Feedback on Grand Circle cruise line?

[CruiseMark]

I’m considering a Christmas Market cruise with Grand Circle cruise line (River Harmony). It’s hard to find recent reviews or feedback. 
 

If you have ACTUAL RECENT EXPERIENCE WITH THEM, say within the last two years, I’d love to hear it. Especially around dinner food. Please don’t post opinions on them if you’ve never sailed with them. 
 

YES, I know they’re a budget line and their ships aren’t anywhere near the luxury of Avalon, Tauck or Uniworld, but I like that they have some unique experiences for Christmas. 
 

Thanks in advance. 

[JerseyGem]

We've taken many GCT river cruises (and OAT trips and small ship cruises).  We did both  their Christmas Market cruises on the Rhine and on the Danube, but before Covid.  We loved both of them.  Yes, they're not as fancy as the more  upscale lines, but they focus more on "people to people" activities.  This will include going to local churches for Christmas choral events, home-hosted meals as well as going to the Christmas Markets at each stop.  

 

Dinner always had three options (meat, poultry, fish) usually with a vegetarian option.  If you have any food issues, let them know, and the chef will speak with you each night to set up the next night's meal.  Of course, you'll have a soup, salad, side dishes, dessert, etc. I am somewhat picky but always found something I liked.   Included wine selections vary in quality, but you do have the option to purchase more "upscale" wines if you wish.  

 

We had actually planned on doing a Christmas Market cruise (a repeat) this coming December, so we recently looked at all their options.  However, we decided to  do one of their Egypt trips in December  instead.  The world has too many places to visit! 

[CruiseMark]

Thank you so much, @JerseyGem That’s exactly what I wanted to know. Extremely helpful, thanks. 

[RobInMN]

We just did the Christmas Markets on Grand Circle on MS River Aria this last December. Nuremburg to Vienna. My parents love GC, and they planned and paid for it. Crew was very nice. There were 4 program directors, and they all pretty good. at least one, I'd say was excellent.

Our biggest issue is with the ship design. We HATE the cabins. The dual fold-down bunks is unacceptable to us.

We found the food meh. 

I didn't find the excursions all that different from Ama, other than the fact that the program directors did a lot more of them where Ama hires local guides. I didn't feel there were more "people to people" activities. In fact, there was nothing like @JerseyGem describes on our cruise.

 

[CPT Trips]

My most recent GCT cruise was pre Covid, so things may have changed. Yeap, the separate beds are an issue for some. Food is so subjective. The crew were all friendly and helpful and the Captain was very accessible. I like the GCT model with Program Directors that always accompany the group, even when there is a local guide. 
 

I took the Rhein cruise, which I think is the itinerary River Harmony does. It looks like this year’s itinerary has changed a bit from the one we took. We didn’t do a stop in Breisach, we did overnight in Strasbourg so it was easy spend time at the Market.
 

I remember that there was a home hosted “kaffeeklatch” at one of the stops and a private choral concert at another. Also we were fortunate that one of our Program Directors observed that there was a Christmas choral concert at the Speyer Dom on our evincing there. We were able to attend this public event, and iirc, the ship’s schedule was modified to accommodate our attendance. [edit . . . Kaffeeklatch is on this year’s itinerary. They are having these home hosted visits currently; in the early days post-Covid they were not.]
 

As memory serves, we usually (maybe always) had a tour with a local guide in the morning and also an opportunity to visit the Christmas Market later in the day. Typically, the Program Directors set up free time experiences daily for those who wanted something to do with an escort.
 

On more than one occasion we  skipped returning to the ship for  a lunch on our own, eating in town in order to maximize our free time. 
 

If you know someone that has traveled previously with OAT/GCT hit them up for a referral and save a few $$. If you don’t know anyone, feel free to ask me.  😉👍

Edited May 5, 2023 by CPT Trips

[auntieS]

Going on my first OAT (non cruise) tour soon!  Never sailed with GCT/OAT, but get a lot of brochures!  I believe they own some and charter some ships, so you may have to internet dig a bit for ship info:

Grand Circle River Harmony Cruise: Expert Review (2023) (cruisecritic.com)  

[CruiseMark]

@CPT Trips I tried to message you to get your referral code, but it says “Feature disabled”. Not sure why. If you could try messaging me with it, I’d appreciate it. Thanks!

[CPT Trips]

Can’t message on this site . . .

