Grand Circle Travel/Grand Circle Cruise Line
Grand Circle Travel/Grand Circle Cruise Line
Grand Circle Travel/Grand Circle Cruise Line
4.5
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Full view
About
Grand Circle Travel and Grand Circle Cruise Line provide trips of international discovery to Americans age 50 and older. Grand Circle Travel launched in 1958 to serve American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) members and is celebrating its 65th anniversary in 2023. As leaders in solo-friendly travel, the companies offer free and low-cost single supplements.
Boston, Massachusetts
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Grand Circle Travel/Grand Circle Cruise Line
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
80 reviews
Excellent
55
Very good
9
Average
5
Poor
4
Terrible
7
ronworldtraveler2011
Delray Beach, FL17 contributions
Aug 2023
This was our fourth or fifth GCCL riverboat cruise and, as with the previous cruises, exceeded our expectations. While we had been to both Paris and Normandy previously, we had never experienced the three or four quaint towns between these two points. The stops were well chosen and charming. Everything about this trip was over the top starting with the two trip leaders, Serge and Heloise, to the friendliness and accommodating ship's (Bizet) crew. Without exception everyone asked often if everything as ok and if we were happy with the service. The food on the ship was delicious and the menu was always flexible within limits. Complimentary wine and beer was included with lunch and dinner. Our tour leader was extremely knowledgeable about the places we visited and enriched our experience by sharing personal information. Entertainment and activities on GCCL'S riverboats have been getting increasingly better. This one included onboard performances by can-can dancers and a husband and wife cellist and harpist who also sang . These performances were of high quality and enjoyed by our entire group. We highly recommend GCCL'S riverboat cruises as a vacation option. In addition to traveling and sightseeing they provide a terrific learning-discovery and cultural interaction component.
Written August 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mschicht
Oklahoma City, OK4 contributions
Jun 2023
Hard to select “favorite” part of trip…would have to say Number One was the planning, organization and ability to make changes when necessary. Guide,Scott, was fantastic and saw ahead to our needs. Driver, Jerry, consistently delivered us safely and on time to our destinations. Both provided “extras” - Jerry purchased plenty of water and candy for us; Scott had interesting stories and videos about our locations and superb cookies! Both consistently were pleasant and extremely patient!. The itinerary was fantastic - and the particular order of the various park visits seemed to build to a grand finish. Each of the hotels was delightful and the included and optional tours fabulous. ,This was my first GCT tour and I cannot WAIT to schedule my next!
Written June 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are happy to hear you enjoyed your first trip with us! We look forward to having you travel with us again in the future.
Written July 16, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ann S
1 contribution
Mar 2024 • Family
Grand Circle Romantic Blue Danube: Budapest to Prague
We were on the reverse schedule, landed in Prague - 3 nights in a great hotel, then on to Austria and its many interesting cities. Second time to visit Vienna and saw some areas not visited before. Love Vienna, loved the classical music concert, the visit to the Apricot growing Wauchau valley. On to Budapest with all its beauty. Last night of the cruise the Captain took us up the Danube for a beautiful evening tour of all the flood-lighted buildings including Buda Castle, the Budapest Parliament and the Chain Bridge. Glorious. Met some lovely fellow passengers and celebrated my sister's birthday with the "Birthday Parade" featuring all kitchen and lounge persons with sparklers and birthday cake! All in all the cruise was two weeks of relaxation, beautiful scenery and gorgeous city and village tours.
We were on the reverse schedule, landed in Prague - 3 nights in a great hotel, then on to Austria and its many interesting cities. Second time to visit Vienna and saw some areas not visited before. Love Vienna, loved the classical music concert, the visit to the Apricot growing Wauchau valley. On to Budapest with all its beauty. Last night of the cruise the Captain took us up the Danube for a beautiful evening tour of all the flood-lighted buildings including Buda Castle, the Budapest Parliament and the Chain Bridge. Glorious. Met some lovely fellow passengers and celebrated my sister's birthday with the "Birthday Parade" featuring all kitchen and lounge persons with sparklers and birthday cake! All in all the cruise was two weeks of relaxation, beautiful scenery and gorgeous city and village tours.
