Please read these General Booking Conditions carefully. They include important information you will need to know before booking holiday with Discerning Traveller. These Booking Conditions form part of the contract entered between you, the service provider and Discerning Traveller. These Booking Conditions are subject to change and the applicable terms will be confirmed to you at the time of booking. They are to be read in conjunction with the service provider’s full terms and conditions, which are available upon request.
Contents
We provide you with Booking & Advisory Services allowing you to acquire a Travel Product from a Travel Service Provider, including (without limitation) a cruise line, airfares, hotels, tour operators, coach and rail services or third party supplier. We act as agent for the Travel Service Provider and Third Party supplier.
By acquiring Booking & Advisory Services from us, you agree you have read and understood both these terms and conditions and the terms and conditions of the Travel Service Provider relating to the service/s booked.
Travel Service Providers reserve the right to alter itineraries and services due to operational, security or situational requirements.
Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information provided is current, the Travel Service Provider and Third Party Supplier are solely responsible for the provision of the service and arrangements provided. As an agent for the Travel Service Provider and Third Party Service Provider, we are not to be held liable in any way for errors or
omissions by any Service Provider.
When making a payment, you are confirming your booking with Discerning Traveller, you agree to be bound by the legal obligations outlined within. Your right to any refunds can be limited by these terms and conditions in addition to the terms and conditions of the supplier
If a Travel Service Provider or Third Party Supplier fails to provide you with a service, or you are not satisfied with the standard of any service provided, you agree your only rights are directly against the service provider and not against Discerning Traveller. You agree Discerning Traveller is not liable to you for any losses you suffer in those circumstances, and you will not claim against Discerning Traveller (directly or indirectly) any refund, credit or other compensation. You agree any money you have paid to Discerning Traveller will not be held on trust for you, but will be used by us to make payment to the Travel Service Provider/s to secure the booking for your booked travel services.
It is important the reservation is booked using full names as per passport.
Fees may apply to amend names after booking is confirmed.
No responsibility will be taken by Discerning Traveller for incorrect information supplied by guest/s. Failure to complete any necessary forms or documents required for travel may result in cancellation of the booking or denial of boarding/departure
In order to hold space beyond option date, the full deposit amount must be received by Discerning Traveller prior to the expiry date and time of the option as shown on your Discerning Traveller invoice. The amount includes a Discerning Traveller administration fee of AUD$110 per person. If a deposit is not received at Discerning Traveller’s office by the due time / date, the booking will automatically cancel.
Please note on select voyages/departures a second deposit may be required before final payment to secure the booking. If the second deposit is not processed and confirmed by due date the booking may auto cancel and be subject to cancellation fees
Deposits for some select fare programs are non-refundable and non-transferable.
If a booking is made within cancellation penalty period, full payment must be paid at time of confirmation.
Payment of a deposit merely holds the reservation and does not guarantee the final payment amount will not change due to circumstances beyond our control.
The final payment due date is noted on your Discerning Traveller invoice. It is your responsibility to have the final payment processed by the due date. Should there be any delay, your booking will be at risk of cancellation with no
refunds on payments made.
All pricing and itineraries are current at time of publishing and subject to change without notice. Pricing can change due to currency adjustments, fuel surcharges, taxes and airfare increases up until and sometimes beyond final payment.
Discerning Traveller accepts MasterCard, Visa and American Express. Merchant fees and other conditions may apply please contact Discerning Traveller for more information.
For other payment methods, please contact Discerning Traveller.
Please contact us should you wish to cancel your booking.
All cancellation requests must be submitted by email. Cancellations must be received no later than 2pm EST/EDT on a scheduled NSW working business day for the booking to be cancelled that day. Cancellations received after 2pm will not be processed until the following NSW working business day.
The cancellation fee amount will be advised by the Third Party Service Provider once the cancellation advice has been processed by the Third Party Service Provider.
Parameters for penalties often vary and are dependent upon the fare & destination booked.
In addition to applicable cancellation charges by Third Party Service Providers, Discerning Traveller will deduct AUD$110 per person administration fee, paid with the deposit, from the final balance.
If you have travel insurance, your policy may cover your cancellation fees and charges. Please confirm your insurer.
Discerning Traveller reserves the right to charge and invoice guests for cancellation fees incurred that maybe greater than the amount of payments received at the time of cancellation of booking. Any outstanding amounts must be paid by the cancelled parties.
