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. I am still pursuing my refund. Quality can be subjective, and in our business quality often involves a compromise between speed and perfection. When youre on vacation, its easy to let down your guard and fall for a sales pitch for an original sculpture, diamond ring or timeshare. 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. Want a picture of you and your beautiful family? The state's lawmakers emphasized the need for transparency rather than criticizing the resort fees. I booked a river cruise with GCT because their COVID protocols were strong on paper. Grand Circle Travel employees are most likely to be members of the democratic party. Some oceangoing vessels are smaller and more specialized. Were mediating these problems on a case-by-case basis. Companies displayed may pay us to be Authorized or when you click a link, call a number or fill a form on our site. Grand Circle Travel is currently facing a difficult financial situation due to decreased demand for its services, increased costs, and decreased revenue. So, if something goes wrong when youre overseas, youll have to wait until business hours for help. Sharing Your Travel Videos, Slideshows & Photos. All answers shown come directly from Grand Circle Travel Reviews and are not edited or altered. So should you take a cruise this year? Thats because you are a number. They complained of being treated like second-class passengers. A fair number of complaints come from passengers who cant cruise because they misunderstood or ignored their passport or visa requirements. CONNECT WITH US. While they didnt answer my question directly, I was able to recoup more than $100,000, collectively, for you and 10 other readers. They are completely incompetent at this point. Sarah Firshein is a Brooklyn-based travel writer. 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. contact reporter Michelle Baran, send e-mail to mbaran@travelweekly.com. In exchange we provide great benefits, generous PTO, discounts on travel, and a strong, supportive training environment to learn and grow. But whats this $452 bill? Not so long ago, you had to pick up a phone and call your local travel agent to book a cruise. This is based on 391 anonymously submitted reviews on Glassdoor. Cruise lines add tips of up to 20 percent to your spa or bar bill. Grand Circle is hosting an Open House for our Traveler Relations Center on 6/3/21 4-6pm! You are on hold for 2-3 hours. Were always here to help. In addition to decreased demand, Grand Circle Travel has also had to face other financial challenges. Circle changed its cancellation policy to give customers a full If the company fails to find a solution to its financial woes, it could mean layoffs and reduced wages for employees. This article will explore the causes, implications, and possible solutions to Grand Circle Travels financial troubles. According to the law, the cash refund must be an amount equal to the fair market retail value of any undelivered, purchased travel service.. Business Bureau had given the company an "unsatisfactory" rating. OAT's email offering a refund would have made your credit-card dispute an easy win. I have flights with Grand Circle. Whats the international cruise line passenger bill of rights? In early 2022, the Federal Maritime Commission fixed that loophole. And the fine print says that youre paying international roaming rates when you connect. I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way. How much of a cut does the cruise line take? But then the cruise lines canceled their rebooked cruises. Unbeknown to me, the stated policy had changed: O.A.T. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. That's no excuse for not responding to paid customer's inquiries. Plus, we have insightful letters, insider tips, and more. Uh-uh. Thats not entirely true. | 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. Required fields are marked *. 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. The right to an emergency power source in the case of a main generator failure. Two days before departure, it was a call from the Program Director in Romania who informed me that masks were no longer required. In an emailed statement, an O.A.T. 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. No answer. There are a variety of ocean cruises, from budget to luxury. 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. Lewises, the company has grown from $27 million in sales and 5,000 He bought new clothes and toiletries, but the cruise line refused to refund him for it until my advocacy team got involved. Travel agents can make 10 percent or more in commissions and overrides from your cruise. Dont expect extreme luxury or especially unique accommodations however. How can I reach them?? You could pay tens of thousands of dollars to a cruise line. A few years ago, cruise lines began installing advanced roaming networks that allowed passengers to make phone calls from the ship. Grand Circle Travel offers distinctive international vacations for older Americans. Then our columnist intervened with the Boston-based tour operator Overseas Adventure Travel. I am disappointed, disgruntled and dissatisfied; I didnt spend money to get this treatment; I could have done better on my own! Want a welcome drink? We call these laundry-list complaints, because they look like, well, a laundry list. 35% of job seekers rate their interview experience at Grand Circle Travel as positive. It isnt that these items arent fun to have while youre on a cruise, but that in many cases, theyre ridiculously overpriced. You can also reevaluate if you want to cancel the total trip. Grand Circle Travel is a well-known international travel company based in Boston, Massachusetts. When the level of quality required is in question, we will operate to the high standards expected by our customers. They refuse to accept their responsibility to inform me, in order to allow me to make the decision regarding my exposure. Our family of travel companieswhich you can read more about belowoffers a variety of innovative trips to more than 60 countries. . Grand Circles motto is We Change Peoples Lives; it has certainly changed ours. It has. 