GRAND CIRCLE SMALL SHIP CRUISES NAMED TO CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER'S 2009 GOLD LIST

01-06-2009

Fourth year in a row Grand Circle ranks among the "best of the best”

 

BOSTON—Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises has been named to Condé Nast Traveler's Gold List of the world's top cruise lines for the fourth year in a row.  This is the 15th year that Condé Nast Traveler has issued its Gold List, which identifies and scores the best and most frequently cited hotels, resorts, and cruise lines from the Condé Nast Traveler Readers Choice Awards.  Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises' overall score ranked sixth in a select list of 15 cruise lines; and it represented the highest score of all the river cruise lines cited in the list. The company received highest scores (93.7) on its itineraries.

 

"This award has special relevance for us, as it comes directly from travelers who have experienced our programs, and taken the time to recognize us.” said Vince Cook, Grand Circle's CEO.  "It gives us special satisfaction to know that while our quality places us among the world's best, our prices are consistently hundreds, even thousands less than those offered by other Gold List members.  Especially during these tough economic times, we are committed to helping our customers continue to travel, with excellence.”  Citing the high marks for Grand Circle's itineraries, Cook added that "The authentic onshore experiences we offer, the personal connections, such as local home and school visits, really deliver another kind of value that goes beyond dollars and cents.”

 

More than 32,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers participated in this year's survey.  Readers scored the cruise lines based on the following categories: itineraries, cabins, service, food, design, activities, and shore excursions.  Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises' overall score was 86.5 out of 100, and readers gave their highest marks for Grand Circle's itineraries (93.7), service (92.7), and shore excursions (90.5). 

 

Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises serves Grand Circle Corporation's two sister companies, Grand Circle Travel and Overseas Adventure Travel, which both provide unique international vacations to Americans over 50.   The cruise line has grown from one custom-built river ship in 1998 to a fleet of more than 30 small ships today, including custom-built river ships and three new 50 passenger ocean-faring ships.

 

Established in 1958, Grand Circle Corporation is the leader in international travel, adventure, and discovery for Americans aged 50 and older. Headquartered in Boston, Mass., the company has offices throughout Asia, the South Pacific, Europe, the Americas, and Africa.  Since 1992, Grand Circle Foundation has donated more than $30 million to educational, humanitarian and cultural organizations around the world. More than 1.5 million people have traveled with Grand Circle since 1958.

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