Terms and conditions Russia and the Lights of Norway

Cruise Express

Australian owned and operated

Terms and Conditions

for Travelations Pty Ltd t/a Cruise Express International
Russia and the Lights of Norway – February 2023

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 & ITINERARIESAll 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.

BOOKINGSAll 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.

DEPOSIT PAYMENT & BOOKING CONFIRMATION: A non-refundable deposit of $2000.00 per person will be payable at the time of booking. This deposit is refundable up to 16th December, 2022 only in the event of a COVID-19 related incident directly impacting the tour’s ability to operate. All refunds will be subject to a small administration and processing fee.

Based on your online booking information, a confirmation will be sent by email within seven days of booking. Additional paperwork such as final payment reminders and pre-departure information may also be sent by email between booking and departure date.

Payments may be made via direct deposit into our bank account, on credit card (Visa or MasterCard – no processing fees apply) or by utilising a future rail credit certificate.

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 payments a 3% fee.

FLIGHT BOOKINGS –  All flights are currently outside booking range so we will book them as soon as they are available. Please note a second deposit may be required to hold these flights.

CANCELLATIONS: All booking cancellations must be made in writing to the Facilitator. If the Facilitator cancels the tour as a result of a Force Majeure event (such as the COVID-19 pandemic) a future travel credit to the value of funds paid to date less any third-party costs incurred will be provided. If cancellation occurs due to a Force Majeure event after a tour has commenced and the Facilitator provides any alternative services (such as travel or accommodation) you agree to pay for these costs. The Facilitator will provide a future travel credit for any unused portion of your tour, subject to the refunds the Facilitator is able to recover from third parties.

AMENDMENTSAfter your deposit is paid, amendment fees may apply.

TOUR INCLUSIONSEconomy class airfares inc. airline taxes and government charges, cruise accommodation in selected cabin grade inc. port & handling charges, onboard gratuities, group transfers, coach transportation, hotels and sightseeing where indicated, porterage of one piece of luggage per person, meals as specified and the services of a Tour Manager to accompany the group throughout the itinerary, once minimum group numbers are reached. 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.

TOUR MANAGERIt 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.

TRAVEL INSURANCEIt 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 PARTICIPATIONPassengers 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 – Baggage allowance differs depending on airline. Please discuss this with your consultant. 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. Note some cabins onboard the ship are fixed twin and cannot be converted to double.

TRAVEL WARNINGSThe 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 RESPONSIBILITYTravelations 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.

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