Grand Circle Travel

River Cruise Ship in European Town

Grand Circle Travel (GCT) is a subsidiary of privately owned company, Grand Circle Corporation (GCC), which launched in 1958 to serve American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) members.[1] Today Grand Circle Travel offers international vacations to all older Americans. Grand Circle is headquartered in Boston and operates regional offices worldwide, employing more than 2,000 associates, program directors, trip leaders (guides), and nautical and hospitality crews on six continents.

Grand Circle Travel offers river cruises, small ship cruises, and land tours to destinations throughout Europe, North America, Central America, South America, Asia, South Pacific, and Africa. GCT trips are characterized by their cultural engagement, leisurely pacing, opportunities for independent exploration, local program directors, and overall value. They’re also known for solo-friendly travel packages, offering free or low-cost single supplements on all trips.[2] A typical trip ranges from 13–16 days and includes several optional trip extensions and tours.

History

Photo of Ethel Andrus

In 1958, retired schoolteacher and principal Ethel Andrus founded both AARP and Grand Circle Travel. Her vision of invigorating and well-paced senior group traveling still informs the GCT’s principles and values today.

GCT offered travel opportunities for AARP members up until 1982, and now serves all older Americans. In 1985, Grand Circle was purchased by Alan Lewis and moved to Boston. Lewis later went on to create the Grand Circle Foundation in 1992.

Overseas Adventure Travel joined the Grand Circle Family in 1993. It was originally founded in 1978 by a high school teacher named Judi Wineland. She saw the need for a more authentic, culturally driven travel experience. OAT began to offer customized small group adventure tours to unspoiled destinations around the world. After OAT was integrated into the Grand Circle family, it became the first US travel company to create and operate adventure trips to older Americans aged 50+.[3]

Brands

Overseas Adventure Travel

Overseas Adventure Travel Logo

Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) was founded in 1978 by high school teacher Judi Wineland. It was purchased by Grand Circle in 1993 and became the first US travel company to plan and operate adventure trips for Americans aged 50 and older.[4]

Typical OAT travel packages include wildlife safaris, nature-centered adventures, remote-area cultural explorations, and small ship voyages. OAT limits groups to just 10-16 travelers for land adventures and 16-25 for small ship cruises, allowing for stays at unique, local lodgings that would be too small for a typically sized travel group.[5]

Destinations include Botswana, Morocco, India, Burma, Vietnam, the Galápagos, Costa Rica, Italy, Croatia, Australia, New Zealand, and beyond. In 2013 and 2010, Travel + Leisure magazine awarded OAT its Global Vision Award for leadership in philanthropy and community engagement. Destinations include Botswana, Morocco, India, Burma, Vietnam, the Galápagos, Costa Rica, Italy, Croatia, Australia, New Zealand, and beyond. In 2013 and 2010, Travel + Leisure magazine awarded OAT its Global Vision Award for leadership in philanthropy and community engagement.[6]

Grand Circle Cruise Line

Grand Circle Cruise Line’s privately owned small ships, river ships, and exclusive small ship charters operate throughout Europe, Asia, and South America. The fleet comprises three 4-star 50-passenger small ships,[7] the ice-strengthened 98-passenger, all-suite M/V Corinthian (acquired in 2014), 12 river ships and exclusively chartered yachts and motor cruisers.[8]

Grand Circle ships have been custom designed to meet the needs of travelers. Cabins are lined on the outside wall of the ships to provide scenic views.[9] Certain rooms feature balconies and include twin beds that can be converted into daytime couches. Beyond the cabins, a typical GCT ship includes a non-smoking dining room, a bar and lounge, free wireless Internet access in common areas, a panoramic sun deck, and fitness equipment.[10]

European River Cruise Ships

Name Guests Crew Length Entered Service
M/S Provence 46 14 292 feet 2000
M/S Chardonnay 46 14 260 feet 1999
M/S River Adagio 164 38 418 feet 2003
M/S River Allegro 90 29 320 feet 1991
M/S Concerto 140 34 366 feet 2000
M/S River Chanson 338 24 338 feet 2001
M/S River Aria 164 38 418 feet 2001
M/S Bizet 120 33 366 feet 2002
M/S River Harmony 140 34 366 feet 1999
M/S River Rhapsody 140 34 366 feet 1999
M/S River Melody 140 34 366 feet 1999

