Riviera TOC
Terms and Conditions Below are Accurate as of 5/28/2020
These terms and conditions are your agreement with Riviera Travel LLC (dba Riviera River Cruises). By signing our reservation form or brochure or by clicking “I Agree” on our website, you will be bound by these terms and conditions, once we issue a confirmation invoice. References to “you” and “your” and “passenger(s)” means all persons named on the reservation form (Booking Party) (including those added at a later date) “We”, “us”, “our” means Riviera.
1. Making your reservation
Subject to availability, we will confirm your trip by issuing a confirmation invoice to the party leader who confirms they have authority on behalf of the Booking Party including minors (under the age of 18) and are responsible for obtaining and providing all information and payments required by us in accordance with these terms and conditions.
Please check your documents carefully and contact us immediately if any information on any document is incorrect. We cannot accept any liability if we are not notified of any inaccuracies in any document within 10 days of our sending it out (5 days for tickets). You may contact us by e-mail at info@rivierarivercruises.com, call your travel agent or call us at 888-838-8820.
2. Payment
A non-refundable deposit of $400 must be paid to confirm your booking. The balance of the trip cost is due 8 weeks* prior to the departure. If full payment is not made on time, we will cancel your booking and keep all payments paid at that date and levy the cancellation charges shown in clause 7. If booking within 8 weeks* of departure, full payment must be made at the time of booking. *13 weeks for all European river cruises departing from 2019 onwards.
3. Your contract
A binding contract comes into existence when we issue the confirmation invoice.
4. The cost of your trip
Please note, advertised prices may have changed by the time you book your trip and errors occasionally occur. You must check the price of your chosen trip at the time of booking.
The prices in our brochure were calculated on the basis of then known costs and exchange. We reserve the right to change prices and correct errors in advertised prices at any time before or after your vacation is confirmed.
Subject to the correction of errors or amendment costs, once a cruise booking is confirmed, we guarantee the price will not change.
However, airfare and other costs and availability are subject to change at any time prior to payment. Even after you have paid, trips with scheduled air transportation from the United States are subject to supplemental price increases that may be imposed by the supplier and/or government. By agreeing to these terms and conditions, you consent to any such price increase.
5. Special requests
Special requests must be advised at the time of booking. Unless specifically confirmed by us in writing, all special requests are subject to availability.
6. Changes by you
Any amendments we agree after issue of the confirmation invoice will cost $20 per person plus any costs incurred by us and or charged by our suppliers. A change of trip dates is a cancellation of the original booking and the cancellation charges in clause 7 apply. Name changes are allowed 2 weeks or more prior to travel if you are prevented from traveling. All costs must be paid before the amendment can be effected.
7. Cancellation by you
Cancellation of the booking must be requested in writing (letter or email) to us which will be effective when received by us. Where the cancellation charge below is shown as a percentage, this is the trip cost. Travel protection premiums are not refundable.
All 2019 & 2020 European river cruises
Period before departure within which written notification of cancellation is received by us | Cancellation charge per person cancelling |
More than 91 days | deposit |
90-61 days | 50% |
60-31 days | 75% |
30-16 days | 85% |
15 days or less | 100% |
Airlines and hotels, and other suppliers of travel services have their own changes and cancellation penalties. For example, change or cancellation of flights and other transport costs can result in 100% cancellation charges irrespective of the date of cancellation. A single person supplement will be payable if a cabin or hotel room is occupied by only one person except where 100% cancellation charges have been paid by the person canceling. Your decision not to take all or part of the trip due to State Department warnings or advisories, fear of travel, or any other reason will be deemed a cancellation. If a flight or other delay for any reason prevents you from using the trip on the trip start date and time, you will be considered a no-show, and we cannot provide a full or partial refund or credit toward a future trip.
8. Travel Protection
We recommend you purchase a travel protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. Travel protection plans include coverage for trip cancellation, trip interruption, emergency medical and emergency evacuation/repatriation, trip delay, baggage delay and more. If you decline coverage, you will personally assume full responsibility for any financial loss associated with your travel investment and/or have to pay more money to correct the situation. For more information, please contact our Call Centre at 888 838 8820.
9. Changes or cancellations by us
We plan trips many months in advance. Occasionally for reasons of force majeure or other circumstances beyond our control it is necessary to make alterations to the arrangements. We reserve the right to alter or cancel itineraries, accommodation or other arrangements at any time.
If a trip is cancelled, our liability is limited to a full refund of your payments, and we will not be liable for any other costs, damages, or refunds of any kind for any loss, delay, inconvenience, disappointment, or expense whatsoever in such circumstances. If for reasons beyond our control, a trip in progress must be interrupted or cancelled, we will refund a portion of the price depending on our actual costs incurred.
