Terms and Conditions

for Travelations Pty Ltd t/a Cruise Express International
British Isles Rail & Sail – September 2024

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. An additional deposit may be required depending on your selected airline and airfare. 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 24 May 2024 (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 Dreama tour manager to accompany the group throughout the rail journey.  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, all of which are dependent on third parties, run as advertised but we reserve the right to amend or cancel any part of the tour at any time. Steam Dreams cannot accept any responsibility for the action of third parties and strongly recommends that all passengers take out travel/cancellation insurance. Charges apply should passengers need to cancel or postpone their trip for whatever reason, whether their plans change due to ill-health, travel issues or weather conditions. To avoid disappointment or unnecessary expense, passengers are advised not to pre-book transport links or accommodation, unless the costs associated with cancelling these arrangements are covered by the passengers’ own insurance, as Steam Dreams cannot be held liable for additional costs incurred in passengers’ travel plans.

STEAM AVAILABILITY – Steam Dreams will use its best efforts to provide steam traction on trips rostered for steam haulage, for the sector(s) advertised as such, but this cannot be guaranteed. On occasion, a diesel or electric locomotive may be substituted, mainly due to fire risk, drought, route restrictions or locomotive failure. All steam locomotives are subject to a Fitness to Run (FTR) exam 24 hours prior to running on the main line, which means it is sometimes necessary for a heritage diesel or electric substitute to be made at the last minute.  On some tours it may be necessary for a part of the journey to be diesel or electric hauled; 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.

TIMETABLES – Final timings and platform numbers are confirmed by Network Rail leading up to each trip, advertised times in brochures and online are best estimates. Steam Dreams will use its best endeavours to ensure the boarding/alighting stations listed in its brochure and website are those which are used on the day. Occasionally it is not possible for Network Rail’s final timings to include one or more of the stations we have requested. In these circumstances, Steam Dreams will take responsibility for arranging travel at no additional cost to/from passenger’s chosen boarding/alighting station to an alternative station where the train stops (usually by service train or road coach).

PASSENGER HEALTH CONDITIONS – Steam Dreams use heritage carriages from the 1950’s & 60’s and are unable to provide step free access to board the train. Passengers must be able to step up into the carriage from platform level and walk through multiple carriages to their allocated seat unassisted. Due to restrictive access to seating areas and toilets, it is not possible for walking frames, wheelchairs and mobility scooters to be used on-board the train. There is limited space on board to store wheelchairs or pushchairs, so please ensure you are able to collapse either of these and they will stored in an appropriate space.  Motorised wheelchairs and scooters are not permitted on board and cannot be stored for safety reasons. Passengers booked on optional excursions must be able to board a road coach and walk up to 500 yards. Some excursion venues may not feature step free access and passengers may be required to walk up several flights of steps.

Passengers with mobility difficulties or with a mobility aid to store must make Steam Dreams aware at least two weeks prior to the date of the tour. Wheelchairs, walking frames to be stored on-board for use off the train must be of the fold-up variety. In the event of any uncertainty, we would advise passengers to discuss their requirements with their Travel Specialist at the time of booking to avoid disappointment.  Passengers or someone within their party must be held responsible to fold and make the mobility aid or pushchair ready to be stored.

CONDITIONS OF CARRIAGE – During the trip passengers are required to observe the conditions of carriage listed below;

• Passengers must observe all instructions provided to them either in writing or verbally by staff or volunteers from Steam Dreams, Network Rail or any Train Operating Company prior to or during the journey.
• Passengers shall not hinder the safe operation of the train or the railway in any way.
• Passengers shall not smoke on-board the train or at stations; this includes the use of e-cigarettes.
• Passengers shall not be verbally or physically abusive to staff or other passengers.

In the event that these conditions are breached Steam Dreams reserves the right to remove the offending passenger(s) from the train. In the event of passengers being removed from the train for breaking these conditions no refund or compensation shall be offered. In addition to the above conditions of carriage all journeys on the railway are also subject to the Railway Byelaws.

DINING ONBOARD – Steam Dreams will endeavour to ensure the delivery of dining service to Pullman passengers as listed in the publicity material and on their website.  On-board services are dependent on our train timetable, giving consideration to departure time, booked stops and final timings provided by the rail network, which may alter the service we can provide. Should this be the case, we will advise you in advance of your trip with us. Steam Dreams will endeavour to cater for dietary requirements when given prior notice at the time of booking, but cannot guarantee that all food will be totally free of specific allergens (such as nut, garlic or gluten) as it is prepared and cooked in kitchens where traces of allergens may be found. For those who have dietary requirements and have not advised 14 days prior to travel, Steam Dreams are unable to guarantee that your requirements will be catered for. Due to the confined space in the heritage carriages the train does not have the capacity to carry large stocks on board.

ISSUES AND COMPLAINTS – Steam Dreams welcomes all feedback from passengers and uses it as a means to constantly review and improve their service. During your time with Steam Dreams, if you have any issues, please give Steam Dreams the opportunity to do manage this on the day via the on-board Train Manager. Steam Dreams will do their best to rectify wherever possible and within their control. Steam Dreams will not take into consideration any complaints received retrospectively which are relating to issues not raised at the time, that could have been resolved during the day of travel.

AMENDMENTS – Steam Dreams does not charge for changes of passenger name, catering requirements, boarding or alighting point or other alterations which make no changes to booking value.  Should the customer choose to amend their booking to a higher priced ticket, add additional passengers or optional extras no additional fee will be levied, beyond the revised cost of the booking. Should the customer choose to change their class of travel, destination, boarding point or otherwise change to a lower priced ticket the above fees for customer transfers would apply. Should the customer choose to cancel one or more seats or optional extras on a booking the below fees for customer cancellation apply.

PAYMENTS

CANCELLATION BY YOU – The following applies:
Prior to 28 February 2024 – 25% (loss of deposit)
After 28 February 2024 – 50% (loss of deposit)
After 1 June 2024 – 100%

TOUR CANCELLATION – Should Steam Dreams cancel a tour in its entirety for any reason before the start of the journey, customers may be offered the opportunity to transfer to an alternative trip or receive a full refund. Any payments by voucher, discount or credit note are subject to the restrictions detailed in the appropriate above sections. Cancellation may occur at any time for a variety of reasons including but not limited to locomotive availability, crew availability, pathing, adverse weather and engineering works. Steam Dreams cannot accept any liability for additional costs incurred due to cancellation.

INDUSTRIAL ACTION – If Steam Dreams cannot run a trip due to industrial action passengers will be offered the opportunity to transfer their booking, take a voucher or a refund. Unless industrial action prevents Steam Dreams from running a trip it is the passenger’s responsibility to ensure they reach the train in time for the scheduled departure. No compensation would be offered for a missed trip.

FORCE MAJEURE – Except where otherwise expressly stated in these Conditions we will not be liable or pay you any refund or compensation if our contractual obligations to you are affected by any event which we or the supplier(s) of the service(s) in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. These events can include, but are not limited to, war, threat of war, civil strife, terrorist activity and its consequences or the threat of such activity, riot, the act of any government or other national or local authority including port or river authorities, industrial dispute, lock closure, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, chemical or biological disaster, adverse weather, sea, air, ice and river conditions and all similar events outside our or the supplier(s) concerned control.

Please read all booking terms and conditions carefully.