GRAND CIRCLE - 60 Reviews - 347 Congress St, Boston, MA - Yelp In an emailed statement, an O.A.T. The Members of the Cruise Lines International Association are dedicated to the comfort and care of all passengers on oceangoing cruises throughout the world. But we need to cancel. Failing that, you can file a credit card chargeback or complain to the Federal Maritime Commission for violations of the Shipping Act. 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. Preparing for Your Trip. What if you miss your deadline? Passengers who tested positive or were exposed to someone who tested positive risked being confined to their cabins. Working at Grand Circle Travel | Glassdoor Credits And Savings. Heres how to spot it, Expert advice for booking the best hotel and finding the lowest rate, Here it is: The complete guide to holiday travel. has refunded more than 5,000 travelers amounting to more than $12 million. Plenty of free time is included in the itineraries, and there is a lot of choice among optional tours. Most complaints fall into one of these categories: A missed port. 2 hour wait for phone contact. Your ship may or may not keep the promised schedule. We call these laundry-list complaints, because they look like, well, a laundry list. Grand Circle Travel offers distinctive international vacations for older Americans. While there are several included activities, you have many options for personalization through optional extensions and plenty of free time in each destination. 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." All content is posted anonymously by employees working at Grand Circle Travel. CONTENTS Overview Reviews Updated 03/02/2023 About Grand Circle Travel This profile has. Were always here to help. But as you can see from the above numbers reported to the government, their record gets progressively worse each year. I read that the company is being sold to some type of Holding Company--that may explain it. Thats not entirely true. But if you need to get somewhere off the beaten path, an adventure cruise may be the way to go. Don't do business with these people. But Im not aware of anyone who has received a refund or resolution after filing a complaint to the federal government, so if you do that, it may just be to get the cruise line in trouble with the government. 07070 USA Telephone: (201) 902-2000, Windstar Knows the Way to the Middle East: How to Sell the Red Sea & Persian Gulf. Grand Circle Travel was started by the founder of AARP, and as such know their demographic extremely well. The state's lawmakers emphasized the need for transparency rather than criticizing the resort fees. All answers shown come directly from Grand Circle Travel Reviews and are not edited or altered. If you test positive, cruise lines will confine you to quarters or to a special section on the cruise ship for infected passengers, usually for the duration of the voyage. Our buses had problems; the drivers were pulled from retirement and were unfamiliar with the vehicles. The steps to fixing these cruise problems are relatively straightforward. What is paid time off like at Grand Circle Travel? Our 2020 tour has been re-booked to 2022. For more information about reviews on ConsumerAffairs.com please visit our Quality: Our decisions must be made and actions taken in accordance with high standards of quality and service. A link has directed you to this review. Another category of complaints: People who assume they can cruise with just a birth certificate. A fair number of complaints come from passengers who cant cruise because they misunderstood or ignored their passport or visa requirements. Grand Circle CEO Alan Lewis and his wife, Harriet Lewis, who. Quality can be subjective, and in our business quality often involves a compromise between speed and perfection. Look out for our newsletters with travel tips and special offers. To get a job at Grand Circle Travel, browse currently open positions and apply for a job near you. Revenue: $500 million to $1 billion (USD) Competitors: Unknown. This could ultimately lead to a decline in customer loyalty and revenue for Grand Circle Travel. Copyright 2022 Consumers Unified LLC. 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. NBC10 Boston Responds reached out to Grand Circle Travel on their behalf and the company issued refunds for all six couples, returning more than $71,000 to them. They do plenty of one on ones. Todays travel websites try to combine the best aspects of a full-service agency with the conveniences of modern technology. You can also appeal your case to a company executive. 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. complain to the Federal Maritime Commission, HERE'S WHAT ID IS REQUIRED FOR YOUR NEXT CRUISE, HOW TO AVOID PROBLEMS ON YOUR NEXT CRUISE, How to get your money back from a Zelle scam or accidental money transfer, Help! The Lewises expanded Avoid the grief and go elsewhere to a reputable business at the outset. And cruise lines dont like to do that. The main thing I have to say to others is: There are many tour Companies out there, now is the time to dismiss GCT and try someone else. Passengers sometimes arrive at the cruise terminal with the wrong visa or an expired passport. . You have 24/7 phone support through most of the online agencies. Most cruise lines have stopped screening their passengers for COVID. But it was the industrys way of saying it could do better. 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. The right to transportation to the ships scheduled port of disembarkation, or the passengers home city, in the event a cruise is terminated early due to mechanical failures. In a fast-paced and rapidly changing environment each member of the team is critical for success. 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. Will this be the busiest spring break ever? Were mediating these problems on a case-by-case basis. In 1993, Cruise lines don't have to report every outbreak to the CDC, only the significant ones. chairman of Grand Circle Foundation. Every member must be fully accountable for the teams and ones own personal results. 