Many of their phone agents are located in overseas call centers. There are a variety of ocean cruises, from budget to luxury. You must be very efficient at email with On Call. Most medical care on cruise ships is adequate. Younger couples or families will probably feel out of place among the crowd on a Grand Circle tour. OAT's email offering a refund would have made your credit-card dispute an easy win. 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. Translation: When they cancel your trip, they are legally required to offer you the money back. Why Choose a Tour with Grand Circle Travel? In Hawaii, consumers have the right to a cash refund (minus previously disclosed cancellation fees) within two weeks of requesting one. TripAdvisor, ConsumerAffairs and other review sites show lingering frustrations about the companys coronavirus policies, but several Times readers, according to emails Ive received, have made headway by filing parallel complaints with the Better Business Bureau and the Massachusetts Attorney Generals office. We have just returned from our 6th, and probably last, Grand Circle tour. Excellence in our quality will continually enhance our repeat business and ultimately our financial performance. You could pay tens of thousands of dollars to a cruise line. While Grand Circle Travel has seen tremendous success over the years, the company has recently found itself in a difficult financial situation. 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. According to the law, the cash refund must be an amount equal to the fair market retail value of any undelivered, purchased travel service.. Ships appear to get less safe with each passing year. Sometimes it can feel like college at times. Overseas . View travel requirements for countries around the world. Windstars 2023/24 Middle East program kicks off in November. Virtually zero. acquired by Travelport earlier this year. 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. Answer: Yes. 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. Its gonna cost you. Why? Its Grand Circle Travel division offers all-inclusive package tours at a leisurely pace while its Overseas Adventure subsidiary organizes small groups for land, canal barge, and small ship journeys of the more. He provided us with so much information. Our values are the foundation upon which our company is built. 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). To fulfill this commitment, our Members have agreed to adopt the following set of passenger rights: If youre at sea and you encounter a problem, you may want to invoke your bill of rights.. Vrbo took my $1,270! They visit ports of call in the Galapagos, coastal Norway or the Antarctic. General Air Questions. A delayed flight leads to a delayed connection. Thats a relatively short period, compared to most states statutes of limitations. (Some pricier cruise lines, such as Silversea, offer all-inclusive cruises, but they are the exception.). The state's lawmakers emphasized the need for transparency rather than criticizing the resort fees. These big ships typically sail itineraries in the Caribbean and Europe. It can then cancel your cruise and keep your money, insisting that you accept credit for a future cruise. Today, Grand Circle Employees rate Grand Circle Travel 3.3 out of 5 stars based on 429 anonymous reviews on Glassdoor. That doesn't make sense since using them all would have limited the number of passengers occupying them, thus limiting exposure. Theyre not. We make it accessible through trips that deliver unmatched discoveries, leisurely pacing, more travel choices, and comprehensive value. Grand Circle Corp. is being sold to New York Soon we discovered they had changed our cabin without notifying us and that one of the flights had disappeared . was no longer offering refunds. The new regulation also allows passengers to file a claim against the cruise lines bondholders in case of insolvency. We value your privacy. Find the latest travel requirements for your trip. Most complaints fall into one of these categories: A missed port. There have been some reports that the company is in financial trouble, and may be shutting down soon . private equity firm Court Square Capital Partners for an Obtaining a refund for art purchased at an auction or jewelry is nearly impossible even if youre a consumer advocate. No longer. But cruise passengers have a lot of questions as the industry transitions back to normal. 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. operator. No answer. By offering more diverse experiences, such as virtual tours and staycations, Grand Circle Travel can draw in more customers and increase its revenue. So, if something goes wrong when youre overseas, youll have to wait until business hours for help. Grand Circle Travel is a well-known international travel company based in Boston, Massachusetts. If you need help with any problem,please contact us through this form. Surely taking temperatures and separating tables would have helped tremendously. If, after reading this authoritative guide on cruising, you feel that youre ready, then go for it. Grand Circle cancels two of Ernest Belzil's tours. You will probably do a fair amount of walking throughout the tour - Grand Circle suggests that travelers be relatively physically fit. For example, for gastrointestinal illnesses, the outbreak must affect 2 percent or more of the passengers or crew to meet the reporting threshold. Just to name a few, we have danced the Turkey with school children in Costa Rica, climbed the Mayan Temples of Tikal, laid roses with Veteran travelers at the grave of the WWII Cemetery in Normandy and walked the ancient stone boulevards of Ephesus. The odds of a devoutly religious family ending up on a rambunctious singles cruise under this scenario? Harriet Lewis will (Note: Is this article not meeting your expectations? Gangwal left Worldspan when it was Advertising - There are many other health perils at sea. Kiddos to the bus drive for being SO informative!! Agents are not free. . We receive regular complaints about food poisoning on cruise ships. The state was in the spotlight recently when it hosted the annual Gala Riviera Nayarit & Puerto Vallarta. The right to have this Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights published on each lines website. 