Terms and Conditions

for Travelations Pty Ltd t/a Cruise Express International
Bavarian Christmas Express – November 2020

Travelations Pty Ltd t/a Cruise Express International (herein referred to as the Facilitator) is a member of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA), an accredited member of the Australian Travel Accreditation Scheme (ATAS) and a member of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). We are committed to the provision of excellent service and quality travel products.

PRICING & ITINERARIES – All prices are in Australian dollars and are based on operator prices and currency exchange rates correct at the time of publication. In the event that operators, service providers or currency fluctuations alter prices, the Facilitator reserves the right to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions and to change or update fares, fees and surcharges at any time, up to and including the day of departure, without prior notice.

The Facilitator will use all reasonable endeavours to provide the tour you have booked in accordance with the advertised itinerary. However, due to the nature of travel, it may not always be possible for the Facilitator to adhere strictly to the original itinerary. When circumstances beyond the control of the Facilitator occur, the Facilitator reserves the right to make alterations to the tour or itinerary accordingly, before or after the commencement of the tour. Any changes to the itinerary will be notified to you

1. a) if prior to your tour departure date, by phone, email or post   or
2. b) If during your tour, personally by your Tour Manager

To the maximum extent permitted by law, you agree that the Facilitator is not liable to you for, and you release the Facilitator from, any cost, claim, loss, damage or expense whatsoever arising either directly or indirectly in connection with any alteration to your itinerary or substitution carried out in accordance with this clause. This includes without limitation any claim for distress, disappointment or loss of enjoyment arising from the alteration(s). This is also applicable to any personal expenses incurred by you including food, beverages and personal items or costs associated with any other travel arrangements affected by the changes, including any costs and expenses incurred by you for cancelling or changing those other arrangements or arising from a failure to meet a connection.

BOOKINGS – All bookings must be made directly with the Facilitator and are subject to availability of the appropriate services (eg. airline seats, cabins and hotel accommodation) at the time of booking.

CONFIRMATION AND PAYMENT OF DEPOSITS – A non-refundable deposit payment of $1500.00 per person will be required at the time of booking. The Facilitator will then forward a email confirmation and any additional paperwork that may be required. A Cruise Express online booking form and acceptance of these terms and conditions must be completed online within 7 days of the confirmation email being received.

Payment can be made, with no administration fee, via direct deposit into our bank account (details below).

Westpac Balmain
BSB: 032 020
Account: 148 332
Name: Travelations Pty Ltd

Please quote your Surname and Cruise Express booking number with your deposit so we can identify your payment. Please also email a copy of your deposit slip to groups@cruiseexpress.com.au or advise us that you have made a direct deposit. Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Card) payments are also accepted. However, please note that Visa and MasterCard payments do attract a 1.2% administration fee and American Express and Diners payments a 3% fee.

FLIGHT BOOKINGS –  A second deposit may be required to hold your flights.

FINAL PAYMENT – Full payment is due and must be received no later than 90 days prior to departure (unless otherwise specified). Documentation will be distributed by mail approximately 2-3 weeks prior to departure.

CANCELLATIONS – All cancellations must be made IN WRITING to the Facilitator. Deposits are NON REFUNDABLE. In the event of cancellation after full payment is made, your deposit will be retained by the Facilitator as a cancellation fee and additional charges will be dependent upon the individual cancellation conditions of each operator or service provider and the time at which notice of your cancellation is received. Cancellation fees for air tickets issued will be determined by Airline Tariff Regulations. Additional cancellation fees may be applied by airlines where special conditions apply to early ticketing time limits etc accepted by the passenger. Any cancellation received within 30 days of departure from Australia will incur 100% cancellation fees.

AMENDMENTS – After your deposit is paid, amendment fees may apply.

TOUR INCLUSIONS – Economy class airfares inc. airline taxes and government charges, cruise accommodation in selected cabin grade inc. port & handling charges, private transfers, hotels and sightseeing where indicated, meals as specified and the services of a Steam Dreams Tour Manager to accompany the group throughout the rail itinerary. Accommodation is on a twin-share or sole occupancy basis unless otherwise requested and confirmed. Hotels are subject to change.

NOT INCLUDED IN TOUR COSTS – All items not specifically referred to as Tour Inclusions including excess baggage, porterage other than for one piece of baggage per person, meals, gratuities and tips except where indicated, passports, visas, travel insurance, laundry, drinks and items of a personal nature.

TRAVEL INSURANCE – It is a condition of travelling with the Facilitator that each passenger MUST HAVE a current travel insurance policy. Because of the cancellation policies outlined above, we strongly recommend that insurance is purchased at the time of paying your initial deposit, to cover cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances.

HEALTH, FITNESS AND PARTICIPATION – Passengers may NOT rely on the Tour Manager or Tour Guide(s) for personal physical assistance and warrant that they are in good health and/or fit to travel on tour. While our tours do not require a special level of fitness, for the overall benefit of the group all tour members must possess a moderate level of mobility, including the ability to…

▪ negotiate airports and railway stations without wheelchair assistance
▪ use combined shower/bath facilities (it is impossible to guarantee walk-in shower facilities)
▪ undertake walking tours of 2-3 hours duration including using stairs, walking over cobblestones and other uneven surfaces
▪ stand for long periods in museums and other sites
▪ embark and disembark coaches, trains and other methods of transportation without assistance
▪ handle your own luggage

BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE – All passengers are permitted one piece of check-in luggage restricted to 23kgs per person. In addition to this, passengers are also allowed one piece of carry on luggage restricted to 7kgs per person. Any additional luggage may only be carried on the understanding that passengers are personally responsible for additional porterage costs and/or excess baggage charges imposed by the airline(s) and other carriers.

