2016 - APT USA

90 www.aptouring.com.au General Information & Conditions 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 the 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). A $1,000 security deposit per person, per holiday package is required within seven days of receipt of booking confirmation. Deposit requirements vary when booking a Wilderness Lodge & Resort Extension or a special offer. Final payment of the balance of your holiday package price is due 100 days prior to departure unless otherwise 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. Surcharges may apply to the Holland America Line portion of your holiday if booked within 90 days of travel. If APT is unable to confirm your reservation, all monies will be refunded. Travelling with Minors Children under twelve years of age are not recommended on holiday packages. Children under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult and share their accommodation with an adult. Included in Holiday Package Price As indicated in individual itineraries – all transport, accommodation, airfares, gratuities, airport transfers on the first and last day, sightseeing, excursions, meals, admissions, port charges and the services of an APT Tour Director on land tours and a Cruise Escort where specified (subject to minimum numbers). Cruise Escort may differ from the land Tour Director. Wi-Fi access is included on coaches during land tours in Western and Eastern Canada; however black spots may cause intermittent interference. Wi-Fi is not included on coaches during tours in the USA. A limited number of beverages (house wine, beer and soft drinks) are included with dinner on all Holland America Line Cruise packages (up to three drinks per person, per night). Drinks are included with dinner in the Main Dining Room and selected Specialty Restaurants. Arrival/Departure Transfers Arrival transfers are included on Day 1 of your holiday package or with pre-tour accommodation booked through APT. Return transfer is included on the last day of your holiday package or with post-tour accommodation booked through APT. All flight information must be provided to APT 60 days prior to your departure date, if this information is not received we are unable to guarantee the transfer/s. No refund will be given for any unused transfers. If you miss your pre-arranged transfer/s you are responsible for making your way to the destination. Not Included in Holiday Package Price Airfares (unless stated), airport taxes, laundry, passport and visa fees, food not on the regular table d'hôte menu, drinks may or may not be included as indicated in your itinerary, all baggage fees in North America unless the flight is in conjunction with an international flight, and all excess baggage beyond allocated limits on international flights, fuel surcharges and optional excursions and gratuities not specified in your itinerary. Choosing Your Holiday The holiday packages contained within this brochure are for departures between 1 April 2016 and 31 December 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 also information available online at www.aptouring.com.au and our qualified staff are available to discuss your options. Gratuities Gratuities are included for all staff on all APT-operated holiday packages and cannot be redeemed for a cash refund. Gratuities are not included for any individual purchases. Hotels Hotel rooms in Canada and the USA are often smaller than those in Australia and NZ. 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 that shown. Hotel rooms are generally not available for check-in before 4pm and require check-out by 11am. 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. Holland America Line Cruises Cancellation Protection Plan (CPP Standard Plan) Holland America Line's Standard Cancellation Protection Plan allows you, for any reason, to provide written cancellation up to 24 hours prior to scheduled cruise or tour departure and receive a refund equal to 80% of the applicable cancellation fee. CPP Standard Plan is optional, must be paid at time of deposit and is not refundable. In addition, Holland America Line automatically assumes an additional US$500 of liability for lost, damaged or delayed baggage of passengers who purchase the CPP Standard Plan. However, this is subject to the limitations in Holland America Line's baggage policy and does not cover losses while baggage is in the custody of airlines. Please note that this is not insurance; it provides no other rights than the ones explained above (eg. it does not protect occupancy rates should one or more members of your party cancel, nor does it cover expenses or unused services due to trip interruption). 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. However, any disability or medical condition requiring special attention must be reported to APT at the time of booking to ensure the tour you have chosen is suitable and meets your needs. 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. Most river and ocean cruise ships have elevators. Cabin doors and restrooms may not be 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 or ocean cruise ship is at anchor. APT is unable to provide individual assistance to any passenger for walking, dining, boarding or disembarking coaches or Zodiacs/tenders or other transportation vehicles, or any other personal needs. Health and 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 which may include climbing of stairs. Mobility is needed to board and disembark coaches, river and ocean cruise ships and trains. We recommend a visit to the doctor and dentist before travelling. 