Shore excursion terms and conditions

SHORE EXCURSION TERMS AND CONDITIONS
(PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE MAKING A BOOKING)

These Terms and Conditions set out the conditions on which Shore Excursions are offered for sale and is the basis upon which a contract for Shore Excursions is concluded. These conditions are binding once you purchase any shore excursion provided by independent tour operators through CELESTYAL as part of your all-inclusive cruise package or separately.

Shore Excursions are operated by independent contractors even if sold as part of your all-inclusive cruise package holiday or purchased by you separately before departure or on board the cruise vessel (as the case may be). CELESTYAL will exercise reasonable skill and care in the selection of a reputable Shore Excursion provider. In assessing performance and/or liability of Shore Excursion providers, local laws and regulations will apply. CELESTYAL has no direct control over the shore excursion providers and their services hence where your shore excursion forms part of your all-inclusive cruise holiday CELESTYAL will only be held liable for loss, damages and injuries suffered by you as a direct result of the negligence of the Shore Excursion providers.

1.    LIMITATION OF LIABILITY:

CELESTYAL’s liability, if any, shall be limited as set forth in these terms and conditions.
CELESTYAL is not responsible for any losses, damage, death, injuries, or claims whatsoever arising from, connected with, or related to any activities engaged in by you while off CELESTYAL’s vessels or tenders in any port of call. This includes all shore excursions which are not part of your all inclusive cruise holiday, whether booked online, sold onboard or sold by third parties ashore. You engage in all such activities off the vessel at your own risk.

2.    INDEPENDENT SHORE EXCURSION PROVIDERS

All shore excursions are provided by independent contractors, namely local suppliers who will be subject to local laws, rules, regulations and standards which will form the basis upon which to assess the performance of such services.  Where shore excursions are included in the booking, the package shall be regarded as having been performed if local laws and regulations have been complied with. Such independent contractors do not at any time act as agent or representatives of CELESTYAL. CELESTYAL does not own or control any such independent contractors, It is understood and agreed that when you are buying such services or activities when they are not part of your all inclusive package cruise holiday you  shall be entering into a contract with the independent contractor and shall be deemed to agree and consent that any liability for any death, personal injury, illness, emotional distress, mental suffering or psychological injury to the passenger or loss of or damage to property shall be the sole responsibility of the provider of such service or activity.  CELESTYAL shall not be or become liable or responsible in any way for any act or omission of any such provider pertaining to, or arising from or in connection with such services or activities. Where shore excursions are part of your cruise package holiday CELESTYAL does exercise reasonable care and skill in the selection of the excursion provider but will not in any circumstances have a greater liability than the shore excursion supplier. Any benefits or limitations of the shore excursion supplier including local laws, regulations and or International Conventions shall apply to any liability CELESTYAL may be held to you. CELESTYAL will not be responsible for any improper performance or injury which is wholly attributable to your fault or anyone in your party and or the unforeseen or unavoidable act or omission of a third party unconnected with the provision of the services under the shore excursion to be provided and or the unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond CELESTYAL’s control and or the relevant supplier the consequences of which could not even with all due care have been foreseen or forestalled. The shore excursion contract with you will be regarded as having been performed if local laws and regulations have been fully complied with, notwithstanding the law of the contract relating to your cruise holiday.

3.    ITINERARIES/ TIMELINES:

Please note that any descriptions, itineraries and timelines of the shore excursions published on the CELESTYAL Website and/or in any material distributed by CELESTYAL (including brochures) are intended to be purely indicative and maybe subject to changes without notice. The itineraries and timetables of the shore excursions may also be  subject to changes due to either unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances beyond the control of the Company or external factors, including without limitation weather conditions, and/or operational requirements of the service providers and/or local conditions and/or any unforeseen problems in relation to the timing on the day of the tour and/or public holidays and/or any other reason whatsoever. Descriptions and shore excursion lengths are all based on approximate times and predetermined points of interest. Port times are subject to change without prior notice. CELESTYAL shall not be or become liable or responsible in any way for any alteration and/or cancellation of the shore excursions in this respect.

As a delay may result in a missed shore excursion or interfere with the shore excursion’s normal operation, you are required to report to the specified location, at the designated departure time.

4.    SHORE EXCURSION DISCOUNT (WHERE APPLICABLE, AS PART OF YOUR CRUISE PACKAGE)

For any Shore Excursion Discount (applicable per person) consisting part of any cruise packages offered for sale by CELESTYAL  (at its sole discretion)  the following terms shall apply:

The Shore Excursion Discount (as per above) shall be valid only:

(i)    for pre-bookable shore excursions. Cannot be used against any other services.
(ii)    To be used latest 48 hours prior to embarkation. Thereafter, the discount is no longer valid and cannot be used onboard the vessel(s)

•    Applicable for shore excursion of equal, greater or lower value:
1.    If the Discount has a greater value than the value of the excursion, the remaining value can be used for an alternative excursion provided it’s used within the timeframe stipulated above.
2.    If the Discount is lower than the value of the excursion, the Guest will pay the difference in price.
•    The Discount has no monetary value, is non-refundable and non-transferable.
•    No cash or credit alternative is offered.
•    Can be combined with any other special offer by Celestyal, unless otherwise specified.

