Fjordland Fantasy: July 2-14, 2000
Itinerary
Sunday, July 2 Depart the U.S. on individually arranged flights.
Monday, July 3, (D)
EXPLORE OSLO
Arrive Oslo's new airport, Gardermoen, which opened in October
of 1998. Use your included tickets for the new high-speed train,
which will take you quickly and easily to the city's center.
Our hotel is near the National
Theater station. Upon arrival at the hotel, you'll be met by
your guide,
Dr. Anthony Perl, the distinguished North
American Editor of The
International Railway Traveler for 16 years and professor of
public policy
at the University of Calgary.
In the afternoon, we will use our 24-hour
Oslo card, good for all public
transportation, to tour Oslo with our local guide. Highlights
of the tour
include: the Royal Castle, Vigeland sculpture park-featuring
192 sculptures
in granite and bronze by the artist Gustav Vigeland-and Holmenkollen,
where
the world-famous ski jump is located. The latter offers a wonderful
view of
Oslo, as well as a ski museum you may want to visit. We'll also
sample some
of Oslo's famous trams.
Tonight, we will get to know one another
better over a festive dinner with
wine at the hotel.
Overnight: Oslo, Hotel Continental
Tuesday, July 4 (B, D)
THE BERGEN RAILWAY THE ROOF OF NORWAY
After a buffet breakfast at the hotel, we will walk back across
the street
to the train station to begin our first big rail trip-aboard
the Bergen
Railway. Today, we'll discover why this train was chosen as one
of IRT's
editors' Top 20 Rail Experiences in the World. The scenery on
this 7-hour
trip across the Hardanger plateau, the largest wild area in Europe,
is
breathtaking. Keep your eyes open for reindeer and other wild
animals on
what the Eurail Guide calls the "most scenic rail trip in
Europe." And this
year, we'll be among the first groups to sample Norway's new
Signatur
trains: air-conditioned, four-car, tilting trains designed to
bring Norway's
far-flung cities faster rail service, due to start service in
June, 2000.
The complete Oslo-Bergen line was opened
in 1909 as the only year-round land
transport between Norway's two largest cities. It was electrified
in 1964.
The 300-mile length of track passes through 200 tunnels and 18
miles of snow
sheds in addition to crossing more than 300 bridges.
According to IRT editor Gena Holle: "You
wonder if you'll ever scale the
mountain, then bingo, it's up-up-and-away, past fashionable ski
centers,
frozen lakes and snow-dusted ridges-a true picture-postcard trip."
Enjoy lunch in the train's restaurant
car on your own. After arriving in
Bergen around 6:30 p.m., we will walk to our hotel nearby. Our
luggage,
transferred separately, will arrive shortly after. We'll enjoy
dinner at
the hotel tonight.
Overnight: Bergen, Augustin Hotel
Wednesday, July 5 (B, L)
THE FLÅM LINE
Today, a spectacular day awaits you! It's "Norway
in a Nutshell," a unique
trip that takes you through some of Norway's most beautiful scenery
the
famous Flåm Line from Myrdal-Flåm.
Transfer to the train station and board
a local train from Bergen to Myrdal,
then change to the Flåm narrow-gauge railway. The Flåm
Line starts at
Myrdal, 2,841 feet above sea level, and descends through the
wild Flåm
valley, a breathtaking experience. For 50 minutes, the view through
the
train window is a constantly changing panorama of sky-high snow-covered
mountains, thundering waterfalls and green pastures at the bottom
of the
valley.
The Flåm line is a masterpiece
of engineering unparalleled in Europe. Its
12.4-mile length includes 20 tunnels totaling almost 3.7 miles.
The line
descends 2,838 feet with gradients up to 5.5 percent on one stretch.
The
descent is so steep that the train takes longer to go downhill
than up. The
train is equipped with five independent braking systems, any
one of which
can stop the train. To cope with the enormous change in height
over such a
short stretch, the line runs partly through tunnels which spiral
in and out
of the mountainside.
