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Theyre not. If you prefer a smaller ship and dont like waves, a river cruise might be right for you. We value your privacy. Whether its an optional shore excursion or an onboard auction, the cruise line wants more of your money than you spent on the cruise fare. Watch for food-borne illnesses. . 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. Other passengers couldnt cruise for health reasons. If the agency is a member of a larger group, like AAA, youll get deals no one else has, and they may be unbeatable. Grand Circle travels all over the world, with a strong focus in Europe, Aisa and Southeast Asia. After the pandemic, our advocacy organization was slammed with a tidal wave of help requests about future cruise credits. The small-group and cruising company has been recognized nationally. While they didnt answer my question directly, I was able to recoup more than $100,000, collectively, for you and 10 other readers. The company has been in business since the 1980s, and has grown to become one of the largest tour operators in the world. Consumer Alert: No more automatic refunds for skipped ports? If you have a consumer problem,please contact our team at Elliott Advocacy through this form. Unsubscribe at any time. Grand Circle Travel is currently facing a difficult financial situation due to decreased demand for its services, increased costs, and decreased revenue. Grand Circle Corp. is being sold to New York We receive many requests for help from foreign nationals with residency permits. Book directly with the operator. 1Is cruising safe?What kind of cruise should I take?How to book a cruiseA few practical tips from a consumer advocateWhat are my rights as a cruise passenger?Whats the international cruise line passenger bill of rights?If my cruise is canceled, am I entitled to a refund?Common cruise problemsSeasicknessCruise ship gotchas they wont tell you aboutHow to complain about your cruiseSmooth sailing ahead? 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. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced she reached an agreement with a tour company, securing further refunds for canceled trips. But not for cruises. This pandemic could cause some of them to be dusted off, said Mr. Anolik. The activities, lectures, and easy pace are all designed for older travelers. Circle Corp. ran into some challenges last year after the Better We make it accessible through trips that deliver unmatched discoveries, leisurely pacing, more travel choices, and comprehensive value. The Members of the Cruise Lines International Association are dedicated to the comfort and care of all passengers on oceangoing cruises throughout the world. This is the Grand Circle Travel company profile. When the level of quality required is in question, we will operate to the high standards expected by our customers. Don't do business with these people. Support. Learn the word no, and use it often. Read unbiased user reviews, pick the operator that suits your needs, and connect with them directly. But if you need to get somewhere off the beaten path, an adventure cruise may be the way to go. You have 24/7 phone support through most of the online agencies. Travel Protection. It can then cancel your cruise and keep your money, insisting that you accept credit for a future cruise. 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? They refuse to accept their responsibility to inform me, in order to allow me to make the decision regarding my exposure. Asked for refund and got a credit instead. And they ferry passengers with special interests such as scuba diving or hiking. It is impossible to reach this company. Grandparents & grandchildren (ages 13 and up are welcome to join). Were always here to help. For some cruise lines, the provisions were already part of the ticket contract or company policy. Pictures of the kids by the pro photographers? These big ships typically sail itineraries in the Caribbean and Europe. An offer of a certificate for future travel with a company I no longer trust is unacceptable. How can I reach them?? 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. That agency said that it has received about 275 consumer complaints so far about canceled O.A.T. On motorcoach tours with Grand Circle you will make frequent stops to stretch your legs, and some longer stops for sightseeing. 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. Will this be the busiest spring break ever? Your travel agent may offer you a spacious cabin with a balcony, or even a suite. | The cruise line wont let them board the ship. By Christopher Elliott Globe correspondent, Updated November 11, 2021, 12:00 p.m. Grand. According to the Absolutely the worst travel agency in the business the service is virtually nonexistent and if you need to contact them, be prepared to spend hours listening to their recorded music after which the line will probably go dead. (How generous of you!) But whats this $452 bill? I've traveled with this company 4 times and find the value and service outstanding. (But dont take your agents word for it trust but verify, as they say.). I would not recommend the company. 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. $7000 in their pocket. EMEA +44 20 7330 7500. Whats the international cruise line passenger bill of rights? That doesn't make sense since using them all would have limited the number of passengers occupying them, thus limiting exposure. Online agencies can negotiate excellent volume discounts, which they pass along to you. (Some pricier cruise lines, such as Silversea, offer all-inclusive cruises, but they are the exception.). private equity firm Court Square Capital Partners for an Youre out of luck. Whats more, its not always entirely clear who gets the tip. The Elliott Report is a consumer news site supported by Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that offers free advice and advocacy for consumers. I purchased my own flights. We are only a month out. Working at Grand Circle Travel has to be one of the best jobs I've worked at. 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. I could not have asked for a better experience! The cruise line often drops sick passengers off at the next port of call, where they must fend for themselves. There are mice in my vacation rental! You should read it before you leave. Enjoy reading our tips and recommendations. General Air Questions. How do I know I can trust these reviews about Grand Circle Travel? Ive heard of these kickbacks going as high as 14 percent. Grand Circle cancels two of Ernest Belzil's tours. Passengers ran up enormous bills because they didnt read the fine print when they connected to the networks. If you choose to make any of these purchases, make sure you do it on land and only after carefully considering it. 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. How much of a cut does the cruise line take? When flying on a commercial airline, booked through GCT, they negotiate a deal (to increase their. 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. We have just returned from our 6th, and probably last, Grand Circle tour. Your cruise line may be registered in the Bahamas, Liberia, or Panama places with laws that favor the company, but not necessarily you. 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. 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. In theory, a host agency is not liable to clients of a sub-IC for their acts or omissions. When something goes wrong, someone should always be there for you. Find the latest travel requirements for your trip. What are my rights, and what should I be worried about? Over the years they have. We receive regular complaints about food poisoning on cruise ships. 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 -. How are they allowed to keep my money? Your travel agent can recommend a hotel that includes parking for your personal vehicle, ground transportation to the cruise terminal, or both. Manager in development of Restaurant, Restaurant & Bar operations with outstanding record and experience in top award winning companies, Apollo Group, Celebrity Cruises, Valamar Hotels & Resorts and Grand Circle Travel. The cabin is for sleeping. 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. Grand Circle Corporation provides 85+ international small group adventures by land and sea for Americans 50 and older. Here are my strategies for advocating your case. This is based on 391 anonymously submitted reviews on Glassdoor. Weve received numerous complaints from readers who purchased overpriced jewelry or art on their cruises. You might find yourself sharing dinner at the home of a local family or visiting local schools. Service, when it does come, can be slow and impersonal. Sears couldnt deliver my appliances. : Tanzania/Kilimanjaro Tour Company, Any recommendations for Grand Circle Tours and/or Overseas Adventure Tours, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. She lost her engagement ring in a rental car. chairman of Grand Circle Foundation. Want to take the kids out to dinner or to the arcade? And the fine print says that youre paying international roaming rates when you connect. Plenty of free time is included in the itineraries, and there is a lot of choice among optional tours. Use simple search and comparison tools to easily find the best trip. Youre dealing directly with the cruise line, so the company cant blame an intermediary for anything that goes wrong. Want a welcome drink? CONNECT WITH US. I booked a river cruise with GCT because their COVID protocols were strong on paper. Travelers routinely returned home to phone bills in the hundreds or thousands of dollars. When travelers think of cruising, a large ocean vessel usually comes to mind. This company must not have enough staffing. Grand Circle Corp., a Boston-based travel agency, has weathered many events since it was founded in 1958 by American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) creator Ethel Andrus. Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.). Grand Circle Travel That's not entirely true. Dont let that happen to you. The right to have this Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights published on each lines website. If you have a severe health problem, avoid cruising.