They have made it impossible to contact them about anything. There are new cruise lines, new ships, and new routes this year. But it was the industrys way of saying it could do better. 301 Route 17 N, Suite 1150, Rutherford, NJ Grand Circle Foundation Giving back to the world we travel Upload Your Photos, Videos & Slideshows Share your trips with fellow travelers Special Offers The Seine: Paris to Normandy Average Group Size: 38-45 Travelers Traveler Reviews (611) 84% Traveler Excellence Rating 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. Its your responsibility yours alone to have the correct documents. Our buses had problems; the drivers were pulled from retirement and were unfamiliar with the vehicles. 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. they acquired Cambridge, Mass.-based Overseas Adventure Travel and Is it just your server? What Makes Grand Circle Travel Stand Out? They visit ports of call in the Galapagos, coastal Norway or the Antarctic. You might find yourself sharing dinner at the home of a local family or visiting local schools. When Will Hawaiis Safe Travels Program End? Over the years they have established a solid reputation for tours and river cruises that offer good value to destinations around the world. 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. Additionally, Grand Circle Travel can focus on expanding its marketing efforts and building relationships with new partners to reach a larger customer base. Additionally, Grand Circle Travel can look into ways to reduce overhead expenses, such as cutting down on staff or renegotiating contracts with vendors. Copyright 2022 Consumers Unified LLC. Enjoy reading our tips and recommendations. Tours & Operators on Travelstride Awarded and Featured by: 2023 Travelstride. A delayed flight leads to a delayed connection. Read unbiased user reviews, pick the operator that suits your needs, and connect with them directly. If you think youll have less, get it renewed before your cruise. My cruise was cancelled by the company because do not have enough people, asking for refund but never get an answer. 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. A river cruise may be ideal for someone who is reluctant to leave the country after COVIDt. Book directly with the operator. I advise focusing on a bigger problem and letting the smaller things go. Not only did GCT require vaccination, including a booster, paperwork sent to me in my final packet, one week before departure, stated GCT policy "G.C.C.L requires all travelers wear facemasks when in public spaces while on board the ship and/or while traveling in a coach bus." In the end, there may be no correct answer for everyone. An offer of a certificate for future travel with a company I no longer trust is unacceptable. For some types of trips, insurance is optional. Recently cruised with GCT and they failed to comply with their stated regulations regarding Covid protocols. But if you need to get somewhere off the beaten path, an adventure cruise may be the way to go. I called, sent letters, asking for a refund. Because the porters dont always deliver the luggage to your room. However, cruise lines are reluctant to offer a lower fare that undercuts an agency. He provided us with so much information. Agents are often incentivized by commissions and bonuses called overrides from cruise lines that reward them for booking a lot of itineraries with the same company. Grand Circle Travel offers distinctive international vacations for older Americans. 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. 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. By entering your email, you agree to sign up for consumer news, tips and giveaways from ConsumerAffairs. Do you have knowledge or insights to share? Working at Grand Circle Travel has to be one of the best jobs I've worked at. After registering, I can manage my newsletter subscriptions by visiting my Profile Settings page. How do you buy a cruise, then? Grand Circle Corp. is being sold to New York Overseas Adventure Travel is part of Grand Circle Corporation, a family of travel companies based in Boston. Youll need to consider all of these dangers before you plan your cruise. They also have limited departures in Africa, South America, the Middle East, South Pacific, North America, Central America, and even Antarctica. The view of the mountains and Grand Canyon was breathtaking! G rand Circle Corp. is being sold to New York private equity firm Court Square Capital Partners for an undisclosed amount. Our help is free. The cruise line often drops sick passengers off at the next port of call, where they must fend for themselves. Where is it? Why? Here are my strategies for advocating your case. Why is it taking so long to get a cruise refund? 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. Aleksandar Norsic - Manager, Beverage Development & Operations - The The rating was due in part to a series of customer complaints about A porter will deliver it to your room. Exploring the World of Knowledge and Understanding. When the customers asked for a refund, the cruise lines said they couldnt get one future cruise credits were nonrefundable. Asked for refund and got a credit instead. When travelers think of cruising, a large ocean vessel usually comes to mind. Most medical care on cruise ships is adequate. Soon we discovered they had changed our cabin without notifying us and that one of the flights had disappeared . In a telephone call to GCT I was told the company policy had changed but the paperwork had not been updated. We receive many requests for help from foreign nationals with residency permits. Its a high-pressure sales pitch on the high seas. Alternatively, you could have filed a case in small claims court, although you would have had to limit your . Even email or call back. Once you get a positive response, make sure to find out about the interview process at Grand Circle Travel and prepare for tough questions. (Annual sales and employees) What industry is the company in? Dont let this be you. Without adequate funding, the company may be unable to invest in new technologies or hire the best talent to ensure the highest level of customer satisfaction. How can I reach them?? Grand Circle Travel Reviews (Updated May 2023) | ConsumerAffairs What is paid time off like at Grand Circle Travel? (Think of it as a kind of rewards program.) Beware Grand Circle Travel/Overseas Adventure Travel - Fodor's I feel I was defrauded and the company has been unethical in their dealings. 