Booking Terms and Conditions

RESERVATIONS

Thank you for choosing eWaterways ("The Company") operated by Online Distribution Corporation (USA and Canada) and Doongara UK Ltd (company reg no. 07080708)  in the United Kingdom

To make reservations, book on-line, or visit your Travel Professional or contact us directly at:

eWaterways.com
Greenleaf Road,
Vancouver, BC 98121
Phone: +1-877-359-7458
Email: sales@ewaterways.com

Or

eWaterways.com
27 Victoria Square
London SW1W 0RB
United Kingdom
Phone: +44 0808 168 1458
Email: sales@ewaterways.com

The transportation of passengers and baggage is governed by these Terms & Conditions sent at the time of booking and the Terms & Conditions of Passage Contract contained in your travel documents. Your purchase of the passenger cruise ticket and acceptance of passage on a vessel constitute acceptance of these Terms & Conditions and the Terms & Conditions of Passage Contract. Such terms affect your legal rights and we recommend you read all terms carefully (in the event of conflict between the provisions in this document and the Terms & Conditions of Passage Contract, the latter shall prevail). Cruises and cruise/land tours are sold on a space available basis. eWaterways will make every effort to provide accommodations in the cabin of your choice and/or the main hotel properties we use. If these are not available at the time you book with us, we will confirm you in alternate accommodation. You will know at time of documentation (approximately four (4) weeks prior to departure – or when available) what cabin and/or hotel property you are confirmed in.

eWaterways strongly recommends that all guests purchase a comprehensive Trip Cancellation/Interruption Protection that includes Medical Expense and Emergency Evacuation coverage for the full purchase price of the cruise as well as air and/or land program costs.

FORM OF PAYMENT

We accept Credit Cards, (Visa and Master Card). Wire Transfers/ Bankers Drafts/ Travelers Cheques or Money Orders, are also accepted forms of payment. Bank checks are acceptable if received more than 90 days prior to the departure date. All credit card payments are subject to a 2% payment card fee. Please add USD 25 / GBP 15 for wire transfers. Reservations made within 30 days of the departure date are subject to a USD 50.- / GBP 30.- late registration fee. Returned checks will incur a USD 50 / GBP 30 service fee. In case of computer or human billing error, we reserve the right to re-invoice participants with corrected billing.

CREDIT CARD POLICY

By authorizing and making payment by credit card for cruise vacations/holidays hereunder and by signing the Universal Credit Card Charge Form attached hereto the Passenger expressly agrees to waive His/her rights under any relevant cardholder agreement or applicable law to subsequently cancel or suspend any such credit card transaction. The Passenger further expressly authorizes the Company to present this documentation to the bank or credit card issuer as evidence of acceptance by said Passenger that such credit card transaction is final and not Subject to refund, reduction, cancellation or revocation, except as specifically provided in these Terms and Conditions. The Company reserves the right to charge final payment to The credit card in the event that the cardholder fails to make any payment on the due date.

DEPOSIT (For all individual departures):

• 30% of cruise/tour rate for all cabins, all destinations or as per supplier policy.

This deposit/payment must be received within three (3) working days after your date of booking. Reservations will not be considered firm until such deposit is received. If you choose to purchase Travel protection, the premium payment must be paid at the same time as your initial deposit.

FINAL PAYMENT:

Final payment for all itineraries must be received at eWaterways in advance, ninety (90) days prior to departure, or in full at the time of reservation if less than the ninety (90) days advance payment period.

If final payment is not received on time, your reservation may be released and rebooking will then be subject to final availability.

DEPOSIT (for charter bookings of an entire vessel):
(Subject to individual supplier requirements)

• From 15% of the charter fee is payable at the time of booking with the charter booking form attached hereto duly signed.
• The difference between the initial deposit and 30% of the total rate is payable as a further deposit 180 Days prior to departure.
• The balance of the charter rate is payable 120 prior to departure.

