Boston, 22. Januar 2014 /prnewswire/
Wikinger Grand European Tour 2022
BOSTON, Jan. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Grand Circle Cruise Line's entire fleet of privately owned riverboats and small vessels made Conde Nast Traveler's list of the "Top 100 Cruise Ships in the World" for 2014, CEO Vince Cook reported today . Two of Grand Circle's 50-passenger vessels, M/V Artemis and M/V Arethusa, took 1st and 2nd place respectively in the small vessel category, while M/S Provence and M/S River Allegro 2nd and 3rd place in the river cruise ship category. Conde Nast Traveler's list of the "Top 100 Cruise Ships in the World," the result of the magazine's annual cruise survey, is available online and will appear in the February issue of the magazine. This is the ninth consecutive year that Grand Circle Cruise Line has been named to the prestigious list.
“We are honored to be recognized by Conde Nast Traveler readers for our ships and our guides, nautical and hospitality crew who work so hard to provide authentic, culture-rich experiences at great value ' Cook said. "With daily rates typically $50 to $500 less than other small ship cruise lines, Grand Circle strives to make travel more affordable for more Americans, including solo travelers, and to connect them with local people and communities, so that they gain an intimate understanding of the lands they explore. Ultimately, our voyages are not about our ships themselves, but about the cultural experiences travelers have along the way.”
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Access ports that larger ships cannot
Our small vessels, seating 16 to 210 passengers, are ideal for spirited adventurers, often docking right in the heart of the cities we visit and even calling at ports off the beaten track. As a result, you and your small group of no more than 20 to 25 people will spend less time getting transported to and from your destination and more time immersing yourself in local customs. For example, discover everyday Swedish life in Visby, an island that can only be reached by plane or small ship. Snorkel among sea turtles from your catamaran in the Galapagos Islands. And in the Arctic, cruise among beluga whales and gently ashore for immersive wildlife interactions found nowhere else on Earth. In addition, you can often take advantage of this proximity by calmly arriving and departing your ship.
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Review of the Grand Circle Cruise Line
One of the branchessmall cruise companies, GCCL-Grand Circle Cruise Line was founded in 1958 as a travel company serving the American Association of Retired People. Since then, Grand Circle has evolved into an independent cruise line offering meaningful experiences for the 50+ age group. Today GCCL offers a comprehensive range of cruises and land tours. The company's core business is discounted long-stay holiday programs in Europe, operating primarily during winter in southern Spain. Grand Circle also offers escorted tours around the world, with a strong emphasis on enrichment.
In 1985 the company was taken over by Alan and Harriet Lewis. They took operations to a higher level, building on the company's original foundation and expanding the destinations and offerings available. Another feature was the right decision to avoid public advertising and focus on recommendations, past guests and direct requests for information. The company's program directors began as resident hosts, lecturers and tour guides and over the years have grown into a hallmark of the Grand Circle company. With each new program and destination, regional offices have been opened around the world to provide support and oversee activities in an area. The new options often came at the request or suggestion of former passengers who form a kind of "alumni" association.
Grand Circle Travelogues
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page 1John of Sarasota, FLVerified Reviewer
We have just returned from our 6th and probably final Grand Circle Tour. They have provided great service in the past but this tour was poor. The tour guide was reading from a book, did little local guiding and was mainly interested in getting us back on the bus. It felt like a school tour with the least interested parent supervising me. Our buses were struggling, the drivers were being brought out of retirement and were unfamiliar with the vehicles. We went off the road and almost passed out - and Grand Circle did NOTHING. Bad food, bad guide and no involvement from the tour guide or the company.
16 peopleJoAnne from Sequim, WAVerified Reviewer12 people
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River cruise ship tracker
Vessel tracking is based on AIS technology. Cruise ship tracking is possible as AIS is mandatory equipment for all merchant vessels of 300 GT and over.
The low cost of the equipment helped all AIS tracking enthusiasts to buy such a receiving system and install it at home. These systems stream the received data to web-based trackers. Live tracking of river vessels is a necessity for the shipowner. It also provides valuable information about the ship's current location and course, which helps families of the crew and also friends and relatives of the cruise passengers. And frankly, ship tracking is fun!
Greater Circle priorities: price and personalization
- Cruise industry news
Grand Circle Cruise Line owns and operates five river vessels cruising Europe in 2020, ranging in capacity from 86 to 162 passengers.
On the smaller ships, the company is focused on providing passengers with a more intimate atmosphere and a more personalized experience, said Simon Laxton, president of Grand Circle Cruise LineEuropean River Cruises Market Report 2020 Cruise industry news.
