Grand Circle Travel Reviews

Taking A River Boat Cruise is wonderful. You get to meet many of your fellow passengers from around the US. It’s a more intimate cruise than a large cruise ship as there are only 150 passengers compared to thousands.

This was my second trip with Grand Circle, and once again, it was simply amazing! I started with the pre-trip to Ayers Rock (Uluru) — a truly breathtaking experience that’s hard to put into words. From there, we explored the wonders of Australia, from the iconic Sydney Opera House to the Great Barrier Reef, both incredible bucket-list highlights.

My husband and I recently completed a wonderfully entertaining and educational journey from Paris to Southern France. We traveled using a high speed train, comfortable riverboat and completed the journey on a comfortable motor bus. It was our 13th trip with this company and once again we were very impressed with the knowledgeable, patient and helpful staff, the well-organized stops/visits, the local experiences and the reasonable price. We have never been disappointed with this company.

Our tour of Australia and New Zealand was fabulous and informative. Our tour director, Paul **, was very knowledgeable of the area and ensured that we saw all the most important sites. The food and accommodations were very good. I loved snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef and cruising Milford Sound.

This was our first river cruise and I don't think any part of it could be improved. If we have the opportunity to travel again, Grand Circle will definitely be our choice. Our Program Director made the trip educational, interesting and entertaining.

Had a wonderful time on Spain and Portugal in Depth! Had never been to either country, and this trip was perfect for seeing many major cities between the two countries. Would definitely recommend to others!

My wife and I returned from the Canadian Maritime & Nova Scotia trip on Monday 10/13/25. We had an absolutely wonderful trip and saw some amazing new sights. We traveled with my sister and brother in-law, which made the trip that much more enjoyable. We met a lot of new "friends" and enjoyed everyone's company. Our Program Director {Margo **} was the best. She made sure everyone was getting to see what they wanted to, and we even saw a few special; things. We would highly recommend her as well as our bus driver {Mike}. They both went above and beyond during the entire trip. Trip was great, meals were great, entertainment was wonderful and sightseeing terrific.

This was my first time on Grand Circle. It was a wonderful experience. The staff went above and beyond to make our time unbelievable. The local guides made the experience that much better. The food on the ship was beyond compare. I highly recommend Grand Circle.

Everything was excellent. Will do another one after I save $$$! Food was top notch. The staff courteous and friendly. Bed was comfortable. Excursions were educational. I learned a lot. I love traveling

My husband and I just got back from our third River cruise with Grand Circle Travel. We did The Blue Danube: Budapest to Prague. We loved this trip! It was beautiful! This was a special tour, The Music Lovers Cruise. We were treated to lots of different music from the region. It was wonderful! The food was great! The service was impeccable. We loved these cruises! Looking forward to the next one!

We've been on several trips with OAT and they have all been wonderful. This was our first land trip with Grand Circle and we thought the 33 person group size was too big. Jeremy, our guide was fantastic and could not have been better. But we didn't like the huge amount of noise at the included meals with that many people. Also, the portion of the trip actually in the Canadian Rockies was only 5 of the 13 days and those days were great. The other days were spent in Calgary and in moving from Jasper to Vancouver. Two of the days were extremely long and grueling on the bus, even though we stopped several times. We would have preferred to spend more time in the rockies and fly from Jasper to Vancouver or back to Calgary. In the future, we'll stick with OAT.

This trip was a rich exposure to historical events, marvelous archaeological and historical sites, three proud, diverse cultures living on the same island & ancient crafts such as slate quarrying & dry-stone wall construction. All the people were just wonderful to talk to. Despite a bad reputation, all the food was most excellent. Will, our Program Manager was resourceful, enthusiastic & had a great sense of humor. He & Henry our driver, made a very good team for introducing us to life in the UK. I appreciated the way that Will incorporated music in his discussions about people & places. Riding through the Welsh countryside listening to a stadium full of Welshmen sing their national strong was stirring. Most Memorable Moment: Numerous ones come to mind, but walking Stonehenge & Hadrian’s Wall, visiting Chester & being bagpiped to dinner in Edinburgh were certainly highlights.