The train travels slowly, and even stops
at the most scenic spots to ensure
that travelers experience the full impact of the beauty. At one
point, the
train crosses a 110-yard embankment and stops for several minutes,
allowing
passengers to get out and hike closer to the thundering Kjos
waterfall. At
another point, the line crosses a river in three places without
the use of a
bridge. At Høga a channel for the river has been blasted
out of rock beneath
the line, while at Blomheller and Kjosfossen, the river follows
its natural
course deep in the mountain rock.
Arrival in Flåm will be around
noon. We will enjoy a smorgasbord lunch
buffet at Furukroa Restaurant before we depart on our cruise.
Our boat
leaves the Aurlandsfjord and runs along the Nærøyfjord
to Gudvangen. Massive
snow-capped peaks, of up to 5,900 feet, will take your breath
away!
From Gudvangen, the journey continues
by bus through the Nærøyfjord valley
up Stalheimskleivane to the Stalheim Turisthotell. The views
from here are
spectacular. After a short stop, we continue along the Oppheim
Lake, through
Vinje to Voss. At Voss, we catch the train for a short trip back
to Bergen.
Transfer to the hotel. Dinner on your own.
Overnight: Bergen, Augustin Hotel
Thursday, July 6 (B)
BERGEN-GARNES RAILWAY MUSEUM COASTAL STEAMER
Our local guide will meet us this morning for a walking tour
of the
fascinating city of Bergen. The tour will include visits to:
Mariakirken
(St. Mary's Church); Bryggen, the enchanting walkway on the harbor;
the fish
market; and Håkonshallen & Rosenkrantztårnet,
a royal hall and tower damaged
by the explosion of a German ammunition ship in 1944 and restored
by 1961.
There's time for shopping and lunch on your own.
In the afternoon, our motor coach will
be waiting to take us to Garnes. At
Garnes we will visit the Norway Heritage Trains Museum, the café
and the
souvenir shop followed by a trip by nostalgic train. On our last
Society
tour to Scandinavia, this was a highlight.
Our motor coach will then pick us up
and take us back to Bergen, where we
will transfer to the pier to board the Norwegian Coastal Steamer,
the M/S
Nordkapp, for our coastal voyage.
The ship departs at 8 p.m. on a journey
some say is so beautiful, the
passengers never want to go to sleep. The ship takes you through
narrow
channels dwarfed by towering mountains, past quiet farms tucked
along green
hillsides and to colorful fishing villages.
Enjoy dinner on your own, strolling the
decks and just taking in the clear
air. You might just want to relax on the deck chairs or in the
glass-enclosed panorama lounge, soaking in the beauty all night!
We have
reserved cabins for you, however, with two lower berths, ensuite
bathrooms
with hair dryers and heated floors, a writing desk and closet.
Overnight: on board MS Nordkapp
Friday, July 7 (B)
ARRIVE ÅLESUND - OPTIONAL GEIRANGER FJORD CRUISE
During the night, we'll slip past a long stretch of West Norway's
coast
before waking in Stadthavet. Enjoy breakfast on board the ship.
After
Torvik we approach the coastal town of Ålesund, with its
beautiful cliffside
location. This is where we will be staying tonight, but not before
an
optional excursion to Geiranger.
According to Fodor's guide to Norway,
Geiranger is "the ultimate fjord,
Norway at its most dramatic, with the finest sightseeing in the
wildest
nature compressed into a relatively small area." Mountains
surrounding the
fjord rise 6,600 ft. above sea level, and the best-known attraction
of the
fjord are its waterfalls-the Seven Sisters, the Bridal Veil,
and the Suitor.
We arrive back in Ålesund and disembark
the ship at 5:15 p.m. We will be
transferred to our hotel. Dinner is on your own-choose from one
of the many
wonderful seafood restaurants nearby.
