TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THIS CRUISE
Royal Caribbean Booking Conditions
How do I make a reservation?
A non-refundable deposit must be made in order to reserve a stateroom and receive a written confirmation. A deposit is required confirm your reservation. Royal Caribbean reserves the right to require that the deposit be received by Royal Caribbean within seven (7) days of booking.
When is the balance due?
Final payment of the balance must be received at Royal Caribbean’s offices at least 90 days prior to the sailing date for the cruise. Holiday sailings require final payment 90 days prior to the sailing date for the cruise. The payment schedule for groups is different from that of individuals. You will usually receive cruise documents no later than 28 days before the start of your cruise/cruise tour.
How should I pay?
Payment should be made to your travel agent.
What does the cruise price include?
The price of your cruise vacation includes ship accommodation, ocean transportation, most meals, some beverages and most entertainment aboard the ship. All prices are per-person, based on double occupancy of the stateroom. The cruise vacation price does not include speciality restaurants, air transportation, transfers (except as noted), holiday insurance, tips or gratuities on board or ashore or items of personal nature,such as shore excursions, beverages, telephone calls, room service ashore, photographs - medical services, etc. These items may be purchased separately. Please note if you are taking consecutive cruises, there may be some duplication with regard to onboard programmes, meals and entertainment.
Will the price change?
Royal Caribbean International reserves the right to change, whether via an increase or decrease, any published rates, including cruise rates and airfare charges, without prior notice. We reserve the right to impose on any existing booking or new bookings (whether paid in full or not) a supplement for fuel or other matters without prior notice as provided in our Passenger Ticket Contract.
In addition, we reserve the right to pass through any third party imposed fuel or other surcharges, also without prior notice. The guest will remain liable for any applicable taxes, fees or surcharges that may be assessed by any governmental or quasi-governmental agencies. We reserve the right to include a fuel surcharge when making a booking. The value of the supplement will be confirmed to you at the time of making the booking with us. Royal Caribbean does not provide air transportation originating out of Australasia in connection with its cruise or cruisetour packages. Royal Caribbean may provide air transportation for flights originating in the United States or Canada. If you purchase your air transportation from Royal Caribbean (here in after an Air/Sea or Fly Cruise Package), Royal Caribbean reserves the right to reassess the airfare component of any flight charges as supplied by Royal Caribbean to a customer covering any fuel surcharge, security or other increases as passed onto Royal Caribbean. All deposited bookings remain, until fully paid to Royal Caribbean International, subject to currency fluctuation and adjustments without notice when quoted in local currencies against the US dollar.
We guarantee that we will not increase the price of your confirmed cruise once we received full payment of the cruise price. However, we may increase or decrease the prices of unsold cruises at any time. From time to time we may release special offers on some cruises. If you wish to change your booking to take advantage of these offers then you will have to cancel your existing booking, whereupon our standard cancellation policy will apply.
Should I have travel insurance?
All international guests should have fully comprehensive travel insurance valid from the date of deposit being made. We suggest you discuss with your travel agent the various insurance policies that are available. Policies can be purchased that provide protection in the event of trip cancellation, interruption, personal illness, injury, medical fees or damage to property. Verification of your travel insurance policy may be required by Royal Caribbean International.
If I have to cancel my cruise vacation, will I receive a refund?
You will receive a refund if you notify us in writing 70 days (60 days for 1 to 5 night cruises) prior to your sailing date. The cancellation date applies from the date your written notice of cancellation is received in our office from your travel agent. Consult your travel agent concerning cancellation charges for single, third and fourth guests, and Hotel Packages. In addition, the cancellation charges for groups vary from those for individuals and must be referred to separately. No refunds will be made if you don’t show up for your cruise or if you interrupt or cancel your vacation once it has begun. Please note unused travel vouchers cannot be refunded.
