Working at Grand Circle Travel has to be one of the best jobs I've worked at. The next week, I learned via email that I had been rebooked on the same trip next year. Copyright 2023 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. Cruise lines add tips of up to 20 percent to your spa or bar bill. While some U.S. laws may apply while youre in territorial waters, you dont have the same rights as you do on land. 35% of job seekers rate their interview experience at Grand Circle Travel as positive. You probably need travel insurance for your cruise. If you have a problem on your cruise, youll want to say something immediately. They do plenty of one on ones. In addition, a local restaurant lunch was packed full of passengers with food being served right under their noses. Overseas Adventure Travel is part of Grand Circle Corporation, a family of travel companies based in Boston. operator. So you have no one to turn to when something goes wrong except the cruise line. Here is a photo of them enjoying the breathtaking view of Machu Picchu. If you think youll have less, get it renewed before your cruise. This profile has not been claimed by the company. Any amount of compensatory. The small-group and cruising company has been recognized nationally. Lunch in one of our specialty restaurants? Our buses had problems; the drivers were pulled from retirement and were unfamiliar with the vehicles. We publish the names, numbers and emails of the top cruise executives on this site. She lost her engagement ring in a rental car. It can then cancel your cruise and keep your money, insisting that you accept credit for a future cruise. In addition, there is the worry that many travel companies may go out of business due to the loss of business from this pandemic. 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. They have changed our river cruise a couple of times. All rights reserved. Here are my strategies for advocating your case. All of these factors have led to a difficult financial situation for Grand Circle Travel. We plan to go to Iceland. Here are some of the risks. What is paid time off like at Grand Circle Travel? (How generous of you!) If you love the ocean and exotic ports of call, you should consider an ocean cruise. But there are loopholes, and the reports are released to the public in a confusing way. was no longer offering refunds. The company has been in business since the 1980s, and has grown to become one of the largest tour operators in the world. Once you get a positive response, make sure to find out about the interview process at Grand Circle Travel and prepare for tough questions. Get the real picture with both traveler and expert reviews to ensure the trip you book is the right one for you. Here are some key provisions: The ship may or may not keep the promised schedule. The pandemic exposed one of the most absurd aspects of cruising. As a result of the pandemic, many people have become hesitant to travel, resulting in a significant drop in bookings for Grand Circle Travel. 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. Grand Circle travels all over the world, with a strong focus in Europe, Aisa and Southeast Asia. Itineraries are designed to give you more time in each stop, allowing for a more balanced combination of included activities and independent time. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. How Can I Get $$ back?? Not so long ago, you had to pick up a phone and call your local travel agent to book a cruise. You can find a cheaper private tour through a company like Viator. Would take take this tour all over again! You must be very efficient at email with On Call. Service, when it does come, can be slow and impersonal. 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. Exploring the Pros, Cons, and Benefits of Utilizing Professional Vacation Planning Services. Airlines are sidestepping refund regulations established by the United States Transportation Department and the European Union, betting that negative press (and even class-action lawsuits) are still preferable to negative-balance bank accounts. 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. 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. That doesn't make sense since using them all would have limited the number of passengers occupying them, thus limiting exposure. Furthermore, the companys reputation could be negatively impacted if customers do not feel confident in their ability to provide quality services. That's no excuse for not responding to paid customer's inquiries. The right to a ship crew that is properly trained in emergency and evacuation procedures. Terms indicate if they cancel you get a refund. And cruise lines dont like to do that. They have provided great service in the past, but this tour was bad. They had no number call back policy and I have been on hold 1/2 hr. This PayPal invoice scam almost got me. Dont expect extreme luxury or especially unique accommodations however. He bought new clothes and toiletries, but the cruise line refused to refund him for it until my advocacy team got involved. CONTENTS Overview Reviews Updated 03/02/2023 About Grand Circle Travel This profile has. 166,000 travelers in 2007. The small-group and cruising company has been recognized nationally. Even though GC advertises travel for mature adults- this is overwhelming in a foreign country. Excellent service on ship, considerate of their clients, wonderful discovery trips. Youre one of a million, literally. 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! Harriet Lewis will All content is posted anonymously by employees working at Grand Circle Travel. 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." ), Back to O. Capital portfolio company. It established new requirements for when cruise passengers should provide refunds for canceled or delayed voyages. This tour was phenomenal from the beginning to the end! The company notified me of the cancellation and offered either a credit for rebooking or a full refund that would have included airfare. $7000 in their pocket. Sign up to receive our free weekly newsletter. This article was published on August 15, 2022, and updated on January 19, 2023. Cruise ship gotchas they wont tell you about. Its gonna cost you. The state's lawmakers emphasized the need for transparency rather than criticizing the resort fees. Two days before departure, it was a call from the Program Director in Romania who informed me that masks were no longer required. Everything from non-refundable airfares to auto. I feel I was defrauded and the company has been unethical in their dealings. You might find yourself sharing dinner at the home of a local family or visiting local schools. First trip with Grand Circle Tours, liked the tour. 