Terms and Conditions

for Travelations Pty Ltd t/a Cruise Express International
Ponant Kimberley 2022

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 25% of your cabin cost will be required at the time of booking. The Facilitator will then forward an 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 info@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 payments a 3% fee.

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 the Terms and Conditions outlined below. No responsibility will be taken by the Facilitator or Ponant Cruises 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.

FINAL PAYMENT – Refer to your invoice to determine when final balance will be due. Full payment must be received no later than the date stipulated on your booking confirmation. All reservations will auto cancel if payments are not received by this due date.

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.

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.

Cruise Fare – Your Cruise fare includes:

• Cruise accommodations 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.

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. the Facilitator 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 on board account.

Non-Refundable & Promotional Fares – Ponant Cruises may at times release special promotional fares that attract differing terms and conditions from those outlined within and reflected in the Ponant Cruises brochure and website. These may include different deposit amounts, different payment and cancellation conditions including non-refundable deposits and fares. To confirm if you have been booked on a promotional fare please check at time of booking with the Facilitator for the conditions which may apply to your booking.

Onboard Credits / Shipboard Credits & Promotional Inclusions – 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.

Public Rates – They are the reference rates of an applicable cruise. Public rates are per person and based on double occupancy and can be charged when there is no Bonus Fare offered.

Ponant Bonus Fares

Ponant Bonus Fare is a special savings program off published cruise only rates (Brochure Fare/ Public Rate) for selected voyages. Ponant Bonus is the guaranteed best price you can obtain on the DAY you make your reservation. Ponant Bonus Fares are capacity controlled, subject to availability and may change at any time without notice. Ponant Bonus may not be combinable with other promotional offers. Ponant Bonus saving is not applicable on taxes, excursions, airline ticket and any additional items than the cruise itself.

Special Savings – Ponant Cruises offers special savings which require guests to qualify e.g. Ponant Yacht Club Grand Admiral Member, Family & Friends, Honeymoon and Wedding Anniversary. If a guest receives a special promotional saving, they MUST be able to verify their qualifications and produce any supporting documentation before savings will be applied. If guests are unable to provide proof of qualification, Ponant Cruises has the right to cancel the booking or adjust the price of booking to a suitable cruise fare to which the guest qualifies. Any outstanding monies due to such change must be paid immediately otherwise booking will be cancelled. Special savings only applies to the Ponant Bonus Fare or Brochure Fare and is not applicable on taxes, excursions, airline tickets, flights and transfer packages and any additional items than the cruise itself. Promotional savings may not be applicable to ALL sailings and may not be combinable with any other promotions.

Cancellations – All cancellation requests must be submitted to Cruise Express by email to your Cruise Express Travel Specialist or to info@cruiseexpress.com.au. Cancellations must be received no later than 2pm EST/EDT on a scheduled NSW working business day for 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.

For any reservations made between 25 November 2020 and 30 June 2022, and for a departure until 30 April 2024:
You may cancel your booking without any justification and free of charge up to 30 days before departure and receive a credit of 100% of the amounts paid valid on a new booking MINUS the Facilitator Administration Fee.
Cancellation up to 30 days before departure: credit of 100% of the amounts paid valid on a new booking made in the next 24 months following initial departure MINUS the Facilitator Administration Fee.
Cancellations less than 30 days before departure: cancelation fees of 100% of the amounts paid will be applied PLUS the Facilitator Administration Fee.
Above cancellation conditions are valid for the cruise service only. Costs of flights, ground programs will be retained.

For Back to Back or Consecutive cruises are assessed on each of the individual cruises booked. Cancellation penalties apply for each cruise.

Please note: *For services included in your booking that are not provided by Ponant Cruises, additional cancellation fees may be incurred. Cruise Express impose it’s own cancellation fees. Additional cancellation fees maybe imposed on non-cruise portions of your booking including pre/post accommodation packages and/or transfers.

Ponant Cruises reserves the right to charge you for cancellation fees incurred which may be greater than the amounts of payments received at the time of cancellation of your booking. Any outstanding amounts must be paid by the cancelled parties. In addition, guests will be liable for any additional fees charged by any non-cruise providers due to cancellations including a the Facilitator cancellation administration fee of AUD110 per person. The the Facilitator cancellation administration fee will be deducted from any refund due. Please note: Ponant Cruises reserves the right to change deposit, payment and cancellation terms & conditions without prior notice.

Partial Cancellations & Change in Stateroom Occupancy – Changes in stateroom occupancy when one guest cancels and the other guest is still travelling will result in cancellation fees for the cancelled guest/s and recalculation of the remaining guest/s’ fare. In some circumstances, guest/s still travelling may be required to pay a surcharge for the changed occupancy stateroom regardless of the cancellation fees paid by the cancelling guest/s. Promotions such as onboard credits or other promotional inclusions can be affected by changes made to your booking.

Booking Changes & Amendments – Name changes require prior approval of Ponant Cruises 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.

Modification/Change Penalties on Deposited Bookings – In the case of modification/change on a deposited booking for a travel package of inferior or a lesser value to the original booking, modification penalty applies and is equivalent to the applicable cancellation penalty percentage at time of modification/change. The penalty percentage applies on the difference in prices between the initial package and the new package fare. In cases of modification on the deposited paid bookings for travel package of higher superior value, no modification penalty will be assessed. In addition the Facilitator will charge an AUD25 administration fee per booking each time a change is made. These include: all name spelling corrections, any change of stateroom category or fare code that results in a lower fare than previously booked, removal of accommodation or transfers outside of penalty periods.

Booking Forms – It is a requirement of Ponant Cruises that a booking form must be completed and returned with the deposit. The booking form should have been sent with the initial the Facilitator invoice. If you have not received, please contact the Facilitator to obtain this form. Failure to return the booking form, may delay documentation.

