document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Proudly powered by WordPress For some cruise lines, the provisions were already part of the ticket contract or company policy. Asia Pacific +65 6212 1000. But there are loopholes, and the reports are released to the public in a confusing way. Why? FAQ. This is the Grand Circle Travel company profile. Translation: When they cancel your trip, they are legally required to offer you the money back. EMEA +44 20 7330 7500. O.A.T. But then the cruise lines canceled their rebooked cruises. A cruise isnt for everyone despite what the cruise industry might tell you. Here are my strategies for advocating your case. Overall, 55% of employees would recommend working at Grand Circle Travel to a friend. So you couldnt review the quarantining protocols before making a booking decision and say, No, thats too much. The only way to avoid an unpleasant quarantine is to wait until the infection risk is low. There are mice in my vacation rental! Weve received numerous complaints from readers who purchased overpriced jewelry or art on their cruises. While some U.S. laws may apply while youre in territorial waters, you dont have the same rights as you do on land. Because Grand Circle attracts a similar age range, youre sure to meet new friends with like interests in no time. See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals. In an emailed statement, an O.A.T. You have 24/7 phone support through most of the online agencies. The right to timely information updates as to any adjustments in the itinerary of the ship in the event of a mechanical failure or emergency, as well as timely updates of the status of efforts to address mechanical failures. Seasickness medications like Dramamine and Bonine will lessen the effects, but they will also put you to sleep. Often, they succeed. Wheres my airline ticket refund from GotoGate? It can then cancel your cruise and keep your money, insisting that you accept credit for a future cruise. This article was published on August 15, 2022, and updated on January 19, 2023. As travel companies now suffer a cash crunch, they are facing off with travelers over credits and refunds. Vrbo offered a refund after my husband lost his job. Quality: Our decisions must be made and actions taken in accordance with high standards of quality and service. One of the cons can be coworkers taking advantage of the casual vibe of the office. spokeswoman said the company is working to improve our processes and to better address the needs of each traveler whose trip was canceled or postponed due to the pandemic. It appears that the main cause of Grand Circle Travel's financial issues is attributed to a decrease in demand for the company's services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Youre dealing directly with the cruise line. There was a stop at the Hoover Dam to view the dam. acquired by Travelport earlier this year. The outcome can often turn on who cancels, which is why a lot of suppliers and travelers are playing chicken right now. If the company fails to find a solution to its financial woes, it could mean layoffs and reduced wages for employees. 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. What's going on? Youre one of a million, literally. travelers in 1985 to approximately $760 million in sales and . According to the In order to understand the current financial situation of Grand Circle Travel, it is important to first examine the causes behind the company's financial struggles. For the flexibility and comfort aspects, combined with unique experiences at every turn. 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. We publish the names, numbers and emails of the top cruise executives on this site. 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. 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. Corp. has 44 offices and employs 3,000 people. We have just returned from our 6th, and probably last, Grand Circle tour. All Rights Reserved. Since 1958, Grand Circle has been the leader in international discovery for mature American travelers. Now it wont refund my $3,606. But we need to cancel. Lunch in one of our specialty restaurants? Is Grand Circle Travel Still In Business - Pine Knoll Lodge & Cabins As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Your ticket contract, the legal contract between you and the cruise line, spells out your rights. (How generous of you!) Once you get a positive response, make sure to find out about the interview process at Grand Circle Travel and prepare for tough questions. Sharing Your Travel Videos, Slideshows & Photos. 166,000 travelers in 2007. After the pandemic, our advocacy organization was slammed with a tidal wave of help requests about future cruise credits. Virtually zero. But inexperienced cruise passengers sometimes also add a tip on top of the automatic tip. Whats more, its not always entirely clear who gets the tip. The company has been in business since the 1980s, and has grown to become one of the largest tour operators in the world. Younger couples or families will probably feel out of place among the crowd on a Grand Circle tour. Grand Circle canceled my tour twice. How about a refund? Over the years they have. 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. Our family of travel companieswhich you can read more about below . All answers shown come directly from Grand Circle Travel Reviews and are not edited or altered. You will probably do a fair amount of walking throughout the tour - Grand Circle suggests that travelers be relatively physically fit. This employer has claimed their Employer Profile and is engaged in the Glassdoor community. Want a picture of you and your beautiful family? trips and has been pressuring the company to comply with the states travel-seller laws. This pandemic could cause some of them to be dusted off, said Mr. Anolik. 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. There are many other health perils at sea. One way that Grand Circle Travel can overcome its financial difficulties is by diversifying its offerings. I would not recommend the company. Find your private company bowl on Fishbowl, join the hottest conversation with your colleagues anonymously. 