Its not uncommon to hear of people waiting upwards of an hour for help. Some got total refunds, while others (including you) received partial refunds or continue to wait for certain fees and sums to clear. (How generous of you!) Lunch was provided in the cost. 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. Grand Circle Foundation Call our Regional Adventure Counselors 1-800-955-1925. The state's lawmakers emphasized the need for transparency rather than criticizing the resort fees. Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. Overseas Adventure Travel is part of Grand Circle Corporation, a family of travel companies based in Boston. You can also appeal your case to a company executive. 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. Quality: Our decisions must be made and actions taken in accordance with high standards of quality and service. Help! One Company Refused to Refund Travelers More Than $100,000 You have 24/7 phone support through most of the online agencies. Will this be the busiest spring break ever? Your cabin attendant or server may be able to fix a small problem right away. In Hawaii, consumers have the right to a cash refund (minus previously disclosed cancellation fees) within two weeks of requesting one. What is paid time off like at Grand Circle Travel? service hurdle, when the company announced the sale last week, it please contact our team at Elliott Advocacy through this form. Avoid the grief and go elsewhere to a reputable business at the outset. Here are some of the risks. trips and has been pressuring the company to comply with the states travel-seller laws. Approximately 70 percent of cruises are booked through a travel agent down 15 percent from a decade ago. After taking 12 tours with them, they treated us terribly. Nevertheless, Grand See reviews below to learn more or submit your own review. Our family of travel companieswhich you can read more about below . But it was the industrys way of saying it could do better. Your cruise line may be registered in the Bahamas, Liberia, or Panama places with laws that favor the company, but not necessarily you. I had always heard this was a good company but clearly it is no longer good. If the agency is a member of a larger group, like AAA, youll get deals no one else has, and they may be unbeatable. Sarah Firshein is a Brooklyn-based travel writer. What are my rights as a cruise passenger? Tweaking the immortal words of Biggie: no money, mo problems. It is important to consider the potential implications of Grand Circle Travels financial struggles. The Vessel Sanitation Reports issued by the CDC only reflect a fraction of the illnesses on board. Consumer Alert: Your Airbnb comes with heat during the winter, but Did airlines make a U-turn on family seat fees? We are either rebooking travelers on another trip or providing a refund. Since mid-March, she said, O.A.T. Access to possible upgrades and onboard credits. As a result of the pandemic, many people have become hesitant to travel, resulting in a significant drop in bookings for Grand Circle Travel. 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. In theory, a host agency is not liable to clients of a sub-IC for their acts or omissions. Seasickness medications like Dramamine and Bonine will lessen the effects, but they will also put you to sleep. Grand Circles motto is We Change Peoples Lives; it has certainly changed ours. By entering your email, you agree to sign up for consumer news, tips and giveaways from ConsumerAffairs. 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. If you are on a slim budget try the " last minute" opportunities. Americas +1 212 318 2000. They are what our beliefs and actions are derived from. Groups are between 24-47 people, so expect some company! The right to a full refund for a trip that is canceled due to mechanical failures, or a partial refund for voyages that are terminated early due to those failures. A Comprehensive Guide, Is Hiring a Travel Agent Worth It? How do you buy a cruise, then? 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. Yes, my wife and I had to leave mid-way through the cruise and were quarantined for 8 days at a hotel. Your rights at sea are governed by maritime law, or the law of the sea. You may feel like a number. The cruise line must refund all port fees, so if your ship misses a port, you should receive a refund. Its generally a lot of smaller grievances that dont add up to much. 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.. CONNECT WITH US. All of these factors have led to a difficult financial situation for Grand Circle Travel. Thank you, you have successfully subscribed to our newsletter! I dont want to be obligated to Grand Circle. They canceled my flight. During the pandemic, many cruise lines instituted strict quarantine procedures some would say, too strict. If you think youll have less, get it renewed before your cruise. Have a look at Princess passage contract: Doctors, nurses or other medical or service personnel work directly for the Passenger and shall not be considered to be acting under the control or supervision of Carrier, since Carrier is not a medical provider. In other words, when a doctors negligence leads to the death of a family member, the cruise line is off the hook. Ill make it simple. Compare your travel trivia knowledge with friends. How do I know I can trust these reviews about Grand Circle Travel? I feel like I was duped by a bait and switch and wonder how many others were caught in the same scheme. Our 2020 tour has been re-booked to 2022. Were looking for dynamic, high-performing, accommodating individuals interested in joining our upcoming training classes for Sales and Customer Service. Our content is intended to be used for general information purposes only. Despite the customer Companies displayed may pay us to be Authorized or when you click a link, call a number or fill a form on our site. Want a picture of you and your beautiful family? 