Terms & conditions - Island Cruises

Environmental policy
At Island Cruises we know we have a responsibility to protect the environment.

Pricing policy
Brochure prices are correct at time of going to print. Island Cruises reserves the right to increase or decrease the holiday prices and flight supplements featured in the brochure. Once you have booked, these costs are fully guaranteed

Booking your cruise
The following booking conditions apply to all holidays featured in the brochure.

Changes to your booking
If you make changes to your booking

Flights
Check in and flight times

Your cruise
Points for you to remember

Ship and resort accommodation
Your accommodation

Insurance
You cannot travel with us unless you have travel insurance.

Travel advice
Before you travel.

Environmental policy

At Island Cruises we know we have a responsibility to protect the environment. As a business, we are committed to working together with our customers, employees, shareholders, suppliers, industry partners and other relevant parties to minimise the direct environmental impact of our operations.

What we currently do on board

Island Cruises strives to reduce the generation of waste material, recycle as much as possible and ensure the proper disposal of any remaining waste.

Our ships are committed to control water consumption and to run our engines at optimum efficiency levels. In addition to this, each ship employs an Environmental Officer, responsible for:

Overseeing the company’s on-board environmental programme
Training crew in environmental management
Environmentally sound waste management

Over the coming 12 months Island Cruises has committed to:

Reduce waste across the business, through a combination of usage reduction, re-use and recycling
Reduce brochure waste through efficient print quantities
Reduce energy consumption
Work with suppliers who follow environmentally sound work practices
Investigate ways to achieve reductions in fuel consumption and carbon emissions per paying passenger

Pricing policy

Brochure prices are correct at time of going to print. Island Cruises reserves the right to increase or decrease the holiday prices and flight supplements featured in the brochure. Once you have booked, these costs are fully guaranteed.

Up until 30 days prior to departure your holiday is subject to increases in:

Transportation costs (e.g. fuel, scheduled airfares and airline surcharges)
Service fees (e.g. landing taxes and embarkation/ disembarkation fees)
Aviation insurance and security charges
Changes to exchange rates

No price increases will be incurred within 30 days of departure. In case of any small price variation, an amount equivalent to 2% of the price of your travel arrangements (excluding insurance premiums and amendment charges) will be absorbed or retained. For larger variations, this 2% will still be absorbed for increases, but not retained from refunds. In either case, there will be an administration charge of £1 per person together with an amount to cover agents’ commission. If you are asked to pay an increase of more than 10% of the price of your holiday, you will be offered a replacement holiday, or you may cancel and receive a full refund, except for any amendment charges. If you decide to cancel, you must do so within 14 days of the issue date printed on your final invoice. For more information see the section ‘If we change or cancel your holiday’.

Brochure validity

This brochure was published in Dec 2007, and all details and prices are valid from 13 Dec 2007 until publication of any revised edition, or you are otherwise notified by our Reservations Team or your travel agent. Holidays in this brochure operate from Mar 2008-Mar 2009.

Brochure prices

Brochure prices are in Pounds Sterling. Prices for cruise and/or hotel accommodation are per person based on two adults sharing a cabin/room, unless otherwise stated. Supplements and reductions are per person per night. The holiday prices in this brochure are based on flights that do not carry a supplement. Flight supplements reflect the additional cost of flying from certain airports and/or on certain days of the week and should be added to the holiday price shown in the price panels. Prices correct at time of going to print, but are subject to availability and change. Contact the Reservations Team on 0161 772 8600, see your local travel agent, or visit islandcruises.com for the most up-to-date prices.

Child prices

See the ‘Get the kids on board’ page for 7-night and 14-night∗child prices. Child prices are applicable for children aged 2-12 and based on them sharing a cabin/room with two full-fare paying adults. Prices exclude accommodation upgrades, flight meals and reserved seating supplements, which must be paid for in full.

∗14-night child prices are based on 2 weeks on board, or a combined 7-night Fly-Cruise and Majorca stay.

Infant prices

A charge of £29 (Med)/£199 (Caribbean/Brazil) is applicable for infants under 2 years of age on the date of their return flight. Infants under 2 years will not be entitled to an in-flight meal. Only one infant per adult is allowed.

Group booking discounts

Receive 1 free place for every 10 full-fare paying adults booked on the same holiday... perfect for a gathering of family, friends and colleagues. We will also upgrade your group free of charge to the deck above.

∗Free cabin upgrade is subject to availability and applies to the equivalent cabin type on the deck above, e.g. bookings on Aqua deck will be upgraded to Bronze deck. The offer does not include Premier and Balcony cabins, Deluxe cabins or Suites.

Offer is available on Med cruises only
Free places can be claimed against current offer prices
If your group books a range of cabin types, the free place will be allocated to the lowest priced cabin
Free places are calculated on the number of passengers finally travelling
All members of the group must travel on the same date, for the same duration and to the same accommodation (arrangements can sometimes be made for very large groups to travel from different airports)
Two children travelling on reduced price holidays are the equivalent of one full-fare paying adult. 3rd or 4th adults staying in the cabin of two full-paying adults, count as half a full-fare paying adult each
A deposit of £130 (Med)/£180 (Caribbean/Brazil) per person is payable against all free places. This will be credited against the final balance
Free group places do not include insurance, in-flight refreshments, cabin/room and meal supplements
Free group places are limited, subject to availability and not available in conjunction with any other offer or promotion Call our Groups Department for the most up-to-date group deals on 0161 772 8611.

Payment

You must pay a deposit of £130 (Med)/£180 (Caribbean/Brazil) per person when you book (excluding infants, not yet 2 years old on the date of their return flight). The remainder of the holiday price must be paid at least eight weeks before the date of departure. If you fail to pay in full by eight weeks before departure, your holiday will be cancelled and you will lose your deposit. Cheques require five working days to clear. Cheques that will not clear at least eight weeks before departure cannot be accepted. If you book your holiday within eight weeks of departure, payment must be made in full by debit or credit card. Tickets will not be issued until your holiday has been paid for in full.

Exchange rates

The following exchange rates are used for calculating brochure prices and VAT. The FTO base date was Mon 5 Mar 2007 with exchange rates as published in the Financial Times under the section ‘FT Guide to World Currencies’ on Fri 2 Mar 2007. All prices include VAT on all holidays to EC countries.

Country (currency) rate to the £: Brazil (Real) 4.1141, Euro 1.4761, USA (Dollar) 1.9443.

Your financial security

Holidays in this brochure that include flights are ATOL protected. Island Cruises holds an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence, granted by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The ATOL number is ATOL 5726. Holidays excluding flights are protected by way of a bond, held with the Federation of Tour Operators Trust Fund Ltd (FTO). In the unlikely event of our insolvency, the CAA or FTO will ensure that you are not stranded abroad and will arrange to refund any monies you have paid to us. For further information, visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk

Booking your cruise

General booking conditions

The following booking conditions apply to all holidays featured in the brochure. They do not apply to late holidays, which do not appear in the brochure. If any part of the booking conditions is found to be invalid or not enforceable, then the remainder of these booking conditions will not be affected and will remain valid and enforceable. This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law, and each party agrees to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts as regards any claim or matter arising under this agreement. If, however, you booked your holiday in Scotland or Northern Ireland, any disputes may be dealt with in the local courts in Scotland or Northern Ireland and will be subject to the law of those countries.

