Grand Circle Cruise Line Makes Conde Nast Traveler's 2013 Gold List and Platinum Circle of World's Best River Cruise Lines

BOSTON, Jan. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Alan E. Lewis, Chairman and CEO of Grand Circle Corporation, is pleased to announce that Grand Circle Cruise Line has again been named to Conde Nast Traveler's annual Gold List of World's Best Cruise Lines -- and to its Platinum Circle of repeat winners. Grand Circle Cruise Line's overall score of 94.3 was the highest overall score of any cruise line listed in either the river or ocean cruise line categories.

"We are honored to be recognized by Conde Nast Traveler readers for recognizing our efforts to create culturally-rich itineraries," said Lewis.  "We are especially proud that we are able to offer travelers exceptional cruises that typically cost $50-$500 less per day than do other small ship cruises," Lewis said.   "We will continue to work hard to deliver excellent, affordable experiences that get travelers off our ships and into homes, neighborhoods, and communities where locals, and not tourists, gather."  

In its 19^th year, Conde NastTraveler's annual Gold List is based on data collected from the magazine's annual Readers' Choice survey that last year queried more than 46,000 readers on top destinations, hotels, resorts, cruise lines and more.  The Platinum Circle includes cruise lines, hotels, resorts, and destinations that have appeared on the magazine's Gold List for the past five years or more in a row.   

For the river and ocean cruise line categories, the survey asked readers to rate cruise lines based on seven criterion, with Grand Circle Cruise Line scoring as follows:  Itineraries: 97.5, Cabins: 89.3, Service: 97.3, Food: 94.7, Design: 93.7, Activities: 90.8, and Shore Excursions: 96.5.

Grand Circle Cruise Line offers 23 river cruises and cruise tours and small ship cruises around the world along -- each of which offers a variety of pre-and-post trip options as well as myriad ways to customize one's vacation.  In the past two years, 80,500 Americans traveled with Grand Circle Cruise Line, including 56,400 female travelers and 19,000 solo travelers -- 15,255 of whom were women. 

With one in four (25%) travelers now booking as solos (vs. one in five in 2007), Grand Circle Cruise Line offers free single supplements on its three new small ship cruises for 2013, low single supplements on all other cruises, free single supplements on all pre-and post-trip extensions, a free matching roommate program, and more.  The fleet's three new small ship cruises for 2013 include "Burma & the Irrawaddy River: Bagan to Mandalay", "Turkish Coastal Voyage: Greek Islands, Istanbul & Athens", and "The Rivieras: France, Italy & the Isles."

For more information please visit Grand Circle Cruise Line, and to see a video, please click Grand Circle Cruise Line Experience Video.

About Grand Circle Cruise Line
Established in 1998, Grand Circle Cruise Line has grown from a single river ship to more than 50 small ships today, ranging from custom-built river ships, three four-star plus 50-passenger ocean-faring ships, and dozens of exclusive private charters.  Ship capacities range from 50-164 passengers.  The fleet is part of Grand Circle Corporation, which also includes travel brands Grand Circle Travel and Overseas Adventure Travel, both of which provide unique international vacations to Americans age 50 and older. Since 1992, the non-profit Grand Circle Foundation has pledged or donated $92 million to more than 300 educational, humanitarian and cultural organizations worldwide, including 100 schools, in 50 countries.

SOURCE Grand Circle Cruise Line