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2011 Terms and Conditions
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These terms and conditions apply to 2011 vacations |
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Read the 2010 terms
and conditions here. |
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PLEASE READ CAREFULLY |
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The purchase of any travel services offered by Group Voyagers, Inc., doing business
as Cosmos, (hereinafter Cosmos) constitutes a contractual arrangement between you
and Cosmos, and represents your acceptance of the Cosmos Terms & Conditions
set out herein. Please ensure that you read carefully and understand these Terms
& Conditions prior to booking. You are advised to check on the Web sites or
to request the latest version of the Terms & Conditions from your Travel Agent
or Cosmos prior to booking your vacation. |
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Deposit & Final Payment: |
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A non-refundable, non-transferable deposit of $250 per land vacation per person
is required for Cosmos to reserve space for you, with some limited exceptions as
noted below. Your booking is not confirmed until the deposit is received by Cosmos
and you receive a confirmation invoice. Cosmos accepts checks, money orders, Visa,
MasterCard, and American Express. Your payment is not deemed made until it is received
by Cosmos. Your reservation will be automatically canceled if deposit is not received
by Cosmos by the deposit due date. On certain departures, deposits may be required
at time of booking to hold or to confirm space for you. Please review and verify
your booking invoice thoroughly and contact your Travel Agent or Cosmos immediately
if your invoice appears to be incorrect or incomplete, as it may not be possible
to make changes later. Cosmos cannot accept responsibility if we are not notified
of inaccuracies within 5 days of sending out the invoice. In the case of billing
errors, Cosmos reserves the right to re-invoice you with correct pricing.
Final payment is due 45 days prior to commencement of services, with some limited
exceptions as set forth below. Payment of the deposit indicates you have read and
accepted these Terms and Conditions.
If final payment is not received by the due date, your reservation will be canceled
and your full deposit, including Trip Protection payments, will be retained by Cosmos.
Cosmos is not responsible for canceled land and/or air reservations in the event
payment is not received by the final payment date. Payment in full is required at
time of booking for reservations made within the final payment date of your vacation
(in most cases, within 45 days of departure). Cosmos will provide Group Policies
to your Travel Agent upon request.
Acceptance on the vacation is subject to presentation of the Cosmos Traveler Certificate,
which will be available in your final Travel Documents.
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Exceptions Apply to These Vacations: |
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The following deposit and/or final payment dates apply to these vacations. Please
see your invoice for more information on deposit and/or final payment dates. |
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Other Vacations: |
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- For vacations that include a Holland America cruise (vacation codes 8425, 8921,
8922, 8924, 8925, 8927, 8928, 8575), final payment is due 75 days prior to the commencement
of services.
- For vacations that include a train (vacation codes 8930/5, 8335, 896I/E, 8355, and
8640) and vacations that include Polar Bear visits (vacation code 8560), final payment
is due 65 days prior to the commencement of services.
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Cancellations & Cancellation Fees:
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If cancellation is received by Cosmos before the final payment date of your vacation,
your non-refundable deposit and Trip Protection payments will be retained in addition
to any airline-imposed fees or penalties. For individual reservations, the following
per person cancellation fees apply. Total price does not include discounts, promotions,
or special incentives. (For group reservations, refer to the Group Policy.)
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Standard Cancellation Fees: |
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- 45-22 days prior to commencement of services: 20% of total price plus Trip Protection
payments
- 21-8 days prior to commencement of services: 30% of total price plus Trip Protection
payments
- 7-1 days prior to commencement of services: 50% of total price plus Trip Protection
payments
- On departure day and later: 100% of total price plus Trip Protection payment
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Exceptions to the standard cancellation fees: |
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For vacations that include a Holland America cruise (vacation
codes 8425, 8921, 8922, 8924, 8925, 8927, 8928, 8575) |
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- 75-57 days prior to commencement of services: 20% of total price
plus Trip Protection premiums
- 56-29 days prior to commencement of services: 50% of total price
plus Trip Protection premiums
- 28-16 days prior to commencement of services: 75% of total price
plus Trip Protection premiums
- 15-0 days prior to commencement of services: 100% of total price
plus Trip Protection premiums
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For vacations that include a train (vacation codes 8930/5, 8335, 896I/E, 8355,
and 8640): |
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- 65-47 days prior to commencement of services: 50% of total price plus Trip Protection
premiums
- 46-0 days prior to commencement of services: 100% of total price plus Trip Protection
premiums
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And vacations that include Polar Bear visits (vacation code 8560): |
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- 65-0 days prior to commencement of services: 100% of total price plus Trip Protection
premiums
Cancellation fees may also apply to any additional services, including accommodations,
independently supplied services, and optional excursions reserved prior to, during,
and after the tour. Cancellation penalties will be quoted at the time of cancellation.
