Mike: please see post above re: trips we have taken...won't mention specific trips but have had all the mentioned experiences, believe me...last minute cancellations, changes of story, price, destination, itininery, etc. Wish you the best on your trip, but don't deny others that weren't so lucky to share their experiences.

Its perfectly OK to post others problems. It sharing info. Nothing wrong with that.

Samting: Again I quote what you said in an earlier post.
Many instances of folks getting entirely different stories over the phone, different price quotes, mismatched flight schedules, 'bait and switch' increases (sorry, it was a misprint) after they had booked, "only two seats left--better hurry" routines, trips cancelled mid stream, etc.
You said other people. You always refer to what happened to other people.
Grandma had a problem because of 9/11 and ALL the tour companies had the same problem. People were jamming the phone lines trying to get info.

As far as I am concerned you were never on a Grand Circle Tour and are shill for the other River Cruise Companies.

I am not againsst people posting, as that is what these boards are for, but how many times do you have to repeat what someone else CLAIMS to be true.

Mike

What is going on here?

Fodor's, where are you?

Mike: You are incredibly defensive about GCT. I wonder if there is a shill (your words) and if that shill is not Samting. One thing is certain and that is you refuse to face even the possibility that there is something amiss about this company. A person w/o a vested interest would at least look into it, especially if you have already booked with them. Hmmmmm.

I am looking forward to our first River Cruise with GCT. Holland and Belguim, leaving on 11/14/06. We have booked the 3 night Pre-trip in Amsterdam.

ALL companies have problems and I know that GCT is not perfect. Some of the posters have had bad experiences which they have every right to inform the message boards about. I don't have any problem with people posting what happened to them.

I just don't think it is fair to people like myself who are awaiting our trip for people to post without first hand knowledge. It is like the game "Whispering down the lane" where everything gets all mixed up by the time it reaches the last person.

Mike

I disagree Mike. If people are posting what they believe to be true based on what they have read then it should be taken as an FYI and not all info posted has to be first hand. People can pass on what they think to be true based on the sources they get the info from. They do have the right to post such info w/o consulting you ar anyone else beforehand. Fairness is not an issue here. BTW there were posts by Fodorites WITH first hand experience. Don't worry so much. I think you would rather deny the messengers than really look at the message.

Is GCT the only agency who books cruises? What's the big deal here? Why do people use cut rate/internet based agencies & then act surprised when they get stung?

If you can't speak to them and/or touch them, don't use them. Real simple. Am I missing something? 66 posts on this agency and a running argument about who's right & who's wrong?

I agree with the poster who said that if you don't have first-hand knowledge, and/or refuse to share your experience, you have no business posting here. We can all pass on "scuttlebutt". We should be dealing only in facts here.

Last response: Yes, I have been on several trips with GCT (do have first hand knowledge), including two river trips, Yes, I have several friends who have first hand experience with this company, not all pleasant, and no, will not name specifics. No, I am not a shill, and yes, I will take more trips, as we travel extensively, but yes, I will remember the old adage "forwarned is forarmed!!" and be more selective. Enough said.

Time to kill this thread.

There was a little girl
who had a pretty curl
right in the middle of her forehead.

When she was good
she was very, verrryy good.
And when she was bad
she was horrid!

Hey Grandma: cute poem, what's it mean?

Picture GCT as the little girl.... -:)

Way to go Grandma. :D

We have taken four rivercruises with GCT (Grand Circle) and have enjoyed all of them. The food was delicious, the service superb, the Program Directors were well-informed and lovely people. Our trips encompassed from the Netherlands all the way to the Black Sea. This year we are taking the Russian rivertrip and can hardly wait.

jayge,
why have you responded to a post that is three years old?

If you want to save yourself a lot of aggravation DO NOT TRAVEL with this company. They treat their valued customers without any respect. They blamed a bad trip on me! They said the tour director could not handle me! This was on their Egypt and the Eternal Nile trip when the tour leader screamed at me in a hotel lobby berating me for ruining HER trip. I paid for the trip and she was unprofessional, blamed everything on the HQ in Boston and guess what? HQ sided with her!

I have made 6 trips with them and all have been delightful. I have been to all 7 continents and over 70 countries and have NEVER been treated so poorly and disrespectfully. Even the pre-trip in Jordan was great. After spending over $100,000 with them over the last 4 years this is ho they treated me. No apology, no compensation.

Be warned - they don't care about their guests!! See http://gentle-hugs.livejournal.com/ for the full story.

I was with OAT on the late August 08 trip to Egypt. There was a lady with short gray hair who was screamed at by her tour guide. Our guide was nice, her's was not!
Done 3 trips with either OAT or GCT and had no problem.

Dorothy, did you get the others to complain in your group? I would have thought that would have helped. It seems like it's either love or hate GCT. This will be our 4th trip. One was very disappointing and we recieved a letter of apology and a credit for 500.00. It was a new trip and I see they have made many changes and adjustments to the orginal one. They appear to be trying to work out their poor relations with travelers. We have had weak guides on several tours with different companies. It seems to set the tone for the tours. I probably demaned to be moved over to the other guide.

I just noticed, this was a 2006 post.