Charges for cancellation (DOUBLE OCCUPANCY)
DAYS PRIOR TO SAILING DATE CHARGES PER PERSON
151 or more days No charge
150 – 71 days = Deposit amount
70 – 46 days = 25% of total price
45 - 31 days = 50% of fare
30 - 15 days = 75% of fare
14 days or less No refund
HOLIDAY SAILINGS - Christmas, New Year & Easter
151 or more days No charge
150 – 91 days = Deposit amount
90 – 61 days = 25% of total price
60 - 41 days = 50% of fare
40 - 25 days = 75% of fare
24 days or less No refund
What if I need to make Name Changes to my booking?
If tickets HAVE NOT been issued:
Correction of spelling or abbreviation (eg: Kaite to Katie or Bob to Robert) = $25.
Replacement of guest or full correction of surname or first name= $75.00
If tickets HAVE been issued:
Correction of spelling or abbreviation (eg: Kaite to Katie or Bob to Robert) = $81.00
Replacement of guest or full correction of surname or first name = $81.00
At least one original passenger must stay in the booking
What travel documents and identification do I need?
Before leaving home, please take a few minutes to familiarise yourself with the required travel documents you will be asked to provide prior to boarding the ship. It is the sole responsibility of the guest to identify all travel, inoculation and health requirements, and to obtain and have available when necessary the appropriate valid travel documents such as passports, visas and inoculation documents required for boarding the ship and entry into the countries visited on your cruise. For your protection, we recommend that your passport expiration date not occur within six (6) months of the voyage termination date. Your passport will be held by the Purser’s Office, for Customs & Immigration requirements, and returned to you at the end of your cruise. Non-U.S. citizens: Valid passports and visas (when needed) are required. Visas/Inoculations: Please check with a travel agent, embassies, consulates, your physician or local health department to determine current travel and health documentary requirements. Guests who do not possess the proper documentation may be prevented from boarding the flight or ship, disembarking or entering a country, and may be subject to fines. If as a result of your lack of proper documentation, a fine or other cost is incurred by Royal Caribbean International, you agree to indemnify Royal Caribbean International for such expenses. No refunds will be given to individuals who fail to bring proper documentation. All guests intending to travel to the USA from the 26th October 2005 on the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) will be required to present a valid Machine Readable Passport. In addition, children travelling on VWP will no longer be eligible to travel to the USA on a parent’s passport and will be required to hold their own valid Machine Readable Passport.
What information must I provide to you and why?
With effect from 01 January 2003, the legislation requires us to pass onto the US Immigration Authorities, or other authorised bodies certain personal and other details relating to our passengers. You must provide the relevant details at the time of booking your cruise, or no later than 70 days prior to your departure, whichever is the later. This information includes certain personal information, passport, emergency contact, hotel/ residential address while in USA and insurance details. We will inform you at the time of booking, or as soon as we become aware, of the exact details required. Please visit our website at must provide their own collapsible wheelchair and may find certain areas of the ship inaccessible. Certain conditions (for example, use of tenders) may prevent guests with wheelchairs from going ashore at certain ports of call. Royal Caribbean International will not accept guests who have entered their 24th week of pregnancy by the beginning of, or at any time during their cruise vacation. Guests affected by a disability or medical condition must be self-sufficient or travel with someone who can provide all necessary assistance. We regret we must reserve the right to refuse to allow anyone to travel who, in our reasonable opinion, is physically or mentally unfit to travel or will or may require care beyond that which any travelling companion or we ourselves can reasonably provide.
What should I pack?
Days onboard are casual, and to be most comfortable, we suggest packing the following:
• Jeans or slacks.
• Several sweaters, a jacket, or windbreaker.
• Low-heeled shoes for deck activities or walking.
• Also, don’t forget your camera, binoculars and a swimsuit! For evening wear, count on three basic types of attire.
• Casual: dresses or slacks and blouses for women; sport shirts and trousers for men
• Smart casual: dresses or pantsuits for women; jackets for men.
• Formal: cocktail dresses for women; suits or jacket and tie, or tuxedos for men.
