Hello folks
My extended family (hubby, in-law's, sisters, brothers - all adults) have reservations to travel with Overseas Adventure travel (related to Grand Circle)for a 15 day trip in Apr of 2007. The itinerary is 7 days land - Athens, Meteora, Delphi and then 7 days on a 48 pass boat in the Cyclades - Delos, Santorini, Mykonos.
My question is if you guys have heard of this company/or read any reviews of this trip.

I have read mainly good reviews of OAT trips and have a friend who has taken two. In Dec. my husband and I took a Danube Christmas Market Cruise with Grand Circle and were more than satisfied, though we normally travel independently. (Except with the flights, which are often not the most convenient itineraries with these kinds of packages.)

However, funny this should come up when I'm monitoring the Greece posts. In Jan. I booked a Galapagos/Macchu Pichu trip with OAT, along with an Amazon pre-trip, and got the confirmations and invoice a week later. I just returned from an independent trip to Greece a few days ago and found another of their Predeparture Kits like the previous one I received and a new invoice. Tonight I took a look at it and I noted that the invoice was for less money, the departure date was changed and the Amazon pre-trip was missing from the itinerary. No letter of explanation. When I booked, I got two of the remaining 3 slots on the trip and pre-trip. I know that things can happen but will be most displeased if the pre-trip was cancelled despite there being a sufficient number of people signed up. But I will be particularly annoyed if it was cancelled with no notification or explanation, just a new invoice omitting the pre-trip. I have e-mailed and will call tomorrow - with the hope that it is a clerical error and not what I consider a very unprofessional way of making a change.

I assume your family is aware that travelers on Grand Circle - and, I believe also OAT - tend to be somewhat older. I don't think there was anyone under the age of around 50 on the cruise and most were older. However, it sounds like you may have just about enough people on the trip to make up the whole group.

If you do a search for Grand Circle and Overseas Adventure on this forum you will turn up some comments about the company and some of the trips, if not the specific trip your family is planning to take. When I checked some months ago, I found mostly satisfied or rave reviews with only a couple of exceptions.

Called OAT this morning and they claim they called and left a message 5/4 at 11:04 or something. Not my phone they didn't - got other messages left before and after. Anyway, I've rebooked on a somewhat less convenient newly scheduled departure but where the pre-trip is required. I know it happens that things go wrong, have to be changed - that's one of the risks you take with taking these things, especially the small ones that have to be booked far ahead to insure a spot. (Also one of the benefits sometimes - when there's a landslide on the railroad tracks, which happens from time to time on the way to Macchu Pichu, you've got someone to work around it and knows what the options are. And has more clout than independent travelers.) However, since they require me to cancel in writing, I think they should do the same - and have included a letter in the new packet. But enough about that.

However, as I said before, the company has a generally good reputation, even excellent - even if I'm personally ticked with them at the moment. Hope I will be able to write a glowing report next Jan.

Yassou Beth,
Can't help with OAT but this is a great itinerary,I did it with a group of 12 in July 2000. We took ferries to the same islands (not a cruise) where we stayed 3 days on each of them. What a fantastic trip! Try www.tripadvisor.com

Carla

Sounds like a nice trip. It packs in enough to keep you busy but not too much to relax. Greece is really beautiful in April: flowers, greenery, the islands are just starting to come to life. It is also a great time for touring as it's not too hot.

Have a lovely time,

Carolena

Beth,
I have 2 friends who just returned from trips on OAT, one to Australia, one to Egpyt. They were both extremely pleased. One had done a Grand Circle tour before & liked that also. Sounds like a great trip. Let us know if yoou go!

Beth,
If you have not already done so I suggest you do a Search at the top of the page for OAT Tours - at number 11 on the list there is a long discussion on their tendency to cancel or alter tours, although it was in 2004.

If you read some of my other posts, (In cruises) you will find our experience with GCT. We had taken two other trips with them, to Mexico, and were generally pleased, but last one the did route us on a small 20 passenger plane thru SLC (with a long wait there) then another 'puddle jumper' plane to Tuscon. All this while there is a direct flight to AZ that would have saved us lots of trouble, and I don't like the small commuter jets anyway. Suffice it to say, I think they are going on the 'cheap' nowdays, and lots of the 'excursions' are not included but 'optional' now, so that if you are to see anything at all, you must pay for each and every one. To set a 'good' price, they have cut alot out. Friends who have used GCT exclusively have told me this. HOwever, I am incensed with the way we were treated on our "non" river cruise in late April/May and have written them letters (many of us on the trip). To date, no one has received even a form letter as a reply. I will never use them again , nor recommend them. I think they do okay when everything goes according to plan, but don't handle changes and emergencies at all.