Royal Derby Train
7 Days - 6 nights
April 30th - May 6th, 2003
Travel Itinerary
Day 1 - Check into the St. Paul Hotel, Minnesota's only four-star, four-diamond hotel. In the evening, join the Royal Canadian Pacific management team and Owen and Eleanor Hardy, owners of The Society of International Railway Travelers, for a wine and cheese reception at the hotel followed by a multi-course dinner in the dining room. Overnight: St. Paul Hotel, St. Paul, Minnesota. (D)
Day 2 - Enjoy the morning exploring the twin cities of Minneapolis / St. Paul on your own. After lunch, you will meet a Royal Canadian Pacific representative in the lobby of the St. Paul Hotel to board a luxury motorcoach destined for Midway Station to board the Royal Canadian Pacific. The train departs at 6 p.m. and journeys south through the evening Enjoy a special dinner while traveling along the Mississippi River. Overnight: Royal Canadian Pacific en route to Chicago. (B,D)
Day 3 - The train interchanges with the CSX at Chicago and continues its journey through the countryside of Indiana to Louisville, Kentucky, home of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby. All meals will be served on board. Overnight: Royal Canadian Pacific. (B,L,D)
Day 4 - After a hearty breakfast, you will board a deluxe motorcoach and travel to the 129th running of the Kentucky Derby at historic Churchill Downs. While enjoying world-class thoroughbred horse racing from your covered box seat, you will have lunch and sip on a mint julep, the traditional beverage of the Kentucky Derby for nearly a century. After the Derby, you will return to the train for a special dinner. Overnight: Royal Canadian Pacific. (B,L,D)
(Photo courtesy of Louisville CVB)
Day 5 - You will travel via deluxe motorcoach through the countryside of Kentucky to Lexington, the heart of Kentucky thoroughbred breeding. Scott Goodlett, a native horseman and local expert, will provide the group with an educational presentation about the history and culture of Kentucky horse farms. Then, he will take us through Ashford Stud Farm (a division of Coolmore), where former Derby winners such as Fusaichi Pegasus and Thunder Gulch are standing stud. From there, you will visit Darby Dan Farm, owned by the Galbreath Family, where well-known former champions and Derby winners are laid to rest. Then, we return to the train for a special lunch as we depart the Ohio Valley and travel through the night to Chicago. Overnight: Royal Canadian Pacific en route to Chicago. (B,L,D)
Day 6 - The train will arrive at Midway Station in St. Paul after dinner. Transfer by deluxe motorcoach to St. Paul Hotel. Overnight: St. Paul Hotel, St. Paul, Minnesota. (B,L,D)
Day 7 - After breakfast, return to the Minneapolis International Airport for your flight home. (B)
Included in this excursion:
· Two nights accommodation in St. Paul Hotel
· Four nights on board the train in superior accommodation with en suite shower, toilet and sink
· Covered boxed seats to the 129th Kentucky Derby
· Half-day excursion to Lexington, including private tours of Ashford Stud Farm and Darby Dan Farm
· Meals as listed in the itinerary
· Full bar service on board the train
· Baggage handling
· World-class hospitality on board the Royal Canadian Pacific
· All transfers within the tour
· Services of three full-time tour leaders: Owen and Eleanor Hardy and David Walker, Managing Director of the Royal Canadian PacificTour Cost:
$5,450 + GST per person, double occupancy
$5,850 + GST single occupancy, on a space available basisCanadian Goods and Services tax (GST) is 7%
Royal Canadian Pacific: Royal Derby Train
Terms & Conditions
How to Book: Call our tour desk at 1-800-IRT-4881 to make a reservation. A deposit of 33% of the total trip cost (including GST) is required within 14 days of booking. Deposits can be made by check or credit card (Mastercard, Visa, or Discover). Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis. Final payment is due by 60 days before departure. A signed remittance advice form is required for payments over $1,000.
Goods and Services Tax: All prices are subject to Canadian Goods and Services Tax (GST), which is 7%. Non-Canadian residents purchasing the rail tour outside of Canada may qualify for a partial rebate (3.5%) on the GST. A claim for partial rebate on GST can be made with Canada Customs and Revenue Agency.
Cancellations: Notice of cancellations must be received by this office in writing. Penalties are as follows:
More than 60 days prior to departure, 15% of total tour cost, including GST, is non-refundable
More than 45 days, but less than 60 days to departure, 33% of total tour cost is non-refundable
45 days or less, no refund. No refunds will be made in the event of "no-shows" or cancellations the day of the trip. No refund will be given for unused portions of the tour.
Insurance: We highly recommend that all passengers protect themselves with tour insurance to cover your costs in case you must cancel your journey. We will include a brochure about tour insurance with your letter of confirmation.
Identification: Passengers must travel with valid government-issued picture ID.
Minimum/Maximum Participants: This tour will take a minimum of 20 passengers and a maximum of 23.
Prices: This tour price is based on currency exchange rates in effect at the time of printing. In the event of revaluation or devaluation of U.S. currency, the tour operator reserves the right to make adjustments.