When we have to cancel or significantly change your trip, we cannot accept liability for the cost or cancellation of any unused service (such as, but not limited to, flights, hotels, rail travel and car parking).
If there is a significant alteration of a cruise after departure, we will make suitable alternative arrangements at no extra cost to you for the continuation of the vacation. If you do not accept these, or it is impossible to make suitable alternative arrangements, we will where possible return you to the place of departure or to another place to which you have agreed with us, except when the alteration is minor or if due to an event of force majeure or is not our fault. We cannot guarantee that cruises will call at every port on the itinerary. Cancellation of part of the itinerary, substitution of ports or unavailability of some services will not amount to a significant alteration.
10. Responsibility/Liability
We act only in the capacity of agent for the suppliers of the travel services named in your Itinerary or otherwise providing services or goods in connection your trip (the “Suppliers”), such as airlines, hotels and other lodging providers, local hosts, sightseeing tour operators, bus lines, car rental companies, driving services, restaurants, and providers of entertainment. We forward your payment to each such Supplier on the schedules required by them, typically at point of booking for airlines and point of departure for hotels. We assume no responsibility for any personal injury, property damage, or other loss, accident, delay, inconvenience, or irregularity which may be occasioned by reason of any act or omission of any of the Suppliers or airlines providing flights to or from your destinations. You assume full and complete responsibility for all risks of travel and for complying with all laws of the countries in the Itinerary. You are also responsible for respecting the authority and following the directions of any tour guide during a trip. Should you decide not to participate in certain parts of the trip or use certain goods included in the trip, no refunds will be made for those unused parts of the trip or goods. You must be over the age of 12 to participate in the trip. You agree to indemnify and hold us harmless from and against any costs, damages, losses, or liabilities arising out of your or your companions’ actions or omissions. IN NO EVENT WILL WE BE LIABLE FOR ANY INJURY, LOSS, CLAIM, DAMAGE, OR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE, THAT ARISE OUT OF OR ARE IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THE PACKAGE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. IN NO EVENT WILL OUR AGGREGATE LIABILITY EXCEED THE TOTAL PACKAGE PRICE SET FORTH IN THE ITINERARY.
11. Force Majeure
We assume no responsibility for any personal injury, property damage, or other loss, accident, delay, inconvenience, or irregularity which may be occasioned by reason of any matter beyond our exclusive control including but not limited to a delay or cancellation that causes you to miss all or any portion of the trip, acts of God, acts of government, war, terrorist acts, riots, disaster, weather extremes, or strikes. We have no special knowledge regarding the financial condition of the Suppliers, unsafe conditions, health hazards, weather hazards, or climate extremes at locations to which you may travel. For information concerning possible dangers at foreign destinations, we recommend contacting the Travel Warnings Section of the U.S. State Department at (202) 647-5225 or www.travel.state.gov, and click on “Travel Warnings.” For medical information, we recommend contacting the Centers for Disease Control at (877) FYI-TRIP or www.cdc.gov/travel.
12. Air Transportation
Your airline ticket constitutes a contract between yourself and the airline (and not Riviera), even if purchased through us. We are not liable and assume no responsibility or accept claims with regard to seat assignments, name changes, schedule changes, flight changes, cancellations, claims for refund or reimbursement of airline ticket fees, or any other loss or expense incurred by you for any reason whatsoever (including without limitation to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization of a carrier or similar relief from creditors) when purchasing or using the carrier’s services. The flight booking service offered by us can only be used in conjunction with a Riviera trip. Tickets and/or e-tickets will be mailed with final documents. If we make airline reservations for you, we will not change your requested seat assignments on commercial aircraft without permission. However, airlines often change seat assignments to satisfy their loyalty members or because of equipment changes (aircraft type). We are not notified of these changes in advance, and often clients are not made aware of these changes until they arrive at the airport. We are not responsible for seat assignment changes made by the airline. Frequent flyer programs are private agreements between airlines and passengers, and we cannot be held responsible for mileage discrepancies involving airline loyalty reward programs. Some governments charge departure taxes and/or fees. These fees are the responsibility of each passenger traveling to the designated country and are not included unless stated.
