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Booking conditions and helpful information 2007/2008/2009

Age qualification

Cruises aboard Spirit of Adventure are for anyone aged 21 and over.

Booking your holiday

Our Travel Consultants will be pleased to advise you about the suitability of the holiday you have chosen. You can book by telephone; there is no need to complete a booking form.

For cruises aboard Spirit of Adventure, Saga Holidays Limited acts as agent for Saga Shipping Company Limited and your contract is with Saga Shipping Company Limited, which is the holiday organiser. The holiday contract is created 14 days following your receipt of the written holiday confirmation and is subject to these booking conditions. That holiday contract is governed by English law and any dispute would be heard before an English court, except where the provision for arbitration applies. We reserve the right to refuse a reservation. If any of these booking conditions shall be found by any court or administrative body of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions which shall remain in full force and effect.

Spirit of Adventure reserves the right not to be legally bound in the case of incorrect pricing and any acknowledgement is not to be deemed as acceptance. Spirit of Adventure will use reasonable endeavours to bring any incorrect pricing to the customer's attention as soon as it becomes aware of the error.

Payment

You can pay both your deposit and balance by credit card, debit card or by cheque. If you are paying a deposit, the balance must be paid in full at least 56 days before you travel. Due to charges imposed on us, we apply a 2% transaction fee on all credit card transactions for balance payments. If you book within 56 days, full payment is required before we can confirm your booking, in which case the 2% credit card transaction fee will apply to all payments made by credit card. Cheques must be made payable to Spirit of Adventure.

You may need to pay in full straightaway for ad hoc services* provided by independent suppliers.

If you are entitled to any refunds relating to your booking, credit card payments will be refunded to the appropriate credit card account(s), or otherwise, to the person who made the booking and usually by the same payment method that was made to us.

*Ad hoc services: These are extra items which you may have specifically requested and which are provided by independent suppliers. These can include car hire, extra accommodation, flights and other services that are not supplied by us as part of a package holiday or tour. Ad hoc services are subject to the terms and conditions, cancellation charges and surcharge policy of the relevant supplier, for whom we act as agent. Full details of the suppliers’ conditions are available on request.

Deposit per person: £100 or 10% of the holiday cost, whichever is greater, with a maximum of £1,000.

Certain special offers may require a higher deposit or full payment; this will be advised at the time of booking.

Peace of mind and protection for your money

ABTA/ATOL protected
Saga Holidays Limited and Saga Shipping Company Limited are both members of the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA numbers W8164 and W8179 respectively). ABTA and its members help holidaymakers get the most from their travel and assist them when things do not go according to plan. We are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTA’s Code of Conduct. For further information about ABTA, the Code of Conduct and the arbitration scheme available to you if you have a complaint, contact ABTA, 68-71 Newman Street, London W1T 3AH. Tel 020 7637 24444 or visit abta.com

Saga Holidays Limited also holds an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (ATOL number 0308). Where Saga acts as the holiday organiser, holidays including air travel are ATOL protected by the CAA and holidays not including air travel are protected by ABTA. In the unlikely event of Saga’s insolvency you would be refunded any money that you have already paid us.

Repatriation: Holiday organisers are required by law to state arrangements for the repatriation of customers in the event of insolvency. For cruises aboard Spirit of Adventure, air holidays are ATOL protected and in the unlikely event of Saga’s insolvency, the CAA will ensure that you are not stranded abroad. If your holiday does not include flights, ABTA will protect your holiday in the same way. Saga is also licenced by the Irish Commission for Aviation Regulation (Licence No. T. A. 0598) to carry on business in the Republic of Ireland as a travel agent.

 

Your cabin

Sometimes we are unable to confirm your specific cabin number and location until your tickets have been issued. In such cases we will confirm your booking on the basis of a guaranteed cabin grade. Where this applies, you will be advised at the time of booking. If, when you receive your tickets, the allocated cabin number is unacceptable, we will treat this as a cancellation by you. In this case, the cancellation charges detailed in the clause headed ‘If you cancel your plans’ will apply.

Transferring your booking

If you are genuinely prevented from taking the holiday, you may transfer your booking to another suitable person, where feasible. The booking conditions will still apply. You and the transferee are jointly responsible for paying all costs incurred in arranging the transfer and the holiday, plus any charges imposed by the suppliers of ad hoc services*.

If you make any changes

If you want to change any of your holiday arrangements, such as UK travel, please contact us immediately and we will do all we can to help. If you make changes before your balance payment is due, there is a charge of £30 per person for each amendment, plus any charges imposed by the suppliers of ad hoc services*. Charges may be higher for certain special offers; this will be advised at the time of booking. Any changes you make after the date on which the balance payment is due will be treated as a cancellation by you, and charges will be made as set out in the clause headed ‘If you cancel your plans’ below.

