Terms and Conditions for Cultural Crossroads Tours

What Is Included in the Tour Price

Expertise of a Study Leader, Tour Manager, and local guides throughout the tour.
All accommodations (based on double occupancy).
Meals as indicated in the itinerary.
All sightseeing, visits and entry fees as noted in each itinerary.
Baggage handling for one bag plus one carry-on bag per person.
Tips and gratuities to the leader, driver and guide, unless otherwise noted.
All on-tour transportation, unless otherwise noted.
Pre-tour information.

What Is Not Included in the Tour Price

Passport fees, visas, and visa photos as required.
Personal items such as wines, liquors, a-la-carte orders, meals other than specified.
Room service and valet/laundry service.
Expenses incurred by our tour operators in making individual travel arrangements inconjunction with the tour.
Other items not specifically mentioned as included.
Airline taxes and departure fees, which are subject to change.
Airport arrival and departure transfers when purchasing a land-only package.

Registration

Space is reserved in the order of receipt of deposits by check and all payments must be made by check, wire transfer or bank check. We no longer accept credit cards
To place a request for a reservation by phone, please call 1-877-479-7040, Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Time).
Sending a check, does not guarantee space on a tour. You will be notified of your status when your request has been received and processed.
Please note: No new registrations can be accepted within 30 to 90 days of the tour, depending on the tour.
To complete your request, the following is necessary:

Payments

Deposit of $1000 per person, per tour, payable by check to Cultural Crossroads to reserve a space on a tour program. Deposits are applied to payment of the program price.
Please note: Balance due upon invoicing 90 days prior to the program. If payment is not received by 90 days prior to departure, your place cannot be guaranteed on the tour.

Late Registration

Any registration received within 90 days of departure is considered a “late registration” and must be subject to special confirmation. Payment in full must be made immediately by credit card or by check and sent by overnight mail to Cultural Crossroads before confirmation is possible.
Once confirmed, cancellation penalties apply as set forth below. If confirmation is not possible, all payments made will be refunded in full.
Late registration confirmation procedures apply to any participant who is transferred from the wait list to the program within the designated late registration period for that program.
For additional information, please call Cultural Crossroads at 1-877-479-7040 weekdays 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) or e-mail [email protected]

A Note About Costs

Tour costs are based upon current tariffs, currency values, and on the basis of a minimum number of participants. While we will do everything possible to maintain the listed prices, they are subject to change. Should actual enrollments fall significantly below minimum numbers, a surcharge may be added. Due to fluctuations in oil prices, a fuel surcharge may be added to your tour fee (e.g. internal flights, cruises, etc.). Details and costs will be advised prior to departure.

Wait List

If the program(s) of your choice are fully subscribed, you will be placed on a wait list. If you choose to withdraw from the wait list, please notify us.
Please note that we are unable to keep you apprised of your status on the wait list. We will call you only if a space becomes available, but you are welcome to call us at your convenience to inquire about your status at 1-877-479-7040.

Cancellation and Refund Policy*

Per person cancellation fees are based on date of notice to Cultural Crossroads (subsequent written notice is required). The cancellation policy varies by tour, but the general policy is:
Cancellations within 14 days of booking (if not within final payment date): full refund.
Cancellations after 14 days of booking: $1000 retained (entire deposit).
Final payment due: 90 days before departure.
Cancellations made less than 90 days prior to departure: no refund.
Cancellation by Cultural Crossroads: full refund.
No refund for unused portions of the tour, including but not limited to, missed meals, hotel nights, sightseeing, or changes in arrival or departure..
Please understand that there will be no exceptions to our cancellation policy.

Air Service

Individual Arrivals and Group Transfers
Over the years, Cultural Crossroads travelers have become more independent, often making their own travel arrangements to meet the tour group. Therefore, we no longer feature a designated group flight on our tours. However, on most tours, transportation from the arrival airport to the hotel is included in your tour cost if you arrive in time to meet the scheduled group transfer.

Air Tickets Purchased Independently of the Tour
We urge you to check airline cancellation penalties before purchasing airline tickets since international departure times and flights can change. Tours also can be cancelled due to low enrollments. Cultural Crossroads will not accept liability for cancellation penalties related to domestic or international airline tickets purchased independently in conjunction with a tour.

Travel Insurance

Cultural Crossroads tours do not include travelers insurance, but does provide a link to a site where you can shop for the best prices. If unexpected circumstances should arise and you must cancel or interrupt your trip, we strongly urge you to consider buying travelers insurance, in addition to your own health insurance policy, along with coverage for emergency evacuation and worldwide emergency assistance service. Travel insurance provides help in many unexpected circumstances, such as loss, delay, or damage of baggage; a medical problem that may suddenly arise which causes you to cancel your trip; and medical costs outside the U.S. (most medical policies, including Medicare, do not provide full coverage for medical expenses incurred outside of the U.S.).

Physical and Medical Considerations

Please note that these tours require that participants be in good physical condition: you must be capable, without assistance, of walking a minimum of two miles over uneven terrain and of climbing stairs that may not have handrails. Participants should have sufficient stamina to keep pace with an active group of travelers on long days of touring. If you have any questions about your ability to participate in a tour, please call us at 1-877-479-7040.
Some tours have additional notes regarding physical and medical considerations, which are noted on the Tour Information link.