To qualify for the charter group rate, one person must act as designated tour leader and be responsible for the charter contract and make all payments to the Company, as per the Terms and Conditions, on behalf of all passengers in the charter group.

LATE RESERVATIONS & CHANGES:

We welcome late bookings (made ninety (90) days or less before departure), however full payment is required for late bookings at the time of reservation, by wire transfer, credit card or cashier's check.

A handling fee of USD 50,- or GBP 30,- per person will be charged for changes to your travel arrangements, including name changes made within thirty (30) days prior to departure or after the issuance of travel documents, whichever comes first.

Spelling corrections to clients' names after travel documents have been issued are subject to the carriers' revision fees.

However, additional charges will not apply when adding additional tour components before the issuance of travel documents.

Guests may transfer to higher priced accommodations which may be available during boarding or after sailing without penalty by paying the difference in the published full cruise prices in full at the time the change is made.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Cancellation must be made in writing to the Company and are effective only upon receipt by eWaterways. All issued documents must be returned together with the cancellation. Please allow 4 weeks from receipt by the company of the cancellation notice and unused cruise ticket(s) for forwarding of any refunds due.

Per Person Cancellation Charges:

Note: Travel protection can be underwritten by Travelguard and premiums are not refundable.

• Anytime 180+ days prior to departure 20% of fare*
• 179-120 days prior to departure...........full deposit (30%)
• 119-61 days prior to departure...........50% of fare
• 60-31 days prior to departure...........75% of fare
• 30-0 days prior to departure...........100% of fare

*A future cruise credit certificate for 50% of the amount lost will be given, to be applied to future bookings.

A change in your departure date is considered to be a cancellation of your reservation and is subject to applicable cancellation fees.

CANCELLATION OF CHARTER BOOKINGS

• Charter deposits are non refundable
• More than 180 days prior to departure deposits may be applied toward individual bookings on the same vessel subject to a $400 surcharge per passenger, provided the cruise ship will operate the Itinerary on a per person basis.
• 180 – 121 days prior to departure the greater of the initial deposit or 25% deposit will be retained
• Less than 120 days prior to departure no refund will be given.

No refunds will be given in the event of interruption or cancellation of the cruise by the passenger after the start of travel, nor for unused portions of any package or cruise, nor for any unused sightseeing tours or meals.

REFUNDS:

No refunds will be made on unused tours, transfers or accommodations when voluntarily canceled or omitted by the passenger, or for missed package features due to airline or other third-party transportation providers' delays or for other acts beyond our control. Claims and adjustments for services not operated as intended by us must be applied for in writing within thirty (30) days of the end of your cruise, and will be refunded through the original booking agency. No refunds are issued for cancellations received after the departure date of the tour. If you cancel your tour, cancellation fees and penalties will be deducted from your refund. Cancellation fees apply to each person.

BEST PRICE GUARANTEE

In the event that we discount a departure for which you are booked, we will upon request provide a eWaterways travel certificate representing the value of the difference between your fare and the lower promotional fare. eWaterways travel certificates can be applied to any future eWaterways cruise, booked within one year of issue.

CRUISE PROGRAM CHANGES

From time to time, a booked vessel may become inoperative or unavailable (for example mechanical failure, fire or water damage, flooding, etc.) eWaterways and its suppliers reserve the right to cancel a sailing prior to departure and transfer passengers to another boat in a similar category with or without the same itinerary or in a different region with a different itinerary. Should no alternate be available, eWaterways sole obligation is to refund all money paid to it by the client who shall have no further claim on eWaterways or its agents. If, once departed, navigation must be suspended, passengers will continue to be accommodated on the boat and regular excursions will be made, if possible. In this case, no refund will be made for partial cruises. The captain's judgment on any action or inaction is considered final.

RATES

All prices featured in our programs and websites are subject to change without notice. Some programs require a minimum number of participants. Should that cruise fall below the minimum passengers required, we reserve the right to cancel the tour and/or charge a supplement. Prices on our websites are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice due to changes in market factors including but not limited to foreign currency and supplier cost fluctuations. Prices set forth in future web pages shall supersede the prices on this website.

