Grand Circle Travel Reviews
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Grand Circle Travel Reviews
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Reviewed Nov. 3, 2024
I recently returned from the "Romance of the Rhine & Mosel" cruise on the MS River Harmony with GCCL. This was my second trip with this cruise line and I must say, I enjoyed both experiences tremendously. On this trip, my grandmother and I traveled together, with the cruise's itinerary allowing us to easily make new friends with fellow passengers, Program Directors, and the crew. The ship was quite comfortable, accommodating, and always exquisitely cleaned. The wifi did not always function to its best ability, however, this was a minor, occasional difficulty that was overwhelming diminished by the wonderful excursions and engaging conversations I had with others throughout this trip.
The activities onboard were just as entertaining and interesting as the walking tours and other offerings within the cities and towns we visited. This entertainment was also informative and relevant in the current society, which I greatly appreciated. I especially enjoyed optional activities such as a bike ride along the Dutch windmills and a hike from "Drachenberg", which allowed for more physical activity if you so chose. We had plenty of wine to sip, delicious meals prepared every day, and such compassionate, fun, and attentive waiters and waitresses. Thank you Grand Circle for a great experience!
Reviewed Oct. 31, 2024
We have just returned from a Great RIVERS OF EUROPE river cruise, and it was one of our best vacations ever. Although I had travelled to Europe many times, the historical knowledge gained, the extremely helpful daily port excursions, and personal friendship shown by our Program Director made this trip an outstanding one, and changed my perspective and appreciation for EuropeService was excellent both in terms of meals and room service was outstanding, and the catering was excellent, with multiple choices for every meal. The itinerary was well planned, absolutely on time, and very professional in its administration. This river cruise represented great value for money, and we look forward to seeking another river cruise with Grand Circle in the near future.
Reviewed Oct. 28, 2024
We have been on 2 Grand Circle tours and 1 OAT tour. I love this company for the personal experiences they give such as the home hosted meals. I think this company offers unique experiences you don't get elsewhere. Our guides have all been very knowledgeable and helpful. I also have food allergies and the guides and hotels were extremely helpful in making sure I was accommodated appropriately.
Reviewed Oct. 25, 2024
Good process throughout the cruise. Flexible. Lots of food with variety for all the meals staff. Helpful, energetic, and quick to act staff. Good agenda with optional participation is a plus. Knowledgeable program directors with good English.
Reviewed Oct. 25, 2024
My Grand Circle trip to Italy was fantastic! Not only did we see amazing sites, countryside, and sculptures, our tour guides at each location were local knowledgeable residents. But, Georgia, who was with us from day one until this special trip ended, hosted us to some memorable meals, cooking class, vineyard visit, olive oil factory visit and much more. 14 days flew by quickly and Georgia made it all the more memorable. She was so special and loved by all. I definitely recommend Grand Circle Travel and am thankful that a friend of mine told me about this trip.
Reviewed Oct. 22, 2024
The Normandy to Paris cruise on the Bizet was memorable and fantastic. I can't stop talking about the crew and staff on board. They catered to all our needs and requests. Our program director Amandine was excellent. A pleasure to have guiding and helping us w every detail. I highly recommend this tour w Grand Circle Cruise. We are looking forward to our next GCT trip!
Reviewed Oct. 19, 2024
We embarked on our first European river cruise this fall. We chose Grand Circle because of recommendations from friends who had taken many cruises with Grand Circle. It was a great trip! The food was excellent as were our cabins. I was surprised how big our bathroom was. Our cruise director was so very knowledgeable on all of our many tours that he shared with us while touring the many cities we stopped at. I would highly recommend Grand Circle tours to everyone.
Reviewed Oct. 14, 2024
Grand Circle Cruise Line (a Grand Circle Corp. company) FAILED US MISERABLY. And now they won't even talk to us. Yes, this was not our first trip with them. In fact, we are part of their inner circle club, The Sir Edmund Hillary Club. They issued us documents saying we had First class seats on a trip to France for the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. When we got to Chicago, we were told we were in Premium Economy. We asked to have our return tickets adjusted to meet what we were promised. Two weeks on the trip and no joy. We came home in Premium Economy. We got home and sent a complaint eMail to them. The reply was that it had to be reviewed by the quality group - expect an answer in two weeks.
Two months went by and they had not answered. We sent another eMail and got the same "two week" answer. That was about two months ago. No answer. We sent a letter by return receipt USPS for $11 in postage. It was refused as undeliverable as addressed. Guess that means that they wouldn't sign for it. In looking up their corporate leadership, I found they reneged on a sale of the company in 2007 when they were in financial difficulty. This seemed to have been precipitated by the way they were handling refunds for cancelled trips. Then I found that they filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March of 2024. I can find not news that they have come out of Chapter 11. So, if they are fighting chapter 11, I guess their issues are more than just one upset family. If you are booking with them, I suggest you check your travel insurance to see what coverage there is if your trip doesn't go as planned. I'd worry about unpaid vendors and last minute cancellations.
