Grand Circle canceled my tour twice. How about a refund? EMEA +44 20 7330 7500. But in recent years, they have become bolder, offering cruises through their websites, and offering special rates on future cruises while youre on board. Grand Circle Travel [GCT] - Complaints Board We value your privacy. But stay off the phone. private equity firm Court Square Capital Partners for an And if I decided to go, whats the best way to book my vacation? Youre dealing directly with the cruise line. Grand Circle Corp. is being sold to New York But there are loopholes, and the reports are released to the public in a confusing way. Grand Circle's 40-plus offices are located in Africa, North and South America, Europe, and the Asia/Pacific . Grand Circle Travel always has great specials and last minute specials if you can go on short notice. 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. Its extra. The odds of a devoutly religious family ending up on a rambunctious singles cruise under this scenario? Grand Circle cancels two of Ernest Belzil's tours. Grand Circle travels all over the world, with a strong focus in Europe, Aisa and Southeast Asia. Our values shape our decisions, give direction to our growth, and allow us to measure our progress. But it was the industrys way of saying it could do better. Can I get a refund for my Marriott Vacation Club Points? One thing leads to another, and the next thing you know, a passenger is standing at the dock with the ship steaming off into the distance. They read scripts, are timed by their supervisors, and really dont care if youre having a good vacation. This tour was phenomenal from the beginning to the end! The Lewises expanded Hotels are comfortable and centrally located. Alan Lewis will remain on the board but will be replaced 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. ), Back to O. Discriminated against in room assignments - I took the Grand Circle tour, The Best of Eastern Europe on May 9, 2012. Overall, 55% of employees would recommend working at Grand Circle Travel to a friend. (Annual sales and employees) What industry is the company in? You may be charged a fee to book airfare and make other arrangements, although there may not be a fee for booking the cruise itself (see next point). Their itineraries are designed with individuals in mind. How do you buy a cruise, then? Grand Circle's Annual Report & Profile shows critical firmographic facts: What is the company's size? Claim your Free Employer Profile. In early 2022, the Federal Maritime Commission fixed that loophole. You might find yourself sharing dinner at the home of a local family or visiting local schools. 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. There are new cruise lines, new ships, and new routes this year. Don't do business with these people. If my cruise is canceled, am I entitled to a refund? Wheres my airline ticket refund from GotoGate? Grand Circle Travel was started by the founder of AARP, and as such know their demographic extremely well. Overseas Adventure Travel/Grand Circle Travel used to be a good company, but they got too large. Unsubscribe at any time. travelers in 1985 to approximately $760 million in sales and We have not had any reports of passengers with COVID being forcibly removed from a ship recently. The fix: Turn off your cell phone or set it to airplane mode. Cookie Policy - But then the cruise lines canceled their rebooked cruises. (But dont take your agents word for it trust but verify, as they say.). Special access to agent-only discounts. Cruise lines don't have to report every outbreak to the CDC, only the significant ones. Even though GC advertises travel for mature adults- this is overwhelming in a foreign country. Surely taking temperatures and separating tables would have helped tremendously. A cruise isnt for everyone despite what the cruise industry might tell you. These Britrail England Flexi Passes are taking forever to refund. If its a small shop, you may not have 24/7 support. They do plenty of one on ones. Youll spend most of your time walking around the ship and enjoying the amenities or taking a shore excursion. Thats because you are a number. While Grand Circle Travel has seen tremendous success over the years, the company has recently found itself in a difficult financial situation. 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. In response, Grand Sharing Your Travel Videos, Slideshows & Photos. You might find yourself sharing dinner at the home of a local family or visiting local schools. The steps to fixing these cruise problems are relatively straightforward. Grand Circle CEO Alan Empowered teams are committed to taking the necessary actions to ensure that the team will reach its goals. They canceled my flight. In reality, many of these statutes are seldom enforced. Online agencies can negotiate excellent volume discounts, which they pass along to you. First and foremost, an ethical agent will make sure the cruise is the right one for you, but some agents, sadly, go straight for the highest commission. Care for a soda? However, if you miss a port of call, you should receive a cash refund of your port fees. Grand Circle Travel Harriet Lewis will Our 2020 tour has been re-booked to 2022. It is classified as operating in the Transportation & Warehousing industry. In order to overcome these financial struggles, the company must find ways to diversify its offerings, increase efficiency, and reduce overhead expenses. 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. When you try to contact someone by phone. Youll need to consider all of these dangers before you plan your cruise. Use simple search and comparison tools to easily find the best trip. (Think of it as a kind of rewards program.) You can also reevaluate if you want to cancel the total trip. The activities, lectures, and easy pace are all designed for older travelers. Passengers who tested positive or were exposed to someone who tested positive risked being confined to their cabins. Youre dealing directly with the cruise line, so the company cant blame an intermediary for anything that goes wrong. Unsubscribe easily. Do they distribute it among the staff? 