PARTICIPANT AGREEMENT

1. By signing our reservation form, or otherwise indicating your assent in writing, you agree to the following terms and conditions:  Cruise & Tours Specialists, Inc. (“we” or “us”) arranges for the trip described or named in our reservation form (the “Tour”), which is co-sponsored by Cruise & Tour Specilists, LLC. These terms and conditions apply to the Tour and the program for the Tour. The Tour is open to US and Canadian residents only.
2. RESERVATIONS, PAYMENTS, AND MINIMUM AGE: Full payment of the total Tour cost, along with a completed Reservation Form and Credit Card Authorization Form are required in order to confirm your reservation. Upon receipt of these forms and your deposit, we will confirm your trip in writing; however, we reserve the right to decline to accept any prospective participant. This Agreement, the signed Reservation Form, and the signed Credit Card Authorization Form, are all part of your agreement with us. Credit and debit cards are the only accepted form of payment. We regret that children under the age of 18 are not eligible to participate on the Tour.
   
   
3. TRIP PROTECTION OFFER AND WARNING: We advise that clients purchase a travel protection plan to cover all non-refundable trip expenses and a medical evacuation policy. If you decline, you will personally assume full responsibility for any financial loss associated with your travel arrangements, and you could lose your travel investment and/or have to pay more money to correct the situation. For example, you will suffer a loss if:  (i) your flight has been cancelled and Tour is nonrefundable; (ii) you need to cancel your trip due to illness; (iii) a hurricane, volcano or earthquake occurs while traveling and you are stranded; (iv) your cruise line, airline, or tour operator files for bankruptcy, unless you have paid by credit card; (v) a terrorist incident occurs at the destination you  planned  on  visiting;  (vi)  you  have  a  medical  emergency  and  need  medical  attention  or evacuation; (vii) your bags are lost and your medication is in them, and you need to have an emergency prescription filled; or (viii) your passport and wallet are stolen, and you need emergency cash and a replacement passport.
   
   
4. CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY: Because your funds are immediately transferred to suppliers, we regret that we cannot provide any refunds of the Tour price if you cancel, regardless of the reason, once cancellation policy takes effect. Commercial airline tickets must be paid in full at the time ticketing. Airline cancellation charges are set forth on the invoice.
   
   

   AMA Waterways Traveler Cancellation Policy:

   Once deposit is paid client is under 100% full penalty. Cabin cannot be cancelled. Cruise line will accept name change if made outside of 6 months from date of sailing.

   For Complete Terms & Conditions Visit: https://www.amawaterways.com/terms-conditions

    

   Holland America's Traveler Cancellation Policy:

   Days Before Departure	Cancellation Fees  (Per Person)
   March 3, 2025	350.00 (amount forfeited)
   March 10, 2025	50% gross fare
   April 16, 2025	100% gross fare

   
   For Holland America's Cruise Contract Terms & Conditions Visit: www.hollandamerica.com

    

   Trafalgar’s Traveler Cancellation Policy

   Days Before Departure	Cancellation Charges (Per Person)
   65 days prior to departure	loss of deposit(s)
   64-36 days prior to departure	30% of total tour cost
   35-08 days prior to departure	50% of total tour cost
   7 days prior - day of departure	100% of total tour cost

   
   For Trafalgar’s Terms & Conditions Visit: https://www.trafalgar.com/media/ia1fux0h/trafalgar-usa.pdf
   
   

5. COMMERCIAL AIRLINE SERVICE: Airfare costs and availability are subject to change at any time prior to payment. Even after you have paid, Tours with scheduled air transportation on US airlines are subject to supplemental price increases that may be imposed by the supplier and/or government. By agreeing to these terms and conditions, you consent to any such price increase. We will not change your requested seat assignments on commercial aircraft without permission. However, airlines often change seat assignments to satisfy their loyalty members or because of equipment changes (aircraft type). We are not notified of these changes in advance, and often clients are not made aware of these changes until they arrive at the airport. We cannot be held responsible for seat assignment changes made by the airline. Frequent flyer programs are private agreements between airlines and passengers. We cannot be held responsible for mileage discrepancies involving airline / loyalty reward programs.
   