The Grand CIrcle trip on the Rhone River was amazing. It was our 12th trip with the company 11 with OAT and our first with Grand Circle. The crew were always pleasant and made you feel welcome and special. The Program Directors for the 81 people on the tour were caring individuals who were knowledgeable and always pleasant. They had a wonderful ability to coordinate the tours which were divided into 2 groups of 40. They also had a good relationship with each other which was important in creating a warm and accepting environment. The tours in all the cities and the countryside were well organized, educational, historical, and fun. The Chanson was beautifully decorated and our room was very comfortable. The food was good and represented French cooking from each area. We look forward to taking another trip with Grand Circle.

My wife and I joined the Denali tour with our tour director, Scott ** and our driver, Willie. They were both professional with a touch of humor. The tour was wonderful. Our only complaint was the weather, which for some reason, Grand Circle could not control. Scott was a great director, and provided 2 speakers to the group (Jim ** and Aurora **). Both speakers gave excellent presentations (Climbing Denali and Photographing the Northern Lights). We would recommend this tour to anyone interested in the State of Alaska.

Grand Circle is a great travel company. Making reservations is easy, fixing complicated travel plans finalized with no problem for me! We were met at the airport and never let go! Of course it is the guides who are the face of Grand Circle. They are really fantastic, always cheerful and there is nothing that they can’t do! Their knowledge of Portugal is total!! I enclose a photo of Joana and wish her long, happy life when she gets married in May ‘26.

The trip to The Canadian Maritimes was ok. We’ve traveled with OAT and GCT in the past. We were fortunate that 16 people canceled making the main group of 26 more reasonable. Our trip leader was amazing, so patient, knowledgeable and helpful. Overall we will not be traveling on land tours with such a large group again. We prefer the smaller size tours of 16 max. There were too many “meals on your own” than in the past and a lot of time “on your own.” I would have loved to see and visit more lighthouses! We enjoyed the 6 hour experience at Petty Harbour, Leo the fisherman and his wife Kimberly were so accommodating.

This was our first trip to Europe and Grand Circle Travel made it amazing. Before booking this trip I read lots of reviews and one said that Grand Circle had a "rabid" fan base that traveled with them repeatedly. I now understand why. This was one of the best trips we've ever taken. The ship, the crew, the food, the tours, the cities, the tour leaders and especially our fellow travelers. We made friends that I know we will keep for years to come and are already planning future cruises together!

We had an excellent experience on the Grand Circle British Isles tour. Of the twenty-five GCT trips we have taken we felt we had the best tour director we have ever had. She was excellent. She was available to us at all times to respond to questions or issues that we were experiencing, and she resolved each and every one to our satisfaction. GREAT job, Trey!!! Thanks for a wonderful trip. -- Betty & Charles **, Altoona, FL

We recently returned from the Great Rivers of Europe cruise with Grand Circle. This was our first experience with Grand Circle and we were greatly impressed. The boat was comfortable, the food was absolutely delicious and with many choices, the atmosphere was fun, the crew was friendly and efficient, and the activity directors were excellent and caring. The places we visited were brought to life by the local guides or our activity director when she lead the walking tours. There was also a special guide who did an easier route for those with walking restrictions. There were special evenings in the lounge with fun events hosted by the crew and several times local performers came on board. Several of the in depth presentations about issues of the country we were in were provided by local experts who came on board just for that presentation and they were excellent and interesting.

Romance on the Rhine & Mosel was an amazing trip! The M/S River Harmony was well maintained. With only 140 passengers, we received personalized service. The crew was absolutely amazing. The meals were fabulous. Will definitely book again.

The Romance of the Rhine and Mosel was my first river cruise. The ship was clean, the staff was so helpful and friendly. Everyone was exceptionally courteous. The weather was perfect. The scenery outstanding. The onshore excursions were fantastic. The fellow travelers were fun and interesting and kind. I would highly recommend this cruise.

