Alternatively, you could have filed a case in small claims court, although you would have had to limit your . Can a vacation rental host cancel my stay and keep my money? GCT cancelled the Greenland portion. Lunch was provided in the cost. Grand Circle Travel employees are most likely to be members of the democratic party. in 1997 they established Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises with a There was a stop at the Hoover Dam to view the dam. Well start sending you the news you need delivered straight to you. See reviews below to learn more or submit your own review. 62% of employees think that Grand Circle Travel has a positive business outlook. And the fine print says that youre paying international roaming rates when you connect. But then the cruise lines canceled their rebooked cruises. Find your private company bowl on Fishbowl, join the hottest conversation with your colleagues anonymously. A Comprehensive Guide, Is Hiring a Travel Agent Worth It? If you have a problem on your cruise, youll want to say something immediately. 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. Copyright 2008-2023, Glassdoor, Inc. "Glassdoor" and logo are registered trademarks of Glassdoor, Inc. See all activities, themes, and interests >, Save $600 off trips to every continent on earth, Redeem anytime before 2023. Younger couples or families will probably feel out of place among the crowd on a Grand Circle tour. 1. Employees rate Grand Circle Travel 3.3 out of 5 stars based on 429 anonymous reviews on Glassdoor. While some U.S. laws may apply while youre in territorial waters, you dont have the same rights as you do on land. Ships appear to get less safe with each passing year. One Company Refused to Refund Travelers More Than $100,000, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/25/travel/coronavirus-refunds-overseas-adventure-travel.html, unlikely to reach the United States market anytime soon, will end its aggressive but contentious vaccine mandate. No wonder offline agents call these operations vending machines. Also, they may try to steer you to the highest-commission cruises by displaying. Your ship may or may not keep the promised schedule. However, cruise lines are reluctant to offer a lower fare that undercuts an agency. Grand Circle Travel is currently facing a difficult financial situation due to decreased demand for its services, increased costs, and decreased revenue. Plan to arrive a minimum of 24 hours before your cruise leaves. You can also appeal your case to a company executive. 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. Plenty of free time is included in the itineraries, and there is a lot of choice among optional tours. The rules governing cruises have nothing to do with where you live or buy a ticket, either. This is based on 391 anonymously submitted reviews on Glassdoor. 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. All answers shown come directly from Grand Circle Travel Reviews and are not edited or altered. No, no, no. 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. 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. Help! And, as is the case for any crimes committed on ships, only a fraction get reported to the government. Wheres my airline ticket refund from GotoGate? In addition, there is the worry that many travel companies may go out of business due to the loss of business from this pandemic. They also have limited departures in Africa, South America, the Middle East, South Pacific, North America, Central America, and even Antarctica. Every member must be fully accountable for the teams and ones own personal results. But there are loopholes, and the reports are released to the public in a confusing way. Avoid like the plague! Always check before booking.). First trip with Grand Circle Tours, liked the tour. While Grand Circle Travel has seen tremendous success over the years, the company has recently found itself in a difficult financial situation. Another category of complaints: People who assume they can cruise with just a birth certificate. A few practical tips from a consumer advocate. 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. was created in 1958 to serve AARP members. If you have a severe health problem, avoid cruising. We have not had any reports of passengers with COVID being forcibly removed from a ship recently. Additionally, Grand Circle Travel may be forced to close some of its offices and cut back on its operations. Grand Circle's cancellation, refund and exchange policies as well Even if your travel agent or cruise line says thats OK, my advice is to get a passport if youre sailing into international waters. What is paid time off like at Grand Circle Travel? Because the porters dont always deliver the luggage to your room. Two stars ONLY because of the excellent treatment we were given by our program directors both during the cruise and after I contracted Covid. Overseas Adventure Travel is part of Grand Circle Corporation, a family of travel companies based in Boston. Excellence in our quality will continually enhance our repeat business and ultimately our financial performance. We receive many requests for help from foreign nationals with residency permits. said in a statement that "97% of Grand Circle travelers say that Were mediating these problems on a case-by-case basis. 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. All rights reserved. Additionally, Grand Circle Travel can look into ways to reduce overhead expenses, such as cutting down on staff or renegotiating contracts with vendors. Yes, my wife and I had to leave mid-way through the cruise and were quarantined for 8 days at a hotel. I booked a river cruise with GCT because their COVID protocols were strong on paper. Infectious disease COVID and norovirus outbreaks are common on cruise ships. Will this be the busiest spring break ever? again.. They have changed our river cruise a couple of times. In the end, there may be no correct answer for everyone. For more information about reviews on ConsumerAffairs.com please visit our During the pandemic, many cruise lines instituted strict quarantine procedures some would say, too strict. Overseas Adventure Travel is part of Grand Circle Corporation, a family of travel companies based in Boston. Quality can be subjective, and in our business quality often involves a compromise between speed and perfection. they acquired Cambridge, Mass.