River Symphony

Here are some of Barbara's photos. Do you recognize anyone here? There will be more coming soon. [Next Page]

Barbara's Letter to GCT

June 23,1999

RE: Blue Danube River Cruise, May 24, 1999

Dear Alan and Harriet Lewis-- and all GCT Associates,

What an awesome vacation I have just experienced with Grand Circle Travel! From the beginning-starting with the pleasant, helpful Grand Circle barb-054thumb.jpg (15880 bytes) representative at Logan Airport in Boston, throughout the entire two week trip, and concluding with the final greeting by another Grand Circle rep at the end of our return flight--our guides and all other GCT personnel on board our cruise were exceptional! I can't praise them enough! I have traveled extensively for the past fifteen years, and have to say that Grand Circle is by far the best, the friendliest, the most professionally operated travel company I have ever traveled with.

From the very beginning of the trip, there were serious, unforeseen obstacles that had to be dealt with by Grand Circle and the River barb-055thumb.jpg (13459 bytes) Symphony crew. Each one was handled professionally and with total consideration for all the guests onboard. We were never "short-changed"; in fact we were more than compensated for any changes that had to be made in our itinerary because of, for example, the water level of the river being above normal preventing the River Symphony from following its normal course.

There were several members of the Grand Circle staff on board our cruise for various reasons, and each one was a credit to the company. My barb045thumb.jpg (11033 bytes) personal feeling was that they added to my sense of "belonging" to GCT! There were quite a few guests who were first-time travelers with Grand Circle (as I was), some of whom were parents of Grand Circle employees (I as well!). We were all left with nothing but praise for GCT!

Our cruise directors, Bernie and Monika, were exceptional! In all my travel experiences I have never encountered two directors who extended barb035thumb.jpg (14695 bytes) themselves for their guests as Bernie and Monika did. Bernie's outstanding personality, his natural ability to relate to each and every one of us "seniors" (a diffucult task indeedl), his gracious way of catering to our individual needs in spite of unforeseen obstacles, without a doubt make him an asset to Grand Circle Travel! His job is not an easy one, but he handled everything--and every one--with grace, respect, and good disposition. He and Monika worked so well together as a team--Monika: young, lovely, gracious, always "there" for us. She was like a breath of fresh air for each one of us--a hard worker, understanding, always so pleasant-another credit to Grand Circle Travel!

I'm sure that I speak for all who were guests on the River Symphony on our May 24th voyage! Everything was exceptional-- everything! Every barb046thumb.jpg (9625 bytes) Grand Circle Associate who had anything to do with the arranging of our memorable trip-including the members in Customer Service that I had occasion to speak with before the trip--made a lasting impression on me. There is no doubt in my mind that I will be travelling with Grand Circle again--and hopefully soon!