Brochure accuracy

Island Cruises goes to great lengths to ensure that the content of the brochure is accurate in every way. However, circumstances may change after publication. For example, all facilities in a resort may not be fully functional in early or late season. From time to time, building work may be unavoidable. Cruise ship facilities may be unavailable due to maintenance work. If we become aware of any changes to the current brochure that may affect your holiday, the Reservations Team or travel agent can advise you at the time of booking. If you have already booked, we will advise you of the changes as soon as we can before you leave.

Booking directly with Island Cruises

You will be sent a confirmation invoice within 7-10 days. Credit card payments incur a 2% booking fee, which is non-refundable if the booking is cancelled at a later stage.

Booking through a travel agent

If you book through a travel agent, we will contact you via them. A confirmation invoice will be sent to you within 7-10 days. The travel agent must give you a receipt or confirmation invoice when you pay. Any monies paid to the travel agent will be held by them, on our behalf, until your holiday is confirmed.

Confirmation

Our contract with you is made when you or the travel agent confirm the booking. If we accept it, we will reserve your holiday and send you a confirmation invoice. We are responsible for providing the holiday we have confirmed to you. If you cancel or alter your booking at a later stage, you may have to pay an amendment charge. If you book within seven days of your departure date, or if there is not enough time to send you a written confirmation, a contract between us will exist when we or the travel agent confirm your booking. We reserve the right to refuse your booking. If we do so, we will refund any monies already paid to us.

What’s included in your Island Cruises holiday:

Return flights from the UK
Transfers between the resort airport, your accommodation (where applicable) and cruise ship. Transfers will usually be by coach. If, as part of your holiday arrangements, a hire car is to be collected at the airport, our representative will show you to the car hire office, but no transfer arrangements will normally be provided for any members of your party
The services of an Island Cruises representative at your UK airport, on board the cruise ship and in resort
Accommodation and meals as confirmed on your invoice
All tips on board
Baggage allowance as confirmed on your ticket
Aviation insurance and security charge
All obligatory airport and port taxes
Hotel service charges
Air passenger duty
VAT on all holidays to EC countries

That’s not included in your Island Cruises holiday:

In-flight refreshments (included on long-haul flights, with premium upgrades and on flights with airlines other than First Choice Airways)
Any additional luggage over and above your ticketed allowance/supplements for carriage of sporting equipment
Flight supplements
Fuel levy (if applicable)
Excursions and other personal expenditure
Cabin/room upgrades
Supplements payable for some on-board restaurants
Holiday insurance
Charges made by Majorca and Rio properties for cots, mini-bus services, sunbeds, sauna, tennis courts and equipment etc.
Deposits requested on arrival by some apartment/villa owners
Overseas arrival/departure taxes, which are imposed by the country you are visiting and payable locally in cash
Cost of visas or inoculations (where applicable)
Special transfers to the ship (including taxis, wheelchair assistance), medication (including oxygen, dialysis) and provision of special medical equipment (including lifting/moving)
An administration fee of £15 per person for holidays booked within 17 days of departure

Pre-booking your cabin number

For £30 per cabin you can pre-book your cabin up until two weeks prior to departure - bookable via Island Cruises Reservations, subject to availability. Occasionally, cabins may become inoperative due to circumstances beyond our control, even sometimes very close to your sailing date. If this is the case, we will have to change your cabin number. If we do so, you will be allocated the nearest available cabin on your deck and your reservation fee refunded.

Minimum age

Unaccompanied passengers under the age of 18 need a letter of consent from a parent or legal guardian. The minimum age of unaccompanied travel is 16 on the day of departure. Laws concerning the minimum drinking age may vary across countries of destination.

Pregnancy

If you are pregnant, you should check with your doctor that it is safe for you to travel. Island Cruises can only accept passengers who have not yet reached their 28th week of pregnancy by the end of the holiday.

Special needs guests

Call the Special Needs Helpline on 0161 772 8600 to arrange wheelchair and buggy assistance at the airport∗ – or specially adapted taxis, if you are not able to get on the transfer coach (incur a fee).

∗The assistance at arrival airports is only as far as the luggage belt, after which you need to collect your luggage and make your own way through to our representatives in the terminal.

If self-medicating or requiring assistance from the doctor on board, this must be cleared with the Special Needs Team before making the booking. Any medical conditions advised at the time of booking, including requests for dialysis and oxygen must be authorised by the doctor on board (and Captain where applicable). If we are not notified of medical requirements, you could be refused sailing.

Island Cruises responsibility

We take responsibility for the proper performance of our obligations under this contract. We are not responsible for any failure that is:

Caused by you or a member of your party
Caused by a third party, which is not connected to our service delivery to you – and is unforeseeable or unavoidable
Caused by Force Majeure i.e. unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, resulting in events that we could not have avoided even if we had taken every possible care. Such circumstances include (but are not limited to) war, threat of war, riot, civil strife and industrial dispute

Termination and compensation

You are responsible for the proper conduct of yourself and that of your party while on your holiday or on the flight. In cases of serious misconduct, Island Cruises and the carrier reserve the right to terminate your holiday, or that of any member of your party, and we will have no further responsibility or liability to you. If you, or any member of your party, deliberately or negligently causes damage to any aircraft, accommodation, property or person, or causes any delay to or diversion of any means of transportation, you agree to compensate Island Cruises or the carrier for any loss suffered, including legal costs.

Additional help

If you or a member of your party suffers any personal injury, illness or death during the holiday (through no fault of your own) we will provide financial help at our discretion. We may do this even if the damage is not the result of a holiday service provided by us. The financial help is only available if you request it within 90 days of the event happening, and limited to £5,000 per booking. If your claim is successful or if you are insured for these costs, then you must repay any monies we have given you, as soon as you recover them.

Limitations of liability

Our liability to you for loss or damage is limited to three times the price of your holiday. This excludes personal injury resulting from the non-performance or improper performance of holiday services, and is subject to the limitation of liability described below. The health and safety standards on your holiday should meet local standards. However, you should be aware that these vary widely across the programme and may well not match those standards we enjoy in the UK. Any compensation payable by Island Cruises is limited in accordance with the lowest limit allowed under applicable international conventions governing the services, or the amount you can recover from them under the laws of the UK, or the country in which they operate. Transport operators have their own conditions of carriage, which form part of your contract with us. These conditions, and the provisions of the international conventions, generally limit the liability of transport operators.

Data protection

To ensure that your holiday runs smoothly, we or your travel agent need access to information such as your name and address, special needs, dietary requirements etc. We will apply appropriate security measures to protect this data. However, we must pass it to the suppliers of your travel arrangements, including airlines, hotels and transport companies. We may also supply it to security or credit checking companies, and to public authorities such as customs and immigration. If your holiday is outside the European Economic Area (EEA), controls on data protection in your destination may not be as strict as in the UK. When you make this booking, you consent to this information being passed to the relevant people. Information held by your travel agent is subject to that company’s own data protection policy. We may use this information to contact you with details of other products and services offered by other First Choice Group companies, or by its trading partners. If you do not wish to receive this service, please write to First Choice, PO Box 103, Northampton NN3 6AZ.

Caricom API data notice: Please note that Antigua, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Grenada, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Kitts, Trinidad and Tobago have entered into an agreement with the USA whereby passenger information provided for border security purposes will be passed on to the USA Department for Homeland Security.

