1. Your Contract
Once you book your journey/holiday, the terms set out below form the foundation of the contract between Columbus Travel (“the Company”) and you and your party. Unless otherwise specified, these terms apply to individual bookings and additional terms are applicable to groups of 5 or more. The contract is concluded only when your booking is confirmed by the Company. The person who makes the booking is responsible on behalf of everyone included in the booking.
2. Responsibilities
The Company accepts responsibility for ensuring that all elements of the journey/holiday it is contractually obliged to provide are as described in its brochures or on its website and are of a reasonable standard. However, circumstances may subsequently change and in the event of any significant or long-term changes you will be informed of these at the time of booking or as soon as reasonably possible.
The Company also accepts responsibility for any personal injury, illness or death affecting you, or any person included in the booking, caused by the negligence of its employees, agents or suppliers subcontracted by it to provide any part of the confirmed arrangements provided that:
Such agents or suppliers or employees were acting within the scope of or in the course of their employment when the incident occurred.
You notify the Company of any claim within 28 days of completion of the journey/holiday.
You agree to assign to the Company any rights against a supplier or any person that you may have relating to the claim and agree to co-operate fully with the Company.
The Company does not accept responsibility for any loss or damage suffered as a result of any event beyond its control or the control of the relevant agent or carrier or supplier.
3. Deposits
A 30% deposit is required within 3 days of booking confirmation or sooner, as specified by the Company.
4. Balance of Payment
Full payment for all cruises must be received by the Company 1 day before sailing.
5. Method of Payment
American dollar payments are accepted via agency check, personal check, American Express, Visa and MasterCard. Expenses incurred for onboard services/products by the guest, or by the Company on behalf of the guest, shall be paid by the guest prior to disembarkation.
6. Cancellation by Guests
Should you wish to cancel your booking, you are required to inform the Company at least 3 days prior to the date of departure in case of group of fewer than 5 persons and 7 days in case of group of more than 5 persons.
Cancellations made 2 days in case of group of fewer than 5 persons and 3 days in case of group of more than 5 persons prior to the date of departure are subject to a 50% charge of your deposit.
Full charge will be applicable to all cancellations made 1 day prior to the date of departure.
7. Cancellation by the Company
Arrangements for journey/holidays are made several days or weeks in advance and changes may have to be made to brochured itineraries, as a result of, for example, a change of flight schedule. Any change will be notified to you at time of booking or as soon as is reasonably possible.
Occasionally circumstances occur that involve either a major change or cancellation of an itinerary. For the purposes of these Booking Conditions these are as follows:
i) A change of departure date, point, time or return time by more than five hours
ii) A portion of the journey/holiday is not available for reasons beyond the control of the Company and/or of any carrier or supplier
iii) An insufficient number of bookings has been taken
iv) Security risks
v) Industrial action
If after your reservation has been confirmed but before departure, a major change to your itinerary becomes necessary, there are various options available to you:
i) Accept the changes as given to you
ii) Accept the same journey/holiday on an alternative date or accept an alternative journey/holiday with the appropriate adjustment to your invoice (subject to availability)
iii) Cancel your reservation and receive a full refund. (In the case of industrial action, which affects only part of the journey/holiday, you may not choose this option.)
The Company does not guarantee and will not be liable in respect of changes or delays to departures or arrivals where such changes or delays are reasonably required or beyond the control of the Company and/or of any carrier or supplier.
If after departure, a major change occurs the company will use its best endeavors to make suitable alternative arrangements at no cost to you. If this is not possible or if you choose not to accept the alternative arrangements made, the Company will, where appropriate, provide transport back to the place of departure or to such place as can be agreed. The company will not accept any liability for any changes or delays which become reasonably or sensibly necessary or which occur as a result of industrial action or any other circumstances unforeseeable or beyond the control of the Company and/or of any supplier or carrier.
8. Refunds
Before a determination regarding a refund can be made, all cruise and transaction documents and information must be returned to Columbus Travel at 36 Hang Bac Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. Partial use of cruise, hotel or any other services concerning the tour will not qualify a guest for a refund. All refund requests are subject to final review by the Company.
8. Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend that all travelers obtain adequate medical and health insurance before taking any of our tours.
9. Baggage and valuables
The Company and its staff are committed to trying its best to handle your baggage. However, you should ensure that you, or any member of your party, do not carry any substances or articles, which are dangerous, may pose other passengers or their luggage to damages or inconveniences or are prohibited in any of the countries through which your luggage is carried.
All luggage is carried at your own risk and the Company accepts no liability for any loss of, damage to or delay to such luggage unless through its own wrongful act or willful neglect or that of its employees, agents or suppliers sub-contracted by it to provide any part of the arrangements detailed in the brochure or on its website www.columbuscruise.com
10. Children Traveling with an Adult
Children under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult who is a parent or legal guardian. In the absence of such persons, written permission from them is required.
11. Guests with Disabilities/Special Diets
Guest with disabilities is welcomed aboard Columbus Cruises. Columbus Travel has limited facilities aboard ship for guests with disabilities. Any person requiring special services, assistance, equipment or accommodations must advise Columbus Travel Sales Department at time of reservation. The guest will be informed whether early embarkation will be necessary. The Company has a right to reject requested accommodation that is not readily achievable. Upon notification by a guest with a disability, the Company Sales Department will provide written specifications detailing suite and bathroom doorway widths and other pertinent access limitations on board the cruises. Guests using wheelchairs must be accompanied by a companion for access to all other areas of the ship. Please note that accessible suites are subject to availability and must be requested at the time of booking.
If guests have special dietary needs, the Company must be advised at the time of booking or, at the latest, 1 days before sailing. Every effort will be made to comply.
12. Transferability of Bookings
If you or any member of your party is prevented from traveling for any unavoidable reason, you may transfer your reservation to another party. This is subject only to giving reasonable written notice and settling any outstanding balance of the journey/ holiday price that may include additional costs incurred to make the transfer.
13. Site accuracy
All efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of descriptions and information contained on the web site. However, occasionally circumstances may subsequently change and in the event of any significant or long-term changes, you will be informed of these at the time of booking or as soon as reasonably possible if there is time before your departure.
