Yes in my case: We just came off of The Adriatic Greece Cruise Tour with GAT. This is our second GAT and I am an avid cruiser. I understand that most of my tour was provided by RCCL. But this review is strictly geared to Go Ahead Tour and the services, accommodations and information given. Because this kind of trip is meant to be a trip of a lifetime, usually it takes time, a lot of money and preparation to execute. So I chose GAT because we had some credits that they so graciously moved over from our mothers’ accounts due to their health issues and not being fit enough to go on a previous tour, that still does not negate the horrendous misinformation, accommodations in Italy and the low confidence or just lack of coordination of tour guide (albeit she was very nice). So lets get to the specifics:
1. In booking a cruise with this company I was already apprehensive about the details of my cabin and its placement (having been on several cruises with a few different cruise lines which were booked direct). Every one and every time I inquired about my cabin, even after the astronomical amount (at least two times the usual fee for an upgraded balcony cabin would have cost if I had gone directly to the cruise line) was paid, no one could give me any idea as to the placement of my cabin. I had expressed my fears several times and they advised that it was noted and that they could not tell me anything until after the last payment deadline. OK so after that deadline had passed, just as I expected I was given a cabin that no one wanted which was one facing the general elevators. Usually no one wants these particular cabins due to privacy and noise levels. I immediately called GAT and asked to be moved to another Cabin and was told that RCCL assigns whatever is left over to GAT even though I paid GAT a “mint” for a specific category. You would think they would have at least tried to switch me but the only assistance I received is an email containing reviews from a website called Cruise Critic about how the noise level at the elevators was not that “bad”. REALLY? And yes the noise level was acceptable but the privacy was just not there considering every time I opened my door a group or individual who was waiting for the elevators had a nice view of not, only my cabin but of me as well.
2. After finalizing, all details through GAT, including land excursions, I inquired about what GAT was including as far as excursions while on the ship, Rhapsody of the Seas. I was told by several GAT representatives, (including Andy who was the last rep i spoke to about my cabin placement) that GAT was not responsible for, nor doing any excursions while on the ship. That was misinformation because the very first port of call, Dubrovnik, our tour guide explained to us that this excursion was included in our GAT price. Meanwhile, I had already booked an excursion with RCCL for that same Port and was not able to get my money back. I was even advised since I had already paid for the RCCL tour, just to go on that tour instead. (Understandable since I would have lost the money for that excursion but in the scheme of things, I lost money anyway because of mis information.)
3. So going to our arrival in Venice, We Book our own flight. Therefore We arrived early into Venice and stayed on the main land in order to meet our tour group the next morning back at the airport terminal. For the convenience, we paid GAT for transfers from and to the Marco Polo Airport. We were told to meet others at the arrivals section at a specific time and there would be someone there to greet us. Of course, no one was there (with a big green sign) nor did anyone show up until we called the GAT hotline the second time. The first time we were told just to wait and some one would show up between 11am-2pm. Meanwhile, we are in a foreign country barely speaking the language but ok, we’ll wait around with barely any seating in a very small airport until someone shows up. So after our second call to GAT, we were told that our tour guide had sent a pick up person to retrieve us and that he should be in arrivals. I informed them that I was not walking around the airport again and that maybe it would be better if we stay put and he/she comes find us. And he did, with no greeting, no intro, no nothing, just the sign and instruction to follow him back into the arrivals section to wait with no seating. He placed us in a location then went back to the arrivals door to meet others. My husband and I, with our bags, were standing waiting for him to come back for over 45mins. Finally he came back to get us, said nothing but come and proceeded to take us to the others that had been waiting. When we gathered with others, they said he had been looking for us for a while and that they had been standing around waiting. Of course I explained to the group that we were waiting in the spot where he had placed us so he would not loose us. They all agreed that HE was not the friendliest person to begin with and that he seemed unorganized and annoyed.
4. We finally arrived at our hotel in Old Town Venice via boat, of course. That was a very lovely ride. We were greeted by the lovely Sylvanna and were told our hotel was just around the corner. We only had a little walk to our hotel with our bags until we arrived at our beautiful hotel (inside). Don’t let the outside take you back. Most of the buildings look the same. It’s what’s inside that makes the difference. We received our room keys and instruction from our tour guide to be back downstairs for dinner at a certain time which gave us time to rest and soak in where we were. The hotel had 3 floors and a very tiny elevator which was part of the ambiance. But the tiny elevator held only a certain amount of weight so our bags and one traveler went up and the other took the stairs. (No worries there). Finally arrived at our room on the 3rd floor (303) and could barely get the door open because there was a desk on the other side and let’s not even talk about struggling to get our 2 pieces of hardside luggage in the very tiny room. (pictures shown are without our hardside luggage inside the room and I was standing in a small crack between the window and the bed) It and us barely fit. If we wanted to open a suitcase, we had to do it one at a time because there was not room except for on the bed to open it. Now for the real kicker, the bathroom. My husband and I are at least 6’ tall and thank goodness because in order to get into the shower in the bathroom we had to turn sideways, lift our butts over the sink and slide between the sink and the wall. When trying to wash ourselves we had to stick our leg out over the sink to get to it. (This was comical to say the least) There was no bending or turning room in the shower and my poor husband bumped his head a few times in the shower during our stay at that hotel. Since we were in Italy, we assumed all rooms were this tiny with baths made for children until we mentioned it to our tour mates and they were shocked because their rooms and baths were very roomy and had lots of space to move and lay there luggage out. At that point, I just wanted to get on the ship and call it at a day.
That night, Our group dinner was fabulous (food and company) and our morning tour was as expected, done by a local and very informative. Venice is a very beautiful city and almost made up for our accommodations when my husband and I were able to walked the streets and bridges with guidance from Sylvanna, on our own later that evening. Our pre paid extra excursion, gondola ride was canceled due to weather so our tour guide assured us we would get our money back. Haven’t seen that as of yet.
5. Ship Embarkation day. Being old hat at check in and having priority status was a true leg up since our tour director was busy helping some of our tour mates that could not ambulated well and were lagging behind. Sylvanna always made sure everyone was ok as we all did. But since my hubby and I were in the front of the pack and already had our paperwork completed on line and sign and sail cards in hand, we, with the tour group in tow were taken to the priority check in and moved along to the ship without our tour guide. We were aboard early but our Cabins wouldn’t be ready until later that day so mostly everyone that was with my hubby and me went onto the ship to have lunch and relax until our cabins were done. Our luggage had been taken care of by Sylvanna so that was a plus. But of course that is usually done by the porters outside the ship anyway. But it was nice that we didn’t have to lug them to the check in destination from our hotel.
Once on the ship, the only complaints I had as stated before had to do with GAT not RCCL. Cabin placement and non refundable pre paid excursion issue.
Sylvanna was absolutely lovely and helpful throughout the tour. And we met some really wonderful people, who we will stay in contact with long after this tour.
All in all, this was my second tour with GAT. The first one was a land tour of London, Paris, and Rome. There is certainly no comparison between the two. That one was so much more that I expected and well worth the money. However, this second one I feel was a rip off. Only the GAT side was a natural disaster. And having spent well over $7000 (without flight) for this tour was not only hurtful but so disappointing and infuriating that I feel as though I was scammed with my eyes wide open.
I have some other tours on my wishlist but after this last tour, I think I will have to rethink the tour company I chose to make those wishes come true.
