TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THIS CRUISE
Orion Expedition Terms and Conditions
Placing a reservation
Orion Expedition Cruises will make an offer of accommodation, the offer being valid for 4 days. The payment of the required deposit will confirm acceptance of the offer , the offer automatically expiring should a deposit not be received.
Deposit and final payment
To secure your reservation a deposit of 25% of the fare is required. The deposit must be accompanied by a completed and signed Guest Booking Form and is due within 4 days of booking. Final payment must be received by Orion Expedition Cruises no later than 100 days before sailing. Separate conditions apply to the Cancellation Protection Plan.
Guest form
A completed and signed Guest Form must be submitted with your deposit. For immigration purposes, on International Expeditions, a copy of your current passport must be received prior to the release of cruise documents.
Ticketing
Travel Documents will include passage ticket, baggage labels, itinerary, life onboard information, details of included and optional shoreside experiences, embarkation & disembarkation instructions.
Documents will be forwarded approximately 20-35 days prior to sailing. Failure to send Guest Form will delay documentation. For late payments and reservations placed within 7 days of sailing, documentation may be collected at the pier.
Cancellation fees
The following cancellation fees will apply to all reservations. The day on which notice is received by Orion Expedition Cruises will determine the applicable penalties.
Day on Which Notice is received Penalty
121 days and over - Antarctic cruises $1000 pp
- All other cruises No penalty
120 - 91 days prior to sailing Loss of deposit
90 days or less 100% of fare
No show - no written notice 100% of fare
*Please see Cruises Online (the agent) cancellation policy in their terms and conditions below.
Fares/Prices
Prices are subject to currency fluctuations, fuel price and tax increases and so can only be guaranteed once full payment has been received by Orion Expedition Cruises.
Cruise fare – What's included
Included in your cruise fare are accommodations as booked, cruise transportation, all meals onboard, 24-hour room service, entertainment and educational programmes, use of ship's sporting equipment and facilities, port & handling charges, Zodiac excursions and tender transfers, access to the ship's library of Govt. Fees & Taxes. Fares also include the services of 75 experienced crew.
Cruise fare – What's not included
Fares do not include items of a personal nature, including but not limited to: travel and medical insurance, laundry charges, shopping onboard, bar expenses, hair dressing and massage treatments, optional shore experiences, medical treatment, telephone and internet charges.
Money matters
All onboard prices are quoted in Australian dollars and, for your convenience, you may charge onboard expenses to your shipboard account. You can choose to settle your onboard account with
a credit or charge card. We accept American Express, Diners Club International, MasterCard and Visa. You may also use Travellers Cheques or cash. Please note there are no cash withdrawal facilities onboard and regretfully we are unable to accept personal cheques.
Gratuities
Gratuities are not expected, however if you wish to recognise exceptional service from an individual staff member , you are welcome to do so entirely at your discretion.
Passports and Visas
Passports are required for all expeditions including one or more international ports. Photo ID, such as a driver’ s licence, is required for all domestic expeditions. Our Reservations & Customer Service centre can provide specific advice for your selected departure.
Medical conditions & Physical considerations
Any medical condition, advanced pregnancy or disability must be advised to Orion Expedition Cruises when a request for accommodation is made. On every Orion voyage extensive use of the ship’ s Zodiacs will be made transporting guests between ship and shore. It is anticipated this travel may be physically demanding from time to time. In order for Orion Expedition Cruises to determine if safe passage can be offered, guests may be asked to provide additional information, such as a medical assessment of their fitness for expeditionary travel. All guests must sign a disclaimer onboard to participate in offship activities. Guests should be sure to bring onboard sufficient supplies of any prescription medication they may require.
Insurance
Orion Expedition Cruises strongly recommends that all guests purchase comprehensive international travel and medical insurance to cover lost or damaged baggage, personal property, medical evacuation. Australian Medicare system does not apply onboard Orion.
Life onboard Orion
DINING
All meals onboard Orion may be taken in a leisurely single sitting, free of fixed table assignments. Dining hours for the Constellation Restaurant and the Delphinus Outdoor Café will be provided with your tickets. 24 hour room service is also available.
Dress
During the day dress onboard is casual and relaxed. When venturing ashore we suggest you select practical clothing suitable to the part of the world you are visiting. Evening dress code onboard Orion is "smart casual", gentlemen being asked to wear a collared shirt. Jackets, ties and formal wear are not required.
Hairdressing
Our hairdressing salon is located on Deck 4. All staterooms and suites are equipped with a hairdryer .
Health facilities
The Vega Health Spa includes a gymnasium, sauna and massage facilities.
Laundry / Pressing facilities
Laundry and pressing services are available at an additional charge. Orion is not equipped with self service facilities.
Medical facilities
There is a doctor onboard. Consultation fees will be charged to your stateroom account.
Security / Visitor policy
As part of our security policy we regret visitors are not allowed onboard at any time.
Shoreside expeditions
We include a number of complimentary shore experiences utilising our Zodiacs. In addition we offer an exciting and diverse selection of optional shore experiences which can be either booked for in advance or reserved onboard and charged to your onboard account. Due to limited numbers on some experiences we recommend you pre-register to avoid disappointment. Details will be provided with your ticket.
Sports facilities
Orion is equipped with a fleet of ten 2-man kayaks for the use of guests in addition to a 4-man fishing boat. Snorkelling equipment (mask, fins & snorkel ) is available to all guests free of charge when conditions permit.
Valuables
Be sure to personally carry all valuables onboard and be sure not to pack them in the checked luggage. All staterooms and suites are equipped with a mini safe.
Voltage
The voltage on board is 110 and 220 volt (plugs are round sockets with two round pins). Adaptor plugs are available.
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.