5.    AUTHENTIC ENCOUNTERS SHORE EXCURSION

CELESTYAL offers a special category of Shore Excursions titiled “Authentic Encounters” performed exclusively by English speaking guides and can only be booked latest 15 days prior to the scheduled date of the cruise.

Subject to the cancellation policy applicable to these shore excursions, all other terms and conditions hereunder apply equally to this category of shore excursion.

6.    CANCELLATION

Shore excursions may be cancelled by CELESTYAL  for any reason whatsoever. In the event of cancellation your sole recourse is a refund of the amount paid for the cancelled activity.

Excursions and performances may be cancelled or modified depending on the number of guests participating. Some excursions require a minimum number of guests to operate. If this minimum is not met, excursions may be cancelled by CELESTYAL and full refunds of the amount paid for the cancelled activity will be issued.

It should be noted that excursions operate rain or shine. At times, CELESTYAL will cancel particular excursions due to weather-related safety considerations. In this instance, all efforts will be made to accommodate you on an alternate shore excursion.

Any unused shore excursion tickets are NON-REFUNDABLE.

Cancellations of shore excursions, not forming part of the all-inclusive cruise package booked (whether pre-booked  or booked onboard the vessel during the cruise) are fully refundable provided cancellation is made within the cancellation timeframe stipulated in the advertised daily program. Cancellations made after the above stipulated timeframe are not accepted and thus, non-refundable. For Authentic Encounters Shore Excursions, the time limit for cancellation is latest 15 days prior to the scheduled date of the cruise.

For online cancellations of shore excursions (not forming part of the all-inclusive cruise package booked) a full refund of the amount paid will automatically be posted to the credit card that was used to pay for the shore excursion order, regardless of whether the person who made the purchase is sailing. Please allow 7-10 business days for the credit to post to your account.

Cancellation of shore excursions free of charge is only permitted for medical reasons. Such cancellation is subject to the provision of a medical note from the vessel’s doctor.

7.    RESTRICTIONS:

Please note that there are certain restrictions based on age, health (ie persons with special needs or reduced mobility) which have been imposed by the independent shore excursion providers for your own safety. You should abide by these restrictions. It is important to note that participation for anyone with special needs might be restricted due to insufficient/inappropriate ground services for example the absence of ramps, and other appropriate facilities for persons with reduced mobility or the fact that at times disembarkation of passengers at certain ports may take place by tenders. You must therefore at the time of booking provide full details of any disabilities or health conditions which may affect your ability or the ability of anyone in your party to participate in any of the shore excursions. We do not take any responsibility whatsoever with regard to any shore excursions sold by CELESTYAL where any important information about you or any member of your party’s ability to participate has not been communicated to us at the time of booking.

The Shore Excursion provider reserves the right to exclude any person from a shore excursion when in their opinion the conduct of such person would be detrimental, inharmonious or incompatible with the interest, comfort, safety or welfare of the group as a whole if that person came on the excursion.

8.    PRICE:

Shore Excursion prices are subject to change and may occasionally vary from published rates. These changes may occur due to unexpected changes in the cost of fuel or other power sources, and/or the level of taxes or fees on the travel services, including tourist tax,or exchange rates relevant to the package.

9.    RATES QUOTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY:

As the currency on board is Euro, Shore Excursion prices quoted in Pound Sterling and USD are only given as an indication. We reserve the right to readjust prices, based on the applicable vessel’s Euro exchange rate. All rates are based on tariffs available at the time of costing and are subject to increase without notice of such rate change prior to the commencement of the shore excursion.

10.    CHILDREN’S PRICES:

Children’s prices refer to children who have had their 2nd birthday – and are not yet 12 years of age.

11.    TRANSPORTATION:

Please note that the standard of transportation varies throughout the world and on this basis there may be cases where in some ports air-conditioned motor coaches may not be available. Please note that many forms of transportation, including motor coaches, may require passengers to climb 2 to 3 steps. Most, but not all motor coaches, can accommodate collapsible wheelchairs. CELESTYAL staff is not obligated to lift passengers into or out of vehicles. Tendering may prevent passengers in wheelchairs from going ashore at certain ports of call.

12.    MINIMUM NUMBER OF PASSENGERS

Each shore excursion requires a minimum number of 30 participants to be conducted. If this minimum is not met, shore excursions may be cancelled, and you will only be entitled (where applicable) to a full refund of all payments made in respect of the cancelled shore excursion.

13.    TOUR GUIDE SERVICES:

All shore excursions are performed by English speaking guides. With a minimum of 30 passengers, we will provide guides in French, German, Spanish and Greek.  Subject to availability, for any other languages we will use reasonable endeavours to secure interpreters based on minimum participation and guide availability. Authentic Encounter Shore excursions are exclusively performed in English and no other language.