Tuxedo rental service is available through Royal Caribbean. Ashore, you’ll need comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots. On your shore excursions, all destinations are casual. Please hand-carry all valuables, medication and travel documents. If you are cruising to Alaska, Canada, New England or Europe: Nights on deck can be cool, so bring sweaters, jackets and long pants. You may also want to bring a raincoat, hiking shoes, and a travel umbrella. And don’t forget your swimsuit: It may be cooler outside, but its always warm inside our glass-enclosed Solarium.
GENERAL INFORMATION
If you are unable to locate your entire checked luggage or notice thatthe details requested, both fully and accurately, you may not be your luggage has been damaged, you should notify your air carrierpermitted to board your cruise ship and/or outward and/or return flight. before leaving the airport by:
Filing a damaged or missing luggage claim (Property Irregularity Report), your airline will provide you with a baggage claim ID; Notify your air carrier that you are a cruise line guest and the name of the ship you’re sailing on; Provide them with a copy of your Travel Itinerary and the cruise line phone numbers, so that they can ascertain where the ship will be berthed at each port of call.
Enquire from your airline on your entitlements in the case of lost luggage. Upon boarding the ship, notify our Guest Relations Desk of your delayed luggage situation.
How do I find out about and pay for shore excursions?
Please book your excursions as soon as possible since some shore excursions can accommodate only a limited number of participants. Tours are sold on a first-come, first-served basis and we recommend that you purchase them in advance of your cruise in order to avoid disappointment. Please visit www.royalcaribbean.com for online booking details. Onboard, you may purchase tours through the interactive TV system in your stateroom (if applicable), by booking form dropped at the front desk or directly at the Shore Excursion Office during the hours advertised in the ship’s daily program. Unused shore excursions are non-refundable once booked. Royal Caribbean International is not responsible for any injuries or losses sustained whilst guests are ashore, whether on organised excursions or otherwise.
Note: During local or national holidays, certain facilities such as museums, sightseeing tours and shopping may be limited.
What about guests with special needs and diets?
Royal Caribbean International can accommodate the following special diets onboard: vegetarian, diabetic, low-fat, low-sodium, low-cholesterol diets. Other special diets such as kosher meals, gluten-free and lactose-free may be available upon request (Note: Kosher meals are pre-packed and are only available for dinner in the main restaurant). Dining requests for specific dietary requirements or food intolerances cannot be accepted for any onboard eatery other than the main restaurant. Please submit your dietary request in writing as much detail as possible as to your particular requirements. We will endeavour to accommodate reasonable requests, although we cannot guarantee we will be able to meet requirements. Please ask your travel agents for further information. Once onboard, please meet with the Maitre d’ to review the menus and address any questions you may have. To receive appropriate assistance, you must be sure your travel agent notifies us at the time of booking of any special need and other relevant information. All guests must ensure that they are medically and physically fit for travel and that such traveling will not endanger themselves or others. Any condition requiring medical treatment or attention must be reported to Royal Caribbean in writing when the booking is requested or, if such condition arises after the booking is requested, prior to the boarding date for that guest’s cruise vacation. Guests dependent on oxygen or requiring oxygen therapy must meet certain requirements prior to boarding the ship.
What happens if I become sick onboard ship?
There is a medical facility onboard which is staffed by a fully-qualified doctor and at least one nurse. However there is a charge in US Dollars for all medical services. These charges are considerably higher than medical costs in your home country. We strongly recommend that you have a fully comprehensive travel insurance policy to cover any such eventualities. The medical facility provides motion sickness tablets upon request.
Can unaccompanied minors cruise?
Guests who are 21 or older may book a cruise however no guest under the age of 21 will be booked in a stateroom unless accompanied by an adult 21years or older. This age limit will be waived for underaged married couples (proof of marriage is required at check-in) or minor children sailing with their parents or guardians in adjacent staterooms. An individual’s age on the date of sailing determines his or her status for the entire cruise vacation.
Please note: Royal Caribbean International does not accept bookings for student groups.
What about alcoholic drinks?
