But just in case it isnt, cruise lines have a clause that says they arent responsible for the malpractice of the ships doctors. But, if the extraordinary number of reader complaints I have received more than a dozen and counting are any indication, they have been doing so anyway. If you have a severe health problem, avoid cruising. The company has been providing travelers with high-quality tours around the world since 1998. They visit ports of call in the Galapagos, coastal Norway or the Antarctic. Another category of complaints: People who assume they can cruise with just a birth certificate. Unlock new opportunities and expand your reach by joining our authors team. 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? In response, Grand Our award-winning daily newsletters keep you posted on our random acts of consumer advocacy. Cruise lines dont include premium restaurants in your fare. There was a stop at the Hoover Dam to view the dam. Finally, Grand Circle Travels financial struggles could lead to an overall decrease in the quality of its services. In theory, a host agency is not liable to clients of a sub-IC for their acts or omissions. Ill make it simple. Established in 1958. All answers shown come directly from Grand Circle Travel Reviews and are not edited or altered. Its not hard to surmise, just by reading your email, what happened at O.A.T. 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. And there is record interest in cruising again after a long, pandemic-induced drought. Some got total refunds, while others (including you) received partial refunds or continue to wait for certain fees and sums to clear. Excellent service on ship, considerate of their clients, wonderful discovery trips. The company has been in business since the 1980s, and has grown to become one of the largest tour operators in the world. Learn the word no, and use it often. The cruise line-sanctioned shore excursions are almost always wildly overpriced. Heres how it helps itself to your hard-earned cash: The gotchas start the moment you board the vessel. The contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission. Grand Circle Corporation provides 85+ international small group adventures by land and sea for Americans 50 and older. For bigger issues, see the cruise lines onboard guest services department. Special access to agent-only discounts. Here are some of the risks. He was warm and concerned about the experience of the customers on the tour. This profile has not been claimed by the company. Aleksandar Norsic - Manager, Beverage Development & Operations - The Required fields are marked *. 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. They also dont work. Younger couples or families will probably feel out of place among the crowd on a Grand Circle tour. Preparing for Your Trip. Grand Circle Travel Reviews (Updated May 2023) | ConsumerAffairs Were always here to help. G rand Circle Corp. is being sold to New York private equity firm Court Square Capital Partners for an undisclosed amount. Exploring the Pros, Cons, and Benefits of Utilizing Professional Vacation Planning Services. 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. These Britrail England Flexi Passes are taking forever to refund. Any amount of compensatory. Quite frankly, I don't know if I was infected by other passengers (there were others on the same cruise that came down with Covid before I did) or if I infected others. 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. Gangwal left Worldspan when it was Grand Circle Travel was started by the founder of AARP, and as such know their demographic extremely well. Additionally, Grand Circle Travel can focus on expanding its marketing efforts and building relationships with new partners to reach a larger customer base. Unsubscribe easily. 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." What should I do? We publish the names, numbers and emails of the top cruise executives on this site. 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. 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. But there are risks now, and perhaps more risks than ever. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Proudly powered by WordPress When you try to contact someone by phone. Ive heard of these kickbacks going as high as 14 percent. On our River Cruise Vacations and Land Vacations, you'll enjoy unmatched discoveries . But stay off the phone. GRAND CIRCLE Revenue, Growth & Competitor Profile - IncFact.com As a result of the pandemic, many people have become hesitant to travel, resulting in a significant drop in bookings for Grand Circle Travel. For more information about reviews on ConsumerAffairs.com please visit our (Thats just asking for trouble.) Corp. has 44 offices and employs 3,000 people. You can also appeal your case to a company executive. Whats the international cruise line passenger bill of rights? The Grand Circle Family | About Us | Grand Circle Travel As travel companies now suffer a cash crunch, they are facing off with travelers over credits and refunds. 2 hour wait for phone contact. 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. The fix: Turn off your cell phone or set it to airplane mode. Another solution to Grand Circle Travels financial woes is to increase efficiency. After taking 12 tours with them, they treated us terribly. You should read it before you leave. The Tour guide read from a book, did little guiding on site and was mainly interested in getting us back on the bus. By entering your email, you agree to sign up for consumer news, tips and giveaways from ConsumerAffairs. Its generally a lot of smaller grievances that dont add up to much. I called, sent letters, asking for a refund. Most trips with Grand Circle are, unfortunately, not wheelchair accessible. Asked for refund and got a credit instead. Traveler Reviews. Asia Pacific +65 6212 1000. Hotels are comfortable and centrally located. The outcome can often turn on who cancels, which is why a lot of suppliers and travelers are playing chicken right now. A link has directed you to this review. Grand Circle cancels two of Ernest Belzil's tours. Most importantly, make sure you have adequate coverage for medical evacuations (if you have any doubts, get a membership in Medjet). in 1997 they established Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises with a About Grand Circle Corporation Grand Circle Travel Profile [2023] - 35 reviews, 13 trips - Travelstride Empowered teams are committed to taking the necessary actions to ensure that the team will reach its goals. Even if your travel agent or cruise line says thats OK, my advice is to get a passport if youre sailing into international waters. #traveljobs #peru #excellenceaward. The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act requires cruise lines to report criminal activity to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This is the Grand Circle Travel company profile. While some U.S. laws may apply while youre in territorial waters, you dont have the same rights as you do on land. Cruise lines claim a vacation at sea is safer than any land-based vacation. Tasteless food. It's equivalent to changing a flight schedule and not informing the ticketed passenger. 