In 1993, . Why is it taking so long to get a cruise refund? No answer to emails or snail mail. If its a small shop, you may not have 24/7 support. Ultimately, it is up to Grand Circle Travel to take the necessary steps to ensure its financial stability. Despite the customer Copyright 2022 Consumers Unified LLC. In exchange we provide great benefits, generous PTO, discounts on travel, and a strong, supportive training environment to learn and grow. Youre out of luck. Because the porters dont always deliver the luggage to your room. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. We receive many requests for help from foreign nationals with residency permits. A Comprehensive Guide, Is Hiring a Travel Agent Worth It? I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. Overseas Adventure Travel is part of Grand Circle Corporation, a family of travel companies based in Boston. In early 2022, the Federal Maritime Commission fixed that loophole. I am disappointed, disgruntled and dissatisfied; I didnt spend money to get this treatment; I could have done better on my own! trips and has been pressuring the company to comply with the states travel-seller laws. They also have limited departures in Africa, South America, the Middle East, South Pacific, North America, Central America, and even Antarctica. 35% of job seekers rate their interview experience at Grand Circle Travel as positive. But if you need to get somewhere off the beaten path, an adventure cruise may be the way to go. 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. Theyre not. Teamwork: We believe in groups of people who work together to create excellent results, solve difficult problems, support each other personally and professionally, and recognize their success. 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. Sharing Your Travel Videos, Slideshows & Photos. 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. Use simple search and comparison tools to easily find the best trip. O.A.T. Uh-uh. Itineraries are designed for American travelers, with an aim towards immersive experiences such as visiting local homes, interesting walking tours, in-depth cultural interactions and culinary experiences. Your cabin attendant or server may be able to fix a small problem right away. What's going on? In theory, a host agency is not liable to clients of a sub-IC for their acts or omissions. According to the To get a job at Grand Circle Travel, browse currently open positions and apply for a job near you. Book directly with the operator. When flying on a commercial airline, booked through GCT, they negotiate a deal (to increase their. In the end, there may be no correct answer for everyone. Wheres my airline ticket refund from GotoGate? If my cruise is canceled, am I entitled to a refund? Grand Circle Travel offers distinctive international vacations for older Americans. I read that the company is being sold to some type of Holding Company--that may explain it. 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. Dont expect extreme luxury or especially unique accommodations however. I received no corrected, printed information, no email, no telephone call, informing me of GCT's policy change. Tweaking the immortal words of Biggie: no money, mo problems. Empowering Lives with Nutritious and Delicious NDIS Meals! Vrbo offered a refund after my husband lost his job. (But dont take your agents word for it trust but verify, as they say.). Grand Circle Foundation Giving back to the world we travel Upload Your Photos, Videos & Slideshows Share your trips with fellow travelers Special Offers The Seine: Paris to Normandy Average Group Size: 38-45 Travelers Traveler Reviews (611) 84% Traveler Excellence Rating Established in 1958. Any amount of compensatory. They tied up over $10,000 of our money on a trip they canceled because the cruise line they offered us had Russian links. What should I do? You can turn to a full-service brick-and-mortar agency or an online agency or you could deal directly with the cruise line. This PayPal invoice scam almost got me. On motorcoach tours with Grand Circle you will make frequent stops to stretch your legs, and some longer stops for sightseeing. In a telephone call to GCT I was told the company policy had changed but the paperwork had not been updated. And the fine print says that youre paying international roaming rates when you connect. They are completely incompetent at this point. 1958. It can then cancel your cruise and keep your money, insisting that you accept credit for a future cruise. A delayed flight leads to a delayed connection. As Adam Anolik, a San Francisco- based travel-industry lawyer, explained over email, thats why oversight forcing a company to comply with state laws can feel like an uphill battle. 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. please contact our team at Elliott Advocacy through this form. 