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 get seasick in a bathtub, please dont book a cruise. Often, they succeed. This company must not have enough staffing. We are only a month out. Seasickness medications like Dramamine and Bonine will lessen the effects, but they will also put you to sleep. If you leave the country, you must have a passport. Cruise lines dont include premium restaurants in your fare. The porters removed his bag and he never saw it again. OAT is non-accredited per the BBB, had a C- rating by them and per 23 customer reviews had 1 * out of 5. I could not have asked for a better experience! Asked for refund and got a credit instead. Youll need to consider all of these dangers before you plan your cruise. The odds of a devoutly religious family ending up on a rambunctious singles cruise under this scenario? I was told last year I could not cancel the trip and they rescheduled it but now I cannot even reach them to find out if I can change the trip. About Grand Circle Corporation Grand Circle Corporation is a global enterprise committed to changing people's lives through international travel. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. Manager in development of Restaurant, Restaurant & Bar operations with outstanding record and experience in top award winning companies, Apollo Group, Celebrity Cruises, Valamar Hotels & Resorts and Grand Circle Travel. (Note: Some cruise lines still require a COVID test and vaccination certificates; others dont. Grandparents & grandchildren (ages 13 and up are welcome to join). Other passengers couldnt cruise for health reasons. Is Grand Circle Travel Still In Business - Pine Knoll Lodge & Cabins Sexual assaults have been a problem on cruise ships since before the Love Boat. The contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission. A Comprehensive Guide, Is Hiring a Travel Agent Worth It? My cruise was cancelled by the company because do not have enough people, asking for refund but never get an answer. The office environment is really casual. Additionally, Grand Circle Travel may be forced to close some of its offices and cut back on its operations. The fix: Turn off your cell phone or set it to airplane mode. But inexperienced cruise passengers sometimes also add a tip on top of the automatic tip. Here is a photo of them enjoying the breathtaking view of Machu Picchu. 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. You raise an important point. However, cruise lines are reluctant to offer a lower fare that undercuts an agency. Here are my strategies for advocating your case. That's not entirely true. But why cant I get a refund? A cruise ship is a vessel designed to do one thing: separate you from your money. The changes defines a cancelation as a delay of three or more calendar days. Is it just your server? Grand Circle travels all over the world, with a strong focus in Europe, Aisa and Southeast Asia. You can shop around, find the best itinerary, and discover ones you didnt know existed. Additionally, Grand Circle Travel can look into ways to reduce overhead expenses, such as cutting down on staff or renegotiating contracts with vendors. Our content is intended to be used for general information purposes only. All Rights Reserved. Want to take the kids out to dinner or to the arcade? At a time like now, some may be safer and more convenient than others. This is the Grand Circle Travel company profile. Aleksandar Norsic - Manager, Beverage Development & Operations - The Thats a relatively short period, compared to most states statutes of limitations. refund if a trip is canceled. But once you get on the ship, youll realize its a waste of money. Dont let that happen to you. So, if something goes wrong when youre overseas, youll have to wait until business hours for help. Don't sweat the logistics travel providers plan for you. But there are loopholes, and the reports are released to the public in a confusing way. The outcome can often turn on who cancels, which is why a lot of suppliers and travelers are playing chicken right now. See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals. If you need advice about a best-laid travel plan that went awry, send an email to travel@nytimes.com. If you need help with any problem,please contact us through this form. 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! A free inside look at Grand Circle Travel salary trends based on 462 salaries wages for 222 jobs at Grand Circle Travel. 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. Everything from non-refundable airfares to auto. please contact our team at Elliott Advocacy through this form. As Preferred Sir Edmund Hillary Club / Inner Circle Customers, having made five previous trips with this company (customer number 962737), we pre-reserved our trip for mid-April 2021, and paid in full before the end of February 2020, over a year in advance. Grand Circle canceled my tour twice. How about a refund? Vrbo offered a refund after my husband lost his job. However, if Grand Circle Travel fails to find a solution to its financial woes, it could lead to layoffs, reduced wages, office closures, and a decrease in the quality of its services. Free-flowing booze is at the top of the list. COVID and norovirus outbreaks are common on cruise ships. In Illinois, the Travel Promotion Consumer Protection Act was created in the 1980s to safeguard against travel scams that promise too-good-to-be-true deals. : the realization that issuing refunds en masse would bleed the company dry. Despite the customer Type: Company - Private. Check out Elliott Advocacy Today, our free, daily newsletter with links to your favorite commentary, tips and news about consumer advocacy. 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. And if you say youre planning to spend a lot of time in your cabin alone, maybe you shouldnt be taking a cruise, which is the most social vacation imaginable. Read unbiased user reviews, pick the operator that suits your needs, and connect with them directly. Not a week goes by that my advocates dont receive a case from someone who didnt have enough travel insurance and faced a large bill at the end of a cruise. (Think of it as a kind of rewards program.) You are on hold for 2-3 hours. 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 company has been providing travelers with high-quality tours around the world since 1998. Roz. I would not recommend the company. ), Back to O. Grand Circle Travel Warning - Fodor's Travel Talk Forums UNACCEPTABLE!! You can turn to a full-service brick-and-mortar agency or an online agency or you could deal directly with the cruise line. 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. No longer. Read More rugged variety. Thats because you are a number. It's equivalent to changing a flight schedule and not informing the ticketed passenger. I respected allan lewis and spoke highly of him till i saw that he is not a man of his word and terminated loyal people and hire stupid ones he fooled us and i think this company is toxic ,he knew about sexual harassment for women and didn't do anything about itRead More.