Crimean Express Tour Terms & Conditions How to Book: Call our tour desk at 1-800-478-4881 to make a reservation. A deposit of 15% of the total trip cost is required. There is a 3% surcharge for all payments made by credit card. Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis. Final payment is due by 90 days before departure by check. A signature is required for all deposits made by credit card. Passport: A valid passport is required, valid for six months after the end of your trip. Passengers should ensure that they obtain all the necessary documentation and visas prior to departure as IRT assumes no responsibility for passengers refused entry into a country for incorrect documentation and any repatriation charges will be the responsibility of the passenger. It is your responsibility to check your visas and air tickets to ensure that they have been issued for the correct dates and to advise us immediately if there is an error. Cancellations: Notice of cancellations must be received by this office in writing. The administrative fee may be applied to a future trip taken within 2005. Cancellation schedule: Before 120 days: $300 per person administrative fee 120-90 days: Loss of deposit 90 days to departure: 100% of tour cost Cancellations made within 90 days of departure are 100% non-refundable. 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: On all trips, we strongly recommend that all passengers protect themselves with tour insurance to cover costs in the event of cancellation. On this trip, it is required. Upon booking (or in advance upon request), we will send a brochure about Travelex tour interruption/cancellation insurance. We recommend purchasing coverage immediately upon booking. In order to cover pre-existing conditions or bankruptcy of any of the providers in this program, including your air, coverage must be purchased within 21 days of the initial trip deposit. Please note that you are responsible for adding to the value of your insurance and the length of time to protect coverage of your pre-existing conditions. Minimum Participants: This tour must have a minimum number of passengers in order to qualify for special group rates.  Prices: This tour price is based on currency exchange rates in effect at the date of printing, November 5, 2004. In the event of revaluation or devaluation of U.S. currency, the tour operator reserves the right to make adjustments. Price adjustments will be advised in writing prior to the final payment date.  Price does not include: Airfare; 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; accident; sickness, trip cancellation/interruption and baggage insurance; and excess baggage charges. It does not cover gratuities for your tour leader, which are optional and fully at your discretion. Extra charges: In order to provide extraordinary personal service, some extra charges may apply and some services may be subject to a service fee. If we are required to send final documents outside the continental U.S., an additional international shipping fee will apply (rates depend on destination). After your booking is confirmed and a deposit accepted, we understand changes in your travel plans may occur. We will make the first customization with no charge. All subsequent changes or customizations to your land or air program will accrue a charge of $75 per change or addition plus any fees charged by suppliers. Bookings within 90 days of departure require a $75 late booking fee. Changes or additions after 90 days before departure will be $100 per change if they are possible; in addition, the change may be subject to penalties from the supplier. For a complete list of service fees, please call our tour desk. Sample fees: air ticketing is $30 per ticket; online hotel booking is $30 per booking; completing an insurance refund request form (non Travelex) is $30. Exceptions: Pullman Club Members: All service fees are waived unless charged by a supplier. For information about the Pullman Club, please call 800-478-4881.  Baggage: Baggage and personal effects are taken at owner's risk throughout the trip and baggage insurance is strongly recommended. Please note that baggage limitations vary from country to country, depending on where The Society travels. Luggage space on this trip is limited to one larger bag and a carry-on. Most national and international airlines permit no more than 44 pounds per passenger and enforce this strictly. Private transfers and baggage handling to/from the airport on arrival and departure day will be offered at an additional charge. Medical: Any physical or mental condition that may require special attention must be reported in writing. All Society trips require some walking on the trains and during tours. You must let us know, for example, if you use a cane or need to bring a wheelchair so we can plan ahead to accommodate your needs. Passengers should check with their doctor before departure as to which inoculations are considered necessary or recommended for the area in which you will be traveling. Flexibility, a sense of humor and the ability to walk at least a mile a day will be essential components to the enjoyment of your trip. 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. Arrangements for the tours are made many months in advance and occasionally changes have to be made.  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 or 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, changes in the itinerary, 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.  When issued, the air tickets shall constitute the sole contract between the air company concerned and the purchaser of these tours and/or passenger. Please note that advertised air rates can change before ticketing. The airlines and other transportation companies concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission, or events during the time passengers are not on board their conveyances. By forwarding of deposit or final payment by either check or credit card, 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. Behavior: Passengers are expected to behave in a reasonable manner toward other passengers, IRT personnel and other persons with whom we have contact during our tour. If a passenger behaves, in the opinion of our tour leader, in a way likely to disrupt the enjoyment or endanger the safety of other passengers, the tour leader reserves the right to terminate your holiday arrangements, without notice. The passenger will have to make his own arrangements to return home. No refunds for the untraveled 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. Acceptance of terms: Upon payment of a deposit, by either check or credit card, tour participants indicate acceptance of all stated IRT and HPC terms and conditions. Optional Activities that may be Dangerous: Depending on the itinerary you have selected, optional activities furnished by independent suppliers will be available at some of the places you will visit. Some of these activities carry with them the inherent risk of serious personal injury. These activities include, but are not necessarily limited to: walking safaris; horseback /elephant back/camel safaris; canoe trips, white-water rafting and river cruises; hot-air balloon trips and gorilla-tracking on foot; locomotive foot-plate rides, cab rides or photo run-bys; helicopter rides scuba diving; shark diving; boat rides. You should be aware that your safety cannot be guaranteed. Should you elect to participate in such activities while you are on tour, you are of course, free to do so. However, you must understand that such participation will be at your own risk, and that The Society of International Railway Travelers, Inc. assumes no responsibility for your safety.  Complaints: The stated mission of The Society of International Railway Travelers is to offer the very best in rail travel around the globe for our members. However, if you have a complaint during your journey, please bring it to the attention to your tour leader as quickly as you can. Should the problem remain unsolved, please write to the Society at its main office at 1810 Sils Ave., Louisville, KY 40205. Our desire is to set things right. We cannot accept liability for any claims not made to us in writing within two months of completion of your journey. We also cannot tender any refunds for any reason outside the terms set forth above. All claims will be settled by arbitration in Louisville, Kentucky.  The Society of International Railway Travelers  1810 Sils Ave. Louisville, KY 40205,  Tel. 800-478-4881 / (502) 454-0277  Fax: (502) 458-2250 www.irtsociety.com  Click here to send us an e-mail

Please call us with questions, bookings:
800-478-4881
www.irtsociety.com

Future Tours Past Tours Back to Home Page

2005 Society Tours

Send us e-mail with comments or questions