Terms and Conditions, 2008

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

View 2007 Terms and Conditions

The purchase of any travel services offered by Cosmos constitutes a contractual arrangement between you and Cosmos and represents your acceptance of Cosmos Terms & Conditions set out herein. Please ensure that you read carefully and understand these Terms & Conditions prior to booking.

Deposit & Final Payment

We accept checks, money orders, Visa, MasterCard, Discover/Novus, and American Express. Your payment is not deemed made until it is received by Cosmos. Unless otherwise noted below, the following applies to all vacations:

A non-refundable deposit of $200 per vacation per person is required for us to reserve space for you. Final payment is due 45 days prior to commencement of services. If we do not receive final payment by the due date, we reserve the right to cancel the reservation. In the case of billing errors, we reserve the right to reinvoice with correct pricing. Payment in full is required at time of booking for reservations made within the final payment date. In order to secure booked space, your travel agent should advise Cosmos of your credit card number when making your reservation. For group reservations, travel agents should refer to the Group Policy, which may be requested.

Acceptance on the vacation is subject to presentation of the Cosmos Traveler Certificate.

Cancellations & Cancellation Fees

If cancellation is received by Cosmos outside of the final payment date, your non-refundable deposit and Travel Protection premiums will be retained in addition to any air cancellation fees or penalties. For individual reservations, the following per person cancellation fees apply. Total price does not include discounts, promotions, or special incentives. (For group reservations, refer to the Group Policy.)

45–22 days prior to commencement of services: 20% of total price plus Travel Protection premiums
21–8 days prior to commencement of services: 30% of total price plus Travel Protection premiums
7–1 days prior to commencement of services: 50% of total price plus Travel Protection premiums
On departure day and later: 100% of total price plus Travel Protection premiums

Cancellation fees may also apply to any additional services, including accommodations; independently supplied services; and optional excursions reserved prior to, during, and after the tour.

Cosmos reserves the right to cancel or re-schedule any vacation departure. If cancellation is made prior to departure, the only responsibility of Cosmos will be to refund to the passenger the amount we have received for the reservation. We will try to re-book the same vacation with a different departure date, or a similar vacation. Where Cosmos has confirmed flights, we will try to confirm air seats for the selected new dates, subject to availability. Cosmos cannot assume responsibility for any additional costs or any fees relating to the issuance and/or cancellation of air tickets or other travel arrangements not made through Cosmos.

Revision Fees

A fee of $30 per transaction will be charged for any alteration or revision made to a reservation. Airline penalties may also apply. A change of traveler name, vacation date, or itinerary within final payment will be treated as a cancellation and new reservation; standard cancellation fees apply.

Participation

For the benefit of everyone on your vacation, Cosmos reserves the right to accept or reject any vacation participant and to remove any participant whose conduct is deemed incompatible with the interests of the other participants.

Travelers Who Need Special Assistance

You must report any disability requiring special attention to Cosmos at the time the reservation is made. Cosmos will make reasonable attempts to accommodate the special needs of disabled travelers, but is not responsible in the event it is unable to do so nor is it responsible for any denial of services by carriers, hotels, restaurants, or other independent suppliers. The Americans with Disabilities Act is only applicable within the United States and facilities for disabled individuals are limited outside its borders. Most transportation services, including the touring motorcoach, are not equipped with wheelchair ramps. We regret that we cannot provide individual assistance to a vacation participant for walking, dining, getting on and off motorcoaches and other vehicles, or other personal needs. A qualified and physically able companion must accompany travelers who need such assistance and must assume full responsibility for their well being. With prior permission and waivers, we will attempt to accommodate motorized scooters on domestic tours as the itinerary permits. The passenger assumes the full risk of use and of any prohibitions imposed by vendors. Generally motorized scooters are not allowed on international tours.

Young Travelers

Travelers who are less than 18 years old on the departure date must be accompanied by an adult. For any special requirements regarding airline tickets for children, contact your airlines directly.

Due to heightened security, many countries have adopted practices to prevent international abductions of children. If a child will be traveling with adults other than the parents or with only one parent, it is recommended that a notarized letter be written by the parents or non-traveling parent granting authorization to travel, including the dates of travel. We suggest that you also contact the appropriate consulate and airlines because they may have additional requirements.

