Then our columnist intervened with the Boston-based tour operator Overseas Adventure Travel. Your stateroom is a place to sleep. The right to disembark a docked ship if essential provisions such as food, water, restroom facilities and access to medical care cannot adequately be provided onboard, subject only to the Masters concern for passenger safety and security and customs and immigration requirements of the port. 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. Grand Circle Travel is a well-known international travel company based in Boston, Massachusetts. And when they do, they are often underreported. 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. $7000 in their pocket. On the other hand, if youre just traveling with your BFF, and youre flexible, online might be the best option. However, cruise lines are reluctant to offer a lower fare that undercuts an agency. G rand Circle Corp. is being sold to New York private equity firm Court Square Capital Partners for an undisclosed amount. Where is it? Uh-uh. You must be very efficient at email with On Call. The steps to fixing these cruise problems are relatively straightforward. One way that Grand Circle Travel can overcome its financial difficulties is by diversifying its offerings. Want a welcome drink? We value your privacy. I called, sent letters, asking for 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. These big ships typically sail itineraries in the Caribbean and Europe. I have flights with Grand Circle. And this information was only transmitted because I raised the subject. If the agency is a member of a larger group, like AAA, youll get deals no one else has, and they may be unbeatable. Well start sending you the news you need delivered straight to you. Would take take this tour all over again! No, no, no. Recently cruised with GCT and they failed to comply with their stated regulations regarding Covid protocols. The rating was due in part to a series of customer complaints about When Will Hawaiis Safe Travels Program End? You might find yourself sharing dinner at the home of a local family or visiting local schools. Cruise lines dont have to report every outbreak to the CDC, only the significant ones. Sign into see which companies give additional savings to Travelstride Members (its free). An offer of a certificate for future travel with a company I no longer trust is unacceptable. He paid Vantage $18,536. How do you buy a cruise, then? The cabin is for sleeping. 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. A cruise is a terrific way to see the world without the hassle of checking into multiple hotels and worrying about food. The most common ethnicity at Grand Circle Travel is White (70%). Book directly with the operator. Asia Pacific +65 6212 1000. How are they allowed to keep my money? This is a common problem at my consumer advocacy organization. Youre out of luck. Some got total refunds, while others (including you) received partial refunds or continue to wait for certain fees and sums to clear. Learn the word no, and use it often. If its a small shop, you may not have 24/7 support. Weve received numerous complaints from readers who purchased overpriced jewelry or art on their cruises. Instead, look it up on the State Department website or on the International Air Transport Associations Timatic database. 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! CONTENTS Overview Reviews Updated 03/02/2023 About Grand Circle Travel This profile has. What is paid time off like at Grand Circle Travel? Groups are between 24-47 people, so expect some company! On motorcoach tours with Grand Circle you will make frequent stops to stretch your legs, and some longer stops for sightseeing. Did we mention it's free? What if you miss your deadline? Exploring the World of Knowledge and Understanding. 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! When flying on a commercial airline, booked through GCT, they negotiate a deal (to increase their. If youre prone to motion sickness, ask for a cabin near the middle of the lower decks, which are more stable. Grandparents & grandchildren (ages 13 and up are welcome to join). Traveler Reviews. Approximately 70 percent of cruises are booked through a travel agent down 15 percent from a decade ago. When will cruising feel safe again to you? Here are my strategies for advocating your case. See reviews below to learn more or submit your own review. Special access to agent-only discounts. The company has been providing travelers with high-quality tours around the world since 1998. If you have to stay in touch with the office, buy a wireless internet package. Inside It is impossible to reach this company. 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. No answer to emails or snail mail. Were always here to help. Avoid like the plague! Can I get my 173,116 Chase Ultimate Rewards points refunded? Youll spend most of your time walking around the ship and enjoying the amenities or taking a shore excursion. Why? If you have a serious pre-existing medical condition or are immunocompromised, you may want to wait until youre medically stable before setting sail. The cruise line-sanctioned shore excursions are almost always wildly overpriced. Sharing Your Travel Videos, Slideshows & Photos. Its their terms. Consumer Alert: No more automatic refunds for skipped ports? Good luck. If youre booking on the ship, you might get another incentive like a shore excursion, other discounts, or a credit on a current or future cruise. Preparing for Your Trip. Ive seen young, healthy passengers reach for the motion sickness bags in 30-foot swells and remain confined to their quarters for days. Grand Circle Travel (GCT) seems to play a few nasty games, and cheating its customers!!! Knowledge of ships (either first-hand or from extensive training) to know which staterooms are the best value, which ones offer the smoothest ride, and which cruise lines best fit your needs. Do Not Sell My Personal Information -, Fodor's may use your email address to send you relevant information on site updates, account changes, and offers. No wonder offline agents call these operations vending machines. Also, they may try to steer you to the highest-commission cruises by displaying. 