The Travel Service Provider reserves the right to change deposit, payment and cancellation/terms/conditions without prior notice.
If your service/s booked through Discerning Traveller are cancelled for any reason, the service provider may offer Future Credits in place of cash or credit card refunds. Refunds from service providers can take up to 3 months to process. Discerning Traveller will not offer cash or credit card refunds unless we have the refund back from cruise lines or other suppliers. Future Credits will have their own terms and conditions subject to cancellation and will be provided once the credit has been processed.
Change and Amendment fees may apply
Please note: Booking changes and amendments are always at the discretion of the Travel Service Provider and Discerning Traveller and are subject to approval.
Changes in occupancy (e.g. twin to single) when one guest cancels and the other guest is still travelling will result in cancellation fees for the cancelled guest/s and recalculation of the remaining guest/s’ fare. In some circumstances, guest/s still travelling maybe required to pay a surcharge for the changed occupancy regardless of the cancellation fees paid by the cancelling guest/s.
Promotions such as onboard credits or other promotional inclusions can be affected by changes made to your booking
In general, unless otherwise noted, prices presented are in AUD inclusive of all discounts, taxes & fees. Prices are on categories as specified in your quote/booking. Prices are subject to change and availability. Offers are valid for new bookings only and are not combinable with any other offer unless stated. We may receive fees, commissions, gifts or financial incentives from third parties under our contracts. For cruise quotes and bookings oceanview staterooms and balcony staterooms may have obstructed views. Sailing itinerary may vary from what is presented
on your confirmation. Itinerary changes are at cruise line’s discretion. Discerning Traveller and our Third Party Travel Service Providers reserve 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. In addition, we reserve the right to pass on any fuel or other surcharges imposed by third parties, also without prior
notice. Guests will remain liable for any applicable taxes, fees or surcharges that may be assessed by any governmental or quasi-governmental agencies.
At times special promotional fares may be released attracting differing terms and conditions from those outlined within and as included in the Travel Service Provider brochure or website. These may include different deposit amounts, different final payment and cancellation conditions including non-refundable deposits and fares. To confirm if you have been booked on a promotional fare please check at time of booking with Discerning Traveller for what conditions may apply to your booking.
If you purchase transfers, pre or post accommodation packages through Discerning Traveller or the Travel Service Provider you are required to provide your arrival/departure information to Discerning Traveller. You need to Contact Us with your flight arrival/departure details, including airline name, flight number and arrival and departure cities. If this information is not received before your departure we cannot guarantee your transfers will be available.
Fares quoted are subject to change without prior notice until the ticket are issued. Specific rules and regulations may apply to the fare quoted. Flight changes and refunds may not be permitted on some airfares and tickets can be fully non-refundable for all cabins class that includes Economy, Premium Economy, Business and First Class. Airlines can change or cancel flights at their discretion. Schedule change can result in itinerary date changes such as departing a day earlier or a day later and all cost involved at origin or destination will be at client’s own expense. Once schedule changes have been accepted and the ticket has been reissued, further changes will be considered voluntary and any additional fare, taxes and fees will be applied. For any flight change, Discerning Traveller will impose a service fees plus any airline change penalty, fare & tax difference will apply at the time of reissuing ticket.
Discerning Traveller service fees for changes are:
Economy: AUD$50.00 per person
Premium Economy: AUD$70.00 per person
Business: AUD$100.00 per person
First Class: AUD$120.00 per person
For any flight cancellation, Discerning Traveller fees are:
Economy: AUD$100.00 per person
Premium Economy: AUD$150.00 per person
Business: AUD$200.00 per person
First Class: AUD$250.00 per person.
Seat requests can be chargeable by airlines for all cabins and are subject to change at airline’s discretion even for paid seating. Paid seatings are non-changeable and non-transferrable in case of voluntary changes to the booking. Seats are not automatically pre-selected, you must advise your consultant if you have seat preferences. Meals and baggage inclusions can be chargeable by some airlines.
It is strongly recommended Travel insurance is taken out when travelling. There are many options to consider when taking out a policy and it is recommended you take out a policy that suits you and your travelling companion’s requirements, including any pre-existing conditions.
Travel Insurance should cover a minimum of loss of deposit and other monies lost through cancellation.
