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. 1. Theres only one way to ensure you dont get caught by these fees. But not for cruises. By offering more diverse experiences, such as virtual tours and staycations, Grand Circle Travel can draw in more customers and increase its revenue. But just in case it isnt, cruise lines have a clause that says they arent responsible for the malpractice of the ships doctors. 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. Alternatively, you could have filed a case in small claims court, although you would have had to limit your . We make it accessible through trips that deliver unmatched discoveries, leisurely pacing, more travel choices, and comprehensive value. in 1997 they established Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises with a Overseas Adventure Travel is part of Grand Circle Corporation, a family of travel companies based in Boston. Youre one of a million, literally. And most passengers accepted the credit. Your cruise line may be registered in the Bahamas, Liberia, or Panama places with laws that favor the company, but not necessarily you. It doesnt have to. But we need to cancel. If you are injured with Grand Circle, be prepared to handle all medical necessities and communication yourself including pushing a wheel chair. You raise an important point. Were always here to help. While they didnt answer my question directly, I was able to recoup more than $100,000, collectively, for you and 10 other readers. Not a week goes by that my advocates dont receive a case from someone who didnt have enough travel insurance and faced a large bill at the end of a cruise. Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. Copyright 2023 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. Enjoy reading our tips and recommendations. would not recommend extremely long for no reason, multiple interviews just for entry level, low paying roles you will work weekends rude staff They do not respect your time. 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. Employees rate Grand Circle Travel 3.3 out of 5 stars based on 429 anonymous reviews on Glassdoor. We booked a river cruise, including airfare, and documented every detail. In addition to decreased demand, Grand Circle Travel has also had to face other financial challenges. Thats not entirely true. Again, these offers come by way of the relationships cruise agents have through their company or by being friends with their regional sales representative. Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.). Grand Circle Travel offers distinctive international vacations for older Americans. Grand Circle cancels two of Ernest Belzil's tours. But stay off the phone. 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.. The fix: Turn off your cell phone or set it to airplane mode. The rating was due in part to a series of customer complaints about Grand Circle CEO Alan This profile has not been claimed by the company. What are my rights as a cruise passenger? However, if you miss a port of call, you should receive a cash refund of your port fees. The right to a ship crew that is properly trained in emergency and evacuation procedures. Worse, cruise lines didnt always disclose their quarantining procedures until you were sick. In addition, a local restaurant lunch was packed full of passengers with food being served right under their noses. Read More rugged variety. Itineraries are designed to give you more time in each stop, allowing for a more balanced combination of included activities and independent time. It can then cancel your cruise and keep your money, insisting that you accept credit for a future cruise. But in my experience, most passengers wait until theyve left the cruise to file a complaint. Preparing for Your Trip. $7000 in their pocket. Glassdoor gives you an inside look at what it's like to work at Grand Circle Travel, including salaries, reviews, office photos, and more. Were always here to help. Because Grand Circle attracts a similar age range, youre sure to meet new friends with like interests in no time. Grand Circle Travel Reviews (Updated May 2023) - ConsumerAffairs After the pandemic, our advocacy organization was slammed with a tidal wave of help requests about future cruise credits. COVID and norovirus outbreaks are common on cruise ships. Crypto Wallet Development: Types, Features, and Popularity, 5 Ways AI is Detecting and Preventing Identity Fraud. Business Bureau had given the company an "unsatisfactory" rating. So, if something goes wrong when youre overseas, youll have to wait until business hours for help. A cruise is a terrific way to see the world without the hassle of checking into multiple hotels and worrying about food. Companies displayed may pay us to be Authorized or when you click a link, call a number or fill a form on our site. Other travelers looking for refunds may have a better chance if theyre dealing with companies headquartered within Hawaii, Washington state, Illinois or California. Grandparents & grandchildren (ages 13 and up are welcome to join). O.A.T. Asked for refund and got a credit instead. 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 next week, I learned via email that I had been rebooked on the same trip next year. 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. chairman of Grand Circle Foundation. How Can I Get $$ back?? 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. Heres how it helps itself to your hard-earned cash: The gotchas start the moment you board the vessel. Teamwork: We believe in groups of people who work together to create excellent results, solve difficult problems, support each other personally and professionally, and recognize their success. Terms indicate if they cancel you get a refund. As Adam Anolik, a San Francisco- based travel-industry lawyer, explained over email, thats why oversight forcing a company to comply with state laws can feel like an uphill battle. My cruise was cancelled by the company because do not have enough people, asking for refund but never get an answer. 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. For the flexibility and comfort aspects, combined with unique experiences at every turn. Ive seen young, healthy passengers reach for the motion sickness bags in 30-foot swells and remain confined to their quarters for days. Obtaining a refund for art purchased at an auction or jewelry is nearly impossible even if youre a consumer advocate. Now that we have explored the causes behind Grand Circle Travels financial struggles, it is important to look at potential solutions. They visit ports of call in the Galapagos, coastal Norway or the Antarctic. Service, when it does come, can be slow and impersonal. Grand Circle Travel was started by the founder of AARP, and as such know their demographic extremely well. 166,000 travelers in 2007. This is a common problem at my consumer advocacy organization. Most cruise lines have stopped screening their passengers for COVID. In order to overcome these financial struggles, the company must find ways to diversify its offerings, increase efficiency, and reduce overhead expenses. Archive - Excellent service on ship, considerate of their clients, wonderful discovery trips. That agency said that it has received about 275 consumer complaints so far about canceled O.A.T. Claim your Free Employer Profile. Supervisors and managers want everyone to succeed. Asia Pacific +65 6212 1000. Ultimately, it is up to Grand Circle Travel to take the necessary steps to ensure its financial stability. When something goes wrong, someone should always be there for 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). All Rights Reserved. Tours & Operators on Travelstride Awarded and Featured by: 2023 Travelstride. 