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. Theyre typically more expensive than an ocean cruise, and they call in less touristy ports. It is the nature of the industry - whether it be hotels, air, packages, tours - that there are a wide variety of cancellation policies out there. Travel Protection. We have not had any reports of passengers with COVID being forcibly removed from a ship recently. Additionally, Grand Circle Travel can focus on expanding its marketing efforts and building relationships with new partners to reach a larger customer base. Two stars ONLY because of the excellent treatment we were given by our program directors both during the cruise and after I contracted Covid. Whats more, its not always entirely clear who gets the tip. If you need advice about a best-laid travel plan that went awry, send an email to travel@nytimes.com. Tasteless food. Thats not entirely true. 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. Required fields are marked *. The original Grand Circle Travel was founded by retired high . The most common ethnicity at Grand Circle Travel is White (70%). 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. There are mice in my vacation rental! Your email address will not be published. Get travel insurance. While some U.S. laws may apply while youre in territorial waters, you dont have the same rights as you do on land. Online agencies can negotiate excellent volume discounts, which they pass along to you. How much of a cut does the cruise line take? . 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. What are my rights as a cruise passenger? (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). The Elliott Report is a consumer news site supported by Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that offers free advice and advocacy for consumers. If you have a severe health problem, avoid cruising. 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. Lunch was provided in the cost. Cruise ship gotchas they wont tell you about. This PayPal invoice scam almost got me. again.. On motorcoach tours with Grand Circle you will make frequent stops to stretch your legs, and some longer stops for sightseeing. 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. You can find a cheaper private tour through a company like Viator. This is the third Tripped Up column in a row that addresses the issue of refunds. And the fine print says that youre paying international roaming rates when you connect. Oceania further cements itself as a cruise line for foodies, bestowing the honor of Vista godmother on the celebrity chef and Norway entices visitors with new places to stay and things to do, Travel agency consortium Ensemble makes several hires, Delta and KLM sue Dutch government over Schiphol flight cuts, Virgin Atlantic joins SkyTeam airline alliance, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings will reduce marketing spend, Destination America names Kirsten Bain CEO after Launder's retirement, Examining sub-IC issues from a host agency's point of view, Nayarit has a lot to offer luxury travelers, Nevada's congressional delegation reacts to Biden's 'Junk Fee' proposal, Giada De Laurentiis and Oceania Cruises, a delicious combination, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, Trends in Travel Advisor Loyalty in the Airline Industry, 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay opens on Kauai's North Shore, Viking says January was a record-breaking month, River cruise lines sail into Egypt with new ships and itineraries, Bad behavior prompts Carnival Cruise Line to beef up onboard security, Where weed is legal, hotels roll out new marijuana amenities, The party is pumping at Virgin Voyages' beach club. 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. I had always heard this was a good company but clearly it is no longer good. EMEA +44 20 7330 7500. Why is it taking so long to get a cruise refund? Get guided help to find the right trip for you, Travel tips, stories, top 10 lists and more, Get yours before you leave, easier, cheaper. If you leave the country, you must have a passport. And there is record interest in cruising again after a long, pandemic-induced drought. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME INFO ABOUT THIS COMPANY TREATING HIGH QUALITY EMPLOYEES , AS I WITNESSED, Your email address will not be published. Two days before departure, it was a call from the Program Director in Romania who informed me that masks were no longer required. Whether its an optional shore excursion or an onboard auction, the cruise line wants more of your money than you spent on the cruise fare. That agency said that it has received about 275 consumer complaints so far about canceled O.A.T. Its location on this page may change next time you visit. All Rights Reserved. Established in 1958. Check out Elliott Advocacy Today, our free, daily newsletter with links to your favorite commentary, tips and news about consumer advocacy. What Makes Grand Circle Travel Stand Out? Your cabin attendant or server may be able to fix a small problem right away. Lunch in one of our specialty restaurants? In theory, a host agency is not liable to clients of a sub-IC for their acts or omissions. Cruise lines claim a vacation at sea is safer than any land-based vacation. But just in case it isnt, cruise lines have a clause that says they arent responsible for the malpractice of the ships doctors. : Tanzania/Kilimanjaro Tour Company, Any recommendations for Grand Circle Tours and/or Overseas Adventure Tours, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. I