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. I received no corrected, printed information, no email, no telephone call, informing me of GCT's policy change. Most trips with Grand Circle are, unfortunately, not wheelchair accessible. No answer to emails or snail mail. https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/boston/proavel-0021-3848, Beware of Grand Circle Travel and Overseas Adventure Travel, Beware, Beware, Beware, Beware!!! 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. A. T.: In a follow-up note a few weeks ago, you said that you feel the company provides a good travel service. But, you wrote, pushing all the risk of uncertainty onto the client by refusing a refund makes me fearful to ever do business with O.A.T. Vrbo offered a refund after my husband lost his job. You have 24/7 phone support through most of the online agencies. It is impossible to reach this company. <br>Expertise in leadership coaching and mentoring, training and development, financial management in a constantly changing environment, public speaking and total guest . Grand Circle Travel 347 Congress Street, Boston, MA 2.0/5 (128 ratings) Are you this business? The next week, I learned via email that I had been rebooked on the same trip next year. After taking 12 tours with them, they treated us terribly. FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions | Overseas Adventure Travel At a time like now, some may be safer and more convenient than others. Were always here to help. Find your private company bowl on Fishbowl, join the hottest conversation with your colleagues anonymously. as its customer service. I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way. 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. I would not recommend the company. (How generous of you!) Lunch was provided in the cost. There are many other health perils at sea. Payments. What if you miss your deadline? They also foster a community of dedicated travelers, encouraging you to share your memories, images, and stories with them and the friends you meet along the way. If you test positive, cruise lines will confine you to quarters or to a special section on the cruise ship for infected passengers, usually for the duration of the voyage. Find the latest travel requirements for your trip. Now that we have explored the causes behind Grand Circle Travels financial struggles, it is important to look at potential solutions. 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. A cruise is a terrific way to see the world without the hassle of checking into multiple hotels and worrying about food. Pictures of the kids by the pro photographers? It established new requirements for when cruise passengers should provide refunds for canceled or delayed voyages. And when they do, they are often underreported. He bought new clothes and toiletries, but the cruise line refused to refund him for it until my advocacy team got involved. 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. About Grand Circle Corporation
166,000 travelers in 2007. 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. Privacy Statement - One Company Refused to Refund Travelers More Than $100,000, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/25/travel/coronavirus-refunds-overseas-adventure-travel.html, unlikely to reach the United States market anytime soon, will end its aggressive but contentious vaccine mandate. Lewises, the company has grown from $27 million in sales and 5,000 I had always heard this was a good company but clearly it is no longer good. If relaxing on the cruise with a book in hand for hours on end, gliding by quiet European shores is your idea of a grand old time then Grand Circle is for you! 13% of Grand Circle Travel employees are Hispanic or Latino. Circle changed its cancellation policy to give customers a full It is important to consider the potential implications of Grand Circle Travels financial struggles. Over the years they have established a solid reputation for tours and river cruises that offer good value to destinations around the world. But not for cruises. Advertising - Kiddos to the bus drive for being SO informative!! Overseas Adventure Travel: Reviews, Complaints, Customer Claims Check out our directory. 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. Two days before departure, it was a call from the Program Director in Romania who informed me that masks were no longer required. It felt like a school tour where I had the least interested parent supervising me. What should I do? Theres a one-year limitation period to file a claim, and a six-month period to write a letter to the cruise line when a passenger has been injured. in 1997 they established Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises with a NBC10 Boston Responds Recovers Over $71K for Viewers on Canceled canceled the tour because of Covid-19, which was a relief. Our values are the foundation upon which our company is built. What's going on? If you prefer a smaller ship and dont like waves, a river cruise might be right for you. In addition, a local restaurant lunch was packed full of passengers with food being served right under their noses. Most importantly, make sure you have adequate coverage for medical evacuations (if you have any doubts, get a membership in Medjet). They appear to be having problems, long waits on the phone. When the level of quality required is in question, we will operate to the high standards expected by our customers. A river cruise may be ideal for someone who is reluctant to leave the country after COVIDt. They sent me an unitemized bill for $650 for a trip I'd been notified had been completely paid for. Two stars ONLY because of the excellent treatment we were given by our program directors both during the cruise and after I contracted Covid. As a result of the pandemic, many people have become hesitant to travel, resulting in a significant drop in bookings for Grand Circle Travel. Whats the international cruise line passenger bill of rights? Why? Quality: Our decisions must be made and actions taken in accordance with high standards of quality and service. As travel companies now suffer a cash crunch, they are facing off with travelers over credits and refunds. Is Grand Circle Travel in Financial Trouble? Supervisors and managers want everyone to succeed. Grand Circle Travel was started by the founder of AARP, and as such know their demographic extremely well. GRAND CIRCLE - 60 Reviews - 347 Congress St, Boston, MA - Yelp Copyright 2022 Consumers Unified LLC. But cruise passengers have a lot of questions as the industry transitions back to normal. You will probably do a fair amount of walking throughout the tour - Grand Circle suggests that travelers be relatively physically fit. 