Vrbo took my $1,270! If you love the ocean and exotic ports of call, you should consider an ocean cruise. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. Translation: When they cancel your trip, they are legally required to offer you the money back. A delayed flight leads to a delayed connection. This pandemic could cause some of them to be dusted off, said Mr. Anolik. Excellent service on ship, considerate of their clients, wonderful discovery trips. (Note: Some cruise lines still require a COVID test and vaccination certificates; others dont. How are they allowed to keep my money? The most common ethnicity at Grand Circle Travel is White (70%). Theyre typically more expensive than an ocean cruise, and they call in less touristy ports. ConsumerAffairs is not a government agency. Travel Trouble: A $30K Overseas Adventure Travel refund goes awol 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. Agents are not free. Cruise lines are sometimes creative with their offers. 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. Unlock new opportunities and expand your reach by joining our authors team. While Grand Circle Travel has seen tremendous success over the years, the company has recently found itself in a difficult financial situation. 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. Refund for a trip cancelled by Grand Circle tTours - Senior Travel Help! Some oceangoing vessels are smaller and more specialized. There are new cruise lines, new ships, and new routes this year. All content is posted anonymously by employees working at Grand Circle Travel. Soon we discovered they had changed our cabin without notifying us and that one of the flights had disappeared . 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. Check out our directory. Were looking for dynamic, high-performing, accommodating individuals interested in joining our upcoming training classes for Sales and Customer Service. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced she reached an agreement with a tour company, securing further refunds for canceled trips. Itineraries are designed to give you more time in each stop, allowing for a more balanced combination of included activities and independent time. Will this be the busiest spring break ever? It is classified as operating in the Transportation & Warehousing industry. Working at Grand Circle Travel has to be one of the best jobs I've worked at. Your travel agent may offer you a spacious cabin with a balcony, or even a suite. Your rights at sea are governed by maritime law, or the law of the sea. . For some types of trips, insurance is optional. Plan to arrive a minimum of 24 hours before your cruise leaves. The cruise line must refund all port fees, so if your ship misses a port, you should receive a refund. But stay off the phone. How Does PTO Work for Salaried Employees? Travel agents can make 10 percent or more in commissions and overrides from your cruise. Windstars 2023/24 Middle East program kicks off in November. Come on! Lewises, the company has grown from $27 million in sales and 5,000 as its customer service. Sears couldnt deliver my appliances. would not recommend extremely long for no reason, multiple interviews just for entry level, low paying roles you will work weekends rude staff They do not respect your time. Whats more, its not always entirely clear who gets the tip. Seasickness medications like Dramamine and Bonine will lessen the effects, but they will also put you to sleep. They also have limited departures in Africa, South America, the Middle East, South Pacific, North America, Central America, and even Antarctica. Grand Circle Travel 347 Congress Street, Boston, MA 2.0/5 (128 ratings) Are you this business? Cruise ship gotchas they wont tell you about. Empowered teams are committed to taking the necessary actions to ensure that the team will reach its goals. Online agencies are a volume business, so if you like to feel special and appreciated, you might want to book elsewhere. The company notified me of the cancellation and offered either a credit for rebooking or a full refund that would have included airfare. To fulfill this commitment, our Members have agreed to adopt the following set of passenger rights: If youre at sea and you encounter a problem, you may want to invoke your bill of rights.. Privacy Statement - In order to overcome these financial struggles, the company must find ways to diversify its offerings, increase efficiency, and reduce overhead expenses. Other travelers looking for refunds may have a better chance if theyre dealing with companies headquartered within Hawaii, Washington state, Illinois or California. How Much Does Grand Circle Travel Pay in 2023? (403 Salaries) (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). 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. Even though GC advertises travel for mature adults- this is overwhelming in a foreign country. There have been some reports that the company is in financial trouble, and may be shutting down soon . The office environment is really casual. Overseas Adventure Travel/Grand Circle Travel used to be a good company, but they got too large. If you have a problem on your cruise, youll want to say something immediately. Over the years they have established a solid reputation for tours and river cruises that offer good value to destinations around the world. 