AIR TRANSPORTATION

Air transportation, if included by the supplier, is in economy class on IATA-approved carriers. Ticketing must be completed no later than 30 days prior to departure, though in some instances, discount fares require immediate ticketing and are non-refundable. Fares are based on levels in effect at the time a reservation is made or in the case of tours, at the time of printing; prices and schedules are subject to change without notice. Once ticketed, all changes to air reservations are subject to airline regulations and fees. Passengers are responsible for reconfirming their flights should the airline require so. Airport taxes and fees are not included and are subject to change without notice.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATION

Hotel accommodation, if included, is per person, based on twin-bedded rooms; in some countries double beds are possible. eWaterways reserves the right to substitute similar category hotels without prior notice. No reductions are available for triple rooms. Single room occupancy is subject to a single supplement.

DOCUMENTATION:

Documents include a detailed itinerary, air tickets (if applicable), vouchers for certain prepaid services, and baggage tags. These can be downloaded or will be mailed approximately four (4) weeks prior to departure. Please note that late final payments may delay your receipt of documents. The charge for replacing lost or destroyed documents is USD 45 or GBP 30,- per set.

PASSENGERS TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

A valid passport is required for travel, valid at least 6 months after return date. All international voyages will require that each passenger, including children, bring a passport. In addition, eWaterways.com must receive identification/passport particulars (such as ID number, full legal name and date of birth) at least forty-five (45) days prior to departure. ID information not received at least forty-five (45) days prior will result in a USD 30,- or GBP 20,- per booking rush- handling fee. You are responsible for securing proper documentation, including any necessary visas, for the countries visited on your cruise or land tour. Boarding may be denied or fines may be levied against those guests without proper documentation. Payment of any fines levied is the responsibility of the individual guest. There will be no refunds for unused cruise or tour portions if boarding is denied or early disembarkation is necessary due to the lack of proper documentation. Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard and other government agencies require eWaterways.com to collect and pass on certain personal and other details related to you, including but not limited to government-issued identification and passport details. If you fail to supply the details requested fully and accurately, boarding may be denied or you may be required to immediately disembark. Government-issued photo identification must be presented at the time of boarding.

SMOKING POLICY:

In accordance with legislation, a strict non smoking policy applies in the accommodation area of all vessels. Smoking if allowed, will only be in designated areas outside while onboard the ship.

POLICIES REGARDING CHILDREN

Policies regarding children on cruise ships varies from supplier to supplier. Many Cruise ships discourage children traveling, but in general terms any child under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 21. If the adult accompanying this child is not a parent, a notarized "Parental Consent Guardianship Form" must be signed by parent or legal guardian and received by the supplier prior to sailing.Several vessels are unable to accommodate children under one year of age and reserves the right to restrict the number of those under three years of age. Babysitting services cannot be arranged in advance nor be guaranteed. Parents must be diligent to guard their children while onboard. The ships are not equipped to provide pre-natal, post-natal or pediatric services.

CHILD REDUCTIONS

Some cruise ships offer a discount when Children share a cabin with two paying adults. Port taxes are not discounted.

INDEPENDENT TRAVEL:

All arrangements confirmed on your itinerary and invoice is made for you on an individual, non-escorted basis. Ship personnel will greet you upon arrival unless otherwise noted in your documents. A transfer, to your hotel or the pier for departure and baggage handling, will be provided if included in your trip itinerary, please check your confirmation document for details. The ships personnel will provide further assistance throughout your cruise, including coordination of any included or optional shore excursions. They may arrange for the transportation of passengers to and from the vessel or for excursions, accommodations or any other additional activities away from the vessel, only as a convenience to you and shall not be liable or responsible in any respect for any property damage or personal injury or death arising in connection with such arrangements or otherwise.