Written April 4, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your review. Happy to read you were pleased.
Written April 13, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
laurieanne
New York6 contributions
Jun 2023
Under NO circumstances travel with this company. They take NO responsibility for any travel upheavals incurred. The trip sights were great. The food they paid for was lackluster at best and awful at times. They used vendors that had not been vetted, the tour guide and bus driver realized how bad it was and out of their own pockets provided treats and beverages. This was NOT underwritten by the company. They made the airline reservations but when I had to rebook (not unusual today) they had paid the air fare but refuse to reimburse me when my friend and traveling companion's ticket was completely covered. If you must travel with them book your own tickets and plan on eating on your own.
They have changed the itinerary which needed to be done.n I would still not trust them to stand by their commitments.
They have changed the itinerary which needed to be done.n I would still not trust them to stand by their commitments.
Written June 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your candid review. GCT takes feedback from its customers very seriously. Please contact us at request@oattravel.com so that we may review your situation.
Written July 16, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Charles E
Spicewood, United States3 contributions
Sep 2023 • Family
This particular river journey on the Seine river was touted as a trip from Paris to Normandy. That is what it turned out to be, only in reverse. That is not the problem. Everyone I talked to on the boat, The Bizet, was on the trip because they were enthralled with the fact that they were going to Normandy and experience D Day at Normandy. That is not what happened. The boat was docked at Honfluer and was a 2 hour drive by bus to Normandy. We then spent short and quick 1.5 hours at the American cemetery, a standing 1.5 hours on Omaha Beach and a quick 1.5 hours at Points du Hoc. The tide was in, therefore we were unable to see the beach as the American boys came ashore on D Day. It then took us 2 hours by bus to travel back to the boat. There are many things that were missing from this experience. At Normandy there are several museums with films and memorabilia about the D Day experience. Have a review where the parachutes landed and boys were drowned and why, Why was there flooding where the gliders landed? How about looking where the parachutist landed on the church. I would like to have a "cricket" experience at a hedge to see exactly what it was like. There are other beaches that were involved that could be experienced. At du Hoc the cliffs were so far away that they seemed to be insignificant. The trip to the cemetery was so quick that we were not able to review anything except the flag being flown. We rushed through the museum and was not able to review any of the information that was there nor were we able to take a walk through the many crosses. .
What I would suggest is that GCT make a 3 day Normandy pre trip or post trip. Also show the movies "The Band of Brothers" one evening on the boat. They need to give their travelers a real experience of D Day.
The remainder of the boat ride was OK but 40 people in a group does not lend itself to learning and discovery. Lulu did as good a job as possible but with that many people it is difficult.
What I would suggest is that GCT make a 3 day Normandy pre trip or post trip. Also show the movies "The Band of Brothers" one evening on the boat. They need to give their travelers a real experience of D Day.
The remainder of the boat ride was OK but 40 people in a group does not lend itself to learning and discovery. Lulu did as good a job as possible but with that many people it is difficult.
Written September 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Charles, thank you for sharing your feedback. Although we strive to provide our travelers with the best possible experience, many activities are subject to the weather or time availability. We will share your feedback regarding the time spent in Normandy during this trip with our regional team.
Written January 29, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rory W
1 contribution
Sep 2023 • Solo
Our romantic villages of the Alps trip was amazing. All of the destinations were amazing, and the historical sites and natural surroundings were overwhelmingly beautiful to the point that photos didn’t do justice for what we saw with our own eyes. All that said, it was our program director Stefan who made our trip so special. He guided our group with extraordinary attention to detail, and shared his vast personal knowledge and experiences with each destination. He also consistently went beyond expectations by adding small but meaningful stops to our tour, and made smart recommendation for restaurants and area sites for when we had personal time to explore. This was a trip of a lifetime for us, but only made so by Stefan and his all-in commitment to making sure we were fully immersed in the Alpine culture.