We are sorry to read of your experience. If you would send us your reservation number we can have management review your claim. Please email us at request@oattravel.com.
Reviewed Oct. 14, 2024
This was my second cruise with Grand Circle. Both were fabulous. The boat is well appointed, comfortable and very clean. The staff was amazing. From the hospitality manager to deck hands to housekeeping every member was pleasant helpful and well informed. The tour directors were fantastic and are really more like a personal concierge. They assist travelers to enjoy every minute of the trip. They are a font of information. We experienced a lost passport and Christine was irreplaceable in assisting us to resolve the issue which involved a bus, train and Uber commute. She supplied details that made everything go smoothly and went above and beyond to help us.
Our mishap ended up being a small bump in the road. The itinerary is well planned and a variety of choices provided based on travelers' abilities and accommodates each traveler. I have been to Paris before and was excited to have new experiences in the city. Grand Circle provides interesting and enjoyable experiences each day with no pressure. Food is fantastic and beautiful. I will certainly make my next trip with this excellent company.
Reviewed Oct. 13, 2024
Where do I begin? I had a wonderful experience on this cruise that I may think twice before doing land travel. I have toured with a company where I changed out hotel rooms often and it was a more stressful way to travel and exhausting. I loved how the staff was friendly and welcoming and enjoyed their efforts at entertaining us. It brings a smile to my face thinking about it. I have to admit that I was having separation anxiety upon leaving and I will remember this trip for years to come and perhaps I will return in the future!
Reviewed Oct. 3, 2024
There are a number of reason why I chose only 3 stars for this, my 6th trip with Grand Circle/OAT.
1. I originally booked this trip with both pre and post trip extensions. At some later time I had the pre trip removed, and then still later, I had that put back on. When I received my updated documents I did NOT notice that the post trip to Madiera was removed. As this was my second trip to Spain/Portugal, this was the main reason why I wanted to go back. Instead, I used the departure and return dates to book my own airfare.
About 3 weeks prior to begin this trip, I received my final travel booklet and it was then that I noticed the post trip had been removed. I immediately contacted GC and was told that the extension could be added back on (at the new higher rate). I spent the next 2-3 hours on the phone with the airlines and booking agent to get my flight changed, to no avail. The best they could do was charge me an additional $4500 on top of what I had already spent. GC should never have removed the post trip, and I should have been more diligent in reviewing everything. But still, I had to book a separate trip from Lisbon out to Madiara to connect with my return flight.
2. I was never aware that there would be up to 42 people on the trip (There were 38). All my previous trips were topped out at 16. A number of others said the same to me. It was way too many people and required a huge bus to transport everyone.
3. Within the first week, one to the travelers came down with an illness. Nobody knew what is was...a cold, covid, something else?? A number of other became ill as the trip progressed and the second to last day, I became ill. Early in the morning as I was about to go to the airport, the trip leader came to my room and told me one of the members or our group tested positive for Covid. It wasn't until got home that I tested positive for Covid and was sick tor a total of 9 days. In retrospect, I think it is the responsibility of the trip leader to immediately get any/all sick people to a clinic/doctor's office and or hospital to determine the nature of the illness. When I got home, the emergency doctor who saw me said that until that was done, everyone should have put on masks. As it was late the I got sick, I still did not go on the final days activities, rather stayed in my hotel room.
4. As I stated above, this was my second trip to this part of Europe, and without stating the name of the other travel company, I do have something to compare it to. Overall, that other trip was much better as it went to a lot more places. It included Gibraltar and an extra trip to Morocco. It included all of Portugal all the way up to Porto, and then a drive back across northern Spain stopping at Salamanca along the way back to Madrid.
5. Lesson learned: read everything and assume nothing.
Thank you for your honest feedback and for traveling with us on your sixth journey with Grand Circle/O.A.T. We're sorry to hear that aspects of this trip fell short of your expectations. Your insights are valuable, and we'll share them with our team to improve our communication and protocols. Thank you for helping us learn from your experience, and we hope to serve you better in the future.
Reviewed Oct. 1, 2024
We just returned from the Romance of the Rhine and Mosel river cruise. We also opted for the extra days in Lucerne, Switzerland. The entire trip was fantastic! We like the GCT has multiple Program Directors for a small group of about 45 people instead of one PD for the entire ship (like Viking). Our PD, Simone, was amazing. When our luggage did not arrive with us, she spoke directly to the airlines letting them know where to send the luggage as the ship was already on the move. The cities we visited were interesting and educational. The family shared so much information when we had our home visit in Germany.