Amendment charges

Days to departure	Up to 57	From 56-29	From 28-22	From 21-15	From 14-4	From 3-0
Amendments to travel party
Name correction (Title, Initials, Name, Age)	Free of charge		£20 per booking where previously ticketed, otherwise free of charge
Replacement of existing name	£20 per person		£30 per person
Cancel passenger (part cancellation)	Loss of Deposit	Canx (50%)	Canx (70%)	Canx (80%)	Canx (90%)	Canx (100%)
Amendments to holiday
To cancel holiday	Loss of Deposit	Canx (50%)	Canx (70%)	Canx (80%)	Canx (90%)	Canx (100%)
To change holiday date	£20 per person
To change holiday duration		£40 per person	£50 per person
To change holiday accommodation (excl. room type with same accom)
To change flight time or class of travel (same date, duration and route)
Cancel or downgrade holiday options and extras (no charge for addition and upgrades where available)
Room type (within the same accom)	£20 per booking		£30 per booking		Canx (90%)	Canx (100%)
Board basis
FCA in-flight meals and group seating	Free of charge		£20 per booking where previously ticketed, otherwise free of charge
Other optional extras (including pre-bookable excursions)	£20 per booking		£30 per booking

Changes to your booking

If you make changes to your booking

Up until 14 days prior to departure, you can make changes to existing bookings. Most changes will incur an amendment fee. See table ‘Amendment charges’ below for details. All changes must be put in writing at least 14 days prior to departure, signed by the lead name and sent by registered post to: Island Cruises, Island House, Kestrel Court, 213-215 Broadway, Salford, Manchester M50 2UE.

Within 14 days of departure, no further changes can be made to existing bookings (except name changes). However, the booking may be cancelled, subject to cancellation fees. See table ‘Cancellation charges’ on p100 for details. If you notify us of multiple changes to your booking within one transaction, we will usually only charge a single set of amendment fees per person. This refers to any combination of travel dates, duration, accommodation and/or flights only. All other amends (including name changes) will be charged at a cumulative basis. Most airlines treat name changes as cancellations and impose extra charges, which you will have to pay. If you make changes after an airline ticket has been issued, you may have to pay for the cancelled ticket and buy a new ticket at full cost.

If you change your travel date, duration, accommodation or flight within 56 days of departure, you will need to calculate the cancellation fee, which will be added to the cost of the new holiday. See table ‘Amendment charges’ on p99 for details. The cancellation fee is calculated based on the more expensive of either:

The current selling price of your new holiday; or
The original cost of the holiday that you previously booked If people drop out of your party, the cost of the holiday will be recalculated for the remaining travellers. Within 56 days of departure, we will calculate the cost for revised bookings at the more expensive of either:
The rates that apply when you make the change, or
The rates that applied when you made the original booking

Outside of 56 days, the cost of the holiday will not change. However, your party will be charged cabin/room under occupancy supplements. We cannot guarantee a Twin room for the remaining customer from a party of two. If you make changes to a product or service that is not provided directly by Island Cruises, you must cover any costs that we have incurred on your behalf.

If you cancel

To cancel the holiday, the lead name must write directly to us or the travel agent. The cancellation notification must be sent by recorded delivery to the address shown on the booking confirmation. The cancellation takes effect on the date your letter is received.

The closer your cancellation is to the departure date, the less likely we are to recover the costs by re-selling the holiday at brochure price. Our cancellation charges therefore increase as the departure date approaches. See table below for details.

Cancellation charges

Time before departure when cancellation instruction is received by us	Cancellation charge as a % of total holiday cost (excluding any insurance premiums and any amendment fees already paid to us)
57 days or more	Loss of deposit
56-29 days	50% or deposit if
28-22 days	70% or deposit if
21-15 days	80% or deposit if
14-4 days	90% or deposit if
3 days or less	100%

When only some members cancel in a group that has booked a holiday together, the charge will be based on the price of their holiday only.

Some airlines may impose cancellation charges of 100% of the total ticket cost when you cancel. In this case, the cancellation charge may be higher than the relevant charge stated above.

If we change or cancel your holiday

We may have to make changes to your holiday, or cancel it after we have accepted your booking. Most changes are minor. However, if we cancel your holiday, and you are not at fault, or you cancel because of a major change*, you have the following options:

Accept an offer of a replacement holiday of a lower quality (if available) and we will refund the difference in the cost, or;
Accept our offer of a replacement holiday of equivalent or higher quality (if available), or;
Ask us for a full refund

If you choose options 1 or 2, we will compensate you according to Scale A below, in addition to any refund.

If you choose option 3 we will, as a minimum, compensate you according to Scale B.

∗A major change includes, but is not limited to:

A change to your UK departure airport – a change between the London airports of Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, London City and Luton is not classified as a major change A change of hotel accommodation to one with an officially lower star rating A change of more than 12 hours to your scheduled time of departure or return A significant increase in the price of your holiday

Compensation

Period before departure date that notification is given by us	Minimum compensation per full fare-paying passenger
	Scale A	Scale B
0-7 days	£50	£25
8-14 days	£40	£20
15-28 days	£30	£15
29-42 days	£20	£10
43-56 days	£10	£5
More than 56 days	£0	£0

If you have paid reduced rates for children, we will pay compensation on a pro-rata basis of the adult rate. Children travelling on ‘Free Child Places’ and infants are not entitled to compensation.

If you are unable to board your flight due to a problem within our control (you are denied boarding), we will provide welfare as appropriate for the period of any delay. If any similar alternative flight offered is not acceptable, you are entitled to a refund of the cost of the flight only. You will also be entitled to compensation according to the length of your flight as outlined by the European Commission, details of which are available on request.

We will not pay compensation if the change/cancellation is due to Force Majeure, i.e. unusual and unforeseeable circumstances, which are beyond our control or the control of our suppliers. Force Majeure includes (but is not limited to) war or threat of war, riot, civil strife, industrial dispute, unavoidable technical problems with transport, closure or congestion of airports, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, fire and adverse weather conditions.

Minimum numbers

For all holidays in this brochure, a minimum number of people need to book for the holiday to take place. If we have to cancel your holiday due to minimum numbers, you are entitled to the options 1, 2 or 3 outlined in the section ‘If we change or cancel your holiday’. However, you will not be entitled to compensation in these circumstances.

If you have a complaint

If you have a complaint, you must tell your Island Cruises’ representative, the accommodation management or the airline staff immediately. If we can’t resolve the problem for you during your holiday, you must write within 35 days of your return from holiday to our Customer Services Department at Island Cruises, Island House, Kestrel Court, 213-215 Broadway, Salford, Manchester M50 2UE.

Customer Services’ telephone: 0161 772 8602

The Passenger Shipping Association offers a complaints and reconciliation scheme to UK residents. For more information, please contact the Passenger Shipping Association on 0207 436 2449 or www.the-psa.co.uk

Flights

Check in and flight times

Departure and arrival times are local times based on the 24-hour system. They are for guidance only and may change. Your invoice will show the proposed flight details, and your flight tickets will show the actual details. Please check the flight details when you receive your tickets. Your initials and the spelling of your name must be identical on your ticket and in your passport.

Check in at least 2hrs before departure for short-haul flights (1hr 30min for passengers who have reserved seats) and 3hrs for long-haul flights.

Name changes

Most airlines treat name changes as cancellations and impose extra charges, which you will have to pay. If you make changes after an airline ticket has been issued, you may have to pay for the cancelled ticket and buy a new ticket at full cost.

Flight supplements

The holiday prices featured in the brochure price panels are based on flights that do not carry a supplement. The flight supplements shown on the flight pages reflect the additional cost of flying from certain airports, or on certain days of the week. They should be added to the panel price for your holiday.

