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. 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. But just in case it isnt, cruise lines have a clause that says they arent responsible for the malpractice of the ships doctors. Tip: Avoid a cabin near an elevator or nightclub. said in a statement that "97% of Grand Circle travelers say that 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. I am disappointed, disgruntled and dissatisfied; I didnt spend money to get this treatment; I could have done better on my own! Wheres my airline ticket refund from GotoGate? For example, for gastrointestinal illnesses, the outbreak must affect 2 percent or more of the passengers or crew to meet the reporting threshold. Exploring the Pros, Cons, and Benefits of Utilizing Professional Vacation Planning Services. 13% of Grand Circle Travel employees are Hispanic or Latino. Plenty of free time is included in the itineraries, and there is a lot of choice among optional tours. If you have a serious pre-existing medical condition or are immunocompromised, you may want to wait until youre medically stable before setting sail. In 1993, Alternatively, you could have filed a case in small claims court, although you would have had to limit your . But it was the industrys way of saying it could do better. Grand Circle Travel is a company that offers guided tours and river cruises to destinations all over the world. But not for cruises. rate Grand Circle Travel 3.3 out of 5 stars, interview experience at Grand Circle Travel, Grand Circle Travel has a positive business outlook. Despite the customer Circle Corp. ran into some challenges last year after the Better Grand Circle Travel 347 Congress Street, Boston, MA 2.0/5 (128 ratings) Are you this business? Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.). Cruise lines are sometimes creative with their offers. Our Mission: We strive to be the world leader in international travel, adventure, and discovery for American travelers over 50providing impactful and intercultural experiences that significantly improve the quality of their lives. I feel I was defrauded and the company has been unethical in their dealings. Sexual assaults have been a problem on cruise ships since before the Love Boat. But why cant I get a refund? 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. Now it wont refund my $3,606. 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. Our 2020 tour has been re-booked to 2022. One way that Grand Circle Travel can overcome its financial difficulties is by diversifying its offerings. The right to an emergency power source in the case of a main generator failure. The average employee at Grand Circle Travel makes $62,003 per year. 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. 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! . The Lewises expanded Asked for refund and got a credit instead. private equity firm Court Square Capital Partners for an Lunch in one of our specialty restaurants? Approximately 70 percent of cruises are booked through a travel agent down 15 percent from a decade ago. Youre in control. Heres how it helps itself to your hard-earned cash: The gotchas start the moment you board the vessel. 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. For the flexibility and comfort aspects, combined with unique experiences at every turn. It isnt that these items arent fun to have while youre on a cruise, but that in many cases, theyre ridiculously overpriced. The state's lawmakers emphasized the need for transparency rather than criticizing the resort fees. But which one is right for you? All content is posted anonymously by employees working at Grand Circle Travel. Will this be the busiest spring break ever? Its your responsibility yours alone to have the correct documents. The cabin is for sleeping. Employees rate Grand Circle Travel 3.3 out of 5 stars based on 429 anonymous reviews on Glassdoor. Were always here to help. Find the latest travel requirements for your trip. Special access to agent-only discounts. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. Online agencies are a volume business, so if you like to feel special and appreciated, you might want to book elsewhere. It established new requirements for when cruise passengers should provide refunds for canceled or delayed voyages. Now that we have explored the causes behind Grand Circle Travels financial struggles, it is important to look at potential solutions. Youre out of luck. They have changed our river cruise a couple of times. Read unbiased user reviews, pick the operator that suits your needs, and connect with them directly. Why? You can find a cheaper private tour through a company like Viator. Who Will Enjoy Traveling with Grand Circle Travel? Some oceangoing vessels are smaller and more specialized. 2 hour wait for phone contact. 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. Theres only one way to ensure you dont get caught by these fees. 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. Industry: Travel Agencies. Service, when it does come, can be slow and impersonal. 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. There are many other health perils at sea. GCT cancelled the Greenland portion. 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. A few practical tips from a consumer advocate. As Adam Anolik, a San Francisco- based travel-industry lawyer, explained over email, thats why oversight forcing a company to comply with state laws can feel like an uphill battle. Here are my strategies for advocating your case. Most medical care on cruise ships is adequate. Youre dealing directly with the cruise line. This tour was phenomenal from the beginning to the end! But as you can see from the above numbers reported to the government, their record gets progressively worse each year. This is based on anonymous employee reviews submitted on Glassdoor. Its generally a lot of smaller grievances that dont add up to much. Not so long ago, you had to pick up a phone and call your local travel agent to book a cruise. Business Bureau had given the company an "unsatisfactory" rating. If you are injured with Grand Circle, be prepared to handle all medical necessities and communication yourself including pushing a wheel chair. 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. (Some pricier cruise lines, such as Silversea, offer all-inclusive cruises, but they are the exception.). https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/boston/proavel-0021-3848, Beware of Grand Circle Travel and Overseas Adventure Travel, Beware, Beware, Beware, Beware!!! And it should have at least six months validity left on it to be safe. Grand Circle CEO Alan Lewis and his wife, Harriet Lewis, who. That's not entirely true. This employer has claimed their Employer Profile and is engaged in the Glassdoor community. chairman of Grand Circle Foundation. Asia Pacific +65 6212 1000. Inside Agents are not free. The state was in the spotlight recently when it hosted the annual Gala Riviera Nayarit & Puerto Vallarta. operator. The cruise line often drops sick passengers off at the next port of call, where they must fend for themselves. But once you get on the ship, youll realize its a waste of money. That can get a little noisy. Tours & Operators on Travelstride Awarded and Featured by: 2023 Travelstride. By offering more diverse experiences, such as virtual tours and staycations, Grand Circle Travel can draw in more customers and increase its revenue. Want to take the kids out to dinner or to the arcade? 4x. Grand Circle is hosting an Open House for our Traveler Relations Center on 6/3/21 4-6pm! But it refuses to refund his money. You can also book the cruise whenever you want to. I've traveled with this company 4 times and find the value and service outstanding. Even email or call back. I dont want to be obligated to Grand Circle. First trip with Grand Circle Tours, liked the tour. I feel like I was duped by a bait and switch and wonder how many others were caught in the same scheme. If you need advice about a best-laid travel plan that went awry, send an email to travel@nytimes.com. This is my first experience with them. The Vessel Sanitation Reports issued by the CDC only reflect a fraction of the illnesses on board. Sarah Firshein is a Brooklyn-based travel writer. Ships appear to get less safe with each passing year. It is impossible to reach this company. 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. While there are several included activities, you have many options for personalization through optional extensions and plenty of free time in each destination. On motorcoach tours with Grand Circle you will make frequent stops to stretch your legs, and some longer stops for sightseeing. Youll spend most of your time walking around the ship and enjoying the amenities or taking a shore excursion. Tasteless food. We have not had any reports of passengers with COVID being forcibly removed from a ship recently. Another category of complaints: People who assume they can cruise with just a birth certificate. He paid Vantage $18,536. Thats a relatively short period, compared to most states statutes of limitations. We value your privacy.

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