Terms and Conditions

for Travelations Pty Ltd t/a Cruise Express International
Ponant Antarctica 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) and the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia. 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. It is important the reservation is booked using full names as per passport. Fees may apply to amend names after booking is confirmed. By confirming your booking with payment you are agreeing to these Terms and Conditions. No responsibility will be taken by Cruise Express or Ponant for incorrect information supplied by guest/s. Failure to complete any necessary forms or documents required for travel may result in delay in release of documentation and/or cancellation of the booking or denial of boarding. An link to our online booking form will be sent to you requesting a variety of information that will assist us and the ship. Please complete the form and submit as soon as possible.

CONFIRMATION AND PAYMENT OF DEPOSITS – A non-refundable deposit payment of 25% of the cruise fare per person will be required within 5 working days of making the 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. If a deposit is not received by Cruise Express by the due time/date, the booking will automatically cancel.

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 attract a 1.2% administration fee, American Express 2% and Diners a 3% fee.

FINAL PAYMENT – Full payment is due and must be received no later than Friday 1 November 2019 – unless otherwise specified. Full payment must be received no later than this date. All reservations will auto cancel if payments are not received by this due date.

Documentation will be distributed by mail approximately 2-3 weeks prior to departure, depending on group numbers and your location.

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.

All cancellation requests must be submitted to Cruise Express by email to info@cruiseexpress.com.au. Cancellations must be received no later than 2pm EST/EDT on a scheduled NSW working business day for a booking to be cancelled that day. Cancellations received after 2pm will not be processed until the following NSW working business day.

Ponant Cruises will apply the cancellation fees shown below for guests who cancel for any reason, including medical or family related reasons. The cancellation fee amount will be advised by Ponant Cruises once the cancellation advice has been processed by Ponant Cruises.

Ponant Cruises Cancellation Guideline For Expedition-style

Cruises Days prior to Departure Cancellation Charge –

• More than 91 days prior to departure 25% of FULL fare PLUS a Cruise Express Administration Fee
• 90 – 76 days prior to departure 50% of FULL fare PLUS a Cruise Express Administration Fee
• 75 – 61 days prior to departure 75% of FULL fare PLUS a Cruise Express Administration Fee
• 60 days or less prior to departure 100% of FULL fare PLUS a Cruise Express Administration Fee

FARES TAXES AND SURCHARGES – The prices quoted at the time of booking are based on expected economic conditions at the time of sailing. These conditions include the cost of transport and fuel, relevant taxes including embarkation and disembarkation taxes, port charges, entrance costs to tourist sites, international currency rates, and other variable costs which are inherent to the calculation of applicable fares. Travel The World advises that Ponant Cruises reserves the right within the legal limits of French Law to vary the prices if necessary and appropriate even after final payment. Whilst Ponant Cruises reserves the right to refuse boarding to passengers who have not paid the additional amount due, no price adjustments can be made within 60 days of departure. This does not include Fuel Surcharges which can be charged up until sailing and maybe charged to your onboard.

FLIGHTS AND CONNECTIONS – Unless stated flights and transfers are not included. Flights & Transfer Packages/Programs, Ponant Cruises provides flight & transfer programs on selected cruises including some Expedition Cruises (e.g. Antarctica). If applicable these will be detailed in the package inclusions.

All flights are currently outside booking range so we will book them as soon as they are available. If you require us to book your flights and transfers they may be subject to immediate payment and be non refundable fares so please ensure your plans are final before booking.

AMENDMENTS – Name changes require prior approval of Cruise Express and Ponant and may not always be possible. Cruise contracts are non transferable. Name changes and departure date changes are considered reservation cancellations and are subject to cancellation fees. Ponant Cruises may charge additional fees for any amendments made to your travel arrangements after the due date for final payment. Name changes or additions may be allowed at Ponant Cruises discretion and are subject to cancellation charges and fare increases. Amendment fees are not charged for stateroom upgrades, unless travel documents need to be re-issued or the change is of a lesser value to the original booking. Please note: Promotions/Inclusions such as onboard credit or other promotional inclusions may be affected by changes made to your booking

CRUISE INCLUSIONS – Cruise accommodation as booked • All meals from dinner on the day of embarkation to breakfast on the day of disembarkation • Captain’s welcome cocktail & gala dinner • “Open Bar” (pouring wines, house champagne, alcohol except premium brands) mineral water, tea & filter coffee. • 24 hour room service (selected menu) • Evening entertainments and events, and/or organized shows • Luggage transfer from pier to the ship and vice versa • Water sports activities (except scuba diving) using the ship’s equipment, when permitted by local authorities and confirmed by ship Master according to safety and sea conditions onsite. • English speaking guest speaker (when applicable) • Highly experienced bilingual (French-English) Expedition team for all cruises identified as Expedition Cruises.

YOUR CRUISE FARE DOES NOT INCLUDE – Any ground services before and/or after the cruise other than the ones in each “Cruise & Flights” packages for which details are available upon request. • Optional “Golf package” on selected sailings – to be booked prior to your departure • Optional Spa package – to be booked prior to your departure • Optional shore excursions • Beverages other than the ones mentioned • Laundry services, hair salon and a la carte Spa treatments • Personal expenses onboard including medical consultations and drug prescriptions • Gratuities • Cancellation/luggage/assistance/repatriation/medical insurances • Visa, disembarkation taxes, environmental taxes and/or national park fees if applicable

Cruise fares are in Australian Dollars and include governmental fees and taxes (which are subject to change). Fares are capacity controlled and subject to change at any time up until you book without prior notice. Once booked, your fare is only subject to any increased government fees and taxes which may be added to the fare or to your onboard account.

ONBOARD SHIPBOARD ACCOUNTS AND PROMOTIONS – From time to time there maybe promotions which include onboard credits or other inclusions such as speciality restaurant vouchers or drink packages/cards. These promotions can be applied to the cabin or to individual passengers. An Onboard Credit is a monetary amount which is applied to your onboard account for onboard purchases. Some Onboard Credits or promotional inclusion may not be combinable with other offers and are non-transferable. Any unused portion of the Onboard Credit will expire at midnight on the last night of your cruise and is not redeemable for cash at any time. Onboard Credit or other promotional inclusions are not transferable between any cruises, including consecutive cruises and fellow travellers. Any promotional inclusions not used will be forfeited on conclusion of the cruise.

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 un-escorted 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

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).

Please read all booking terms and conditions carefully.