Baggage allowance

The baggage allowance is normally 20kg (44lb) for each person, but may vary depending on the airline. An additional 5kg can be purchased from £10 per person at the time of booking, subject to agreement with the airline. Check your tickets for details. Baggage weighing more than the baggage allowance will be subject to a charge payable at check in. Single items of luggage weighing over 23kg will not be accepted by the airline. Hand luggage is limited to one item only, weighing less than 5kg (11lb) with a maximum size of 45x35x20cm. Infants under the age of 2 on the date of their return flight have no baggage allowance. Carriage of all excess baggage and sports equipment is subject to a charge and capacity on the day of departure. We strongly advise you to check with your airline for confirmed baggage allowances as these may be subject to change.

Hold baggage

Your airline and Island Cruises have no liability for loss or damage to valuable or fragile items packed in hold baggage. Your checked-in baggage must not include money, jewellery, precious metals, computers, personal electronic devices, negotiable papers, securities or other valuables, business documents, passports and other identification documents or samples.

Lost or damaged baggage

You must notify us of any loss or damage to your baggage in writing or by phone within seven days. Customer Services’ telephone: 0161 772 8602

Island Cruises, Island House, Kestrel Court, 213-215 Broadway, Salford, Manchester M50 2UE.

Infants

The minimum age for infants on all flights is 2 weeks on the date of departure. A charge of £29 (Med flights)/£60 (Caribbean/Brazil flights) is made for infants under the age of 2 years on the date of their return flight. This charge does not include an in-flight meal. Infants under 6 months must sit on an adult’s lap and wear an infant lap-strap. Infants aged between 6 months and 2 years must sit on an adult’s lap, secured by an extension seat belt provided by the airline. If an additional seat has been purchased for an infant, a car seat can be used. Call Reservations on 0161 772 8600 for information on approved car seats.

Flight delays

If your outbound or return charter flight is delayed for reasons other than Force Majeure, you are entitled to the following:

Length of delay	Services provided
2-4 hours	Light refreshments
4-8 hours	A meal or vouchers for a meal
8-12 hours	Overnight accommodation, if necessary and possible

If the flight is delayed by more than 5 hours, you may cancel your flight and receive a refund for the flight arrangements only. You will not receive a refund of the full holiday price. Arrangements for meals and drinks on all-inclusive holidays apply only to your hotel stay.

Deep-vein thrombosis

Travel involving prolonged immobility can cause deep-vein thrombosis (DVT). This occurs when a blood clot forms, usually in the lower leg. It is a serious medical condition, and needs treatment with blood-thinning drugs or anticoagulants to prevent clots breaking off from the DVT and travelling to the lungs, causing significant illness and, on rare occasions, death. The risk of deep-vein thrombosis occurring while travelling by air is extremely low. However, you can take precautions to further reduce the risk. Those most at risk from DVT are people with a history of thrombosis, women taking an oral contraceptive pill or who are pregnant, those recently hospitalised, smokers, the obese, some patients with congestive heart failure and people with malignant disease. To reduce the risk of DVT, exercise your feet and legs from time to time, or walk around if that is possible. Elastic stockings may be helpful. Drink plenty of non-alcoholic liquids to prevent dehydration. See your GP if you believe you might be particularly prone to DVT.

Medical conditions and assistance

If you have a medical condition or serious illness (including respiratory, coronary or infectious illnesses), recently undergone surgery, or have suffered a recent accident, you must be cleared for travel by the airline and may require a ‘Fitness to Fly’ certificate from your GP. All requests for medical clearance must be advised to Island Cruises Special Needs on 0161 772 8600 as soon as possible, and no later than 14 working days before the date of departure. If you have difficulty in walking 500 metres, you should inform Island Cruises or your travel agent at the time of booking, and advise the airline at least 4 days prior to departure.

Disorderly behaviour

The Captain has authority over the aircraft and passengers at all times and may prevent you from travelling if you are considered unfit to do so, or if you pose a danger to the aircraft or passengers, i.e. you are found to be drunk before or after boarding, if you smoke on board or use threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour. In these circumstances, Island Cruises or the airline can terminate your holiday and will not be liable for any refund, compensation or other costs you may have to pay. We may also seek compensation from you for any losses caused by your behaviour (e.g. the cost of diverting the aircraft). Disruption on board an aircraft is a criminal offence and you may be prosecuted.

Alcohol on board

You are not allowed to drink your own alcohol on a flight, whether you bought it on board, on holiday or in the UK.

Non-smoking flights

There is a non-smoking policy on all of our flights.

Airline codes

The airlines used for holidays featured in this brochure are listed below:

AEA – Air Europa BA – British Airways

FCA – First Choice Airways FUA – Futura

IWD – Iberworld JKK – Spanair

LTE – LTE International MON – Monarch Airlines

MYT – MyTravel TCX – Thomas Cook Airlines TOM – Thomson Fly

Some flights may be operated on behalf of First Choice Airways by Skyservice Airlines.

Your airline will be confirmed with your flight tickets. Any changes to the airline after that point will be notified to you prior to check in or at the boarding gate.

Flight pre-bookables

Prices outlined in this section are specific to First Choice Airways. To book, contact First Choice Airways on 08716 640 144 at least 4 days prior to departure, unless otherwise stated. If you are not travelling with First Choice Airways, you must contact the airline direct with your requests within 7 days of departure, except for Caribbean flights. For pre-bookable services on Caribbean flights, contact Island Cruises Reservations on 0161 772 8600

Meals on board: On short-haul flights, a 3-course meal can be pre-booked from £12 return per adult and from £7 return per child (aged 2-12). The cost of the meal is added to your invoice, unless you request at time of booking that it is removed. For group bookings, all members of the group must either pre-book or deselect the meal. Customers booking within four days of departure will not have the option to deselect their meal.

Customers booking premium service upgrades, holidays flying with airlines other than First Choice Airways and/or long-haul flights will continue to receive a meal as part of their package:

Children’s meals: These meals are especially suitable for children and cost from an additional £2 return per child (short haul)/£10 return per child (long haul).

Alternative meal options: Vegetarian, Kosher, gluten-free or diabetic meals are on a request basis only and cannot be guaranteed. The round-trip charge for Kosher meals is £20 per person (short haul)/£40 per person (long haul).

Pre-bookable Champagne: For a special treat, pre-book a full or half bottle of Champagne to enjoy on the flight. A full bottle costs from £20 and a half bottle from £10.50.

Day before check in (short-haul only): At Gatwick, Birmingham and Manchester airports, you can check in between noon-10pm on the day before you travel. All members of your party must be present at check-in, with a letter of confirmation from Island Cruises, everybody’s tickets and passports plus all baggage. For families with children under the age of 12, where all members of the party have the same surname, parents may check in on behalf of their children. Day before check in is available from £5 per person.

Sitting together: Reserve your flight seats up until seven days before departure to ensure you sit with friends and family during the flight. Group seats cost from £12 return per adult (short haul)/£20 return per adult (long haul) and from £7 return per child (short haul)/£10 return per child (long haul).

‘Sitting together’ is available with First Choice Airways, British Airways, Air Europa, Futura, Thomas Cook Airlines, MyTravel and Monarch, although it cannot be guaranteed
You will be given your allocated seat numbers at check in. We will try to accommodate your party on one side of the aisle, although we cannot guarantee this
‘Sitting together’ is only available to customers who have the same booking reference

Extra legroom and emergency exit seats: You can reserve extra legroom seats for £30 return per person (short haul)/£99 return per person (long haul). Some extra-legroom seats are adjacent to the emergency exits. It is a Civil Aviation Authority requirement that only able-bodied customers aged between 20-65 occupy these seats, and that infants do not share with adults. Extension seat belts cannot be provided on emergency exit rows. You must have no medical conditions and, in the opinion of the cabin crew or check-in staff, have the strength and full mobility to open the emergency exit door. Only a limited number of extra legroom seats are available, which can be booked up until two months prior to departure through Island Cruises or your travel agent.