LATE ARRIVALS:

Travelers who book their air arrangements through our affiliated agencies will be scheduled to connect with cruise and cruise/land tour departures. In the event of flight delays, we will make every reasonable effort to connect you to your ongoing itinerary. Additional costs incurred are at your expense. These can be mitigated if you purchase an AIG or Travelguard Cruise insurance, including trip delay expenses, and common carrier delay.

ARRIVALS ON YOUR OWN:

If you are booking your own air transportation or otherwise arriving on your own, it is your responsibility to arrive at your departing vessel by the time stated in your itinerary. We are happy to, at your cost, arrange a transfer on day of cruise/land tour departure if you request this at the time of booking and advise us of your air itinerary. In case of delay, the ships personnel will endeavor to connect you with your ongoing itinerary, at your expense.

CRUISE PROVISIONS

The prices shown in USD or GBP are the Net Cruise rates per Person exclusive of:

• Taxes, port charges, fees, and onboard optional services
• Service charges to all personnel onboard the vessels
• Airfare from your home city and return
• Passport and visa fees
• Fuel surcharges
• Air departure taxes
• Please see the surcharge provisions discussed below

Please see the individual itineraries for inclusions.

BAGGAGE:

Handling of baggage is included based on your vacation itinerary. Some airlines may charge extra for baggage above a certain weight; check with the airline(s) you are flying. We accept no responsibility for loss or damage to baggage or any other belongings while in the custody of airline, rail, coach or hotel, and our responsibility for baggage while in our custody is limited. Travel protection is strongly recommended.

EXTRA COST PROVISION:

If, as a result of inclement weather or other conditions beyond our control that may prevent or delay your vacation departure or arrival, you must book additional hotel or transportation arrangements, the additional costs are solely your responsibility. Travel protection is strongly recommended.

LIMITS OF RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COMPANY:

Unless expressly stated otherwise on any ticket or other documentation issued by the company to the passenger, the company including its employees, representatives agents and/ or assigns acts only as an agent to provide transportation, accommodation and other related services to the Passenger by purchasing such services from the vessel operators and other service providers contracted to the company.

The Travel Document(s) issued to the passenger by any Operator or Service Provider, if any, constitute(s) the sole contract between the passenger and said Operator or Service Provider, and the company assumes no responsibility or liability in any circumstances for acts or omissions connected therewith. The passenger fully understands and agrees that The Company is not liable or responsible for any of the following:

• any personal injury, death, property damage or loss occasioned by theft, vandalism, fire, water, weather conditions, explosion, or any cause whatsoever, whether foreseeable or unforeseeable, or for any loss of whatever kind or nature arising out of or in connection with the acts or omissions, whether foreseeable or unforeseeable or any loss of any kind or nature arising out of or in connection with the acts or omissions whether negligent or intended of any third party, regardless of the relationship, if any, between such third party and the Passenger, or the Company; and
• any event that is beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to Acts of God, strikes, lockouts, work stoppages, riots, floods, government acts, terrorism, criminal activity, Passenger illness or vessel damage; and
• any additional expenses incurred by the Passenger as a result of any delay or failure of and/or by any Operator or contractor of any services connected with the specific booking; and
• any loss sustained by the Passenger as a result of any cancellation, delay, advancement or postponement of any tour by any Operator or any service provider such as steamship company, airline, railroad, vehicle rental company, hotel or similar or their agent.

All the cruises outlined herein will be carried out under the business management of the various cruise companies. As a wholesaler, we act as agent for various principals and are in no way to be considered the principal or operator of the services for which we act as agent. We reserve the right to cancel or alter any itinerary as current conditions require. Tour operators and/or travel agencies booking these cruises, including us, will not be responsible for any expense due to delays, weather conditions, or cancellation of transportation in these cruises, or any increase in taxes, transportation or hotel rates effective after program publication.

RESERVATION OF RIGHTS

The Company on behalf of itself and the Operators reserves the right to:

• accept a maximum of two cabins for single occupation for any single cruise;
• cancel any itinerary in whole or in part;
• make such alteration to any itinerary as it reasonably deems necessary or desirable;
• refuse to accept or retain as a member of a tour any person at any time. In no circumstances will the Passenger be allowed to embark unless the full cruise fare due has been paid.