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. I had always heard this was a good company but clearly it is no longer good. Book directly with the operator. If youd rather have a bit more action, or are after a "see a lot, do a lot" city and country hopping pace, this style of travel is probably not going to hit the right note for you. Asked for refund and got a credit instead. The porters removed his bag and he never saw it again. But which one is right for you? canceled the tour because of Covid-19, which was a relief. (Its all taken care of.) We make it accessible through trips that deliver unmatched discoveries, leisurely pacing, more travel choices, and comprehensive value. Service, when it does come, can be slow and impersonal. Preparing for Your Trip. This pandemic could cause some of them to be dusted off, said Mr. Anolik. How Can I Get $$ back?? Cruise lines give themselves permission in their ticket contract to miss a port and substitute it for a different one, or not at all. Look out for our newsletters with travel tips and special offers. Advertising - That can get a little noisy. 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? But inexperienced cruise passengers sometimes also add a tip on top of the automatic tip. They canceled my flight. Additionally, Grand Circle Travel may be forced to close some of its offices and cut back on its operations. Overseas . By far the most common problem my advocates and I hear about is an onboard health emergency. The Lewises expanded Our 2020 tour has been re-booked to 2022. Specialties: The leader in small ship and river cruising worldwide - offering American travelers a 4-star experience at a 3-star price aboard our privately owned and chartered fleet. In response, Grand How Does PTO Work for Salaried Employees? See all activities, themes, and interests >, Save $600 off trips to every continent on earth, Redeem anytime before 2023. 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. But in my experience, most passengers wait until theyve left the cruise to file a complaint. And it should have at least six months validity left on it to be safe. The company has been in business since the 1980s, and has grown to become one of the largest tour operators in the world. Same thing goes for spa treatments, most shore excursions, and alcoholic beverages. The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act requires cruise lines to report criminal activity to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Avoid the grief and go elsewhere to a reputable business at the outset. You will probably do a fair amount of walking throughout the tour - Grand Circle suggests that travelers be relatively physically fit. I advise focusing on a bigger problem and letting the smaller things go. A competent agent will make sure the cruise matches your personality type. Thousands of itineraries from over 1,000 trusted travel companies. 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. Would take take this tour all over again! 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. You can also appeal your case to a company executive. All of these factors have led to a difficult financial situation for Grand Circle Travel. She lost her engagement ring in a rental car. How many can you get right in 1 minute? They dont have any way to contact them. Who Will Enjoy Traveling with Grand Circle Travel? Avoid like the plague! Anyone can read what you share. If you leave the country, you must have a passport. Working at Grand Circle Travel has to be one of the best jobs I've worked at. (Mr. Anolik has a detailed breakdown of other state-by-state travel laws on his firms website. 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. We ran off the road and almost flipped--and Grand Circle did NOTHING. The pandemic exposed one of the most absurd aspects of cruising. Why? (Annual sales and employees) What industry is the company in? Other travelers looking for refunds may have a better chance if theyre dealing with companies headquartered within Hawaii, Washington state, Illinois or California. Grand Circle travels all over the world, with a strong focus in Europe, Aisa and Southeast Asia. They sent me an unitemized bill for $650 for a trip I'd been notified had been completely paid for. That agency said that it has received about 275 consumer complaints so far about canceled O.A.T. Since 1958, Grand Circle has been the leader in international discovery for mature American travelers. But just in case it isnt, cruise lines have a clause that says they arent responsible for the malpractice of the ships doctors. Tours & Operators on Travelstride Awarded and Featured by: 2023 Travelstride. 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. See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals. Here is a photo of them enjoying the breathtaking view of Machu Picchu. Even though GC advertises travel for mature adults- this is overwhelming in a foreign country. Hotels are comfortable and centrally located. $7000 in their pocket. Online agencies are a volume business, so if you like to feel special and appreciated, you might want to book elsewhere. I've tried to reach by each way listed without success. 