Savings on Grand Circle Cruises
Major Tour Firm Offers Great Cruise Deals for Last-Minute Bookings
Savings Alert: Popular senior travel company Grand Circle giving away credits, discounts for flexible travelers who book Russian Waterways River Cruise, Europe Cruises
Travelers who have a hankering to cruise rivers in Europe or Russia with Grand Circle Travel, one of the world's premier senior tour specialists, listen up for these terrific deals. This senior-friendly outfit has big discounts and/or travel credits for seniors, couples and others who sign up for certain cruises at the last minute.
A few months ago, Grand Circle announced that in 2006 seven out of the top 10 most popular vacations for travelers 50 and over were small-ship vacations.
Example: the Grand European Cruise, 26 days, leaving June 4 and starting from Amsterdam, then heading for Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Netherlands, Germany, and Austria. Now, the company offers a price cut of $3,000 per couple, plus a 2 for 1 Soprano Deck Upgrade (a $1,550 per couple value). That means you can cruise for under $5,000 per person.
Another example: Romance of the Rhine and Mosel, a 16-day cruise leaving June 24, 25 or 26 -- save $2,500 per couple. The 16-day trip through Belgium, Netherland, Germany, Switzerland and France is now priced at $2,495 per person including airfare from New York, Newark or Boston.
Another: Grand Circle Russian Waterways River CruiseTour, a 16-day adventure with July and August departures from Boston, New York and Newark. Senior couples and others who reserve by May 20 and pay in full when booking get immediate travel credits worth $2,000 per couple. In plain English, that means a price cut of $1,000 per person off the $3,495 inclusive fare. Or book the May 31 departure for this 16-day trip and pay only $2,195 per person, including airfare from Boston or New York to Moscow.
The Russian journeys are aboard Grand Circle's two private river ships and include St. Petersburg. The outfitter promises that tourists get insight into the "new" Russia, with native Russian program directors leading the way.
“It’s clear to us that small ship travel is the way that Americans over 50 want to travel, and we see this trend continuing to grow in 2007 and way beyond,” said Grand Circle Chairman and CEO Alan E. Lewis. Small ship vacations are the fastest-growing segment of Grand Circle business and one of the fastest-growing segments in the travel industry.
Details on each cruise can be found at Grand Circle's Web site. has been a favorite of cruise enthusiasts for its attention to detail and the design of its trips, which combine luxury vacations with adventurous activities. It's an affiliate of Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT). Travel magazines have consistently rated Grand Circle and OAT high in the ranks of outfitters and small ship vacation specialty companies.
