DEPOSIT AND FINAL PAYMENT: A deposit of $500 per person is due to secure your reservation. The full and final payment is due 90 days before departure. Final documents will not be released until receipt of full payment. Extraordinary mail charges required by late booking, changes, or late payments must be borne by the passenger or tour host. The Catholic Journey does not agree to provide any services until full payment is received. Please keep in mind that all credit card and debit card payments have a 4% up charge.

CANCELLATIONS: In the event of cancellation from day of registration to 90 days prior to departure there is a $250 per person non-refundable administrative fee. Thereafter the following charges apply: 89–45 days prior to departure the charge is $1000; 44 –31 days the charge is 65% of total cost of the tour; last 30 days prior to departure the charge is 100% of the total cost of the tour. No Shows or cancellations after date of departure, no refund whatsoever. All refund claims must be received in writing.  In case of cancellation of the trip by the tour host (leader), terms and conditions will apply.  Credit card fees will be deducted on all refund transactions made by credit card including the initial deposit.

ITINERARY CHANGES: Changes must be requested and approved in writing by The Catholic Journey. If you return individually and not with the group, there may be an additional surcharge plus any additional airfare differential for the deviation. A handling fee per person will be made for changes requested after receipt of deposit. This fee will be assessed each time a change is made.

AIRLINE CANCELLATION:  100% of the airfare will be charged for cancellation within 90 days of departure.  No airline credit will be given in that case.  Trip cancellation insurance is highly recommended.

INSURANCE: The Catholic Journey is not responsible or liable for loss, damage, theft of luggage or personal belongings, personal injury, accidents or illness. For your protection we suggest that you purchase adequate insurance to cover these eventualities and cost of your tour. We strongly recommend that you be insured against the eventuality of cancellation.

LAND TRANSPORTATION: As specified in the respective tour itineraries. Where motor coaches are specified, these are modern, large-windowed, air-conditioned/heated vehicles designed especially for sightseeing.

HOTELS: As specified in brochure. The tour price is based on shared accommodation in twin-bedded room with private shower or bath. A limited number of single rooms are available at additional supplements stated in brochure. Single rooms when available are often smaller than doubles. Tour participants without a roommate will have to pay the single rate. The Catholic Journey will attempt to assign roommates when possible, in the event when no same gender roommate is available, the single supplement will be added to the invoice.

Flights:  Flights are booked based on block seating.  The Catholic Journey is not responsible for assigning seats. Seat assignments may be made by contacting the airline directly after the tickets have been issued.  Luggage allowance on flights is per airline policies.  In the case of multiple airports being listed on the brochure, a minimum of 10 passengers is required per airport to guarantee the price quoted.

FLIGHT TIMES: Subject to change by airlines without advance notice. The Catholic Journey is not to be held responsible for such changes or delays and does not reimburse expenses resulting from such delays.

MEALS: As per tour brochure. In-flight meals as per the airline’s normal meal service policies.

SIGHTSEEING: As specified in each itinerary, including the services of a local multilingual guide. (Right is reserved to vary the sequence of sightseeing programs, or to make substitutions if necessitated by circumstances beyond our control).

TRANSFERS AND PORTERAGE: Included in each city abroad between airports, rail stations, piers, and hotels and vice versa. Porterage includes the handling of one normal piece of luggage per person. Additional pieces (including garment bags or similar) may be handled at additional charges, collected upon arrival abroad.  Allowance for checked baggage aboard airlines is usually 50 pounds (seasoned travelers have found it convenient to use one piece of luggage only). A special bag tag for quick identification is also provided. Check with airline provider for specific size and weight requirements.

TRANSFERS: Transport between overseas airport, hotel and piers is included in the standard program. Those who request changes from standard program and who do not arrive with the group (land only passengers) are responsible for their own transfers even when coinciding with group transfers.

INCLUDED IN PRICE OF BASIC STANDARD PROGRAM: All U.S. current departure taxes (subject to change and increase), round trip airfare, transfers with group to and from overseas airports and piers; shared double room in 4-5 star hotels; two meals daily (in some cases three meals daily); English-speaking guide (unless otherwise requested); transportation and entrance fees to sites to be visited.  

NOT INCLUDED: Passport fees; phone calls; valet/laundry service; and other items of a strictly personal nature; baggage or other insurance (which is highly recommended); and any beverage; (Please note that the custom abroad is to include coffee or tea with breakfast only; it is an extra charge when served with other meals, as are mineral waters, wines or liquor); expenses within the U.S.A. or Canada.

TAXES: Airline security, Custom and Departure taxes are in addition to all air fare. These taxes are subject to change per government regulations and currency fluctuations. Quoted taxes are subject to change. Final taxes will be advised at time of final invoice. It is the responsibility of the group leader and tour members to have taxes paid at finalization.