On Cosmos escorted vacations, young travelers aged 8–17 receive a 10% discount on the land price. We regret that we are unable to accept children less than 8 years old on these types of vacations.

Smoking

Smoking is not allowed on transportation that is exclusively provided by Cosmos.

Price Guarantee

All vacation prices are based on rates (including foreign exchange rates) known at the time of publication and expected to be in effect at the time of departure. Prices are subject to increase without notice if such rates change prior to departure. The current price will be confirmed at the time of reservation. However, once Cosmos has received your deposit for any vacation departing in 2008, that land price is guaranteed, and any subsequent land cost increases are at our expense, not including land surcharges and any government tax increases. Airfares included as part of air-inclusive vacation prices are guaranteed when we receive full invoice payment. Air-inclusive vacations are only available to passengers traveling from the United States. 2009 departures are subject to itinerary and price modifications. Vacation prices are per person, based on double occupancy. Single room supplements and triple reductions are listed where applicable. Not all accommodation types are available on all vacations.

Visas & Passports

For vacations requiring visas for U.S. citizens, detailed visa information will be mailed or faxed. You are responsible for obtaining and payment of all visas and entry documents prior to travel, and for meeting all health and other requirements and any documents required by laws, regulations, orders, and/or requirements of the countries to be visited. Non-U.S. citizens must consult with appropriate consulates to determine if any visas are needed and are responsible for obtaining all visas and entry documents independently. All passengers traveling internationally are required to have a passport. Most countries require that the passport be valid for at least six (6) months beyond the conclusion of your trip. It is recommended you have a minimum of six blank pages in your passport when traveling as many countries require blank pages. Multiple-entry visas are required for some vacations. You will need to check with your consulate to verify all requirements.

Accommodations

The accommodations listed on the Web site are intended to be used on all departures; however, if a change becomes necessary for any reason, the accommodations substituted will be equivalent in standard to those shown. Every effort is made to reserve only twin-bedded rooms. It may occasionally happen that an accommodation provides some double-bedded rooms instead. These rooms will be allocated to couples.

Please note that accommodation check-in times vary worldwide.

Private Bath & Single Rooms

In exceptional cases where private bath or single rooms as reserved by us are not available, refunds will be made by the Tour Director. Claims made in this respect cannot be accepted after the vacation is completed.

Baggage Allowance

Size and weight limitations for carry-on and checked baggage vary from airline to airline and even according to destination, and are becoming more restrictive. Cosmos is not responsible for additional fees imposed by air carriers regarding baggage. Regulations within most airports require that travelers handle their own luggage through customs. No responsibility is accepted for loss of or damage to baggage or any of the traveler’s belongings. Baggage insurance is recommended. See our Web site for all-inclusive Travel Protection Plans.

Carry-on bags, should not exceed the dimensions of 12"x11"x6". For safety reasons, wheeled carry-on bags are not suitable as hand luggage on motorcoaches and mini-buses.

Porterage for one suitcase is included in the vacation price. Airport porterage at the beginning and end of the vacation is not included, nor is porterage at train stations included. Due to limited coach capacity, a single bag should have dimensions not exceeding 30"x21"x11" and weight not exceeding 50 lb (22kg) or less if your air carrier has more strict weight/dimension limitations. We regret we are unable to accept a second suitcase or any luggage exceeding these limits.

Travel Documents

Travel documents, including any paper air tickets or e-ticket itineraries, are sent by regular ground delivery approximately two to three weeks prior to departure, provided full payment has been received. If available, a service charge per reservation is added for documents requested in advance and/or for two-day delivery. Please indicate at the time of reservation whether you prefer regular ground delivery or two-day delivery. (Two-day delivery with related charges is required for reservations made within 45 days of commencement of services.)

Not Included in the Vacation Price

Federal Inspection fees for the Federal U.S. Customs and Immigration; International Air Transportation tax; agricultural tax; any other taxes; security fees; airport taxes and fees; port taxes; passports; visas and vaccinations; tips to your Tour Director, Cruise Director, driver, Local Guides, and ships' crew; gratuities on ferries, trains, and cruise ships; laundry; telephone; mini bar; alcohol, beverages, and food not on the regular table d’hôte menu (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel, ship, or restaurant); optional excursions; porterage at airports and train stations; travel protection; excess baggage fees; and all other items of a personal nature.