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? Online agencies are a volume business, so if you like to feel special and appreciated, you might want to book elsewhere. You are on hold for 2-3 hours. Plan to arrive a minimum of 24 hours before your cruise leaves. They sent me an unitemized bill for $650 for a trip I'd been notified had been completely paid for. The "older sibling" of Grand Circle Cruise Line, Grand Circle Travel specializes in land tours for Americans of baby boomer age and above (fifty-plus, but leaning toward the plus). And cruise lines dont like to do that. This is based on anonymous employee reviews submitted on Glassdoor. Sign into see which companies give additional savings to Travelstride Members (its free). Don't sweat the logistics travel providers plan for you. Some oceangoing vessels are smaller and more specialized. Kiddos to the bus drive for being SO informative!! Agents are not free. Get buying tips about Travel Agencies delivered to your inbox. $7000 in their pocket. (How generous of you!) 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. Circle changed its cancellation policy to give customers a full No longer. Onboard doctors dont have the equipment or facilities to handle a serious illness. For the flexibility and comfort aspects, combined with unique experiences at every turn. They have changed our river cruise a couple of times. Translation: When they cancel your trip, they are legally required to offer you the money back. Get the real picture with both traveler and expert reviews to ensure the trip you book is the right one for you. I feel I am being held hostage by O.A.T. Quite frankly, I don't know if I was infected by other passengers (there were others on the same cruise that came down with Covid before I did) or if I infected others. Grandparents & grandchildren (ages 13 and up are welcome to join). Two stars ONLY because of the excellent treatment we were given by our program directors both during the cruise and after I contracted Covid. 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. Circle in 1985, will retain a 30% stake in the direct-market tour (Note: Some cruise lines still require a COVID test and vaccination certificates; others dont. Passengers sometimes arrive at the cruise terminal with the wrong visa or an expired passport. You raise an important point. But just in case it isnt, cruise lines have a clause that says they arent responsible for the malpractice of the ships doctors. rate Grand Circle Travel 3.3 out of 5 stars, interview experience at Grand Circle Travel, Grand Circle Travel has a positive business outlook. It is impossible to reach this company. Overseas Adventure Travel is part of Grand Circle Corporation, a family of travel companies based in Boston. First and foremost, an ethical agent will make sure the cruise is the right one for you, but some agents, sadly, go straight for the highest commission. Grand Circle Travel employees are most likely to be members of the democratic party. One of the cons can be coworkers taking advantage of the casual vibe of the office. Our help is free. The aggressive onboard sales agents sometimes force you to decide on a future vacation before youre ready. The Tour guide read from a book, did little guiding on site and was mainly interested in getting us back on the bus. That can get a little noisy. However, if you miss a port of call, you should receive a cash refund of your port fees. The right to an emergency power source in the case of a main generator failure. Established in 1958 by Ethel Andrus, educator and founder of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), we view world travel as a powerful lever for lifelong learning. Now that we have explored the causes behind Grand Circle Travels financial struggles, it is important to look at potential solutions. contact reporter Michelle Baran, send e-mail to mbaran@travelweekly.com. 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. You can also book the cruise whenever you want to. When you try to contact someone by phone. 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. Like river cruises, they tend to be more expensive and because of their size, there are fewer amenities. Your rights at sea are governed by maritime law, or the law of the sea. The company has been in business since the 1980s, and has grown to become one of the largest tour operators in the world. The worst fee Ive seen is for the end cut of a roast served at dinner. Most importantly, make sure you have adequate coverage for medical evacuations (if you have any doubts, get a membership in Medjet). in 1997 they established Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises with a 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. Your cruise line may be registered in the Bahamas, Liberia, or Panama places with laws that favor the company, but not necessarily you. 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. We booked a river cruise, including airfare, and documented every detail. Always arrive the day before your cruise. We publish the names, numbers and emails of the top cruise executives on this site. 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. CONTENTS Overview Reviews Updated 03/02/2023 About Grand Circle Travel This profile has. Crypto Wallet Development: Types, Features, and Popularity, 5 Ways AI is Detecting and Preventing Identity Fraud. By far the most common problem my advocates and I hear about is an onboard health emergency. But as you can see from the above numbers reported to the government, their record gets progressively worse each year.