South America Touring, Amazon River Cruise, Brazil, Chile, Galapagos Islands, Peru, Antarctic Cruising
Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/491683
110 General Information & Conditions www.aptouring.com.au The following terms and conditions ('booking conditions') form the basis of your contract with Australian Pacific Touring Pty Ltd ('APT', 'we' or 'our'). Please read them carefully as they set out your and our respective rights and obligations. By asking us to confirm your booking, we are entitled to assume that you have had the opportunity to read and have read these booking conditions, that you agree to them and that you agree to them applying to your holiday arrangements that you book with us and which we agree to make, provide or perform (as applicable) as part of our contract with you. References in these booking conditions to your 'holiday package' are references to the tour or cruise package you have booked with APT. References to 'excursions' are references to short trips or tours included or available as part of your holiday package. Governing Law These booking conditions are governed by the law in force in Victoria, Australia. BEFORE YOU BOOK Prices – Deposits – Discounts – Payments Your booking price will be set out in this brochure unless it is varied by advertising or a special offer, or is changed after the publication date for any reason, including without limitation, to cover changes in government taxes and charges, exchange rate variations, fuel surcharges, airline charges, a force majeure event or other material increases by suppliers. Once you pay your deposit your holiday package price is guaranteed (except for any changes resulting from a force majeure event – see below). A $1,500 security deposit per person, per holiday package is required within seven days of booking confirmation and $3,000 per person for Antarctica cruises. Deposit requirements may vary when booking a special offer. Final payment of the balance of your holiday package price is due 100 days prior to departure unless stated in the terms of a special offer. APT reserves the right to cancel any ticket or booking or to refuse to carry any passenger where payment has not been received by APT within the specified time. All fares and charges are in Australian currency. Payment in full is required at time of booking for reservations made less than 100 days before departure from Australia or New Zealand. If APT is unable to confirm your reservation, all monies will be refunded. Included in Our Land Tour Price All flights within South America as stated in each itinerary, minimum airport taxes, coach/cruise travel, gratuities for all land/cruise arrangements including local guides, drivers, restaurants, luggage service (one bag) and port charges if applicable. Accommodation, sightseeing, shore excursions on cruises, and services of an APT Tour and/or Cruise Director (are included as indicated in the itinerary). Flights Within South America Economy flights within South America and airport taxes are included in the price as stated in each itinerary. These flights must be booked by APT and are subject to passengers booking an international flight to South America with LATAM. Surcharges will apply if flying Qantas or any other airline. Airport taxes are an estimate only and are subject to change without notice. Internal air prices are valid at the time of publication. Flight from Havana to Lima on the ICU26 is not included and must be purchased as part of the international air ticket. On the ISXP30 and the ISCX21, the Lima to Havana flight is not included and must be purchased as part of the international ticket. Travelling With Minors Children under 12 years of age are not recommended on tours and cruises. Children under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult and share their accommodation with an adult. Transfers Airport transfers are included on the first and last day of the holiday package at designated times. No refund will be given for unused transfers. Transfers cannot be re-routed to other pick-up points or destinations. Passengers who miss the pre- booked transfers must make their own way to/from the ship/ hotel at their own expense. Some holiday packages include group transfers from or in between airports/hotels/ships and vice versa. A group transfer is generally a shared transfer and the type of vehicle used will normally be dependent upon the size of the group. Not Included in Our Tour and/or Cruise Price Airfares between Australia or New Zealand and South America, optional tours, optional shore excursions, meals and drinks other than those specified in the itinerary, passport and visa fees, excess baggage, vaccinations, government taxes and laundry. Unforeseen changes to flight schedules may require you to book additional accommodation and services at your own expense. Choosing Your Holiday The holidays contained within this brochure are for departures between January 2016 to November 2016. To maximise your enjoyment of your APT holiday and to ensure that it lives up to your expectations, it is important that you choose the right holiday package for you. Our brochures contain limited information, however, there is more information online at www.aptouring.com.au and our qualified staff are available to discuss your options. Hotels In more remote places, hotel standards may not be quite as high as in major centres. APT endeavours to utilise the most suitable accommodation available in each destination to ensure that passengers enjoy high levels of cleanliness, comfort and service. The hotels listed in this brochure will be used on almost all holiday packages, however, if a change is necessary for any reason, APT will endeavour to ensure that alternative accommodation is of an equivalent standard to those shown. Hotel rooms are generally not available for check-in before 3pm and require check-out by 10am. Twin or Double Rooms Accommodation in all hotels, regardless of the rating, is in standard rooms (sometimes named superior/deluxe) based on twins or doubles unless otherwise stated. In South America, twin-bedded rooms are very common and double beds are either not available or limited in numbers. Solo Travellers A limited number of single rooms/suites/cabins may be available by request at time of booking your cruise/holiday package. Single room/suites/cabins are not available on certain cruises. Single rooms/suites/cabins are usually smaller than standard twin or double rooms and often only have one single bed. Cruising – Cabin/Suite/Stateroom Selection APT will make every effort to assign specific cabins, cabin numbers or locations on the ship if requested. If this is not possible, APT reserves the right to make changes to cabin assignment, within the category booked, without prior notice. Passengers Needing Special Assistance APT welcomes passengers with disabilities or special needs provided they are accompanied by a companion capable of providing all necessary assistance. Any disability or medical condition requiring special attention must be reported to APT at the time of booking. A Health, Fitness and Mobility Checklist can be requested at the time of making your reservation and will then be sent to you with your invoice. APT will make reasonable efforts to accommodate the special needs of disabled passengers, but is not responsible for any denial of services by carriers, hotels, trains, restaurants or other independent suppliers, or for any additional associated expenses. Coaches, and