Premium service:

Short-haul flights: Premium upgrades start from just £19 return per person and include the award-winning service offered by our specially trained cabin crew, larger seats and extra legroom, complimentary 3-course meal, complimentary drink from the bar, both before take-off and in-flight, and reserved seating.

Long-haul flights: Premium upgrades start from just £179 return per person on flights to and from the Caribbean, and include larger seats with extra legroom and free drinks throughout the flight (excluding Champagne). Priority service for premium passenger services is subject to availability on the day. We will endeavour to seat your party together, however, this cannot be guaranteed. The charge for the premium service upgrade is in addition to the standard low, mid or high supplement.

Pre-bookable wheelchairs: We try to ensure that wheelchair passengers will be first to embark and last to disembark. Wheelchair assistance must be requested as soon as possible, but at least seven days prior to departure on short-haul flights and 14 days on long-haul flights.

Oxygen requests: Please contact the Island Cruises Special Needs Team on 0161 772 8600 for further details on this service.

Specific to scheduled flights

Our transatlantic cruises to and from Brazil, and some Caribbean cruises operate with scheduled flying. Please refer to this section for terms and conditions specific to these flights.

Seat allocation: As most airlines allocate seats on a first-come, first-served basis, we advise that you check in as early as possible, at least three hours before your scheduled departure. There are some instances where check in may not open this early. However, we must always recommend that you arrive earlier rather than later. Scheduled airline seat requests must be booked directly with the airline within 2-3 weeks of departure. Only seat requests on medical grounds may be booked directly with Island Cruises. Please note that seat requests cannot be guaranteed by the airline and are subject to availability. Change of aircraft type/carrier: Airline schedules may vary, sometimes at short notice and an unexpected change of aircraft type may become necessary. We will do our best to inform you of any changes before departure and all planned plane changes will be indicated on your tickets. Actual flight numbers are not known at the time of brochure publication and we reserve the right to substitute alternative carriers and/or aircraft types if necessary. Stops en route: Due to distances involved, many flights stop en route for technical reasons, e.g. refuelling. As scheduled airlines often change routes and fuel stops, we cannot always notify you in advance. It may also be necessary on some routes that you will change aircraft and sometimes airlines, at one of the stops. Delays: Delays for whatever reason are the responsibility of the airline and subject to their conditions of contract. Where a delay results in lost holiday time, no refunds are given. Similarly, airlines do not always offer compensation for flight delays or cancelled services. If industrial strike action occurs, airlines will try and re-protect you, although this cannot be guaranteed. If this instant arises and your flights are part of a package booked by us, we will reconfirm you with alternative airline(s) at minimal disruption. In extreme circumstances, we may have difficulty re-protecting your holiday and flights may not be the most desirable routing, but the only option we can offer at short notice. Name changes: Name changes and/or departure changes are not always permitted by airlines and most treat name changes as cancellations and charge accordingly. These changes will be passed on to you in addition to any other amendment fees. Once airline tickets have been issued, any changes made to the ticket(s) may result in you having to pay for the cancelled ticket(s) and purchase a new ticket(s) at full cost.

Your journey from airport to ship or resort

On arrival, you will be met by an Island Cruises representative and shown to the coach, which will take you to the hotel or cruise ship. Please see the resort pages for approximate transfer times. These timings do not allow for any delays, which may be caused by waiting for other incoming flights, local traffic conditions, etc. You will usually be able to board the ship immediately on arrival at the port. In some cases, access by coach to hotel accommodation is restricted and you may not be able to transfer directly to the main entrance. If a hire car is provided as part of your holiday arrangements, our representative will show you to the car hire office to collect your car. If you have hired a car, no transfer arrangements will normally be provided for any members of your party. We are under no obligation to transfer windsurfers, bicycles, surfboards or other unconventional luggage to your accommodation. Please make your own arrangements for this, or call our Reservations Team at least 2-3 weeks before departure to establish whether the particular item can be accepted on the transfer coach.

Air travel conditions of carriage and international conventions

You must comply with the conditions of carriage applied by land, sea and air carriers. The provisions of the Warsaw Convention 1929 (as amended), concerning the carriage of passengers and their luggage by air, and the airlines’ conditions of carriage, may apply to you and your party during your flight, and during boarding and disembarkation. These provisions and conditions may limit or exclude liability for death or personal injury, or loss of or damage to luggage, and may make special provisions for valuables. We will supply a copy of the conditions of carriage applicable to your holiday, and of the Warsaw Convention, if you request them. In accordance with EU Directive (EC) No 2111/2005, Article 9, we are required to bring to your attention the existence of a ‘Community List’ which contains details of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban within the EU Community. The Community List is available for inspection at www.air-ban.europa.eu

Montréal Convention

This is a notice required by European Community Regulation (EC) No 889/2002. This notice cannot be used as a basis for a claim for compensation, nor to interpret the provisions of the Montréal Convention or the regulation. It does not form part of the contract between the carrier(s) and you, and no representation is made as to the accuracy of the contents of this notice. Compensation in the case of death or injury: There are no financial limits to the liability for passenger injury or death. For damages up to approximately £80,000, the air carrier cannot contest claims for compensation. Above that amount, the air carrier can defend itself against a claim by proving that it was not negligent or otherwise at fault. Advance payments: If a passenger is killed or injured, the air carrier must make an advance payment, to cover immediate economic needs, within 15 days from the identification of the person entitled to compensation. In the event of death; this advance payment shall not be less than approximately £13,000. Passenger delays: In case of passenger delay, the air carrier is liable for damage unless it took all reasonable measures to avoid the damage, or it was impossible to take such measures. The liability for passenger delay is limited to approximately £3,300.

Baggage delays: In case of baggage delay, the air carrier is liable for damage unless it took all reasonable measures to avoid the damage or it was impossible to take such measures. The liability for baggage delay is limited to approximately £800. Destruction, loss or damage to baggage: The air carrier is liable for destruction, loss or damage to baggage up to approximately £800. In the case of checked baggage, it is liable even if not at fault, unless the baggage was defective. In the case of unchecked baggage, the carrier is liable only if at fault. Higher limits for baggage: A passenger can benefit from a higher liability limit by making a special declaration, at the latest, at check in and by paying a supplementary fee. Complaints on baggage: If the baggage is damaged, delayed, lost or destroyed, the passenger must write and complain to the air carrier as soon as possible. In the case of damage to checked baggage, the passenger must write and complain within seven days, and in the case of delay within 21 days, in both cases from the date on which the baggage was placed at the passenger’s disposal. Liability of contracting and actual carriers: If the air carrier actually performing the flight is not the same as the contracting air carrier, the passenger has the right to address a complaint, or to make a claim for damages against either. If the name or code of an air carrier is indicated on the ticket, that air carrier is the contracting air carrier.

Time limit for action: Any action in court to claim damages must be brought within two years from the date of arrival of the aircraft, or from the date on which the aircraft ought to have arrived. Basis for the information: The basis for the rules described above is the Montréal Convention of 28 May 1999, which is implemented in the Community by Regulation (EC) No 2027/97 (as amended by Regulations, (EC) No 889/2002) and national legislation of the Member States.