Cosmos reserves the right to cancel or reschedule any vacation departure for any
reason, including insufficient demand. If a vacation is canceled prior to departure,
Cosmos' only responsibility will be to refund the amount received for the reservation.
Cosmos will try to rebook the same vacation with a different departure date, or
a similar vacation. For air-inclusive vacations, Cosmos will try to confirm air
schedules for the selected new dates, subject to availability. Cosmos cannot assume
responsibility for any additional costs or any fees relating to the issuance and/or
cancellation of air tickets or other travel arrangements not made through Cosmos.
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Revision Fees:
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Any revision to a booking may result in the loss of a confirmed airline reservations
or increased airfare which will be payable by the passenger. A fee of $30 per transaction
will be charged for any alteration or revision made to a reservation. Additional
airline and hotel penalties may also apply and may be up to 100% of the full price.
A change of traveler name, vacation date, or itinerary within final payment will
be treated as a full cancellation and new reservation; vacation cancellation fees
(as above) apply |
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Air Arrangements:
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Cosmos is not responsible if an airline cancels, reschedules, or delays a flight
for any reason. If you miss your departure flight, it is your responsibility to
work with the airline on which you are ticketed to reach your destination. Cosmos
is not responsible for any additional expenses you may incur prior to joining your
trip. Cosmos is not responsible for and will not provide any refund for portions
of trips missed due to canceled, rescheduled, or delayed flights.
If you make your own flight arrangements, Cosmos will not be responsible for any
loss resulting from cancellation or changes in international gateways or travel
dates. We recommend that you do not purchase airline tickets with high penalty charges
for changesUnder the new Secure Flight Program enacted by the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires airlines
to collect information from you for the purposes of watch list matching. TSA may
share information you provide with law enforcement or intelligence agencies or others
under its published system of records notice. At time of booking air, Globus will
collect the required information and add to your air booking to pass to the airline(s)
for the Secure Flight Program. The information includes full name, date of birth,
gender and redress number (if available). Failure to provide the required TSA information
at time of booking will result in the loss of confirmed flights as information is
required for ticketing. Rebooking lost airfare is subject to schedule availability
at time of rebooking and may result in alternate flight schedules and/or increases
in airfare price. Any increase in airfare price is payable by the passenger. |
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Participation:
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As you are traveling with a group of international travelers on Cosmos vacations,
all participants are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that is not disruptive
to the group and in a manner that is appropriate for group travel. To understand
travel etiquette, please visit http://www.cosmosvacations.in/travel_faq.aspx. For
the benefit of everyone on the vacation, Cosmos reserves the right to accept or
reject any vacation participant and to remove any participant whose conduct is deemed
incompatible with the interests of the other participants. Cosmos is not responsible
for any losses, including missed sightseeing or having to make alternate travel
arrangements, if you fail to meet at assigned timings while on tour. Cosmos will
not refund nor cover any cost or expenses incurred for termination of vacation arrangements
due to unacceptable behavior or inability to maintain punctuality. The decision
of behavior being acceptable or unacceptable rests with Cosmos.
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Travelers Who Need Special Assistance On Tours and/or Cruises:
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You must report any disability requiring special attention while on tour or on cruise
to Cosmos at the time the reservation is made. Cosmos will make reasonable attempts
to accommodate the special needs of disabled travelers, but is not responsible in
the event it is unable to do so nor responsible for any denial of services by air
carriers, hotels, restaurants, or other independent suppliers. Cosmos cannot provide
individual assistance to a vacation participant for walking, dining, getting on
and off motorcoaches and other vehicles, or other personal needs. A qualified and
physically able companion must accompany travelers who need such assistance and
must assume full responsibility for their well being. Not all sightseeing stops/sites
accommodate wheelchairs and some locations and sightseeing activities require extensive
standing, sitting or walking. Cosmos is not responsible for any missed activities
due to a participants inability to participate with the group. The Americans with
Disabilities Act is only applicable within the United States and facilities for
disabled individuals are limited outside its borders. Most transportation services,
including the touring motorcoach, are not equipped with wheelchair ramps. With prior
permission and waivers, we will attempt to accommodate motorized scooters on domestic
vacations, depending on the suitability of the itinerary. Motorized scooters are
not typically suitable on international tours. |
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Young Travelers:
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Travelers who are under 18 years old on the departure date must be accompanied by
an adult throughout the vacation and must share an adults accommodation. Children
under 8 years of age are not allowed on any Cosmos escorted vacations. For any special
requirements regarding airline tickets for children, contact your airline directly.
