Published on
October 9, 2025
Grand Circle Cruise Line (GCCL) has earned a distinguished spot in the distinguished 2025 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, rating because the #6 Best River Cruise Line. This recognition is particularly notable because it marks a formidable four-spot rise from its #10 place in 2024. The Readers’ Choice Awards, extensively considered the journey trade’s longest-standing and most esteemed accolades, are a direct results of over 757,000 survey responses submitted by readers throughout the United States. These surveys consider journey experiences from all over the world, together with cruises, accommodations, resorts, and locations.
A Mark of Excellence
The annual Readers’ Choice Awards proceed to stand as one of many highest honors in the journey trade. Being named among the many finest in the river cruise class additional solidifies Grand Circle Cruise Line’s popularity for offering distinctive journey experiences. The outcomes of the 2025 awards had been printed on Condé Nast Traveler’s web site and celebrated in the journal’s November situation.
For Grand Circle Cruise Line, this recognition is a testomony to the loyalty of its vacationers and the dedication of its crew members, who work tirelessly to supply culturally immersive and significant journeys. According to Brian FitzGerald, CEO of Grand Circle Corporation, transferring from #10 to #6 inside a single 12 months demonstrates the energy of GCCL’s river cruise program. It additionally highlights the rising demand for genuine and private journey experiences that prioritize discovery and human connection.
Grand Circle’s Commitment to Cultural Immersion
What units Grand Circle Cruise Line aside from different cruise traces is its give attention to offering genuine, culturally immersive experiences. The firm has lengthy been dedicated to delivering journey that goes past the same old vacationer expertise. Its river cruises enable vacationers to discover Europe in a method that fosters deeper connections with native cultures and communities. This strategy has earned GCCL a devoted following and a popularity for providing one-of-a-kind journeys that present not solely sightseeing but in addition alternatives to be taught and have interaction with numerous cultures alongside the best way.
The #6 rating can be a mirrored image of the constructive experiences vacationers proceed to have with Grand Circle’s distinctive itineraries. These journeys are designed to not simply showcase well-known landmarks however to additionally immerse visitors in the on a regular basis lives of the folks residing in the areas they go to. This emphasis on real cultural trade has confirmed to be a serious draw for these in search of extra than simply an ordinary trip.
Special Savings for 2026 Journeys
In mild of this recognition, Grand Circle Cruise Line is celebrating with a particular supply for vacationers reserving 2026 journeys. For those that e book by October 31, 2025, vacationers can get pleasure from up to 15% off their chosen cruise itinerary. This promotion applies to numerous departures all through 2026, making it a superb alternative for these trying to embark on a river cruise journey in Europe.
For the primary half of the 12 months (January to May), visitors can get pleasure from a 15% low cost on their whole journey, together with airfare, most important journey, and extensions, when the reserving is paid in full. For departures from June to December, a 10% low cost is obtainable. The low cost applies to all elements of the journey, together with airfare and land extensions, permitting vacationers to save considerably on their European river cruise expertise.
Featured 2026 Journeys
Grand Circle Cruise Line provides a wide selection of thrilling river cruise choices for 2026. Here are a couple of featured journeys to look ahead to:
- Holland & Belgium in Springtime: This 12-day journey, beginning at $3,595 per particular person (together with airfare), is ideal for many who need to expertise Europe’s well-known tulip season. Travelers will go to iconic areas like Keukenhof Gardens, the windmills of Kinderdijk, and charming canal cities alongside the best way.
- The Seine: Paris to Normandy: This 13-day journey, priced beginning at $4,295 per particular person with airfare, provides a scenic and cultural exploration from Paris to the Normandy area. Guests will go to Monet’s gardens in Giverny, the historic city of Rouen, and expertise the wonder and tradition of northern France.
- The Great Rivers of Europe: Spanning 16 days and beginning at $5,795 per particular person (together with airfare), this journey traverses three main rivers—Rhine, Main, and Danube—permitting vacationers to expertise the guts of Europe. From Amsterdam’s iconic canals to the standard people music of Germany and Vienna’s well-known coffeehouse tradition, this cruise provides a wealthy cultural expertise throughout a number of international locations.
How to Reserve Your 2026 Journey
To reap the benefits of these particular financial savings, vacationers can name Grand Circle Cruise Line at 1-800-221-2610 and point out code DOBE 506, or they will go to the reserving web site at www.gct.com/SAVE15 to reserve their spot for 2026. It’s vital to act rapidly, because the supply ends on October 31, 2025, and is just accessible for vacationers who pay in full on the time of reserving.
Looking Ahead
The recognition from Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards indicators a vivid future for Grand Circle Cruise Line. This prestigious award reinforces the corporate’s dedication to offering vacationers with distinctive and immersive experiences, whether or not they’re exploring Europe’s rivers or delving deeper into its historical past and tradition. The elevated rating and the recognition of their river cruises present that vacationers are more and more in search of genuine, private connections with the locations they go to. With these provides in place, now’s the right time to e book a 2026 river cruise journey.