-based Overseas Adventure Travel and Anyone can read what you share. Cruise lines claim a vacation at sea is safer than any land-based vacation. For more information about your privacy and protection, please review our full, My wife and I were excited to take our first river cruise with Grand Circle Travel/Overseas Adventure Travel (GCT/OAT) in The Netherlands in spring 2021 to see the flowers. Your rights at sea are governed by maritime law, or the law of the sea. 301 Route 17 N, Suite 1150, Rutherford, NJ 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. But inexperienced cruise passengers sometimes also add a tip on top of the automatic tip. Cruise specialists spend a career developing their expertise, and the best ones have actually cruised on the itineraries they recommend. Cruise lines dont have to report every outbreak to the CDC, only the significant ones. Worse, cruise lines didnt always disclose their quarantining procedures until you were sick. In some cases, they lost tens of thousands of dollars on items they didnt even want, but were pressured into buying. And if I decided to go, whats the best way to book my vacation? Temperatures of travelers were NEVER taken on the cruise, and, although ship was approximately 1/2 full, only approximately 1/2 of the tables were being utilized. Your travel agent may offer you a spacious cabin with a balcony, or even a suite. It has. FAQ. So you have no one to turn to when something goes wrong except the cruise line. (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). Kiddos to the bus drive for being SO informative!! Airlines are sidestepping refund regulations established by the United States Transportation Department and the European Union, betting that negative press (and even class-action lawsuits) are still preferable to negative-balance bank accounts. 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. ), Back to O. What's going on? 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. Sarah Firshein is a Brooklyn-based travel writer. Check out Elliott Advocacy Today, our free, daily newsletter with links to your favorite commentary, tips and news about consumer advocacy. You could pay tens of thousands of dollars to a cruise line. The small-group and cruising company has been recognized nationally. 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. By offering more diverse experiences, such as virtual tours and staycations, Grand Circle Travel can draw in more customers and increase its revenue. They sent me an unitemized bill for $650 for a trip I'd been notified had been completely paid for. Surely taking temperatures and separating tables would have helped tremendously. Unlock new opportunities and expand your reach by joining our authors team. 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. Be the first one to find this review helpful. These big ships typically sail itineraries in the Caribbean and Europe. 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. It is impossible to reach this company. Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.). The cabin is for sleeping. Since 1958, Grand Circle has been the leader in international discovery for mature American travelers. Cookie Policy - Terms indicate if they cancel you get a refund. Vrbo offered a refund after my husband lost his job. Exploring the Extent of Its Reach, Do Travel Adapters Change Voltage? #traveljobs #peru #excellenceaward. 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. 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. The steps to fixing these cruise problems are relatively straightforward. Tip: Avoid a cabin near an elevator or nightclub. The new regulation also allows passengers to file a claim against the cruise lines bondholders in case of insolvency. But once you get on the ship, youll realize its a waste of money. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. Dont let this be you. Circle Corp. ran into some challenges last year after the Better Sexual assaults have been a problem on cruise ships since before the Love Boat. (Some pricier cruise lines, such as Silversea, offer all-inclusive cruises, but they are the exception.). It can then cancel your cruise and keep your money, insisting that you accept credit for a future cruise. Asia Pacific +65 6212 1000. We value your privacy. 1958. And cruise lines dont like to do that. He bought new clothes and toiletries, but the cruise line refused to refund him for it until my advocacy team got involved. 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. A porter will deliver it to your room. The contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission. (Annual sales and employees) What industry is the company in? Overall, 55% of employees would recommend working at Grand Circle Travel to a friend. 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. Do they distribute it among the staff? Soon we discovered they had changed our cabin without notifying us and that one of the flights had disappeared . The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act requires cruise lines to report criminal activity to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Their itineraries are designed with individuals in mind. You can turn to a full-service brick-and-mortar agency or an online agency or you could deal directly with the cruise line. Windstars 2023/24 Middle East program kicks off in November. 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. I've traveled with this company 4 times and find the value and service outstanding. Sharing Your Travel Videos, Slideshows & Photos. This pandemic could cause some of them to be dusted off, said Mr. Anolik. Special access to agent-only discounts. 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. The fix: Turn off your cell phone or set it to airplane mode. Vrbo took my $1,270! I told them that I had a medical condition and did not know when or if I would be able to travel, and asked whether they were just going to keep my $17,500 if I couldnt travel by the end of 2021. was no longer offering refunds. Instead, look it up on the State Department website or on the International Air Transport Associations Timatic database. Preparing for Your Trip. They appear to be having problems, long waits on the phone. This is based on anonymous employee reviews submitted on Glassdoor. 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.. All of these factors have led to a difficult financial situation for Grand Circle Travel. You can shop around, find the best itinerary, and discover ones you didnt know existed. Your email address will not be published. Here are my strategies for advocating your case. Once you disembark, the cruise line keeps the money. See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals. In reality, many of these statutes are seldom enforced. This PayPal invoice scam almost got me. Asked for refund and got a credit instead. When flying on a commercial airline, booked through GCT, they negotiate a deal (to increase their. Our 2020 tour has been re-booked to 2022. Tip: Avoid virus season (usually late winter and early spring). I've tried to reach by each way listed without success.