Refunds

Please note that any request for refunds is subject to these Terms & Conditions; no refund can be made for unused services of less than 48 consecutive hours, for unused transportation where group activity tickets are involved, or for voluntary modifications made by the traveler. Airport transfers are complimentary with air-inclusive bookings on qualifying flights. Customers not using the included transfer will not be given a cash equivalent or vacation price reduction.

Service Inquiries After the Vacation

If, after returning from your vacation, you wish to inquire about any services provided, please ensure that all correspondence relating to those services is received by Cosmos, Traveler Services, Group Voyagers Inc. (see address under “Responsibility”), within 60 days of the tour completion date. This will enable Cosmos to make a timely investigation.

Holidays

During local or national holidays or special events, on Sundays and religious occasions, certain facilities such as museums, churches, sightseeing tours, restaurants, and shopping may be limited or not available. Alternatives will be offered whenever possible.

Safety

Please be aware that during your participation in vacations operated by Cosmos, certain risks and dangers may arise beyond our control including, but not limited to, the hazards of traveling in undeveloped areas; travel by boat, train, automobile, aircraft, or other means of transportation; the forces of nature; political unrest; acts of lawlessness or terrorism; and accident or illness in remote regions without means of rapid evacuation or medical facilities. Cosmos will not have liability regarding provision of medical care or the adequacy of any care that may be rendered. It is understood that Cosmos will use its best efforts to ensure that adequate measures are taken.

Photographs & Pictures

Photographs and pictures appearing on this Web site should be used solely as an indication of facilities and attractions. Actual facilities and attractions may vary according to availability.

Responsibility

Group Voyagers Inc., located at 5301 South Federal Circle, Littleton, Colorado 80123, is an independent company (“the Company”) licensed to market and distribute travel products under the Cosmos brand name, and arrange for the vacation services offered in its brochure or on its Web site, including transportation, sightseeing, and accommodations through independent contracts.

The carriers, accommodations, and other suppliers providing services are independent contractors and are not agents, employees, servants, or joint venturers of the Company or its affiliates. All certificates and other travel documents for services issued by the Company are subject to the terms and conditions specified by the supplier (which may be requested) and to the laws of the countries in which the services are supplied.

If, after departure, the services included in the vacation cannot be supplied, or there are changes in an itinerary for reasons beyond the control of the Company, the Company will arrange for the provision of comparable services. Any resulting additional expense will be payable by travelers, and any resulting savings will be refunded by the Company to vacation participants.

The Company reserves the right to accept or reject any person as a vacation participant; to expel any participant from the vacation; to make changes in the itinerary whenever the Company deems it necessary for the comfort, convenience, or safety of the participants; and to cancel a vacation at any time.

The vacation participant agrees that neither the Company nor its affiliates shall be liable for any damage, loss (including personal injury, death, and property loss), or expense occasioned by any act or omission of any supplier providing services, any insurer or insurance administrator under the Travel Protection Plan, or any other person.

Any dispute between the vacation participant and the Company directly or indirectly relating to the Terms & Conditions shall be first submitted to mediation at Denver, Colorado, before a mediator mutually agreed to by the parties. If mediation is not successful, the dispute must be resolved by binding arbitration under Colorado law before the Judicial Arbiter Group or its successor located at 1601 Blake Street, Denver, Colorado 80202. The prevailing party shall be entitled to an award of costs and reasonable attorney’s fees. Any action to enforce the arbitrator’s decision shall be brought in the state or federal courts in the State of Colorado.

Arbitration against the Company must be commenced within one year following the date of tour completion. Neither the Company nor any affiliate shall in any case be liable for other than compensatory damages, and you hereby waive any right to punitive damages.

No person, other than an authorized representative of the Company by a document in writing, is authorized to vary, add, or waive any term or condition on this Web site, including any term or condition set forth in the preceding provisions.

Trade Name

Cosmos is a service mark registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
CST#2017032-20