Terms & Conditions
Family Holidays 2011-2012
A&K Guaranteed Departures:
All escorted group programs* departing between January 1 and December 31,
2012, are guaranteed to operate with a minimum of two (2) persons. Guaranteed
departures will operate except only in cases of force majeure, which could
include any major world event adversely affecting international travel patterns or
other circumstances beyond A&K’s control.
* Please note: Extreme Adventures, Canal & River Cruising, Escorted Mobile Camping and programs containing a cruise
A&K Price Assurance:
The A&K Price Assurance applies to 2012 escorted tour programs including
Connoisseurs Series, Discovery Series, Family Series, Signature Series, Marco
Polo Club Invitational Programs and Extreme Adventures itineraries available
from Abercrombie & Kent USA, LLC. Royal Scotsman, Canal & River Cruising,
North America, Galápagos ‘Eclipse’ and Antarctica cruise departures,
short-term one-day promotions and international air and extra services are
excluded. The A&K Price Assurance applies only to 2012 advertised rates on
abercrombiekent.com for the same program, travel date and accommodation
classification. Abercrombie & Kent reserves the right to modify or cancel the
A&K Price Assurance for future bookings without prior notice.
Included in Escorted Group Programs:
Prices are valid from January 1 to December 31, 2012, and will include all
accommodations as noted in the itinerary; meals as specified; arrival and
departure transfers (regardless of days of arrival and departure, except for
Majestic Canyons River Rafting where arrival and departure transfers are not
included); fully guided sightseeing as noted in the itinerary (including park
and entrance fees); local bottled water during sightseeing; selected beverages
with group meals; services of an A&K Tour Director; handling of two pieces of
baggage per person for international flights (other conditions/restrictions may
apply for internal routes; please refer to Baggage section); hotel taxes; and
gratuities throughout, except to the Tour Director (please see separate section
on Gratuities for more details).
Special Notes:
On Escorted Group Programs: Services on escorted
group programs may be modified to accommodate a small group.
On Extensions: All extensions are locally guided.
Gratuities:
Escorted Group Programs: Gratuities are included
for hotel and restaurant staff, porterage and local guides and drivers.
Gratuities are not included for the A&K Tour Director, which are at the
traveller’s discretion and should be based on the level of satisfaction with
the service received. Where applicable, gratuities to ship crews and camp
staff are also not included in the escorted group program price and are at
the discretion of the traveller.
Independent Programs (Signature and
Tailor Made):
Gratuities are not included in the program price and are at the
discretion of the traveller.
Recommended guidelines will be provided in A&K’s pre-tour documentation.
Not Included in Escorted Group Program
Prices:
Passenger Travel Protection Plan; international and internal
airfares, unless otherwise noted; costs associated with obtaining passports or
entry visas; airport departure taxes, unless otherwise noted; excess baggage
charges; gratuities to the A&K Tour Director on Escorted Group Programs
or ship’s crew/camp staff as outlined in the Gratuities on Escorted Group
Programs section; meals other than specified in the itinerary; beverages other
than noted in your pre-tour documentation; sightseeing not included in the
itinerary; personal expenses such as laundry, communication charges and
optional activities (which are subject to availability).
Itineraries:
Accommodations including vessels and arranged
sightseeing are subject to change at any time due to unforeseen
circumstances or circumstances beyond Abercrombie & Kent’s control. Every
effort will be made to operate itineraries as planned, but alterations may
occur after the final itinerary has been issued. A&K also reserves the right to
withdraw a program or any part of it, to make such alterations to the itinerary
or the program inclusions as it deems necessary or desirable, and to pass
on to tour members any expenditures or losses caused by delays or events
beyond its control.
Special Requests:
Specific requests such as adjacent or
connecting rooms, bedding requests, smoking rooms and special dietary
needs should be advised at time of booking. Please note that every effort
will be made to secure a special request; however, it cannot be guaranteed in
advance of travel.
Prices and Arrangements:
Quoted program prices include
planning, handling and operational charges and are based on current rates of
exchange, tariffs and taxes as of May 2011. A&K reserves the right to increase
program prices to cover increased costs, tariffs, taxes and V.A.T. received after
prices are published and to reflect fluctuations in foreign exchange markets.
A&K is under no obligation to give a breakdown in costs involving any
Escorted Group, Signature or Tailor Made program. Modification of program
content to accommodate a smaller group size will not affect the published
program price.
Immediate Check-in:
On programs where immediate check-in
has not been included in the program price, A&K has requested that all
hotels provide the service when possible; however, it cannot be guaranteed.
Most hotels allow check-in to take place during the mid-afternoon. Should
you wish to have a guaranteed room ready for your immediate check-in
upon arrival; it can be arranged for an additional charge. Please ask A&K for
details and prices.