On Cosmos escorted vacations, young travelers ages 8-17 receive a 10% discount on
the base land vacation price.
Due to heightened security, many countries have adopted practices to prevent international
abductions of children. If a child will be traveling with adults other than the
parents or with only one parent, it is recommended that a notarized letter be written
by the parents or non-traveling parent granting authorization to travel, including
the dates of travel. We suggest that you also contact the appropriate consulate
and airlines because they may have additional requirements or recommendations.
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Smoking: |
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Smoking is not allowed on transportation that is exclusively provided by Cosmos.
On cruise ships, smoking is restricted to certain areas of the vessel. Many hotels
in North America have imposed a 100% non-smoking policy and many cities have imposed
non-smoking regulations in public spaces. As a standard rule, Cosmos confirms non-smoking
hotel rooms. If you require a smoking room a request may be submitted, but we cannot
guarantee availability. |
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Price Policy: |
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All vacation prices are based on rates (reflecting foreign exchange rates) known
at the time of publication and expected to be in effect at the time of departure,
and do not include airfare except where noted. Vacation prices are per person, based
on double occupancy. Single room supplements and triple room reductions are listed
where applicable. Not all accommodation types are available on all vacations. Prices
are subject to increase without notice, subject to the guarantees set forth below.
Once Cosmos has received your full deposit for any vacation departing in 2011 that
land vacation price is guaranteed and you are protected against any land price increase
due to currency surcharge. Any subsequent cost increases are at Cosmos expense,
not including energy cost increases and/or any government tax increases.
Vacation departures in 2011 are subject to itinerary modifications. Full details
will be available in October 2011. Travelers have the right to cancel their reservation
without penalty within 7 days of notification in the event of itinerary modifications
for departures in 2011. |
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Visas & Passports:
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You are responsible for obtaining and paying for all visas and entry documents,
for meeting all health and other requirements, and for any documents required by
the laws, regulations, orders, and/or requirements of the countries you will visit.
You must consult with appropriate consulates to determine if any visas are needed
and are responsible for obtaining all visas and entry documents independently. Cosmos
is not responsible for providing you with specific visa and passport information
or documentation, and Cosmos cannot accept liability for any passenger refused entry
onto any transport or into any country due to failure of the passenger to carry
correct documentation. All passengers traveling internationally are required to
have a passport. Most countries require that the passport be valid for at least
six (6) months beyond the conclusion of your trip. It is recommended you have a
minimum of three blank pages in your passport when traveling, as many countries
require blank pages. Multiple-entry visas are required for some vacations. It is
your responsibility to verify all visa and passport requirements. The process for
obtaining a visa and/or passport can take up to three months. |
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Accommodations:
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The accommodations listed on the Web site are intended to be used on all departures;
however, if a change becomes necessary for any reason, including additional departures
on the same date and/or hotel location changes, the accommodations substituted will
be equivalent to those shown. Every effort is made to reserve only twin-bedded rooms.
Occasionally, some hotels will only provide double-bedded rooms. These rooms will
be allocated to couples. Please note that accommodation check-in times vary worldwide. |
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Baggage Allowance:
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Porterage for one suitcase is included in the vacation price. Airport/train station
porterage is not included unless otherwise specified in your travel documents. Your
single bag should have dimensions not exceeding 30"x21"x11" and weight
not exceeding 50lbs (22kg). We regret that we are unable to accept a second suitcase
or any luggage exceeding these limits on any vacation. Some vacations have more
restrictive regulations than these listed above. Please refer to your Travel Documents
for more information.
Air carrier restriction may vary from the limitations listed above. Size and weight
limitations for carry-on and checked baggage vary from airline to airline and even
according to destination, and are becoming more restrictive. Some airlines charge
fees for checked baggage and these fees are not included in the airfare or the vacation
package price. Please check with your airline(s) directly for baggage information
and regulations. Cosmos is not responsible for additional fees imposed by air carriers
for baggage. Regulations within most airports require that travelers handle their
own luggage through customs. No responsibility is accepted by Cosmos for loss of
or damage to baggage or any of the travelers belongings throughout the duration
of the vacation. Baggage insurance is recommended.
