For some types of trips, insurance is optional. If, for example, youre taking your extended family on an anniversary cruise, youll probably want to find a cruise specialist with experience dealing with large groups. (Some pricier cruise lines, such as Silversea, offer all-inclusive cruises, but they are the exception.). At a time like now, some may be safer and more convenient than others. Ultimately, it is up to Grand Circle Travel to take the necessary steps to ensure its financial stability. But not for cruises. As travel companies now suffer a cash crunch, they are facing off with travelers over credits and refunds. (Mr. Anolik has a detailed breakdown of other state-by-state travel laws on his firms website. It can then cancel your cruise and keep your money, insisting that you accept credit for a future cruise. How much of a cut does the cruise line take? What Makes Grand Circle Travel Stand Out? 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. You could pay tens of thousands of dollars to a cruise line. Whats more, its not always entirely clear who gets the tip. 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." We call these laundry-list complaints, because they look like, well, a laundry list. Grandparents & grandchildren (ages 13 and up are welcome to join). Glassdoor gives you an inside look at what it's like to work at Grand Circle Travel, including salaries, reviews, office photos, and more. Will this be the busiest spring break ever? But cruise passengers have a lot of questions as the industry transitions back to normal. Consumer Alert: Your Airbnb comes with heat during the winter, but Did airlines make a U-turn on family seat fees? Dont let this be you. View travel requirements for countries around the world. In response, Grand If the company fails to find a solution to its financial woes, it could mean layoffs and reduced wages for employees. Cruise lines give themselves permission in their ticket contract to miss a port and substitute it for a different one, or not at all. 166,000 travelers in 2007. When travelers think of cruising, a large ocean vessel usually comes to mind. The next week, I learned via email that I had been rebooked on the same trip next year. Overseas . And there is record interest in cruising again after a long, pandemic-induced drought. For more information about reviews on ConsumerAffairs.com please visit our 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. In 2018, The Excellence in Service Award was presented to 7 different GCC associates. Cruise ship gotchas they wont tell you about. Grand Circle's three travel brands are Grand Circle Travel. . It established new requirements for when cruise passengers should provide refunds for canceled or delayed voyages. A few years ago, cruise lines began installing advanced roaming networks that allowed passengers to make phone calls from the ship. A delayed flight leads to a delayed connection. For the flexibility and comfort aspects, combined with unique experiences at every turn. Terms indicate if they cancel you get a refund. It appears that the main cause of Grand Circle Travel's financial issues is attributed to a decrease in demand for the company's services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Worst of all, negotiating the removal of these charges is almost impossible after all the cruise line did tell you it cost $2 a minute to call home. 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 aggressive onboard sales agents sometimes force you to decide on a future vacation before youre ready. 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. You can also book the cruise whenever you want to. Book directly with the operator. Thank you, you have successfully subscribed to our newsletter! I am still pursuing my refund. We publish the names and emails of customer service managers. private equity firm Court Square Capital Partners for an In order to overcome these financial struggles, the company must find ways to diversify its offerings, increase efficiency, and reduce overhead expenses. There are mice in my vacation rental! We are only a month out. 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. Is Grand Circle Travel Still In Business - Pine Knoll Lodge & Cabins Agents are often incentivized by commissions and bonuses called overrides from cruise lines that reward them for booking a lot of itineraries with the same company. The "older sibling" of Grand Circle Cruise Line, Grand Circle Travel specializes in land tours for Americans of baby boomer age and above (fifty-plus, but leaning toward the plus). I cannot force any reason they would improve from this point. Other passengers couldnt cruise for health reasons. We booked a river cruise, including airfare, and documented every detail. Online agencies are a volume business, so if you like to feel special and appreciated, you might want to book elsewhere. I could not have asked for a better experience! Can I get a refund for my Marriott Vacation Club Points? Why? Discover the worldin comforton Viking ocean cruises to Scandinavia, Mediterranean, Asia, Australia, the Americas or around https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Grand-Circle-to-be-sold-to-private-equity-firm. By Christopher Elliott Globe correspondent, Updated November 11, 2021, 12:00 p.m. Grand. Today, Grand Circle If you have a serious pre-existing medical condition or are immunocompromised, you may want to wait until youre medically stable before setting sail. in 1997 they established Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises with a rate Grand Circle Travel 3.3 out of 5 stars, interview experience at Grand Circle Travel, Grand Circle Travel has a positive business outlook. Free-flowing booze is at the top of the list. 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. Want to take the kids out to dinner or to the arcade? travelers in 1985 to approximately $760 million in sales and Grand Circle Travel Profile [2023] - 35 reviews, 13 trips - Travelstride $7000 in their pocket. According to the law, the cash refund must be an amount equal to the fair market retail value of any undelivered, purchased travel 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. First trip with Grand Circle Tours, liked the tour. Grand Circle's annual revenues are $10-$50 million (see exact revenue data) and has 100-500 employees. Preparing for Your Trip. In a fast-paced and rapidly changing environment each member of the team is critical for success. If the agency is a member of a larger group, like AAA, youll get deals no one else has, and they may be unbeatable. Grand Circle to be sold to private equity firm - Travel Weekly This PayPal invoice scam almost got me. 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 -. Even email or call back. Grand Circle Travel offers distinctive international vacations for older Americans. Sears couldnt deliver my appliances. Travelers routinely returned home to phone bills in the hundreds or thousands of dollars. (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). How are they allowed to keep my money? Grand Circle Travel/Overseas Adventure Travel only offered a $250 credit per person to be applied to a future trip, and the option of booking another trip altogether. Corp. has 44 offices and employs 3,000 people. Additionally, Grand Circle Travel can look into ways to reduce overhead expenses, such as cutting down on staff or renegotiating contracts with vendors. 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. Its generally a lot of smaller grievances that dont add up to much. They are completely incompetent at this point. Nevertheless, Grand The most common ethnicity at Grand Circle Travel is White (70%). Who Will Enjoy Traveling with Grand Circle Travel? Do you have knowledge or insights to share? While Grand Circle Travel has seen tremendous success over the years, the company has recently found itself in a difficult financial situation. In Hawaii, consumers have the right to a cash refund (minus previously disclosed cancellation fees) within two weeks of requesting one. 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. they acquired Cambridge, Mass.-based Overseas Adventure Travel and Required fields are marked *. Refund for a trip cancelled by Grand Circle tTours - Senior Travel It has. 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. Completely different, and highly disappointing, from previous trips. Our award-winning daily newsletters keep you posted on our random acts of consumer advocacy. You probably need travel insurance for your cruise. You have 24/7 phone support through most of the online agencies.