The onboard activities were plentiful especially after dinner. All were optional, but we attended almost all of them because they were fun and informative (different presentations about Belgium and Germany). The few days we cruised along the Rhine and Mosel were beautiful. They narrated the stories behind the castles we were seeing. All meals offered such a variety of choices - all delicious! The dinners included an entree from the county we were visiting. The staff were attentive, polite, and funny! We highly recommend this trip and Grand Circle Travel.
Reviewed Sept. 29, 2024
The trip on the NORDIC Voyage was the BEST yet. The GCT program directors were superb, the ship travel was the best yet, the plane trip was nice and the walks throughout Finland and Norway and Denmark was a little tough but very informative and we saw a lot. Thank you all.
Reviewed Sept. 27, 2024
We recently returned from Grand Circle’s Cruising the Rhône: Lyon to Provence & the South of France, along with the extension to the Italian Riviera. This was my 8th trip with Grand Circle/Overseas Adventure Travel, and they all have been outstanding. Cruising the Rhone was no exception. Our Program Director, Garance, was the best. She was personable, knowledgeable, and spoke excellent English. She bent over backwards to accommodate everyone’s needs. The river cruise ship, the M/S Chanson, was stylish, well maintained with pleasant rooms. The crew were friendly, fun, professional and made everyone at home. We could not have asked for more.
All of the stops along the river were well organized and very interesting with plenty of free time as well as the guided tours. We would certainly recommend it. And this was all possible because of all the people associated with Grand Circle/Overseas Adventure Travel. Everyone with the travel group is so helpful, so well informed, and are masters in the travel industry. You cannot beat their prices and experience. We would not travel with anyone else.
Reviewed Sept. 23, 2024
Above Arctic Circle many days. Visited with the Sami, reindeer people, and first glimpse of northern lights. The Hurtigruten cruise was fabulous. Plenty of room in cabin. Great food. Crossing the Arctic Circle involved a spoon of cod liver oil. Never again! You did get to keep the commemorative spoon. Out of the deck it was blowing 50 mph. Bergen is such a charming city. Our guide, Ann, was organized. She was personable and approachable. Kept us up to date on WHATS APP and email. We lucked out with pretty warm weather. I brought too many warm clothes. Tip: pack some short sleeved tops. Let the cabin phone do announcements and jump up when Captain announces LIGHTS, run out on deck.
Reviewed Sept. 20, 2024
We had a great experience along the Rhine and Mosel. Bruges was awesome especially the Flanders Field option. Local food was excellent. Our group enjoyed outdoor restaurant before Last Call ceremony. Belgium waffles and mussels were a treat! Can't wait until our next GC trip.
Reviewed Aug. 29, 2024
We recently went on a cruise that went from Lyon to Toulouse, France. Because of the Olympics, we skipped Paris, which was great! The trip was so much better because we visited several quaint villages that we would never have seen if we had started in Paris. Our program director, Anastasia was amazing and made our trip so memorable. She was one of the best program directors we have ever had and we have been on 15 trips with GCT. Anastasia impressed me with her knowledge of every location we visited even though many of the places were new to her also. She never used notes but knew detailed history of all the towns we visited. It was obvious she really did her homework. The crew was exceptional and always there to help!
Reviewed Aug. 18, 2024
I will start with the positives of my Eastern Europe Cruise on the River Adagio ship from the Black Sea to Budapest Hungary that commenced on July 30, 2024. The itinerary was extensive and the program directors were amazing. I loved the educational component of the cruise which included local speakers from each of the five countries we visited. I have learned so much about these countries from the genuine people who live there. I found the food to be under-seasoned and bland. I enjoyed the entertainment in the lounge but it ended too soon. We were often nudged out of the lounge by 10 p.m. and most of the elderly guests would go to bed right after the entertainment.
Tipping in advance is against the rules but many guests tipped the crew at the beginning and it resulted in some guests not getting the same quality service as others. Some guests tested positive for Covid 19 and did not isolate in their cabins. The crew did not enforce the health guidelines on this health issue and many Covid-positive guests dined in the restaurant, socialized in the lounge, and joined the groups on the bus.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience. Your feedback is helpful and will be shared with our regional staff.
Reviewed Aug. 17, 2024
Just returned from Eastern Danube cruise. Service was excellent, from wait and bar staff to front desk, room steward and all the folks behind the scenes. Tours, guides and Program Directors were all fantastic and informative. The food was varied and wonderful, and they were great at accommodating my food allergy. We did not do any of the optional tours, yet felt we had a full experience. We have been on Gate1 and Viking and felt this was a comparable experience. Although the ship was a little older, it was extremely clean, comfortable and well kept.
