Online Terms and Conditions for European River Cruises (from UK)
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GENERAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS
Australian Pacific’s fair trading contract with you It is our intention to set out clearly and simply the responsibilities which we at Australian Pacific Touring (UK) Ltd. (hereforth referred to as APT) have to you and which you, in turn, have to us when a contract is made between us. A contract will exist as soon as we issue a confirmation invoice in response to your booking and subsequent deposit paid. On our part we have obligations to provide you with the tour you have booked on the terms clearly stated below and within this brochure. Your contract is entered into with APT (UK) Ltd
Booking Your Holiday
£850 security deposit per person, per tour is required within 7 days of booking confirmation. Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure. Children under 8 years of age are not accepted on Europe River Cruises. Children under 18 years must be accompanied by an adult. The Company reserves the right to cancel any ticket or booking or to refuse to carry any passenger where payment has not been received by the Company within the specified time. Payment in full is required at time of booking for reservations made less than 100 days before departure. If a reservation can not be confirmed all monies will be refunded
Your Holiday price
All prices in this publication are quoted in UK£, based on land content only unless otherwise stipulated, and calculated on the basis of known and applicable exchange rates shown in the Financial Times ‘Guide to World Currencies’. Prices are based on the Australia dollar exchange rate as at October 2007 £1=AU$2.38. The tour price will be confirmed to you at time of booking (for travel 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2008).If however it is different to what you had expected then you do not have to proceed with the booking. Twin Share prices are per person (unless otherwise stated). Credit card surcharges if applicable will be charged at 1.5%. APT (UK) Ltd. reserves the right to adjust the published price should this become necessary due to adverse exchange rate variations, increase in transportation costs or newly introduced government taxes. Even in this case we will absorb an amount equivalent to 2% of the holiday price, which excludes insurance premiums and any amendment fees. Only amounts in excess of this 2% will be surcharged but where a surcharge is payable there will be an administration charge of £1 together with an amount to cover agents’ commission. If this means paying more than 10% of the holiday price, you will be entitled to cancel your holiday and receive a full refund of all monies paid to us. Should you decide to cancel because of this, you must exercise your right to do so in writing within 14 days from the issue date printed on the confirmation. No surcharges will be levied less than 30 days before departure. In return for this commitment, we are unable to refund you for exchange rate movements that would otherwise reduce your holiday price.
Included in our Cruise and/or Tour Price
All coach/cruise travel, accommodation, sightseeing, meals, admissions and the services of a Cruise Director as stated in the itineraries. All APT Exclusive Sailings include coach/cruise travel, accommodation, sightseeing, meals, admissions, gratuities and the services of a Tour Director on Europe land itineraries. Ocean cruising excludes gratuities and Tour Director.
Not Included in our Cruise and/or Tour Price
Airfares, airport taxes, port charges, laundry, passport and visa fees, meals, drinks, excess baggage and optional excursions not specified in the itinerary. Extra overnight accommodation is not included at the start or end of tour if not specified in itineraries. Gratuities on ocean cruising and all cruise/tours. Gratuities included on Exclusive Sailings.
Publication Validity
The itineraries and fares shown in this publication are effective from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2008. Itineraries and fares after 31 December 2008 may be different from those indicated, please check at the time of your enquiry or booking to ensure you are aware of any changes.
Cancellation Policy
For 2008 Europe, Russia & Holland America Line Cruises the following applies:
Days of Notice / Fee per person
100 or more Loss of deposit
99-61 50% of tour fare
60 or less 100% of tour fare
All cancellations must be received in writing by APT and are not effective until this notification has been received. If tour or cruise has commenced, 100% of full tour price. There is no refund for unused services or if portions of the cruise and/or land arrangements are missed. Cancellation fees also apply to additional accommodation reserved prior to and after the tour. These cancellation fees are in addition to any fees that may be levied by your travel agent.
If You Decide to Change Your Booking
Should you wish to change your tour arrangements in any way after we have accepted your booking, we shall endeavor to meet your wishes, but a handling fee of £25 per person will be charged to cover administration costs if documentation has already been issued, If you wish to change/amend your booking within 14 days of tour departure date, normal cancellation charges as detailed above in our cancellations clause will apply.