minibuses are not equipped with wheelchair ramps. Not all river and cruise ships have elevators. Cabin doors and restrooms on river and cruise ships are not wide enough to allow access by standard wheelchairs. Wheelchairs and walkers cannot be carried on coaches, due to space limitations. For safety reasons, passengers in wheelchairs cannot be carried on ramps in ports where the river cruise ship is at anchor. APT is unable to provide individual assistance to any passenger for walking, dining, boarding or alighting coaches or other transportation vehicles or other personal needs. Visa & Passports All passengers must have a valid passport that is valid for at least six months after the holiday package return date. Passengers must consult with the appropriate consulates to ensure that they have any applicable visas for countries included in the holiday package prior to departure. Passengers are solely responsible for meeting necessary passport and visa entry requirements and paying all associated costs. APT is not responsible for delays or missed portions of the holiday package resulting from incorrect travel documents or visas. Health & Fitness A good level of fitness and health is required to participate on APT's holiday packages. In some destinations there are extensive sightseeing excursions by foot including climbing of stairs, walking on sand or on uneven surfaces. Mobility is needed boarding coaches, river and cruise ships and trains. Most itineraries visit high altitude regions in Cusco and Lake Titicaca. We recommend a visit to the doctor and dentist before travelling to overseas destinations. It is your responsibility to advise APT of any pre-existing medical conditions that may affect the normal conduct of a holiday package and the enjoyment of other passengers. Vaccinations are required for travel to South America. Freedom of Choice ™ Inclusions Minimum and maximum group numbers apply on Freedom of Choice excursions. If your first choice of excursion is unavailable you may be asked to choose an alternative. Optional Tours If you choose to do the Inca Trail Hike Option this is subject to availability and must be pre-booked before you leave Australia. The hike does not operate in February. If you choose a second day visit to Machu Picchu, the permit is based on availability while you are on tour. If you choose sea kayaking or camping in Antarctica, this must be pre-booked and subject to availability at time of booking. Public Holidays/Festivals/School Holidays Virtually all countries have public holidays, religious or otherwise. The festivities may temporarily disrupt your holiday and some religious holidays may result in a reduction of facilities and entertainment. The APT Lake Titicaca school is not open on the weekend and school holidays. Late Bookings & Special Offers Many of the hotels and holiday packages included in our late bookings promotions or special offers are also featured in APT's other main brochures and on our website. Late booking promotions and special offers do not apply to existing bookings unless otherwise stated. BOOKING & PAYING FOR YOUR HOLIDAY Airfares Air travel is arranged with independent airlines. APT will arrange air travel as advertised in connection with your holiday package or otherwise arranged with APT. All airfares are subject to flight and booking class availability. Airfares will be booked and ticketed upon receipt of your deposit to avoid price or tax increases. Airport taxes vary for each departure point and routing of airline. Airline schedules are subject to change without notice. Once air tickets are issued, airline amendment and/or cancellation fees apply and, in some cases, are non- refundable. Name changes and voluntary date and schedule changes will incur fees. APT is not liable for delays or disruptions of air travel. Once tickets are issued APT will have no other liability and will not be responsible for refunding the cost of any services booked in conjunction with the flights. Out of Date Range Flights If airlines have not published their schedule at the time this brochure was printed or at the time of booking, APT will estimate the cost of airfares connected with your holiday package. When the airline releases flight inventory and airfares, APT will confirm seats and pricing to you by sending you an updated invoice. Once flights have been confirmed by you and payment has been received APT will issue your ticket/s. APT Deposit Cancellation Cover Conditions apply. Deposit held in credit will exclude fees imposed by third parties in relation to – air and rail travel, hotels and cruises. When booking airfares through APT (including when taking advantage of a special offer that includes air travel) standard airline cancellation fees will apply. In the event of cancellation, these fees will be deducted from the deposit paid, and therefore the credit being held. Deposit Cancellation Cover applies to new bookings only. After five years, unused credit funds will incur the original cancellation conditions as per brochure. This does not replace travel insurance, which we strongly recommend is organised at the time of booking. Travel Insurance Travel Insurance is not included in your holiday package. For your protection we strongly recommend that you purchase comprehensive travel insurance that includes (without limitation) coverage for medical expenses, loss of luggage, cruise and land content and airfare charges that may occur due to cancellation, disruption, loss of deposit or strikes. Travel Insurance for Antarctica All passengers are required to carry valid travel insurance. This insurance must contain medical and evacuation coverage and should include cancellation and trip interruption as well. As any potential evacuation from Antarctica can cost approximately $150,000 we recommend that no policy carry less than this amount of coverage. As part of the pre-departure forms we will require information as to travel insurance carrier, policy number, and a 24-hour contact number. Travel Information & Documents After booking you will receive an invoice with all-important information relevant to your holiday package. We strongly recommend you check the details carefully and read the included information. Please ensure that you check your flight timings carefully on your tickets, particularly early AM departures. Approximately 21 days before departure you will receive your e-ticket together with your final itinerary. However, in the case of late bookings, charges or late payment, tickets may be emailed to you. Special Requests Where a special request (e.g. diet, room location, twin or double-bedded room, a particular facility at a hotel, flight seat requests and/or particular meals) is an important factor in your choice of holiday, you must advise us when your booking is made. APT will pass your request on to the hotel, airline or other supplier but cannot guarantee that it will be accommodated. APT will also pass on any dietary requests to the airline but we strongly recommend that you check directly with the airline once your tickets have been issued. The provision of any special request does not constitute a term of your contract with us. Confirmation that a special request has been noted or passed on to the supplier or the inclusion of the special request on your confirmation invoice or any other documentation is not confirmation that the request will be met. Unless and until specifically confirmed, all special requests are subject to availability.