Consumer Alert: No more automatic refunds for skipped ports? Grand Circle Travel is a company that offers guided tours and river cruises to destinations all over the world. Why? The Members of the Cruise Lines International Association are dedicated to the comfort and care of all passengers on oceangoing cruises throughout the world. Its a high-pressure sales pitch on the high seas. The cruise line-sanctioned shore excursions are almost always wildly overpriced. What should I do? As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Its not hard to surmise, just by reading your email, what happened at O.A.T. Grand Circle Travel Reviews (Updated May 2023) - ConsumerAffairs 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. Our Mission: We strive to be the world leader in international travel, adventure, and discovery for American travelers over 50providing impactful and intercultural experiences that significantly improve the quality of their lives. 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. Another solution to Grand Circle Travels financial woes is to increase efficiency. Your email address will not be published. Inside 2 hour wait for phone contact. Since 1958, Grand Circle has been the leader in international discovery for mature American travelers. Alternatively, you could have filed a case in small claims court, although you would have had to limit your . 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. I have flights with Grand Circle. The right to have this Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights published on each lines website. There have been some reports that the company is in financial trouble, and may be shutting down soon . We receive many requests for help from foreign nationals with residency permits. General Air Questions. Grand Circle Travel Warning - Fodor's Travel Talk Forums Where is it? Overseas Adventure Travel | Better Business Bureau Profile If you think youll have less, get it renewed before your cruise. Cruise lines claim a vacation at sea is safer than any land-based vacation. He paid Vantage $18,536. Cruise lines dont include premium restaurants in your fare. The company notified me of the cancellation and offered either a credit for rebooking or a full refund that would have included airfare. The company has been providing travelers with high-quality tours around the world since 1998. It felt like a school tour where I had the least interested parent supervising me. Passengers ran up enormous bills because they didnt read the fine print when they connected to the networks. Cookie Policy - Surely taking temperatures and separating tables would have helped tremendously. Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. Type: Company - Private. How Does PTO Work for Salaried Employees? Grand Circle Foundation Call our Regional Adventure Counselors 1-800-955-1925. Sign up to receive our free weekly newsletter. You are on hold for 2-3 hours. (Annual sales and employees) What industry is the company in? Get buying tips about Travel Agencies delivered to your inbox. But why cant I get a refund? Its been eight months. Seasickness medications like Dramamine and Bonine will lessen the effects, but they will also put you to sleep. Not so long ago, you had to pick up a phone and call your local travel agent to book a cruise. They canceled my flight. Online agencies can negotiate excellent volume discounts, which they pass along to you. contact reporter Michelle Baran, send e-mail to mbaran@travelweekly.com. Overall, 55% of employees would recommend working at Grand Circle Travel to a friend. Over the years they have established a solid reputation for tours and river cruises that offer good value to destinations around the world. In addition to decreased demand, Grand Circle Travel has also had to face other financial challenges. As Preferred Sir Edmund Hillary Club / Inner Circle Customers, having made five previous trips with this company (customer number 962737), we pre-reserved our trip for mid-April 2021, and paid in full before the end of February 2020, over a year in advance. To spokeswoman said the company is working to improve our processes and to better address the needs of each traveler whose trip was canceled or postponed due to the pandemic. Free-flowing booze is at the top of the list. Once you get a positive response, make sure to find out about the interview process at Grand Circle Travel and prepare for tough questions. I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way. If relaxing on the cruise with a book in hand for hours on end, gliding by quiet European shores is your idea of a grand old time then Grand Circle is for you! When will cruising feel safe again to you? Travel Trouble: A $30K Overseas Adventure Travel refund goes awol Other travelers looking for refunds may have a better chance if theyre dealing with companies headquartered within Hawaii, Washington state, Illinois or California. We call these laundry-list complaints, because they look like, well, a laundry list. While they didnt answer my question directly, I was able to recoup more than $100,000, collectively, for you and 10 other readers. Younger couples or families will probably feel out of place among the crowd on a Grand Circle tour. 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. This article will explore the causes, implications, and possible solutions to Grand Circle Travels financial troubles. Thats because you are a number. The Elliott Report is supported by Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that offers free advice and advocacy for consumers. Again, these offers come by way of the relationships cruise agents have through their company or by being friends with their regional sales representative. 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. Good luck. Its gonna cost you. 