ROL's Booking Terms & Conditions
THESE BOOKING CONDITIONS APPLY ONLY IF YOUR INVOICE SHOWS ROL/ATOL OR ROL TOURS.
AT ALL OTHER TIMES THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE CRUISE LINE/SUPPLIER APPLIES.
A COPY OF THE APPLICABLE TERMS AND CONDITIONS WILL BE SENT WHEN A BOOKING IS MADE.
ROL – TOUR OPERATOR
IMPORTANT BOOKING CONDITIONS, PLEASE READ
1. CONTRACT
Your contract is with Readers Offers Ltd. (ROL), the company. A contract will exist when we have accepted a deposit and issued our confirmation invoice. Please note that these booking conditions change slightly, dependent on whether you book a ‘package’ or ‘non-package’. With a ‘package’ your contract is with ROL and for a ‘non-package’ your contract is with the supplier. A ‘package’ ‘is any pre-arranged combination of travel service; a ‘non-package’ is any single item such as flight, hotel or car hire.
2. BOOKING CONFIRMATION AND YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
As the majority of bookings are made over the phone, there is a possibility that you or we could misinterpret what was said. Consequently we will send confirmation directly to you by post, fax or e-mail. The confirmation will contain the names of the passengers that MUST be correctly spelt (including the initial or first name, the dates and time of travel, departure and arrival cities and other relevant information). As a condition of this contract, you are required to carefully check your written confirmation to ensure that it is correct and exactly matches what you booked. If it is not you are required to contact us within 24 hours of receiving your confirmation to inform us of any inaccuracy, and take a note of whom you reported it to. If you do not follow this procedure you have deprived us the opportunity of taking prompt corrective action and any consequential loss shall be your sole responsibility and not ROL
3. DEPOSIT AND PAYMENT
A non-refundable deposit of 25% of full booking value per person is required at the time of booking. Travel insurance must be paid for in full at time of booking in addition to the above deposit. Full payment must be received at least 12 weeks before departure or 16 weeks if World Cruise or sector of World Cruise. If the balance is not paid in time, we reserve the right to cancel the booking and retain the deposit. All reservations made less than 12 weeks (16 weeks World Cruise and World Cruise sectors) prior to departure require full payment at the time of booking. Some promotional airfares will require full and non-refundable immediate payment in which cases you will be advised when booking.
4. PRICES AND SURCHARGES
Whilst we make every effort to avoid amending prices, we reserve the right to do so at any time. The price of your travel arrangements can be varied due to changes in transportation costs such as fuel, scheduled airfares and any other airline surcharge which are part of the contract between airlines (and their agents) and the tour operator or organiser plus any UK or foreign government action such as changes in VAT or any other government imposed changes and currency changes in relation to an exchange rate variation. We will absorb an amount equivalent to 2% (except in the case of scheduled flight only sales) of the price of the arrangements, excluding insurance premiums, but should this mean paying more than 10% of the original price, you will be entitled to cancel your arrangements with a full refund of all monies paid except for insurance premiums paid or amendments charges. Should you decide to cancel on the above grounds, then you must do so in writing and within 14 days from the invoice issue date.
5. CHANGES MADE BY YOU
Should you wish to change any of the details of your booking after we have confirmed it, we will do our best to help, however we may not always be able to meet your request and are under no obligation to do so. Whenever requested changes are possible, the total itinerary costs will re recalculated, taking account into any seasonal flight or occupancy rates, cancellation charges or other supplements and a revised invoice will be issued. Additionally we will charge you £25 per person, per change up to a maximum of £100 per booking. We regret that any changes requested within 21 days of departure cannot be accepted and will be treated as a cancellation in accordance with the scale set out in paragraph 6 or 7
6. CANCELLATIONS MADE BY YOU
Notice of cancellation must be made in writing directly to the company upon receipt of which the following cancellation charges will apply
85 days or more – Loss of deposit
84-30 days - 50% of total arrangement cost
29-0 days - 100% of total arrangement cost
World Cruises and World Cruise Sectors
113 days or more - Loss of deposit
112-58 days or more - 50% of total arrangement
57-0 days - 100% of total arrangement
7. CHANGES MADE BY THE COMPANY
Due to reasons beyond our control, on occasion it may be necessary to amend certain details of your arrangements, which we reserve the right to do at any time. Minor changes, if they occur, may not necessarily be advised and will not qualify for compensation. In the case of a major change we will inform you as soon as is reasonably possible, if there is time before your departure. A major change is one that we make to your arrangements before departure, such as changing your departure airport (except between Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted) dependent upon particular circumstances, or a difference of more then 12 hours in departure times, or a change in your resort area or an offer of a lower classification of hotel accommodation. In these cases you have a choice of:
a) Accepting the changed arrangements as notified to you.
b) Purchasing another available arrangement from the company or
c) Cancelling your arrangement and receiving a full refund.
In such circumstances, we will pay you compensation on the following scale.
Period before scheduled departure within which a major change is notified to you.
Compensation per person
85 days or more – Nil
84-30 days - £20
29-0 days - £30
World Cruises and World Cruise Sectors
113 days or more - Nil
112-58 days - £20
57-0 days - £30
Once a change has been confirmed and accepted by you, no further claims for compensation or additional expenses will be allowed. In no case will we pay compensation or accept any liability if the change is due to force majeure, i.e. “unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequence of which we could not avoid even with the excise of all due care, including (by way of example only) war or threat of war, riots, civil strife, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, fire or adverse weather conditions.”
