We have just returned from our 6th, and probably last, Grand Circle tour. Credits And Savings. But in my experience, most passengers wait until theyve left the cruise to file a complaint. 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. Your ticket contract, the legal contract between you and the cruise line, spells out your rights. 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. Read unbiased user reviews, pick the operator that suits your needs, and connect with them directly. Privacy Statement - WE CAN DREAM ABOUT TRAVEL Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Thousands of itineraries from over 1,000 trusted travel companies. Cruise lines dont include premium restaurants in your fare. Even email or call back. 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. But which one is right for you? Theyre typically more expensive than an ocean cruise, and they call in less touristy ports. A few practical tips from a consumer advocate. 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. 1Is cruising safe?What kind of cruise should I take?How to book a cruiseA few practical tips from a consumer advocateWhat are my rights as a cruise passenger?Whats the international cruise line passenger bill of rights?If my cruise is canceled, am I entitled to a refund?Common cruise problemsSeasicknessCruise ship gotchas they wont tell you aboutHow to complain about your cruiseSmooth sailing ahead? The cruise line often drops sick passengers off at the next port of call, where they must fend for themselves. Our content is intended to be used for general information purposes only. 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. Our help is free. I've tried to reach by each way listed without success. Come on! We receive many requests for help from foreign nationals with residency permits. Plenty of free time is included in the itineraries, and there is a lot of choice among optional tours. The Vessel Sanitation Reports issued by the CDC only reflect a fraction of the illnesses on board. 35% of job seekers rate their interview experience at Grand Circle Travel as positive. 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. My cruise was cancelled by the company because do not have enough people, asking for refund but never get an answer. CONTENTS Overview Reviews Updated 03/02/2023 About Grand Circle Travel This profile has. Sarah Firshein is a Brooklyn-based travel writer. Special access to agent-only discounts. 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. We value your privacy. Revenue: $500 million to $1 billion (USD) Competitors: Unknown. 62% of employees think that Grand Circle Travel has a positive business outlook. Exploring the World of Knowledge and Understanding. GCT cancelled the Greenland portion. A. T.: In a follow-up note a few weeks ago, you said that you feel the company provides a good travel service. But, you wrote, pushing all the risk of uncertainty onto the client by refusing a refund makes me fearful to ever do business with O.A.T. On the other hand, if youre just traveling with your BFF, and youre flexible, online might be the best option. As travel companies now suffer a cash crunch, they are facing off with travelers over credits and refunds. Unsubscribe at any time. That doesn't make sense since using them all would have limited the number of passengers occupying them, thus limiting exposure. (Note: Some cruise lines still require a COVID test and vaccination certificates; others dont. Vrbo offered a refund after my husband lost his job. Itineraries are designed to give you more time in each stop, allowing for a more balanced combination of included activities and independent time. And when they do, they are often underreported. Asia Pacific +65 6212 1000. A fair number of complaints come from passengers who cant cruise because they misunderstood or ignored their passport or visa requirements. See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals. Our values shape our decisions, give direction to our growth, and allow us to measure our progress. would not recommend extremely long for no reason, multiple interviews just for entry level, low paying roles you will work weekends rude staff They do not respect your time. This company policy was the reason I booked with them in the first place, because, as we all know, vaccinations may keep one out of the hospital but does NOT keep one from contracting COVID. Heres what happened: Many cruise lines offered either a refund or a 125 percent cruise credit when COVID-19 hit. How can I reach them?? 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. First trip with Grand Circle Tours, liked the tour. Grand Circle's Annual Report & Profile shows critical firmographic facts: What is the company's size? Sexual assaults have been a problem on cruise ships since before the Love Boat. The rating was due in part to a series of customer complaints about Its gonna cost you. Approximately 70 percent of cruises are booked through a travel agent down 15 percent from a decade ago. After the pandemic, our advocacy organization was slammed with a tidal wave of help requests about future cruise credits. Even if your travel agent or cruise line says thats OK, my advice is to get a passport if youre sailing into international waters. It isnt that these items arent fun to have while youre on a cruise, but that in many