Overnight: Ålesund, Bryggen Comfort Hotel
Saturday, July 8 (B, D)
ÅLESUND RAUMA LINE DOVRE LINE AND TRONDHEIM
This morning we will tour Ålesund-a commercial and industrial
capital with a
population of 36,000. With its charming winding streets, Ålesund
is a
delight to explore on foot. The city boasts one of the largest
export
harbors in the world for "klippfish" (split, dried
and salted cod) and a
bustling, picturesque fishing port along the old harbor where
you can buy
fresh fish and prawns.
Ålesund was almost completely destroyed
by fire in 1904, leaving 10,000
people homeless. Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, who often vacationed
there,
led a miraculous rebuilding of the city that combined the German
Art Nouveau
with Viking roots. This filled the city with turrets and curlicues,
dragon
heads and more. Little has changed since then save for a few
buildings
painted in pastels.
Our next adventure is one of the most
scenic trips in the world - one most
highly recommended by your guide, Dr. Perl. First we travel by
motorcoach to
Andalsnes, followed by a short train ride to Dombås. This
is the famous
Rauma Line, which Dr. Perl says must be included on any rail
tour to Norway.
As the authors of the Eurail Guide put it: "It is one of
the 5 greatest
scenic rides in Europe...W e would enjoy riding Rauma Line every
day of our
lives."
A few sights: the 6,076-foot-high Romsdalshorn
mountain, one of Norway's
most beautiful; one of Europe's most magnificent rock formations
Trolveggen (Trolls' Wall) a cliff crowned by jagged peaks
which is the
highest vertical rock wall in Europe; the Vermafosse, a 1,247-foot-high
waterfall; the Kylling bridge, the largest single construction
on the Rauma
Line, with its rough-hewn stone rising 194 feet above the river
bed.
In Dombås, we will switch trains,
bound for Trondheim on The Dovre line.
From Dombås, the train makes a quick ascent up into the
high mountains,
climbing a total of 961 feet over 11 miles.
As the train travels north, it passes
over the Dovre mountains and through
Norway's first national park, Fokstumyra, known for its beautiful
flowers.
Hjerkinn station marks the entrance to the Folldal valley, a
training base
for Norwegian armed forces. Just north of the station, the line
passes its
highest point-1,025 feet above sea level, offering an exquisite
panorama
view of the mountains to the west. Hopefully, we'll catch a glimpse
of the
Dovrefjell Mountains' rich wildlife, including reindeer, elk,
and musk ox.
We next plunge into the narrow Drivdal
valley, where we will follow the
Driva river and travel through several long tunnels. At the bottom
of the
valley, we pass several slate quarries and stop at the farming
village of
Oppdal. We ride along the river Guala, a famous salmon river,
before coming
to Trondheim.
As it approaches Trondheim, the train
provides wonderful views of Norway's
third largest city. Look for the Nidarosdomen Cathedral, the
most
impressive structure in Scandinavia.
Transfer from the train to the hotel, where we will enjoy dinner tonight.
Overnight: Trondheim, Brittannia Hotel
Sunday, July 9 (B)
TRONDHEIM - STOCKHOLM, NEW SIGNATUR OVERNIGHT TRAIN
After breakfast, you will have free time to explore Trondheim
on your own.
The city is located at the mouth of the Nid River and offers
plenty of
interesting sites. You may want to visit The Tramway Museum,
the
Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum (Decorative Arts Museum) with
its
beautiful Tiffany windows, or see the crown jewels housed in
the cathedral.
There's also the fish market near the water, offering a variety
of seafood,
and a Maritime Museum nearby.
Whatever you decide to do, remember to
be back at the hotel by 3 p.m. We
will join back up as a group and transfer to the train station
for our
overnight trip to Stockholm in your private compartment.
Relax and rest on this journey across
the beautiful northern countryside of
Sweden in our double compartments on the new Signatur overnight
service
between Trondheim and Stockholm.
