River Cruise for 40 - 45 year olds?
Jul 15th, 2006, 11:50 AM
#61
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We can report having traveled with GCT from Budapest to the Black Sea in early June aboard the river boat River Adagio. One day we went by bus from Ruse, Bulgaria, up to Veliko Turnovo and return. No problems whatever. A most marvelous cruise. We were the first boat to make the entire trip downstream this spring. High water all the way. GCT kept every promise made in their literature, bar none.
Jul 15th, 2006, 08:48 PM
#62
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Guess people see and hear what they want to see and here. here's someone elses take on the GCT.
"Excellent value for money. They keep every promise they make in their literature and on the web site. Highly reputable and responsive. Not the ultra de luxe; just good value. Others may disagree, but our experiences have caused us to use them several times because they have delivered. (direct quote from another poster.
"I had to laugh out loud when I read this post, especially the part about keeping every promise on their website!!!
3 couples of us booked a trip with GCT on Jan. 2 after seeing a vacation package advertised on their website. It was to be a joint 40th anniversary celebration. We booked with them directly over the phone for a trip scheduled for June 2, 2005, and made the deposit. Since then, we've received our confirmations with original prices quoted, our travel booklets, filled out our passport info, and got our final invoices last week, on Feb. 8.
One of the couples called that very day to put the remaining balance on their credit card and were told the invoice price was wrong, that they owed an additional $1400! This couple argued that there must be a mistake, they had several invoices with the original, quoted price on them. They got off the phone without paying the balance, and called to tell us about the situation.
Couple #2 called GCT the next AM to see what was happening, and were able to make their final payment as per their invoice, no problem.
Later that afternoon, I received a call from GCT that the price posted on the website had been erroneous, that it had also been wrong in their computers, and indeed we owed an additional $1400 for the trip, above and beyond what was on our invoice. When I informed them about couple #2 completing payment earlier in the day, the person got off the phone, checked it out, then called me back and said it was STILL wrong in the computer, and that they also owed the additional money! When asked, she said GCT found out about the mistake on Jan. 27. However, even though it was admittedly THEIR mistake and we had booked in good faith, they refused to honor the price on their website and on the final invoice!!!!!!
This is definitely NOT a company any of us will ever try to do business with again, no matter how attractive the trips sound.
"Excellent value for money. They keep every promise they make in their literature and on the web site. Highly reputable and responsive. Not the ultra de luxe; just good value. Others may disagree, but our experiences have caused us to use them several times because they have delivered. (direct quote from another poster.
"I had to laugh out loud when I read this post, especially the part about keeping every promise on their website!!!
3 couples of us booked a trip with GCT on Jan. 2 after seeing a vacation package advertised on their website. It was to be a joint 40th anniversary celebration. We booked with them directly over the phone for a trip scheduled for June 2, 2005, and made the deposit. Since then, we've received our confirmations with original prices quoted, our travel booklets, filled out our passport info, and got our final invoices last week, on Feb. 8.
One of the couples called that very day to put the remaining balance on their credit card and were told the invoice price was wrong, that they owed an additional $1400! This couple argued that there must be a mistake, they had several invoices with the original, quoted price on them. They got off the phone without paying the balance, and called to tell us about the situation.
Couple #2 called GCT the next AM to see what was happening, and were able to make their final payment as per their invoice, no problem.
Later that afternoon, I received a call from GCT that the price posted on the website had been erroneous, that it had also been wrong in their computers, and indeed we owed an additional $1400 for the trip, above and beyond what was on our invoice. When I informed them about couple #2 completing payment earlier in the day, the person got off the phone, checked it out, then called me back and said it was STILL wrong in the computer, and that they also owed the additional money! When asked, she said GCT found out about the mistake on Jan. 27. However, even though it was admittedly THEIR mistake and we had booked in good faith, they refused to honor the price on their website and on the final invoice!!!!!!
This is definitely NOT a company any of us will ever try to do business with again, no matter how attractive the trips sound.
Jul 16th, 2006, 05:38 AM
#63
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Cindiloowho: You still can't find anyone else that was on your cruise who is complaining, so now you are quoting others.
Most of the posters read all the boards and we will agree that we have seen some good posts as well as bad.
I am sure we would all like to hear what is happening with you and Grand Circle, but don't spoil trips for people who have already booked and are looking anxiously for the cruise.
Mike
Most of the posters read all the boards and we will agree that we have seen some good posts as well as bad.
I am sure we would all like to hear what is happening with you and Grand Circle, but don't spoil trips for people who have already booked and are looking anxiously for the cruise.