IATA accreditation

The IATA accreditation is a formal recognition of travel agents/tour operators that are authorised to sell and issue international airline tickets. Island Cruises’ accreditation means we are required to maintain minimum industry standards, which are global in nature but may be adapted to meet local requirements.

Your cruise

Points for you to remember

You are not allowed to take alcohol on the ship for consumption during the cruise
Animals are not permitted on board
The Captain has absolute authority over the ship and the passengers when boarding, disembarking and during the stay on board. The Captain has the right to remove passengers from the ship, if behaviour is thought to endanger health, discipline or safety on board. Island Cruises has no responsibility for accommodating or returning passengers to the UK in these circumstances
You must arrive on board the ship at the time stated by Island Cruises, travel agent or the Captain. If no set time is given, you must arrive on the ship in time to complete embarkation procedures. Island Cruises holds no liability to you, should you miss these times resulting in you not being allowed to board the ship

Cruise fact file

Currency:
On board ship	Pounds Sterling
Med cruises (ashore)	Euros, except Turkey (Turkish Lira) and Croatia (Kunas)
Caribbean cruises (ashore):	US Dollars are widely accepted
Caribbean transatlantic cruises (ashore)	The Med: Euros The Caribbean: US Dollars are widely accepted
Brazil transatlantic cruises (ashore)	The Med: Euros Brazil: Brazilian Reals
The ships operate a cashless system. Simply sign for on-board purchases, and your account will be settled at the end of the cruise. Accepted payment methods include cash (Pounds Sterling, Scottish and Northern Ireland Pounds and US Dollars), travellers’ cheques or credit card (Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard or American Express). We are unable to accept Maestro, Switch or personal cheques on board.
What to wear:
On board	Casual summer clothes for the day and smart casual for evenings.
Ashore	Comfortable shoes for walking and clothes that cover shoulders and knees for shore excursions to places of worship.
Hotels	Smart casual. Gentlemen must wear long trousers for evening meals.
Hairdryer:
Island Star	Available in your cabin.
Island Escape	Available from Guest Relations for a deposit.
Voltage:
On board	110v
Majorca hotels	220v
Rio de Janeiro hotels	110v, although some properties provide transformers to 220v if required.

Languages spoken on board: The main language spoken is English. Smoking policy: Smoking on board is only permitted in designated areas around our ships, including many of our lounges and on open-air decks. Smoking is prohibited in our restaurants and theatres. Cigarettes, cigars and pipe tobacco must be properly disposed of and never thrown overboard. Mobile phones: If you have a ‘pay monthly’ mobile phone with international roaming, you will be able to make and receive calls, text and access your voicemail no matter how far from land. Call rates and availability are dependent on your mobile phone network.

Kids’ clubs: The on-board kids’ club is split into two age groups; Palmy’s Pals aged 3-6 and Palmy’s Crew aged 7-11. The Teen Zone for ages 12-16 is available during the summer and major holidays. On board, a registration form must be completed by a parent/guardian and will be collected by kids’ hosts at the welcome meeting. For each session a parent/guardian must sign the kids both in and out, and remain on board whilst the kids are in the club. You must inform the kids’ hosts of any medical conditions that the kids/teenagers may have. Medication cannot be administered by kids’ hosts. Excursions: We reserve the right to prevent you from joining any excursion we provide, if, in the reasonable opinion of our crew or the excursion provider, you are unsuited to take part. In these circumstances you will receive a full refund of the cost of the excursion.

Please note: Some excursions are not suitable for passengers with walking difficulties/wheelchairs. See www.islandcruises.com for more information.

Shuttle buses: Where the distance is too great to walk, Island Cruises will arrange for shuttle buses to take you from the ship to the town centre or nearest pedestrian area. A small charge will be added to your on-board account if you join the shuttle bus service. Lost baggage: Before you depart the ship or hotel, please ensure that you thoroughly check that you have taken all belongings with you. We cannot accept responsibility for any items that are left behind and can only provide assistance in trying to locate ‘valuable’ items, such as cameras, camcorders, mobile phones, MP3 players, laptops, wallets, purses and jewellery (precious metal jewellery as opposed to accessory jewellery). Due to the volume of property that is left behind, we are unable to provide assistance in locating items which do not fall within our definition of valuable items. Should you leave any valuable items behind, please call our Customer Services Department on 0161 772 8602 for assistance. Please be aware that if we are able to locate ‘valuable items’ confirmed as belonging to you, we will endeavour to arrange for the items to be returned to you. An administration charge will apply and you will also be responsible for the delivery costs of returning the items to you. Please note that due to security restrictions relating to unaccompanied baggage, we may experience difficulty in returning property to you. In the event we are unable to search for your item or the search for a valuable item is unsuccessful, our Customer Services Department will happily provide a statement in support of any claim you make to your travel insurers.

Changes to sailings and itineraries

We regret that we cannot guarantee that the Island Star and Island Escape will call at every advertised port. Itineraries may change from time to time. Island Cruises and the Captain have the right to omit any port(s), call at any additional port(s), deviate for the advertised itinerary in any way or substitute another ship or port. Normally, changes in the itinerary are to protect the interest and safety of our guests.

Sea travel conditions of carriage and international conventions

Please note that land, sea and air carriers will have their own conditions of carriage with which you must comply. In the case of sea travel, the provisions of the Athens Convention 1974 relating to the carriage of passengers and their luggage by sea may apply. This convention and the sea carriers’ condition of carriage may continue to apply to you and your party throughout your stay on board the ship, and during boarding and disembarkation. This convention presumes that your baggage has been delivered undamaged unless you give full written details to the carrier:

In the case of apparent damage, before you disembark from the ship or the baggage is redelivered to you, or
In the case of damage which is not apparent or of loss, within 15 days of disembarkation or from the time when the baggage should have been redelivered to you

The Athens Convention, and the carriers’ condition of carriage, may limit or exclude liability for death or personal injury, or loss of damage to luggage, and make special provisions for valuables. A copy of the conditions of carriage applicable to your holiday, and the Athens Convention referred to above, can be supplied on request.

Ship and resort accommodation

Your accommodation

By each price table you will find a section that describes the cabin/room type on which the price is based.

Extra facilities

Extra facilities such as a balcony or sea view carry a supplement, which is displayed in the price panels.

Special requests

We aim to accommodate special requests such as high or low floor preferences in a hotel, sea/pool views or adjacent rooms. However, these cannot be guaranteed and are not available on late availability holidays or on other special offer holidays.

Noise

Please note that lower deck cabins may experience engine noise.

Twin cabins/room

A twin cabin/room features two separate beds, each suitable for one person. Some cabins feature a double bed and can therefore not be made into a twin-bedded room.

Single cabins/rooms

Island Star:	Twin cabins for sole occupancy are available at a supplement. Single cabins are not available
Island Escape:	Single cabins and Twin cabins for sole occupancy are available at a supplement
Hotels:	Single rooms are available in most hotels at a supplement

Twin cabins for sole occupancy are not available for Suites and Deluxe cabins on board the Island Star and Island Escape. Single cabins/rooms are generally inferior in both size and location to Twin and double-bedded cabins/rooms. If a single person occupies a Double cabin/room, they will be asked to pay a single supplement. This supplement reflects the cost of heating, lighting, cleaning etc. which remain the same regardless of how many people occupy the room.