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. We receive regular complaints about food poisoning on cruise ships. This is based on anonymous employee reviews submitted on Glassdoor. The small-group and cruising company has been recognized nationally. Capital portfolio company. Excellence in our quality will continually enhance our repeat business and ultimately our financial performance. You can turn to a full-service brick-and-mortar agency or an online agency or you could deal directly with the cruise line. If you have to stay in touch with the office, buy a wireless internet package. But stay off the phone. Sign up to receive our free weekly newsletter. Plan to arrive a minimum of 24 hours before your cruise leaves. See all activities, themes, and interests >, Save $600 off trips to every continent on earth, Redeem anytime before 2023. 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. That doesn't make sense since using them all would have limited the number of passengers occupying them, thus limiting exposure. 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. The worst fee Ive seen is for the end cut of a roast served at dinner. ConsumerAffairs is not a government agency. as CEO by Rakesh Gangwal, former CEO of Worldspan, a Court Square Our award-winning daily newsletters keep you posted on our random acts of consumer advocacy. They have provided great service in the past, but this tour was bad. Travel Protection. 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. Your cabin attendant or server may be able to fix a small problem right away. This company must not have enough staffing. Poor food, poor guidance and no involvement from the guide or the Company. Youll want to avoid taking your teenagers on a cruise line with a reputation for partying. The Grand Circle Family | About Us | Grand Circle Travel Your email address will not be published. Check out our directory. See reviews below to learn more or submit your own review. Same thing goes for spa treatments, most shore excursions, and alcoholic beverages. I cannot force any reason they would improve from this point. Help! I could not have asked for a better experience! I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. 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. But not for cruises. Because Grand Circle attracts a similar age range, youre sure to meet new friends with like interests in no time. Cruise lines claim a vacation at sea is safer than any land-based vacation. Asia Pacific +65 6212 1000. Onboard doctors dont have the equipment or facilities to handle a serious illness. They have changed our river cruise a couple of times. Grand Circle Travel Reviews (Updated May 2023) - ConsumerAffairs Were always here to help. 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 -. Our family of travel companieswhich you can read more about belowoffers a variety of innovative trips to more than 60 countries. A few practical tips from a consumer advocate. UNACCEPTABLE!! On motorcoach tours with Grand Circle you will make frequent stops to stretch your legs, and some longer stops for sightseeing. As travel companies now suffer a cash crunch, they are facing off with travelers over credits and refunds. Answer: Yes. Often, they succeed. Its their terms. 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. Come on! In addition to decreased demand, Grand Circle Travel has also had to face other financial challenges. Grand Circle Travel is a well-known international travel company based in Boston, Massachusetts. When you try to contact someone by phone. All rights reserved. Is Grand Circle Travel in Financial Trouble? An Analysis If you need advice about a best-laid travel plan that went awry, send an email to travel@nytimes.com. I had always heard this was a good company but clearly it is no longer good. But why cant I get a refund? Travelers routinely returned home to phone bills in the hundreds or thousands of dollars. Here are some of the risks. Our values shape our decisions, give direction to our growth, and allow us to measure our progress. Help! One Company Refused to Refund Travelers More Than $100,000 Business Bureau had given the company an "unsatisfactory" rating. The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act requires cruise lines to report criminal activity to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Despite the customer Learn the word no, and use it often. 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. Youll also connect with other readers who want to make the world a better place. The Tour guide read from a book, did little guiding on site and was mainly interested in getting us back on the bus. Americas +1 212 318 2000. 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. The high seas can be dangerous, and not just in the movies. You must be very efficient at email with On Call. 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. When the level of quality required is in question, we will operate to the high standards expected by our customers. The company has been in business since the 1980s, and has grown to become one of the largest tour operators in the world. The Elliott Report is a consumer news site supported by Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that offers free advice and advocacy for consumers. Robbery, assault and homicide happen on cruise ships. My wife and I would have been able to have a table to ourselves, not because we are anti-social, but because we would have been safer. The cabin is for sleeping. If you are on a slim budget try the " last minute" opportunities. This employer has claimed their Employer Profile and is engaged in the Glassdoor community. In 2018, The Excellence in Service Award was presented to 7 different GCC associates. Circle changed its cancellation policy to give customers a full Do they distribute it among the staff? established a solid reputation for tours and river cruises that offer good value to destinations around the world. Grandparents & grandchildren (ages 13 and up are welcome to join). The outcome can often turn on who cancels, which is why a lot of suppliers and travelers are playing chicken right now. 