Early Arrival:
A&K recommends that you arrive a day or two before
the start of your planned program to allow time to relax and refresh after your
journey. To help you prepare for the start of your tour A&K has negotiated
favorable overnight rates at many hotels; please ask for details at time of
booking. Departing early from the U.S. and Canada during the winter months
is strongly recommended, due to
Active Elements:
Some active elements have been
incorporated into select itineraries. To enjoy the trip as intended, a
minimum level of fitness is required. A&K will require notice if any
participant has any physical or other condition or disability that could
create a hazard to him or herself or to other members of the group. A&K
reserves the right to decline acceptance of anyone whom it considers
unsuitable due to fitness level. A&K also reserves the right to remove
from the trip, at the participant’s own expense, anyone whose condition
is such that it could create a hazard to him or herself or others, or
otherwise impact the enjoyment of other passengers. Should you have
any questions or need any clarification about a specific program
please ask for details at time of booking.
A&K’s Passenger Travel Protection Plan:
Our specially designed travel protection plan, which provides cancellation
coverage, medical coverage and protection against lost or damaged luggage,
is not included in the program price and is strongly recommended..
Child Policy:
On non-family A&K escorted group programs,
unless otherwise indicated on the individual tour, a minimum age of 10
years is required. On family escorted group programs, unless indicated on
the individual program page in the A&K Family Holidays brochure or at
abercrombiekent.com, no minimum age is required. However, some activities
contained within an itinerary may have a different age restriction than the
overall minimum age requirement. Details will be provided at the time of
booking. Please note: A&K reserves the right to marginally exceed the
published maximum group size on family programs to accommodate
a family.
Passports and Visas:
Valid passports are required for all
international destinations. It is recommended that you check with A&K
and the U.S. Department of State website for the latest passport and visa
requirements. Please note that non-U.S. passport holders are responsible
for obtaining the required documentation applicable for entry. Passports
must be valid for six (6) months after the return of your journey and should
also have sufficient blank pages for visas and immigrations stamps. A&K
cannot be held responsible should you be denied entry to a country due to
non-compliance with these requirements. A copy of your valid passport
must be submitted to A&K in order to confirm air reservations.
Registration and payment schedule (Except for Lewis & Clark Montana Adventure and Majestic Canyons River Rafting): A deposit of $1,250 per person is required at the time of booking. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure. If your reservation is made within 90 days of departure, the entire cost of the trip must be paid at the time of the request in order to secure confirmation.
Registration and Payment Schedule for
Lewis & Clark Montana Adventure and
Majestic Canyons River Rafting:
A deposit of $500 per person
is required at the time of booking. Final payment is due 60 days prior to
departure. If your reservation is made within 60 days of departure, the entire
cost of the trip must be paid at the time of the request in order to secure
confirmation.
Cancellation Charges (Except for Alaska:
Nature’s Playground, Lewis & Clark
Montana Adv enture and Majestic Canyons
River Rafting):
Cancellations received by A&K 90 days or more prior to
departure will be subject to a $500 per person/per tour cancellation fee;
89-60 days prior will be subject to 20% of the program price; 59-30 days
prior will be 50% of the program price; and 29 days or less prior to departure
will be subject to 100% of the program price.
Cancellation Charges for Alaska:
Nature’s Playground:
Cancellations received by A&K 90 days or more prior
to departure will be subject to a $500 per person/per tour cancellation fee;
89-70 days will be subject to 20% of the program price; 69-45 days prior will
be 50% of the program price; and 44 days or less prior to departure will be
subject to 100% of the program price.
Cancellation Charges for Lewis & Clark
Montana Adventure and Majestic Canyons
River Rafting:
Cancellations received by A&K 60 days or
more prior to departure will be subject to a $250 per person/per tour
cancellation fee; 59-45 days will be subject to 30% of the program
price; 44-30 days prior will be 50% of the program price; and 29 days
or less prior to departure will be subject to 100% of the program price.
Cancellation Charges for Extra Services:
Additional hotel nights and other extra services booked in connection with
A&K programs are subject to the following: cancellations received 31 or more
days prior to the service will be refunded in full; cancellations received 30-15 days in advance will be charged 50% of the price; and cancellations received
less than 15 days in advance will be charged 100% of the price.
Exceptions:
Payment and cancellation terms and conditions for all
Signature and Tailor Made programs, Extensions, internal air and Tailor Made
Portfolio Hotels may vary from those noted above. Please ask A&K for details.