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. Grand Circle's Annual Report & Profile shows critical firmographic facts: What is the company's size? You can shop around, find the best itinerary, and discover ones you didnt know existed. 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. (Note: Is this article not meeting your expectations? When you try to contact someone by phone. If you leave the country, you must have a passport. Grand Circle Corporation is a global enterprise committed to changing peoples lives through international travel. Anyone can read what you share. I received no corrected, printed information, no email, no telephone call, informing me of GCT's policy change. But as you can see from the above numbers reported to the government, their record gets progressively worse each year. Beware Grand Circle Travel/Overseas Adventure Travel - Fodor's The aggressive onboard sales agents sometimes force you to decide on a future vacation before youre ready. I am disappointed, disgruntled and dissatisfied; I didnt spend money to get this treatment; I could have done better on my own! That can get a little noisy. was no longer offering refunds. 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. Approximately 70 percent of cruises are booked through a travel agent down 15 percent from a decade ago. The right to have included on each cruise lines website a toll-free phone line that can be used for questions or information concerning any aspect of shipboard operations. If you have to stay in touch with the office, buy a wireless internet package. I feel I am being held hostage by O.A.T. 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. In response, Grand refund if a trip is canceled. Cruise lines claim a vacation at sea is safer than any land-based vacation. 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! ), Back to O. please contact our team at Elliott Advocacy through this form. 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. How Does PTO Work for Salaried Employees? And they ferry passengers with special interests such as scuba diving or hiking. Grand Circle Travel is a company that offers guided tours and river cruises to destinations all over the world. Youll probably get the deepest discounts, and in some cases, a price protection that assures you that if the fare drops, youll get a refund. If you need advice about a best-laid travel plan that went awry, send an email to travel@nytimes.com. Virtually zero. Over the years they have established a solid reputation for tours and river cruises that offer good value to destinations around the world. View travel requirements for countries around the world. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. Youre out of luck. : Tanzania/Kilimanjaro Tour Company, Any recommendations for Grand Circle Tours and/or Overseas Adventure Tours, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. I dont want to be obligated to Grand Circle. Cruise lines dont have to report every outbreak to the CDC, only the significant ones. This PayPal invoice scam almost got me. They also have limited departures in Africa, South America, the Middle East, South Pacific, North America, Central America, and even Antarctica. 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. If you like the idea of joining a tight knit travel community, with frequent cost cutting options, then Grand Circle could be for you. Kiddos to the bus drive for being SO informative!! Furthermore, the companys reputation could be negatively impacted if customers do not feel confident in their ability to provide quality services. He paid Vantage $18,536. Get guided help to find the right trip for you, Travel tips, stories, top 10 lists and more, Get yours before you leave, easier, cheaper. undisclosed amount. Privacy Statement - 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. He provided us with so much information. They tied up over $10,000 of our money on a trip they canceled because the cruise line they offered us had Russian links. For more information about reviews on ConsumerAffairs.com please visit our 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. Younger couples or families will probably feel out of place among the crowd on a Grand Circle tour. Most trips with Grand Circle are, unfortunately, not wheelchair accessible. Dont let this be you. They are what our beliefs and actions are derived from. Learn the word no, and use it often. Every member must be fully accountable for the teams and ones own personal results. Another solution to Grand Circle Travels financial woes is to increase efficiency. If its a small shop, you may not have 24/7 support. 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. Get travel insurance. GRAND CIRCLE Revenue, Growth & Competitor Profile - IncFact.com A competent agent will make sure the cruise matches your personality type. Why is Good UI/UX Design Imperative for Business Success? By Christopher Elliott Globe correspondent, Updated November 11, 2021, 12:00 p.m. Grand. They have changed our river cruise a couple of times. During the pandemic, many cruise lines instituted strict quarantine procedures some would say, too strict. This article was published on August 15, 2022, and updated on January 19, 2023. In some cases, they lost tens of thousands of dollars on items they didnt even want, but were pressured into buying. Onboard doctors dont have the equipment or facilities to handle a serious illness. (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). There are a variety of ocean cruises, from budget to luxury. In addition, there is the worry that many travel companies may go out of business due to the loss of business from this pandemic. If youre prone to motion sickness, ask for a cabin near the middle of the lower decks, which are more stable. Where is it? Grand Circle Corp - Company Profile and News - Bloomberg Markets Failing that, you can file a credit card chargeback or complain to the Federal Maritime Commission for violations of the Shipping Act. Then our columnist intervened with the Boston-based tour operator Overseas Adventure Travel. Over the years they have.

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