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General
Conditions
Traveling
with Orient Lines is one of the world's best value vacations.
Your CruiseTour fare entitles you to accommodations,
meals and entertainment on board ship, a gala Captain's
cocktail reception, detailed port briefings, and, where
applicable, hotel stays and transfers between airport,
hotel and ship. Not included, however, are air transportation,
items of a personal nature, optional programs or activities,
meals ashore (unless otherwise stated in the itinerary
description), beverages, laundry, dry cleaning, telephone,
telefax, e-mail, Internet, medical services, spa treatments,
or hair styling. Also not included are government taxes
and fees, customs, immigration, airport security charges,
or excess baggage charges imposed by airlines. Please
note that Orient Lines does not offer recreational facilities
for children.
Terms
& Conditions
The following provisions apply to the booking of your
CruiseTour and are the terms and conditions that apply
upon the acceptance of your deposit by Orient Lines.
They also cover Orient Lines' air travel arrangements
made as part of your CruiseTour and the land tours packaged
with cruises offered by Orient Lines. This is neither
an offer or a contract of, carriage except that by making
a reservation and paying your deposit, you agree to
be bound by the provisions contained herein and to accept
the terms and conditions of the Orient Lines Passage
Contract (cruise ticket), a copy of which may be obtained
from your travel agent or Orient Lines. The provisions
herein contain important information on cancellation
by the passenger or by Orient Lines, changes in the
itinerary, the limitations and exclusions of liability
on the part of Orient Lines, the operators of the Orient
Lines vessels, and of independent contractors, health
and immigration requirements that are your responsibility,
and other relevant terms and conditions. You must be
a resident of the US or Canada to book your cruise from
this brochure. The terms and conditions that apply to
residents of other countries are available upon request.
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Reservations
and payments
Travel agencies provide valuable service
and counseling when planning CruiseTour vacations to
exotic parts of the world. We encourage you to make
your Orient Lines reservations with a travel agent who
understands your individual needs. Your entire trip
can be reserved with just one phone call. Travel agencies
are not appointed by Orient Lines. They act as independent
agents selected by you to act on your behalf and are
therefore deemed to be agents of the passenger.
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Deposits
and final payment
The per person, per cruise deposit required to secure
your reservation is $500 and must be received within
7 days of booking. A second deposit of $500 per person,
per cruise is required 120 days prior to the scheduled
sailing date. The balance is due no later than 60 days
prior to sailing, together with passport details and
dining room requests. American Express®, Diners
Club®, Discover/Novus®, MasterCard®, Visa®,
travel agency checks and personal checks are accepted
for deposits and final payment.
Passengers who do not make second deposits or final
payments at appropriate times may be subject to cancellation
without notice. In most cases, we are able to provide
you with travel documents, including your Passage Contract
and airline tickets (where applicable), approximately
30 days prior to sailing. Travel documents are issued
only after final payment and passport details have been
received by Orient Lines. Once we have received your
deposit or full payment, the cruise rate is secure except
in the event of substantial increases in operating costs,
tariffs or taxes prior to the sailing date. In such
cases, we reserve the right to add a surcharge.
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Cancellation
policy
A full refund will be made when written notice of cancellation
is received by Orient Lines at least 120 days prior
to the scheduled sailing date. Passengers who cancel
after that date for any reason, including medical reasons,
are subject to the following cancellation fees per person:
| Duration
of cruise |
5-7
days |
8+
days |
| 119-90
days |
$50 |
$100 |
| 89-60
days |
$200 |
$500 |
| 59-30
days |
25%
of the fare* |
| 29-15
days |
50%
of the fare* |
| 14
days or less, or no-show |
100%
of the fare* |
*Fare is defined as the cost of any cruise, land or
air element purchased from Orient Lines.
Voluntary or involuntary termination by the passenger
of a CruiseTour in progress will result in no refund.
Cruise contracts are non-transferable. Name changes
and departure date changes are considered reservation
cancellations and are subject to the above cancellation
fees.
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Optional
insurance
Orient Lines strongly encourages all passengers to purchase
travel insurance. We offer an attractively priced policy,
which is automatically issued to you and included in
your bill unless you declined coverage at the time of
booking. Please note: in order for the insurance to
be effective at time of deposit, Cruise Protection Premium
must be paid in addition to the deposit.
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Change
charges
Changing your itinerary after reservations have been
made may have disadvantages. To cover administrative
costs, a charge of $75 per person to $225 per person
will be made each time you request a change in your
travel arrangement within 60 days of departure. Air
changes between 60 - 45 days prior to scheduled flight
departure date will be charged $75 per person. Air changes
made within 44 days prior to scheduled flight departure
date will be charged $225 per person. The passenger
is responsible for costs incurred as a result of such
changes. In addition, no refund will be made for unused
or partially used portions of the air/land/cruise package.