cases, theyre ridiculously overpriced. In exchange we provide great benefits, generous PTO, discounts on travel, and a strong, supportive training environment to learn and grow. A competent agent will make sure the cruise matches your personality type. I feel I was defrauded and the company has been unethical in their dealings. You should read it before you leave. Well start sending you the news you need delivered straight to you. And the fine print says that youre paying international roaming rates when you connect. Theyre not. Overall, 55% of employees would recommend working at Grand Circle Travel to a friend. Here are some of the risks. The worst fee Ive seen is for the end cut of a roast served at dinner. They do plenty of one on ones. We are only a month out. Youre in control. Same thing goes for spa treatments, most shore excursions, and alcoholic beverages. Get buying tips about Travel Agencies delivered to your inbox. 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. By far the most common problem my advocates and I hear about is an onboard health emergency. The goal is for each of us to maximize our effectiveness, and ultimately our success, in an unpredictable and ever-changing environment. If you like the idea of joining a tight knit travel community, with frequent cost cutting options, then Grand Circle could be for you. In addition, a local restaurant lunch was packed full of passengers with food being served right under their noses. While Grand Circle Travel has seen tremendous success over the years, the company has recently found itself in a difficult financial situation. Some oceangoing vessels are smaller and more specialized. https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/boston/proavel-0021-3848, Beware of Grand Circle Travel and Overseas Adventure Travel, Beware, Beware, Beware, Beware!!! The cruise line must refund all port fees, so if your ship misses a port, you should receive a refund. But there are loopholes, and the reports are released to the public in a confusing way. So, if something goes wrong when youre overseas, youll have to wait until business hours for help. 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. By offering more diverse experiences, such as virtual tours and staycations, Grand Circle Travel can draw in more customers and increase its revenue. 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. These Britrail England Flexi Passes are taking forever to refund. Plus, we have insightful letters, insider tips, and more. If you have a consumer problem,please contact our team at Elliott Advocacy through this form. No longer. Most cruise lines have stopped screening their passengers for COVID. It is impossible to reach this company. Whats more, its not always entirely clear who gets the tip. Even though people cant travel right now, many of us are continuing to dream about our next trip and that means making conscious and subconscious decisions about which companies to spend money with once the pandemic has passed. Youre dealing directly with the cruise line. 166,000 travelers in 2007. Always arrive the day before your cruise. 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. You can also reevaluate if you want to cancel the total trip. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Plenty of free time is included in the itineraries, and there is a lot of choice among optional tours. No answer to emails or snail mail. The activities, lectures, and easy pace are all designed for older travelers. Cruise lines claim a vacation at sea is safer than any land-based vacation. Even though GC advertises travel for mature adults- this is overwhelming in a foreign country. In 1993, Most medical care on cruise ships is adequate. Good luck. Type: Company - Private. Grandparents & grandchildren (ages 13 and up are welcome to join). The fix: Turn off your cell phone or set it to airplane mode. Compare your travel trivia knowledge with friends. How Can I Get $$ back?? Capital portfolio company. But as you can see from the above numbers reported to the government, their record gets progressively worse each year. Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. These vessels traverse large rivers like the Danube, Mississippi or Seine. If you need advice about a best-laid travel plan that went awry, send an email to travel@nytimes.com. For more information about reviews on ConsumerAffairs.com please visit our The right to have this Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights published on each lines website. Translation: When they cancel your trip, they are legally required to offer you the money back. Service, when it does come, can be slow and impersonal. Dont expect extreme luxury or especially unique accommodations however. Site Map|Global Site Map|Terms of Use|Privacy Policy, Save this trip to your favorites or other list. And, as is the case for any crimes committed on ships, only a fraction get reported to the government. Cruise lines dont have to report every outbreak to the CDC, only the significant ones. Grand Circle CEO Alan Lewis and his wife, Harriet Lewis, who. 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. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. Avoid the grief and go elsewhere to a reputable business at the outset. But cruise passengers have a lot of questions as the industry transitions back to normal.