Who Will Enjoy Traveling with Grand Circle Travel? 2023 Grand Circle Travel 347 Congress St. Boston, MA 02210 We use cookies to improve your experience, by using our site you accept such use. Asia Pacific +65 6212 1000. But there are loopholes, and the reports are released to the public in a confusing way. They canceled my flight. If you need advice about a best-laid travel plan that went awry, send an email to travel@nytimes.com. Over the years they have established a solid reputation for tours and river cruises that offer good value to destinations around the world. Its location on this page may change next time you visit. You can find a cheaper private tour through a company like Viator. This article will explore the causes, implications, and possible solutions to Grand Circle Travels financial troubles. 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. Check out Elliott Advocacy Today, our free, daily newsletter with links to your favorite commentary, tips and news about consumer advocacy. 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). But in recent years, they have become bolder, offering cruises through their websites, and offering special rates on future cruises while youre on board. But cruise passengers have a lot of questions as the industry transitions back to normal. Gangwal left Worldspan when it was 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. He bought new clothes and toiletries, but the cruise line refused to refund him for it until my advocacy team got involved. Copyright 2022 Consumers Unified LLC. This is based on 391 anonymously submitted reviews on Glassdoor. (Thats just asking for trouble.) By offering more diverse experiences, such as virtual tours and staycations, Grand Circle Travel can draw in more customers and increase its revenue. Unsubscribe easily. Glassdoor gives you an inside look at what it's like to work at Grand Circle Travel, including salaries, reviews, office photos, and more. 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. The small-group and cruising company has been recognized nationally. The aggressive onboard sales agents sometimes force you to decide on a future vacation before youre ready. You might find yourself sharing dinner at the home of a local family or visiting local schools. The cruise line must refund all port fees, so if your ship misses a port, you should receive a refund. Can I get my 173,116 Chase Ultimate Rewards points refunded? Sign up to receive our free weekly newsletter. Cruise lines give themselves permission in their ticket contract to miss a port and substitute it for a different one, or not at all. Inside Last minute changes OK, You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type, Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics. Crypto Wallet Development: Types, Features, and Popularity, 5 Ways AI is Detecting and Preventing Identity Fraud. 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. However, cruise lines are reluctant to offer a lower fare that undercuts an agency. Employees rate Grand Circle Travel 3.3 out of 5 stars based on 429 anonymous reviews on Glassdoor. Its their terms. The average employee at Grand Circle Travel makes $62,003 per year. A few practical tips from a consumer advocate. Cruise lines dont include premium restaurants in your fare. Free-flowing booze is at the top of the list. Dont let that happen to you. Your rights at sea are governed by maritime law, or the law of the sea. Harriet Lewis will We value your privacy. Read More rugged variety. Payments. 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. Sometimes it can feel like college at times. Is Grand Circle Travel in Financial Trouble? An Analysis Youll also connect with other readers who want to make the world a better place. Here are my strategies for advocating your case. acquired by Travelport earlier this year. Over the years they have. Additionally, Grand Circle Travel can look into ways to reduce overhead expenses, such as cutting down on staff or renegotiating contracts with vendors. Lewises, the company has grown from $27 million in sales and 5,000 COVID and norovirus outbreaks are common on cruise ships. Terms indicate if they cancel you get a refund. But there are lots of cruise options. Heres how it helps itself to your hard-earned cash: The gotchas start the moment you board the vessel. They are what our beliefs and actions are derived from. | Youre in control. Always arrive the day before your cruise. 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. : the realization that issuing refunds en masse would bleed the company dry. The right to have included on each cruise lines website a toll-free phone line that can be used for questions or information concerning any aspect of shipboard operations. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Proudly powered by WordPress 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? 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. Once you get a positive response, make sure to find out about the interview process at Grand Circle Travel and prepare for tough questions. Americas +1 212 318 2000. I am disappointed, disgruntled and dissatisfied; I didnt spend money to get this treatment; I could have done better on my own! Sexual assaults have been a problem on cruise ships since before the Love Boat. To determine if my hunch was correct, I reached out to O.A.T. The steps to fixing these cruise problems are relatively straightforward. Our award-winning daily newsletters keep you posted on our random acts of consumer advocacy. (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). Its extra. ), Back to O. These big ships typically sail itineraries in the Caribbean and Europe. Most trips with Grand Circle are, unfortunately, not wheelchair accessible. I called, sent letters, asking for a refund. This company must not have enough staffing. WE CAN DREAM ABOUT TRAVEL Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Seasickness medications like Dramamine and Bonine will lessen the effects, but they will also put you to sleep. 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! Often, they succeed. Check out our directory. Agents are not free. We plan to go to Iceland. Enjoy reading our tips and recommendations. 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. Overseas Adventure Travel is part of Grand Circle Corporation, a family of travel companies based in Boston. This profile has not been claimed by the company. private equity firm Court Square Capital Partners for an Tip: Avoid virus season (usually late winter and early spring). 