The minimum drinking age for all alcoholic beverages on all Royal Caribbean ships is twenty-one (21). However on International cruises departing from any port other than North America, where the legal drinking age is typically lower than 21, a parent or legal guardian who is sailing with his or her son(s)and/or daughter(s) who is between the ages of 18 to 20, may sign a waiver allowing the 18 to 20 year old to consume alcoholic beverages. The 18 to 20 year old guest must agree to comply with Royal Caribbean policies, including among other things, agreeing to not provide alcoholic beverages to any other person, regardless of age. Restrictions apply and this policy is subject to change without notice.
No alcoholic beverages may be purchased ashore for consumption onboard, these will be stored and delivered to your stateroom on the last night of the cruise. Alcohol purchased on board from the Gift Shop for consumption in your stateroom cannot be purchased at a duty free rate. All alcohol purchased during your cruise at the duty free rate will be stored by us and only delivered to your stateroom on the last night of your cruise.
Please note: An individual’s age on the date of sailing determines his or her status for the entire cruise vacation. Guests who violate any alcohol policies, may be disembarked or not allowed to board, at their own expense, in accordance with our Guest Vacation Policy.
Are there any adults only activities onboard?
For the comfort of our guests, some areas and activities have been designated as adults only. These areas may vary from ship to ship. Once onboard please consult your cruise compass for details specific to your ship.
Can I change my stateroom?
Guests desiring to transfer to higher-priced accommodations, which may be available during boarding or after sailing, may do so by paying, in cash, with traveler’s checks or by credit card, the difference in published full cruise vacation prices. Please visit the Guest Relations desk for additional details.
Before you depart home
Don’t forget to pack your passport, other cruise documents, valuables and medications in your carry-on bag. If you are travelling with children, don’t forget to pack their documents etc. as well. You’ll need your passport and cruise documents to board the ship.
Gathering documents
Make sure you have the proper forms of identification needed for your particular trip. Give yourself plenty of time to obtain or renew your passport, if necessary.
Also, to speed up the boarding process, make sure to fill out your cruise documents (which will come with your ticket) before you leave home.
How do I pay for onboard purchases?
For your convenience, our ships use a “cashless” system – SeaPassSM. This system allows you to charge all onboard purchases by presenting the card that is issued to you upon boarding. SeaPassSM is used for all expenditures except for those few that require cash: gratuities (other than bar and wine service), foreign currency exchange and casino gambling. On the last evening of your cruise vacation, an itemised statement will be delivered to your stateroom for verification. If all the charges are correct you do not need to do anything further and yourSeaPassSM charges will be billed automatically to your Visa,® MasterCard,® American Express,® or Diners Club International® card. If any charges or refunds are incorrectly recorded, you must resolve these with the pursers office prior to disembarkation. It is extremely difficult to try and resolve statement errors once you have disembarked. Subject to prior approval with the purser’s office you may also settle your account with US dollar traveller’s cheques or a US dollar cash payment.
Please note: All onboard charges are in US dollars and will be billed in US dollars to your credit card then converted into your local currency.
What about dining?
When you make your cruise reservation, tell us whether you’d like to have dinner our main seating session (at approximately 6:15 p.m.) or during our second seating (at approximately 8:30 p.m.). Your seating time will be noted on your cruise ticket, and your SeaPassSM card will indicate your preassigned table number. If your preferred dining time is not available, you can be put on a wait list through a travel agent. Dining will be cleared closer to the sailing date based on availability.
Please note: Seating times may vary by ship and itinerary by approximately 30 minutes. We recommend that you reserve main seating if you’re travelling with children. Ask your waiter about our special Kids’ Menu. For your convenience, complimentary 24-hour Room Service is also available – in addition to breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack service and occasional midnight buffets.
Can I call room service?
Yes, of course. Complimentary Room Service is available any time of the
Please note: All gratuities may be paid in cash in U.S. dollars or charged to your SeaPassSM account. A 15% service charge is automatically added to all bar, wine orders, beauty salon and spa services. Guests sailing with groups or as part of a group allotment must prepay gratuities.
Have your travel agent check if this applies to your booking.