If you wish to take a different holiday, you need to cancel your existing holiday and re-book the new one. Cancellation charges will apply as detailed in the clause headed ‘If you cancel your plans’ below.

If you cancel your plans

If you cancel your holiday, you must inform us in writing before the departure date. The letter of cancellation should be signed by the first named person on your holiday confirmation/invoice and must be returned with any travel tickets received. If you cancel within 56 days of your holiday, please also telephone us on 0800 056 2485.

Our lines are open between 8am-7pm Mondays to Fridays, 9am-5pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Cancellation charges are necessary to cover our reasonable costs and depend on when we receive your written instructions before your departure date as follows:

56 days or more - loss of deposit
29-55 days - 40% of total holiday price
15-28 days - 60% of total holiday price
1-14 days - 90% of total holiday price
Day of departure or later   - 100% of total holiday price

In addition, there will be the application of any charges imposed by the suppliers of ad hoc services*.

If you are covered by our included insurance and cancellation cover

If the cancellation is due to unexpected illness or the death of you or a member of your party, we will refund all the money you have paid, less a handling fee of £65 per person, provided we receive a valid medical certificate as soon as is practicable. We will also deduct the cost of any UK connecting or domestic flights and any cancellation charges from the suppliers of ad hoc services*. All travel documents must also be returned to us. If you cancel for other reasons, you must still notify us in writing.

We reserve the right to impose cancellation charges should you cancel your booking due to alteration of airline, aircraft type, destination airport, flight routing or flight timings.

The Spirit of Adventure holiday promise

(Not applicable to ad hoc services* or in the event of ‘force majeure’)

If we make one or more significant changes such as those listed below to your confirmed booking, we will let you know as soon as possible.

  • Your cruise ship to another of a lower Berlitz rating.
  • Your accommodation to another of lower Q rating where your stay is for three nights or more.
  • Your resort area where your stay is for three nights or more.
  • Your UK departure date.
  • Your holiday duration to fewer nights.
  • Your UK departure airport (except transfer of departures between Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton and Stansted airports and between Birmingham and East Midland airports).
  • Your cruise being cancelled by the cruise company or shipping line.

- we will offer you a price reduction if you either accept the change(s) or decide to purchase an available alternative holiday from our product range. The reduced price will depend on when we notify you, as set out below:

Number of days before departure when we will notify you about the change(s)

Price reduction per person

0-6 £60
7-13 £50
14-21 £40
22-28 £30
29-42 £20
43-55 £15
56 days or more nil

or

If you are notified of the significant change(s) and you decide to cancel, we will refund all the money you have paid to us and send you discount vouchers to the value shown below:

Number of days before departure when we tell you about the change(s)

Discount vouchers per person

0-13 £20
14-28 £15
29-55 £10
56 days or more nil

When assessing the applicable compensation payable, we will take account of any relevant facts immediately drawn to our attention, which can reasonably be assumed materially to affect the extent of any loss which you suffer in direct consequence of a significant change to your holiday.

This excludes the loss of air fares, car parking and other domestic or international travel or accommodation related items not purchased from Spirit of Adventure for customers purchasing accommodation only.

If we cancel your plans

We reserve the right in any circumstances to cancel your holiday. We may need to cancel your holiday because we have received insufficient bookings. We would do this no later than 56 days before your departure date and offer you the choice of:

  • an alternative holiday of comparable standard, if available; or
  • an available alternative holiday of your choice from our product range. If the alternative holiday is cheaper, we will refund the difference in price. If more expensive, you pay the difference in price; or
  • a full refund, if you prefer.

Compensation is not payable in these circumstances. We will endeavour not to cancel your booking within 56 days of departure except in ‘force majeure’ circumstances (see below) or if the due balance of your holiday has not been paid on time. In the latter case, the booking would be considered cancelled by you and is subject to our cancellation charges, plus any charges imposed by the suppliers of ad hoc services*.

Responsibility for your holiday

Saga Shipping Company Limited is responsible for the proper performance of the contract. We will not, however, be liable for any failure or improper performance where reasonable care and skill has been exercised or where such failure or improper performance is:

(a) attributable to you or any member of your party;

(b) attributable to a third party unconnected with the provision of your holiday and is unforeseeable or unavoidable;

(c) due to an event which we or our suppliers, even with all due care, could not foresee or forestall.