Overnight: on board
Monday, July 10 (B, D)
STOCKHOLM
You will awake in Stockholm, Sweden's beautiful capital. After
transferring
to the hotel, we will have breakfast together and check into
our rooms. We
will enjoy a morning city tour with our local guide, including
a visit to
City Hall, site of the annual Nobel Dinner each December 10 and
the Vasa
Museum, a museum which captivated Society members in 1998.
The museum exhibits the world's oldest
restored warship, The Royal Warship
Vasa. The ship capsized on her maiden voyage in 1628 and was
salvaged 333
years later from the bottom of the sea. The only way to keep
the ship from
dissolving into dust is to keep it in the state in which it has
been most of
its life - totally wet.
Our motor coach will bring us back to
our hotel. Enjoy the afternoon at
leisure-enjoy the city's subways and streetcars. We will enjoy
dinner
together tonight at the hotel.
Overnight: Stockholm, First Hotel Reisen
Tuesday, July 11 (B)
STOCKHOLM; SWEDISH RAILWAY MUSEUM,
UPPSALA LENNA NARROW-GAUGE RAILROAD
Today choose your pleasure two rail activities north of
the city or a
variety of attractions in Stockholm.
You may decide to stay in Stockholm to
use your 24-hour Stockholm City card,
good for most city transportation and discounts to many attractions.
Some
suggestions: a boat trip in the archipelago or a tour of Stockholm's
waterways; a visit to Skansen, an open-air museum; or, for a
panoramic view
of the city, head to City Hall) and go to the top of the 348-foot
tower
(most can be done by elevator).
Alternatively, you may choose to venture
outside of Stockholm to a
rail-lovers' attraction that is not to be missed. Dr. Perl will
lead this
group. Transfer to the train station and travel about one hour
north of
Stockholm to Gävle, home of The Swedish Railway Museum.
The Museum has one
of the world's finest collections of locomotives and carriages,
together
with facts and articles about Sweden's railway history. We will
enjoy a
guided tour.
Later, we will transfer back to the train
station for a short hop south, to
Uppsala, 40 miles north of Stockholm. No other town in Sweden
has such a
long recorded history as Uppsala. As far back as the sixth century,
it was
the political and religious center of the expanding Swedish kingdom.
Now
Uppsala is a university town, surrounded by a great deal of Swedish
history.
It is also the home of the Uppsala-Lenna
Jernvag Railroad, which runs for
about 19 miles on narrow-gauge tracks. The museum railway has
six steam
engines; two are restored and in full running condition. A third
steam
engine, Thor, has been restored over the last five years and
is now
complete. The Stockholm-Roslagens Railways Preservation Society
runs trains
on this line. It is the oldest of all 891-mm railways in the
region, built
to provide the ironworks in Lenna with a needed connection to
the standard
gauge network. It opened in 1876.
After these attractions, return to Stockholm
by rail. Transfer from the
station on your own. Dinner and the rest of the evening on your
own.
Overnight: Stockholm, First Hotel Reisen
Wednesday, July 12 (B)
X2000 STOCKHOLM - COPENHAGEN
This morning we will transfer to the station and board the X2000
high-speed
train that will take us southwest toward Denmark. Our final destination
is
Copenhagen, but first we stop in Malmö. Although the region
of Malmö is
part of Sweden, many residents of the area think of themselves
as more
Danish than Swedish. The two nations, which have a rather unpleasant
history, are now being linked by the Oresunds Fixed Link.
The new 9.5-mile, $2 billion tunnel and
bridge connection will be completed
and opened just in time for us-July 1st, 2000. The four-lane
highway and
dual-track railroad will make the travel time from Malmö
to Copenhagen a
mere 11 minutes. The bridge/tunnel will finally link Sweden to
the rest of
Europe and make it easier for residents of Malmö to visit
their "homeland"
of Denmark.
After this exciting trip, we arrive in
the cozy city of Copenhagen and
transfer to the hotel. Dinner will be on your own.