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. Poor food, poor guidance and no involvement from the guide or the Company. 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. Were always here to help. 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. We have just returned from our 6th, and probably last, Grand Circle tour. Plus, we have insightful letters, insider tips, and more. The office environment is really casual. Its your responsibility yours alone to have the correct documents. Windstars 2023/24 Middle East program kicks off in November. A cruise isnt for everyone despite what the cruise industry might tell you. This article will explore the causes, implications, and possible solutions to Grand Circle Travels financial troubles. The cruise line wont let them board the ship. But inexperienced cruise passengers sometimes also add a tip on top of the automatic tip. Again, these offers come by way of the relationships cruise agents have through their company or by being friends with their regional sales representative. You can also book the cruise whenever you want to. Todays travel websites try to combine the best aspects of a full-service agency with the conveniences of modern technology. This is based on anonymous employee reviews submitted on Glassdoor. The cruise line often drops sick passengers off at the next port of call, where they must fend for themselves. Uh-uh. Another solution to Grand Circle Travels financial woes is to increase efficiency. But Massachusetts happens to be one of only a handful of states with specific laws that guarantee consumers protection against travel sellers, including requiring that tour operators offer the option of cash refunds (in addition to vouchers or credits for rebooking) when they fail to provide agreed-upon, paid-for services. Grand Circle's Annual Report & Profile shows critical firmographic facts: What is the company's size? Its an online travel agency. There was a stop at the Hoover Dam to view the dam. How do I know I can trust these reviews about Grand Circle Travel? The best they do is send a canned letter saying how sorry they are that they are behind in correspondence because of having to frequently change airline reservations for various tours. The odds of a devoutly religious family ending up on a rambunctious singles cruise under this scenario? We ran off the road and almost flipped--and Grand Circle did NOTHING. . Translation: When they cancel your trip, they are legally required to offer you the money back. While Grand Circle Travel has seen tremendous success over the years, the company has recently found itself in a difficult financial situation. Ultimately, it is up to Grand Circle Travel to take the necessary steps to ensure its financial stability. California, with some of the strongest consumer protections in the country, requires cash refunds for undelivered services within 30 days from whichever date is earliest: the scheduled departure date, the date the refund is requested or the date the service was canceled by the travel company. But there are lots of cruise options. Ships appear to get less safe with each passing year. The original Grand Circle Travel was founded by retired high . Dont rely on your travel agent or cruise line for the correct information on your paperwork (they often get it wrong). Groups are between 24-47 people, so expect some company! Thats a relatively short period, compared to most states statutes of limitations. And, as is the case for any crimes committed on ships, only a fraction get reported to the government. Most cruise lines have stopped screening their passengers for COVID. Why Choose a Tour with Grand Circle Travel? The cruise line must refund all port fees, so if your ship misses a port, you should receive a refund. But then the cruise lines canceled their rebooked cruises. Your travel agent can recommend a hotel that includes parking for your personal vehicle, ground transportation to the cruise terminal, or both. They also dont work. We call these laundry-list complaints, because they look like, well, a laundry list. OAT is non-accredited per the BBB, had a C- rating by them and per 23 customer reviews had 1 * out of 5. Required fields are marked *. Your email address will not be published. UNACCEPTABLE!! The Elliott Report is supported by Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that offers free advice and advocacy for consumers. 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. Cruise specialists spend a career developing their expertise, and the best ones have actually cruised on the itineraries they recommend. Watch for food-borne illnesses. Its not uncommon to hear of people waiting upwards of an hour for help. Over the years they have. Grand Circle Corporation is a global enterprise committed to changing peoples lives through international 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.. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME INFO ABOUT THIS COMPANY TREATING HIGH QUALITY EMPLOYEES , AS I WITNESSED, Your email address will not be published. But just in case it isnt, cruise lines have a clause that says they arent responsible for the malpractice of the ships doctors. In Hawaii, consumers have the right to a cash refund (minus previously disclosed cancellation fees) within two weeks of requesting one. Get travel insurance. Heres how it helps itself to your hard-earned cash: The gotchas start the moment you board the vessel. Alternatively, you could have filed a case in small claims court, although you would have had to limit your . Grand Circle is hosting an Open House for our Traveler Relations Center on 6/3/21 4-6pm! I've traveled with this company 4 times and find the value and service outstanding. (Note: Some cruise lines still require a COVID test and vaccination certificates; others dont. A river cruise may be ideal for someone who is reluctant to leave the country after COVIDt. The state was in the spotlight recently when it hosted the annual Gala Riviera Nayarit & Puerto Vallarta. What's going on? In order to overcome these financial struggles, the company must find ways to diversify its offerings, increase efficiency, and reduce overhead expenses.

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