Extra beds

Island Star/ Island Escape:	Three- and four-berth cabins are available and consist of two lower beds plus one or two upper beds
Hotels::	Some hotels offer twin or double bedded rooms where a third or fourth bed can be added. The third/fourth beds may be camp beds or divans

Four-bedded cabins/rooms are the most suitable option for families with young children. The number of beds provided may be reduced, compared with the description on your invoice, to suit the size of your party. Cabins/rooms with full occupancy may end up cramped.

Infants

Island Star:	Infants can only be booked into Deluxe cabins, Deluxe Balcony cabins and Suites
Island Escape:	Infants can only be booked into Premier cabins, Deluxe cabins and Suites
Hotels:	Generally there’s only room for one cot in each hotel room/apartment, payable locally

A limited number of cots is available on board. If you have an infant that requires a cot, or if you prefer to bring your own travel cot, please let us or your travel agent know when you book.

Interconnecting cabins/rooms

Island Star/:	Interconnecting cabins are available on board
Hotels:	Interconnecting rooms are available at some hotels

Interconnecting cabins/rooms feature an interior door that connects the rooms. If you book one of these rooms, the connecting door will be locked. If both rooms are booked, the full adult rate is applicable for the minimum occupancy of both rooms. Child discounts cannot be applied until the minimum occupancy has been reached. For example, a family of two adults and three children would pay the adult price for the two adults and the first two children, and then the discounted price for the third child.

Nights in your accommodation

In the event of some afternoon and night flights, your room/apartment will be available immediately upon your arrival, as it has been reserved from the previous day. In this case, you must vacate your room between 10am-12noon on your departure day. Alternatively, there may be a short delay upon arrival before you have access to your room/apartment. In this case, the accommodation will be available to you up until the time you depart for the airport.

Meals

Island Star/ Island Escape:	Full board with 24-hour dining option (includes full English breakfast)
Hotels:	Board basis is outlined in the hotel description (where available, a full English breakfast incurs a charge, payable locally)

Definition of board basis:

Bed & Breakfast: Bed and continental breakfast

Half Board: Continental breakfast and evening meal

Full Board: Continental breakfast, lunch and evening meal

Specific for hotels, please note:

All members of your party must be on the same board basis.

Guests on half board may use the hotel’s main restaurant only. If another restaurant is used, e.g. à la carte or speciality, a supplement will be charged locally. If you do not choose a meal arrangement when you book, your invoice will show only the basic arrangement. If you later ask for a change to the confirmed meal arrangement, you will have to pay an amendment charge. Meals for infants incur a charge, payable locally. Guests who have booked half board or full board may lose a meal on arrival or departure, due to the timings of the flight. However, the lower cost of the flights can mean a substantial saving. The all-inclusive arrangement is explained in the all-inclusive hotel section.

Entertainment/activities

Any entertainment programme/activities mentioned in the brochure are correct at time of going to print. However, frequency and content may vary, and we are therefore unable to accept claims for compensation where an entertainment programme differs from that which is published in this brochure. Accommodation management reserves the right to charge an entrance fee for certain programmes.

Swim Kids

Swim Kids is available to children aged 3 and above, and operates between 1 May-31 Oct 2008*. A parent or guardian must register children at the meeting point for all activities. Children must be fit and able to take part in the activities. Courses are available at Lagotel Hotel & Apartments and Holiday Village Viva (subject to demand).

Course dates/duration	14 Jul-2 Sep	All other dates
Group lessons: 5 x 30min	£27	£22
Private 1-to-1 lesson: 1 x 30min	£12	£12

∗Dates may vary.

Holiday Soccer School

The Holiday Soccer School is available in 2-, 3- and 4-day courses. Each session lasts two hours and covers topics such as passing, running with the ball and scoring goals. Each day, a match is played on the all-weather AstroTurf� pitch. Children are taught by FA-qualified coaches and there are occasional appearances from former Premiership stars. Courses are available between 1 May-31 Oct 2008*. Courses are available to guests staying at the Lagotel Hotel & Apartments, Holiday Village Viva and Hotel Pollensa Park (subject to demand).

Lagotel Hotel & Apartments: Available 1-18 May 08 and 1 Sep-31 Oct 08

Holiday Village Viva: Available 1 May-31 Oct 08

Hotel Pollensa Park (Holiday Soccer School is located at Alcudia Stadium or Lagotel pitch): Available 19 May-31 Aug 08 Prices range from £35 for a 2-day course to £60 for a 4-day course. Where transport to the pitch is available, a small fee will be incurred (payable and bookable in resort). For some accommodation, guests may be required to make their own way to the pitch. Courses are subject to minimum and maximum numbers attending. A parent or guardian must register children at the meeting point for all activities. Children must be fit and able to take part in the activities.

∗Dates may vary.

All-inclusive hotels

Please refer to the accommodation pages to see what your all-inclusive holiday package includes. Dining: Local and international cuisine is available in all hotels and some offer weekly themed nights. Snacks can include sandwiches, pizza and burgers. Many hotels offer free picnics. Drinking: Bars and restaurants may charge for some drinks/brand names. Around the pool area, drinks may be served in plastic cups for safety. To provide you with a quicker and more efficient service, hotels may limit drinks to two per person each time you visit the bar. Once the bar has closed for the evening, a cash bar may operate into the small hours. Evening activities: Most all-inclusive properties feature resident entertainment teams. Games, competitions, demonstrations, cabarets and folklore shows are the sort of events organised regularly. The majority of evening shows will be performed by the entertainment team, although there may be local entertainers some evenings. Daytime activities: Some water sports may be subject to a charge locally. For safety reasons, some activities require supervision or may only be available with the entertainment team in an organised event. Unless otherwise stated, the minimum age to participate in shooting, archery and scuba-diving is 14 years of age. Hotels may operate a booking system for the more popular activities, and in some cases you may be required to pay a deposit for equipment hire. Families: Family-orientated hotels can include extras such as children’s playgrounds, paddling pools or securely sectioned parts of the main swimming pool.

General: You may need to wear an identity bracelet or carry an ID card to ensure that only those who are part of an all-inclusive package can benefit from the meals, drinks and facilities. If your identity bracelet or ID card is lost, you may be charged for a replacement. Please note that hotels can refuse to serve alcohol to guests who, in their judgement, are intoxicated. Hotels may also confiscate identity cards or bracelets from guests who misbehave or abuse the all-inclusive basis. Local laws on the minimum age for alcohol consumption apply.

Extras to pay

The following hotel/apartment facilities will usually carry a small charge, unless otherwise stated: sunloungers, umbrellas, tennis, squash, crazy or mini-golf, pool tables, water sports, entry to disco/nightclubs, use of gym/sauna, fans, air-conditioning, fridge hire, refundable apartment deposits and à la carte meals. Please note that this is not intended to be a full list of the facilities for which charges may be made.

Satellite TV

Where available, satellite TV usually features basic channels only and not the full range of stations available in the UK. In many cases, this means that only CNN and Eurosport will be available in English.

Liability

For organised sports and water sports activities in all hotels, participation is at the individual’s own risk and the supervisor’s instructions must be adhered to at all times. We remain liable for our accommodation owner’s or supplier’s negligence.

Vacating your cruise ship and resort accommodation

Cruise disembarkation procedures: You will receive clear disembarkation procedures on the day prior to your arrival in port. You will be asked to place your main luggage outside your cabin the evening before you disembark – on arrival it will be transported to the dockside. You will be asked to vacate your cabin by 8am on the day of departure and you will also be issued with disembarkation cards which are generally colour coded or lettered/numbered according to your allotted time of departure. Until your coach transfer to your hotel or the airport is called, all of the ship’s facilities are available for you to enjoy. Vacating the resort accommodation: Where you are required to vacate your hotel room by noon on the day of departure, we will try to arrange, where possible, a room to be made available for changing and storing luggage. Sometimes, the hotel management may allow you to keep your room, but they are entitled to charge for this if they wish.

