Traveling with Voyages of Discovery (hereinafter called “the company”) is one of the world’s best vacation values. Your cruise fare includes all meals and entertainment on board ship, gala Captain’s cocktail parties, port charges, detailed port briefings, and, where applicable, local air transportation, hotel stays and transfers between airport, hotel and ship. Not included, however, are items of a personal nature including gratuities, optional shore excursions, onboard shopping and photographs, meals ashore, beverages, laundry, dry cleaning, medical services, telephone, telefax, email/internet facilities, hair styling or massage. Also not included are government taxes, customs, immigration and airport security charges, and excess baggage charges imposed by airlines.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

The following provisions apply to the booking of your cruise and are the terms and conditions that apply upon the acceptance of your deposit by the company. They also cover the company’s air travel arrangements made as part of your cruise and the land tour packages with cruises offered by the company. This is neither an offer of, nor 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 company’s contract of carriage (cruise ticket), a copy of which may be obtained from your travel agent or Voyages of Discovery. The provisions herein contain important information on cancellation by the passenger or by the company, changes to the itinerary, the limitations and exclusions of liability on the part of the company 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 U.S. or Canada to book your cruise from this brochure. The terms and conditions that apply to residents of other countries are available on request. 

RESERVATIONS AND PAYMENTS

The per person, per cruise deposit required to secure your reservation is $500 and this must be received within 3 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, 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 contract of carriage and airline tickets (where applicable), approximately 30 days prior to sailing. Travel documents are issued only after final payment has been received by the company.

CANCELLATION POLICY

A full refund will be made when written notice of cancellation is received by the company 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: *Fare is defined as the cost of any cruise, land or air element purchased from the company. The penalty will be the percentage amount shown above or $1,000 per person, whichever is the greater.

Voluntary or involuntary termination by the passenger of a cruise 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 cancellation fees below.

119-90 days $500

89-60 days $1,000

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*

CHANGE CHARGES

Changing your itinerary after reservations have been made may have disadvantages. To cover administrative costs, a charge of $50 per person will be made each time you request a change in your travel arrangements between 59 and 30 days prior to sailing. 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 passenger’s expense. Any cancellation penalties imposed by the carrier will be deducted from your refund. Airline tickets cannot be changed on board ship. Change charges are not assessed for cabin upgrades or for the addition of services, unless air reservations are altered and/or travel documents must be reissued.

AIR TRANSPORTATION

The company 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 the company. Air transportation is based on scheduled, or the occasional charter service, and is subject to availability and change without notice. Air add-ons are also subject to change without notice. The company 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 the company’s air arrangements necessitate an overnight stay, we will only be responsible for hotel room accommodations and transfers. Air up-grades do not apply to all flight segments. If you choose to add additional hotel nights before or after your included cruise-tour hotel package, airport transfers will be forfeited.

Specific air routings will be determined approximately 30 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 the company’s air program is lost, the passenger is responsible for the cost of replacement. Airline tickets are refundable via Voyages of Discovery. The company will determine the amount of any refund due.  Flight delays do occur occasionally and both we and our suppliers will do our best to ensure your comfort in these circumstances. In some countries, local airport taxes cannot be included as part of your air ticket and must be paid locally by the passenger e.g. Santiago US$100, Buenos Aires US$18, Quito US$25, Nassau US$18, which are subject to change.  To avoid queues at the airport, if our local agents are able to obtain these on your behalf in advance, they will do so and the cost will be add to your final invoice or on board account.

You must check in at airports at least 2 hours before your flight is due to take off. If you do not check in on time, the airline may not allow you to board the flight. We cannot accept responsibility if such situations arise and, while we will do our best to arrange alternative transport, any resulting costs will be your responsibility.

INDEPENDENT AIR ARRANGEMENTS

The company 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 the company 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 contract of carriage 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.

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. However, the airlines may charge additional fees based on the size, weight, or number of pieces of baggage carried aboard their aircraft. Some carriers only allow 44 pounds per person.  Porterage is included at the pier on embarkation and disembarkation.  Please ensure your baggage is labeled with your name and cabin number, as your bags will be taken directly to your cabin. Hand baggage, travel documents, breakables, medicines, and valuables should be carried personally. The company strongly recommends baggage and medical insurance. The liability of the company for lost or damaged baggage commences only when the baggage arrives alongside the vessel and is strictly limited as provided in the contract of carriage.

SHORE EXCURSIONS

At the time of printing, the exact content and cost of the shore excursion program has not been finalized.  Details will be sent to you well before departure. Shore excursions may be booked in advance or on board, except the Machu Picchu excursion from Arica to Lima or vice versa which must be booked in advance. Shore excursions are subject to weather and shore conditions. It is in the sole judgement of the Captain of the Ship whether any shore excursions will operate from mv Discovery.

HOTELS, EXCURSIONS AND LAND TOURS

The land packages contained in this brochure can only be purchased in conjunction with Voyages of Discovery. The company reserves the right to assign your hotel based on pre-reserved space at hotels listed in the brochure. Hotels are determined by the cabin category purchased, and in most cases, rooms are not available until 3.00 pm on day of arrival.

Passengers booked in cabin categories G - O will be accommodated in first class hotels: passengers in categories A - F in deluxe or superior first class hotels. You can upgrade at supplementary cost, details on page 109. 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, the company 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.

RESPONSIBILITY

The responsibility of the company, operators of the mv Discovery, and of independent contractors, is strictly limited according to the terms and conditions set forth in the contract of carriage that you will receive prior to embarkation. Passengers are urged to read the contract of carriage carefully. A sample is available upon request and can be inspected at the company’s office at any time.  Transportation aboard ship is provided solely by the ship operator and pursuant to the contract of carriage.  The company reserves the right to decline to accept or retain any person as a passenger for any reason.  The company and the vessel’s Master have 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 the vessel can provide. In this case, no refund of monies paid will be made.  The company is not to be held responsible for any act, event or omission during the time passengers are not aboard the mv Discovery.  The company acts only as agent for the supplier of the other off-ship services such as airlines and other off-ship transportation carriers, shore excursions, meals, accommodations, air ambulance and shoreside physicians featured in this brochure.  Passengers agree not to hold the company, 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, the company shall have no liability to the 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. The company 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.

ITINERARY CHANGES AND CANCELLATIONS

The company reserves the right to cancel, advance or postpone any cruise at any time prior to the scheduled sailing date and is under no obligation, except in the event of cancellation when you will receive a full refund of any payments received. In addition, situations may arise which, in the opinion of the company, make it necessary to change itineraries or make substitutions or omissions, involving hotels, ports of call, restaurants, 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, the company does not assume responsibility or liability for any losses, inconvenience or expenses incurred by passengers as a result, except as detailed in the contract of carriage. The company is not required to make refunds once travel commences regardless of the reason for a passenger being unable to complete their travel. 

SHIP’S REGISTRY

The mv Discovery is registered in Bermuda.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

This information is subject to change without notice. If cost factors dictate the need for fare increases, the company may do so prior to departure and without notice. Fully paid or deposited passengers will be protected

Our aim is your complete enjoyment of the voyage and all our staff, ashore and afloat, together with the ship's crew will do their utmost to ensure this. The information given here is correct at the time of publishing, but is subject to change without notice. If you have any queries about your booking we will always be pleased to help you. Please feel free to telephone us on: (866)-623-2689