Written September 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gail M
1 contribution
Jun 2024 • Friends
I have never been disappointed with Grand Circle or Overseas Travel Adventures. They have provided a memorable experience on every adventure I've taken and always leave me with fond memories of the ship, crew, and people I meet. I feel like I've been embraced by a family every time I step on board and never leave without hugs from several new friends amongst the crew and shipmates.
My latest trip was from Amsterdam to Vienna on the M/S Harmony. They had just experienced heavy rain and flooding on the previous voyage and waters were still high so it was a day to day guess as to whether we would be able to get under bridges or not. Luck was with us and we had near perfect weather, the river continued to drop and all was well. However, because of debris in the river near Melk, Austria there was a chance we wouldn't be able to get through the lock, and a few schedule changes were made. Those changes resulted in us having a free morning. Our group leaders immediately hopped on it. "What can we offer our traveler's during that time." We had a meeting and they suggested something they themselves had never done, a trip to the Maulthausen Concentration Camp. When asked who would be interested hands shot up. Ninety out of 129 travelers wanted to go. It was probably the highlight of my trip and many others felt the same. It was emotional but something I felt I had to do, something that will stay with me forever.
I have a love of learning and each day was an education. In Passau three rivers merge and although it's hard to believe, each is a different color....green, black and white. When they mingle they create a marbled effect. Who knew!
In Vienna I was introduced to an evening of "Musical Vienna" which included the music of Austrian composers, opera, ballet and drinks during intermission on the balcony overlooking the cities night time lights. So perfect!
And each and every day you were surrounded by castles, medieval churches, ancient towns, pretzels, sausages, and beer and wine tastings.
I could go on and on but you really need to see it all yourself. Try it...you"ll love it.
My latest trip was from Amsterdam to Vienna on the M/S Harmony. They had just experienced heavy rain and flooding on the previous voyage and waters were still high so it was a day to day guess as to whether we would be able to get under bridges or not. Luck was with us and we had near perfect weather, the river continued to drop and all was well. However, because of debris in the river near Melk, Austria there was a chance we wouldn't be able to get through the lock, and a few schedule changes were made. Those changes resulted in us having a free morning. Our group leaders immediately hopped on it. "What can we offer our traveler's during that time." We had a meeting and they suggested something they themselves had never done, a trip to the Maulthausen Concentration Camp. When asked who would be interested hands shot up. Ninety out of 129 travelers wanted to go. It was probably the highlight of my trip and many others felt the same. It was emotional but something I felt I had to do, something that will stay with me forever.
I have a love of learning and each day was an education. In Passau three rivers merge and although it's hard to believe, each is a different color....green, black and white. When they mingle they create a marbled effect. Who knew!
In Vienna I was introduced to an evening of "Musical Vienna" which included the music of Austrian composers, opera, ballet and drinks during intermission on the balcony overlooking the cities night time lights. So perfect!
And each and every day you were surrounded by castles, medieval churches, ancient towns, pretzels, sausages, and beer and wine tastings.
I could go on and on but you really need to see it all yourself. Try it...you"ll love it.
Written July 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alice M
1 contribution
Apr 2024 • Solo
Our Program Director (PD) was a gifted educator who delivered daily talks about Mexican culture, ancient history, and current events. The hotels and restaurants were delghtful. As always, GCT scheduled activities to give the group a feel for daily life in Mexico. Our PD, Balam Ruiz, cheerfully handled all logistical questions from our group of almost 40 people, which is no easy task. Balam did an extraordinary job!
Written May 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review. We appreciate learning of your excellent experience.
Written June 6, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Trek35741564362
1 contribution
Sep 2023 • Solo
This was the most unusual and beautiful scenic trip. I never realized that there were so many hundreds of miles of land that is covered in outstanding rock formations with little or no signs of civilization. It really makes me realize how very vast our country is. Be prepared to take many pictures.
