The following information will help you book your Opera Odyssey cruise properly and with minimal effort. Please read all the information carefully before completing the reservation form. At approximately two to four weeks prior to sailing you will receive your tickets. For those of you who have never cruised before, we'll send you a guide to the cruise in this same mailing. This guide includes important information such as: What to pack, specifics on tour excursions and prices, our Opera Odyssey sessions on board, and much more! Only passengers booked through Geek Cruises will be admitted to Opera Odyssey.
HOW TO BOOK:
Select Plan I, II, III, IV, or V
Cabin prices vary by the category and type of accommodation you select. There are Inside cabins (without a window), Outside cabins (with a window, porthole, or verandah), Mini-Suites and Suites. All cabins have a private bathroom with shower (outside cabins also have bathtubs), color TV, telephone, and two beds which can convert to a queensize. Some cabins can accommodate a third and/or fourth person. A limited number of cabins for the Physically Challenged (PC) are available upon request. The following are five (5) ways you may choose to sail with us:
(I) TWO PERSONS SHARING THE SAME CABIN: Double occupancy means that two passengers will be sharing the same cabin. All cabins have either two lower beds, or beds that may convert to a double or queensize or king-size bed.
(II) TRIPLE AND QUAD OCCUPANCY: If three or four family members or friends wish to share the same cabin, they may do so. The third and fourth passenger rates are listed in the pricing information (see next column).
(III) GUARANTEED SHARE (GS) FARES: This plan is for passengers who are coming on a GEEK CRUISE by themselves and wish to share a cabin with another passenger in an inside, outside, or outside w/ verandah cabin only. The prices are the same as the per person double occupancy rates. Be sure to check the box that says Guaranteed Share. NOTE: GS cabin assignments are generally done at time of document issuance, only — and are subject to change. You will be matched with members of the same gender, and we factor in age and geography where possible. If snoring is an issue, Geek Cruises provides free earplugs (29 decibel Noise Reduction Rating per ANSI S3.19-1974) to GS passengers on request. Guaranteed Shares are not always available if booking within 90 days of sailing. And Guaranteed Shares are not always available in cabins with verandahs. Share Passengers who smoke, are not to do so in the cabin, unless okayed by their roommates.
(IV) SINGLE OCCUPANCY: This is for those who wish to solely occupy a cabin. There is a single occupancy upcharge of 50% for inside and outside cabins; 100% for all cabins with verandahs.
(V) PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED (PC): The ship has a very limited number of specially equipped cabins for the Physically Challenged. Please let us know your specific needs. PC Guaranteed Shares are not available. Here's some written material, from Holland America, about PC accessibility. And here is a video:
CRUISE PRICING INFORMATION: Port charges and government taxes are in addition to the per person cruise rates listed below. This pricing is subject to change. Geek Cruises will generally match the cruise pricing offered at the Holland America website at the time of booking. If at the time of booking the cruise line notifies us that the price of cruise fare has increased, you will notified of the new pricing before your reservation is booked.
Deposit: $600 per person, due at time of booking
3rd AND/OR 4th PERSON RATE: ages 2 and older: $1,099; under 2 years old: $899.
ALUMNI DISCOUNTS: $25 discount given for each previous Geek Cruise attended. Minimum discount is $50 per person for previous Geek Cruisers. Maximum discount (including any Early-Bird or other discounts) is 10% of the cruise fare.
SINGLE OCCUPANCY: 150% for standard inside and outside cabins; 200% for all suites and mini-suites.
PORT CHARGES, TAXES & GRATUITIES: Port charges, taxes, and government fees are $353 per person and are additional to the cruise pricing. Holland America also charges, onboard, $10 per person per day for gratuities.
FULL PAYMENT is due on March 1, 2007 (or, if you book after March 1, at the time of booking). The signed Insurance Waiver is due in the Geek Cruises office upon issuance and no later than the final payment date.
FOREIGN SHIPPING FEES and ADDITIONAL PAYMENT INFORMATION: There is a foreign shipping charge of $60 (to cover the shipping of your cruise tickets) per foreign residence ($35 per Canadian residence). Payments may be made by check, money order or major credit card (Visa, Master Card, Discover, Diners Club, or American Express). Checks are to be made payable to Int'l Technology Conferences, in U.S. dollars only, and drawn on a U.S. bank. There is a $25 charge for returned checks.
PRE-CRUISE HOTEL STAYS: Sightsee Copenhagen from our base, Scandic Copenhagen, and/or meet and greet your fellow Opera Lovers at our pre-cruise reception (see below). A transfer from the airport to the hotel and then from the hotel to the ship (two transfers total), and all taxes, are included in the prices below.
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1 NIGHT |
ADD'L NIGHTS |
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SHARED DOUBLE |
$229 |
$139 |
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SINGLE OCCUPANCY |
$359 |
$269 |
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3RD and/or 4th PERSON |
$95 |
$45 |
(All prices are PER PERSON. These prices include all taxes as well as a shuttle from the airport to the hotel and then a shuttle from the hotel to the pier.) We also have a block of very lovely rooms in the less expensive Hotel Kong Frederik; please contact us for pricing; here's a fact sheet.