We've focused our product on Europe, which includes 18 countries and seven rivers, including 17 optional land extensions, Laxton said. We have river cruises that go through one country, for example the Rhone from Paris to the Mediterranean, or up to eight countries from the Netherlands to Romania.
Offering a Best Rate Guarantee, Grand Circle promises that travelers will not find a lower price, and if they do, they will match it.
We take care of every aspect of the trip, from the English speaking crew to the meals, he added. The ships sail almost all year round, except in January and February. December offers holiday cruises and Christmas markets, while spring cruises in Holland and Belgium highlight the tulip fields in full bloom.
Catering to American passengers 50 and older is one of the features that sets Grand Circle apart, according to Laxton, giving travelers a four-star experience at what he calls an unbeatable price for a near-all-inclusive experience.
In 2019, Grand Circle expects to carry around 22,000 passengers on its river cruises.
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Grand Circle cruise line
Voted #1 Cruise Ship for RiverboatsCondé Nast Traveler2016 Readers Choice Awards ,Grand Circle cruise lineis widely recognized for exceptional value and quality experiences around the world. With more than 50 small vessel and riverboats that we either own or charter privately, we offer river and small vessel cruises and cruise tours throughout Europe, as well as Burma, Antarctica, Panama and beyond.
The best river cruises combine refined onboard accommodation with exciting itineraries along some of the world's most memorable waterways
Disneyland Railroad – Grand Circle Tour 2022 [4K60 POV]
After pandemic-related challenges early last year, riverboats returned to what they do best: exploring inland waterways in Europe, the United States and select other destinations around the world.Travel + LeisureReaders returned enthusiastically and embarked on both classic and new journeys.
Every year for ourWorld Best AwardsOpinion poll,T+L asks readersWeighing travel experiences across the globe to share their opinions on the best hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise lines, spas, airlines and more.Readers rated individual cruise shipson their cabins and facilities, food, service, itineraries and destinations, excursions and activities and value. These ratings were combined to generate results for the cruise lines in six categories, including river cruises.
The top three river cruise lines were close together. Viking, the world's largest river cruise company, moved up two spots to the top spot. Tauck, the well-known cruise and riverboat operator, retained its second place. "The itinerary was both thoughtful and educational," wrote one reader who traveled on the tripJoy. At number 3 is Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, with praise that included this rave from a voter who sailed the: “This was an exceptional cruise. The staff was excellent. I cannot say enough about this cruise line and ship.”
Below is the full list of the best river cruise lines and more about what sets Viking apart.
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Snake and Columbia River cruises in the USA
Columbia and Snake River cruises are among the best options for vacation travel in the Northwest. The route includes ports in the states of Oregon and Washington. Itineraries are tailored to maximize daytime cruising for the best view of iconic highlights such as the Columbia River Gorge, local museums, forts, and wineries. Large corporate cruise deals include all shore excursions offered at each port along the route.
Columbia River cruises operate with either round-trip transportation from Portland, Oregon or one-way routes between Portland and Clarkston, WA. These trips offer almost 1600 km of river travel. The best companies serving the routes areAmerican cruise linesAndUnCruise adventure. Her fleet includes newly built riverboat replicas, all-American staff and crew, and world-class onboard enrichment programs.
Generally used by large vessels, the Columbia is the largest river in the US Pacific Northwest. It begins in the Rocky Mountains, flows northwest, then south in Washington, then turns west and forms most of the Oregon-Washington border, and finally empties into the Pacific Ocean. The length of the Columbia River is 2000 km, and its largest tributary has a length of 1735 km.
The map below shows all of the Snake and Columbia cruise ports along the Portland to Clarkston route.
Privately owned or chartered for immersive discoveries
All of the ships in our fleet can navigate tight passages and ports off the beaten track, so no matter where you travel, you'll feel completely immersed. Our small Mediterranean vessels with 50 passengers, M/V with 89 passengersClio, and M/V for 98 passengersCorinthiansare privately owned which means we manage every aspect of your trip from your crew to your meals to ensure they meet your expectations on your Europe, Antarctic or Middle East voyage. Our chartered ships in Norway, the Arctic, Patagonia, the Galápagos Islands and Panama are purpose-built for their environments, so while your time on board is shorter on these itineraries, you can expect a tailored experience.
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Grand Circle Cruise Experience
Grand Circle Cruise Line offers a full line of small ship cruises for the over 50s.
As with all Grand Circle Cruise Line programs, the company's passengers are over 50 years old, in some cases much older. The line does not market to families and does not accept children as passengers. Its guests are generally well-travelled, with a high percentage of repeat passengers and members of their Inner Circle loyalty program, an organization for those who have made 3 or more trips on the line. The majority of passengers are married couples, although groups of friends sailing together and single people are not uncommon. Given Grand Circle's focus on learning experiences, most of the company's guests are open-minded and curious, and willing to try new things.