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. Circle in 1985, will retain a 30% stake in the direct-market tour But if you need to get somewhere off the beaten path, an adventure cruise may be the way to go. Sometimes it can feel like college at times. established a solid reputation for tours and river cruises that offer good value to destinations around the world. In exchange we provide great benefits, generous PTO, discounts on travel, and a strong, supportive training environment to learn and grow. Theres only one way to ensure you dont get caught by these fees. Many of their phone agents are located in overseas call centers. Always check before booking.). 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. Ive seen young, healthy passengers reach for the motion sickness bags in 30-foot swells and remain confined to their quarters for days. They also operate overseas travel adventures. also step down from her role as co-chair at Grand Circle and as Cruise lines are sometimes creative with their offers. You can find a cheaper private tour through a company like Viator. 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. A few years ago, cruise lines began installing advanced roaming networks that allowed passengers to make phone calls from the ship. 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. I am still pursuing my refund. How do I know I can trust these reviews about Grand Circle Travel? According to the law, the cash refund must be an amount equal to the fair market retail value of any undelivered, purchased travel service.. 07070 USA Telephone: (201) 902-2000, Windstar Knows the Way to the Middle East: How to Sell the Red Sea & Persian Gulf. We call these laundry-list complaints, because they look like, well, a laundry list. Our award-winning daily newsletters keep you posted on our random acts of consumer advocacy. Completely different, and highly disappointing, from previous trips. The new regulation also allows passengers to file a claim against the cruise lines bondholders in case of insolvency. 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. I feel like I was duped by a bait and switch and wonder how many others were caught in the same scheme. Cruise ship gotchas they wont tell you about. Grand Circle Foundation Call our Regional Adventure Counselors 1-800-955-1925. Sign into see which companies give additional savings to Travelstride Members (its free). Itineraries are designed to give you more time in each stop, allowing for a more balanced combination of included activities and independent time. Can I get my 173,116 Chase Ultimate Rewards points refunded? This employer has claimed their Employer Profile and is engaged in the Glassdoor community. Who Will Enjoy Traveling with Grand Circle Travel? The contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission. Our buses had problems; the drivers were pulled from retirement and were unfamiliar with the vehicles. 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. In addition, there is the worry that many travel companies may go out of business due to the loss of business from this pandemic. Additionally, Grand Circle Travel can focus on expanding its marketing efforts and building relationships with new partners to reach a larger customer base. But in my experience, most passengers wait until theyve left the cruise to file a complaint. Want a welcome drink? 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. But there are lots of cruise options. Its an online travel agency. Get travel insurance. Your stateroom is a place to sleep. Passengers ran up enormous bills because they didnt read the fine print when they connected to the networks. My cruise was cancelled by the company because do not have enough people, asking for refund but never get an answer. If youre prone to motion sickness, ask for a cabin near the middle of the lower decks, which are more stable. This could ultimately lead to a decline in customer loyalty and revenue for Grand Circle Travel. Travel agents can make 10 percent or more in commissions and overrides from your cruise. All answers shown come directly from Grand Circle Travel Reviews and are not edited or altered. Overseas Adventure Travel is part of Grand Circle Corporation, a family of travel companies based in Boston. All content is posted anonymously by employees working at Grand Circle Travel. Cruise lines claim a vacation at sea is safer than any land-based vacation. You may feel like a number. The office environment is really casual. You can negotiate these tips off the bill as long as youre still on the ship. He provided us with so much information.
Its their terms. What are my rights as a cruise passenger? Support. 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. 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. Want to take the kids out to dinner or to the arcade? 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. Grand Circle Travel Reviews (Updated May 2023) - ConsumerAffairs As someone who has been on numerous cruises and has helped resolve cruise problems in real time, I have a few recommendations: One of the first things your cruise line will try to do is take away your luggage. 7% of Grand Circle Travel employees are Asian. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Grand Circle CEO Alan Lewis and his wife, Harriet Lewis, who. One-on-one service and attention to detail. Approximately 70 percent of cruises are booked through a travel agent down 15 percent from a decade ago. 62% of employees think that Grand Circle Travel has a positive business outlook. This article will explore the causes, implications, and possible solutions to Grand Circle Travels financial troubles. 