13. Accommodations
We are not liable for any extensions, upgrades, or extras arranged by customers on arrival at the accommodation. The people named on your confirmation must be the only ones allowed to use the accommodation we have arranged for you. You are not allowed to share the accommodation or let anyone else stay there. You are responsible for the cost of any damage caused to your accommodation or its content during your stay. In the event of one or more members of a party cancel for any reason, a price increase for the remaining members may be applicable, and a new invoice may be sent to you showing the new costing and any cancellation fees involved. There may be small differences between the actual accommodation and its description. Occasionally, local conditions may mean that some facilities or services become unavailable or subject to restriction for reasons such as maintenance, bad weather or lack of demand from guests. In addition to this, please be aware that advertised facilities within your hotel and around the resort may not be fully functional in early and late season. We cannot accept responsibility for any changes or closures to area amenities or attractions. We cannot accept responsibility for any inaccurate, incomplete or misleading information about any accommodation or its facilities and/or services, except in the case of our negligence. If our suppliers made us aware of any changes, we will inform you of any changes. Sometimes local laws, religious customs or events mean facilities are not available. In the unlikely event of an overbooking situation at your hotel, alternative arrangements will be made to provide you with similar accommodation to your original booking in accordance with the policies of the hotel that was booked.
14. Behavior and damage
You are responsible for any damage or loss caused by you. Full payment for any such damage or loss must be made on demand as soon as possible. If in our or in the reasonable opinion of any other person in authority, you behave in such a way as to cause or be likely to cause danger, upset or distress to any third party or damage to property, we are entitled to terminate the vacation of the person(s) concerned and or require you to leave the accommodation or other service. We will have no further responsibility to you. No refunds will be made. You must not solicit other persons for commercial purposes or advertise goods or services without our prior written permission.
15. Conditions of suppliers
You are bound by the terms and conditions and conditions of carriage of our suppliers and independent contractors which we incorporate into these booking conditions which may limit or exclude liability to you. Copies are available on request or online on www.rivierarivercruises.com/conditionsofsuppliers.
16. Passports, visas and health requirements
For guidance we have details on our website of passport and visa requirement for US citizens booking our vacations, together with details of any compulsory health requirements. It is, however, your responsibility to ensure you have and comply with passport and visa requirements, and you are aware of all recommended vaccinations and health precautions. We cannot accept any liability if you are refused entry onto any transport or into any country due to failure on your part to comply with these requirements.
17. Brochure / website / advertising material accuracy
The information contained in our brochure, website and other advertising material is believed correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. However, errors may occasionally occur and information may subsequently change. You must therefore ensure you check all details of your chosen vacation (including the price) with us at the time of booking.
18. Children
We are unable to accommodate children under 12 years old at the date of departure. We reserve the right to limit the number of children on any particular trip. Any minor must be accompanied by and share a cabin with an adult aged 21 or over. If the adult is not the minor’s parent, a “Parental Consent Guardianship Form” must be signed by a parent or legal guardian prior to sailing.
19. Health and safety
You must at all times comply with rules and regulations and the orders and directions of carriers and our suppliers and warrant that your conduct will not impair the safety of others.
We, carriers, our suppliers and/or the relevant authorities are entitled to administer a public health questionnaire at any time. You must complete the questionnaire and supply accurate information regarding any symptoms of illness. We may deny boarding to any passenger who has symptoms of any viral or bacterial illness. You must report illness and you may be required to remain in your cabin or hotel room as required by the ship’s captain or the hotel manager. Refusal to comply with any of these procedures may result in your cruise being terminated. We have no liability to you in the event that we cancel or curtail your cruise as referred to in this clause. If safety requirements and/or design or structure of the ship or port infrastructure and equipment, including port terminals, make it impossible to carry out the embarkation, disembarkation or carriage of a passenger suffering from a disability of reduced mobility in a safe or operationally feasible manner, we and the carrier are entitled to refuse a booking from the person concerned. Passengers must be fully mobile to travel on any cruise. We cannot provide individual assistance to any passenger for walking, embarking or disembarking or traveling on other forms of transportation. In the event that you require assistance with embarking or disembarking from the ship at the first or last port as a result of your reduced mobility or disability, please advise us at the time of booking but in any event no later than 48 hours before the assistance is required. Some ships may not have elevators. You must check at the time of booking. Some excursions require a good level of physical fitness and do not have vehicles and/or there are restrictions on access.
The carrier, acting via the captain, reserves the right to refuse passage, disembark or confine to a cabin any passenger whose physical or mental condition or behaviour is considered in the sole opinion of the captain to constitute a risk to the passenger’s own well-being or that of any other passenger or crew member. The carrier and the captain reserve the right to disembark any passenger whose behaviour affects the comfort, enjoyment, safety or well-being of other passengers or of any crew.
During passage through locks or under low bridges or in the event of adverse weather conditions, it may be necessary to close the sundeck to passengers. Sundeck closures are rigidly enforced in the interests of safety. Ships may be required to moor alongside one another in some ports. This may result in your view being blocked. It may also result in your having to cross other ships in order to go ashore.
While we take reasonable steps to minimise noise and vibrations on the cruise ships, you acknowledge and accept that some noise and vibration may be experienced on vessels and that we will not be liable to you in relation to such noise and vibration.