Where your holiday arrangements include transport, the conditions of carriage applied by the transport companies involved may limit or exclude liability towards you and your luggage. You can arrange to see these conditions at our head office in Folkestone.

In all cases, except where death or personal injury results, our liability to you is limited to twice the cost of your holiday. In addition, please note that in the case of air, sea and rail transport, our liability and any compensation (including in the event of death and personal injury) is limited by the appropriate international conventions. The provisions of and any limitations on liability contained within the conventions are expressly incorporated into your holiday contract with us for our benefit. For the avoidance of doubt, in the case of air travel, the Warsaw and Montreal Conventions recognise liability solely for ‘bodily injury’ and in accordance with the Conventions, we do not accept liability for psychological injury caused or attributable to air travel.

It will be a term of any payment made to you under this condition that you first assign to us any claim you may have against the person or organisation responsible. You must also assist us and our insurers in pursuing any such claim.

Under EU law, you may be entitled to compensation from your airline in the event of denied boarding, cancellation or delay to your flight and full details are publicised at EU airports and available from your airline. If you are unhappy with your airline’s response, you may complain to the Air Transport Users’ Council (telephone 020 7240 6061). Spirit of Adventure’s liability is detailed in these booking conditions and any entitlement to compensation shall be offset by any payment made to you by your airline.

We (and the Master aboard Spirit of Adventure) kindly request your co-operation and consideration for others while on holiday. We reserve the right to curtail a customer’s holiday if, in our view, his/her conduct or behaviour is disruptive, antisocial, or otherwise unacceptable. In such an event, no compensation will be payable and the customer will be liable to pay any additional expenses reasonably incurred in arranging the curtailment. No refund is available if you take part of the holiday only, vary or extend the holiday arrangements.

Important notice

Carriage by sea is subject to the Athens Convention relating to the carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea 1974 (the “Athens Convention”), a copy of which is available on request. The Athens Convention in most cases limits the carrier’s liability for death or personal injury or loss of or damage to luggage (including a vehicle) and makes special provision for valuables. The Athens Convention presumes that luggage has been delivered undamaged unless written notice is given to the Carrier;-

(i) in the case of apparent damage, before or at the time of disembarkation or redelivery.

(ii) in the case of damage which is not apparent or of loss, within 15 days from the date of disembarkation or redelivery or from the time when such redelivery should have taken place.

The Athens Convention provides that any action for damage arising out of the death of or personal injury to a passenger or for the loss or damages to luggage shall be time-barred after a period of two years.

Force majeure

We do not accept liability for any alteration or cancellation owing to 'force majeure' and compensation is not payable in such an event. Force majeure circumstances include, but are not limited to, events such as:

actual or expected war, riots, civil strife or terrorist activity; government action or restraint, industrial disputes; natural or nuclear disasters, fire, the unexpected incapacity of course leaders or hosts, bad weather, rising or falling of water levels or closure of locks, perils and dangers of the sea, damage and accidents from machinery or engines, closure of airports or seaports, unavoidable technical or maintenance problems to transport, medical problems onboard the ship or at scheduled ports, including incidents of infections or other diseases or illnesses, or for any other reason beyond our reasonable control.

We will tell you as soon as possible if we need to cancel or alter your holiday. If we cancel your holiday before the departure date we will, subject to availability, offer you a comparable alternative holiday. If this is not possible, you may purchase an available alternative holiday from our product range or a full refund will be made. If, after the departure date, a significant proportion of the holiday cannot be provided, where possible we will make alternative holiday arrangements for you and refund any difference in price. If alternative arrangements are not possible, or if you immediately notify us of good reason not to accept them, we will repatriate you to the United Kingdom as soon as reasonably possible and by means of equivalent transport, where available.

Your holiday price

(Not applicable to ad hoc services*)

Prices for cruises departing between April 18, 2007 and January 21, 2008 are based on the following exchange rates published in the Financial Times’ ‘World Currency Guide’ on Monday, June 12, 2006:- US dollar 1.843, Euro 1.4574, Cyprus Pound 0.8378, Norwegian Krone 11.3656.

Prices for cruises departing between January 22, 2008 and May 16, 2008 are based on the following exchange rates published in the Financial Times’ ‘World Currency Guide’ on Tuesday, January 2, 2007:- US dollar 1.9572, Euro 1.4842.

Prices for cruises departing between June 7, 2008 and October 29, 2008 are based on the following exchange rates published in the Financial Times’ ‘World Currency Guide’ on Monday March 19, 2007:- Danish Krone 10.8728, Euro 1.4597, Norwegian Krone 11.8744, Swedish Krona 13.5417, US Dollar 1.9423.