@Host Jazzbeau is it OK to post my referral number here?
@CruiseMark Do you have a spam/junk email that you could post? Format as name at domain dot com, and I’ll send the info. 

[Host Jazzbeau]

There is no rule to stop you from posting your referral number, but Cruise Critic tries to protect your info and your privacy – that's why the software's PM function is permanently disabled.  The best approach is to use Google [they use you, so turnabout is fair play!] by setting up a dummy email account and posting that here.

 

[BTW, you will notice that I have done the same – in my signature.  Although I have come to realize lately that not everyone sees the signatures.]

[CruiseMark]

@CPT Trips I don’t feel comfortable having my email permanently posted here, unfortunately. Oh well. I tried. 

[Host Jazzbeau]

1 hour ago, CruiseMark said:

@CPT Trips I don’t feel comfortable having my email permanently posted here, unfortunately. Oh well. I tried. 

You are clearly not a New Yorker.  'Never leave money on the table!'

[CPT Trips]

@CruiseMark here’s a throwaway aol account. Do leave any spaces 

r

98

3b

 

let me know here if you email 

[CPT Trips]

12 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

You are clearly not a New Yorker.  'Never leave money on the table!'

I’m not a New Yorker either, but “why pay retail?”

[Tom47]

We have just finished a Rhine/Mosel river cruise, Antwerp to Basel.  The trip was mostly good, except that many of the pax came down with a viral infection(including us).  They provided room service for those who were sick and confined to their rooms.Pull down single beds were very uncomfortable and gave us back pain.  Food was good.  Wine and beer included in price. Program managers, and staff, including Captain  were  friendly and helpful.

One thing that left a sour taste for us was a bait and switch price.  We booked this trip in May 2020 for May 2021.  GCT cancelled because of Covid.  We had plans for 2022 and rebooked for 2023.  We had paid in full for the 2021 trip.  When we rebooked, they assured me that we would still get the same price and business air fare.  That proved not to be the case.  First they sent me a refund of $1110 and then demanded an additional $7500 because the business class airfare was only price Protected for 1 year.

We don't recommend GCT and will not use them again.  We have used Vantage Travel, but have read of problems with them and many unhappy customers.

Edited May 28, 2023 by Tom47

[Tom47]

Refund was because, unbeknownst to me, we no longer had business class.  They didn't explain that even though I asked.

[Tom47]

Business class s fully paid on original booking was $4400

[FranYAlice]

On 5/5/2023 at 5:48 AM, JerseyGem said:

We've taken many GCT river cruises (and OAT trips and small ship cruises).  We did both  their Christmas Market cruises on the Rhine and on the Danube, but before Covid.  We loved both of them.  Yes, they're not as fancy as the more  upscale lines, but they focus more on "people to people" activities.  This will include going to local churches for Christmas choral events, home-hosted meals as well as going to the Christmas Markets at each stop.  

 

Dinner always had three options (meat, poultry, fish) usually with a vegetarian option.  If you have any food issues, let them know, and the chef will speak with you each night to set up the next night's meal.  Of course, you'll have a soup, salad, side dishes, dessert, etc. I am somewhat picky but always found something I liked.   Included wine selections vary in quality, but you do have the option to purchase more "upscale" wines if you wish.  

 

We had actually planned on doing a Christmas Market cruise (a repeat) this coming December, so we recently looked at all their options.  However, we decided to  do one of their Egypt trips in December  instead.  The world has too many places to visit! 

I have done the Danube Christmas markets two times and will be doing it again this year. Plus I've done the Rhine as well. I'm a big fan of Grand Circle travel. Everything that was listed in the post above is correct. I am not a foodie that's not the focus of my travels, but there is always something I can get if the main menu doesn't have anything to my liking. There's always a sugar-free dessert as well. I don't drink so I can't speak to how the beverages fair compared to other airlines. Another thing that I'm fond of is the fact that they do not use hotel style bedding. If you spend time in your room, you don't have to sit on a bed. The bed folds into the wall and you have a little banquette to sit on ... You can see that in the photos on the website..

[NantahalaCruiser]

On 5/28/2023 at 3:42 PM, Tom47 said:

We have just finished a Rhine/Mosel river cruise, Antwerp to Basel.  The trip was mostly good, except that many of the pax came down with a viral infection(including us).  They provided room service for those who were sick and confined to their rooms.Pull down single beds were very uncomfortable and gave us back pain.  Food was good.  Wine and beer included in price. Program managers, and staff, including Captain  were  friendly and helpful.

