Burma River Cruising, Myanmar tours, Irrawaddy River Cruise, Mandalay, U Bein Bridge, Inle Lake
Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/669850
54 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 booked 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. 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 $1,000 non-refundable security deposit per person, per holiday package is required within seven days of booking confirmation. 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. If APT is unable to confirm your reservation, all monies will be refunded. Travelling With Minors Children of less than 8 years of age are not permitted on tours and cruises. Minors under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult and share their accommodation with an adult. Included in Holiday Package Price All coach/cruise and hotel accommodation, airfares (as indicated in individual itinerary), gratuities for staff (see below), airport transfers on the first and last day, sightseeing, specified excursions, meals as indicated, admissions, port charges, luggage service (one bag) and the services of a Cruise/Tour Director and driver as stated in your itinerary. Transfers Airport transfers are included on the first and last day of the tour package or with pre and post accommodation booked by APT. 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. Not Included in Our Cruise and/or Tour Price Airfares between Australia and Asia, airport taxes, laundry, passport and visa fees, meals or drinks other than those indicated in your itinerary, excess baggage, fuel surcharges and optional excursions. Choosing Your Holiday The holidays contained within this brochure are for 2017 2018 departures. 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. Gratuities Gratuities for all staff on the land portion of your tour and onboard your river cruise are included and cannot be redeemed for a cash refund. Cruising –Suite Selection On your Irrawaddy, Mekong & Lower Ganges River Cruises, 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. 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. 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. 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. River ships routinely dock mid-stream and require the use of tenders to access the shore. The RV Samatha or the RV amaLotuS do not have elevators between decks and there are multiple stairs to each level. Suite doors and restrooms on river 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, disembarking or embarking cruise ships and/or coaches or other transportation vehicles or other personal needs. 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 which includes the climbing of stairs. Mobility is needed boarding or alighting coaches, river cruise ships and trains. We recommend a visit to the doctor before travelling to overseas destinations and consult with them regarding any vaccinations which may be required. 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 Questionnaire will be provided and requested to be completed at the time of booking if you advise of any health, fitness or mobility issues. APT is not liable for any injury, illness, or loss of enjoyment which could have been reasonably prevented had we been made aware of a pre-existing condition and been provided an opportunity to review it. We will not be responsible for any costs associated with cancellation penalties or the return of passengers from a tour, and a refund for lost touring cannot be claimed. 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. At the time of printing, the following applies: Passengers travelling to Myanmar are required to obtain a visa prior to departure from Australia. Vietnam – passengers must obtain a visa prior to departure from Australia. Cambodia – Passengers entering Cambodia while cruising from Saigon to Siem Reap are able to obtain a single entry visa for Cambodia onboard the RV amaLotuS. All passengers must be carrying two passport size photographs to obtain this visa. India – passengers must obtain a visa prior to departure from Australia. Shore Excursions The timing of the shore excursions on all river cruise ship holiday packages may differ slightly for each package. The published times are a guide only and are subject to change without notice. It is impossible for large coaches to be used for some city sightseeing excursions and many towns and cities will be visited by way of walking tours and/ or ox carts or similar. For river cruising, clients must be able to climb ramps to embark or disembark river cruise ships. Depending on river levels, these may have a number of steep steps. Public Holidays & Festivals 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. Superdeals, Fly Deals and Special Offers Conditions Apply. For full terms and conditions relating to any Superdeal, Fly Deal or Special Offer on your booking, please go to www.aptouring.com.au/specialdeals Other Special Offers Special Deals and Special Offers other than those advertised in the brochure may be promoted by APT after the brochure is released. These new special deals/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. Flying outside of the tour date range or re-routing your flight itinerary may incur additional surcharges. Flights Within Asia Economy flights within Asia and airport taxes are included in the price. All internal flights must be booked by APT. Airport taxes vary for each departure point and routing of airline. Airline schedules and fares are subject to change without notice. Flights will be based on best fare available at the time of booking, however surcharges may apply. Once air tickets are issued, airline amendment and/or cancellation fees apply and in some cases are non-refundable. Deposits are considered as a guarantee of the invoiced flight arrangements and once deposit received, flights will be ticketed. Name changes and voluntary date and schedule changes will incur fees. Out of Date Range Flights If airlines have not published their schedule at the time that 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 with 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 Applicable when an upfront fee of $75 per person is paid with your deposit. The holiday package can be cancelled prior to the final payment date and your 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 fees imposed by third parties, including but not limited to air travel, rail travel and hotels. When booking airfares through APT (including when taking advantage of a special offer that includes air travel), standard airline cancellation fees will apply. In some cases, airfares will be non-refundable. In the event of cancellation, these fees will be deducted from the deposit paid, and therefore the credit being held. APT Deposit Cancellation Peace of Mind applies to new bookings only and is only valid up until 100 days prior to travel. After three years, unused credit funds will incur the original cancellation conditions as per brochure. This does not replace travel insurance, which we strongly recommend 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 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 morning departures. Approximately 21 days before departure you will receive your eticket, 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 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. Credit Card Surcharges If you pay APT by credit card, a surcharge of between 1% and 3% will be added your tour price. IF YOU NEED 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