Overnight: Copenhagen, Copenhagen Admiral Hotel
Thursday, July 13 (B, D)
COPENHAGEN
After breakfast at the hotel, we will meet our local guide for
a tour of
Copenhagen, a cosmopolitan city, the liveliest in Scandinavia.
This capital
city has few skyscrapers and is relatively calm, but there is
much to see
and do. We will see the historic Stock Exchange, believed to
be the oldest
still in use; the Little Mermaid statue; Amalienborg Palace;
the royal
residence; and the Nyhavn area, our hotel's waterfront neighborhood
built
300 years ago. Once the tour ends, you will be free to explore
Copenhagen on
your own. For those in search of urban exotica, Dr. Perl will
lead an
expedition to the alternative-lifestyle commune of Christiana.
A
self-governing commune of over 1,000 people founded by squatters
on an
abandoned military base, Christiana is a bohemian haven of counter-culture.
Like Greenwich Village in the 50s and Haight-Ashbury in the 60s,
anything
goes in
Christiana- except for cars. The inhabitants banned cars, creating
one of
Europe's earliest car-free urban areas.
Those in search of more conventional
attractions using the Copenhagen card
for unlimited travel on buses, the new metro, and suburban trains
may want
to visit Christiansborg Castle-surrounded by canals on three
sides and the
place where the queen officially receives guests-or Helligåndskirken,
one of
the oldest churches in the city (founded in the fourteenth century).
The
National Museum is one of the best in Europe. The Resistanace
Museum offers
moving displays about the heroic Danish resistance movement,
which saved
7,000 Jews from the Nazis. Also, the Royal Porcelain Factory
offers a
fascinating tour.
Make sure you are back at the hotel by
dinner time! We will enjoy our
farewell dinner at wonderful Tivoli Gardens. Tivoli is Copenhagen's
best-known attraction, with a pantomime theater, open-air stage,
24
restaurants, and frequent outdoor concerts. Fantastic flower
exhibits color
the lush gardens and float on the swan-filled ponds. At night,
100,000
colored lanterns illuminate the Chinese
pagoda and the main fountain. Dinner will be served with wine
as we toast
yet another Society tour to a close.
Overnight: Copenhagen, Copenhagen Admiral Hotel
Friday, July 14
Departure for U.S.A.
Today, we say good-bye until we meet again! Transfer to Copenhagen
Airport
on your own for the flight back to the United States or extend
your stay.
Land arrangements for the
13-day tour:
SAVE $200 per person by booking before
December 30, 1999
$3,455 per person, double occupancy
$340 single supplement
After December 30, add $200 per person
$3,655 per person, double occupancy
$340 single supplement
Rail Passes:
Scan-Rail, good for 10 days of travel in one month, first class,
$400 per
person
Seniors (60 years and over) $356 per person
These are the 1999 rail prices, please call to verify 2000 rates.
* Please note: the above tour prices
are for Society of International
Railway Travelers members and one guest only. Non-members pay
$50 per person
more. Please inquire about Society membership if you are not
now a member!
Included in this tour:
*9 nights accommodation first
class, centrally located hotels with ensuite facilities
*One night aboard the Coastal Steamer M/V Polarlys in
cabin with ensuite bath
*One night aboard new Signatur service, double compartment,
Trondheim to Stockholm
*Welcome dinner with wine at the hotel, July 3
*Farewell dinner at Tivoli Gardens, including 2 glasses
of wine, July 13
*Table d'hôte meals as indicated: B=breakfast, L=lunch,
D=dinner
*City tours in Oslo, Ålesund, Stockholm, and Copenhagen
with local,
*English-speaking guides
*Walking tour of Bergen with local, English-speaking guide
*24-hour cards for Oslo, Stockholm, and Copenhagen
*Visit to the Norway Heritage Trains Museum in Garnes,
entrance fee, guide, and ride on nostalgic train
*Bus transfer, Ålesund to Andalsnes
*Visit to Vasa Ship Museum
*Visit to Swedish Railway Museum in Gävle with guide,
transfers
*Journey on the Uppsala-Lenna Jernvag Railroad
*Entrance fee to Tivoli Gardens
*Seat reservations on board trains (where available),
all first class (where available).
