See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals. If you have a consumer problem,please contact our team at Elliott Advocacy through this form. Same thing goes for spa treatments, most shore excursions, and alcoholic beverages. Business Bureau had given the company an "unsatisfactory" rating. Who Will Enjoy Traveling with Grand Circle Travel? And it should have at least six months validity left on it to be safe. Grand Circle CEO Alan The goal is for each of us to maximize our effectiveness, and ultimately our success, in an unpredictable and ever-changing environment. Grand Circle Travel is a company that offers guided tours and river cruises to destinations all over the world. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. 13% of Grand Circle Travel employees are Hispanic or Latino. She lost her engagement ring in a rental car. Once you get a positive response, make sure to find out about the interview process at Grand Circle Travel and prepare for tough questions. Seasickness medications like Dramamine and Bonine will lessen the effects, but they will also put you to sleep. Our values shape our decisions, give direction to our growth, and allow us to measure our progress. How many can you get right in 1 minute? Answer: Yes. Being well organized may sometimes be less important than moving quickly. 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. Pictures of the kids by the pro photographers? : the realization that issuing refunds en masse would bleed the company dry. Sharing Your Travel Videos, Slideshows & Photos. This company must not have enough staffing. 166,000 travelers in 2007. It is classified as operating in the Transportation & Warehousing industry. Because the porters dont always deliver the luggage to your room. Sears couldnt deliver my appliances. (How generous of you!) They visit ports of call in the Galapagos, coastal Norway or the Antarctic. Unlock new opportunities and expand your reach by joining our authors team. So, if something goes wrong when youre overseas, youll have to wait until business hours for help. OAT's email offering a refund would have made your credit-card dispute an easy win. Overseas Adventure Travel is part of Grand Circle Corporation, a family of travel companies based in Boston. 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 -. But it refuses to refund his money. Crypto Wallet Development: Types, Features, and Popularity, 5 Ways AI is Detecting and Preventing Identity Fraud. In addition, a local restaurant lunch was packed full of passengers with food being served right under their noses. Furthermore, the companys reputation could be negatively impacted if customers do not feel confident in their ability to provide quality services. First trip with Grand Circle Tours, liked the tour. That's not entirely true. Our values are the foundation upon which our company is built. I would not recommend the company. Cruise lines dont include premium restaurants in your fare. What is paid time off like at Grand Circle Travel? Unsubscribe at any time. The high seas can be dangerous, and not just in the movies. trips and has been pressuring the company to comply with the states travel-seller laws. Then our columnist intervened with the Boston-based tour operator Overseas Adventure Travel. Here are my strategies for advocating your case. I purchased my own flights. 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. COVID and norovirus outbreaks are common on cruise ships. Can I get my 173,116 Chase Ultimate Rewards points refunded? (Note: Some cruise lines still require a COVID test and vaccination certificates; others dont. They are completely incompetent at this point. That agency said that it has received about 275 consumer complaints so far about canceled O.A.T. they acquired Cambridge, Mass.-based Overseas Adventure Travel and Advertising - 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. $7000 in their pocket. These Britrail England Flexi Passes are taking forever to refund. We are either rebooking travelers on another trip or providing a refund. Since mid-March, she said, O.A.T. Required fields are marked *. The company notified me of the cancellation and offered either a credit for rebooking or a full refund that would have included airfare. Whether its an optional shore excursion or an onboard auction, the cruise line wants more of your money than you spent on the cruise fare. Surely taking temperatures and separating tables would have helped tremendously. And this information was only transmitted because I raised the subject. I feel I was defrauded and the company has been unethical in their dealings. Its extra. It felt like a school tour where I had the least interested parent supervising me. Grand Circle Travel offers distinctive international vacations for older Americans. The view of the mountains and Grand Canyon was breathtaking! 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. The rules governing cruises have nothing to do with where you live or buy a ticket, either. 