Carry-on bags should not exceed the dimensions of 12"x11"x6". For
safety reasons, wheeled carry-on bags are not suitable as hand luggage on motorcoaches
and mini-buses. Carry-on bags must be small enough to store in overhead bins or
under the seat in front of you on motorcoaches and other transportation. |
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Travel Documents:
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Passenger Travel Documents and e-tickets (if applicable), are sent to your travel
agent approximately 2-3 weeks prior to departure, provided full invoice payment
has been received. If documents cannot be received through your Travel Agent or
via email and need to be delivered to any address by mail or courier, charges as
applicable, are paid by the passengers and these costs will be quoted at the time
of reservation. Delivery of paper airline tickets will attract an extra delivery
charge for covering courier expenses. This charge will be informed to you at the
time of making the reservation.
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Not Included in the Vacation Price: |
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Federal inspection fees for the Federal U.S. Customs and Immigrations; International
Air Transportation tax; agricultural tax; other per person taxes imposed by government
entities; airport taxes and fees including the September 11th Security fee up to
$10 per person, passenger facility charges up to $18 per person, Federal domestic
flight segment fees up to $3.50 per segment, and U.S. and International arrival
and departure and other government-imposed fees up to $200 per person; port taxes;
passports; visas and vaccinations; tips to your Tour or Cruise Director, Local Host,
driver, Local Guides, and/or ships crew; gratuities on ferries, trains, and cruise
ships; laundry; telephone; minibar; alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the
contracted Cosmos menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant or onboard your vessel
(these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel, ship, or restaurant);
optional excursions; airport transfers on non-qualifying flights; airport transfers
with cruise only, porterage at airports and train stations; Trip Protection; baggage
fees; and all other items of a personal nature. |
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Refunds: |
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Please note that any request for refunds is subject to these Terms & Conditions;
no refund will be made for unused services of less than 48 consecutive hours, for
unused transportation where group activity tickets are involved or for voluntary
modifications made by the traveler. Customers not using the included transfer will
not be given a cash equivalent or vacation price reduction.. |
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Service Inquiries after the Vacation: |
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After returning from your vacation, if you wish to inquire about any services provided,
please ensure that all correspondence relating to those services is received by
Cosmos, Traveler Services, Group Voyagers Inc. (see address under Responsibility).Any
complaint or claim involving the vacation services offered on the Web sites must
be notified to Cosmos within 30 days of the tour completion, except where such time
limitations are prohibited by law. Any complaint or claim involving the vacation
services offered on the Web sites must be notified to Cosmos within 30 days of the
tour completion, except where such time limitations are prohibited by law.
As it is difficult and sometimes impossible to properly investigate a complaint
if Cosmos is not advised of such complaint quickly, any compensation you may have
been able to claim could be reduced or even forfeited if you do not follow the complaints
procedure set out in this clause.
In the event of a problem or complaint involving the negligence of any suppliers,
sub-contractors, or agents in relation to any service provided to the vacation participant,
Cosmos must receive the complaint while on the tour or cruise or within 30 days
of tour completion. |
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Holidays: |
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During local or national holidays or special events, on Sundays, and religious occasions,
certain facilities such as museums, churches, restaurants, sightseeing tours, and
shopping may be limited or not available. Alternatives will be offered whenever
possible. Cosmos cannot be held responsible for any closures or curtails for any
reason. |
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Christmas market tours: |
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Please note that Christmas markets generally close prior to Christmas Eve. |
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Safety: |
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Please be aware that during your participation in vacations operated by Cosmos,
certain risks and dangers may arise beyond our control, including but not limited
to: the hazards of traveling in undeveloped areas; travel by boat, train, automobile,
aircraft, or other means of transportation; forces of nature; political unrest;
acts of lawlessness or terrorism; and accident or illness in remote regions without
means of rapid evacuation or medical facilities. Cosmos will not have liability
regarding provision of medical care or the adequacy of any care that may be rendered.
While Cosmos will use its best efforts to ensure the adequate measures are taken,
by agreeing to participate in a tour and/or optional excursions you agree that you
will hold Cosmos harmless regarding any provision of medical care or the adequacy
of any care rendered.
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Photographs or Pictures: |
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Photographs or pictures appearing on the web site should be used solely as an indication
of facilities and attractions. Actual facilities and attractions may vary according
to itinerary. Maps shown on the vacation pages are current at the time of printing
and may not reflect the actual tour routing should the itinerary change. |
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Optional Excursions & Activities: |
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The air carriers, accommodations, and other suppliers (referred to as the Suppliers)
(including but not limited to trains, cruises, ferries, motorcoaches, hotels, and
restaurants) providing optional activities and excursions (the Services) in the
area of the vacation itinerary that are available for booking are not run, supervised,
or controlled in any way by Cosmos. These services are provided by local operators
or other third parties that are entirely independent of Cosmos, which has no control
and has no right of control over the operations of these independent contractors.