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WE CAN DREAM ABOUT TRAVEL Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. There are new cruise lines, new ships, and new routes this year. Because the porters dont always deliver the luggage to your room. When the customers asked for a refund, the cruise lines said they couldnt get one future cruise credits were nonrefundable. refund if a trip is canceled. Enjoy reading our tips and recommendations. 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. 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. Learn the word no, and use it often. Established in 1958. They do plenty of one on ones. Salaries posted anonymously by Grand Circle Travel employees. (But dont take your agents word for it trust but verify, as they say.). Access to possible upgrades and onboard credits. If you have a severe health problem, avoid cruising. : Tanzania/Kilimanjaro Tour Company, Any recommendations for Grand Circle Tours and/or Overseas Adventure Tours, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The Elliott Report is supported by Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that offers free advice and advocacy for consumers. Grand Circle Corp. is being sold to New York 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. Exploring the Pros, Cons, and Benefits of Utilizing Professional Vacation Planning Services. Alternatively, you could have filed a case in small claims court, although you would have had to limit your . You can find a cheaper private tour through a company like Viator. And in many ports of call, the medical facilities are not up to Western standards, and the patient must pay in cash. Today, Grand Circle I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. Grand Circle Travel has been bounced out of the Better Business Bureau of Eastern Massachusetts, Maine & Vermont because of a slew of complaints regards the company's cancellation policy -. 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! In the end, there may be no correct answer for everyone. trips and has been pressuring the company to comply with the states travel-seller laws. OAT is non-accredited per the BBB, had a C- rating by them and per 23 customer reviews had 1 * out of 5. Excellence in our quality will continually enhance our repeat business and ultimately our financial performance. 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. Soon we discovered they had changed our cabin without notifying us and that one of the flights had disappeared . Theyre not. Here are some of the risks. 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. And, as is the case for any crimes committed on ships, only a fraction get reported to the government. As a result of the pandemic, many people have become hesitant to travel, resulting in a significant drop in bookings for Grand Circle Travel. COVID and norovirus outbreaks are common on cruise ships. It is classified as operating in the Transportation & Warehousing industry. Lunch was provided in the cost. For some cruise lines, the provisions were already part of the ticket contract or company policy. Yes, my wife and I had to leave mid-way through the cruise and were quarantined for 8 days at a hotel. To determine if my hunch was correct, I reached out to O.A.T. Its gonna cost you. As travel companies now suffer a cash crunch, they are facing off with travelers over credits and refunds. Compare your travel trivia knowledge with friends. Read More rugged variety. 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.. Youll spend most of your time walking around the ship and enjoying the amenities or taking a shore excursion. 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. Cruise ship gotchas they wont tell you about. The view of the mountains and Grand Canyon was breathtaking! again.. Most complaints fall into one of these categories: A missed port. Its an online travel agency. Capital portfolio company. Grand Circle Corporation is a global enterprise committed to changing peoples lives through international travel. Every member must be fully accountable for the teams and ones own personal results. 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. 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. Support. 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. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. The small-group and cruising company has been recognized nationally. This is my first experience with them. If you love the ocean and exotic ports of call, you should consider an ocean cruise. Grand Circle CEO Alan Special access to agent-only discounts. It appears that the main cause of Grand Circle Travels financial issues is attributed to a decrease in demand for the companys services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. What if you miss your deadline? Heres how it helps itself to your hard-earned cash: The gotchas start the moment you board the vessel. But Massachusetts happens to be one of only a handful of states with specific laws that guarantee consumers protection against travel sellers, including requiring that tour operators offer the option of cash refunds (in addition to vouchers or credits for rebooking) when they fail to provide agreed-upon, paid-for services. Itineraries are designed to give you more time in each stop, allowing for a more balanced combination of included activities and independent time. We are only a month out. Most importantly, make