Can I call home from the ship?
You can make ship-to-shore calls from your stateroom, 24 hours a day. The cost is approx US$7.95 per minute and will be automatically charged to your SeaPassSM account.
Will my friends and family be able to contact the ship?
Your friends and family can contact the ship by dialing the USA country code then (732) 335-3285. The cost is USD$7.95 per minute. You must have a credit card number ready to enter to complete the call. (Additional long distance charges to connect to the USA will also apply.)
What is your smoking policy?
For the comfort of our guests, smoking is prohibited onboard most areas of the ships, staterooms and on Oasis class, Boardwalk or Central Park private balconies. A $250 penalty will be applied for guests found smoking in prohibited areas. Cigarettes, cigars, and pipe tobacco must be properly disposed of and never thrown overboard. A guest must be at least 18 years of age to purchase, possess or use tobacco onboard. However to provide an onboard environment that also satisfies smokers, we have designated smoking areas in many of our lounges and on designated open-air decks.
What about cash, cheques and foreign currency?
Personal non US bank cheques are not accepted for purchases aboard the ship. Guests who have an account with a U.S. bank may cash one personal cheque at the Purser’s Desk for up to $200 per cruise vacation (guests who present an American Express® card, $250). For your convenience, the guests Relations Desk can cash traveler’s cheques and provide foreign currency exchange.
What are the gratuity guidelines for cruises?
To thank those who have served you well, we suggest the following guidelines:
•
Dining room waiter: US$3.50 a day per guest
• Stateroom attendant: US$3.50
• Suite Room attendant: US$5.75 a day per guest
• Assistant waiter: US$2.00 a day per guest
• Headwaiter: $0.75 a day per guest
What about advanced or delayed sailings and changes in itinerary?
In the event of strikes, lockouts, riots, weather conditions or mechanical difficulties, or for any other reason whatsoever, Royal Caribbean may at anytime and without prior notice, cancel, advance, postpone or deviate from any scheduled sailing or port of call and may, but is not obliged to, substitute another ship or port of call, and shall not be liable for any loss whatsoever to guests by reason of such cancellation, advancement, postponement, deviation or substitution. Royal Caribbean shall not be responsible for any failure to adhere to the arrival and departure times published in this brochure for any of its ports of call. While every effort will be made to adhere to the specifics shown herein for a cruise/cruisetour, circumstances may necessitate changes or deviations therefrom. All schedules, itinerary destinations, hours of arrival and departure, hotel and/or conveyances and other aspects are subject to change without prior notice. Neither Royal Caribbean nor any affiliated party shall be required to refund any portion of the fare or other charges or make any compensation under these circumstances. Normally, changes in the itinerary are to protect the interest and safety of our passengers. In Alaska the Wilderness Express railcars are pulled behind the Alaska Railroad passenger train. Although scheduled times are published for the Alaska Railroad trains, track conditions and other rail traffic may result in significant variations from the published schedule. Royal Celebrity Tours has no control over this schedule.
How are disputes settled?
In the unlikely event you have reason to complain during the cruise, you must immediately notify the Pursers Desk and the provider of the service in question (if not us). Any offers, future credits, payments or claim settlements accepted by you while on board the ship constitute to full and final settlement of your problem and no further correspondance will be considered. If a problem cannot be resolved to your satisfaction and you wish to follow up on your complaint, you must write to us, giving your reservation reference number and full details of your complaint, within the time frame specified in the Cruise Ticket Contract. We regret we cannot accept liability for any complaint or claim which is not notified entirely in accordance with this simple procedure. Any dispute between a guest and Royal Caribbean (or its agents, independent contractors, concessionaires and suppliers, together with the employees and servants of each of the foregoing) in connection with a guest’s cruise booking or cruise vacation shall be litigated, if at all, in and before a court located in Miami, Florida, USA, to the exclusion of the courts of any other state, territory or country.
What are the conditions of my cruise ticket contract?
