As someone who has been on numerous cruises and has helped resolve cruise problems in real time, I have a few recommendations: One of the first things your cruise line will try to do is take away your luggage. Heres what happened: Many cruise lines offered either a refund or a 125 percent cruise credit when COVID-19 hit. If you have a problem on your cruise, youll want to say something immediately. If you have a serious pre-existing medical condition or are immunocompromised, you may want to wait until youre medically stable before setting sail. Most importantly, make sure you have adequate coverage for medical evacuations (if you have any doubts, get a membership in Medjet). Gangwal left Worldspan when it was A cruise isnt for everyone despite what the cruise industry might tell you. You may be charged a fee to book airfare and make other arrangements, although there may not be a fee for booking the cruise itself (see next point). 1. Travel Protection. Cruise ship gotchas they wont tell you about. 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. Overseas . All Rights Reserved. They also have limited departures in Africa, South America, the Middle East, South Pacific, North America, Central America, and even Antarctica. That agency said that it has received about 275 consumer complaints so far about canceled O.A.T. Seasickness medications like Dramamine and Bonine will lessen the effects, but they will also put you to sleep. Alternatively, you could have filed a case in small claims court, although you would have had to limit your . Everything from non-refundable airfares to auto. Archive - By streamlining processes, such as booking and customer service, Grand Circle Travel can reduce costs and increase profitability. When something goes wrong, someone should always be there for you. 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. Check out Elliott Advocacy Today, our free, daily newsletter with links to your favorite commentary, tips and news about consumer advocacy. Plenty of free time is included in the itineraries, and there is a lot of choice among optional tours. See all activities, themes, and interests >, Save $600 off trips to every continent on earth, Redeem anytime before 2023. You will probably do a fair amount of walking throughout the tour - Grand Circle suggests that travelers be relatively physically fit. Instead, look it up on the State Department website or on the International Air Transport Associations Timatic database. Our buses had problems; the drivers were pulled from retirement and were unfamiliar with the vehicles. Over the years they have established a solid reputation for tours and river cruises that offer good value to destinations around the world. 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.. Whats the international cruise line passenger bill of rights? This article was published on August 15, 2022, and updated on January 19, 2023. They canceled my flight. 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. I feel like I was duped by a bait and switch and wonder how many others were caught in the same scheme. Many of their phone agents are located in overseas call centers. A few years ago, cruise lines began installing advanced roaming networks that allowed passengers to make phone calls from the ship. Grand Circle CEO Alan Lewis and his wife, Harriet Lewis, who. Even though people cant travel right now, many of us are continuing to dream about our next trip and that means making conscious and subconscious decisions about which companies to spend money with once the pandemic has passed. But once you get on the ship, youll realize its a waste of money. This is my first experience with them. You might find yourself sharing dinner at the home of a local family or visiting local schools. In reality, many of these statutes are seldom enforced. If you are on a slim budget try the " last minute" opportunities. If its a small shop, you may not have 24/7 support. So should you take a cruise this year? Can I get my 173,116 Chase Ultimate Rewards points refunded? Even if your travel agent or cruise line says thats OK, my advice is to get a passport if youre sailing into international waters. Asked for refund and got a credit instead. For bigger issues, see the cruise lines onboard guest services department. Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.). The Tour guide read from a book, did little guiding on site and was mainly interested in getting us back on the bus. We booked a river cruise, including airfare, and documented every detail. also step down from her role as co-chair at Grand Circle and as (Thats just asking for trouble.) With GCC, our associates have the unique opportunity to travel numerous countries and experience once in a life time events. The right to have this Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights published on each lines website. All answers shown come directly from Grand Circle Travel Reviews and are not edited or altered. You are on hold for 2-3 hours. The office environment is really casual. 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. Theme: Newsup by Themeansar. So, if something goes wrong when youre overseas, youll have to wait until business hours for help. 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. What are my rights as a cruise passenger? Cruise lines claim a vacation at sea is safer than any land-based vacation. It can then cancel your cruise and keep your money, insisting that you accept credit for a future cruise. 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. fleet of more than 50 ships. Our help is free. Again, these offers come by way of the relationships cruise agents have through their company or by being friends with their regional sales representative. Support. That's no excuse for not responding to paid customer's inquiries. Is cruising really safe now? Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. You raise an important point. A few practical tips from a consumer advocate. And sign up for our Travel Dispatch newsletter: Each week youll receive tips on traveling smarter, stories on hot destinations and access to photos from all over the world. Were looking for dynamic, high-performing, accommodating individuals interested in joining our upcoming training classes for Sales and Customer Service. I am still pursuing my refund. 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. Check out our directory. Youre dealing directly with the cruise line, so the company cant blame an intermediary for anything that goes wrong. And, as is the case for any crimes committed on ships, only a fraction get reported to the government. Empowering Lives with Nutritious and Delicious NDIS Meals! 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. Often, they succeed. Unsubscribe at any time. Lewis and his wife, Harriet Lewis, who acquired Boston-based Grand And cruise lines dont like to do that. As a result of the pandemic, many people have become hesitant to travel, resulting in a significant drop in bookings for Grand Circle Travel. No wonder offline agents call these operations vending machines. Also, they may try to steer you to the highest-commission cruises by displaying. . Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced she reached an agreement with a tour company, securing further refunds for canceled trips. If the company fails to find a solution to its financial woes, it could mean layoffs and reduced wages for employees. You probably need travel insurance for your cruise. 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. 2 hour wait for phone contact. We value your privacy. But it refuses to refund his money. 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. Theyre not. Plenty of free time is included in the itineraries, and there is a lot of choice among optional tours. Grand Circle Corporation is a global enterprisecomprised of a family of travel companiescommitted to changing people's lives by offering high-impact experiences to our travelers and building local communities through philanthropy, social entrepreneurship, and volunteerism. The fix: Turn off your cell phone or set it to airplane mode. 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. What Makes Grand Circle Travel Stand Out? In 2018, The Excellence in Service Award was presented to 7 different GCC associates. chairman of Grand Circle Foundation. While there are several included activities, you have many options for personalization through optional extensions and plenty of free time in each destination. The original Grand Circle Travel was founded by retired high . (How generous of you!) You must be very efficient at email with On Call. Youre in control. Although travel has stopped and is only starting up again slowly and in only a few destinations the aftershocks of that screeching halt, brought on by the coronavirus, continue to reverberate. Surely taking temperatures and separating tables would have helped tremendously. Overall, 55% of employees would recommend working at Grand Circle Travel to a friend. This profile has not been claimed by the company. Copyright 2022 Consumers Unified LLC. You might find yourself sharing dinner at the home of a local family or visiting local schools. You can request a roommate if you travel solo to save on the s We had a great tour guide in Ivan, was very knowledgable, friendly and very considerate of peoples concerns. Grand Circle Corporation is a global enterprise committed to changing peoples lives through international travel. Come on! They are completely incompetent at this point. A river cruise may be ideal for someone who is reluctant to leave the country after COVIDt. OAT's email offering a refund would have made your credit-card dispute an easy win. Don't do business with these people. Did we mention it's free? In response, Grand $7000 in their pocket. The company has seen increased costs due to safety protocols and additional staffing needed to ensure the health and safety of their guests. 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. But not for cruises. Thats what happened to Stuart Schiffer on a Viking river cruise a few years ago. Help! Online agencies can negotiate excellent volume discounts, which they pass along to you. Since 1958, Grand Circle has been the leader in international discovery for mature American travelers. 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." In addition to decreased demand, Grand Circle Travel has also had to face other financial challenges. But it was the industrys way of saying it could do better. Here is a photo of them enjoying the breathtaking view of Machu Picchu. 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. Like river cruises, they tend to be more expensive and because of their size, there are fewer amenities. Where is it? Grand Circle Travel (GCT) seems to play a few nasty games, and cheating its customers!!! He was warm and concerned about the experience of the customers on the tour. Copyright 2023 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. 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. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. And if I decided to go, whats the best way to book my vacation? By offering more diverse experiences, such as virtual tours and staycations, Grand Circle Travel can draw in more customers and increase its revenue. You should read it before you leave. Every member must be fully accountable for the teams and ones own personal results. OAT is non-accredited per the BBB, had a C- rating by them and per 23 customer reviews had 1 * out of 5. The worst fee Ive seen is for the end cut of a roast served at dinner. 166,000 travelers in 2007. 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. 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. Cruise lines are sometimes creative with their offers. Youll need to consider all of these dangers before you plan your cruise. Grand Circle's Annual Report & Profile shows critical firmographic facts: What is the company's size? Our content is intended to be used for general information purposes only. We make it accessible through trips that deliver unmatched discoveries, leisurely pacing, more travel choices, and comprehensive value. The pandemic exposed one of the most absurd aspects of cruising. was no longer offering refunds. Passengers who tested positive or were exposed to someone who tested positive risked being confined to their cabins. Copyright 2008-2023, Glassdoor, Inc. "Glassdoor" and logo are registered trademarks of Glassdoor, Inc. Glassdoor gives you an inside look at what it's like to work at Grand Circle Travel, including salaries, reviews, office photos, and more. If you prefer a smaller ship and dont like waves, a river cruise might be right for you.
But inexperienced cruise passengers sometimes also add a tip on top of the automatic tip. Discriminated against in room assignments - I took the Grand Circle tour, The Best of Eastern Europe on May 9, 2012. Empowered teams are committed to taking the necessary actions to ensure that the team will reach its goals. For example, Royal Caribbean says it may, for any reason at any time and without prior notice, cancel, advance, postpone or deviate from any scheduled sailing, port of call, destination, lodging or any activity on or off the vessel, or substitute another vessel or port of call, destination, lodging or activity. If it does, it owes you nothing for the inconvenience. Always arrive the day before your cruise. Dont let that happen to you. Translation: When they cancel your trip, they are legally required to offer you the money back. I have flights with Grand Circle. COVID and norovirus outbreaks are common on cruise ships. The Grand Circle Travel Style is comfortable, standard river cruises and motorcoaches. It's equivalent to changing a flight schedule and not informing the ticketed passenger. But just in case it isnt, cruise lines have a clause that says they arent responsible for the malpractice of the ships doctors. The next week, I learned via email that I had been rebooked on the same trip next year.