Mike
Jul 16th, 2006, 11:46 AM
#64
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Cindy, I really think it's time to stop beating a dead horse. You've expressed your concerns over and over, and we've read them over and over. So please hold off on more posts until you have something new to offer about your lawsuit.
Jul 16th, 2006, 09:43 PM
#65
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Well, here is another post relating to the same trip...and ther are many ore folks outthere who are looking for some recompense, rebate, or at least an explanation from GCT as to why the treat clients so badly
(from fodors
_____________________
Author: genec
Date: 07/16/2006, 10:37 pm
My wife and I bought the cruise from Budapest to Constanta via the Iron Gates and the Black Sea. We had to take a "bus cruise" because the river was too high for sailing. No options. And thus the bad:
1. We travelled via four buses. We were never able to talk with other passengers owing to the long rides of up to 12 hours.
2. We had to pack and unpack DAILY.
3. Travel on the bus was no cruise. The comfort of the bus is not close to a cruise. We stopped to let people have lunch and to go to "rest rooms" a la Eastern Europe. The ladies, mainly, had to wait for long times in line to get into the dirty "rest room" at most stops.
4. We did not get to see three prime places, The Black Sea, Iron Gates and Constanta. A throw in to Sophia was nice.
5. Easy discussions with passengers were impossible on the buses. The roads of East Europe get very boring. Legs get stiff.
6. The hotels our "cruise directors" arranged were OK (but see "pack/unpack") and the meals in the hotels were no match for the ambiance of a cruise.
7. Our inability to return to our rooms at sea was a major factor. Note "rest rooms" above and the desire to read, walk around, discuss, and see the rushed or not available promised sites was strong.
8. Our use of available time was POOR.
9. Border crossings were terrible. They were often late at night. We were tired. The rest rooms were dirty. There was some giving of bribes to let us go. The view was not up to a cruise!!
10. Our lunches were erratic, mostly bad, always crowded, and the food was dull and lacking variety. We learned more about the daily diet in EE than we were interested in.
11. The value for this bus trip was LOUSY!
We had two nights on the ship before we knew we were going by bus. GCT sent in a manager to explain our options. He should have stayed home...he was a disaster.
When we got home we expected something to make up for the problems. What a fool I was! There was nothing beyond a $75/each check for fuel and something else. That was and is an insult. The Chairman and his Lady brag about what they do for the places where they send us. And they do. But we wanted something for us as recompense for the truly terrible "bus cruise". I suggested either a discount pass for any of several cruises, the ability to get un-sold passage at deep discount prices, or maybe $1000/each.
Fat chance! Now we are even unable to contact the manager and her sub-manager of Quality Management (!). The big cheese has spoken and the words are: Go to the devil! Personnel at GCT phone lines always try to get us in touch with the Presidents of River Cruises. Strangely, they never succeed. This is truly a Wizard of Oz shop and it has fooled a lot of people.
(from fodors
_____________________
Author: genec
Date: 07/16/2006, 10:37 pm
My wife and I bought the cruise from Budapest to Constanta via the Iron Gates and the Black Sea. We had to take a "bus cruise" because the river was too high for sailing. No options. And thus the bad:
1. We travelled via four buses. We were never able to talk with other passengers owing to the long rides of up to 12 hours.
2. We had to pack and unpack DAILY.
3. Travel on the bus was no cruise. The comfort of the bus is not close to a cruise. We stopped to let people have lunch and to go to "rest rooms" a la Eastern Europe. The ladies, mainly, had to wait for long times in line to get into the dirty "rest room" at most stops.
4. We did not get to see three prime places, The Black Sea, Iron Gates and Constanta. A throw in to Sophia was nice.
5. Easy discussions with passengers were impossible on the buses. The roads of East Europe get very boring. Legs get stiff.
6. The hotels our "cruise directors" arranged were OK (but see "pack/unpack") and the meals in the hotels were no match for the ambiance of a cruise.
7. Our inability to return to our rooms at sea was a major factor. Note "rest rooms" above and the desire to read, walk around, discuss, and see the rushed or not available promised sites was strong.
8. Our use of available time was POOR.
9. Border crossings were terrible. They were often late at night. We were tired. The rest rooms were dirty. There was some giving of bribes to let us go. The view was not up to a cruise!!
10. Our lunches were erratic, mostly bad, always crowded, and the food was dull and lacking variety. We learned more about the daily diet in EE than we were interested in.
11. The value for this bus trip was LOUSY!
We had two nights on the ship before we knew we were going by bus. GCT sent in a manager to explain our options. He should have stayed home...he was a disaster.
When we got home we expected something to make up for the problems. What a fool I was! There was nothing beyond a $75/each check for fuel and something else. That was and is an insult. The Chairman and his Lady brag about what they do for the places where they send us. And they do. But we wanted something for us as recompense for the truly terrible "bus cruise". I suggested either a discount pass for any of several cruises, the ability to get un-sold passage at deep discount prices, or maybe $1000/each.