Once airline tickets are issued, any changes resulting
in additional costs are at the passengers expense. Any
cancellation fees imposed by the carrier will be deducted
from your refund. Airline tickets cannot be changed
on board ship. Change charges are not assessed for stateroom
upgrades or for the addition of services, unless air
reservations are altered and/or travel documents must
be reissued.
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Air
transportation
Orient Lines does not operate, control or supervise
any airlines and will not be responsible for carriers
failing to meet schedules whether or not air tickets
were issued by Orient Lines. For the avoidance of doubt,
we will not be responsible for any expenses or consequences
resulting from, including, but not limited to, inclement
weather, strikes, flight cancellations, changes/delays
in the ship's schedule or a change/delay in schedule
or routing made by a passenger, travel agent or airline.
Air transportation is based on scheduled or charter
service and is subject to availability and change without
notice. Air add-ons are also subject to change without
notice. Orient Lines reserves the right to select the
airline and routing from each city, which may not in
some cases be the most direct. In the event Orient Lines'
air arrangements necessitate an overnight stay, we will
only be responsible for hotel room accommodations and
transfers. Air upgrades do not apply to all flight segments;
inquire at time of booking. Specific air routings will
be determined approximately 35 days prior to sailing.
Passengers traveling with passengers from other gateways
may not be routed on the same flights. If an airline
ticket issued in conjunction with Orient Lines' air
program is lost, the passenger is responsible for the
cost of replacement. Airline tickets are refundable
only to Orient Lines. Orient Lines will determine the
amount of any refund due.
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Independent
air arrangements
In addition to the above limitations, Orient Lines will
have no responsibility, financial or otherwise, in regard
to air travel arrangements made by others including
those related to the use of frequent flyer, non-refundable
and other restricted travel tickets. This exclusion
of liability by Orient Lines includes the consequences
to independently arranged air travel that may result
from last-minute changes in the embarkation and debarkation
ports, cancellation of tours, and delays in arrival
at the departure airport (see the Passage Contract for
more details of these exclusions from liability). No
airport transfers can be provided for passengers using
independently arranged air travel. The travel insurance
policy should be checked in regard to its coverage of
such independent air arrangements. Passengers who elect
to make their own air arrangements in conjunction with
their CruiseTour should allow for delays and misconnections
in their plans.
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Baggage
policy
A reasonable amount of clothing and personal effects
may be taken on board the ship without charge. For your
own comfort and convenience, we recommend no more than
two suitcases per passenger. Those on motorcoach tours
should bring no more than one suitcase per person plus
hand baggage. Please note that airlines may refuse to
carry excess baggage or may charge additional fees based
on the size, weight, or number of pieces of baggage
carried aboard their aircraft. We recommend that you
contact your airline for current baggage policies.
Porterage is included at the pier on embarkation and
disembarkation. Please ensure your luggage is labeled
with your name and cabin number, as your bags will be
taken directly to your stateroom. Hand or unlocked baggage,
travel documents, breakable items, medicines, and valuables
should be carried personally. Orient Lines strongly
recommends baggage insurance. The liability of Orient
Lines for lost or damaged baggage commences only when
the baggage arrives alongside the vessel and is strictly
limited as provided in the Passage Contract.
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Hotels,
excursions and land tours
The land packages contained in the brochure can only
be purchased in conjunction with Orient Lines' cruises.
Orient Lines reserves the right to assign your hotel
based on pre-reserved space at hotels listed in this
brochure. Hotels are determined by the cabin category
purchased. Special upgrade promotions are limited to
shipboard accommodations only. Certain land packages
and excursions will not operate without a minimum participation,
and others may have a maximum capacity. The sequence
of escorted land tours may vary from the brochure. If,
for any reason, a hotel, sightseeing or entertainment
feature is canceled or otherwise unavailable, Orient
Lines reserves the right to cancel, make substitutions
or omissions and is under no obligation except that
in the event of cancellation you will receive a full
refund of any payments received for that service. Shore
excursions are included on many itineraries detailed
herein. No refunds will be made to passengers who elect
not to partake in included shore excursions.
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Passengers
with special needs
Marco Polo is equipped with limited medical facilities
and staffed by a physician and registered nurse, and
whenever possible, Orient Lines will try to accommodate
passengers with special needs. However, the following
conditions apply:
Medical
Situations: Any physical disability or medical condition
that requires special treatment or medical apparatus
must be reported to Orient Lines Reservations Manager
in writing along with the first deposit, which is due
at time of booking. These include but are not limited
to wheelchairs, oxygen therapy, dialysis, service animals,
etc.
Pregnancy:
We will not accept reservations for women who will have
entered their 24th week of pregnancy by the time their
travel with Orient Lines concludes.
Wheelchairs:
Passengers confined to wheelchairs must provide their
own collapsible chair and may find certain areas of
the ship inaccessible. Please note that in staterooms
aboard Marco Polo there is a 2" to 12" riser
to bathrooms except in wheelchair-accessible staterooms,
where bathroom doors are 331/4 inches wide. Some ports
require tenders to go ashore and conditions may preclude
a wheelchair passenger from leaving the vessel; this
decision must be made by the ship's captain and is binding.