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." | What if you miss your deadline? Overseas . Archive - You can also book the cruise whenever you want to. In the end, there may be no correct answer for everyone. Special access to agent-only discounts. Completely different, and highly disappointing, from previous trips. Tasteless food. They dont have any way to contact 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. USTOA is a nonprofit professional association representing the tour operator industry.Its members are made up of companies who provide services worldwide but who conduct business in the U.S. Travelstride helps you search and compare 50,000+ expert-planned trips from 1,000+ companies. An epic selection of pre-planned trips on every continent, for every style. Answer: Yes. Grand Circle Travel (GCT) seems to play a few nasty games, and cheating its customers!!! 62% of employees think that Grand Circle Travel has a positive business outlook. Its a high-pressure sales pitch on the high seas. Not so long ago, you had to pick up a phone and call your local travel agent to book a cruise. Grand Circle CEO Alan One of the cons can be coworkers taking advantage of the casual vibe of the office. Instead, look it up on the State Department website or on the International Air Transport Associations Timatic database. You probably need travel insurance for your cruise. fleet of more than 50 ships. Other travelers looking for refunds may have a better chance if theyre dealing with companies headquartered within Hawaii, Washington state, Illinois or California. Grandparents & grandchildren (ages 13 and up are welcome to join). UNACCEPTABLE!! There are mice in my vacation rental! Our help is free. Robbery, assault and homicide happen on cruise ships. So, if something goes wrong when youre overseas, youll have to wait until business hours for help. There are many other health perils at sea. Support. Another solution to Grand Circle Travels financial woes is to increase efficiency. Grand Circle to be sold to private equity firm - Travel Weekly Copyright 2008-2023, Glassdoor, Inc. "Glassdoor" and logo are registered trademarks of Glassdoor, Inc. Ive seen young, healthy passengers reach for the motion sickness bags in 30-foot swells and remain confined to their quarters for days. You can request a roommate if you travel solo to save on the s We had a great tour guide in Ivan, was very knowledgable, friendly and very considerate of peoples concerns. That's no excuse for not responding to paid customer's inquiries. Every member must be fully accountable for the teams and ones own personal results. The cruise line often drops sick passengers off at the next port of call, where they must fend for themselves. It's equivalent to changing a flight schedule and not informing the ticketed passenger. Want to take the kids out to dinner or to the arcade? Look out for our newsletters with travel tips and special offers. The activities, lectures, and easy pace are all designed for older travelers. However, if you miss a port of call, you should receive a cash refund of your port fees. Overseas Adventure Travel: Reviews, Complaints, Customer Claims 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. Grand Circle Travel Reviews (Updated May 2023) | ConsumerAffairs <br>Expertise in leadership coaching and mentoring, training and development, financial management in a constantly changing environment, public speaking and total guest . There are new cruise lines, new ships, and new routes this year. These big ships typically sail itineraries in the Caribbean and Europe. 166,000 travelers in 2007. Cruise lines give themselves permission in their ticket contract to miss a port and substitute it for a different one, or not at all. Youre out of luck. in 1997 they established Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises with a acquired by Travelport earlier this year. While some U.S. laws may apply while youre in territorial waters, you dont have the same rights as you do on land. I cannot force any reason they would improve from this point. That means cruise lines appear to be less dangerous than they are. A porter will deliver it to your room. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. But then the cruise lines canceled their rebooked cruises. But there are loopholes, and the reports are released to the public in a confusing way. Grand Circle Travel Reviews (Updated May 2023) - ConsumerAffairs You can negotiate these tips off the bill as long as youre still on the ship. 2 hour wait for phone contact. Finally, Grand Circle Travels financial struggles could lead to an overall decrease in the quality of its services. Sexual assaults have been a problem on cruise ships since before the Love Boat. These Britrail England Flexi Passes are taking forever to refund. Younger couples or families will probably feel out of place among the crowd on a Grand Circle tour. Type: Company - Private. Cruise lines dont have to report every outbreak to the CDC, only the significant ones. Additionally, Grand Circle Travel can focus on expanding its marketing efforts and building relationships with new partners to reach a larger customer base. Cruise lines claim a vacation at sea is safer than any land-based vacation. Lunch in one of our specialty restaurants? To The Members of the Cruise Lines International Association are dedicated to the comfort and care of all passengers on oceangoing cruises throughout the world. An Analysis, How Far Does Weed Smell Travel? Harriet Lewis will Alternatively, you could have filed a case in small claims court, although you would have had to limit your . When flying on a commercial airline, booked through GCT, they negotiate a deal (to increase their. But stay off the phone. And in many ports of call, the medical facilities are not up to Western standards, and the patient must pay in cash. 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. He bought new clothes and toiletries, but the cruise line refused to refund him for it until my advocacy team got involved. 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. 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. Exploring the World of Knowledge and Understanding. Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. It isnt that these items arent fun to have while youre on a cruise, but that in many cases, theyre ridiculously overpriced. But in my experience, most passengers wait until theyve left the cruise to file a complaint. I've traveled with this company 4 times and find the value and service outstanding. Once you get a positive response, make sure to find out about the interview process at Grand Circle Travel and prepare for tough questions. also step down from her role as co-chair at Grand Circle and as I recommend bringing a small bag or backpack with all of your essential medications and at least one change of clothes. Pictures of the kids by the pro photographers? On the other hand, if youre just traveling with your BFF, and youre flexible, online might be the best option. Plus, we have insightful letters, insider tips, and more. Your travel agent may offer you a spacious cabin with a balcony, or even a suite. There are a variety of ocean cruises, from budget to luxury. Agents are not free. 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. Younger couples or families will probably feel out of place among the crowd on a Grand Circle tour. If the company fails to find a solution to its financial woes, it could mean layoffs and reduced wages for employees. They complained of being treated like second-class passengers. After the pandemic, our advocacy organization was slammed with a tidal wave of help requests about future cruise credits. Aleksandar Norsic - Manager, Beverage Development & Operations - The EMEA +44 20 7330 7500. In 2018, The Excellence in Service Award was presented to 7 different GCC associates. Book directly with the operator. Poor food, poor guidance and no involvement from the guide or the Company. All rights reserved. Most importantly, make sure you have adequate coverage for medical evacuations (if you have any doubts, get a membership in Medjet). According to the law, the cash refund must be an amount equal to the fair market retail value of any undelivered, purchased travel service.. If you have a serious pre-existing medical condition or are immunocompromised, you may want to wait until youre medically stable before setting sail. https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/boston/proavel-0021-3848, Beware of Grand Circle Travel and Overseas Adventure Travel, Beware, Beware, Beware, Beware!!! Their itineraries are designed with individuals in mind. Thousands of itineraries from over 1,000 trusted travel companies. The average employee at Grand Circle Travel makes $62,003 per year. All Rights Reserved. This profile has not been claimed by the company. Grand Circle Corp - Company Profile and News - Bloomberg Markets How Does PTO Work for Salaried Employees? Its not hard to surmise, just by reading your email, what happened at O.A.T. This is based on anonymous employee reviews submitted on Glassdoor. Grand Circle Corporation is a global enterprise committed to changing peoples lives through international travel. 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. The right to an emergency power source in the case of a main generator failure. Theme: Newsup by Themeansar. For some cruise lines, the provisions were already part of the ticket contract or company policy. Refund for a trip cancelled by Grand Circle tTours - Senior Travel 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. Grand Circle Travel is a well-known international travel company based in Boston, Massachusetts. Seine River Cruise | Paris to Normandy | Grand Circle Cruise Line Grand Circle Travel Warning - Fodor's Travel Talk Forums Thats because you are a number. Grand Circle Corp., a Boston-based travel agency, has weathered many events since it was founded in 1958 by American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) creator Ethel Andrus.