Prices for cruises departing between November 27, 2008 and May 12, 2009 are based on the following exchange rates published in the Financial Times’ ‘World Currency Guide’ on Monday October 15, 2007:- Euro 1.4358, Malteses Lira 0.6164, US Dollar 2.0348.

We guarantee that the price of your holiday will not be subject to any surcharges. Once a contract exists between us, then the cost of your holiday cannot be increased. Whilst we reserve the right to change prices from time to time, any changes will be confirmed to you before you make your booking. The price of your holiday as shown on your confirmation invoice will not be increased unless you amend your booking.

Please note that this surcharge guarantee supersedes all previous surcharge and Spirit of Adventure Price Promise guarantees.

Please note that changes may be made to the particulars within the brochure at any time after publication. We have planed to use economy class on flights.

Spirit of Adventure’s Price Guarantee

Spirit of Adventure’s Price Guarantee means that once your holiday booking is confirmed we will not increase the price for any reason, including fuel surcharges, which may be imposed after our prices have been set.

Discounts and last minute offers

In the case of discounted prices and other special offers, please note there are only a limited number of places available at the special offer prices. Save where guaranteed, we reserve the right to reduce, extend or withdraw offers at any time, without notice.

If you have a complaint…

We aim to provide you with an enjoyable and relaxing holiday. However, if you have a complaint whilst on holiday, it is imperative that you report it to the Hotel Director as soon as possible. Problems can often be resolved there and then, but if you are still dissatisfied you should contact the Hotel Director for a report form. Once you have completed this, you should hand it to your Hotel Director, who will give you a copy for your records.

When you arrive home, you should send in the report form, together with a detailed covering letter, quoting your holiday reference number within 28 days. All correspondence should be addressed to the Customer Relations Department at Enbrook Park, Folkestone, Kent CT20 3SE. Alternatively, you can e-mail us at customer.relations@saga.co.uk with full details of your complaint (in this case, please forward a copy of your report form to us by post). If you do not contact us within 28 days of your return from holiday, this will affect our ability to investigate your complaint and impact on the way your complaint is dealt with.

In most cases, we will be able to sort out your complaint ourselves. If this is not possible, your complaint may be referred to arbitration. For cruises aboard Spirit of Adventure, this is a special scheme arranged by ABTA which is administered quite independently by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. The scheme provides for a simple and inexpensive method of arbitration on documents alone, with restricted liability for the customer in respect of costs. The scheme does not apply to claims of more than £5,000 per person or £25,000 in total or to claims arising solely from personal injury or illness or any consequence thereof. Where a claim includes in part a claim for personal injury or illness, a limit of £1,000 per person applies to that part of the claim. The scheme also provides for either party to have the Arbitrator’s decision reviewed. You must apply for arbitration within nine months of your return home from holiday. Customers resident in the Republic of Ireland may, as an alternative, opt for Arbitration available from the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators – Irish Branch, which offers a similar dispute resolution scheme. Please contact us for further details. We must stress that in order for us to deal with your complaint, you must first report it to the Hotel Director while you are on holiday.

For customers resident in the Republic of Ireland, HMP Secretarial Limited at: 2 Harbourmaster Place, International Financial Services Centre, Dublin 1, is authorised to accept service of proceedings.

For travel insurance, if you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can ask the Financial Ombudsman Service to review your case. The Financial Ombudsman Service resolves disputes in an independent and fair way. You can contact the Financial Ombudsman Service at: The Financial Ombudsman Service, South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SR. Tel: 0845 0801 800.

Important note: The Financial Ombudsman Service will only consider your complaint if you have already given us the opportunity to resolve your problem.

 

Holiday information

Passports and visas

If you are a full British citizen resident in the UK you will need a valid 10-year passport for all overseas holidays featured. As requirements vary and can change without notice, we strongly advise you to ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months after the end of your holiday. We recommend that you have at least three blank pages in your passport to cover potential immigration formalities which may be required in some countries.

At the time of going to print it costs £72 to renew your passport, plus any handling fee. Application forms are available from the Post Office. Please apply in plenty of time since it can take several weeks for you to obtain your passport.

If you are a full British citizen resident in the UK, we will obtain your visa, if required, wherever possible, free of charge, unless an extra charge is imposed by a government - an application pack will be sent to you approximately 60 days before you travel (90 days for Russia).

For some ports, joining and departing Spirit of Adventure, individual visas will be required and we will contact you to arrange obtaining these prior to your cruise. In some ports during your cruise, group visas are required and we will obtain these for British citizen passport holders. This will allow you to go ashore to participate in an organised tour. It may be necessary for you to arrange your own individual visas for independent travel in some ports. Please call our Visa Department on 0800 525 290 if you have any queries.

