‘Masterful job’ by GCT

About to depart for home on April 17 after Grand Circle Travel’s “Holland & Belgium in Springtime” — an excellent cruise-tour aboard the R/V River Aria — we got word that all flights were canceled due to the ash cloud from Iceland.

That evening we were advised to relax because passengers would be able to stay on the ship, and meals would be provided too, at no charge. There was no discrimination between travelers who had insurance and those who did not (like us).

Grand Circle did a masterful job of handling the problem. Some of the 160 people who had been in our group were already scheduled to take the Amsterdam extension, so they went on to their hotel. This opened up cabins for travelers who arrived early for a precruise before the next sailing.

The ship’s itinerary was slightly modified so the new travelers would get their tours. The rest of us undertook visits on our own. We flew home on April 23.

FRANK LAMSON-SCRIBNER

New Smyrna Beach, FL