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. As a thank you for being such outstanding employees, they were sent on a week long Recognition Journey Trip to Peru! Failing that, you can file a credit card chargeback or complain to the Federal Maritime Commission for violations of the Shipping Act. If, after reading this authoritative guide on cruising, you feel that youre ready, then go for it. Cruise lines add tips of up to 20 percent to your spa or bar bill. Tours & Operators on Travelstride Awarded and Featured by: 2023 Travelstride. The right to have this Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights published on each lines website. #traveljobs #peru #excellenceaward. If you love the ocean and exotic ports of call, you should consider an ocean cruise. Its a high-pressure sales pitch on the high seas. 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. Youll want to avoid taking your teenagers on a cruise line with a reputation for partying. The Elliott Report is supported by Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that offers free advice and advocacy for consumers. Established in 1958. Tip: Avoid a cabin near an elevator or nightclub. 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? I cannot force any reason they would improve from this point. The small-group and cruising company has been recognized nationally. Windstars 2023/24 Middle East program kicks off in November. Ive heard of these kickbacks going as high as 14 percent. How can I reach them?? 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. Here are my strategies for advocating your case. 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." Once you get a positive response, make sure to find out about the interview process at Grand Circle Travel and prepare for tough questions. We receive many requests for help from foreign nationals with residency permits. Traveler Reviews. Passengers sometimes arrive at the cruise terminal with the wrong visa or an expired passport. Plan to arrive a minimum of 24 hours before your cruise leaves. was created in 1958 to serve AARP members. Copyright 2008-2023, Glassdoor, Inc. "Glassdoor" and logo are registered trademarks of Glassdoor, Inc. Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. I called, sent letters, asking for a refund. When the customers asked for a refund, the cruise lines said they couldnt get one future cruise credits were nonrefundable. The high seas can be dangerous, and not just in the movies. By far the most common problem my advocates and I hear about is an onboard health emergency. trips and has been pressuring the company to comply with the states travel-seller laws. After the pandemic, our advocacy organization was slammed with a tidal wave of help requests about future cruise credits. Watch for food-borne illnesses. (Mr. Anolik has a detailed breakdown of other state-by-state travel laws on his firms website. Everything from non-refundable airfares to auto. Overseas . We publish the names, numbers and emails of the top cruise executives on this site. Grand Circle's three travel brands are Grand Circle Travel. 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. If you like the idea of joining a tight knit travel community, with frequent cost cutting options, then Grand Circle could be for you. The right to lodging if disembarkation and an overnight stay in an unscheduled port are required when a cruise is terminated early due to mechanical failures. Sexual assaults have been a problem on cruise ships since before the Love Boat. We plan to go to Iceland. We are only a month out. Grand Circle Travel Reviews (Updated May 2023) | ConsumerAffairs But there are risks now, and perhaps more risks than ever. Working at Grand Circle Travel has to be one of the best jobs I've worked at. (Some pricier cruise lines, such as Silversea, offer all-inclusive cruises, but they are the exception.). Your ship may or may not keep the promised schedule. Its location on this page may change next time you visit. Sarah Firshein is a Brooklyn-based travel writer. Inside chairman of Grand Circle Foundation. | Here is a photo of them enjoying the breathtaking view of Machu Picchu. Other passengers couldnt cruise for health reasons. Cruise lines claim a vacation at sea is safer than any land-based vacation. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. Furthermore, Grand Circle Travel has also experienced a decrease in revenue due to the cancellation of numerous trips and the refund of deposits to customers. Corp. has 44 offices and employs 3,000 people. 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. G rand Circle Corp. is being sold to New York private equity firm Court Square Capital Partners for an undisclosed amount. That doesn't make sense since using them all would have limited the number of passengers occupying them, thus limiting exposure. All of these factors have led to a difficult financial situation for Grand Circle Travel. The pandemic exposed one of the most absurd aspects of cruising. Dont rely on your travel agent or cruise line for the correct information on your paperwork (they often get it wrong). Just to name a few, we have danced the Turkey with school children in Costa Rica, climbed the Mayan Temples of Tikal, laid roses with Veteran travelers at the grave of the WWII Cemetery in Normandy and walked the ancient stone boulevards of Ephesus. Once you disembark, the cruise line keeps the money. Were mediating these problems on a case-by-case basis. This is a common problem at my consumer advocacy organization. Despite the customer Dont let this be you. Sears couldnt deliver my appliances. Here are some of the risks. Youre in control. Tip: Avoid virus season (usually late winter and early spring). Type: Company - Private. 35% of job seekers rate their interview experience at Grand Circle Travel as positive. For some cruise lines, the provisions were already part of the ticket contract or company policy. Another solution to Grand Circle Travels financial woes is to increase efficiency. Since 1958, Grand Circle has been the leader in international discovery for mature American travelers.