You require an individual visa if travelling to or from Turkey by air. This costs £10 per person for British citizens resident in the UK, payable by you on arrival in Turkey. This can only be paid with English £5 and £10 notes. Cheques, credit cards, coins and Scottish notes etc, are unfortunately not accepted and no change is given. You will be reimbursed during your cruise. All other nationalities should telephone us on 0800 525 290.

You require a visa if you are travelling to Egypt. Each stamp will be inserted into your passport by our local representative upon arrival in Egypt. You will then proceed through passport control as normal.

If you are not a full British citizen resident in the UK please confirm your nationality or status at the time of booking so that we can advise you of your passport and visa requirements.

For further information about passports and our visa service for full British citizens resident in the UK, call us on 0800 525 290 or e-mail visa@saga.co.uk If you are telephoning from outside the UK, please call +44 (0)1303 771138 (please note that this is not a freephone number).

A standard 10-year passport, or a three-year passport for people aged over 65, is required by citizens of the Republic of Ireland.

With the exception of travel to the United Kingdom, Irish citizens require a valid passport for travel to all destinations. Please check that your passport is valid for at least six months AFTER the end of your holiday. We recommend that you have at least three blank pages in your passport to cover potential immigration formalities which may be required in some countries.

Remember that some airlines now require all adults to produce photo-identity at check-in for travel to the United Kingdom.

Although our visa service is only for full British citizens resident in the UK, we can advise you of your visa requirements. Please telephone us on +44 (0)1303 771138 or e-mail us at visa@saga.co.uk

Holiday details

We work hard to ensure the accuracy of our brochures. However, sometimes advertised amenities, itineraries, excursions and entertainment may change or become unavailable after publication. This is beyond our control, but we will endeavour to tell you of any changes or of building work that would seriously impair the enjoyment of your holiday. Please also note:

  • In the interests of safety and the well-being of our customers, the Master (and Saga Shipping Company Limited) shall have absolute discretion to alter the routing of the cruises aboard Spirit of Adventure at any time and for any reason. The safe navigation of the ship is paramount and circumstances where the route may be changed include, but are not limited to, those described in the clause headed ‘Force majeure’ above.
  • Optional excursions and Holiday Experience activities will only run if enough people wish to take part.
  • Where we give cabin and room descriptions, views may either be from the bedroom or balcony and a bath can be either a full or half bath.
  • On some extensions your tour manager or representative will be a local agent appointed by us.
  • Unless otherwise stated, there will be an extra charge for optional facilities that your hotel provides, such as tennis courts or sun loungers. Special requests, which cannot be guaranteed, are also subject to additional charge.
  • A berth cabin has one or more lower and upper berth(s), and your cabin may have unoccupied beds or berths. For example, a four-berth cabin with unoccupied upper berths is also classified as a two-bed cabin. A two-bed cabin can have two permanent and one foldaway bed, two foldaway beds or bed(s) that convert into sofas during the day. Some ships’ cabins can vary in size within the same grade. Your cabin may be affected by vibration and mechanical noises. Views from cabins can sometimes be restricted by lifeboats, and portholes can sometimes be obscured by deadlights. Some cabins face inwards and have no porthole. No refund or compensation is payable in any of these circumstances.
  • If a departure is delayed overnight we will do our best to arrange meals and accommodation.
  • We do not own or charter the hotels featured in our brochures and you should anticipate the presence of other non-Spirit of Adventure guests (including children) in residence during your holiday, for whose behaviour we cannot accept responsibility.
  • It is a condition of travel that passengers must use the hand sanitisers when embarking and disembarking and while on board Spirit of Adventure.

Excursions, entertainment, activities and amenities

Excursions, entertainment, activities and amenities referred to in our brochures but not included in your holiday may be booked, usually for an extra charge, during your holiday. We have included them in the brochures to illustrate your choice, not as a recommendation to take part. We neither own nor operate these facilities and they may not be maintained or operated with the comfort and safety of customers in mind. If you intend to take part, please check your insurance policy to ensure that you are covered for anything that may be considered hazardous. If you are in any doubt, your Hotel Director will be pleased to advise you. Excursions purchased on holiday do not form part of your contract with us. They are sold subject to the laws of the country or state where purchased and to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of that country or state. We act as booking agent only for any excursion booked overseas through our resort or cruise staff and your contract is with the supplier of the excursion. Full details of their terms and conditions are available on request, during your holiday. Please also note that any medical services and shopping facilities on board Spirit of Adventure are similarly provided by independent contractors, which do not form part of the holiday package and for which we cannot accept any responsibility.