recommend bringing a small bag or backpack with all of your essential medications and at least one change of clothes. Onboard doctors dont have the equipment or facilities to handle a serious illness. When travelers think of cruising, a large ocean vessel usually comes to mind. Grand Circle is hosting an Open House for our Traveler Relations Center on 6/3/21 4-6pm! Grand Circle Travel is currently facing a difficult financial situation due to decreased demand for its services, increased costs, and decreased revenue. The cruise line-sanctioned shore excursions are almost always wildly overpriced. This is based on 391 anonymously submitted reviews on Glassdoor. Grand Circle Corporation is a global enterprise committed to changing peoples lives through international travel. CONNECT WITH US. Revenue: $500 million to $1 billion (USD) Competitors: Unknown. canceled the tour because of Covid-19, which was a relief. 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. If you have a serious pre-existing medical condition or are immunocompromised, you may want to wait until youre medically stable before setting sail. Anyone can read what you share. They do plenty of one on ones. Read More rugged variety. You can also book the cruise whenever you want to. All Rights Reserved. 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. But it refuses to refund his money. Grand Circle Travel (GCT) seems to play a few nasty games, and cheating its customers!!! 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. No answer to emails or snail mail. Copyright 2023 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. I received no corrected, printed information, no email, no telephone call, informing me of GCT's policy change. Our help is free. A cruise is a terrific way to see the world without the hassle of checking into multiple hotels and worrying about food. They have a bad reputation and that reputation is very on point, To get a job at Grand Circle Travel, browse, Overall, 55% of employees would recommend, Get started with your Free Employer Profile, Work Here? Their itineraries are designed with individuals in mind. Inside That can get a little noisy. Booked Iceland Greenland trip this year. Circle Corp. ran into some challenges last year after the Better Grand Circle travels all over the world, with a strong focus in Europe, Aisa and Southeast Asia. Did we mention it's free? 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. 1958. 62% of employees think that Grand Circle Travel has a positive business outlook. 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. The cruise line wont let them board the ship. It felt like a school tour where I had the least interested parent supervising me. But it was the industrys way of saying it could do better. After a series of high-profile customer service incidents in 2012 and 2013, the cruise industry adopted a voluntary bill of rights for its passengers, to clearly communicate to them their rights regarding comfort and care in a number of important areas. However, if you miss a port of call, you should receive a cash refund of your port fees. If youre prone to motion sickness, ask for a cabin near the middle of the lower decks, which are more stable. This pandemic could cause some of them to be dusted off, said Mr. Anolik. The right to have available, on board ships operating beyond rivers or coastal waters, full-time, professional emergency medical attention, as needed until shoreside medical care becomes available. Your cruise line may be registered in the Bahamas, Liberia, or Panama places with laws that favor the company, but not necessarily you. And sign up for our Travel Dispatch newsletter: Each week youll receive tips on traveling smarter, stories on hot destinations and access to photos from all over the world. I dont want to be obligated to Grand Circle. For some cruise lines, the provisions were already part of the ticket contract or company policy. Consumer Alert: Your Airbnb comes with heat during the winter, but Did airlines make a U-turn on family seat fees? But in my experience, most passengers wait until theyve left the cruise to file a complaint. In early 2022, the Federal Maritime Commission fixed that loophole. To If its a small shop, you may not have 24/7 support. Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. 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. Ultimately, it is up to Grand Circle Travel to take the necessary steps to ensure its financial stability. And when they do, they are often underreported. Avoid the grief and go elsewhere to a reputable business at the outset. Dont expect extreme luxury or especially unique accommodations however. Yes, my wife and I had to leave mid-way through the cruise and were quarantined for 8 days at a hotel. The right to an emergency power source in the case of a main generator failure. Completely different, and highly disappointing, from previous trips. We got an inc Have taken 12 trips overseas with this company and each one has been wonderful. Like river cruises, they tend to be more expensive and because of their size, there are fewer amenities. When something goes wrong, someone should always be there for you. Be the first one to find this review helpful. Its not just one problem, but many. A human travel agent who can take the time to sit down with you and talk about your cruise options is a tried-and-true way to buy a cruise. COVID and norovirus outbreaks are common on cruise ships. Here is a photo of them enjoying the breathtaking view of Machu Picchu. 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. 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. On our River Cruise Vacations and Land Vacations, you'll enjoy unmatched discoveries . So should you take a cruise this year? We ran off the road and almost flipped--and Grand Circle did NOTHING. This is a common problem at my consumer advocacy organization. service hurdle, when the company announced the sale last week, it