Fat chance! Now we are even unable to contact the manager and her sub-manager of Quality Management (!). The big cheese has spoken and the words are: Go to the devil! Personnel at GCT phone lines always try to get us in touch with the Presidents of River Cruises. Strangely, they never succeed. This is truly a Wizard of Oz shop and it has fooled a lot of people.
Jul 16th, 2006, 10:27 PM
#66
sort of interesting that genec hasn't been around for more than 2 years (How DOES one remember their password/log-on after all that time - but I digress) and all of a sudden is posting in the same high dudgeon and hyperbole that you do.
Almost sounds like a coordinated approach.
Ya know - maybe GCT really IS the worst company on earth, but the longer you rant and rave about them the less credibility you have. Just get on w/ your suit.
Almost sounds like a coordinated approach.
Ya know - maybe GCT really IS the worst company on earth, but the longer you rant and rave about them the less credibility you have. Just get on w/ your suit.
Jul 17th, 2006, 05:19 AM
#68
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It is quite suspicious that this "new" post just happened to appear so deep into this thread. What a conincidence.
To repeat: We only have taken one trip with GCT and had a *terrific* time. Of the tens-of-thousands of passengers they transport a year, there are bound to be issues and bound to be some trips that are not the best. No question, if one is expecting a cruise and the situation (river depth, for the most part) dictates a land trip is necessary, the vacation is disrupted at the least and probably ruined as it will be far from what was expected.
That is one of the hazards of river cruising in Europe. Anyone who takes on a trip like this must acept that or not book in the first place.
Please, stop the bashing. We all know your position on GCT.
To repeat: We only have taken one trip with GCT and had a *terrific* time. Of the tens-of-thousands of passengers they transport a year, there are bound to be issues and bound to be some trips that are not the best. No question, if one is expecting a cruise and the situation (river depth, for the most part) dictates a land trip is necessary, the vacation is disrupted at the least and probably ruined as it will be far from what was expected.
That is one of the hazards of river cruising in Europe. Anyone who takes on a trip like this must acept that or not book in the first place.
Please, stop the bashing. We all know your position on GCT.
Jul 17th, 2006, 10:00 AM
#69
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Michaellip: Please see fodor, cruises, GCT Bus cruise, for this post, and no, we were not on the same cruise it seems, but they were on the one that preceded us, and it was worse that ours, it turns out. Hard to believe that it could be worse. p.s. sorry if it bugs people that folks post about their fraudlent experiences, but I think that is what a travel board is for...
Jul 17th, 2006, 10:32 AM
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Cindiloowho: Post the link so we can find the post you refer to. The only one else that posts like you is jennyloowho, was she on your cruise. Why don't you post the name of the lawyer handling the class action suit so people who were on with you can contact him.
Jul 17th, 2006, 12:49 PM
#72
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To create a link to another thread, you can right click, select Copy Shortcut and paste http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34837401
Jul 17th, 2006, 12:56 PM
#73
"sorry if it bugs people that folks post about their fraudlent experiences, but I think that is what a travel board is for..."
Yes - that is one reason for a travel forum. And a good service it is.
However that does NOT mean posting more than 20 times w/ the same complaint over and over and over again. I went back to just a few of your threads and lost count at 20 . . . . .
We get your point already! Even a starving dog eventually quits gnawing on the same old bone.
Yes - that is one reason for a travel forum. And a good service it is.
However that does NOT mean posting more than 20 times w/ the same complaint over and over and over again. I went back to just a few of your threads and lost count at 20 . . . . .
We get your point already! Even a starving dog eventually quits gnawing on the same old bone.
Jul 17th, 2006, 03:19 PM
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The Attorney General of Massachusetts (Tom Reily) got a $100,000 settlement from GCT????
He has been involved in suing the contractors of the "Big Dig" who have ripped off the tax payers for BILLIONS and we are still waiting for some results of his actions, or lack thereof.
Years ago, before deregulation, we traveled on many "Charter Vacations" where 90% of the group had a wonderful time. The other 10% sat in the hotel lobby complaining to anyone who would listen. Go figure.
We have had great experiances with GCT.
He has been involved in suing the contractors of the "Big Dig" who have ripped off the tax payers for BILLIONS and we are still waiting for some results of his actions, or lack thereof.
Years ago, before deregulation, we traveled on many "Charter Vacations" where 90% of the group had a wonderful time. The other 10% sat in the hotel lobby complaining to anyone who would listen. Go figure.
We have had great experiances with GCT.
