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Senior Citizen Travel & Vacation
Small Ship Vacations Dominate Top 10 List for Older
American Travel
Grand Circle says it's fastest growing segment of
its international vacations
 January 24, 2007 The top ten most popular
vacations in 2006 for older Americans has been released by Grand Circle
Corporation, a company specializing in international travel adventures
for people over 50. For the first time in the company's 49-year history,
seven out of the most popular vacations were small-ship vacations, which
it says is the fastest-growing segment of Grand Circle business and one
of the fastest-growing choices in the travel industry.
"Top 10 Most Popular Vacations in 2006 for
Americans 50+
1. The Great Rivers of Europe 16-day river
cruise along the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers
2. Eastern Europe to the Black Sea11-day river
cruise from the Danube to the Black Sea
3. Holland & Belgium in Bloom12-day river
cruise along the Rhine River
4. Ancient Egypt & the Nile River15-day river
cruise
5. Ultimate Africa: Botswana, Namibia & Zimbabwe
Safari19-day escorted tour
6. Australia, New Zealand & Fiji21-day escorted
tour
7. Imperial China, Tibet & the Yangtze
River22-day land and cruise tour
8. Classic Greece & the Greek Isles15-day land
cruise tour
9. China & the Yangtze River21-day land and
river cruise tour
10. Amalfi Coast & Italy18-day extended vacation
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Next step will require it for land and sea travel,
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 January 22, 2007 Senior citizens should be aware
of new travel restrictions that become effective tomorrow that will
require all citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda
to present a passport to enter the United States when arriving by air
from any part of the Western Hemisphere. This requirement was announced
last November by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S.
Department of State. As early as next year, a second phase will include
travel by land or sea.
Read more...
Small Ship Travel Catalog Available to Senior
Citizens
Grand Circle says
older Americans prefer these international trips
August 2, 2006 Small ship travel is by far the
most popular way to travel for older Americans, according to Grand
Circle Corporation, which is offering free a new catalog "Small Ship
Travel" to mature travelers. The company says it is a leader in
international travel, adventure and discovery for Americans over age 50.
Read more...
Read more
on
Travel for Senior Citizens |
|
More than 180,000 Americans aged 50 and older took
one of Grand Circle's more than 100 overseas vacations provided through
its two travel brands: Grand Circle Travel and Overseas Adventure
Travel.
"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.
"Being able to travel in small groups with
like-minded Americans, exploring towns and villages that larger ships
can't get to, and getting to know local people and their ways of life
make for an unforgettable vacation.
"We've worked hard to offer our 40 or so small ship
vacations at an excellent value to travelers, and I'm proud to say that
our value is unbeatableoften several hundreds to up to $3700 less per
person than the same cruise offered by another company."
Although Grand Circle just entered the small-ship
cruise arena in 1997, the small ship business now accounts for more than
80% of Grand Circle's business.
The company custom-built its first deluxe river
ship in 1998 and today has a fleet of 50+ small ships designed to meet
the myriad needs of a diverse population of 50-plus travelers. The
fleet, known as Grand Circle Cruise Line, includes 16 river-cruise
ships, six rustic barges, a 16-passenger Galapagos expedition vessel,
the 330-passenger M/S Paul Gauguin, and exclusive charters.
Beginning in 2007, Grand Circle will introduce six
new, 50-passenger ocean ships that will ply the waters of E.
Mediterranean and the Aegean, beginning with the first ship's launch in
May 2007. The company also will launch its fully refurbished M/S Rossia,
a 216-passenger ship that will join its sister M/S Tikhi Don in Russia
this April.
In an article that appeared in Travel Weekly's May
2, 2006 edition, Bob Whitley, president of the U.S. Tour Operators
Association, was quoted as saying that "River cruises are probably the
hottest new travel experience in our industry. And according to an
Associated Press story that ran January 4, 2006, "destinations in Asia
and river cruises in Europe are among the hottest new trends in travel
as 2007 begins.
Grand Circle says it has received strong
recognition for its small-ship vacations, including inclusion in Condι
Nast Travelers' Gold List in 2007 and 2006 and being named one of the
top two "World's Best Small-Ship Cruise Lines in the magazine's 2006
Readers' Choice Poll. In 2006, Travel + Leisure readers cited Grand
Circle Cruise Line as among the top five "Best Small-Ship Cruise Lines
in the world.
For 2007, Grand Circle has taken a bold step in the
small-ship industry, offering a comprehensive guarantee to travelers
that no other small ship cruise line has yet to do. Despite fluctuating
air and fuel surcharges and currency changes, the company now offers a
100% price guarantee to travelers on all of its river and small ship
vacations.
This means that once a traveler books his small
ship vacation, he will not incur any additional air or other fuel
surcharges, or currency increases - even if the company does. Such
"hidden charges can add $200-$400 per person to the cost of the trip.
In addition, if Grand Circle reduces the advertised price of a river
cruise or small ship vacation outside of 60 days of departure, travelers
will get the lower fare, regardless of when they booked.
For more information about any of our trips or for
a free "2007 Small Ship Travel catalog and a free small ship DVD,
please call 1-800-248-3737. Or visit our websites at
www.gct.com/pr or
www.oattravel.com/pr.
Editor's Notes:
About Grand Circle
Established in 1958, Grand Circle Corporation is
the leader in international travel, adventure, and discovery for
Americans age 50 and older and posted $656 million in sales in 2006.
Headquartered in Boston, Mass., the company has more than 45 offices
throughout Asia, the South Pacific, Europe, the Americas, and Africa.
Through its brands, Grand Circle Travel and Overseas Adventure Travel,
the company offers more than 100 extended stay vacations, escorted
tours, river cruises, barge trips, ocean cruises, and adventure
programs. The Grand Circle Foundation has donated more than $30 million
to humanitarian, cultural, and environmental organizations around the
world since 1992.
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