In case a trained guide in a requested language is not available, CELESTYAL at its sole discretion may try to provide assistance from the on board shore excursion staff, when it is possible to do so, who will be happy to translate in the appropriate language. It should be noted that shore excursion staff are not professional translators and thus, neither the shore excursion staff nor CELESTYAL shall be liable for any mistakes made by the shore excursion staff.

14.    PRIVATE SHORE EXCURSION:

CELESTYAL does offer the option of private shore excursions, subject to availability and early booking, at least one (1) day prior to the intended date of the private shore excursion.   Such private shore excursions are either (i) shore excursions based on the itinerary of the regular shore excursion on offer but adjusted in such a manner to suit your and/or your group’s needs or (ii) totally customised shore excursions (i.e. these may operate on a completely different itinerary to the regular shore excursions on offer), in both instances such private shore excursions are subject to prior confirmation by CELESTYAL. Cancellation of private shore excursions should be made within the timeframe stipulated and made known to passengers at the time of booking, otherwise cancellations made after the agreed stipulated timeframe are not accepted and thus, non-refundable. Cancellation of private shore excursions within the agreed timeframe are subject to cancellation charges, the exact amount of which will be made known to the passengers at the time of booking and will vary depending on the requirements and arrangements concerning the intended private shore excursion

15.    SHORE EXCURSION UPGRADE:

Shore excursion upgrades are available at any time. Any upgrade of shore excursions made onboard the vessel shall be subject to the prices charged onboard the vessel.

16.    SMOKING POLICY:

Regrettably, we are unable to provide a smoking section on the motor coaches. We appreciate your cooperation and will try to arrange, whenever possible, frequent opportunities for those smokers to smoke outside the motor coaches.

17.    SHOPPING:

In certain shore excursions, time for optional shopping is allocated. As shore excursions are not primarily designed for shopping, time has been limited. When such shopping is included, passengers must note their meeting time and place, and are expected to always be prompt so that other passengers on the shore excursion are not put to any unnecessary delay and inconvenience. CELESTYAL is not responsible in any manner whatsoever for any issues that may arise with any purchased goods. When purchasing a good you enter into a contract with the independent supplier of that good and not CELESTYAL. The terms and conditions of the independent supplier is the basis upon which the contract of sale/purchase of the good is concluded

18.    MEETING POINT AND TIME:

The starting time of all shore excursions is governed by the vessel’s arrival in port.
Passengers should note that the vessel is under no liability whatsoever to wait for a passenger who may be detained by the authorities. The passenger is obliged to indemnify the Carrier and/or the managers and/or the owners of the vessel for any fines and/or delays and/or other costs that the Carrier and/or the managers and/or the owners of the vessel or owner of the vessel may incur.

19.    SECURITY:

The passenger is responsible for its personal possessions. Neither CELESTYAL nor the shore excursion providers nor the shore excursion staff shall be responsible for personal possessions.  Passengers should not leave unattended their personal belongings at any time. It is recommended that passengers do not carry unnecessary valuables with them while ashore.

20.    RECOMMENDED DRESS CODE:

Passengers should wear comfortable clothes and good walking shoes. Please note that some archaeological sites have steps and the ground is uneven and in certain religious places/buildings entry may be refused if not addressed appropriately, ie knees and shoulders covered. For further information please refer to the shore excursion icons of each shore excursion or to shore excursion staff.

21.    WHISPERS

The use of whispers are mandatory for all passengers for the performance of the shore excursion for reasons of health and safety.

The whispers for each passenger shall be placed in their cabin at the commencement of their cruise and shall be deemed returned when these have been left in their cabin at the end of their cruise for the housekeeper to collect. Should any whispers be returned in a damaged condition or not be returned at all the following fees shall be charged to the passenger: 85 Euros (€)

22.    HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS

CELESTYAL complies at all times with the applicable health and safety protocols and regulations whether local and/or national and/or industry-based, including without limitation to health and safety protocols and restrictions relating to COVID-19 and measures adopted by CELESTYAL, at its sole discretion, in this respect (“Health and Safety Protocols"). As such, shore excursion(s) and their exact performance are subject to the Health and Safety Protocols, as these may be amended from time to time. CELESTYAL shall not be or become liable or responsible in any way for any alteration and/or cancellation of the shore excursion(s) in this respect.

When ashore, all guests are required to strictly adhere to the Health and Safety Protocols, including inter alia to the following:

23.    APPLICABLE CONDITIONS AND LAW:

All shore excursions shall be subjected to the laws of the country in which such shore excursions are being undertaken and all disputes shall be resolved in the courts of such country. All tickets, receipts, coupons and contracts are issued subject to all terms and conditions under which such means of transportation, accommodation and other shore excursion services are offered and provided, and by acceptance of such tickets, receipts, coupons and contracts, you agree to the terms and conditions. All carriage by land, air and sea is subject to the terms and conditions of carriage of the actual carrier. These may limit or exclude liability. They are expressly incorporated into these terms and conditions.