Such activities and excursions do not form any part of the product or services sold
to you by Cosmos or of these Terms & Conditions, even where Cosmos suggests
particular operators/other third parties and/or assists you in booking such activities
or excursions. Your contract for such activity or excursion will be with the organizer
or operator of that activity or excursion and will be subject to its Terms &
Conditions, which may contain exclusions or limitations of liability. Cosmos has
no liability for any such activity or excursion or for any act(s) or omission(s)
of the organizer or operator or for any of its employees or agents or any other
person(s) connected with the activity or excursion.
Any advice or assistance on or with any activity or excursion provided by any local
representative does not mean or imply that the activity or excursion is sold, supervised,
or controlled by Cosmos or that any such advice or assistance is given on behalf
of Cosmos. Vacation participants are asked to check with the operator of any activity
or excursion and the applicable Terms & Conditions before booking. |
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Responsibility: |
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Group Voyagers, Inc., located at 5301 South Federal Circle, Littleton, Colorado
80123, is an independent company (the Company) licensed to market and distribute
travel products under the Cosmos brand name, and arrange for the vacation services
offered on its Web site, including transportation, sightseeing, and accommodations
through independent contracts.
Air carriers, accommodations, and other suppliers (including but not limited to
trains, cruises, ferries, motorcoaches, hotels, and restaurants) providing services
are independent contractors and are not agents, employees, servants, or joint venturers
of the Company or its affiliates. All certificates and other travel documents for
services issued by the Company are subject to the Terms & Conditions specified
by the supplier, which are available upon request, and to the laws of the countries
in which the services are supplied.
The international carriage of passengers is subject to international conventions
and treaties, where applicable. These international agreements limit and, in some
events, exclude the carriers liability to passengers (vacation participants). Where
any claim or part of a claim (including those involving death or personal injury)
concerns or involves any travel arrangements (including the process of getting on
or off the transport concerned) provided by any air, sea, inland waterways, rail,
or road carrier or any stay in a hotel, the Companys maximum liability is the maximum
which would be payable by the carrier or the hotel keeper concerned under the applicable
international convention, treaty, or regulation applicable to the travel arrangements
or hotel stay (e.g., the Warsaw Convention, the Montral Convention for international
travel by air, the EU Regulation on Air Carrier Liability for air carriers with
an operating license granted by an EU country, the Athens Convention for international
travel by sea) in that situation.
After departure, if the services included in the vacation cannot be supplied or
there are changes in an itinerary for reasons beyond the control of the Company,
the Company will arrange for the provision of comparable services. Any resulting
additional expense will be the responsibility of vacation participants, and any
resulting savings will be refunded by the Company to vacation participants.
The Company reserves the right to accept or reject any person as a vacation participant;
to expel any participant from the vacation; to make changes in the itinerary whenever
the Company deems it necessary for the comfort, convenience, or safety of the participants;
and to cancel a vacation at any time.
The vacation participant agrees that neither the Company nor its affiliates shall
be liable for any damage, loss (including personal injury, death, and property loss),
or expense occasioned by any act or omission of any supplier providing services,
any insurer or insurance administrator under the Trip Protection Plan, or any other
person.
Any dispute between the vacation participant and the Company directly or indirectly
relating to the Terms & Conditions shall be first submitted to mediation at
Denver, Colorado, before a mediator mutually agreed to by the parties. If mediation
is not successful, the dispute must be resolved by binding arbitration under Colorado
law before the Judicial Arbiter Group or its successor located at 1601 Blake Street,
Denver, Colorado 80202. The prevailing party shall be entitled to an award of costs
and reasonable attorneys fees. Any action to enforce the arbitrators decision shall
be brought in the state or federal courts in the State of Colorado.
Arbitration against the Company must be commenced within one year following the
date of tour completion. Neither the Company nor any affiliate shall in any case
be liable for other than compensatory damages, and you hereby waive any right to
punitive damages.
No person, other than an authorized representative of the Company by a document
in writing, is authorized to vary, add, or waive any term or condition on its Web
site, including any term or condition set forth in the preceding provisions. |
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Trade Name: |
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Cosmos is a service mark registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
CST#2017032-20 |
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