Ship tonnage

All ships featured are measured by the gross registered tonnage. This is not the weight of the ship but the total volume of all permanently enclosed spaces.

Money

The currency used on board Spirit of Adventure is sterling. We operate a 'cashless' system whereby you sign for all purchases which are then charged to your cabin. You settle up at the end of your cruise and can pay by credit card, debit card, cash or traveller's cheque.

 

Insurance

Insurance is essential for holidays outside of mainland UK

It is one of our booking conditions that you must be adequately insured for holidays outside mainland UK to cover all contingencies such as legal expenses, medical cover and emergency repatriation home. All our cruise holidays include insurance within the price (unless the holiday is booked 18 months or more before departure). You may either accept this policy, or choose a comparable policy with another insurance company. A summary of our cover is given below.

You may purchase your holiday without our insurance and cancellation cover, provided you have arranged adequate alternative cover with another insurer. In this event, you must let us have the name and policy number of your alternative insurance company. If you take out alternative insurance, for your peace of mind please ensure that cancellation cover is included and that you are adequately insured for all your needs, including medical emergencies. Please also make sure your insurance is valid from the time of booking until your return from holiday, since our travel insurance and cancellation cover will not apply.

Bookings made 18 months or more before departure

Travel insurance cannot be included with the holiday until 18 months or less prior to departure. Any holiday booked where the departure date is in excess of 18 months would be sold without full insurance cover. In this case, during the intervening period you would be covered by Spirit of Adventure’s cancellation cover should you need to cancel your holiday.

You are still able to purchase the Spirit of Adventure travel insurance once you are within 18 months of departure, subject to the normal insurance policy conditions and to Spirit of Adventure’s booking conditions.

Aid and assistance abroad

In the event that the holiday contract is improperly performed and you, or one of your party, through no fault of your own, should suffer illness, injury or death whilst on holiday abroad through misadventure and arising out of an activity which neither forms part of your holiday contract with us, nor is an excursion purchased from us or our agents, we shall provide general assistance, at our reasonable discretion, up to £5,000 per booking. This assistance will be provided if requested within 90 days of the date of misadventure. If you make a related legal claim which is successful or if you are insured for these costs, you must immediately repay us for any financial assistance given. Our included travel insurance provides legal expenses cover up to £50,000 and further details are provided in your policy document, which will be sent with your holiday confirmation, unless you have opted out of our included insurance and obtained alternative and comparable cover.

Included travel insurance

Please also see the clause headed ‘Insurance is essential’. Spirit of Adventure has arranged for its travel insurance to be underwritten by London and Edinburgh Insurance Company Limited. Registered Office: 8 Surrey Street, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 3NG.

A policy document will be sent with your confirmation invoice. A summary of the cover is shown below:

Summary of cover
 
1. Extended Cancellation cover*   up to £10,000 Europe or up to £50,000 Worldwide
2. (a) Medical Expenses up to £5,000,000
2. (b) Hospital Benefit £20 per day (maximum £500)
3. Curtailment up to £10,000 Europe or up to £50,000 Worldwide
4. Personal Accident up to £15,000
5. Criminal Injury Benefit up to £100,000
6. (a) Baggage up to £1,500 (up to £2,500†)
6. (a) i) Single Article limit £250 (£300†)
6. (a) ii) Overall Valuables limit £350
6. (b)Temporarily Lost Baggage over 12 hours up to £100 (up to £150†)
7. Money and Documents up to £500
7. Cash limit £200
8. Loss of Passport Expenses up to £200
9. Personal Liability up to £1,000,000
10. Missed Departure up to £500 (Europe), up to £1,000 (worldwide)
11. Delay Cover - Transport  
11. (a) Deposit/Cancellation Charges up to £7,500
11. (b) Compensation up to £150
12. Legal Expenses (claims for compensation for personal injury or death) up to £50,000

For sections 1 (other than loss of deposit), 2 (a), 3, 6 (a), 7 and 11 (a) above the first £50 of each and every claim per insured person is excluded. For section 1 (loss of deposit only), the first £10 of each and every claim per insured person is excluded.

* Extended Cancellation cover is provided under certain circumstances. Details are explained in the insurance policy document which we will send you with your holiday confirmation / invoice.

For all cruises, under our included insurance policy, you are insured for up to £2,500 worth of baggage, with a single article limit of £300 and a temporarily lost baggage limit of up to £150. If you feel you need increased cover please check your home contents insurance policy first as most people can have their personal possessions insured under this policy while they are away.

