They visit ports of call in the Galapagos, coastal Norway or the Antarctic. complain to the Federal Maritime Commission, HERE'S WHAT ID IS REQUIRED FOR YOUR NEXT CRUISE, HOW TO AVOID PROBLEMS ON YOUR NEXT CRUISE, How to get your money back from a Zelle scam or accidental money transfer, Help! 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. | When Will Hawaiis Safe Travels Program End? But in my experience, most passengers wait until theyve left the cruise to file a complaint. In a fast-paced and rapidly changing environment each member of the team is critical for success. In early 2022, the Federal Maritime Commission fixed that loophole. 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. The right to disembark a docked ship if essential provisions such as food, water, restroom facilities and access to medical care cannot adequately be provided onboard, subject only to the Masters concern for passenger safety and security and customs and immigration requirements of the port. Dont expect extreme luxury or especially unique accommodations however. A link has directed you to this review. But Massachusetts happens to be one of only a handful of states with specific laws that guarantee consumers protection against travel sellers, including requiring that tour operators offer the option of cash refunds (in addition to vouchers or credits for rebooking) when they fail to provide agreed-upon, paid-for services. A porter will deliver it to your room. 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. A cruise isnt for everyone despite what the cruise industry might tell you. Bad service. CONNECT WITH US. See all activities, themes, and interests >, Save $600 off trips to every continent on earth, Redeem anytime before 2023. 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 -. And most passengers accepted the credit. When flying on a commercial airline, booked through GCT, they negotiate a deal (to increase their. Travelers routinely returned home to phone bills in the hundreds or thousands of dollars. Privacy Statement - This employer has claimed their Employer Profile and is engaged in the Glassdoor community. Then our columnist intervened with the Boston-based tour operator Overseas Adventure Travel. Grand Circle Travel Profile [2023] - 35 reviews, 13 trips - Travelstride The cruise line wont let them board the ship. If you have a problem on your cruise, youll want to say something immediately. Use simple search and comparison tools to easily find the best trip. Overseas Adventure Travel/Grand Circle Travel used to be a good company, but they got too large. 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. Your stateroom is a place to sleep. Cookie Policy - The rating was due in part to a series of customer complaints about But which one is right for you? There are many other health perils at sea. Excellence in our quality will continually enhance our repeat business and ultimately our financial performance. Being well organized may sometimes be less important than moving quickly. If you test positive, cruise lines will confine you to quarters or to a special section on the cruise ship for infected passengers, usually for the duration of the voyage. Its not uncommon to hear of people waiting upwards of an hour for help. This tour was phenomenal from the beginning to the end! And in many ports of call, the medical facilities are not up to Western standards, and the patient must pay in cash. GCT cancelled the Greenland portion. Anyone can read what you share. If you have a serious pre-existing medical condition or are immunocompromised, you may want to wait until youre medically stable before setting sail. Why? Grand Circle Travel always has great specials and last minute specials if you can go on short notice. The company notified me of the cancellation and offered either a credit for rebooking or a full refund that would have included airfare. Grand Circle Corporation provides 85+ international small group adventures by land and sea for Americans 50 and older. 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. But even when individual consumers know their rights, they have few options at their immediate disposal when a customer-service representative usually the only public-facing proxy for a companys official or unofficial policies refuses to relent on refunds. 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. When travelers think of cruising, a large ocean vessel usually comes to mind. Archive - How Can I Get $$ back?? Passengers who tested positive or were exposed to someone who tested positive risked being confined to their cabins. Employees rate Grand Circle Travel 3.3 out of 5 stars based on 429 anonymous reviews on Glassdoor. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Proudly powered by WordPress Surely taking temperatures and separating tables would have helped tremendously. No, no, no. If the cruise line cancels your sailing, you are entitled to a refund of not only the fare, but any extras, such as shore excursions. Coronavirus: Massachusetts unemployment claims spike amid travel Our values are the foundation upon which our company is built. We have just returned from our 6th, and probably last, Grand Circle tour. I could not have asked for a better experience! Help! Circle in 1985, will retain a 30% stake in the direct-market tour This company must not have enough staffing. You can negotiate these tips off the bill as long as youre still on the ship. Our award-winning daily newsletters keep you posted on our random acts of consumer advocacy. A few practical tips from a consumer advocate. We are only a month out. Over the years they have established a solid reputation for tours and river cruises that offer good value to destinations around the world. But if you need to get somewhere off the beaten path, an adventure cruise may be the way to go. While there are several included activities, you have many options for personalization through optional extensions and plenty of free time in each destination. I read that the company is being sold to some type of Holding Company--that may explain it. Translation: When they cancel your trip, they are legally required to offer you the money back. Its a high-pressure sales pitch on the high seas. They also have limited departures in Africa, South America, the Middle East, South Pacific, North America, Central America, and even Antarctica. Here are my strategies for advocating your case. Youll need to consider all of these dangers before you plan your cruise. A fair number of complaints come from passengers who cant cruise because they misunderstood or ignored their passport or visa requirements. An Analysis, How Far Does Weed Smell Travel? My trip to Egypt with Overseas Adventure Travel was scheduled to depart in late March. Is Grand Circle Travel in Financial Trouble? Plus, we have insightful letters, insider tips, and more. Your email address will not be published. (Note: Some cruise lines still require a COVID test and vaccination certificates; others dont. Glassdoor gives you an inside look at what it's like to work at Grand Circle Travel, including salaries, reviews, office photos, and more. We make it accessible through trips that deliver unmatched discoveries, leisurely pacing, more travel choices, and comprehensive value. 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. They sent me an unitemized bill for $650 for a trip I'd been notified had been completely paid for. For the flexibility and comfort aspects, combined with unique experiences at every turn. The Tour guide read from a book, did little guiding on site and was mainly interested in getting us back on the bus. Furthermore, the companys reputation could be negatively impacted if customers do not feel confident in their ability to provide quality services. Additionally, Grand Circle Travel can look into ways to reduce overhead expenses, such as cutting down on staff or renegotiating contracts with vendors. Ships appear to get less safe with each passing year. In addition, there is the worry that many travel companies may go out of business due to the loss of business from this pandemic. 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. Copyright 2023 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. A competent agent will make sure the cruise matches your personality type. 1. they would travel with the company again.". ConsumerAffairs is not a government agency. Its an online travel agency. 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. Is cruising really safe now? We got an inc Have taken 12 trips overseas with this company and each one has been wonderful. Overall, 55% of employees would recommend working at Grand Circle Travel to a friend. Grand Circle Travel was started by the founder of AARP, and as such know their demographic extremely well. 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. Once you disembark, the cruise line keeps the money. They had no number call back policy and I have been on hold 1/2 hr. Sears couldnt deliver my appliances. I've tried to reach by each way listed without success. If the company fails to find a solution to its financial woes, it could mean layoffs and reduced wages for employees. Working at Grand Circle Travel has to be one of the best jobs I've worked at. The Elliott Report is supported by Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that offers free advice and advocacy for consumers. Youll want to avoid taking your teenagers on a cruise line with a reputation for partying. Grand Circle travels all over the world, with a strong focus in Europe, Aisa and Southeast Asia. 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. About Grand Circle Corporation