Reviewed Aug. 8, 2024
It is with immense gratitude that I express my sincere appreciation for the outstanding services rendered by the esteemed staff of Grand Circle Travel River Cruise. Their exceptional organizational capabilities and amiable disposition played a pivotal role in crafting an exceptionally delightful and unforgettable experience. We are truly fortunate to have such accomplished and dedicated Program Directors.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience.
Reviewed July 22, 2024
Grand Circle Travel kept me informed, via email, of any and everything related to my cruise. They sent email updates, payment reminders, and the final documents all in a timely manner. They met me at the airport as they said they would. The food was excellent. The program directors were fantastic, especially mine - Michel M from Slovakia. He is extremely knowledgeable about history in Europe and was able to answer every question thrown at him. The tours we did were wonderful but I wish we had more free time to explore or shop on our own.
WOW! Thank you so much for your kind words. We appreciate you sharing your experience.
Reviewed July 14, 2024
The Great European River Cruise was delightful. The ship was small enough to enable me to get to know most of the fellow passengers. The service was excellent. The tour directors/guides were knowledgeable, supportive, helpful, and informative about the places and cultures we visited. I would recommend Grand Circle if you are considering a river cruise.
We are so happy you were pleased! Thank you for traveling with us.
Reviewed July 13, 2024
We just returned from the Great Rivers of Europe cruise. We had previously taken this same cruise on Viking and Vantage (Vantage went bankrupt, so I will compare the cruise to Viking). The ship was an older than the Viking ship but was in excellent condition. The staff were excellent, friendly and helpful. On this cruise we had four program directors as compared to one on Viking. Each program director is responsible for one fourth of the passengers for the entire journey and personally handled any questions or problems that we had. For the entire cruise, there was only one optional tour, all other tours were included in the cruise price.
Viking on the other hand had several optional tours for a handsome price. Food on the ships was comparable, basically due to the head chef. The rooms had two fold down single beds which concerned me before the trip but turned out to be very comfortable and gave you a lot more walking around area in the middle of the room. One thing I did not know in advance is that Grand Circle provides coffee, tea, soft drinks, house wine and draft beer for free at all times. Viking only gave free beer, wine and soft drinks during meals. Overall, Grand Circle cruises are a lot less expensive than Viking for basically the same product! We took this cruise on Grand Circle just to compare them to other cruise lines. Based on our experience, we will definitely sail with Grand Circle in the future.
Thank you for your kind words.
Reviewed July 8, 2024
This is my 4th River Cruise with GCCL, each one seemingly better than the last. The latest was Great Rivers of Europe. Wonderful Program Director, amazing food every day, so many great daily excursions. Can't wait to cruise with GCCL again!
WOW! Thank you so much!
Reviewed June 25, 2024
The ship and crew were amazing as well as the food. Unfortunately the itinerary was so compressed that free time was minimal. It is suggested that the Provence option be avoided as the free time is far more valuable for exploring the town than the optional day trip.
Thanks for sharing your feedback. We appreciate hearing of your experience. We will share your comments with management.
Reviewed June 25, 2024
This was the most incredible experience! Thank you so much for the great tour guides, the beautiful river trips and the exciting experience of going through the locus. The meals were exquisite. Thanks to everyone who made this trip a huge success for us.
Reviewed June 14, 2024
I rate 5 stars because these trips are awesome. The program directors are topnotch and had to deal with a couple major emergencies and handled it all professionally. We learned about the local culture. Home hosted visits are my favorite thing to do. I am planning next trip.
Fantastic - thanks for sharing your experience.
Reviewed June 7, 2024
We have just completed our 7th vacation with Grand Circle Travel taking the Great Rivers of Europe cruise. As usual, GCT provided us with an excellent vacation, plenty of education about the cities and areas we saw. We enjoyed everything and will be back again.
Reviewed May 31, 2024
Grand Circle provides a wonderful experience full of adventure and delight! This was our 5th trip and we hope to make another one soon. The staff are all amazing - friendly, knowledgeable and ready to help in any way. The food on our River boat, Harmony, was excellent, too!
Reviewed May 27, 2024
My first cruise with Grand Circle, Paris to Normandy on the Seine. The time on the ship was exemplary. Extremely well organized, food was beyond delicious, EVERY staff person seemed to be there to meet our every need with a smile. Our Program Director for the pre trip and cruise was well-informed, organized, and lovely. It seemed that they all wanted us to have the very best experience possible. Unfortunately, that was not true for the post trip. It was disorganized, we were moved to an old hotel in a less than savory area, with a guide that was unfamiliar with the area, and did not seem to care whether we were making our way or not. It was exactly the opposite of the cruise, and left a very bad taste in everyone's mouth for the last days of our trip. Such a sad way to end an otherwise lovely cruise.
Grand Circle Travel Company Information
- Company Name:
- Grand Circle Travel
- Website:
- www.gct.com