The transportation of guests and baggage on Royal Caribbean ships is governed by the terms and conditions of the Cruise Ticket Contract included as part of the cruise ticket. The Cruise Ticket Contract limits your rights. The Cruise Ticket Contract sets forth limitations on the time frames in which claims may be made and suits may be filed against Royal Caribbean. It is important that you read all of the terms and conditions of the Cruise Ticket Contract. (Copies are available upon request or refer to our website: www.royalcaribbean.com).
Note: The Cruise Ticket Contract must be signedby all guests prior to boarding. These terms and conditions shall also apply.
Terms of booking on this website
Information disclaimer
The rates on this website are often heavily discounted. This is due to our negotiated rates and bulk buying power. On very rare occasions, a rate may be displayed incorrectly due to our, or the cruise operator's error. In such a case, if you make a reservation enquiry with us at a quoted rate that is incorrect, we will notify you of any price change and give you the option to proceed or cancel. We make every effort to keep information on our site up to date, but we cannot guarantee this website is free of errors or omissions and retain the right to update or change the information published at any time.
Liability
To the extent permitted by law we/the owners of this website will not be liable to you or to any third party (whether in contract, tort, or otherwise) for any direct, indirect or consequential loss or damage (including but not limited to any accident, injury, delay or loss of enjoyment) arising out of your reliance upon information contained on this website, including but not limited to your use (or inability to use) any products or services described or procured through this website. When making a reservation via this website or over the phone, we ask you to agree to the terms and conditions displayed. Your reservation and cruise holiday will be governed by the terms of the agreement and any other documentation or information provided to you before you depart. Our total liability to you in relation to your use of this website and the information contained on this website will not exceed the dollar amount of the deposit we have received from you in relation to your booking. Refunds will not be made for bookings cancelled due to inclement weather. We strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance. Your use of this website is governed by the laws of Victoria and the jurisdiction of the Victorian courts.
Booking information
To reserve a cabin(s), you must complete our reservations enquiry form which is easy to follow and secured with the latest encryption technology. Once we receive your enquiry, we will contact you via phone or email, to advise of availability and confirm the final price is correct. A booking is confirmed when you have been emailed a confirmation notice and at this stage the deposit is processed on your credit card or your bank deposit has been received. Your deposit then becomes subject to the cancellation policy of the cruise line and Cruise Republic. These are stated in the terms and conditions.
When your booking has been confirmed we will send you your cruise booking number for the cruise line. Once you receive your confirmation, please check your details carefully and notify us immediately if there are any incorrect details, as it may not be possible to make changes at a later date without incurring a penalty. If you are booking via phone, please first make sure you have read the terms and conditions. Our reservations consultant will ask you if you have read the terms and agree to them before proceeding. The onus is always on the customer to ensure they make themselves fully aware of the terms displayed on our website.
Information disclosure
In booking on/via this website you acknowledge that we disclose your information to your selected Cruise Ship company/operator.
Amendments
Once you have paid a deposit against your cruise, any changes made to the booking will incur an amendment fee of $25 plus and applicable fees set you by the cruise line. Please see the Cruise Company's terms and conditions for cancellation and amendment policy.
Cancellations
Once a deposit is made towards your cruise holiday it is deemed that you have accepted our terms and conditions, so are subject to any cancellation fees. Bookings canceled after the deposit is paid, will incur a cancellation fee of $200. Plus any additional cancellation fees set out by the cruise line. Please see the Cruise Company's terms and conditions for cancellation and amendment policy.
Payments
Payments towards your cruise holiday made by credit cards are subject to a transaction fee of 2.5%. Cruise Republic accept Visa and Mastercard Cards only. Payments made by bank deposit do not incur any transaction fees nor do payments made using the BPAY payment system.
Privacy
Privacy of your information is an absolute priority to us. When you book we request whether you are interested in receiving further offers from us. If you decline, we will not email you with such offers. We also always give you the opportunity to unsubscribe and opt out of receiving these emails. We treat your details as confidential and we NEVER disclose your information to third parties other than the supplier who is fulfilling your cruise holiday.