The policy does not cover you for any losses directly or indirectly from any equipment or computer program failing to deal properly with date functions. This exclusion does not apply to section 2 (Medical Expenses and Hospital Benefit) or section 4 (Personal Accident).

We will send you the insurance policy document with your holiday confirmation/invoice, but if you would like it earlier, please telephone us. If the policy does not meet your requirements, you are entitled to cancel if you tell us within 14 days of issue, and in any event before a claim is made.

The policy document contains full details of the cover provided, terms and exclusions. We recommend you read it carefully.

A complaints procedure is outlined in the policy booklet, which is available on request. For travel insurance of one month or more in duration, you may cancel our included insurance and cancellation cover within 14 days’ receipt of your holiday confirmation and receive a refund of the insurance price. If you cancel at a later stage, no refund of the insurance price is available.

Please note that this cover does not apply if you are taking out your own insurance policy and have received the applicable price reduction from us.

Your insurance cancellation rights

No right to cancel exists where all cover will have ended in a period of less than one month from the date of commencement. In all other cases, you have the right to cancel your policy during a period of 14 days either from the date of purchase or the day on which you receive your policy documentation, whichever is later. If you wish to do so, you will be entitled to a full refund of the premium paid. Please note that if you have made a claim and subsequently wish to cancel your policy, we may recover the monies paid to you in settlement of the claim. To exercise your right to cancel your policy, please contact us by telephone free on 0800 056 2485.

If you do not exercise your right to cancel your policy, it will continue in force for the term of the policy and you will be required to pay the premium.

Medical advice

Travel insurance and medical advice

This applies where your holiday includes our insurance cover.

1. When you book: If you, or anyone travelling with you, has suffered from any chronic and/or recurring illness of a serious nature in the last 12 months which has required consultation or treatment with a doctor or hospital, you/they must obtain your/their doctor’s permission to travel. It is important that the doctor is fully aware of the nature of the holiday you are proposing to take, its duration and the travel arrangements involved.

The Extended Cancellation insurance cover of the included insurance policy begins as soon as you book and before your holiday starts. For this reason, you must also tell us if you have any close relative or close business associate whose health is likely to deteriorate and result in your holiday having to be cancelled or cut short. Examples include elderly parents who are suffering from cancer or other serious illnesses. Extended Cancellation cover will not extend to close relatives or close business associates with pre-existing conditions.

When you book, you must tell us about these and any other medical facts which are likely to affect your holiday plans as cover may be declined in certain circumstances. Even if you or your travelling companion has a medical condition, in most cases we can arrange cover. In addition, if you have any special difficulties or needs, such as a particular diet, we can advise and help you. Please telephone us on 0800 373 034 for details.

2. After you book: If any material circumstance arises that is likely to affect your cover after you have booked such as a change of medical condition, you must advise us as soon as is practicable. Please call for advice if you have any doubts.

3. Please note: The insurance company is unlikely to accept a claim as valid if you do not follow the steps detailed above. In addition, there are other instances where cover is not available under Medical Expenses, Extended Cancellation or Curtailment sections. These include where the person(s) making the claim:

  • does not follow the advice of a medical practitioner.
  • is travelling to get medical treatment abroad.
  • is on a hospital waiting list or has an appointment for inpatient treatment, or knows they are likely to need inpatient treatment.
  • is suffering from any previously diagnosed psychiatric disorder.
  • has been given a terminal prognosis by a medical practitioner.
  • is expected to give birth before or within eight weeks of arrival home.

We and the insurers will not accept responsibility for any consequences if you do not consult a medical practitioner or ignore their advice. The policy document contains full details of the medical cover provided, terms and exclusions. We recommend you read it carefully.

 

Health

Medical conditions and disabilities

The health and safety of customers is of paramount importance and it is essential that you disclose any pre-existing medical condition or disability at the time of booking. Any subsequent deterioration in your medical condition or disability must also be promptly notified to us, since failure to do so may affect your rights. Please consult a member of our Customer Care team, who will be able to advise you. At your cost, we may require you to provide a valid certificate from your doctor to confirm your medical fitness to travel. Please note that we cannot provide personal or special assistance, which may be required for certain disabilities and disabled customers may find their access to facilities, amenities, services and excursions is necessarily restricted. Unfortunately, we may be obliged to refuse, cancel or curtail a booking where your medical condition or disability prevents the proper operation of the holiday or excursion or where your health and safety, or that of others, is at risk.