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. When Will Hawaiis Safe Travels Program End? 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, if the extraordinary number of reader complaints I have received more than a dozen and counting are any indication, they have been doing so anyway. Cruise lines are sometimes creative with their offers. 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). Its their terms. Exploring the Basics, Benefits, and Policies, How to Contact Tesla: Customer Service Phone Number, Website, Social Media, Email & Live Chat, Bruce Willis Health Condition: Understanding the Actors Diet and Exercise Regimen, Exploring the Impact of Greg Gutfelds Vacation from Fox News. Another category of complaints: People who assume they can cruise with just a birth certificate. The original Grand Circle Travel was founded by retired high . The Grand Circle Travel Style is comfortable, standard river cruises and motorcoaches. After taking 12 tours with them, they treated us terribly. Tasteless food. (Thats just asking for trouble.) 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. Then our columnist intervened with the Boston-based tour operator Overseas Adventure Travel. 1958. Grand Circle Travel (GCT) seems to play a few nasty games, and cheating its customers!!! And when they do, they are often underreported. Groups are between 24-47 people, so expect some company! That's no excuse for not responding to paid customer's inquiries. Where is it? Want a welcome drink? Younger couples or families will probably feel out of place among the crowd on a Grand Circle tour. For more information about reviews on ConsumerAffairs.com please visit our 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. I dont want to be obligated to Grand Circle. Access to possible upgrades and onboard credits. The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act requires cruise lines to report criminal activity to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 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. Working at Grand Circle Travel | Glassdoor If you are injured with Grand Circle, be prepared to handle all medical necessities and communication yourself including pushing a wheel chair. He paid Vantage $18,536. OAT's email offering a refund would have made your credit-card dispute an easy win. Its your responsibility yours alone to have the correct documents. Supervisors and managers want everyone to succeed. Our family of travel companieswhich you can read more about belowoffers a variety of innovative trips to more than 60 countries. You probably need travel insurance for your cruise. Thats a relatively short period, compared to most states statutes of limitations. I purchased my own flights. : the realization that issuing refunds en masse would bleed the company dry. Ive heard of these kickbacks going as high as 14 percent. The small-group and cruising company has been recognized nationally. 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. Grand Circle Travel/Overseas Adventure Travel only offered a $250 credit per person to be applied to a future trip, and the option of booking another trip altogether. they acquired Cambridge, Mass.-based Overseas Adventure Travel and 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. No answer to emails or snail mail. By Christopher Elliott Globe correspondent, Updated November 11, 2021, 12:00 p.m. Grand. Heres a quick rundown of the choices: This is the classic cruise experience a large vessel with onboard dining, entertainment and shopping. How do you buy a cruise, then? Uh-uh. service hurdle, when the company announced the sale last week, it Dont expect extreme luxury or especially unique accommodations however. The contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission. Enjoy reading our tips and recommendations. BEWARE of Grand Circle Travel SCAMS!!! - Fodor's It is important to consider the potential implications of Grand Circle Travels financial struggles. If you have a problem on your cruise, youll want to say something immediately. Anyone can read what you share. 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. Yes, my wife and I had to leave mid-way through the cruise and were quarantined for 8 days at a hotel. In addition, there is the worry that many travel companies may go out of business due to the loss of business from this pandemic. One-on-one service and attention to detail. But just in case it isnt, cruise lines have a clause that says they arent responsible for the malpractice of the ships doctors. Even email or call back. Ultimately, it is up to Grand Circle Travel to take the necessary steps to ensure its financial stability. But which one is right for you? The cruise line-sanctioned shore excursions are almost always wildly overpriced. We receive regular complaints about food poisoning on cruise ships. No wonder offline agents call these operations vending machines. Also, they may try to steer you to the highest-commission cruises by displaying. 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. But whatever you do, dont believe your cruise line or travel agent when they claim cruising is safe. Theres no form of travel thats safe right now. I had always heard this was a good company but clearly it is no longer good. When will cruising feel safe again to you? They tied up over $10,000 of our money on a trip they canceled because the cruise line they offered us had Russian links. Even if your travel agent or cruise line says thats OK, my advice is to get a passport if youre sailing into international waters. An Analysis, How Far Does Weed Smell Travel? Our award-winning daily newsletters keep you posted on our random acts of consumer advocacy. The ultimate guide to taking a cruise now - Elliott Report Do they distribute it among the staff? Unsubscribe at any time. Sometimes it can feel like college at times. that business to include all Americans over the age of 50. She lost her engagement ring in a rental car.

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