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. If the agency is a member of a larger group, like AAA, youll get deals no one else has, and they may be unbeatable. Plenty of free time is included in the itineraries, and there is a lot of choice among optional tours. Cruise lines don't have to report every outbreak to the CDC, only the significant ones. Vrbo offered a refund after my husband lost his job. Younger couples or families will probably feel out of place among the crowd on a Grand Circle tour. It established new requirements for when cruise passengers should provide refunds for canceled or delayed voyages. Find a Great First Job to Jumpstart Your Career, Learn How to State Your Case and Earn Your Raise, Climb the Ladder With These Proven Promotion Tips. In a fast-paced and rapidly changing environment each member of the team is critical for success. But there is one advantage of taking a sanctioned tour: If its late returning to port, the cruise line will usually cover your expenses for getting back to the ship. This article will explore the causes, implications, and possible solutions to Grand Circle Travels financial troubles. Get buying tips about Travel Agencies delivered to your inbox. 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. Once you disembark, the cruise line keeps the money. The Members of the Cruise Lines International Association are dedicated to the comfort and care of all passengers on oceangoing cruises throughout the world. Overseas Adventure Travel/Grand Circle Travel used to be a good company, but they got too large. 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. You must be very efficient at email with On Call. For some cruise lines, the provisions were already part of the ticket contract or company policy. But then the cruise lines canceled their rebooked cruises. Our 2020 tour has been re-booked to 2022. Consumer Alert: No more automatic refunds for skipped ports? The activities, lectures, and easy pace are all designed for older travelers. O.A.T. said in a statement that "97% of Grand Circle travelers say that I read that the company is being sold to some type of Holding Company--that may explain it. There have been some reports that the company is in financial trouble, and may be shutting down soon . As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. So should you take a cruise this year? Anyone can read what you share. Ultimately, it is up to Grand Circle Travel to take the necessary steps to ensure its financial stability. Every member must be fully accountable for the teams and ones own personal results. Most cruise lines have stopped screening their passengers for COVID. 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. A free inside look at Grand Circle Travel salary trends based on 462 salaries wages for 222 jobs at Grand Circle Travel. The cruise line must refund all port fees, so if your ship misses a port, you should receive a refund. 7% of Grand Circle Travel employees are Asian. And then it took them over 3 months to give us back our money which they did only after numerous phone call attempts and letters to management. Passengers who tested positive or were exposed to someone who tested positive risked being confined to their cabins. It has. The pandemic exposed one of the most absurd aspects of cruising. Get travel insurance. Were always here to help. In early 2022, the Federal Maritime Commission fixed that loophole. Why? Site Map|Global Site Map|Terms of Use|Privacy Policy, Save this trip to your favorites or other list. was no longer offering refunds. Yes, my wife and I had to leave mid-way through the cruise and were quarantined for 8 days at a hotel. 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. Theres only one way to ensure you dont get caught by these fees. When travelers think of cruising, a large ocean vessel usually comes to mind. 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. An Analysis, How Far Does Weed Smell Travel? Travel Protection. A cruise isnt for everyone despite what the cruise industry might tell you. ConsumerAffairs is not a government agency. Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. Grand Circle cancels two of Ernest Belzil's tours. Robbery, assault and homicide happen on cruise ships. You are on hold for 2-3 hours. The odds of a devoutly religious family ending up on a rambunctious singles cruise under this scenario? Some got total refunds, while others (including you) received partial refunds or continue to wait for certain fees and sums to clear. How do I know I can trust these reviews about Grand Circle Travel? All of these factors have led to a difficult financial situation for Grand Circle Travel. 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. Virtually zero. 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. General Air Questions. Its a high-pressure sales pitch on the high seas. On our River Cruise Vacations and Land Vacations, you'll enjoy unmatched discoveries . Lunch was provided in the cost. Were always here to help. In addition to decreased demand, Grand Circle Travel has also had to face other financial challenges. This pandemic could cause some of them to be dusted off, said Mr. Anolik. In theory, a host agency is not liable to clients of a sub-IC for their acts or omissions. Booked Iceland Greenland trip this year. While Grand Circle Travel has seen tremendous success over the years, the company has recently found itself in a difficult financial situation. By offering more diverse experiences, such as virtual tours and staycations, Grand Circle Travel can draw in more customers and increase its revenue. (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). We receive many requests for help from foreign nationals with residency permits. 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. Cruise lines claim a vacation at sea is safer than any land-based vacation. When you try to contact someone by phone. Grand Circle CEO Alan Lewis and his wife, Harriet Lewis, who. Would take take this tour all over again! Any amount of compensatory. 