The trip was prefect from start to finish. The program directors and staff were all amazing and so friendly. The food was always delicious and plenty of choices. Wines and beers same. The staff very attentive and everywhere we went we were very informed. Lots of walking for those who wanted and also plenty of relax if needed. Very educational trip. They really covered everything they set out to do. Free time was there if you wanted to explore on your own. Bartender Alex very knowledgeable on lots of countries. Hotel manager was a delight, always with a smile his staff the same. Cleaning crew is amazing. Like I said best trip of my life. Was treated like a queen. Cabin was spacious for 2. We had a balcony which was very nice to use sailing down the river.

Paris and Normandy cruise on the Seine in late July - early August 2025. This was our third river cruise in Europe and simply the best! The ship was fantastic, crew was professional and personable, Tour Director was 5+ stars. Food was delicious. Entertainment was fun. Flawless delivery at a terrific price.

We just completed an Eastern Europe trip. The Danube was too low to get all the way to the Black Sea. Can't do anything about that. Grand Circle did a good job of responding to the conditions (low water and excessive heat). On-boat service and performance was excellent. Ditto for food. Pre-trip interaction with Grand Circle was frustrating, to say the least. Different answers depending on who you spoke with. Using Grand Circle Air was a bad experience, even though we were paying for Business Class. At that price, seats should be assigned/chosen at purchase, not at a later date. And, the price should be the price and not later 'oh, the airline charges extra' for your ticket, not to mention not assigning seats at purchase.

My son and I recently returned from the Rhine/Mosel River Cruise and can recommend it wholeheartedly. Everything was perfect. The staff is exceptional including Amin, our Program Director. The sites were beautiful, we learned so much, the food was excellent, the cabin was comfortable, the gym was a nice bonus, and all in all it was an exceptional experience for both of us. The captain was always there to greet us with his warm smile whenever we came back from a day trip.

My husband and I recently returned from the GC Cruising the Rhone: Lyon to Provence and the South of France. This was our 10th trip with the company, but our first on Grand Circle. Our previous 9 trips on OAT have been amazing. Starting in Toulouse, we arrived a couple days early on our own which is very easily done. When our group met and started out, we had a charming, knowledgeable and professional Trip Leader for our group of 37. The entire group was about 77. While we are used to the OAT group size of about 15, this was a lot larger, but it worked out well. Our fellow travelers were likeminded, curious and flexible.

The best of the best, from all of the vacation I have. Excellent service, food, quality, etc. All is the best. We will go with GCCL from now on. Many thanks for your excellent service.. Special manager Boyanna, she’s very kind, patient, loving care, knowledgeable. We love ❤️ her

This was my 7th GCT trip and it was the best. The itinerary was great, along with the rustic hotels (large clean rooms), hotel food, free time options and of course our Trip Leader Tara. The Parks Service 5 hour tour of Denali and the Kenai Fjord National Parks 6 hour cruise were the trip highlights. We saw Glaciers up close, had guest presenters after meals, and cloudless sightings for two days of Mt. Denali.

We haven't sailed yet, and at this point, I am NOT looking forward to the experience. I booked the cruise after being quoted the price over the phone by the agent. The booking itself took well over 2 hours with multiple callbacks from her disconnecting on her end and computer issues on her end. I was quoted a price, but when she went to book it she had "lost" the price, so she collected the "full" payment (too close to the sailing date not to pay in full).

If you have never been on a trip with Grand Circle, you must try it. The staff is caring and knowledgeable. The staff was willing to help with problems, directions, suggestions for free time. The prices on their trips are very affordable and you will wonder how they do it. I just got back from the Alpine trip. A beautiful experience. The weather was very hot and very few places were air conditioned but global warming is not their problem. So be aware of where you go and when but always travel with Grand Circle. I don't think they advertise and they depend on word of mouth which is probably how they keep costs down. But that's great for the traveller.

This was not one of our better trips with this company, but not because of it or its staff. My wife and I got sick during our pre trip 6 days. We unfortunately had to return before the main part of the trip took place. One of the reasons we travel with GCCL and its other divisions is because we know how much they care for their travelers. This trip was for a cruise of the Douro River in Portugal. The pre trip began with a tour of the coastal portion of Portugal. Very well done! 27 in our group. Our trip leader was terrific!! Well organized, very versed of the history and significant facts about each of the areas we visited. The hotel accommodations were first rate. The food was wonderful. A very good way to get to know the people and area.