PRE-CRUISE COCKTAIL PARTY: $59. Take this opportunity to meet your fellow Opera Odyssey travelers. The reception will be held in either the Scandic or Hotel Kong Frederik — whichever is more popular — the night before departure. Premium beer, wines, mixed drinks, and hot and cold hors d'oeuvres will be served.
IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: U.S. Citizens — a Passport valid through December 31, 2007 is required. Non-U.S. citizens residing in the United States will need valid Alien Registration (green) cards as well. All others must have valid passports and any required visas when boarding the vessel. All travel documents such as passports, visas, proof of citizenship, etc., that are required for embarkation, disembarkation at the ports of call, and re-entry into the United States are the responsibility of the passenger. Non-U.S. citizens are asked to please check with government agencies, embassies or consulates to determine documentary requirements. You may be denied boarding without proper proof of citizenship.
OPERA ODYSSEY PROGRAM CANCELLATIONS and REFUNDS: The Opera Odyssey Program fee is subject to the following cancellation fees: $95 if canceling before January 1, 2007; $195 if canceling from January 1, 2007 to March 1, 2007; $395 if canceling between March 2 and June 1; $995 if canceling after June 1. These cancellation fees, however, can be applied to any future Geek Cruise!
CRUISE CANCELLATIONS, REFUNDS, INSURANCE and CHANGES: Any cancellation or any change of status (or requests for a change in status) which relates to your booking must be transmitted to InSight Cruises in writing. After booking, a Cancellation Processing Fee of $95 per person will be assessed (but will be applied towards any future Geek Cruise); between April 1, 2007 and 66 days before commencement of travel, the $600 per person deposit will be assessed; from 65 – 45 days before commencement of travel, 50% of the gross fare will be assessed; from 44 – 24 days before commencement of travel, 80% of the gross fare will be assessed; 23 days or less before commencement of travel, 100% of gross fare is assessed. After full or final payment date, all invoices will be subject to a minimum charge of $50 for any changes. To protect against cancellation penalties, Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance is available and strongly recommended. Geek Cruises provides access to this insurance; a Trip Insurance brochure is included with your initial invoice. Holland America (HAL) also offers Trip Cancellation Protection: either the Standard Cancellation Protection Plan (CPP Standard) or the Platinum Cancellation Protection Plan (CPP Platinum Plan). Both of these plans are optional and must be paid for within 24 hours of booking or at time of deposit if booking after March 1, 2007. Trip Cancellation payments are not refundable. The CPP Platinum Plan is only available for U.S. and Canadian residents. (InSight Cruises prefers the TripInsurance.com Enhanced product over the HAL CPP coverage for several reasons but mostly because the burden is on you to notify HAL, in writing, at least 24 hours prior to sailing — whereas you can notify TripInsurance.com up until one year after the trip and still retain full benefits. Also, your non-HAL purchased airfare is covered if you include this cost in with your total trip costs — again, even if you file a claim with TripInsurance.com one year later!) A signed Insurance Waiver is due in the Geek Cruises office upon issuance of same. Travel documents will not be released and your booking is subject to cancellation unless we receive the Insurance Waiver.
Christine Brewer F. Paul Driscoll
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CABIN TYPE |
CRUISE RATES ARE PER PERSON, |
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SOLD OUT |
[ GUARANTEED SHARE (GS) |
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$2,199 |
[ GS AVAILABLE ] |
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$2,399 |
[ GS & PHYSICALLY |
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$3,339 |
[ PC AVAILABLE ] |
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$5,399 |
Add'l info (PDF file) |
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WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE CRUISE PRICE: All your food, including 24-hour room service; two exclusive Opera Odyssey cocktail parties; and, every evening, Holland America provides top-flight Las Vegas-style entertainment in their large show lounge.
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE OPERA ODYSSEY PROGRAM: Two private recitals featuring Christine Brewer; F. Paul Driscoll's two lectures and two movie showings; a Q&A with the Miss Brewer and Mr. Driscoll; two incredible private musical excursions; and two private High Teas with French Champagne. $1,475. Only those traveling who wish to participate in our Opera Odyssey Program need pay this fee.
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED: Government taxes and port charges ($353), gratuities ($10 per person per day), your bar bill, the spa, casino action, beauty salon visits, Holland America shore excursions, and any expenses of a personal nature are extra.
AIR ADD-ONS: Airfare from most major North American cities is available through Holland America. Please call or email us for an exact quote. (The approximate price is $1,500 and to upgrade to Business Class, roundtrip is, approximately, $3,200.) In most cases, however, you will find better rates on your own.
Need help? Have questions?
Want to book voice-to-voice?
Please give us a call: 650-787-5665
Geek Cruises, Inc. (CST# 2065380-40)
561 Windsor Drive
Menlo Park, CA 94025
TEL: (650) 327-3692 • FAX: (928) 396-2102
Email: neil@geekcruises.com
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