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. Learn the word no, and use it often. Your stateroom is a place to sleep. Grand Circle Travel (GCT) seems to play a few nasty games, and cheating its customers!!! Unsubscribe easily. They also operate overseas travel adventures. Cruise ship gotchas they wont tell you about. Infectious disease COVID and norovirus outbreaks are common on cruise ships. Your rights at sea are governed by maritime law, or the law of the sea. On motorcoach tours with Grand Circle you will make frequent stops to stretch your legs, and some longer stops for sightseeing. The right to lodging if disembarkation and an overnight stay in an unscheduled port are required when a cruise is terminated early due to mechanical failures. canceled the tour because of Covid-19, which was a relief. Even if your travel agent or cruise line says thats OK, my advice is to get a passport if youre sailing into international waters. 1. Now it wont refund my $3,606. Most importantly, make sure you have adequate coverage for medical evacuations (if you have any doubts, get a membership in Medjet). All rights reserved. They complained of being treated like second-class passengers. This is based on 391 anonymously submitted reviews on Glassdoor. Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.). established a solid reputation for tours and river cruises that offer good value to destinations around the world. And when they do, they are often underreported. Per the Holland Ministry of Tourism, Tulip season runs from the end of March until mid May, but the flowers are usually at their best halfway through April. On the 22nd of April 2020 we received an unsolicited call from James, a representative of GCT/OAT informing us that our reservation for Holland and Belgium in Springtime, originally departing April 17, 2021, had been unilaterally cancelled and that we had been arbitrarily and without our permission or knowledge rebooked for the same tour departing March 17, 2021. Watch for food-borne illnesses. With GCC, our associates have the unique opportunity to travel numerous countries and experience once in a life time events. Tasteless food. 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. Read unbiased user reviews, pick the operator that suits your needs, and connect with them directly. Your email address will not be published. Grand Circle travels all over the world, with a strong focus in Europe, Aisa and Southeast Asia. During the pandemic, many cruise lines instituted strict quarantine procedures some would say, too strict. private equity firm Court Square Capital Partners for an In 2018, The Excellence in Service Award was presented to 7 different GCC associates. Theyre not. Washington requires travel companies to issue cash refunds within 14 days (or 30 days when the funds are already paid to a vendor, as might be the case for a tour operator) when they cancel a service. WE CAN DREAM ABOUT TRAVEL Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. (Note: Is this article not meeting your expectations? I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME INFO ABOUT THIS COMPANY TREATING HIGH QUALITY EMPLOYEES , AS I WITNESSED, Your email address will not be published. And if I decided to go, whats the best way to book my vacation? Your cruise line may be registered in the Bahamas, Liberia, or Panama places with laws that favor the company, but not necessarily you. fleet of more than 50 ships. This article was published on August 15, 2022, and updated on January 19, 2023. in 1997 they established Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises with a I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way. . 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. #traveljobs #peru #excellenceaward. 2 hour wait for phone contact. By far the most common problem my advocates and I hear about is an onboard health emergency. Even email or call back. Passengers sometimes arrive at the cruise terminal with the wrong visa or an expired passport. chairman of Grand Circle Foundation. operator. Asia Pacific +65 6212 1000. 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. They have changed our river cruise a couple of times. They had no number call back policy and I have been on hold 1/2 hr. 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. But we need to cancel. In order to understand the current financial situation of Grand Circle Travel, it is important to first examine the causes behind the company's financial struggles. This is based on anonymous employee reviews submitted on Glassdoor. (Think of it as a kind of rewards program.) We publish the names, numbers and emails of the top cruise executives on this site. Groups are between 24-47 people, so expect some company! 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. We value your privacy. 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. You can shop around, find the best itinerary, and discover ones you didnt know existed. There are a variety of ocean cruises, from budget to luxury. You will probably do a fair amount of walking throughout the tour - Grand Circle suggests that travelers be relatively physically fit. But once you get on the ship, youll realize its a waste of money. Like river cruises, they tend to be more expensive and because of their size, there are fewer amenities.