! as its customer service. Grand Circle Travel was started by the founder of AARP, and as such know their demographic extremely well. Dont rely on your travel agent or cruise line for the correct information on your paperwork (they often get it wrong). I called, sent letters, asking for a refund. 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. We have not had any reports of passengers with COVID being forcibly removed from a ship recently. They dont have any way to contact them. 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. How do I know I can trust these reviews about Grand Circle Travel? That's no excuse for not responding to paid customer's inquiries. 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.