Medical expenses whilst onboard ships, as well as overseas can be surprisingly expensive and are NOT covered by Medicare nor any Private Health Cover. This is also the case for short domestic cruises.
Discerning Traveller recommend travel insurance for when travel is within Australia. It is a great safety net to ensure your holiday stays on track if your plans are disrupted by lost or stolen luggage, cancelled flights, excess for hired car claims and more depending on your policy.
Some Travel Service Providers will require Travel Insurance mandatory for some tours/cruises.
Your Discerning Traveller consultant can assist you with Travel Insurance.
Discerning Traveller does not provide advice regarding passports and/or visas. However all guests are required to carry a passport usually valid for 6 months after final day of travel, and any necessary visas. Please contact your nearest consulate for the most up to date information regarding visas.
As to immunisations, please check with a travel medicine specialist or local health department for specific recommendations and/or requirements.
We recommend the use of www.smartraveller.gov.au for advice in these areas.
Each Travel Service Provider will have their own policies around pregnant guests. It is important to check with each Travel Service and Third Party Providers policies. Typically, guests who are pregnant during their travels are required to supply a physician’s ‘fit to travel’ note, including your estimated due date, prior to departure. As a guide and in most cases, cruise operators are unable to accept any guests who will have entered their 24th week
or later of pregnancy at time of boarding.
Most Travel Service Providers will provide electronic documents which are emailed directly to you unless otherwise advised.
In order to process your documentation we require a booking form to be completed. Please have this submitted via the following link: https://www.discerningtraveller.com.au/guest-information-form/.
Your reservation must be finalised and paid in full in order to receive your documentation.
Single occupancy may be available at a higher charge.
The supplement for single use varies depending on availability , departure date, duration and room category for the chosen departure.
Please note that the percentage of the sole occupancy supplement may be increased without prior notice. Single occupancy availability is capacity controlled and is always at the discretion of the Travel Service Provider.
If you are required, or choose, to leave the cruise/tour for any reason (unless caused by our proven negligence or failure to provide services with due care and skill and that are reasonably fit for purpose), we are not responsible for any expenses, including your return home. This also applies if you do not return to the ship in time for sailing after a port visit. If we assist with any costs, you will need to repay us on your return. In addition, you will not be entitled to any refund.
The transportation of guests and baggage on provided solely by the Travel Service Provider and is governed by the terms and conditions printed on the Passage Contract. The Passage Contract will be included with guests travel documents, is available upon request. This contains complete and important information regarding cancellations, itineraries, the Travel Service Provider liability, health and immigration requirements, and other relevant terms and conditions.
Discerning Traveller accepts bookings subject to the following conditions:
Discerning Traveller acts as the co-ordinator for all persons taking any service*, and in the making of arrangements for the service. Discerning Traveller does not own, manage, control or operate any component of the delivery of services and all coupons, receipts and tickets are issued subject to the terms and conditions specified by the laws of the country where a service is provided.
Discerning Traveller acts as an agent for the owners contractors and suppliers of services and assume no responsibility for the loss or damage to baggage, property or for injury or illness or death, or for any damages or claims of damage to persons or property, delays, transport failures, strikes, wars & uprisings, or acts of God etc over which we have no control. Clients are strongly advised to insure adequately for the full duration of their travel arrangements in respect of illness or injury death baggage and personal effects.
While Discerning Traveller will use its best endeavours to ensure services* are performed as advertised, reasonable changes in the itinerary may be made without notice where deemed necessary or advisable by Discerning Traveller or the operator. Further, whilst Discerning Traveller will take all reasonable steps to provide enjoyable services*, Discerning Traveller accepts no liability for any loss of enjoyment whatsoever, and howsoever experienced by a passenger.
All matters rising to any service* provided by Discerning Traveller but not in respect of other things governed by the law of the state of New South Wales.
* Service/s refer to all accommodation & hotels or accommodation, cruises, flights, ground transportation / transfers, meals & beverages, shore excursions and tours.
Information collected in the booking process will be treated in accordance with Discerning Traveller’s Privacy Policy as displayed on the Discerning Traveller website
NB – Please note these terms and conditions can change without prior notice and must be read in conjunction with the service provider’s full terms and conditions, which are available upon request.
For further information, please refer to the Travel Service Provider’s website or brochure or Contact Us.
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