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. Grand Circle Travel employees are most likely to be members of the democratic party. Why? Poor food, poor guidance and no involvement from the guide or the Company. We have not had any reports of passengers with COVID being forcibly removed from a ship recently. Lewis and his wife, Harriet Lewis, who acquired Boston-based Grand And, as is the case for any crimes committed on ships, only a fraction get reported to the government. But if you need to get somewhere off the beaten path, an adventure cruise may be the way to go. Then our columnist intervened with the Boston-based tour operator Overseas Adventure Travel. 7% of Grand Circle Travel employees are Asian. We publish the names and emails of customer service managers. Soon we discovered they had changed our cabin without notifying us and that one of the flights had disappeared . (But dont take your agents word for it trust but verify, as they say.). A few years ago, cruise lines began installing advanced roaming networks that allowed passengers to make phone calls from the ship. However, if Grand Circle Travel fails to find a solution to its financial woes, it could lead to layoffs, reduced wages, office closures, and a decrease in the quality of its services. Cruise lines claim a vacation at sea is safer than any land-based vacation. But it refuses to refund his money. A porter will deliver it to your room. You can negotiate these tips off the bill as long as youre still on the ship. fleet of more than 50 ships. 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. Virtually zero. 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! Avoid like the plague! Your email address will not be published. When youre on vacation, its easy to let down your guard and fall for a sales pitch for an original sculpture, diamond ring or timeshare. Grand Circles motto is We Change Peoples Lives; it has certainly changed ours. Why Choose a Tour with Grand Circle Travel? 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. (Note: Is this article not meeting your expectations? Youre out of luck. Grand Circle canceled my tour twice. How about a refund? They also operate overseas travel adventures. Alan Lewis will remain on the board but will be replaced 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! Were looking for dynamic, high-performing, accommodating individuals interested in joining our upcoming training classes for Sales and Customer Service. Sign into see which companies give additional savings to Travelstride Members (its free). There are a variety of ocean cruises, from budget to luxury. Additionally, Grand Circle Travel can look into ways to reduce overhead expenses, such as cutting down on staff or renegotiating contracts with vendors. This tour was phenomenal from the beginning to the end! Our content is intended to be used for general information purposes only. In early 2022, the Federal Maritime Commission fixed that loophole. Want a picture of you and your beautiful family? The next week, I learned via email that I had been rebooked on the same trip next year. (Take a look at your travel insurance policy, BTW, and see if it covers financial default by the tour operator, in which case you're covered if Grand Circle goes down the drain). Supervisors and managers want everyone to succeed. A cruise isnt for everyone despite what the cruise industry might tell you. The most common ethnicity at Grand Circle Travel is White (70%). Overall, 55% of employees would recommend working at Grand Circle Travel to a friend. Who Will Enjoy Traveling with Grand Circle Travel? Robbery, assault and homicide happen on cruise ships. I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way. Other passengers couldnt cruise for health reasons. Circle in 1985, will retain a 30% stake in the direct-market tour A cruise ship is a vessel designed to do one thing: separate you from your money. that business to include all Americans over the age of 50. Grand Circle Travel is currently facing a difficult financial situation due to decreased demand for its services, increased costs, and decreased revenue. Everything from non-refundable airfares to auto. In the end, there may be no correct answer for everyone. Vrbo took my $1,270! What's going on? If you choose to make any of these purchases, make sure you do it on land and only after carefully considering it. 4x. Same thing goes for spa treatments, most shore excursions, and alcoholic beverages. To determine if my hunch was correct, I reached out to O.A.T. 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. We ran off the road and almost flipped--and Grand Circle did NOTHING. My cruise was cancelled by the company because do not have enough people, asking for refund but never get an answer. $7000 in their pocket. they acquired Cambridge, Mass.-based Overseas Adventure Travel and Seasickness medications like Dramamine and Bonine will lessen the effects, but they will also put you to sleep. Lewises, the company has grown from $27 million in sales and 5,000 Lunch was provided in the cost. Always check before booking.). I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME INFO ABOUT THIS COMPANY TREATING HIGH QUALITY EMPLOYEES , AS I WITNESSED, Your email address will not be published. The Elliott Report is a consumer news site supported by Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that offers free advice and advocacy for consumers. One way that Grand Circle Travel can overcome its financial difficulties is by diversifying its offerings. (Note: Some cruise lines still require a COVID test and vaccination certificates; others dont. trips and has been pressuring the company to comply with the states travel-seller laws. Because the porters dont always deliver the luggage to your room. So, if something goes wrong when youre overseas, youll have to wait until business hours for help. Travel Protection. We got an inc Have taken 12 trips overseas with this company and each one has been wonderful. Its not uncommon to hear of people waiting upwards of an hour for help. undisclosed amount. Youll also connect with other readers who want to make the world a better place. Working at Grand Circle Travel | Glassdoor Were always here to help. 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. FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions | Overseas Adventure Travel Grand Circle Travel 347 Congress Street, Boston, MA 2.0/5 (128 ratings) Are you this business? You must be very efficient at email with On Call. All of these factors have led to a difficult financial situation for Grand Circle Travel. Terms indicate if they cancel you get a refund. refund if a trip is canceled. And in many ports of call, the medical facilities are not up to Western standards, and the patient must pay in cash. But even when individual consumers know their rights, they have few options at their immediate disposal when a customer-service representative usually the only public-facing proxy for a companys official or unofficial policies refuses to relent on refunds. Grand Circle's 40-plus offices are located in Africa, North and South America, Europe, and the Asia/Pacific . Help! If my cruise is canceled, am I entitled to a refund? BEWARE of Grand Circle Travel SCAMS!!! - Fodor's No answer to emails or snail mail. Copyright 2023 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. Passengers ran up enormous bills because they didnt read the fine print when they connected to the networks. 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. Theres only one way to ensure you dont get caught by these fees.
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