In the event of alteration or cancellation, the Company may, but is not obligated to, substitute or provide another vessel of similar standard. Otherwise, the Company shall refund any fare paid.

eWaterway itineraries, routes and vessel alterations and substitutions: Situations may arise which, in our sole discretion, make it necessary for us to cancel, advance or postpone a scheduled departure, change itineraries, or make substitutions involving hotels, restaurants, ports of call, other travel components, vessels or other modes of transportation. Situations which may cause these changes include but are not limited to casualty, weather, acts of God, labor problems, the need to render assistance to others, governmental or insurer directives, guest or employee injury or illness, schedule delays or changes by third parties, repair and maintenance requirements, fuel or other shortages, or damage to the ship, other means of transportation, roads, tracks, bridges, docks equipment or machinery. Consequently, we cannot guarantee the itinerary of the cruise, cruise/tour or any land trip (including time of sailing from or arrival at any port or that all ports will, in fact, be called at or that all places on your cruise/tour will be visited.) All routes are subject to change without notice. Some waterways may be subject to occasional closures due to drought, storms, floods, canal or lock repairs or other unforeseen circumstances that result in conditions unsafe for navigation. In the unlikely event of such occurrences, the following conditions shall apply:

• if navigation must be suspended, Passengers will continue to be accommodated on the stationary vessel and the regular excursions will continue to be made, with cruising to be continued as soon as possible. By way of compensation for any absence of cruising, additional excursions will be provided by the vessel's crew,
• the Company reserve the right to reverse a cruise route, cruise another waterway or transfer Passengers to another vessel of similar standard,
• in any decision related to navigation, the judgment of the vessel's Captain on any action or inaction is considered final.

We are not responsible or liable for any resulting losses, expenses, or inconvenience. Your full cruise fare will be refunded, if the cruise is cancelled prior to initial embarkation, however we are not required to make refunds once travel commences regardless of the reason for guests being unable to complete their travel. Each passenger is responsible for arriving at the vessel at least one (1) hour before departure, with passage hire fully earned if the departure is missed unless caused by our sole negligence. Passage contracts are not transferable. We may cancel or withdraw any cruise or portion thereof with refund based on the actual cost of the unfinished portion of your cruise. eWaterways reserves the right to assess fare and charges in effect at the time of bookings, as well as fuel, federal or state taxes or fees and/or any other unexpected imposed surcharges we incur up to your cruise/land tour departure date. Any such additional charges will be in addition to your quoted cruise price and may be added to your final bill.

eWaterways, the cruise company or the Captain of the vessel may, at our/his/her sole discretion, refuse to transport, confine to a stateroom, or disembark any passenger for, among other things, illness, disease, injury, or mental problems posing a direct threat to the health or safety of self or others, vulgar or improper conduct, illegal substance possession or abuse, refusal to obey regulations, or for otherwise endangering other passengers or the crew. Passenger to bear all expenses. Each passenger – or if a minor, his/her parent or guardian – shall be liable to and reimburse us for all damages to the vessel and its furnishings, equipment, and property caused by any willful or negligent act or omission on the part of the passenger.

SPECIAL MEDICAL CONDITIONS

We cannot guarantee special facilities or assistance for disabled passengers and it is the passenger responsibility to arrange any such assistance they may require. eWaterways is not responsible for any medical conditions that occur prior, during or after the tour. eWaterways will do its best to coordinate meals for special diets when possible, but cannot be responsible for same.