Health advice

Health facilities, hygiene and disease risks vary worldwide. The Department of Health publishes a useful leaflet entitled ‘Health Advice for Travellers’. We recommend you read this leaflet which is available from the Post Office, or by calling the Health Literature Line on 0800 555 777. We will send you general information about vaccinations and innoculations with your holiday confirmation. Pages 460-464 of Ceefax and the Internet at www.dh.gov.uk also provide information. We also send you ‘Saga’s Guide to Comfortable Air Travel’ with your travel documents. Please note that health details are constantly changing so your doctor will be able to advise you about your specific needs, including vaccinations, and we recommend you consult your doctor at least two months before departure. There are also specialist vaccination centres.

Health and safety abroad

We operate to many parts of the world, some of which do not conform to UK health and safety standards. The adequacy and enforcement of local safety standards is the responsibility of the appropriate authorities in the country concerned. We believe that all our suppliers, hotels and facilities comply with the local regulations in force in their country for health and safety. However, these do not necessarily meet UK standards. In addition, the areas and facilities surrounding your holiday accommodation, such as beaches and local amenities, do not form part of your holiday contract with us and have not been inspected. We therefore urge that you and your travelling companion(s) take all reasonable precautions for your own protection whilst on holiday.

Health tips

You will be aware of the press coverage linking air travel to Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), the formation of a blood clot in the deep veins of the legs, which can travel into the lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism. Some doctors believe that this can be caused by long hours of minimal leg movement, a familiar experience for air travellers. To minimise the problem some travel doctors recommend you get up and exercise your legs periodically during your flight. Flexing your ankles and moving your feet around to stimulate circulation whilst seated may also prove helpful. If appropriate, you should consider wearing special support stockings, available from pharmacies, to keep blood from settling in the veins in your legs. We advise you to consult your GP for your specific needs.

If you wish to find out more about DVT, Spirit of Adventure adopts the guidelines published in our 'Guide to Comfortable Air Travel' leaflet or you can visit www.saga.co.uk/travelshop and click on Health and then Holiday Health. Please also consult your GP.

 

Travel

Travel Advice from the Foreign Office

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Advice Unit provides important safety information for British nationals travelling abroad. Information is available on BBC2 Ceefax (page 470) and the Foreign Office website at www.fco.gov.uk Alternatively, you may telephone the Travel Advice Unit on 0845 850 2829.

Travel information

Travel information is provisional and approximate only. The confirmed details are those shown on your travel documents. We will advise you of any significant changes to flight details at the earliest opportunity.

A flight indicated as direct does not necessarily mean non-stop. Direct flights may have to make an intermediate stop en route, but do not require a change of aeroplane.

There are certain times of the year when we do not operate holiday departures. Current travel information may always be obtained by calling us on 0800 056 2485.

We have planned to use economy class.

Seat pitch

Seat pitch usually varies from 28 to 31 inches for ‘short haul’ European flights or from 31 to 34 inches for ‘long haul’ flights, depending on the airline and seat configuration, but which is subject to change without notice by the airlines. For greater comfort on ‘long haul’ flights, we recommend upgrading to deluxe economy, business or first class cabins, where available.

UK connecting/domestic flights and flight upgrades

Connecting flights are intended, but not guaranteed, to connect with your onward flight. On many occasions your luggage will be checked in at your local airport, and will not need to be checked in again at the international airport.

Stand-alone domestic flights generally require you to collect your luggage and check-in at your UK arrival airport before your onward flight.

We can accept no responsibility if you purchase your domestic flight(s) independently and your international flight details subsequently change.

Banned or restricted air carriers

Regulation (EC) No. 2111/2005 came into force in January 2006, establishing a Community list of air carriers subject to an operating ban within the Community. The list is available at www.air-ban.europa.eu

No smoking

Please note that the majority of airlines operate a no-smoking policy on all worldwide flights. Please ask our Travel Consultants at the time of booking if a no-smoking policy currently applies to your flights.

Many areas on board Spirit of Adventure are designated non-smoking. Hotels may exercise a no-smoking policy in public rooms, such as the lounge or elsewhere. Please contact us for further details.

 

 

These booking conditions

These booking conditions apply to our 2007/2008/2009 Spirit of Adventure brochures and holidays. The prices and descriptions contained therein are subject to change.

Spirit of Adventure is a division of the Saga Group. Saga Holidays Limited and Saga Shipping Company Limited are subsidiaries of Saga Group Ltd, Company Registration Numbers 2174052 and 3267858 respectively. Registered in England. Registered Office: The Saga Building, Enbrook Park, Folkestone, Kent CT20 3SE.

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