GENERAL LIABILITY STATEMENT:
Your Cruise Planners travel advisors of Desert Travel Group; Melita Martin Radtke, Travis Radtke and/or George Maldonado, are acting as an agent for cruise lines and tour operators when booking reservations for travel-related services such as air and ground transportation, hotel accommodations, meals, tours, cruises, and excursions. Travel services are not directly supplied by Melita Martin Radtke, Travis Radtke and/or George Maldonado / Cruise Planners. Therefore, Melita Martin Radtke, Travis Radtke and/or George Maldonado / Cruise Planners shall not be responsible for breach of contract, failure to comply with any laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), or any intentional or negligent actions or omissions on the part of the suppliers of travel services that result in any loss, damage, delay, inconvenience or injury to travelers or travelers’ companions or group members.
PANDEMIC LIABILITY STATEMENT:
• During the COVID-19 pandemic many cruise lines and tour operators may cancel with short notice. In this event most are offering either future cruise credit or cash refunds, depending on company. Some may transfer your deposit to another date. Credits and refunds could take over 90 days to be issued to you. Policies are subject to change.
• Cruise lines, tour operators and resorts are administering new health and safety protocols and requirements due to COVID-19. This is for your protection. Most cruise lines are requiring that passengers be fully vaccinated and present a negative COVID-19 test taken no greater than two or three days prior to cruise departure. Specifics vary by cruise line; Melita Martin Radtke, Travis Radtke and/or George Maldonado, will share this information prior to your placing a deposit, as it is known at that time. Protocols are subject to change.
Melita Martin Radtke, Travis Radtke and/or George Maldonado / Cruise Planners is not responsible for any incidents pertaining to COVID-19 or any pandemic, including last-minute cancellation by any cruise or tour company, reimbursement by any cruise or tour company, falling ill from any pandemic while on vacation, being required to quarantine or take a COVID-19 test before, during, or after your vacation, or being required to adhere to any new health and safety protocol in place in order to take a plane, cruise, or enjoy a tour or resort.
It is the traveler's responsibility to check travel.state.gov for current travel alert warning levels and requirements.
TRIP INSURANCE:
• COVID-19 Insurance
Cruise Planners is partnered with trip insurance company Allianz. Allianz does not cover cancellation of any vacation due to fear of contracting COVID-19 or any other malady. However, Allianz is currently providing coverage if you develop the illness before or during your trip. Allianz is also providing limited quarantine coverage, if it has been determined that you, as an individual, must quarantine upon arriving at your destination. This does not include general quarantine requirements made known before the trip. Coverage is subject to change, and all claims are subject to review by Allianz.
• General Allianz Information:
Allianz trip insurance will be quoted immediately before placing your deposit and/or immediately before final payment. Insurance provided by Allianz is comprehensive and includes coverage for cancellation, travel delays, airline issues, and medical while on your trip -- for qualifying reasons. If a member of your family falls seriously ill, requiring you to stay at home -- as verified by a doctor -- you can file a claim for cancellation. Travel vendor bankruptcy protection is provided, for approved travel vendors, when a policy is purchased within 14 days of deposit -- for Allianz Worldwide Travel Protection or Allianz Cancel Anytime. If the insured trip is cancelled, and a claim has not been filed, the insurance policy can be switched to a different trip that takes place within 770 days of policy purchase, and a premium adjustment will be made. The insurance premium can ordinarily only be refunded within 10-15 days of policy purchase (depending on state), but terms may differ during Covid-19. A travel waiver will be sent to you prior to final payment.
Please note: Melita Martin Radtke, Travis Radtke and/or George Maldonado / Cruise Planners can arrange for your purchase of insurance but is not an insurer or broker, and makes such arrangements solely as a convenience to travelers. The insured should consult the terms and conditions of coverage established by the insurance provider. Melita Martin Radtke, Travis Radtke and/or George Maldonado / Cruise Planners assumes no responsibility whatsoever for the conditions, coverages, or exclusions of any insurance purchased.
PAYMENTS:
Payments are accepted by credit or debit card only. Personal checks, cash, money orders and bank checks are not accepted, with the exception of Viking's eCheck option. For liability reasons, a secure credit card authorization form will be emailed to you prior to placing your deposit and must be returned prior to payment. Every new credit card will require a new credit card authorization. Credit and debit card numbers will no longer be accepted by phone.
REQUIRED TRAVEL ID FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS:
CRUISES:
Travel ID required for cruises that begin and end at the same AMERICAN port (called a closed-loop cruise):
*A regular passport (called a passport book) valid for a minimum of six months post-cruise, or a passport card, or two forms of matching ID: an original, certified, state-issued birth certificate (NOT hospital-issued), AND a matching government ID with photo, such as a driver's license. If the two forms of ID don't match, a bridge document is necessary, such as a marriage certificate.
Children 15 and younger: A passport valid for a minimum of six months post-cruise, or an original, certified, state-issued birth certificate (not hospital-issued).
Exceptions: Some Caribbean countries require a passport, even on closed-loop cruises. Information will be sent at the time of booking.
Important: If you must cut your cruise short for any reason, such as an emergency back home, an illness during your trip, or a missed port -- requiring you to fly home -- you will always be required to have a passport to re-enter the United States by air from any foreign country, regardless of age.
Travel ID required for one-way cruises: A regular passport (passport book) valid for at least six months post cruise.
Please be aware that there are certain excursions on an Alaska cruise that enter Canada. On these excursions a passport book or passport card might be required, regardless of age. Inquire with Melita Martin Radtke, Travis Radtke and/or George Maldonado.
Land and cruise travel completely outside the United States: A passport valid for a minimum of six months post-trip is required. A visa may also be necessary; this information will be shared at the time of your booking.
To apply for or renew a passport go here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html/
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TRAVEL WITH MINORS:
If you are traveling with a minor who is not your own child or for whom you do not have full legal custody, you may be asked by officials for an authorization form. This is because of increased incidents of child trafficking and kidnapping. Canada is VERY strict about this issue. Please contact Melita Martin Radtke, Travis Radtke and/or George Maldonado for a form. You may or may not be asked to present it, but you do not want to be caught without it.
PREGNANCY:
Those entering their 24th week of pregnancy are not allowed on most cruise lines, and a doctor's note indicating week of pregnancy is usually requested by cruise line officials at check-in. Rules differ slightly depending on cruise line; please contact Melita Martin Radtke, Travis Radtke and/or George Maldonado for more information.
ALASKA CRUISES ALMOST ALWAYS INCLUDE A STOP IN CANADA. CANADA HAS STRICT ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS (MISDEMEANORS OR FELONIES). THOSE STAYING ON THE SHIP ARE NOT EXEMPT.
Please refer to the important information at the following link: DesertTravelGroup.com/Important Canadian Entry Info
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Carrying the proper travel ID, having permission to travel with minors not your own, carrying a note from your doctor if pregnant, and obtaining an approval for rehabilitation in order to visit Canada -- if necessary-- is strictly the responsibility of the traveler. Traveler also agrees to the general liability and pandemic liability as indicated above, when booking through Melita Martin Radtke, Travis Radtke and/or George Maldonado, Cruise Planners.