Air Transportation:
International airfares are not included in
program pricing. Abercrombie & Kent USA, LLC, has special agreements with
many carriers and can offer quotations from any gateway. Please ask your tour
consultant about our special fares. All international and internal air quotes are
subject to change and can carry penalties and surcharges until final payment
has been received by A&K. Flight confirmation is based on availability. Air
reservations cannot be confirmed until a passport copy is received by A&K.
Please note that certain airfares are subject to a service fee.
Airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not on board their planes or conveyances. These programs may use the services of any IATA carrier. International air carriers are subject to international air conventions limiting their liability. The limitations of liability are contained on the reverse side of the airline ticket or e-ticket receipt, or on the carrier’s web site, and form part of the terms and conditions of this package. The passage contract in use by these companies, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the companies and the purchaser of these travel programs and/or passage.
AIR WITHIN AUSTRALIA:
Internal airfares are subject to change. In
order to guarantee the fare quoted, passport numbers and international ticket
numbers must be received 45 days prior to departure.
Baggage:
Abercrombie & Kent provides handling of two pieces of
baggage per person. Weight restrictions on some routes on internal/domestic
flights may apply; details will be provided with pre-tour documentation.
Baggage and personal effects are at the owner’s risk throughout the travel
program, and A&K assumes no liability for lost or damaged baggage. Please
check with your international carrier for other baggage restrictions applicable
to your international flights.
Claims and Refunds:
Refunds are not made for any missed
services, except for verifiable extenuating circumstances. Please see our
Limits On Abercrombie & Kent’s Responsibility clause below. For verifiable
claims to be considered, they must be received in writing within 30 days of the
termination of the program and be accompanied by supporting documentation
and/or a statement from the local destination company verifying the claim.
Any adjustment considered will be based on the actual price of the services
involved and not on a per diem basis. Adjustments will not be made for
unused sightseeing trips or meals. A&K will not accept any liability for any
claims that are not received within 30 days of the termination of your travel
program. All claims for days missed while travelling should be made in writing
within 30 days of the termination of the program.
Photography During Travel:
Abercrombie & Kent reserves
the right to take photographs during the operation of any program or part
thereof and to use them for promotional purposes. By booking a program
with A&K, program members agree to allow their images to be used in such
photographs. Program members who prefer that their images not be used
are asked to identify themselves to their Tour Director at the beginning of
their program.
Limits on Abercrombie & Kent’s Responsibility:
Abercrombie & Kent, USA, LLC, its employees, shareholders, officers,
directors, successors, agents and assigns (collectively A&K), does not own or
operate any entity which is to or does provide goods or services for your trip. It
purchases transportation (by aircraft, coach, train, vessel or otherwise), hotel
and other lodging accommodations, restaurant, ground handling and other
services from various independent suppliers (including from time to time other
affiliated Abercrombie & Kent companies). All such persons and entities are
independent contractors. As a result A&K is not liable for any negligent or
willful act of any such person or entity or of any third person.
In addition and without limitation, A&K is not responsible for any injury, financial or physical loss, death, inconvenience, delay or damage to personal property in connection with the provision of any goods or services whether resulting from but not limited to acts of God or force majeure, illness, disease, acts of war, civil unrest, insurrection or revolt, animals, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind, overbooking or downgrading of services, food poisoning, mechanical or other failure of aircraft or other means of transportation or for failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart on time.
There are many inherent risks in adventure travel of the type involved here, which can lead to illness, injury, or even death. These risks are increased by the fact that these trips take place in remote locations, far from medical facilities. Passenger assumes all such risks associated with participating in this trip.
Travel Advisories and Warnings:
It is the responsibility
of the traveller to become informed about the most current travel advisories and
warnings by referring to the U.S. State Department’s travel website at travel.state.
gov or by phone at 888 407 4747. In the event of an active State Department
Travel Warning against travel to the specific destination location(s) of the
trip, should the traveller still choose to travel, notwithstanding any travel
advisory or warning, the traveller assumes all risk of personal injury, death
or property damage that may arise out of the events like those advised or
warned against.
Arbitration Agreement:
Any controversy or claim arising out
of or relating to these Terms and Conditions, to the Limits on Abercrombie
& Kent’s Responsibility clause, to the brochure, to any information relating
in any way to the trip, to the trip itself, or to any products or services related
to the trip, shall be settled solely and exclusively by binding arbitration in
Chicago, Illinois in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of
the American Arbitration Association, except that (a) in lieu of a personal
appearance at arbitration, the arbitration may be conducted by telephonic
means, (b) arbitration is the exclusive forum for dispute resolution (no court
actions), and (c) except as otherwise provided by statute, each party shall
bear its own costs and expenses and an equal share of the arbitrator and
administrative fees.