Amendments or Cancellation by Australian Pacific Touring
It is unlikely that we will have to make any changes to your tour, but it must be remembered that we plan the arrangements many months in advance, and sometimes, changes may be needed and we reserve the right to make them whenever it is necessary. Most of these changes are minor. If a change becomes necessary, we will inform you or your travel agent as soon as is reasonably possible. Unless the change significantly alters the holiday, compensation will not be payable. As is normally the case with group tours, a minimum number of bookings is required in order for a tour to be financially viable and to have a pleasant group atmosphere. In the event that adequate numbers cannot be achieved, it may be necessary for APT (UK) Ltd. to cancel a scheduled departure and to offer the nearest possible alternative (or, of course, a full refund of the money paid). Generally, such tours detailed in this brochure will operate provided that we have achieved the minimum number of fully paid adult bookings. The date on which the decision is made about whether a tour will operate is no later than six weeks before the scheduled departure date.
Passengers Needing Special Assistance
Any disability or medical condition requiring special attention must be reported to APT at the time of booking. The company will make reasonable efforts to accommodate the special needs of disabled cruise participants, but is not responsible for any denial of services by carriers, hotels, restaurants, or other independent suppliers, nor any additional expenses incurred. Motorcoaches and minibuses are not equipped with wheelchair ramps. Not all river cruise ships have elevators. Cabin doors and restrooms are not wide enough to allow access by standard wheelchairs. Wheelchairs and walkers cannot be carried on motorcoaches, due to space limitations. Wheelchair passengers should be aware of these limitations. For safety reasons, passengers in wheelchairs cannot be carried on ramps in ports where the ship is at anchor. We regret that we cannot provide individual assistance to a cruise member for walking, dining, getting on and off motorcoaches or other transportation vehicles, or other personal needs. Travellers who need such assistance must be accompanied by a qualified companion.
Exclusion of Liability
Health and Medical Conditions:
If you, or any member of your party have a medical condition or disability which may affect your holiday, we ask that you please tell us before you confirm your holiday booking so we are able to advise as to the suitability of your chosen arrangements. In any event, you must provide us with full details in writing at the time of booking. If we reasonably feel we are unable to properly accommodate particular needs of the person concerned, we reserve the right to decline the booking or ask for the person to be accompanied by a person who is able to provide full assistance to them throughout their tour. No passenger will be permitted to embark or continue on the tour while their mental or physical condition is, in the opinion of any representative of the company, such as to render them incapable of caring for themselves, or whereby they become objectionable to other passengers, or they become a hazard to themselves or other passengers. The company will not be responsible for expenses resulting in such persons being precluded from completing the tour for any reason.
Gratuities
Are included for all APT Exclusive Sailings with Europe land touring with the exception of ocean cruising (Holland America Line ship). Any other cruise and touring does not include gratuities in the tour price. The suggested amount is 12 Euro per passenger, per day, which is distributed among the ship’s crew and the cruise director. Tipping of local guides is at your discretion.
Hotels
Hotel rooms in Europe are often small and in some of the more remote corners, hotel standards are not quite as high as in major centres. However, here too, we research and utilise only the best accommodation available in the area, ensuring that our high levels of cleanliness, comfort and service are maintained.
Single/Triple Accommodation
A limited number of single rooms/cabins are available by request at time of booking. Single supplement must be paid with final payment. Should shared rooms/cabins be necessary, a proportional refund of the single supplement will be provided at the end of the tour. Please note: Single rooms/cabins are usually smaller and often only have one single bed. Please note: Triple cabins are not available.
Itineraries
Itineraries are subject to alteration without notice and intended as a guide only. Alterations may occur due to road or weather conditions, strikes or other reasons beyond our control. In the event of water level problems on stretches of any river, it may be necessary to operate part of the itinerary by motorcoach. Any additional expense incurred by the passenger is not the Company’s responsibility. The Company can give no guarantee as to exact arrival and departure times for carriers and operators used by the Company in the tour and the Company will not be liable for failure to make connections with any other services or attractions beyond its control. If accommodation listed becomes unavailable, we reserve the right to substitute hotels with alternative accommodation of a similar standard.