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. You could pay tens of thousands of dollars to a cruise line. If you prefer a smaller ship and dont like waves, a river cruise might be right for you. In order to understand the current financial situation of Grand Circle Travel, it is important to first examine the causes behind the companys financial struggles. If the company fails to find a solution to its financial woes, it could mean layoffs and reduced wages for employees. Thank you, you have successfully subscribed to our newsletter! Grand Circle LLC Company Profile | Boston, MA - Dun & Bradstreet 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. This PayPal invoice scam almost got me. Sarah Firshein is a Brooklyn-based travel writer. Traveler Reviews. 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. Get travel insurance. Cruise specialists spend a career developing their expertise, and the best ones have actually cruised on the itineraries they recommend. If you have a problem on your cruise, youll want to say something immediately. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME INFO ABOUT THIS COMPANY TREATING HIGH QUALITY EMPLOYEES , AS I WITNESSED, Your email address will not be published. Younger couples or families will probably feel out of place among the crowd on a Grand Circle tour. Another solution to Grand Circle Travels financial woes is to increase efficiency. She lost her engagement ring in a rental car. Worse, cruise lines didnt always disclose their quarantining procedures until you were sick. Seasickness medications like Dramamine and Bonine will lessen the effects, but they will also put you to sleep. Our family of travel companieswhich you can read more about below . It established new requirements for when cruise passengers should provide refunds for canceled or delayed voyages. Tweaking the immortal words of Biggie: no money, mo problems. Theyre not. Agents are not free. All of these factors have led to a difficult financial situation for Grand Circle Travel. The bus driver, Wayne, could not have been any better! Over the years they have. Grand Circle Travel always has great specials and last minute specials if you can go on short notice. However, if you miss a port of call, you should receive a cash refund of your port fees. Type: Company - Private. Is Grand Circle Travel in Financial Trouble? But it refuses to refund his money. They dont have any way to contact them. But there are lots of cruise options. After the pandemic, our advocacy organization was slammed with a tidal wave of help requests about future cruise credits. Find your private company bowl on Fishbowl, join the hottest conversation with your colleagues anonymously. 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. 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. It isnt that these items arent fun to have while youre on a cruise, but that in many cases, theyre ridiculously overpriced. WE CAN DREAM ABOUT TRAVEL Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. 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. Cruise lines are sometimes creative with their offers. In exchange we provide great benefits, generous PTO, discounts on travel, and a strong, supportive training environment to learn and grow. Why Choose a Tour with Grand Circle Travel? Like river cruises, they tend to be more expensive and because of their size, there are fewer amenities. The activities, lectures, and easy pace are all designed for older travelers. Corp. has 44 offices and employs 3,000 people. Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.). Empowered teams are committed to taking the necessary actions to ensure that the team will reach its goals. Grand Circle Travel [GCT] - Complaints Board they would travel with the company again.". 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. View travel requirements for countries around the world. Here are my strategies for advocating your case. To determine if my hunch was correct, I reached out to O.A.T. The Grand Circle Travel Style is comfortable, standard river cruises and motorcoaches. I received no corrected, printed information, no email, no telephone call, informing me of GCT's policy change. Ill make it simple. If you get seasick in a bathtub, please dont book a cruise. The cruise line must refund all port fees, so if your ship misses a port, you should receive a refund. Advertising - And in many ports of call, the medical facilities are not up to Western standards, and the patient must pay in cash. rate Grand Circle Travel 3.3 out of 5 stars, interview experience at Grand Circle Travel, Grand Circle Travel has a positive business outlook. Your ticket contract, the legal contract between you and the cruise line, spells out your rights. They canceled my flight. Can I get a refund for my Marriott Vacation Club Points? You have 24/7 phone support through most of the online agencies. Once you disembark, the cruise line keeps the money. Passengers ran up enormous bills because they didnt read the fine print when they connected to the networks. In response, Grand Support. Cookie Policy - acquired by Travelport earlier this year. 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. Thousands of itineraries from over 1,000 trusted travel companies. The fix: Turn off your cell phone or set it to airplane mode. In Hawaii, consumers have the right to a cash refund (minus previously disclosed cancellation fees) within two weeks of requesting one. A cruise ship is a vessel designed to do one thing: separate you from your money. Look out for our newsletters with travel tips and special offers. as its customer service. 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. Discriminated against in room assignments - I took the Grand Circle tour, The Best of Eastern Europe on May 9, 2012. Our 2020 tour has been re-booked to 2022. 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. 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? 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. The cruise line wont let them board the ship. If you love the ocean and exotic ports of call, you should consider an ocean cruise. Circle in 1985, will retain a 30% stake in the direct-market tour I've tried to reach by each way listed without success. 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. Watch for food-borne illnesses. | To Unlock new opportunities and expand your reach by joining our authors team. You can also appeal your case to a company executive. 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. CONNECT WITH US. After taking 12 tours with them, they treated us terribly.