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. Grand Circle Corporation is a global enterprise committed to changing peoples lives through international travel. Grand Circle Travel employees are most likely to be members of the democratic party. Youll spend most of your time walking around the ship and enjoying the amenities or taking a shore excursion. 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. Preparing for Your Trip. That's not entirely true. 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. By Christopher Elliott Globe correspondent, Updated November 11, 2021, 12:00 p.m. Grand. Check out Elliott Advocacy Today, our free, daily newsletter with links to your favorite commentary, tips and news about consumer advocacy. Weve received numerous complaints from readers who purchased overpriced jewelry or art on their cruises. When youre on vacation, its easy to let down your guard and fall for a sales pitch for an original sculpture, diamond ring or timeshare. That can get a little noisy. And most passengers accepted the credit. 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. Tasteless food. Contact Us - Check out our directory. Did we mention it's free? Alan Lewis will remain on the board but will be replaced 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. 35% of job seekers rate their interview experience at Grand Circle Travel as positive. Gangwal left Worldspan when it was Archive - 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. They have made it impossible to contact them about anything. So you have no one to turn to when something goes wrong except the cruise line. rate Grand Circle Travel 3.3 out of 5 stars, interview experience at Grand Circle Travel, Grand Circle Travel has a positive business outlook. Would take take this tour all over again! In reality, many of these statutes are seldom enforced. (Think of it as a kind of rewards program.) 1958. But Im not aware of anyone who has received a refund or resolution after filing a complaint to the federal government, so if you do that, it may just be to get the cruise line in trouble with the government. fleet of more than 50 ships. 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. That agency said that it has received about 275 consumer complaints so far about canceled O.A.T. But we need to cancel. Don't sweat the logistics travel providers plan for you. Overseas Adventure Travel is part of Grand Circle Corporation, a family of travel companies based in Boston. Grand Circle canceled my tour twice. How about a refund? $7000 in their pocket. as its customer service. 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. Some oceangoing vessels are smaller and more specialized. OAT is non-accredited per the BBB, had a C- rating by them and per 23 customer reviews had 1 * out of 5. I feel I was defrauded and the company has been unethical in their dealings. In a telephone call to GCT I was told the company policy had changed but the paperwork had not been updated. Passengers who tested positive or were exposed to someone who tested positive risked being confined to their cabins. This is my first experience with them. To determine if my hunch was correct, I reached out to O.A.T. GCT cancelled the Greenland portion. They tied up over $10,000 of our money on a trip they canceled because the cruise line they offered us had Russian links. Read unbiased user reviews, pick the operator that suits your needs, and connect with them directly. They have a bad reputation and that reputation is very on point, To get a job at Grand Circle Travel, browse, Overall, 55% of employees would recommend, Get started with your Free Employer Profile, Work Here? The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act requires cruise lines to report criminal activity to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Infectious disease COVID and norovirus outbreaks are common on cruise ships. : Tanzania/Kilimanjaro Tour Company, Any recommendations for Grand Circle Tours and/or Overseas Adventure Tours, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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 contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission. But there are risks now, and perhaps more risks than ever. We ran off the road and almost flipped--and Grand Circle did NOTHING. Asia Pacific +65 6212 1000. Youre on vacation. Dont expect extreme luxury or especially unique accommodations however. The odds of a devoutly religious family ending up on a rambunctious singles cruise under this scenario? Grandparents & grandchildren (ages 13 and up are welcome to join). G rand Circle Corp. is being sold to New York private equity firm Court Square Capital Partners for an undisclosed amount. Lewis and his wife, Harriet Lewis, who acquired Boston-based Grand In theory, a host agency is not liable to clients of a sub-IC for their acts or omissions. as CEO by Rakesh Gangwal, former CEO of Worldspan, a Court Square Grand Circle LLC Company Profile | Boston, MA - Dun & Bradstreet The view of the mountains and Grand Canyon was breathtaking! also step down from her role as co-chair at Grand Circle and as How many can you get right in 1 minute? All content is posted anonymously by employees working at Grand Circle Travel. In 2018, The Excellence in Service Award was presented to 7 different GCC associates. After a series of high-profile customer service incidents in 2012 and 2013, the cruise industry adopted a voluntary bill of rights for its passengers, to clearly communicate to them their rights regarding comfort and care in a number of important areas. they would travel with the company again.". 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. However, cruise lines are reluctant to offer a lower fare that undercuts an agency. If you like the idea of joining a tight knit travel community, with frequent cost cutting options, then Grand Circle could be for you. Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. My trip to Egypt with Overseas Adventure Travel was scheduled to depart in late March. We value your privacy. CONTENTS Overview Reviews Updated 03/02/2023 About Grand Circle Travel This profile has. Online agencies are a volume business, so if you like to feel special and appreciated, you might want to book elsewhere. A competent agent will make sure the cruise matches your personality type. In addition, there is the worry that many travel companies may go out of business due to the loss of business from this pandemic. Our values are the foundation upon which our company is built. 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. 13% of Grand Circle Travel employees are Hispanic or Latino. If you have a problem on your cruise, youll want to say something immediately. But not for cruises. Can I get my 173,116 Chase Ultimate Rewards points refunded? Recently cruised with GCT and they failed to comply with their stated regulations regarding Covid protocols. Salaries posted anonymously by Grand Circle Travel employees. They also have limited departures in Africa, South America, the Middle East, South Pacific, North America, Central America, and even Antarctica. 1. I cannot force any reason they would improve from this point. Some got total refunds, while others (including you) received partial refunds or continue to wait for certain fees and sums to clear. The next week, I learned via email that I had been rebooked on the same trip next year. 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. Service, when it does come, can be slow and impersonal. Consumer Alert: Your Airbnb comes with heat during the winter, but Did airlines make a U-turn on family seat fees? What are my rights, and what should I be worried about? Beware Grand Circle Travel/Overseas Adventure Travel - Fodor's Unsubscribe easily. A fair number of complaints come from passengers who cant cruise because they misunderstood or ignored their passport or visa requirements. 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 -. Sometimes it can feel like college at times. Quality: Our decisions must be made and actions taken in accordance with high standards of quality and service. Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.). I read that the company is being sold to some type of Holding Company--that may explain it. 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. But once you get on the ship, youll realize its a waste of money. This is based on anonymous employee reviews submitted on Glassdoor. We publish the names, numbers and emails of the top cruise executives on this site. This profile has not been claimed by the company. Help! One Company Refused to Refund Travelers More Than $100,000 But, if the extraordinary number of reader complaints I have received more than a dozen and counting are any indication, they have been doing so anyway. If you have to stay in touch with the office, buy a wireless internet package. Once you disembark, the cruise line keeps the money. If my cruise is canceled, am I entitled to a refund? According to the We receive regular complaints about food poisoning on cruise ships. Exploring the Extent of Its Reach, Do Travel Adapters Change Voltage? canceled the tour because of Covid-19, which was a relief. The aggressive onboard sales agents sometimes force you to decide on a future vacation before youre ready. Join us on Thursday, June 3, 2021 from 4-6PM at our corporate headquarters located at 347 Congress Street in Boston and see if we can change yours, Happy Monday! Sharing Your Travel Videos, Slideshows & Photos. Here is a photo of them enjoying the breathtaking view of Machu Picchu. But then the cruise lines canceled their rebooked cruises. Corp. has 44 offices and employs 3,000 people. 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. <br>Expertise in leadership coaching and mentoring, training and development, financial management in a constantly changing environment, public speaking and total guest . Employees rate Grand Circle Travel 3.3 out of 5 stars based on 429 anonymous reviews on Glassdoor. Here are some of the risks. Get the real picture with both traveler and expert reviews to ensure the trip you book is the right one for you. 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. 166,000 travelers in 2007. Youre out of luck. Now it wont refund my $3,606. Over the years they have. Soon we discovered they had changed our cabin without notifying us and that one of the flights had disappeared . 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. Check out Elliott Advocacy Today, our free, daily newsletter with links to your favorite commentary, tips and news about consumer advocacy. A link has directed you to this review. 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. Grand Circle to be sold to private equity firm - Travel Weekly Business Bureau had given the company an "unsatisfactory" rating. Agents are not free. Claim your Free Employer Profile. Its location on this page may change next time you visit. Every member must be fully accountable for the teams and ones own personal results. The Tour guide read from a book, did little guiding on site and was mainly interested in getting us back on the bus. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. Grand Circle cancels two of Ernest Belzil's tours. Just to name a few, we have danced the Turkey with school children in Costa Rica, climbed the Mayan Temples of Tikal, laid roses with Veteran travelers at the grave of the WWII Cemetery in Normandy and walked the ancient stone boulevards of Ephesus. According to the law, the cash refund must be an amount equal to the fair market retail value of any undelivered, purchased travel service.. Grand Circle's annual revenues are $10-$50 million (see exact revenue data) and has 100-500 employees. You could pay tens of thousands of dollars to a cruise line. Grand Circle Corporation provides 85+ international small group adventures by land and sea for Americans 50 and older.