jacketwatch

BTW I don't mean "you" specifically SusieQQ of course. Its meant in a general sense.

southeastern

I suggest those that dislike GCT/OAT book a cruise on the ships that have state rooms, 3,000 passengers, 6 hours in a country and think they are special because someone puts a napkin in your lap. You will be far happier on one of those ships. Travel on your own also works well.

jacketwatch

SE: I knew you would say something like that. We are trying to have a civil discussion here. No need for sarcasm. The facts are that while many like GCT/OAT many others have had bad experiences with them. Try to see things from another POV. Its a big world. If not I suggest to leave this thread. We'll be far happier. JM2C.

doug_stallings

Actually, I think this is a useful discussion. I tend to agree that when things go well with OAT, they go very well, and when things do not, they really don't.

I've read many times about OAT shifting people on river cruises onto bus tours when the rivers were unnavigable. I don't really understand, I confess, why this is a particular problem with OAT because I don't read these complaints widely about other river cruise companies.

However, I simply don't agree that OAT treats single travelers with disdain by giving them the worst accommodations and cabins. That's something I've come to believe by both personal experience and word of mouth from people I know and trust. (I do think that single rooms and cabins, when they exist, are smaller than double cabins ... and that's just the way of the world, I'm afraid to say.)

jacketwatch

My point as well Doug. They do seem to do things very well or they also can be quite unacceptable when things don't go as planned. If you like them then great but do listen to the other views as well as there are so many of them. Thanks for the input.

southeastern

"dregs of Eastern Europe" "you get the absolutely worst room they have. This has happened time and time again." is civil discussion? I wasn't being sarcastic, I was being truthful. People that choose budget cruises are always upset that they don't get 5 star service. GCT/OAT are budget. You get what you pay for. I'm not for or against them. I'm just saying that crap happens on a lot of tours. Have seen lots of complaints concerning drunks and loud people on big cruise ships, kids in adult pools, etc. doesn't mean all are bad. As I said, if you want perfect do your own thing or book 5 star. "SE: I knew you would say something like that" gee, I didn't know we knew each other.

jacketwatch

Actually SE you posted something similarly sarcastic some time ago inre to a comment I made about GCT. Yes we do know each other a bit or at least I know of you. And BTW it is now you who is being offensive.

h2otstr

Per Southeastern: I was being truthful. People that choose budget cruises are always upset that they don't get 5 star service. GCT/OAT are budget. You get what you pay for.

I disagree that these companies are budget. I just booked a trip with GCT for 2 people and the trip was $9,000. That is NOT a budget trip as far a I'm concerned.

1965

Totally agree with h2otstr. GCT is NOT a budget travel company, and our experience with them has been very good. We felt they were organized, on top of each phase of the trip, from pre trip to after trip. We hope to travel with them again. But since they are not budget, we have to save a little. Sorry that someone had a bad experience. I honestly think that was a definate exception to what usually happens with GCT.

southeastern

We always book "last minute travel" and save money. Some trips have been very inexpensive. GCT?OAT is not Tauck tours, so I consider it budget compared to them and some of the smaller ships like the Siver Seas. We have been pleased with GCT/OAT but we have also been pleased with Viking and others similar. We have a good time no matter what happened. Sometimes when things go wrong are the most memorable and most laughful parts of the trip.

Jackwatch: I am sarcastic but also beautiful, charming, funny, intelligent and sexy. I have it all. LOL

jacketwatch

SE. At least we can agree about one thing.

iramholt84

Barbara thanks for telling us about this "Grand Circle Travel and Overseas Adventure Travel"....I have booked them foe my trip but now i will ask the same question which you bring in our notice...as i am also traveling alone..

http://vakantiehuizenmoraira.villama...oraira&lang=nl

blob

I just had my May 2011 trip to Nepal cancelled just 5 weeks before departure. They supposedly cancelled 2 dates in May. Why they didn't combine the two, I don't think I'll ever know. I find it odd that they couldn't get enough participants for those dates, yet the other dates in May were so full they didn't even have room for 1 single traveller. Now I'm waiting for the trip refund and refund for the visas. So far they have offered no other compensation.

justwishin

Having had a a terrible experience with GCT a few years back documented elsewhere in the forum) my suggestion and advice to everyone using this company (well, maybe any company) is to put it all on the credit card...as little cash up front as necessary. When/if it comes to a dispute later, you can deal with the credit card co. American Express really goes to bat for you. We asked for a partial refund and got it, while a second couple travelling with us asked for a full refund and got it.!!! It's the only power we have over unscrupulous tactics.

SusieQQ

blob,

Did you get any shots for the trip? When they bumped me off my Amazon trip, I got them to remimburse me for my shots.

blob

I had a very bad experience with OAT recently. I was booked on their May 14, 2011 departure for Nepal and the Mystical Himalayas. They cancelled the trip just 5 weeks before I was to depart. Not only that, they had no room on any of their May departures available for me, a single traveller. I called them just a few weeks earlier to check that the trip was running before I shelled out $200+ for the visas. I was told that there was "no way" that the trip would be cancelled as there were more than enough people booked on that departure. I have made numerous calls to OAT, but no one is willing to give you a straight answer. It seems that they also cancelled the May 7 departure for this trip. I questioned why they didn't combine the May 7 and 14 dates, but no one knew why. I questioned why I wasn't contacted earlier so that they would have been able to put me on another May departure- no one knew why. I started to do some research on OAT and GCT. I was astonished at the # of complaints against them, many of which have to deal with cancellations (some trips cancelled the day before people were to depart). My recommendation to anyone considering this company is to do your research before you book with them. Just google OAT Complaints or GCT Complaints. They say they offer good value and their trips are cheap, but you get what you pay for. What kind of value is it if they cancel on you?

Ozarksbill

This discussion by now a bit dated. Does seem to cover some issues with single travelers or cancelations about which I cannot comment. But I will say that our April '11 river cruise with GCT LaHavre to Paris was quite nice in every way. Ditto two years ago Holland-Belgium. Mostly we take the optional tours. Besides other means of travel over the years we have been six times with GCT and appreciate their educational and cultural approach. Still debating whether we prefer river cruises or land travel...each has pros and cons.

Bill in Boston

justwishin

Yeah Bill..we have had some nice trips with GCT too, but when they mess up, they do it big time, and there is no avenue of redress when you are out in Romania with no options, as we were..GCT just threw up their hands and backed away. Wonder why they don't get sued more often...although they are in bad with the BBB of Boston.

jacketwatch

Actually Bill I have seen many such comments about GCT/OAT for quite some time here and its always the same. Either you love them or hate them. What justwishin said I heard many time B4 as well. I have looked up the Boston BBB complaints and again what JW said is true. I'm glad things went well for you and hope they stay that way.

justwishin

I think their policy of being 'non responsive' is a planned one, in that they don't dare admit culpability or responsibility for fear of opening a can of worms they can't digest