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. Youre dealing directly with the cruise line, so the company cant blame an intermediary for anything that goes wrong. When the customers asked for a refund, the cruise lines said they couldnt get one future cruise credits were nonrefundable. It has. Sharing Your Travel Videos, Slideshows & Photos. Ultimately, it is up to Grand Circle Travel to take the necessary steps to ensure its financial stability. To But then the cruise lines canceled their rebooked cruises. 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. The high seas can be dangerous, and not just in the movies. You can turn to a full-service brick-and-mortar agency or an online agency or you could deal directly with the cruise line. NBC10 Boston Responds Recovers Over $71K for Viewers on Canceled In addition to decreased demand, Grand Circle Travel has also had to face other financial challenges. It is important to consider the potential implications of Grand Circle Travels financial struggles. 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! Whats more, its not always entirely clear who gets the tip. There was a stop at the Hoover Dam to view the dam. 35% of job seekers rate their interview experience at Grand Circle Travel as positive. Why is Good UI/UX Design Imperative for Business Success? Is cruising really safe now? They tied up over $10,000 of our money on a trip they canceled because the cruise line they offered us had Russian links. The company has seen increased costs due to safety protocols and additional staffing needed to ensure the health and safety of their guests. Grand Circles motto is We Change Peoples Lives; it has certainly changed ours. And most passengers accepted the credit. 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. : Tanzania/Kilimanjaro Tour Company, Any recommendations for Grand Circle Tours and/or Overseas Adventure Tours, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. You can also reevaluate if you want to cancel the total trip. And this information was only transmitted because I raised the subject. I have flights with Grand Circle. 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. Groups are between 24-47 people, so expect some company! Finally, Grand Circle Travels financial struggles could lead to an overall decrease in the quality of its services. Were mediating these problems on a case-by-case basis. Grand Circle Travel Warning - Fodor's Travel Talk Forums What Makes Grand Circle Travel Stand Out? in 1997 they established Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises with a Come on! Look out for our newsletters with travel tips and special offers. After registering, I can manage my newsletter subscriptions by visiting my Profile Settings page. Translation: When they cancel your trip, they are legally required to offer you the money back. In theory, a host agency is not liable to clients of a sub-IC for their acts or omissions. #traveljobs #peru #excellenceaward. If its a small shop, you may not have 24/7 support. There are many other health perils at sea. She lost her engagement ring in a rental car. I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way. As a thank you for being such outstanding employees, they were sent on a week long Recognition Journey Trip to Peru! He paid Vantage $18,536. 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. Even though GC advertises travel for mature adults- this is overwhelming in a foreign country. 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. 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 a fast-paced and rapidly changing environment each member of the team is critical for success. 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. Our family of travel companieswhich you can read more about belowoffers a variety of innovative trips to more than 60 countries. When you try to contact someone by phone. 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. They also operate overseas travel adventures. 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." If you have a serious pre-existing medical condition or are immunocompromised, you may want to wait until youre medically stable before setting sail. 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. 301 Route 17 N, Suite 1150, Rutherford, NJ Help! According to the law, the cash refund must be an amount equal to the fair market retail value of any undelivered, purchased travel service.. Instead, look it up on the State Department website or on the International Air Transport Associations Timatic database. 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. If you need help with any problem,please contact us through this form. The most common ethnicity at Grand Circle Travel is White (70%). If you like the idea of joining a tight knit travel community, with frequent cost cutting options, then Grand Circle could be for you. Overseas Adventure Travel is part of Grand Circle Corporation, a family of travel companies based in Boston. Most complaints fall into one of these categories: A missed port. Avoid like the plague! 166,000 travelers in 2007. Working at Grand Circle Travel | Glassdoor (Note: Some cruise lines still require a COVID test and vaccination certificates; others dont. A delayed flight leads to a delayed connection. chairman of Grand Circle Foundation. (Mr. Anolik has a detailed breakdown of other state-by-state travel laws on his firms website. If my cruise is canceled, am I entitled to a refund? 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. The cruise line wont let them board the ship. Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. No answer to emails or snail mail. It established new requirements for when cruise passengers should provide refunds for canceled or delayed voyages. They appear to be having problems, long waits on the phone. Its not just one problem, but many. A link has directed you to this review. No answer. Its an online travel agency. Its not uncommon to hear of people waiting upwards of an hour for help. Companies displayed may pay us to be Authorized or when you click a link, call a number or fill a form on our site. Want to take the kids out to dinner or to the arcade? Youre one of a million, literally. That agency said that it has received about 275 consumer complaints so far about canceled O.A.T.
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