Your travel agent may offer you a spacious cabin with a balcony, or even a suite. acquired by Travelport earlier this year. What should I do? But why cant I get a refund? (Annual sales and employees) What industry is the company in? Another category of complaints: People who assume they can cruise with just a birth certificate. Industry: Travel Agencies. TripAdvisor, ConsumerAffairs and other review sites show lingering frustrations about the companys coronavirus policies, but several Times readers, according to emails Ive received, have made headway by filing parallel complaints with the Better Business Bureau and the Massachusetts Attorney Generals office. And it should have at least six months validity left on it to be safe. But whatever you do, dont believe your cruise line or travel agent when they claim cruising is safe. Theres no form of travel thats safe right now. 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. The contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission. But stay off the phone. canceled the tour because of Covid-19, which was a relief. Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.). The bus driver, Wayne, could not have been any better! : Tanzania/Kilimanjaro Tour Company, Any recommendations for Grand Circle Tours and/or Overseas Adventure Tours, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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." Do they distribute it among the staff? Now it wont refund my $3,606. The Grand Circle Family | About Us | Grand Circle Travel Travel agents can make 10 percent or more in commissions and overrides from your cruise. Try to call this phone number 1-800-221-0814/1-877-220-2610, holding for 2 hours cannot get a connection, if The Cruise Company cancel the trip they should automatically refund your money, finally I have through the credit card company to dispute payment. Overseas Adventure Travel is part of Grand Circle Corporation, a family of travel companies based in Boston. ), Back to O. But it was the industrys way of saying it could do better. They also dont work. Other travelers looking for refunds may have a better chance if theyre dealing with companies headquartered within Hawaii, Washington state, Illinois or California. How many can you get right in 1 minute? Oceania further cements itself as a cruise line for foodies, bestowing the honor of Vista godmother on the celebrity chef and Norway entices visitors with new places to stay and things to do, Travel agency consortium Ensemble makes several hires, Delta and KLM sue Dutch government over Schiphol flight cuts, Virgin Atlantic joins SkyTeam airline alliance, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings will reduce marketing spend, Destination America names Kirsten Bain CEO after Launder's retirement, Examining sub-IC issues from a host agency's point of view, Nayarit has a lot to offer luxury travelers, Nevada's congressional delegation reacts to Biden's 'Junk Fee' proposal, Giada De Laurentiis and Oceania Cruises, a delicious combination, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, Trends in Travel Advisor Loyalty in the Airline Industry, 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay opens on Kauai's North Shore, Viking says January was a record-breaking month, River cruise lines sail into Egypt with new ships and itineraries, Bad behavior prompts Carnival Cruise Line to beef up onboard security, Where weed is legal, hotels roll out new marijuana amenities, The party is pumping at Virgin Voyages' beach club. To get a job at Grand Circle Travel, browse currently open positions and apply for a job near you. Copyright 2022 Consumers Unified LLC. 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. While they didnt answer my question directly, I was able to recoup more than $100,000, collectively, for you and 10 other readers. There are new cruise lines, new ships, and new routes this year. The right to a ship crew that is properly trained in emergency and evacuation procedures. An epic selection of pre-planned trips on every continent, for every style. I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way. Want to take the kids out to dinner or to the arcade? 13% of Grand Circle Travel employees are Hispanic or Latino. Did we mention it's free? Cruise ship gotchas they wont tell you about. Now that we have explored the causes behind Grand Circle Travels financial struggles, it is important to look at potential solutions. Weve received numerous complaints from readers who purchased overpriced jewelry or art on their cruises. Youre on vacation. My cruise was cancelled by the company because do not have enough people, asking for refund but never get an answer. Grand Circle CEO Alan again.. He provided us with so much information. Its gonna cost you. 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. It appears that the main cause of Grand Circle Travels financial issues is attributed to a decrease in demand for the companys services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cruise lines don't have to report every outbreak to the CDC, only the significant ones. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. And cruise lines dont like to do that. Get travel insurance. And if I decided to go, whats the best way to book my vacation? That's no excuse for not responding to paid customer's inquiries. But then the cruise lines canceled their rebooked cruises. We are either rebooking travelers on another trip or providing a refund. Since mid-March, she said, O.A.T. Special access to agent-only discounts. Some got total refunds, while others (including you) received partial refunds or continue to wait for certain fees and sums to clear. Asia Pacific +65 6212 1000. 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. But not for cruises. One of the cons can be coworkers taking advantage of the casual vibe of the office.
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