Mediterranean Small Ships

Name Guests Crew Length Entered Service
M/V Artemis 50 21 193 feet 2007
M/V Athena 50 21 193 feet 2007
M/V Arethusa 50 21 193 feet 2007

Corinthian Small Ship

Name Guests Crew Length Entered Service
Corinthian 98 56 290 feet 2009

Program Directors

Grand Circle Program Directors are a distinguishing feature of GCT trips. Program Directors are resident experts who are fluent in English and available to provide first-hand insights and on local custom, culture, history, and wildlife.[11]

Awards

Grand Circle Travel, Overseas Adventure Travel, and Grand Circle Cruise Line have been honored with many awards over the years, including:

Philanthropy

Grand Circle Foundation

GCT Alan and Harriet Lewis founded the Grand Circle Foundation in 1992, and have since pledged or donated more than $97 million to support 300 different villages, schools, and other organizations throughout the world.[17] In 2010, GCF and travelers raised $400k for Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti.[18] Two years later, in 2012, owners Lewis and Harriet committed $10 million to Boston high school students with the aim of doubling the number of four-year college degrees attained by the city’s most underserved neighborhoods by 2018.[19]

Programs

Key Grand Circle Foundation programs include the World Classroom initiative, which supports childhood education around the world; the Day in the Life program which connects travelers with authentic cultural encounters with local communities; and the Invest in a Village program, which works to bring sustainable changes to villages. Grand Circle Foundation has also raised relief funds for Japan, Haiti, Peru, and New Zealand.[20]

Authorized Travel to Cuba

The Grand Circle Foundation is fully licensed and authorized for people-to-people travel to Cuba and has taken nearly 3,000 travelers to date.[21] As the U.S. government requires travelers to engage in “people-to-people” activities, Grand Circle’s Cuba tours include an educational itinerary emphasizing cultural interactions with local Cuban artists, musicians, and community leaders. Trips are 12 days in duration and limited to small groups of 12 to 20 participants.[22]

External links

Citations

  1. ↑ "History | About Us | Grand Circle Travel". www.gct.com. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  2. ↑ "Leader in Solo-Friendly Travel | Grand Circle". www.gct.com. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  3. ↑ "The History of Overseas Adventure Travel | OAT". www.oattravel.com. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  4. ↑ "Overseas Adventure Travel". Travel + Leisure. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  5. ↑ "The Leader in Small Group Adventure Travel | Overseas Adventure Travel". www.oattravel.com. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  6. ↑ "The Leader in Small Group Adventure Travel | Overseas Adventure Travel". www.oattravel.com. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  7. ↑ "Our Privately Owned Fleet | River Cruises | Grand Circle Travel". Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  8. ↑ Line, Grand Circle Cruise. "Grand Circle Cruise Line Acquires the M/V Corinthian". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  9. ↑ "Our Privately Owned Fleet | River Cruises | Grand Circle Travel". Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  10. ↑ "M/S River Harmony | Grand Circle Travel". www.gct.com. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  11. ↑ "Program Directors | Grand Circle Difference | Grand Circle Travel". www.gct.com. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  12. ↑ "Awards". www.gct.com. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  13. ↑ "Awards". www.gct.com. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  14. ↑ "Awards". www.gct.com. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  15. ↑ "Awards". www.gct.com. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  16. ↑ "Awards". www.gct.com. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  17. ↑ "Grand Circle Foundation". www.grandcirclefoundation.org. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  18. ↑ "Grand Circle Foundation". www.grandcirclefoundation.org. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  19. ↑ "Global Vision Awards 2013". Travel + Leisure. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  20. ↑ "Grand Circle Foundation". www.grandcirclefoundation.org. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  21. ↑ "Cuba: A Bridge Between Cultures". www.oattravel.com. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  22. ↑ "Cuba: A Bridge Between Cultures". www.oattravel.com. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 8/12/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.