I went solo and yet I met quite a few other solo women with whom to do things. The included meals were very good, except for the lunch at the Grand Canyon. I suggest Grand Circle allow us to buy our own lunch there. The breakfasts were disappointing. They felt more like fast food. I would say the hotels were 4 star, but the last hotel, Little America, was really divine and had a terrific breakfast.
The long bus rides that I was dreading, really didn't seem so long because we had lots of stops and places to visit on the way. We were continually given bathroom breaks and there was a bathroom on the bus with no way to wash your hands, however.
My tip for Zion would be to take the shuttle to any of your desired walks/hikes, but to skip the Visitor Center, which is stop #1. It took 30 minutes standing in line before we could get back on the shuttle.
I went solo and yet I met quite a few other solo women with whom to do things. The included meals were very good, except for the lunch at the Grand Canyon. I suggest Grand Circle allow us to buy our own lunch there. The breakfasts were disappointing. They felt more like fast food. I would say the hotels were 4 star, but the last hotel, Little America, was really divine and had a terrific breakfast.
The long bus rides that I was dreading, really didn't seem so long because we had lots of stops and places to visit on the way. We were continually given bathroom breaks and there was a bathroom on the bus with no way to wash your hands, however.
My tip for Zion would be to take the shuttle to any of your desired walks/hikes, but to skip the Visitor Center, which is stop #1. It took 30 minutes standing in line before we could get back on the shuttle.
Written September 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OregonVoyagers
Beaverton, OR76 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
Romance of the Rhine and Mosel— Grand Circle Cruise Line
My husband and I did the pre-trip to Lucerne, Switzerland. We had 14 people in our group and we stayed at an amazing historic hotel in Lucerne. The included meals were excellent and our tour director was extremely knowledgeable, very personable, and always had extra ideas for our free moments.
Our cruise on the the Rhine and Mosel Rivers was our first experience on a river cruise. Our ship, the River Harmony, was built for 140 passenger and was launched in 1999. It was beautifully appointed and very comfortable. It had a very traditional feel with lots or woodwork and trim. The cabins were small but comfortable. Ours had a large picture window but there were also balcony rooms or rooms with smaller windows. The lounge was always available during the day and there was entertainment every night. The food was excellent and varied and the wait staff was very attentive to individual needs (food allergies, special diets, and appetites). The crew of the River Harmony was very friendly, helpful, and attentive. Besides visiting new places, there were many educational opportunities offered for each place we stopped. We also met and interacted with many local people..
For the land/port tours we were divided into groups of just over 30 passengers with our own guide . There were also electric bicycles available for use in each port
We never felt crowded or ignored on this trip— we absolutely loved it and are doing our second river cruise with Grand Circle in 2024.
My husband and I did the pre-trip to Lucerne, Switzerland. We had 14 people in our group and we stayed at an amazing historic hotel in Lucerne. The included meals were excellent and our tour director was extremely knowledgeable, very personable, and always had extra ideas for our free moments.
Our cruise on the the Rhine and Mosel Rivers was our first experience on a river cruise. Our ship, the River Harmony, was built for 140 passenger and was launched in 1999. It was beautifully appointed and very comfortable. It had a very traditional feel with lots or woodwork and trim. The cabins were small but comfortable. Ours had a large picture window but there were also balcony rooms or rooms with smaller windows. The lounge was always available during the day and there was entertainment every night. The food was excellent and varied and the wait staff was very attentive to individual needs (food allergies, special diets, and appetites). The crew of the River Harmony was very friendly, helpful, and attentive. Besides visiting new places, there were many educational opportunities offered for each place we stopped. We also met and interacted with many local people..
For the land/port tours we were divided into groups of just over 30 passengers with our own guide . There were also electric bicycles available for use in each port
We never felt crowded or ignored on this trip— we absolutely loved it and are doing our second river cruise with Grand Circle in 2024.
Written July 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.