sure you have adequate coverage for medical evacuations (if you have any doubts, get a membership in Medjet). Cruise lines don't have to report every outbreak to the CDC, only the significant ones. Do they distribute it among the staff? The office environment is really casual. Even though this place offers a month-long training class, I think it would be best if newer agents get taught more basics before they are put on the floor to deal with customers. Another solution to Grand Circle Travels financial woes is to increase efficiency. When something goes wrong, someone should always be there for you. You may feel like a number. Were always here to help. On motorcoach tours with Grand Circle you will make frequent stops to stretch your legs, and some longer stops for sightseeing. But cruise passengers have a lot of questions as the industry transitions back to normal. 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. Here are some of the risks. Most cruise lines have stopped screening their passengers for COVID. Some got total refunds, while others (including you) received partial refunds or continue to wait for certain fees and sums to clear. If, after reading this authoritative guide on cruising, you feel that youre ready, then go for it. What are my rights, and what should I be worried about? They also operate overseas travel adventures. (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). #traveljobs #peru #excellenceaward. 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. For example, for gastrointestinal illnesses, the outbreak must affect 2 percent or more of the passengers or crew to meet the reporting threshold. Youre out of luck. Want to take the kids out to dinner or to the arcade? The company notified me of the cancellation and offered either a credit for rebooking or a full refund that would have included airfare. Thank you, you have successfully subscribed to our newsletter! That doesn't make sense since using them all would have limited the number of passengers occupying them, thus limiting exposure. Ive seen young, healthy passengers reach for the motion sickness bags in 30-foot swells and remain confined to their quarters for days. Without adequate funding, the company may be unable to invest in new technologies or hire the best talent to ensure the highest level of customer satisfaction. Good luck. Youll also connect with other readers who want to make the world a better place. For the flexibility and comfort aspects, combined with unique experiences at every turn. To get a job at Grand Circle Travel, browse currently open positions and apply for a job near you. One-on-one service and attention to detail. 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. Theres only one way to ensure you dont get caught by these fees. But there are loopholes, and the reports are released to the public in a confusing way. 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. 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. as CEO by Rakesh Gangwal, former CEO of Worldspan, a Court Square Terms indicate if they cancel you get a refund. They appear to be having problems, long waits on the phone. By streamlining processes, such as booking and customer service, Grand Circle Travel can reduce costs and increase profitability. Free-flowing booze is at the top of the list. They also dont work. 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. According to the 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. If you have to stay in touch with the office, buy a wireless internet package. I purchased my own flights. FAQ. Bad service. Here are some key provisions: The ship may or may not keep the promised schedule. Sign into see which companies give additional savings to Travelstride Members (its free). Surely taking temperatures and separating tables would have helped tremendously. What's going on? Plan to arrive a minimum of 24 hours before your cruise leaves. Grand Circle Travel 347 Congress Street, Boston, MA 2.0/5 (128 ratings) Are you this business? Privacy Statement - We publish the names, numbers and emails of the top cruise executives on this site. Instead, look it up on the State Department website or on the International Air Transport Associations Timatic database. The right to a ship crew that is properly trained in emergency and evacuation procedures. Absolutely the worst travel agency in the business the service is virtually nonexistent and if you need to contact them, be prepared to spend hours listening to their recorded music after which the line will probably go dead. You must be very efficient at email with On Call. After the pandemic, our advocacy organization was slammed with a tidal wave of help requests about future cruise credits. After taking 12 tours with them, they treated us terribly. Grand Circle's annual revenues are $10-$50 million (see exact revenue data) and has 100-500 employees. Copyright 2008-2023, Glassdoor, Inc. "Glassdoor" and logo are registered trademarks of Glassdoor, Inc. Poor food, poor guidance and no involvement from the guide or the Company. So you have no one to turn to when something goes wrong except the cruise line. A delayed flight leads to a delayed connection. Robbery, assault and homicide happen on cruise ships. Ive heard of these kickbacks going as high as 14 percent. This is the Grand Circle Travel company profile. 7% of Grand Circle Travel employees are Asian. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME INFO ABOUT THIS COMPANY TREATING HIGH QUALITY EMPLOYEES , AS I WITNESSED, Your email address will not be published.

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