I just returned from my trip to the Canadian Maritimes, with a pre-trip to Quebec City and Montreal and a post-trip to Newfoundland. It was wonderful. We had a trip experience leader who made every aspect of the trip, including the bus rides, fun and informative. All the seafood lovers were in heaven with lobster, mussels, oysters, and salmon, cod and haddock available pretty much at every meal.

Had a wonderful trip. Our tour guide was awesome! The food on the boat good. Have been better in mine and others' conversations. Would have been nice if there was 2 twin bed options with a patio. Also need handicap options. The crew were fantastic!!

We just returned from the Grand Circle Cruise River Cruise on the Danube. It started in Bucharest, which I highly recommend starting east and then traveling west, ending in Budapest. Highlights: Amazing food, fantastic ship crew, a great value for the trip. Our Trip Experience Leader was an amazing young woman, leading our group of 33. There were 4 groups on the trip, each with their own leader. We interacted with all 4 - which was great. All are from Eastern Europe, and they gave us an evening of discussion of what it was like growing up post USSR break up. The daily excursions were thoughtful and about 1/2 a day, returning to the ship for a wonderful lunch.

In May 2025 my wife and I took The Seine: Paris to Normandy and then the post-trip to Brittany. To say the least, it exceeded our expectations. The weather certainly cooperated. We enjoyed our guided tours of Paris and our two free afternoons to make the most of the city as was possible. The food was excellent with many delicious choices. The entire staff was very attentive. In particular, our trip guide, Chloe, was friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient. All of our stops after leaving Paris were memorable, whether it be Monet's Gardens, Richard the Lionheart's castle ruins or the lovely city of Rouen. Loved the medieval villages. The D-Day beaches, the American cemetery and the Caen Memorial Museum were reminders of another time. Brittany was a wonderful addition to this trip. A bonus was seeing the Bayeux Tapestry as this was not a planned visit. We enjoyed walking up Mont Saint-Michel. We were situated in St. Malo, a historic town with its own charm. On our last day we spent time at Chartres Cathedral. For history and architecture lovers this was a fantastic trip. We rank this among our best trips.

I have no idea how anyone could rate GCT/OAT other than 5 star. No the ships are not the most luxurious but they don't claim to be and the prices reflect that. We have been on 11 trips with the company from Australia to Canadian Rockies to Italy, France, Germany, etc. and have always experienced great food and very accommodating crew. Don't want tonight's desert, how about a fruit plate. Want a hamburger for lunch, no problem. Low water levels along the European rivers is a natural occurrence and beyond the control of any cruise company. GCT has always provided very acceptable alternatives when these conditions exist and go out of their way to make the sudden change in itinerary as painless as possible.

I have traveled with Grand Circle Travel several times. I really love their customer service. The hotels they picked, are great. Their guides go out of their way to make you comfortable. I have been on their river cruises. They are wonderful.

This was our first river cruise. We usually find a destination we both like, and visit on our own. We traveled on the M/S River Harmony, a very nice ship with a capacity of 140. We were very impressed with our Program Director, who led our smaller group of 42 people. The crew members were absolutely stellar - I can’t think of one complaint about them. Our cabin was 160 square feet with twin beds and a large picture window. The itinerary was especially nice - from Amsterdam to Vienna with many stops in Germany. The food was very good to great and very generous. We are used to eating lighter and earlier, so we had to pace ourselves.

Incredible crew! The staff was so thoughtful and extremely well trained. The food was delicious and presented beautifully. All the excursions were well planned and have an insightful look at French culture and history.

This was our first Grand Circle experience. We cruised the Rhone for Toulouse Lyon. It was fantastic. The "CHANSON" was beautiful and intimate without any feeling of being small. The staff and guests quickly became a family enjoying each other's company - and I mean all the staff from the Captain to the people doing our rooms. Corrinna, the Ship's social director, was a sweet bundle of energy. Vincent, the tour director for our group, and Louise, director for the other, were a team when together. Vincent was knowledgeable, patient and like having a friend taking you around when visiting.