Traveller’s Representations:
The traveller represents that
neither he nor she nor anyone traveling with him or her has any physical or
other condition or disability that could create a hazard to himself or herself
or other members of the tour. A&K reserves the right to decline to accept
anyone on a trip, and to remove from the trip, at his or her sole expense,
anyone whose condition is such that he or she could create a hazard to
himself or others, or otherwise impact the enjoyment of other passengers
on the trip.
ANY PAYMENT TO ABERCROMBIE & KENT CONSTITUTES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN AND IN MORE SPECIFIC PRE-DEPARTURE PASSENGER DOCUMENTATION, INCLUDING THE PERSONAL INFORMATION FORM.
Abercrombie & Kent accepts all major credit cards.
© 2010 Abercrombie & Kent USA, LLC. ABERCROMBIE & KENT, A&K, ADVENTURE CREW, DESIGN YOUR DAY, GUARDIAN ANGEL, INSPIRING EXPERIENCES, MARCO POLO CLUB, PRIVATE JOURNEYS, SIGNATURE SERIES, SIMPLY THE BEST WAY TO TRAVEL, TRAVELLING BELL BOY and the ampersand design are service marks owned by Abercrombie & Kent Group of Companies, S.A. The service marks and trademarks of airlines appearing in this brochure and on abercrombiekent. com are owned by the respective companies mentioned.
CST#2007274-20
Design & Production:
Abercrombie & Kent USA, LLC /
Downers Grove, IL / abercrombiekent.com
Printing:
Lithographix Inc. / Hawthorne, CA / lithographix.com
Photography:
Alamy, Alaska Stock LLC, A&K, Jaime Amerlan,
Karl Ammann, Aqua Expeditions, Nick Baylis, Annie Griffiths Belt,
Michele Burgess, Raymond Chan, Clipper Odyssey, CW Images, Danita
Delimont, David R. Frazier Photolibrary, Inc., Digital Vision, Bilyana
Dimitrova, First Light, Mollie Fitzgerald, Kath Fok, Getty Images, Daniel
Grill, Michael Hanson, Haus Der Musik, Hemera, Hemis, iStockphoto, Jam
World Images, J.B./A&K, Gareth Jenkins, JG Photography, Jupiterimages,
Vladimir Khirman, Dorling Kindersly, Art Kowalsky, Yadid Levy, Karoki
Lewis, Rose Loggi, Paula Lowenstein-Boano, Celia Mannings, Ann L. Miller,
John Niva, Donald Nausbaum, nobleIMAGES, Ocean Adventures,Carol
Palmer, PhotoStock-Israel, Loma Piche, Robert Harding Picture Library
Ltd., Robert Harding Productions, Lisa Rhody, Gruppo Storico Romano,
Row Adventures, Rob Sakowitz, Sanctuary Cruising, Risa Sekiguchi,
Sheri Griffith Expeditions, South Africa Tourism, Gerald Sullivan, Marc
Telio, Suzanne Teng, Thinkstock, Travelshots.com, Kirk Treakle, Tourism
Queensland, Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, David Wall, Barbara
Walley, Danny Warren, Westend61 GmbH, Peter A. Wiesner, Liu Xiaoyang
One Name: One Unparalleled
Standard Worldwide
Throughout this brochure and on abercrombiekent.com, you’ll see
references to “Abercrombie & Kent” (or simply “A&K”). This is our shorthand
for the many independent A&K companies that work with Abercrombie &
Kent USA, LLC of Downers Grove, Illinois, to provide its travellers with a
consistent worldwide standard of expertise and excellence in travel. Their
independence allows our guests to benefit from the unique local knowledge
and specialized services available only from destination-based operating
companies around the globe.
United States Tour
Operators Association
Abercrombie & Kent USA, LLC, as an Active Member
of USTOA, is required to post $1 Million with USTOA to be used to reimburse, in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the USTOA Travellers Assistance
Program, the advance payments of Abercrombie & Kent USA, LLC customers in
the unlikely event of Abercrombie & Kent USA, LLC’s bankruptcy, insolvency or
cessation of business. Further, you should understand that the $1 Million posted
by Abercrombie & Kent USA, LLC may be sufficient to provide only a partial
recovery of the advance payments received by Abercrombie & Kent USA, LLC.
Complete details of the USTOA Travellers Assistance Program may be obtained
by writing to USTOA at 275 Madison Avenue, Suite 2014, New York, NY 10016,
or by email to information@ustoa.com or by visiting its website at USTOA.com.
ASTA TOP Tour Operator Program
Abercrombie & Kent USA, LLC is also a member of the American
Society of Travel Agents TOP Program, open only to select tour
operators.
Travel Agents
A travel agent can enhance your trip by providing information and advice
not contained in this brochure. A&K has long-standing relationships with
the industry’s best travel agents and would be pleased to work with yours.