Because Grand Circle is an American cruise line and generally operates full-ship cruises, the language of the day at all times is English. The crews, and particularly the company's program directors, are at least fluent in conversation. Most Grand Circle passengers are American or affiliated with America.
The food is also handled professionally. Depending on the ship, there is a mix of buffet and served. Although menu options vary, regional and local specialties are always included. Depending on the itinerary, specialty evenings are also offered, such as an Egyptian buffet.
Choose Viking if you want to postpone your cruise
A Viking cruise booked through travel agents requires a deposit of $500 per person and full payment within 90 days of departure. Most promotions require payment in full when you make your reservation. If you need to reschedule, Viking is a better choice as it has the most ships on Europe's waterways - 46+ - and therefore more choices. It also has a more generous cancellation policy than Grand Circle.
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Watch the video below and join the Gccl family
Check out the video below and see why you should join us on board our ships for the 2022 season!
Our crew would like to thank you for voting us the #2 Small Ship Ocean Cruise Line!
OATS. was voted #2 Best Small Ship Ocean Cruise Line in Travel & Leisure's annual Worlds Best Awards. This is a major achievement for everyone involved in providing our travelers with an excellent small ship experience. As a special thank you to our travelers, the local Small Ship team created the following video.
Watch the video below and hear the GCCL crew's messages to our travelers!
Work with the best in the world!
At Grand Circle, our ultimate goal is to provide our travelers with the best travel experience at the best price in order to lead as the best cruise line and travel company in the industry.
We are delighted that our travelers and industry experts recognize this commitment and honor us with award-winning top marks in independent surveys.
Grand Circle Cruise Line macht Reklametafeln am Times Square!
The Grand Circle Danube Cruise is aimed at both active and less active passengers
There is a slower tour option for those who feel they cannot keep us with the group. Portable lightweight seats are available for those who cannot stand in one place for long explanations. An electric chair is attached to the ship's stairs. Electric bikes are available on board, making it easy to cycle along some of the most beautiful cycling routes in Europe.
There's little Grand Circle hasn't thought of to cater to a slightly older clientele. But for the most part, this older clientele is a feisty group of fun-loving, adventurous travelers who hate slowing down.
Afraid you'll have to swarm around our guide to hear what was said? Check over. However, each person has an individual hearing aid, so you can hear the guide as you walk through the towns, even if you're only a block away. At that point we stopped worrying.
Boat passengers are divided into four color-coded groups, each headed by a program director. Stefan was ours, but all four contribute to the day-to-day maintenance of the troupe. Everyone associated with Grand Circle and the ship being friendly doesn't do them justice: fun, accommodating, oversized personalities all intent on pleasing it, and despite my husband's cynicism, I don't think it does is only because of the tip
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Entertainment on board the Grand Circles Danube Cruise combines learning and laughter
Ah, the nightly entertainment cheesy, yes funny, more so. I usually avoid karaoke, but here it's just another excuse to laugh yourself silly. Instead of being a contest to judge the best singers, it was instead intended or not to be an exercise in which group sounded the most hilarious and terrifying.
And the crew talent show? Okay, maybe it looked like a bunch of 10 year olds in their first school production. Suffice it to say, things went downhill from there as the kitchen staff made Swan Lake, prompting the ship's captain to swear: whatever happens on board, stay on board! And then there were the horse races. Don't even ask. Let's just say there were a lot of recordings. So another boring night.
And when we weren't laughing, we were learning something. Growing up behind the Iron Curtain, performed by our Four Musketeers, revealed personal experiences from their youth: how their families were affected by Soviet dominance in their countries until the end of communism there in 1989.
Homes confiscated, assets lost, food rationed, travel banned, spies in communities, labor camps. Their textbooks were the same ones used for generations, and they only later discovered how much misinformation they contained. Eye opening again.
Yes I know I promised to tell you all about the great cities we visited. Immersive history, architectural splendor, every city an open-air museum with stunning buildings spanning several centuries. But I lied.
Elbe River Cruise Highlights
Jim Cuddy ~ Learn to Live Alone ~ Songwriters’ Circle ~ Donaukreuzfahrt 2022
- See much of the European countryside when cruising on an Elbe cruise.
- There are many places to stop, disembark and explore the area before re-boarding.
- Don't worry about booking a hotel in any of these locations, you're staying on the ship.
- Everything is planned so you don't have to check the many places to stop.
- This is an affordable way to see much more of the area and the world.
- You can go for a longer or a shorter period depending on what you want to do for the cruise.
- The ship gives you something else to do while you set sail, so it's like having two vacations in one.
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