Includes all necessary supplements for special trains.
*Drivers and guides' salaries and expenses
*Luggage handling from hotel to hotel starting in Oslo
hotel to hotel in
*Copenhagen. Includes porterage at hotels, piers and train
stations of one suitcase per person
*All taxes and tourist levies on included elements of
tour
*Gratuities to local sightseeing guides and drivers involved
in handling luggage on
and off the motorcoach. All gratuities for all included meals.
*Full-time tour escort from arrival Oslo, until departure
Copenhagen
*All transfers by private motorcoach as listed in itinerary
Not included: Transatlantic
airfare; Sightseeing, entrance and meals not
scheduled in itinerary; items of a personal nature, including
phone calls,
room service, passport fees, meals other than those listed on
the itinerary,
beverages and laundry, excess baggage fees, airport departure
taxes, and any
other items not specifically stated; gratuity to tour escort.
(This, of
course, is entirely optional and at your discretion.); optional
Geiranger
Fjord cruise.
Terms and Conditions
How to Book: Call
our tour desk at 1-800-IRT-4881 to make a reservation.
A
deposit of 15% of the total trip cost is required. Deposits can
be made by
check or credit card (Mastercard, Visa, or Discover). Reservations
are on a
first-come, first-serve basis. Final payment is made by check
90 days
before departure.
Passport: A
valid passport is required, valid for 6 months after your
return.
Cancellations: Notice
of cancellations must be received by this office in
writing before 90 days prior to departure and are subject to
a $250 per
person administrative fee. Final payment is due 90 days before
the trip.
Cancellations occurring within 90 days prior to the trip are
nonrefundable
unless the space is resold. In the event the space is resold,
a refund,
equal to the resale value of the space, is made after deduction
of the $250
per person administrative fee and applicable airline cancellation
penalties.
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. No
refund for airline tickets once issued.
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 send you a brochure upon confirmation of your reservation.
Please
note: in order to waive medical pre-existing conditions clauses
in the tour
insurance, insurance must be post-marked within 10 days of deposit.
Minimum Participants: This tour must have at least 15 passengers in
order to
qualify for special group rates.
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: Passport and
visa fees; personal expenses such as
laundry; telephone calls; meals and alcoholic beverages not listed
in the
included section; optional sightseeing excursions; services other
than those
specifically mentioned in the included section; transfers and
baggage
handling on the day of arrival and departure; accident; sickness,
trip
cancellation and baggage insurance; and excess baggage charges
on aircraft.
Please note: our tours officially begin at the first hotel. The
tour does
not include porterage from the airport to the first hotel; or
from the last
hotel to the airport. With IRT members coming and leaving at
so many
different times, this is impossible to arrange on a group basis.
However, if
you would like the IRT tour desk to arrange a private car and
driver for you
at additional cost, please notify IRT tour director at time of
booking.
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 transportation systems
of each country
we visit.
Baggage: Porterage
is limited to one large bag per person. Please note that
because of the differing times of arriving and departing flights,
porterage
to and from the airport to and from the first and last hotels
is not
included. 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 has 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.
IRT and HPC reserves the right to decline
to accept or retain any person as
a tour member 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. Refunds will be
made in
accordance with the cancellation policy listed above. 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.
Rates: Prices
quoted are based on fares in effect at the time of printing
and are subject to change prior to departure. Upon payment of
a deposit,
tour participants indicate acceptance of the above terms and
conditions.
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 your tour leader. 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). We will not accept liability for
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
send me a free sample copy of
The International Railway Traveler®
Send us e-mail with comments or questions