Grand Circle Offers Savings of $600 Per Couple -- Plus Free Single Supplements on its 2012 China & the Yangtze River Cruise Tour

BOSTON, Dec. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Grand Circle Travel (GCT), the leader in international travel and discovery for Americans 50+, is pleased to announce significant savings on its 2012 "China & Yangtze River Cruise Tour." Couples will save $600 on all 2012 departures, while solo travelers will enjoy free single supplements on the base program and all optional extensions. Costs for the 21-day cruise tour begin at $3445, or just $165 per day, including international airfare, or $2395, or $120 a day, without airfare.

"China is on the bucket list of many Americans, and our 2012 savings make it even more affordable for solo travelers and couples to experience it," said Grand Circle CEO Alan E. Lewis.  "Not only is our value exceptional, but so is the authenticity of our itinerary, thanks to our regional staff in China and our Chinese Program Directors who provide an expert, insider's perspective of their country."

Grand Circle's 21-day "China & the Yangtze River Cruise Tour" explores Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, Chongqing, Xian, Guilin, and Hong Kong and includes a four-night cruise along the Li River.  The cruise tour begins at $3445 and includes international airfare from Los Angeles or San Francisco (or $2395 without air) in addition to accommodations (15 nights at First-Class, Moderate First-Class, and unrated hotels, in rooms with private bath; plus 4 nights aboard a Victoria Cruises river ship); 44 meals (19B, 14L, and 11D, including two lunches at homes in Shanghai and Xian); 14 sightseeing tours; Grand Circle's exclusive Discovery Series events; services of an expert Grand Circle Program Director (guide); 5% frequent traveler credit; baggage handling for 1 piece of luggage; and more. 

Travelers will enjoy their 4-night Li River cruise onboard a Victoria Cruises river ship that boasts all outside cabins with private balconies, a dining room with open seating, reading room, fitness room, lectures, entertainment, morning Tai Chi classes, and more.  Additional amenities are available on the Executive Deck and Executive Suites.   

Grand Circle's 14 sightseeing tours include Beijing & Forbidden City; Beijing's Hidden Lanes; Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace; Great Wall & Ming Tombs; Shanghai; Three Gorges Dam; Three Gorges & Lesser Three Gorges; Wanxian; Chongqing, Stilwell Museum & Flying Tigers discussion; Panda visit; Xian & Terra Cotta Army; Xian City Wall & Small Wild Goose Pagoda; Li River cruise, and Hong Kong.   Discovery Series events include a visit to Shanghai market and Cao Yang New Village senior center; a home-hosted lunch with a Shanghai family, a home visit in Wanxian with a relocated family, and a primary school visit and home-hosted lunch in Xian.

To extend the value of the tour, Grand Circle offers optional pre-and post-trip extensions to the base program.  Grand Circle's six-night South Korea: Seoul & Gyeongju pre-trip is new for 2012 and begins at $1995, while travelers may elect to take the four night post-trip option in Bangkok, Thailand from $995.

For more information about China & the Yangtze River, please call 1-800-221-2610 or view our online video at www.gct.com/yzz2012.

ABOUT GRAND CIRCLE TRAVEL
Established in 1958, Grand Circle Travel (GCT) is part of Boston-based Grand Circle Corporation's family of travel companies, which also includes Overseas Adventure Travel.  Headquartered in Boston, Mass., Grand Circle has 36 offices throughout Asia, the South Pacific, Europe, the Americas, and Africa.  Its charitable arm, Grand Circle Foundation, has donated or pledged more than $50 million USD to educational, humanitarian, and cultural organizations worldwide since 1992.

SOURCE Grand Circle Travel