AIRLINE SEATING – All seating requests will be forwarded to the airline; however, we cannot guarantee that these will be confirmed as this is at the airline’s discretion. If you prefer to have your seats confirmed prior to departure advise your consultant and they will discuss upgrading you to an alternative fare where available.

ACCOMMODATION BEDDING CONFIGURATION – All bedding requests will be forwarded to the accommodation providers but please note room allocation is at the discretion of the individual hotel and the Facilitator can not be held responsible if your particular request is not accommodated.

TRAVEL WARNINGS – The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issues regular updates for overseas travel. Please refer to the DFAT website – www.smartraveller.gov.au for the most up-to-date travel advice. If you do not have website access please contact the Facilitator for a print out of the latest advice relating to your travel destination(s).

NOTICE OF RESPONSIBILITY – Travelations Pty Ltd t/a Cruise Express International (herein referred to as the Facilitator) is not itself a carrier or hotelier, nor does it own cruise ships, aircraft, hotels or coaches. The services that the Facilitator supplies consist of arranging and coordinating cruises, flights, accommodation, transfers and tours, making bookings and issuing documents to be redeemed by suppliers. The Facilitator exercises every care in the selection of reputable cruise lines, airlines, hotels and transfer and tour operators. However, it is important to note that all bookings with the Facilitator are subject to the terms, conditions and limitations of liability imposed by the shipping and cruise companies, airlines, hoteliers and transfer and tour operators whose services we utilize, some of which limit or exclude liability in respect of death, personal injury, delay and loss or damage of baggage.

The Facilitator does not accept any liability of whatever nature for the acts, omissions or default, whether negligent or otherwise, of those shipping and cruise companies, airlines, hoteliers, coach operators or other persons providing services in connection with your travel arrangements pursuant to a contract between themselves and yourself (which may be evidenced in writing by the issue of a ticket, voucher, coupon or the like) and over which the Facilitator has no direct and exclusive control.

The Facilitator does not accept responsibility in contract or in tort for any injury, damage, loss, delay, additional expenses or inconvenience caused directly or indirectly by force majeure or other events which are beyond its control or which are not preventable by reasonable diligence on the part of the Facilitator, including but not limited to war, civil disturbance, fire, flood, unusually severe weather, acts of God, acts of Government or any other authorities, accidents to or failure of machinery or equipment or industrial action (whether or not involving our employees).

ADDITIONAL: STEAM DREAMS Terms and Conditions

GENERAL – Steam dreams will use its best efforts to ensure that the proposed locomotives, carriages, route and times run as advertised and reserve the right to amend or cancel any part of the tour at any time. Steam Dreams cannot accept responsibility for the action of third parties and strongly recommends that all passengers take out travel insurance. Please bring any problems you may experience to the attention of the management during the journey so that they may be rectified.

STEAM AVAILABILITY – Steam Dreams will use its best efforts to provide steam locomotives on trips rostered for steam haulage, for the sector(s) advertised as such, but this cannot be guaranteed. On occasion a diesel locomotive may be substituted, mainly due to the risk of fire, drought, route restrictions or locomotive failure on the day. Occasionally on some tours it may be necessary for a part of the journey to be diesel hauled, normally at the request of Network Rail, the Train Operating Company or the locomotive owner. Where possible this will be made clear at the time of booking but it may be necessary for changes to be made at a later stage for operational reasons.

PASSENGER HEALTH CONDITIONS – To get the most out of your journey, you must be able to board the train and walk through the carriages to your allocated seat unassisted. You must make Cruise Express / Steam Dreams aware of any mobility assistance required at least a week prior to your departure from Australia. Mobility assistance include the use of wheelchairs, walking frames and walking sticks. Wheelchairs, walking frames and mobility scooters must be of the fold-up type and will be issued with an identity tag before being stored in the guards van and cannot be used onboard the train. If in doubt please contact Cruise Express for advice. Please be aware that although Steam Dreams only choose hotels which offer some accessible rooms, these cannot be guaranteed without prior notice. Please specify at the time of booking whether you require an accessible room or if you have any other requests or requirements.

DINING ONBOARD – Steam Dreams will endeavour to ensure the delivery of dining service to Pullman passengers as listed in the publicity material. Onboard service is dependent on train timings (issued to Steam Dreams by third parties), provision of utilities and access to re-stock, and therefore on very rare occasions may be subject to revisions from what has been advertised. Steam Dreams will endeavour to cater to allergies or severe dislikes of some foods, but cannot guarantee that all food will be totally free of specific allergens (such as nut, garlic or gluten) as it is prepared in kitchens where traces of allergens may be found.

DEPOSITS – All deposits are non-refundable. In the event of cancellation or transfer where a loss of deposit exceeds the specified cancellation or transfer fee, the greater amount applies. Ballance of your fare must be paid in full by 17 February 2020 to ensure your booking is not cancelled.

CANCELLATION – The following applies:
Greater than 4 months prior to departure – 10% (or loss of deposit)
4 – 3 months prior to departure – 25% (or loss of deposit)
3 – 2 months prior to departure – 50%
2 – 1 month prior to departure – 75%
Within 1 month prior to departure – 100%

FINAL PAYMENT – Final payment is due 4 months prior to departure or the booking may be cancelled.

TRANSFER TO ANOTHER STEAM DREAMS TOUR – Should you wish to transfer from one booked multi-day tour to another trip(s) or tour(s) for whatever reason, the following applies:
Greater than 4 months prior to departure – 10% (or loss of deposit)
4 – 3 months prior to departure – 20% (or loss of deposit)
3 – 2 months prior to departure – 40%
2 – 1 month prior to departure – 65%
1 month – 14 days prior to departure – 80%
Within 14 days prior to departure – 100%

Please read all booking terms and conditions carefully.