Terms and Conditions

for Travelations Pty Ltd t/a Cruise Express International
Southern Rail Spectacular – August 2018

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 AFTA 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 correct at the time of publication. In the event that operators or service providers 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. rail seats and hotel accommodation) at the time of booking.

CONFIRMATION AND PAYMENT OF DEPOSITS – A non-refundable deposit payment of $500.00 per person will be required at the time of booking. The Facilitator will then forward a confirmation and any additional paperwork that may be required by email. A Cruise Express online booking form must be completed, and these terms and conditions must be read and accepted within seven (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: 032020
Account: 148332
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 payments a 3% fee.

FINAL PAYMENT – Full payment is due and must be received no later than Friday 29 June 2018 – unless otherwise specified. Documentation will be distributed by email 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. Additional cancellation fees may be applied where special conditions apply to early ticketing time limits, etc accepted by the passenger.

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

TOUR INCLUSIONS – Heritage rail journeys from Sydney to Albury and return, Albury to Seymour to Melbourne and return, Melbourne to Castlemaine and return, Castlemaine to Maldon and return, hotel accommodation and meals as specified and the services of a Tour Manager. Accommodation is on a twin-share or single 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, meals, gratuities and tips except where indicated, travel insurance, laundry, drinks and items of a personal nature.

TRAINS – All train departure and arrival times are subject to change at any time and are listed as a guideline only. Heritage rail equipment used is also subject to change at any time. Should any rail equipment or train become unavailable, or unable to run due to track conditions or other circumstances outside the control of the Facilitator, we reserve the right to replace these services with coach transport. You accept that the Facilitator does not own or control any train, rail equipment or infrastructure. It is strongly recommended that you do not make any personal arrangements on the dates of rail travel. Smoking is not permitted on any train or railway property.

LOCOMOTIVES – While every endeavour will be made to run this tour as advertised with the locomotives listed in the itinerary, all locomotives are subject to change at any time. In the event that any locomotive becomes unavailable, there will be no refunds. All fares are for the rail experience as a whole, not the individual locomotives or rail journeys. Should a locomotive be unavailable it will be replaced by the most suitable and available steam or diesel traction. For services where locomotives are not yet advised these will be advised closer to the time of departure.

SEATING AND PARTICIPATION – Seating will be pre-allocated for all rail services. While requests for particular seating will be taken these cannot be guaranteed and will be taken on a first come first served basis. Where compartment seating is offered, compartments may be seated to capacity. Passengers may not reserve windows, doorways or other vantage points for their sole use. Alcohol will not be served to passengers under the age of 18 at the time of travel. Passengers whose behaviour negatively affects others will be removed from the train and there will be no compensation given.

RAIL YARDS – The rail yards at Seymour and Newport are working yards and not designed for pedestrian traffic. The yards have uneven surfaces, trip hazards and may include moving rolling stock. All passengers are to obey directions from on-site staff and crew at all times. Passengers accept that the Facilitator and each respective heritage rail operator takes no responsibility for accident or injury on these sites. Additionally, passengers are requested not to access locomotives, carriages and other areas not on display, including parts of Newport not within the heritage precinct.

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 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 railway stations and yards without wheelchair assistance
▪ use combined shower/bath facilities (it is impossible to guarantee walk-in shower facilities)
▪ embark and disembark trains, coaches and other methods of transportation without assistance
▪ handle your own luggage

IMPORTANT: Please advise us in full of any special dietary requirements on our online booking form. Dietary requirements will be accommodated to the best of our ability, however if not advised prior to departure will not be accommodated.

Heritage trains are regrettably not designed to accommodate passengers who are confined to a wheelchair or require the use of a walker. 

BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE – There is limited space for luggage on the heritage trains so large suitcases cannot be accommodated. Where possible, guests should limit their packing to one small bag each, suitable to be taken on an aircraft as carry-on luggage.

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, trains, 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, transfer and tour 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.