DOCUMENTATION: U.S. citizens require a valid passport for international travel; the passport must be valid for six months beyond the group’s return date.  A copy of your passport must be submitted to The Catholic Journey to ensure that your airline tickets are issued correctly and facilitate your check in process at hotels overseas.  In the event of a passport copy not received by The Catholic Journey, an mistakes on the airline ticket will not be the responsibility of The Catholic Journey and any costs incurred to fix those mistakes will be the responsibility of the traveler.

RESERVATIONS AND PAYMENT INFORMATION

RESERVATIONS: may be secured upon payment of a deposit in the amount of $500 per person. We recommend this be done far in advance of departure to allow adequate time to secure passports, visas and other documents.

GENERAL CONDITIONS AND RESPONSIBILITY: The Catholic Journey of and its Associated Companies agree to provide the itinerary described in this brochure and this represents the entire agreement between the passenger and his agent, the travel agent, the tour host, and the tour operator. No changes or deviations are effective unless approved in writing and signed by an authorized officer of the tour operator. Except as stated herein, no person is authorized to cancel, modify or vary the tour arrangements or to make any representation of warranty concerning the tour. All prices, itineraries and schedules are subject to regulations and changes thereof by acts of Government, International Agreement and Airline tariff adjustments, rules and regulations.

The Catholic Journey reserves the right to change or withdraw the tour, in whole or in part at any time. In the event of rescheduling or canceling  of the tour by The Catholic Journey or the organizers of the tour due to unforeseen circumstances, such as but not limited to acts of government, pandemics, wars, natural events, and the like, the cancellation and refund clause of the original dates will apply.

The Catholic Journey reserves the right to refuse or revoke travel to anyone who is, in the sole judgment of The Catholic Journey incapable of group travel. Except for the willful negligence of its direct employees, the tour operator assumes no liability or responsibility for any injuries, inconveniences, illness, irregularity or incidental damages occasioned by circumstances beyond the control of the tour operator, or by any person or reason whatsoever, including but not limited to events such as strikes, revolts, wars, natural disasters, pandemics, closures of airports or hotels, default or omission of any common or private carrier or the default, negligence, or omission of and by any third party providing services or facilities related to or included in this tour or any part thereof, or in arranging for the same, or the acts or omissions of the travel agent or the tour host. The commercial carriers are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time the passengers are not on board commercial carriers. The passenger contracts, in use by all commercial carriers involved when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the commercial carriers and the passenger or purchaser of this tour and/or passage and tour operator assumes no liability or responsibility in connection therewith. Enrollment in and payment for the tour, constitutes your acceptance of the conditions, and statement of responsibility. The conditions become a binding contract when your enrollment and payment are received and accepted by The Catholic Journey. Venue for any disputes is Emerson, NJ. The laws of the state of New Jersey shall govern this contract. Baggage is at owner’s risk at all times. Any transport or conveyance companies mentioned or provided shall have no responsibility or liability to any passenger, except as common carriers, and they shall have no liability during the time passengers are not on the particular transport or conveyance. Each ticket or coupon issued as to the tour(s) and the passage contract in use by the transport or conveyance companies mentioned or provided, when issued, constitutes the sole contract between them and the purchaser of these tours and/or the passenger.

SEQUENCE OF TOURS: During certain periods of conventions, congresses, and other unforeseen events and circumstances, the tour operator may have to make last minute changes (sometimes even after arrival) in the sequence of the tour. All services to which participants are entitled to will be rendered.

TOUR OPERATOR’S RELATIONSHIP TO TOUR HOST:  The Catholic Journey acts as agent for you in the making and securing of all arrangements for transportation, for sightseeing or for hotel accommodations for the tour program. The Catholic Journey does not own, manage, control or operate any transportation vehicle, any hotel or restaurant or any other supplier of services. All coupons, receipts and tickets are issued subject to the terms and conditions specified by the suppliers. By utilizing the service, you agree that neither The Catholic Journey nor any of its subsidiary companies, affiliates or representatives shall be liable for any loss, injury or damage to your clients in connection with any accommodations, transportation or other services resulting directly or indirectly from any occurrences beyond its control, including breakdown in equipment, strikes, theft, delay or cancellations of or changes in itinerary or schedules, etc. Also remember that travel documents as well as compliance with customs regulations are the responsibility of your clients. Brochures are issued on the sole responsibility of the tour operator. They are not issued on behalf of and do not commit any airline whose services are used in the course of travel.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION, BINDING ARBITRATION & JURY TRIAL WAIVER