One thing that left a sour taste for us was a bait and switch price.  We booked this trip in May 2020 for May 2021.  GCT cancelled because of Covid.  We had plans for 2022 and rebooked for 2023.  We had paid in full for the 2021 trip.  When we rebooked, they assured me that we would still get the same price and business air fare.  That proved not to be the case.  First they sent me a refund of $1110 and then demanded an additional $7500 because the business class airfare was only price Protected for 1 year.

We don't recommend GCT and will not use them again.  We have used Vantage Travel, but have read of problems with them and many unhappy customers.

Being verbally assured by a sales person is unfortunately generally not assuring.  What did your rebooked invoice show?

[Host Jazzbeau]

On 5/28/2023 at 3:42 PM, Tom47 said:

We have used Vantage Travel, but have read of problems with them and many unhappy customers.

As many will already know by now, Vantage Travel is bankrupt and some assets have been sold to a new owner.  There is a plan to give discounts to customers who are owed money from Vantage, but it's still unclear when the ex-Vantage ships will start sailing again and what the itineraries/service levels will be.

[Tom47]

11 hours ago, NantahalaCruiser said:

Being verbally assured by a sales person is unfortunately generally not assuring.  What did your rebooked invoice show?

It didn't because airfare was not available.

[VB23455]

On 5/5/2023 at 12:10 AM, CruiseMark said:

If you have ACTUAL RECENT EXPERIENCE WITH THEM, say within the last two years, I’d love to hear it. Especially around dinner food. Please don’t post opinions on them if you’ve never sailed with them. 
Thanks in advance. 

 

We cruised Eastern Europe to the Black Sea in APR/MAY '23.  Thoroughly enjoyed it.  Regarding the food - well, just view my album.

-Scott

Edited September 10, 2023 by VB23455

[marvelous marcia]

We are doing romantic blue Danube August 11 to the 25th. Anyone else we have done a number of grand Circle travel trips all have been terrific, especially OAT we did Machu Picchu and the Galapagos. We often followed Viking river cruises and did the same itinerary. Looking for suggestions for free time in Prague or Budapest, Marcia 

[VB23455]

Not far from the dock, stop at Ötkert (Zrínyi u. 4/A) and have a #2 Långos (cheese & sour cream). My Hungarian pal took me there, said it was the best and most authentic he'd found, he's lived there nearly his whole life. Have a beer or coffee, too.  Then, St Stephan's Basilica is just up the street, past the bronze cop.

Then, go about 3 blocks north to the Citizen's Holocaust Memorial. Continue across the street to Liberty Square.

[Lindancer]

I have been on 4 Grand Circle river cruises, 1 with Gate 1 and 1 with AMAwaterways.  Grand Circle was by far the best. And it is all because of the GUIDES.  Your personal guide (and there is usually one guide for every 25-30 passengers) will call you at home before you leave to ask if you have questions and then of course your number will be in his/her phone.  I once got lost in Antwerp and when I dialed our guide, she picked up saying "what's up Linda?"  The guides are also from the area in which you are traveling and extremely knowledgeable.  My AMAwaterways cruise was in the Bordeaux region of France and our guide was from IRELAND, currently living in Hungary.  He knew nothing about the French or their customs and embarrassed us by sending us into a full cafe in the middle of their extremely short lunch hour window, among other shortcomings.   He also had 160 passengers to deal with, although AMA sends you off with a local for whatever tour you picked.  His idea of a port talk the night before a stop was to show you photos of what you were going to see the next day - hello, can you say spoiler alert?  GCT doesn't make you pick your one shore excursion - they simply take you everywhere of interest you need to go.  Occasionally when there is an optional excursion offered, for which you do have to pay additional.  I also thought the food was quite good.

I haven't sailed with GCT since 2018, but I doubt that they changed their modus operandi.

L. Conrath

[Host Jazzbeau]

3 minutes ago, Lindancer said:

GCT doesn't make you pick your one shore excursion - they simply take you everywhere of interest you need to go.

That's an interesting way of justifying no choice of excursions!  

 

I much prefer AMA (and Scenic, also in my experience) for an extensive list of excursions that works for those who want a 'postcard' tour as well as those who want to do something off the beaten track [especially useful if you have already visited the area].  I'm sorry you had a poor Cruise Director on AMA (my experience has been better), but as you note the CD doesn't lead the excursions – local guides are hired for that purpose.  I also disagree about the photo previews: seeing the details is very helpful for those who are still debating between choices.