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). Grand Circle cancels two of Ernest Belzil's tours. Cookie Policy - Get travel insurance. Don't do business with these people. Would take take this tour all over again! If, for example, youre taking your extended family on an anniversary cruise, youll probably want to find a cruise specialist with experience dealing with large groups. This employer has claimed their Employer Profile and is engaged in the Glassdoor community. We booked a river cruise, including airfare, and documented every detail. They have changed our river cruise a couple of times. That means cruise lines appear to be less dangerous than they are. It is impossible to reach this company. Specialties: The leader in small ship and river cruising worldwide - offering American travelers a 4-star experience at a 3-star price aboard our privately owned and chartered fleet. Quality can be subjective, and in our business quality often involves a compromise between speed and perfection. Free-flowing booze is at the top of the list. Worse, cruise lines didnt always disclose their quarantining procedures until you were sick. Book directly with the operator. If you get seasick in a bathtub, please dont book a cruise. Robbery, assault and homicide happen on cruise ships. Why Choose a Tour with Grand Circle Travel? They tied up over $10,000 of our money on a trip they canceled because the cruise line they offered us had Russian links. See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals. They refuse to accept their responsibility to inform me, in order to allow me to make the decision regarding my exposure. Any amount of compensatory. Grand Circle Travel Reviews (Updated May 2023) | ConsumerAffairs Overseas Adventure Travel is part of Grand Circle Corporation, a family of travel companies based in Boston. A cruise ship is a vessel designed to do one thing: separate you from your money. (Its all taken care of.) (Thats just asking for trouble.) You should read it before you leave. So should you take a cruise this year? We got an inc Have taken 12 trips overseas with this company and each one has been wonderful. Your email address will not be published. Circle in 1985, will retain a 30% stake in the direct-market tour 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. 62% of employees think that Grand Circle Travel has a positive business outlook. We publish the names and emails of customer service managers. Check out Elliott Advocacy Today, our free, daily newsletter with links to your favorite commentary, tips and news about consumer advocacy. 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. It isnt that these items arent fun to have while youre on a cruise, but that in many cases, theyre ridiculously overpriced. 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. Do you have knowledge or insights to share? No answer to emails or snail mail. They read scripts, are timed by their supervisors, and really dont care if youre having a good vacation. 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. Who Will Enjoy Traveling with Grand Circle Travel? Look out for our newsletters with travel tips and special offers. Once you disembark, the cruise line keeps the money. Plenty of free time is included in the itineraries, and there is a lot of choice among optional tours. Its gonna cost you. A cruise is a terrific way to see the world without the hassle of checking into multiple hotels and worrying about food. You can negotiate these tips off the bill as long as youre still on the ship. Again, these offers come by way of the relationships cruise agents have through their company or by being friends with their regional sales representative. in 1997 they established Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises with a Once you get a positive response, make sure to find out about the interview process at Grand Circle Travel and prepare for tough questions. 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 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. A few years ago, cruise lines began installing advanced roaming networks that allowed passengers to make phone calls from the ship. Grand Circles motto is We Change Peoples Lives; it has certainly changed ours. Teamwork: We believe in groups of people who work together to create excellent results, solve difficult problems, support each other personally and professionally, and recognize their success. This article will explore the causes, implications, and possible solutions to Grand Circle Travels financial troubles. 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. EMEA +44 20 7330 7500. See all activities, themes, and interests >, Save $600 off trips to every continent on earth, Redeem anytime before 2023. By Christopher Elliott Globe correspondent, Updated November 11, 2021, 12:00 p.m. Grand. refund if a trip is canceled. Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. Thats not entirely true. Good luck. Grand Circle Travel always has great specials and last minute specials if you can go on short notice. Claim your Free Employer Profile. Recently cruised with GCT and they failed to comply with their stated regulations regarding Covid protocols. Were always here to help. 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. (Think of it as a kind of rewards program.) Our values shape our decisions, give direction to our growth, and allow us to measure our progress. 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 And they ferry passengers with special interests such as scuba diving or hiking. Another solution to Grand Circle Travels financial woes is to increase efficiency. Lunch in one of our specialty restaurants? The worst fee Ive seen is for the end cut of a roast served at dinner. I've traveled with this company 4 times and find the value and service outstanding. Coronavirus: Massachusetts unemployment claims spike amid travel Gangwal left Worldspan when it was ), Back to O. NBC10 Boston Responds Recovers Over $71K for Viewers on Canceled Why is it taking so long to get a cruise refund? I've tried to reach by each way listed without success. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. FAQ. 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. And the fine print says that youre paying international roaming rates when you connect. Most cruise lines have stopped screening their passengers for COVID. See reviews below to learn more or submit your own review. You might find yourself sharing dinner at the home of a local family or visiting local schools. 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. Thank you, you have successfully subscribed to our newsletter! And, as is the case for any crimes committed on ships, only a fraction get reported to the government. 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. 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. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. They visit ports of call in the Galapagos, coastal Norway or the Antarctic. Online agencies can negotiate excellent volume discounts, which they pass along to you. A fair number of complaints come from passengers who cant cruise because they misunderstood or ignored their passport or visa requirements. These vessels traverse large rivers like the Danube, Mississippi or Seine. Completely different, and highly disappointing, from previous trips. Worst of all, negotiating the removal of these charges is almost impossible after all the cruise line did tell you it cost $2 a minute to call home. The Grand Circle Travel Style is comfortable, standard river cruises and motorcoaches. When Will Hawaiis Safe Travels Program End? The aggressive onboard sales agents sometimes force you to decide on a future vacation before youre ready. Their itineraries are designed with individuals in mind. You must be very efficient at email with On Call. That can get a little noisy. Can I get a refund for my Marriott Vacation Club Points? No longer. 07070 USA Telephone: (201) 902-2000, Windstar Knows the Way to the Middle East: How to Sell the Red Sea & Persian Gulf. We have not had any reports of passengers with COVID being forcibly removed from a ship recently. CONTENTS Overview Reviews Updated 03/02/2023 About Grand Circle Travel This profile has. Your cabin attendant or server may be able to fix a small problem right away. Youre dealing directly with the cruise line. If you have a consumer problem,please contact our team at Elliott Advocacy through this form. I feel like I was duped by a bait and switch and wonder how many others were caught in the same scheme. When will cruising feel safe again to you? Answer: Yes. But not for cruises. 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. If youd rather have a bit more action, or are after a "see a lot, do a lot" city and country hopping pace, this style of travel is probably not going to hit the right note for you. Help! One Company Refused to Refund Travelers More Than $100,000 Thats a relatively short period, compared to most states statutes of limitations. When you try to contact someone by phone. The Lewises expanded I feel I am being held hostage by O.A.T. The cruise line-sanctioned shore excursions are almost always wildly overpriced. established a solid reputation for tours and river cruises that offer good value to destinations around the world. 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. Thousands of itineraries from over 1,000 trusted travel companies. The right to have available, on board ships operating beyond rivers or coastal waters, full-time, professional emergency medical attention, as needed until shoreside medical care becomes available. The average employee at Grand Circle Travel makes $62,003 per year. they would travel with the company again.". The company has been in business since the 1980s, and has grown to become one of the largest tour operators in the world. The view of the mountains and Grand Canyon was breathtaking! (But dont take your agents word for it trust but verify, as they say.). 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. What are my rights, and what should I be worried about? 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. Sign into see which companies give additional savings to Travelstride Members (its free). You can also reevaluate if you want to cancel the total trip. Grand Circle is hosting an Open House for our Traveler Relations Center on 6/3/21 4-6pm! Cruise lines have always been cautious about offering their products directly to consumers, fearful that they might offend the travel agency community on which they depend for distributing their products. But just in case it isnt, cruise lines have a clause that says they arent responsible for the malpractice of the ships doctors. 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. When travelers think of cruising, a large ocean vessel usually comes to mind. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. Sarah Firshein is a Brooklyn-based travel writer. Capital portfolio company. In an emailed statement, an O.A.T. Try to call this phone number 1-800-221-0814/1-877-220-2610, holding for 2 hours cannot get a connection, if The Cruise Company cancel the trip they should automatically refund your money, finally I have through the credit card company to dispute payment. Roz. Now that we have explored the causes behind Grand Circle Travels financial struggles, it is important to look at potential solutions. Even email or call back. Often, they succeed. Tours & Operators on Travelstride Awarded and Featured by: 2023 Travelstride. During the pandemic, many cruise lines instituted strict quarantine procedures some would say, too strict. My cruise was cancelled by the company because do not have enough people, asking for refund but never get an answer. Whats the international cruise line passenger bill of rights? Cruise lines dont include premium restaurants in your fare. Inside Youre on vacation. View travel requirements for countries around the world. Why? This PayPal invoice scam almost got me. When something goes wrong, someone should always be there for you. Unsubscribe at any time. It has. Grandparents & grandchildren (ages 13 and up are welcome to join). This is based on anonymous employee reviews submitted on Glassdoor. The activities, lectures, and easy pace are all designed for older travelers. 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." Youre dealing directly with the cruise line, so the company cant blame an intermediary for anything that goes wrong. We receive regular complaints about food poisoning on cruise ships. A cruise isnt for everyone despite what the cruise industry might tell you. The Members of the Cruise Lines International Association are dedicated to the comfort and care of all passengers on oceangoing cruises throughout the world. (Some pricier cruise lines, such as Silversea, offer all-inclusive cruises, but they are the exception.). The Tour guide read from a book, did little guiding on site and was mainly interested in getting us back on the bus. 35% of job seekers rate their interview experience at Grand Circle Travel as positive. Sharing Your Travel Videos, Slideshows & Photos.

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