HEALTH AND DISABILITY:

The Passenger warrant that

• A.that he/she is in good general health; and those traveling with the Passenger are each physically fit to travel at the time of embarkation.
• that he/she shall abide by the safety instructions as given out by the Captain and crew of the vessel;
• that he/she shall not operate or seek to operate any vehicle owned or operated by a boat, hotel or other service provider except vehicles that are provided for the express use of the Passengers; and
• that he/she shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its employees, agents, representatives and assigns against any and all liabilities, costs and expenses (including legal fees and costs of litigation)which may be incurred in connection with any claims, suits or any cause of action brought by him/her against any third party, or by any third party against him/her, his/her heirs, representatives or assigns regarding injury or loss to person or property sustained by him/her or such third party, directly or indirectly, arising out of events, acts or omissions, no matter how caused or created, that occur during the course of a cruise tour.

The Passenger must, at the time of booking, inform us in writing of any accommodation he/she will need as a result of a disability or preexisting medical condition.

Passengers are advised that personal services and devices, such as wheelchairs or oxygen equipment, will not be provided. Passengers in need of services of a personal nature, such as assistance in eating, toileting, or dressing, are responsible for arranging for such services and are encouraged to travel with a companion for such purposes. eWaterways is unable to offer such special assistance.

Accessibility may be limited onboard ships or at some ports of call, and on some shore excursions.

At the time of embarkation, the guest is responsible to have received all medical inoculations necessary for the trip and must have in his or her possession all documents necessary for the scheduled ports of call and disembarkation. Failure to have these documents may result in boarding being denied or early disembarkation.

Onboard ships:

Certain physical conditions may limit accessibility to and within some areas of a ship. In some instances, staff members will be available to assist passengers so that accessibility is possible. Such conditions may be:

• Raised doorway thresholds
• No elevators
• Steep stairways

Embarking and disembarking:

Due to tidal conditions and port facilities, the ease of embarking and disembarking varies greatly, and may include steep gangways and dock ramps. For some destinations, inflatable excursion craft are the only way to get ashore. This will involve transferring into and out of the craft when alongside the ship and at the shore.

Ashore:

Land tours may include many hours of touring in a variety of physical environments such as (but not limited to):

• uneven terrain
• rocky trails
• museums and buildings without elevators, and stairways without handrails
• high altitude

The Captain reserves the right to limit passenger participation in some activities due to safety considerations. You should contact eWaterways with any questions regarding accessibility onboard, at ports of call, or on transportation services to and from the ship. If you have any questions regarding whether travel is appropriate due to a disability or medical condition, you are strongly advised to contact your physician.

Medical Facilities and Medical & Personal Services:

An Important Reminder: The policy and practice of eWaterways and our suppliers is to assist our passengers where possible with any special needs or routine medical care that may be needed, either onboard ship or ashore. However, the ships are equipped to provide only very limited medical care and are stocked with limited medical supplies. We cannot offer care for conditions requiring specialized expertise or equipment. Passengers with such conditions, or in the event of an emergency situation, may be evacuated at their expense. Due to the limitations of medical facilities, passengers with serious medical conditions or women with pregnancy complications or in their third trimester of pregnancy may wish to consult their physicians to determine whether travel is appropriate. Passengers should also review their insurance policies to determine whether treatment occurring onboard the vessel or while traveling is covered. In some cases, our services or care will be less than the level you anticipate or find offered by medical shore facilities. Also, some passengers will find accessibility difficult either while moving about on ship, transferring on/off ship, or ashore.

Photographs, Video, Etc.:

eWaterways and our suppliers frequently photographs, films, or records passengers and activities during the course of a cruise. Copies of such photographs, etc. may be available for a modest charge. As our passenger, eWaterways is hereby authorized to take and to use such photographs, etc. for marketing and training purposes without being obligated to compensate the passenger.

eWaterways.com reserves the right to assess fare and charges in effect at the time of bookings, as well as fuel, federal or state taxes or fees and/or any other unexpected imposed surcharges we incur up to your cruise/land tour departure date. Any such charges will be in addition to your quoted cruise price and may be added to your final bill.

GOVERNING LAW AND RESPONSIBILITY

All contracts incorporating these Terms and Conditions shall be governed by the Laws of the United Kingdom. The Price Listed on the website and the documents issued in conjunction with these Terms and Conditions are the sole responsibility of The Company.