If You Have a Complaint
If a problem occurs during your tour then, in your own best interests, you should tell a representative so that steps can be taken to resolve the matter on the spot, there and then. If you remain dissatisfied, any complaint must be made in writing to us within 28 days. Maximum compensation will only be considered where everything has gone wrong and you have not received any benefit at all from you holiday. Any disputes arising out of, or in connection with this contract which cannot be amicably settled may be referred to arbitration, under a special scheme arranged by the Association of British Travel Agents. Full details will be provided upon request or can be obtained on the ABTA website (www.abta.com). The scheme does not apply for amounts greater than £5,000 per person. Neither does it apply to claims which are in respect of physical injury or illness or their consequences.
Consumer Payment Protection
Australian Pacific Touring (UK) Ltd. has arranged full bonding with ABTA in order to protect consumer payments. This protection follows the guidelines of the latest European legislation and complies fully with all legal requirements within the U.K. For full details please contact our London office.
Insurance
Passengers are recommended to ensure that they arrange comprehensive travel insurance cover.
Passports
A full passport is required. In the case of British citizens, this means a 10 year British Passport and not a Visitor’s Passport.
Travel Documents
Please ensure you carefully read your confirmation invoice, tickets and all other documents we send to you as soon as you receive them, and contact us or your travel agent, if any information appears to be incorrect. We regret that we cannot accept any liability if we are not notified of any inaccuracy in any document within 14 days of us sending to you or your agent. While we will do our best to rectify any changes made outside this time, it is your responsibility for any additional costs which may be involved, except in the case of an error made by APT and where there is reason for you not contacting us within the specified time. Each passenger is responsible for ensuring that all necessary travel documents (e.g. passports, visas, vaccination certificates etc.) are valid and effective. We strongly recommend that you verify current information with your Travel Agent.
Force Majeure
Compensation will not be payable if we are forced to cancel or change your travel arrangements in any way for reasons of war, threat of war, riot, civil strife, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, adverse weather conditions or other circumstances amounting to force majeure. World weather is becoming more erratic and unpredictable and we cannot be held responsible for disruption to your holiday due to bad or unusual weather conditions
Freedom of Choice Touring
Freedom of Choice Touring, Freedom of Choice Dining and Dine Around Dinners™ are booked by your Tour Director whilst on tour. They are subject to availability, seasonal and operational factors and public holidays or festivals and the like.
Data Protection
Please be assured that we have measures in place to protect the personal booking information held by us. However, in order to make your booking and ensure that your travel arrangements run smoothly, we need to use the information you provide and pass on to the operator or other relevant suppliers. The information may also be provided to public authorities such as customs or immigration if required by them, or as required by law. We will only pass your information on to persons responsible for your travel arrangements. This applies to any sensitive information that you give to us such as details of any disabilities or dietary/religious requirements. (If we cannot pass this information to the relevant suppliers, whether in the EEA or not, we will be unable to provide your booking. In making this booking, you consent to this information being passed on to the relevant persons.)
Shore Excursions
The timing of the shore excursions on all river ship departures may differ slightly for each departure. They are intended as a guide only and are subject to change without notice. Shore excursions on Holland America Line cruise are not included in the tour price.
Airport Transfers
Airport transfers are included on the first and last day of tour on all APT Exclusive Sailings (excluding departure transfer on EUMCHL28). On all other cruise tours, transfers can be booked at additional cost and are only available on the first and last day of the tour package, at designated times. No refund will be given for unused transfers. Transfers cannot be re-routed to other pick-up points or destinations. Passengers who miss the pre-booked transfers must make their own way to/from the ship/hotel at own expense. Transfers must be booked and details advised to APT at least 60 days prior to travel, otherwise transfers cannot be guaranteed.
Luggage Limits
Each passenger is entitled to take one piece of luggage that does not exceed 160 cm (63 inches), weight limit 20-kg (44 pounds). Extra bags: An extra charge will be imposed to cover porterage handling of any additional luggage.