20. Food allergies
If you have any food allergies which may cause significant health issues, you must report this in writing at the time of booking or as soon as convenient. It is your responsibility to ensure that you actively avoid any food you are allergic to and make all appropriate enquiries to establish the ingredients of any food. The supplier is not under any obligation to prepare or provide special meals.
21. Smoking
Passengers must observe the non-smoking policy on board the ships. If smoke is detected in any cabin, a cleaning fee of $250 per occurrence will be billed to the passenger’s account. Smoking restrictions include e-cigarette smoking. If there is violation of the non-smoking policy, then passengers may be disembarked from the ship without refund.
22. Pregnancy
The river cruise ships do not have doctors or facilities to deliver babies or provide-natal treatment. We recommend that women who are less than 12 weeks pregnant seek medical advice prior to travel. For safety reasons women past their 24th week of pregnancy at any stage of the cruise cannot be carried on board. Airlines also have restrictions. Pregnant women are required to produce a fitness to travel certificate based on the proposed cruise itinerary and transport provider’s requirements. The carrier expressly reserves the right to refuse passage to board to any passenger who appears to be in an advanced state of pregnancy and the carrier shall have no liability whatsoever in respect of either such refusal and/or the carriage.
23. Medical facilities/treatment on board and ashore
There are no doctors on board any of the river cruise ships in our program. Should you require medical attention during your cruise then local medical services can be contacted for emergency treatment. The cost of such treatment is your sole responsibility. We are not be liable for any aspect of medical treatment provided to you ashore or on board. If you have any medical condition which may need treatment during a cruise, this must be disclosed at the time of booking in order for a risk assessment to be undertaken as to whether you can be safely carried. You may be asked to provide medical evidence for this purpose. Carriage is dependent on the nature and extent of the medical condition, the itinerary and length of cruise.
In relation to your own medical equipment, there are limited storage facilities on board ships. You must check prior to booking if the equipment is allowed on board aircraft, ships or hotels. Scooters cannot be carried on board ships due to space limitations and reasons of safety.
24. Disability/wheelchairs/service animals
During our cruise, we visit many historical sites and often enjoy walking tours of various places of interest. Some destinations, therefore, may not be suitable for clients of impaired mobility.
Our priority is always the comfort and safety of passengers as well as complying with the strict legal requirements relating to safety of life at sea and inland waterways. In order to achieve these objectives, passengers with reduced mobility or disability or who need assistance dogs should at the time of booking provide as much detail as possible of the matters set out on our website at www.rivierarivercruises.com/reducedmobilityinformation. Passengers may be required to be accompanied or may be refused carriage. You warrant that you have considered the INFORMATION TO PASSENGERS FOR REDUCED MOBILITY AND DISABILITIES and that you have made all relevant notifications to us.
Please be aware that there are no wheelchair accessible cabins on any of the river cruise ships
25. Security
Weapons, ammunition, explosives, substances that are hazardous, disabling, or illegal, or any other article that in the sole opinion of the captain may be considered dangerous, are strictly prohibited aboard the ship or carried on any form of transport.
You consent to a reasonable search being made of your person, property, cabin, hotel room and to the removal and confiscation or destruction of any object which may, in our opinion or that of any carrier or supplier will impair the safety of others or of property or be illegal or inconvenience others.
26. Data Protection
Personal data relating to individuals shall be collected, processed, stored and used securely and in accordance with relevant data protection laws. You consent to the collection, processing, storing and use of your personal data to enable us to perform the trip. This may include providing your details to governments, immigration, port state control, police, flag state and other competent authorities and / or as may be required by law. In the case of emergencies you consent to our providing personal data to doctors, next of kin, our insurers and advisors and your medical insurers. Personal data shall only be kept for as long as is necessary or required by law.
27. Governing Law and Exclusive Jurisdiction
This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than England and Wales. THE PARTIES AGREE THAT JURISDICTION AND VENUE IN ANY ACTION BROUGHT BY ANY PARTY PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL PROPERLY AND EXCLUSIVELY LIE IN THE COURTS OF ENGLAND AND WALES. EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS, AND THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY AGREE THAT VENUE WOULD BE PROPER IN SUCH COURTS, AND HEREBY WAIVE ANY OBJECTION THAT SUCH COURTS ARE AN IMPROPER OR INCONVENIENT FORUM FOR THE RESOLUTION OF SUCH ACTION.
28. Embarkation/Disembarkation
On arrival, you may embark the ship from 5:00pm. On your day of departure, you must vacate your cabin by 9:00am.
Riviera Travel LLC 1515, Black Rock Turnpike, Fairfield, CT 06825
CST Number (California): 2130254-50
FL SOT Number (Florida): 81-4865378