Orient Lines has the right to refuse or revoke passage
to anyone who, in its judgement, is in a physical or
mental condition unfit for travel, or who may require
care beyond that which Orient Lines can provide.
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Responsibility
The responsibility of Orient Lines, the
operators of the Orient Lines vessel, is strictly limited
according to the terms and conditions set forth in the
Passage Contract that you will receive prior to embarkation.
You are urged to read the Passage Contract carefully.
A sample is available upon request and can be inspected
at any Orient Lines' office. Transportation on board
ship is provided solely by the ship operator and pursuant
to the Passage Contract. Orient Lines reserves the right
to decline to accept or retain any person as a passenger
for any reason.
Orient Lines is not to be held responsible for any act,
event or omission during the time passengers are not
aboard the Orient Lines vessel. Orient Lines acts only
as agent for the supplier of the other
off-ship services such as airlines and other off-ship
transportation carriers, meals, shore excursions, accommodations,
air ambulance and shoreside physicians featured in this
brochure. Passengers agree not to hold Orient Lines,
its owners, agents or representatives liable for any
loss, injury, expense or damage which results directly
or indirectly from any act or omission, whether negligent
or otherwise, of any third party person or firm which
is to, or does, provide goods or services in connection
with the trip or any available option. Without limiting
the foregoing, Orient Lines shall have no liability
to passengers for the quality of services at, and the
condition, cleanliness or safety of, a hotel, housing
facility or conveyance, or for any transportation delay,
including but not limited to liability for inconvenience,
shortened vacation time, additional expenses, or any
other kind of damage. Orient Lines expressly disclaims
all responsibility of any nature whatsoever for any
loss, damage or injury to property or person resulting
from air, rail or motorcoach transportation.
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Cruise
cancellation and itinerary changes
Orient Lines reserves the right to cancel, advance or
postpone any cruise at any time prior to the scheduled
sailing date and Orient Lines' sole responsibility in
the event of cancellation is to provide you with a full
refund of any payments received. In addition, situations
may arise which, in the opinion of Orient Lines, make
it necessary to change itineraries or make substitutions
or omissions, involving hotels, restaurants, ports of
call, other travel components, vessels or other modes
of transportation, whether before or after the sailing
of the vessel, without previous notice to the passenger.
If this should occur, Orient Lines does not assume responsibility
or liability for any losses, inconvenience or expenses
incurred by passengers as a result, except as detailed
in the Passage Contract. Orient Lines is not required
to make refunds once travel commences regardless of
the reason for a passenger being unable to complete
their travel. In the event of changes in the itinerary,
no partial refunds will be made and, if by action of
government or port authorities the related costs are
increased, Orient Lines reserves the right to pass along
such increase.
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Safety
and Security
Orient Lines visits a large number of ports in numerous
countries around the world. At any given moment there
are likely to be "trouble spots" in the world
in terms of crime and/or war or terrorist actions. Accordingly,
it may be necessary to change the published cruise or
shore excursion itinerary. Any such changes are for
your safety and beyond Orient Lines' control. While
Orient Lines endeavors to provide reasonable protection
for your comfort and safety on board its ship, Orient
Lines cannot guarantee freedom from all risks associated
with war, terrorism, crime or other potential sources
of harm. Orient Lines reminds all passengers that they
must ultimately assume responsibility for their actions
while ashore. The U.S. Department of State, the Canadian
Consular Affairs Bureau of Department of Foreign Affairs
and International Trade and other similar government
agencies regularly issue advisories and warnings to
travelers giving details of local conditions in specified
cities and countries according to the agency's perception
of risk to travelers. Orient Lines strongly recommends
that passengers and their travel professionals obtain
and consider such information when making travel decisions.
Important
notice
This information replaces any previously
published, and is subject to change without notice.
Every effort has been made to produce this information
accurately. Orient Lines is not responsible for any
typographical errors and reserves the right to correct
errors. If cost factors dictate the need for fare increases,
Orient Lines may do so prior to departure and without
notice. Except as otherwise contained herein, fully
paid or deposited passengers will be protected at these
published fares.
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Applicable
Law and Forum
Any and all disputes or matters whatsoever incident
to, arising from or connected with the Orient Lines
Passage Contract or your cruise shall be governed by
English Law. Furthermore, all disputes and matters whatsoever
incident to, arising from or connected with this Orient
Lines Passage Contract or your cruise, including, without
limitation, personal injury, illness or death, shall
be litigated, if at all, by you individually and not
as a member of any class against Orient Lines before
the High Court of Justice located in London to the exclusion
of the courts of any other country, state, city or county.
Passenger hereby waives any venue or other objection
that may be available to any such action or proceeding
being brought in said court. The limitations set forth
in this Section shall also apply to, and be for the
benefit of, any agents, independent contractors, concessionaires
and suppliers of Orient Lines.
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