Insurance

You cannot travel with us unless you have travel insurance. For policy details, click www.islandcruises.com/insurance or phone 0871 200 7788. We will add the premiums to the price of your holiday, unless you have cover with someone else. Our insurance cover includes the cost of cancellation by you and the cost of assistance, including flights to the UK, if you suffer an accident or illness. You should have insurance cover at least equal to our policy, as the cost of medical expenses overseas can be very high. We cannot help you pay these costs if you do not have adequate insurance. If we cancel your holiday, we will refund your insurance premium and the cost of your holiday. If you have insurance cover with another company and you cancel your holiday, we will not refund your premiums.

Travel advice

Before you travel

We work closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to help British travellers stay safe overseas. Before you go overseas, check out the FCO website at www.fco.gov.uk/travel It is packed with essential travel advice and tips, and up-to-date country-specific information. Further information is available from:

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Advice Unit on 0845 850 2829
Your holiday adviser may also be able to tell you if there is any current advice for your chosen destination

10-year British passport requirements

Med cruises

Passports must be valid for the duration of the holiday. Please note: For Turkey, passports must be valid for at least 6 months after your return to the UK.

Caribbean cruises/Brazil transatlantic cruises Passports must be valid for at least 6 months after your return to the UK. We, or the airline, may refuse travel if you do not have a valid passport, visa or entry permit. We are not obliged to help you if you are refused travel. Some overseas countries have an immigration requirement for a passport to remain valid for a minimum period after entry to that country. If your passport is in its final year, we advise you to check the requirements of countries of destination before you make your final travel plans.

Your passport and travel documents must be intact. You may not be able to travel if they are damaged or have been tampered with. Please note that the initials on your flight ticket must match exactly those on your passport. Please make a note of your passport number before you travel and keep it separate from your passport. This will help the British Consulate to supply a temporary passport at short notice if you lose the original.

If you need a passport, then apply early. You do not have to wait until your passport expires before you renew it. If you renew your passport before it expires, any expired period of validity rounded up to the nearest whole month (minimum one month, maximum nine months) will be added to your new passport. This period is calculated from the point at which your new passport is authorised for issue, not from the date of application. You therefore need to apply at least six weeks before your passport expires to get this benefit. For help and advice about passport applications and fees, contact the Passport Advice Line on 0870 521 0410 or visit www.passport.gov.uk

If you are aged 16 or over and haven’t yet got a passport, we recommend that you apply for one at least six weeks before your holiday. The UK Passport Service has to confirm your identity before issuing your first passport and from Oct 2006 will ask you to attend an interview in order to do this.

Any questions should be addressed to the consulate or embassy, or the country of destination. Your travel agent will also be able to give you advice on these matters. Alternatively, please call the Passport Advice Line on 0870 521 0410.

Children’s passports

Children under the age of 16 must hold their own passport, unless they are already included on their parents’ passports. In this case, they can continue to travel on these passports until they reach the age of 16 or the passport expires. If, during the validity of a passport on which a child is included, a new document is required, a separate passport for the child would need to be applied for.

Lost or stolen passports

In the UK: Report the loss or theft of your passport immediately to the police and the UK Passport Service (UKPS). You will also need to complete and sign a lost/stolen declaration form, which is available from the Passport Advice Line on 0870 521 0410, the UKPS website at www.passport.gov.uk, your local passport office, police station and selected post office branches offering the passport application Check & Send Service. Abroad: Report the loss or theft of your passport immediately to the local police, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Consulate, embassy or High Commission. You can find the details of your local FCO by calling 0870 850 2829 prior to departure, or by visiting www.fco.gov.uk You will also need to fill out a lost/stolen declaration form (LS01) and submit reference details of a local police report. For more detailed information visit, www.fco.gov.uk To minimise the risk of loss or theft, keep your passport in a safe place, separate from other documents. We also advise keeping a copy of your passport in a separate place – both at home and abroad, as this greatly speeds up the process of replacing your passport. The information in this section is valid for British citizens only. Non-British citizens should consult the embassy of their country of destination and the Home Office Immigration Department to check whether you need special documents for the countries you are visiting or for your return to the UK.

Visas

At the time of going to print, no visas are required for full 10-year British passport holders on any holiday featured in this brochure. If you do not hold a British passport, you should contact your embassy, travel agent or call Island Cruises on 0161 772 8600 to make sure that you have the right documents for your holiday.

Health matters

General standards of hygiene and safety in other countries may differ from those in the UK. You should therefore exercise greater care, particularly with your choice of food and drink. We recommend that you drink bottled water and avoid ice in drinks, uncooked food (especially shellfish) and food from street vendors. Only buy ice cream from hotels and reputable shops. In hot climates, limit your exposure to the sun and drink lots of fluids. At the time of going to print, there are no compulsory vaccinations required for any of the holidays in this brochure. However, there is a risk of malaria transmission in Colombia and Costa Rica. We recommend that you consult your doctor at least two months before your departure for up-to-date advice on health precautions and vaccinations. These may vary according to your proposed itinerary. Other sources of information include the Department of Health’s free leaflet Health Advice for Travellers (available on 0800 555 777), a specialist travel clinic or MASTA (Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad) on 0906 822 400 – calls charged at 60p/min at all times.

If you are less able-bodied, please check with us before you book that the holiday you have chosen is suitable for you. Wheelchairs are available at most airports, but you must request it when you book. Please note that in ports where tender boats are in operation, customers must be able to walk down the pontoon and on to the tenders to embark/disembark. Unfortunately, crew are unable to carry passengers on to the tenders. For any special needs you may have, please call our Special Needs Helpline on 0161 772 8600.

Banned products

The introduction into the EU of meats, meat-based products, milk and dairy products is banned, with the exception of baby food and special foods, used for medical treatments.

Personal safety

We recommend that you take sensible precautions with regard to your personal safety whilst visiting the cities and resorts featured in this brochure. Whilst in any area, developed or not, refrain from walking in unlit areas at night and avoid wearing or carrying items of value. If there are flag systems in use on the beaches, please do not ignore them. Please follow any other advice given by our representative or local agents. If concerned about safety in your chosen destination, we suggest you call the Foreign Office Travel Advice Unit on 0845 850 2829 before booking your holiday.

Don’t be an accidental tourist, put your safety first

Part of the fun of any holiday is experiencing a different way of life. This will almost certainly expose you to different hygiene and safety standards than you are used to at home. We consider the safety and well-being of our customers as high priority and want you to have a safe and enjoyable holiday. All of the hotels and apartments we use are required to meet a minimum of local health and safety standards. These local standards may differ from UK standards, which are amongst the highest in the world. We are actively working with accommodation owners to raise standards within the countries to which we operate, using leading UK health and safety experts to provide advice and recommendations as required. On arrival at your destination, our local representative will give you a copy of our safety leaflet Don’t be an Accidental Tourist! Please take time to read through the tips and advice we give on food safety, fire safety, pool and balcony safety, children’s safety and many more useful topics. Through the actions detailed above, we make every effort to assure safety standards are maintained, however, it is your responsibility to take every step to ensure the safety and well-being of you and your family at all times.