8. CANCELLATIONS MADE BY THE COMPANY
In no case, except for reasons of force majeure or failure on your part to pay the final balance, will your booking be cancelled less than 8 weeks before departure. If, however, your booking is cancelled less than 8 weeks before departure, compensation will be payable in accordance with paragraph 7. In addition, the company will return all monies paid or offer alternative arrangements of a comparable standard
9. FLIGHTS (When applicable)
a) Details of the relevant aircraft operator, routing and destination will be given to you before your booking is confirmed. Please note however, that it is sometimes necessary to change the carrier, aircraft type, routing (e.g. from direct non-stop to indirect with stops) after you book and, if this happens, you will not be entitled to cancel without penalty nor will compensation be paid.
b) As between you and any airline, the airline’s standard conditions of carriage will apply which may limit the airline’s liability to you in certain circumstances. Airlines rescheduling, flight timings and aircraft are subject to such matters as regulatory control, maintenance requirements, weather conditions and the ability of passengers to check in on time. In the event of delay, responsibility for making special arrangements will rest with the airline concerned and the company will not be in a position to assist you. In extreme cases you may be entitled to compensation under your insurance policy. You are strongly recommended to contact the airline before commencing each flight to reconfirm its departure time.
10. IF YOU HAVE A COMPLAINT
If you have a problem during your holiday, please inform the relevant supervisor from your hotel, car rental company, airline etc. In the unlikely event that your problem is not resolved locally, then you must report it to ROL in writing within 28 days of your return home. (Please keep a note of the name of the person you have made your complaint to.) Disputes, which might not be settled amicably, may be referred to the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators as ABTA have devised a simple, inexpensive system of arbitration on documents alone with restricted liability for costs. Full details will be provided on request or can be obtained from the ABTA website (www.abta.com).
11. OUR LIABILITIES TO YOU (flight only)
In respect of carriage by air, our liability in all cases will be limited in the manner provided by the relevant international convention, copies of which are available on request. Please note that in accordance with Air Navigation Orders, infants must be under 2 years of age on the date of their return flight, to qualify for infant status.
12. OUR LIABILITIES TO YOU (other than flight only)
a) We accept responsibility for ensuring the holiday/arrangement which you book with us is supplied as described by the company’s employee and the services offered reach a reasonable standard. If any part is not provided as promised, we will pay you appropriate compensation. if this has affected the enjoyment of your holiday. We accept responsibility for the proven acts and/or omissions of our employees, agents and suppliers whilst acting in the course of their employment, except where they lead to death, injury or illness. Our liability in all cases shall be limited to a maximum of twice the holiday cost.
b) We accept responsibility for any death, injury or illness caused by the proven negligent acts and/or omissions of our employees or agents together with our supplier and sub-contractors, servants and/or agents of the same whilst acting within the scope of, or in the course of their employment in the provision of your holiday/arrangement.
c) In respect of carriage by air, sea and rail and the provision of accommodation our liability in all cases will be limited in the manner provided by the relevant international conventions. Copies of these are available on request.
d) If any client suffers death, illness or injury whilst overseas arising out of an activity which does not form part of the foreign inclusive holiday/arrangement or excursion arranged through us, we shall, at our discretion offer advice, guidance and assistance to help you in resolving any claim you may have against a third party, provided we are advised of the incident within 90 days of the occurrence. Where legal action is contemplated our authority must be obtained prior to commencement of proceedings and be subject to our undertaking to assign any costs recovered or any benefits received under an appropriate insurance policy to ourselves. Our costs in respect of the above on behalf of you and your party shall not exceed £5000 in total.
13. SPECIAL REQUESTS
Requests for adjacent or non-smoking rooms, etc. should be made at the time of booking. Whilst making every effort to obtain such facilities, we cannot guarantee there provision and such requests form no part of the contract. To eliminate error, specific airline seating arrangements, meal requests and any wheelchair requests should be made by passengers directly with the airline. It should be noted that your air ticket provides you with transport from your city of departure to the city of arrival and is no guarantee of a particular seat aboard which the airline reserves the right to change, even after confirmation.
14. INSURANCE
It is a condition of booking a holiday that you take out our insurance, or another policy offering the same or greater protection. The cost of medical and other treatment overseas can be high and if you do not have insurance, we will not be able to help you pay those costs.
15. FINANCIAL SECURITY
The Company holds ATOL licence No 6101 issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and is ABTA member No. W6277. All payments received from customers who enter into holiday contracts with the company, are protected financially and in the unlikely event of the company becoming insolvent, you would be duly repatriated or receive an appropriate refund.
Our ATOL bond covers flight only or any package created that might include flights.
Our ABTA bond covers elements such as car rental, hotel accommodation, cruises and coach tours where no air transportation is involved.
This contract is made on the terms of these booking conditions which are governed by English Law and both parties shall submit to the jurisdiction of English Courts at all times.
16. HEALTH MATTERS
Please refer to the Department of Health booklet ‘Health Advice to Travellers’ available at main post offices or by phoning 0800 555 777 or on website www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/HealthAdviceForTravellers/fs/en
17. PASSPORTS & VISAS
When travelling from the UK to the United States of America (USA) you are required to obtain a visa from the U.S. Embassy or may be eligible to travel on the ‘visa waiver program’ (VWP). Requirements to travel on the VWP include: holding a British passport indicating that you are a citizen of the UK that expires no earlier than 90 days from your arrival date in the USA; staying in the USA for 90 days or less: being in possession of a return airline ticket back to the UK; travelling for business or pleasure; not having a criminal conviction or record (other than minor road traffic offences in the UK). Conditions relating to the VWP are subject to change and you are strongly advised to check with the U.S. Embassy information line.
|
|