Price does not include: Transfer to/from airport to/from hotel, passport and/or visa fees; personal expenses such as laundry; telephone calls; room service at the St. Paul Hotel; optional sightseeing excursions; services other than those specifically mentioned in the included section; accident; sickness, trip cancellation and baggage insurance; and excess baggage charges on airlines.
Medical: Any physical or mental condition which may require special medical attention must be reported in writing. All Society trips require some walking to take full advantage of the areas we visit. By forwarding of deposit, the passenger certified that he/she does not have any mental, physical or other condition of disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other passengers and accepts the terms of this contract.
Baggage: Baggage and personal effects are taken at owner's risk throughout the trip, and baggage insurance is strongly recommended.
Responsibility: The Society of International Railway Travelers, Inc. (IRT) and Hardy Publishing Co., Inc. (HPC), parent company of The Society of International Railway Travelers, act only as agents for the passenger with respect to travel services. IRT and HPC do not own or operate any of the suppliers of services or accommodations for your trip. As a result, IRT and HPC are not responsible for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such supplier of any other third party over whom IRT and HPC have no control. We can assume no responsibility nor liability in whole or in part for any delays, delayed or changed departure or arrival, missed carrier connections, loss, damage, weather, strikes, acts of God, circumstances beyond our control, force majeure, war, quarantine, criminal activity, expense, accident, sickness, injury or death to person or property, or mechanical defect, failure, or negligence of any nature howsoever caused in connection with any accommodations, restaurant, transportation or other services, for any substitution of hotels or of common carrier equipment beyond our control, with or without notice, or for any additional expenses occasioned thereby. If due to weather, flight schedules or other uncontrollable factors you are required to spend an additional night, you will be responsible for your own hotel, transfers and meal costs. No refund will be made for any unused portion of the tour due to these causes or voluntary cancellations. Baggage is at the owner's risk entirely.
No revisions of the printed itinerary or the "included" section are anticipated; however, IRT and HPC reserve the right to make changes at any time and for any reason, with or without notice, and IRT and HPC shall not be liable for any loss whatsoever to passengers by reason of such cancellation, substitution or changes. All fares as well as ship and train schedules, port calls, hours of arrival and departure, special programs, and guest lecture series (if applicable), are subject to change without prior notice. IRT and HPC shall not be required to refund any portion of the fare nor make any other compensation under these circumstances. IRT and HPC cannot be responsible for penalties assessed by air carriers that may result due to operational and/or itinerary changes, regardless if the passenger and/or IRT and HPC make the flight arrangements. Any additional expenses resulting from the above will be paid by the individual passenger. IRT and HPC reserve the right to substitute a similar category for those listed in this brochure. IRT and HPC reserve the right to increase the tour price in the event of cost increases due to changes in air fares, currency fluctuations or fuel surcharges and such increases are to be paid to IRT and HPC by the tour participant upon notice to the tour participant of such increases.
The air tickets when issued shall constitute the sole contract between the air company concerned and the purchaser of these tours and/or passenger. The airlines and other transportation companies concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time passengers are not on board their conveyances.
By forwarding of deposit, the passenger certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical or other condition of disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other passengers and accepts the terms of this contract.
Behavior: Passengers are expected to behave in a reasonable manner toward other passengers, tour leaders, train staff and other persons with whom we have contact during our tour. If a passenger behaves, in the opinion of the tour manger, in a way likely to disrupt the enjoyment or endanger to safety of other passengers the tour manager will issue him or her with a verbal warning. Should this not resolve the matter a second, written, warning will be issued. If the disruptive behavior continues after the second warning then the passenger will be removed from the tour and will have to make his or her own arrangements to return home. No refunds for the untravelled portion of the tour will be entertained. The right is retained to refuse any application for reservation(s), cancel any reservation(s) or decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the tour group at any time should such a person's health, mental condition, physical infirmity or attitude jeopardize the operation of the tour or the rights, welfare, or enjoyment of other participants.
Rates quoted are based on tariffs and exchange current at the time of printing and are subject to changes therein, at or before the time of departure. No revisions of the printed itinerary or its included features are anticipated; however, the right is reserved to make any changes without notice, that might become necessary, with the mutual understanding that any additional expenses will be paid by the individual passenger. Baggage is at the owner's risk throughout the trip, unless insured. The right is retained to refuse any application for reservation(s), cancel any reservation(s) or decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the tour group at any time.
Complaints: We strive to offer the very best value in travel services to our members. However, if you have a complaint during your journey, please bring it to the attention to one of your tour leaders. Should the problem remain unsolved, please write to the Society at its main office (Hardy Publishing Co., and The Society of International Railway Travelers are located at 1810 Sils Ave., Louisville, KY 40205). We will not consider any claims not made to us within two months of completion of your journey. All claims will be settled by arbitration in Louisville, Kentucky.
Please call us with questions, bookings:
800-IRT-4881
www.irtsociety.com
Send us e-mail with comments or questions