Itinerary or Program Modifications

Cultural Crossroads strives to improve tour itineraries and their features. If improvements can be made, or unforeseen circumstances beyond our control make changes necessary, we reserve the right to vary itineraries and to substitute hotels. Every effort will be made to carry out the program as planned but alterations may still occur after the final itineraries are sent. Please note that weather conditions may force changes to the advertised sailing schedule. The ship’s captain has the authority to change the ship’s schedule.

Accommodations

Cultural Crossroads chooses hotels based on a combination of their location, service, atmosphere and price. On adventure tours and programs in out-of-the-way places, best-available hotels are used. Program prices are based on two persons sharing a room with a bath or shower.

Singles and Roommates

Hotel rooms are always reserved for single travelers; however, the number of single rooms available on a tour may be limited. Therefore we recommend that you register early. Please note that a single supplement will apply for a single room. If you are traveling alone and wish to share a room, we will do our best to find someone of the same gender and smoking preference to share with you. If you are matched with a non-smoking roommate, it is mutually agreed that you cannot smoke in your hotel room. When a roommate cannot be found, the single supplement will be charged.

Children

Cultural Crossroads tours are generally for those over the age of 18. Customized tour may be made for families, which include children. Children must pay full price unless otherwise noted, and a parent or guardian must accompany those under 18.

Preparing for Your Journey

Prior to departure, you will receive a letter containing both tour specific and general tour information to help you prepare for your travel experience.
The letter will include such information as:

Passport and visa information
Weather, clothing, and packing suggestions
A suggested reading list
General information about the countries you will visit, e.g. the food, customs, medical precautions and currency.
Final Itinerary
Participant List
Additional Information
Special Travel Arrangements
If you wish to make pre or post travel arrangements, please give us a call at 1-877-479-7040 and we will be happy to assist you.

Photography

Participants on tour may be photographed for promotional purposes of Cultural Crossroads. Photographs may be printed in publications and posted on websites to promote Cultural Crossroads tours. Travelers who prefer that their image not be used must advise the tour manager at the beginning of the tour.

Smoking Policy

For the comfort of all participants, we ask that there be no smoking during all group activities, including excursions and meals.

RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT AND LIABILITY DISCLAIMER

Read Carefully: Responsibility Statement and Liability Disclaimer
Cultural Crossroads tours are managed by operators hired as independent contractors. The use of operators allows Cultural Crossroads to offer its travelers a wide array of educational travel opportunities. The operators act only as an agent by making arrangements for transportation, accommodations, and other services. Neither the Cultural Crossroads nor the operators shall be held liable for personal injury, death, property damage or accident, delay or irregularity arising out of any act or omission of these operators. Cultural Crossroads and the operators, reserve the right, without penalty, to make changes in the published itinerary whenever, in their judgment, conditions warrant, or if they deem it necessary for the comfort, convenience, or safety of tour participants.
Cultural Crossroads and the operators also reserve the right, without penalty, to withdraw the tour announced, to decline to accept any person as a participant in a tour, or to require any participant to withdraw from the tour at any time, when such action is determined by tour staff to be in the best interests of the health, safety or general welfare of the tour group or the individual participant, subject only to the requirement that the recoverable portion of the total amount paid that corresponds to the cost of unused services and accommodations be refunded, if any. Participants are encouraged to purchase travel insurance for airline tickets to avoid airline cancellation penalties if a tour is canceled or otherwise modified. Cultural Crossroads and the operators accept no liability for the purchase of non-refundable airline tickets to the tour departure city and return. Baggage and personal effects are at all times the sole responsibility of the participant. Dates, schedules, program details, and costs, although provided in good faith based on information available at the time of publication of the brochure or catalog, are subject to change and revision.

AS A CONDITION OF ACCEPTANCE OF ANY APPLICATION, EACH APPLICANT MUST AGREE TO THE STATEMENT SET FORTH BELOW:

The undersigned has read carefully the Responsibility Statement and Liability Disclaimer set forth above, the schedule of activities for this tour, as well as the terms and conditions of application and participation as set forth in the tour brochure(s), and recognizes and accepts any risk associated with the tour and the conditions, including the refund policy, set forth in the tour brochure(s). The undersigned further acknowledges that there are many risks and uncertainties inherent in any travel tour, including but not limited to the hazards of various modes of transportation, forces of nature, acts or omissions of foreign governments, terrorism, war or insurrection, theft, illness, and damage to person or property due to the negligent acts or omissions of tour staff or others. In consideration of, and as part payment for, the right to participate in the tour, the undersigned, on behalf of himself, his dependents, heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, agrees to release the Cultural Crossroads, its Regents, officers, employees, representatives or agents, the United States, and the tour operator and its officers, employees and agents, from liability for personal injury, death, property damage or loss suffered by any person in connection with this tour, even if caused by the negligence (but not the reckless, willful, or fraudulent conduct) of tour staff or other related persons or entities. In addition, by registering for this tour, the applicant certifies that he or she is mentally and physically capable of full participation in this tour. By registering for a Cultural Crossroads tour, the participant agrees to the Responsibility Statement and Liability Disclaimer and the Terms and Conditions herein.