   
6. OTHER PRICE INCREASES: Destination countries increase their VAT taxes from time to time. Any such increases will be applied to your total due at the time of final payment. Prices are also subject to increase due to currency fluctuations.
   
   
7. BAGGAGE: Baggage is at owner’s risk throughout the trip.  Airlines, buses, vans and other modes of transportation may all have weight and size restrictions on luggage.  It is your responsibility to comply with all baggage restrictions
   
   
8. PASSPORTS, VISAS, and OTHER ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: International travel requires a passport valid 6 months beyond your intended return travel date. In most cases, you will also need to have multiple consecutive blank visa pages within your passport (the number varies depending on the destination(s)). Many destinations also require that visas be obtained prior to travel.  If one parent or guardian plans to bring a minor child without the other parent or parents, some nations have very strict documentation requirements. Birth certificates may be required for children under 18. Some nations require proof of vaccinations for all travelers. Please speak with your consultant if you are unsure about the visa requirements for your travel destination, but you are solely responsible for complying with passport, visa, and other foreign entry requirements and vaccinations. You are advised to check with the State Department at travel.state.gov or, for Canadians, go to https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories to determine which documents they must obtain. If you are not permitted to board a flight or find yourself denied entry into a country, owing to your failure to present documents required by the authorities, you may not claim a refund of any kind. In the event of noncompliance, all costs incurred are yours alone.
   
   
9. OPERATOR CANCELLATION OR SUBSTITUTION: We will make commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Tour as it has been published or sent to you; however, the final Tour may vary due to availability and factors beyond our control. We may in our sole discretion substitute services such as hotels or goods of similar quality for any services or goods. If a Tour is cancelled, our liability is limited to a full refund of your payments, and we will not be liable for any other costs, damages, or refunds of any kind for any loss, delay, inconvenience, disappointment, or expense whatsoever in such circumstances. If for reasons beyond our control, a Tour in progress must be interrupted or cancelled, we will in good faith consider refunding a portion of the price depending on our actual costs incurred compared to the Tour as it has been published or sent to you.
   
   
10. OTHER TAXES AND FEES: Some governments charge departure taxes and/or fees. These fees are the responsibility of each passenger traveling to the designated country and are not included unless stated.
    
    
11. RESPONSIBILITY/LIABILITIES: We act only in the capacity of agent for the suppliers of the travel services named in your Itinerary or otherwise providing services or goods in connection with the Tour (the “Suppliers”), such as airlines, hotels and other lodging providers, local hosts, sightseeing tour operators, bus lines, car rental companies, driving services, restaurants, and providers of entertainment. Cruise and Tour Specialists, LLC acts only as co-sponsor and has no responsibility for travel arrangements. We assume no responsibility for any personal injury, property damage, or other loss, accident, delay, inconvenience, overbooking, default, strikes, or irregularity which may be occasioned by reason of any act or omission of any of the Suppliers or airlines providing flights to or from your Tour. You assume full and complete responsibility for all risks of travel and for complying with all laws of the country in the Itinerary. You are also responsible for respecting the authority and following the directions of the Tour guide (if any) during a Tour. We may exclude you from participating in all or any part of the Tour if, in our sole discretion, your condition or behavior renders you unfit for the Tour or unfit for continuation once the Tour has begun. Unfitness may include, without limitation, any behavior that, regardless of its cause, is inappropriate or offensive or interferes with the delivery of Tour services, or may constitute a hazard or embarrassment. In such case, our liability shall be strictly limited to refund of the recoverable cost of any unused portion of the Tour. Should you decide not to participate in certain parts of the Tour or use certain goods included in the Tour, no refunds will be made for those unused parts of the Tour or goods. You agree to indemnify and hold us harmless from and against any costs, damages, losses, or liabilities arising out of your or your companions’ actions or omissions.
    
