Terms and Conditions

for Travelations Pty Ltd t/a Cruise Express International
Japan in Spring – March 2025

Travelations Pty Ltd t/a Cruise Express (herein referred to as the Facilitator) is a member of the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) and the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia. We are committed to the provision of excellent service and quality travel products.

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 and its operators 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
   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.

The ‘Japan in Spring’ escorted fly/tour package is exclusively based on the air and land portion of the ‘Blossoms of Japan’ fly/tour/cruise package and does not include the cruise segment. Participants of the ‘Japan in Spring’ tour understand that they will be travelling alongside clients booked on the ‘Blossoms of Japan’ package, who will continue their journey with the cruise component following the land tour. Flights are based on specific departures with Japan Airlines and any alteration to these may incur additional costs. Please check with your Travel Specialist for more details.

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

CONFIRMATION AND PAYMENT OF DEPOSIT – A non-refundable deposit payment of $3,000.00 per person will be required at the time of booking. The Facilitator will then forward a written confirmation and any additional paperwork that may be required. A Cruise Express booking form and a copy of these terms and conditions must be completed, signed and returned to the Facilitator within 7 days of the confirmation letter being received. 

To make payments directly into our bank account, we now have a secure Pay ID which is also our ABN – 31 095 788 177. Please select pay by other/ABN in your online banking portal or app. Alternatively, pay by direct deposit or Osko using our Westpac account details as follows:

Payee: Travelations Pty Ltd / Cruise Express
BSB: 032 020
Account number: 148332

Please ensure you check all details carefully before making payment. If paying by direct deposit, please include your surname as a reference so that we can trace your payment.

Credit card (Visa, MasterCard and American Express) payments are also accepted. Please note that Visa and MasterCard payments will include a 1.4% processing fee and American Express payments a 1.8% fee.

FINAL PAYMENT – Full payment is due and must be received no later than 10 January 2025 – unless otherwise specified. Electronic documentation will be distributed by email 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 including airline taxes and government charges, group transfers, coach transportation, hotels and sightseeing where indicated, coach porterage of one piece of luggage per person, meals as specified and the services of a Tour Manager or independent Tour Guide(s) throughout the itinerary (see Tour Manager). Accommodation is on a twin-share 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. Local government fees and taxes at hotels and hot springs cannot be prepaid and must be paid directly at the front desk.

TOUR MANAGER – It is intended that this departure will be accompanied by at least one Tour Manager nominated by the Facilitator. However, should minimum group numbers not be reached, the Facilitator reserves the right to operate the itinerary as an unescorted group departure utilising local independent Tour Guides and/or Escorts.

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 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 – Baggage will be restricted to one piece of checked baggage weighing a maximum of 23 kgs, one piece of carry on luggage weighing a maximum of 10 kgs and a smaller personal item per person in all classes. While travelling on bullet trains, your luggage will be transported separately and you will be required to take an overnight bag on the train with you. Please ensure that you are able to manage carrying your overnight bag on and off the trains.

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, please advise your Travel Specialist and they will discuss the available options with you.

BEDDING CONFIGURATION – Hotel rooms with double beds are limited in Japan. 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 cannot 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 (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 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 airlines, hoteliers and transfer and tour operators whose services we utilise, 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 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).

Please read all booking terms and conditions carefully.