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. A Health, Fitness & Mobility Checklist can be requested at the time of booking and is available on our website. Visa and Passports All passengers must carry a machine readable passport, valid for at least six months after your return date. Note that visa and passport requirements are the responsibility of the traveller to organize and are subject to eligibility with Canadian & United States government requirements. If travelling into Canada from 15 March 2016, all Australian, New Zealand and UK citizens are now required to register on the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to determine eligibility to enter Canada. There is a fee of CAD$7* payable in conjunction with the eTA registration (*subject to change). The eTA will be available on-line from 1 August 2015. If travelling into the United States (including on an Alaskan cruise), all Australian, New Zealand and UK citizens must register on the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) to determine eligibility to travel to the US under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). There is a fee of US$14* payable in conjunction with the ESTA registration (*subject to change). Shore Excursions The timing of the shore excursions on all river and ocean cruise ship holiday packages may differ slightly for each package. The published times are to be used as a guide only and are subject to change without notice. It is impossible for large coaches to be used for some city sightseeing excursions. For river cruising, clients must be able to climb ramps to board or disembark river ships. Depending on river levels, these may have a number of steep steps. Freedom of Choice TM Sightseeing & Dining Inclusions Minimum and maximum group numbers apply on some Freedom of Choice Inclusions. If your first choice of Freedom of Choice inclusion is unavailable you may be asked to choose an alternative. Late Bookings and 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 its 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 as 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 Peace of Mind Applicable when an upfront fee of $75 per person is paid with your deposit. The holiday package can be cancelled prior to final payment date and deposit will be retained as an APT holding credit to be used for future bookings. If Deposit Cancellation Peace of Mind is claimed, monies held must be used on a future cruise or tour and cannot be redeemed against the original cruise or tour departure date. Deposit held in credit will exclude all fees imposed by third parties including but not limited to: air travel, rail travel, hotel accommodation and cabins on cruises. When booking airfares through APT (including when taking advantage of a special offer that includes air travel) standard airline cancellation fees will apply and in some cases the air may be fully non-refundable. In the event of cancellation, these fees will be deducted from the deposit paid, and therefore reduce the credit being held. Deposit Cancellation Peace of Mind applies to new bookings only and is only valid up until 100 days prior to travel. Credit cannot be exchanged for a cash refund. 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, land and airfare charges that may occur due to cancellation, disruption, loss of deposit or strikes. Travel Information and 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 morning 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 (eg. 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 onto the hotel, airline or other supplier but cannot guarantee that it will be accommodated. When booking your flights with APT we 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. Superdeals and Special Offers Conditions apply. Strictly limited offer on set departures. Subject to availability at time of booking and with an airline of APT's choosing. Cannot be combined with any other offer and may be withdrawn at any time. Savings figures shown are the maximum possible savings available for the itinerary for which they appear and may not apply to all departures or all stateroom/suite categories. Credit Card Surcharges If you pay APT by credit card, credit card surcharges of between 1% and 3% will be added the price of the holiday package. IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE OR CANCEL YOUR HOLIDAY Changes or Additions to Your Holiday If you want to change any part of your holiday arrangements after the invoice has been issued, we will do our best to make the change, but it may not be possible. Any request for changes must be made in writing by the person who made the original booking, or his or her travel agent. If it is possible to make the change, it will be subject to an administration charge and payment of any further costs incurred as a result of the change. Cancellation Policy For all holiday packages the following applies: Days of Notice Fee Per Person 100 days or more Loss of deposit 99-61 days 50% of holiday package price 60 days or less 100% of holiday package price All cancellations must be received in writing by APT and are not effective until this notification has been received. If your holiday has commenced, 100% of the full holiday package price is charged. There is no refund for unused services or if portions of the holiday package are missed. Additional cancellation fees may also be charged in respect of accommodation reserved outside the holiday package dates. These cancellation fees are in addition to any fees that may be levied by APT and your travel agent (if any). You acknowledge that the amounts estimated under the Cancellation Policy are reasonable and represent a genuine pre-estimate of APT's loss. If you request changes after flight bookings have been ticketed or APT has issued your documents, APT will charge you a minimum change or amendment fee of $150 per person in addition to any applicable cancellation fees.

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