    
12. ASSUMPTION OF RISKS AND RELEASE: You understand and acknowledge that, if you participate in activities during your trip, certain risks and dangers may arise, including, but not limited to, the risk of accidents in remote places without access to medical facilities, transportation, or means of rapid evacuation and assistance; the hazards of traveling in unsafe or politically unstable areas or under unsafe conditions; the dangers of civil disturbances, war, extortion, kidnapping, and terrorist activities; Tour activities that may involve increased risks, such as scuba diving and snorkeling, dangers and risks inherent in activities in underdeveloped countries; dangers of local law enforcement activity; attacks or bites by animals, pests, or insects; quarantine; epidemics; injury or death while on activities sponsored by lodging facilities or third parties; sickness; lack of appropriate medical care; or criminal activity. YOU DO HEREBY EXPRESSLY ASSUME ALL OF THESE RISKS AND DANGERS, AND YOU DO HEREBY EXPRESSLY AGREE TO FOREVER RELEASE, DISCHARGE AND HOLD US, CRUISE AND TOUR SPECIALISTS, LLC, AND OUR AGENTS, EMPLOYEES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, ASSOCIATES, AFFILIATED COMPANIES, GUIDES, GROUP  LEADERS, AND SUBCONTRACTORS HARMLESS AGAINST ANY AND ALL LIABILITY, ACTIONS,  CAUSES  OF  ACTIONS, SUITS, CLAIMS, AND DEMANDS OF ANY AND EVERY KIND AND NATURE WHATSOEVER WHICH YOU NOW HAVE OR WHICH MAY HEREAFTER ARISE OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR TRIP OR PARTICIPATION IN ANY ACTIVITIES IN WHICH YOU PARTICIPATE.
    
    
13. FORCE MAJEURE: We, Cruise and Tour Specialists, LLC, and our Suppliers assume no responsibility for any personal injury, property damage, or other loss, accident, delay, inconvenience, or irregularity which may be occasioned by reason of any matter beyond our or our Suppliers’ exclusive control including but not limited to a delay or cancellation of a flight that causes you to miss all or any portion of the Tour, acts of God, acts of government, war, terrorist acts, riots, disaster, weather extremes, or strikes. We have no special knowledge regarding the financial condition of the Suppliers, unsafe conditions, health hazards, weather hazards, or climate extremes at locations to which you may travel. For information concerning possible dangers at destinations, we recommend contacting the U.S. State Department at (202) 647-5225 or go to www.travel.state.gov, click on "Find International travel Information, then click on "Country Information", and fill in the name of the destination country. For medical information, we recommend contacting the Centers for Disease Control at (877) FYI-TRIP or www.cdc.gov/travel.
    
    
14. DISPUTE RESOLUTION: Any dispute related to the Tour shall be governed by Quebec law without regard to conflict of laws principles. The courts in Nassau County, New York shall be the exclusive forum for any lawsuit related to the Tour, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction by said courts. You agree to present any claims against us within 30 days after the Tour ends and to file suit within one year of the incident, and you acknowledge that this expressly limits the applicable statute of limitations to one year.
    
    
15. MISCELLANEOUS: You hereby consent to our use of pictures or video of you in our marketing materials without compensation. Facsimile transmission of any signed document shall be deemed delivery of an original. At our request, you shall promptly provide an original document as well. If there are any conflicts between this Participant Agreement, the Reservation Form, and the Itinerary, this Participant Agreement shall apply. We reserve the right to decline to do business with anyone on a non-discriminatory basis.
    
    
16. TRAVELERS NEEDING SPECIAL ASSISTANCE: We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate the needs of our travelers; however, travelers needing special assistance for their personal needs must notify us at the time of booking for a determination of what assistance we can reasonably provide. In cases where we cannot accommodate a traveler's special needs, persons requiring this assistance must be accompanied by a companion who will be responsible for independently providing the needed assistance. We regret that we cannot provide special individual assistance to travelers with special needs for ordinary daily activities, such as walking, dining, etc. and other special needs. In no instance will we or our Suppliers physically lift or assist participants on to or off transportation vehicles.
    
    
17. MEDICAL PROXY: If you are unable to authorize your own medical attention and treatment, you authorize us or our subcontractors or agents to authorize medical attention and treatment on your behalf. You agree to hold harmless and release us or them from any liability for medical attention authorized by us or them on your behalf. We assume no liability regarding provision of medical care or evacuation services. Any of our staff or subcontractors who may provide or seek emergency medical care on your behalf may not have had formal medical or first aid training and are acting only as a good Samaritan.