Passports / Visas / Immunisations / Formalities – Each passenger is personally responsible for complying with required legal regulations. All passengers must carry a valid passport, as well as the visas and vaccination certificates which may be required at the airport and/or at the port of arrival and departure. Ponant Cruises and the Facilitator waives all liability for not complying with the required legal regulations regarding immigration, customs or sanitary documents required before departure during your trip. Ponant Cruises and/or Master of the ship are entitled to refuse embarkation or prevent disembarkation of any passengers who do not show the documents allowing them to disembark at the scheduled destination or stopover ports. Any guest who fails to obtain the appropriate travel documentation to board the airplane or access the ship is responsible and may not claim any compensation or refund of their trip or services.

The Facilitator & Ponant Cruises do not provide advice regarding passports and/or visas. However all guests are required to carry a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the completion of your travel and may also be required to contain at least two completely clear, blank, unused visa pages as well as any necessary visas and vaccination certificates which may be required in destination ports where the ship calls. For some ports shipboard visas maybe arranged by Ponant Cruises and a fee charged to your shipboard account. For full access details please refer to the formalities section of your specific Ponant cruise on the website www.ponant.com. This information is always subject to change at any time without advance notice from government authorities. For any necessary visas, please contact your nearest consulate for the most up to date information. As to immunisations, please check with a travel medicine specialist or local health department for specific recommendations and/or requirements. We recommend the use of www.smartraveller.gov.au for advice in these areas.

All matters relating to compliance with the laws and regulations of all immigration authorities are solely the passenger’s responsibility. Find visa information here. In addition to Visa, Passport and Health requirements- specific environmental taxes, disembarkation fees and entrance fees to National Parks are assessed by government authorities for different cruises. A fee maybe imposed and can be charged to your shipboard account Documentation Cruise documents are prepared in France and will be sent to you approximately 10-12 days prior to sailing. It is most important all reservations be made in the full passport name of the passengers. It is also important to advise  the Facilitator of the clients ex Australia date.

Please note: Ponant Cruises must receive a copy of guest’s passport and copies of all relevant visas obtained for guest’s cruise before documentation is released. If Ponant Cruises does not receive copies of passport and relevant visas before departure, guests may be denied boarding. Minors and Children Ponant Cruises will not accept reservations for children under 3 years of age. Children between 3 and 8 years old are accepted subject to agreement at the time of booking. If accepted a liability waiver will have to be completed and returned to the Facilitator to validate your booking. On expedition cruises, children must be able to disembark/embark by zodiac without assistance and be able to understand and follow safety instructions. In all cases, children and young adults (up to the age of 18), once on board are the entire and total responsibility of their parents or guardians.

Pregnancy – Women who are more than 5 months pregnant at the time of embarkation are not permitted to travel.

Mobility – Please note the sailing vessel LE PONANT is NOT accessible for those with limited mobility or using a wheelchair. L’Austral, Le Boreal, Le Soleal and Le Lyrial have limited cabins which are specially adapted for disabled guests. Nevertheless, for safety reasons, all passengers must either be fully mobile or must be accompanied by a travelling companion fit and able to provide all necessary assistance during the voyage. Persons who are not fully mobile, with physical disabilities or other handicaps requiring special treatment or assistance, including persons who use a wheelchair must advise The Facilitator & Ponant Cruises in writing of the nature of such conditions when making a reservation request and BEFORE the signing of the booking form. Ponant Cruises reserves the right to refuse passage to anyone who has failed to notify them and the Facilitator of such limited mobility, disabilities or need of assistance whose medical conditions is not compatible with security rules and requirements specific to the navigation area, or who in the Ponant Cruises opinion is unfit for travel.

Please note: Landings are done using zodiacs making them very difficult or even impossible for passengers with limited mobility. Each landing will be subject to Captain and Expedition Leader approval.

Gratuities – Recommended gratuities are 12€ per day per passenger. It is culturally the “French way” to pay on board.

Expedition Cruises & Programs (including Arctic & Antarctica) – Due to exceptional nature of the expedition cruises, site names are given as an indication only. Final route will be confirmed daily by the Captain and Expedition Leader depending on ice conditions, weather forecasts with priority being given to passenger safety. Ponant Cruises, organizer of expeditions, does not undertake and does not have any responsibility for the accuracy of any information it provides or to determine or assure the suitability of any participant to expedition activities proposed by Ponant Cruises, in general or as to a particular person. All persons who participate in any expedition activity of Ponant Cruises accepts responsibility for making their own determinations as to the suitability of the activity and their own safety, conduct and well-being and agrees to participate solely at their own risk. Attending information briefings is MANDATORY. Thus informed, each participant assumes the risk associated with these activities.

Itinerary Changes / Alterations / Cancellation of a Trip – Arrival and departure times are given as an indication only. Ponant Cruises cannot guarantee coincidence with corresponding schedules (plane, train etc.) notably due to modification of the program duration initially planned, which cannot incur any compensation as Ponant Cruises cannot be held liable for indirect damages. Ponant Cruises reserves the right to withdraw and/or cancel a sailing to make changes in the itinerary whenever, in its sole judgment, or in the judgment of the vessel owner or operator, conditions warrant it. In the event of adverse meteorological conditions or adverse political or social conditions in the country of a port of call or for any other fact that may jeopardize the safety of guests or of the ship, or in the event of orders by public authorities Ponant Cruises may change the itinerary or ports of call or destination, delay end or cancel the trip, divert the ship, tow or to be towed, transfer guests and their luggage aboard any other means of transportation, even when this results in an increase or a shortening of the advertised program. Itinerary changes, alterations and cancellation of a trip are always at the discretion of Ponant Cruises.

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.