4x. Quality: Our decisions must be made and actions taken in accordance with high standards of quality and service. private equity firm Court Square Capital Partners for an By entering your email, you agree to sign up for consumer news, tips and giveaways from ConsumerAffairs. At a time like now, some may be safer and more convenient than others. I had always heard this was a good company but clearly it is no longer good. That's no excuse for not responding to paid customer's inquiries. Sears couldnt deliver my appliances. Grand Circle Travel was started by the founder of AARP, and as such know their demographic extremely well. 1. Help! Grand Circle's Annual Report & Profile shows critical firmographic facts: What is the company's size? As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Avoid the grief and go elsewhere to a reputable business at the outset. Grand Circle Travel was started by the founder of AARP, and as such know their demographic extremely well. OAT is non-accredited per the BBB, had a C- rating by them and per 23 customer reviews had 1 * out of 5. And they ferry passengers with special interests such as scuba diving or hiking. Grand Circle Travel 347 Congress Street, Boston, MA 2.0/5 (128 ratings) Are you this business? (Mr. Anolik has a detailed breakdown of other state-by-state travel laws on his firms website. Copyright 2023 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. While they didnt answer my question directly, I was able to recoup more than $100,000, collectively, for you and 10 other readers. Travel agents can make 10 percent or more in commissions and overrides from your cruise. 2 hour wait for phone contact. Service, when it does come, can be slow and impersonal. When the level of quality required is in question, we will operate to the high standards expected by our customers. Youre dealing directly with the cruise line, so the company cant blame an intermediary for anything that goes wrong. If you need advice about a best-laid travel plan that went awry, send an email to travel@nytimes.com. In order to understand the current financial situation of Grand Circle Travel, it is important to first examine the causes behind the companys financial struggles. Support. This is the Grand Circle Travel company profile. You can also reevaluate if you want to cancel the total trip. For more information about reviews on ConsumerAffairs.com please visit our 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. Thousands of itineraries from over 1,000 trusted travel companies. You raise an important point. The bus driver, Wayne, could not have been any better! 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. Were looking for dynamic, high-performing, accommodating individuals interested in joining our upcoming training classes for Sales and Customer Service. 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. Thats not entirely true. A free inside look at Grand Circle Travel salary trends based on 462 salaries wages for 222 jobs at Grand Circle Travel. 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. This PayPal invoice scam almost got me. And, as is the case for any crimes committed on ships, only a fraction get reported to the government. Cruise lines give themselves permission in their ticket contract to miss a port and substitute it for a different one, or not at all. Contact Us - It can then cancel your cruise and keep your money, insisting that you accept credit for a future cruise. (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). Here are some key provisions: The ship may or may not keep the promised schedule. But we need to cancel. Robbery, assault and homicide happen on cruise ships. Roz. Plenty of free time is included in the itineraries, and there is a lot of choice among optional tours. Wheres my airline ticket refund from GotoGate? By offering more diverse experiences, such as virtual tours and staycations, Grand Circle Travel can draw in more customers and increase its revenue. 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. they acquired Cambridge, Mass.-based Overseas Adventure Travel and Why is it taking so long to get a cruise refund? Claim your Free Employer Profile. I booked a river cruise with GCT because their COVID protocols were strong on paper. (How generous of you!) The state was in the spotlight recently when it hosted the annual Gala Riviera Nayarit & Puerto Vallarta. They tied up over $10,000 of our money on a trip they canceled because the cruise line they offered us had Russian links. You could pay tens of thousands of dollars to a cruise line. Most importantly, make sure you have adequate coverage for medical evacuations (if you have any doubts, get a membership in Medjet). Always check before booking.). But there are risks now, and perhaps more risks than ever. View travel requirements for countries around the world. Our values are the foundation upon which our company is built. Get travel insurance. All Rights Reserved. Site Map|Global Site Map|Terms of Use|Privacy Policy, Save this trip to your favorites or other list. 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. You can also book the cruise whenever you want to. Asked for refund and got a credit instead. 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. 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. Theres only one way to ensure you dont get caught by these fees. I would not recommend the company. 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. 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. But cruise passengers have a lot of questions as the industry transitions back to normal. 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). Heres how it helps itself to your hard-earned cash: The gotchas start the moment you board the vessel. Whats more, its not always entirely clear who gets the tip. We booked a river cruise, including airfare, and documented every detail. 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. As a thank you for being such outstanding employees, they were sent on a week long Recognition Journey Trip to Peru! Booked Iceland Greenland trip this year. Its a high-pressure sales pitch on the high seas. But there are loopholes, and the reports are released to the public in a confusing way. Unsubscribe at any time. (Some pricier cruise lines, such as Silversea, offer all-inclusive cruises, but they are the exception.).

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