The following information will help you book your Bright Horizons cruise effectively and efficiently. Please read all the information carefully before completing the reservation form. At approximately six weeks prior to sailing you will receive your instructions on how to obtain your tickets. Only passengers booked through InSight Cruises will be able to participate in the Bright Horizons Program.
HOW TO BOOK:
Select Plan I, II, III, IV, or V
Cabin prices vary by the category and type of accommodation you select. You can choose Interior cabins (without a window), Outside or ocean view 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 queen-size bed. Some cabins can accommodate a third and/or fourth person. A limited number of cabins for the Physically Challenged (PC) are available upon request. You have five (5) options when choosing how 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 queen-size 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) SHARE FARES: This plan is for passengers who are coming on Bright Horizons by themselves and wish to share a cabin with another passenger in our group. The prices are the same as the per person double occupancy rates. Be sure to select the option on the online booking form that asks, "Do you want to share a room with another InSight Cruiser? (This is called our Share program.)" NOTE: Share cabin assignments are generally made at time of ticket issuance, only — and shared cabin assignments are subject to change. If you can be matched, you will be matched with members of the same gender, and we factor in age and geography where possible. Shares are guaranteed if you book outside of 120 days prior to sailing. I.e., Guaranteed Shares are not always available if you book within 120 days of our sailing. Guaranteed Shares are typically not available in cabins with verandahs — please inquire. Share Passengers who smoke are not to do so in the cabin, unless their roommate specifically consents. Because of the limited number of accessible cabins, shares are not available for physically-challenged passengers.
(IV) SINGLE OCCUPANCY: If you would like to be the sole occupant of a cabin, there is a single-occupancy upcharge of 50% for Ocean View cabins, 60% for Interior cabins, or a 100% upcharge for all cabins with verandahs (i.e., balconies).
(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: Government taxes, cruiseline fees, an InSight Cruises service charge, and port charges are in addition to the per person cruise rates listed below. The cruise pricing is subject to change. I.e., 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.
In order for you to be a confirmed attendee we must have a fully completed Booking Form along with your $600 per-person deposit. A link to the Booking Form can be found at the bottom of this page. (Alternatively, you may call us to complete this Form.)
All cruise prices are subject to change until your booking is confirmed. We will notify you of any price change, and await your acceptance, before your reservation is considered “booked” and confirmed. Either party may cancel the booking within 14 days of the initial $600 deposit, with no penalty, for any reason — so long as this cancellation is outside of the final payment deadline of July 1. We’ll send you an email confirmation (if you provide us with your email address) and an itemized invoice (“DEPOSIT AND FINAL PAYMENT CONFIRMATION”) via mail/post within three (3) business days of your deposit. You must return a signed copy of your DEPOSIT AND FINAL PAYMENT CONFIRMATION form within 30 days of booking or your cruise reservation is subject to cancellation. If you do not return this form by the FINAL PAYMENT date, your cruise reservation will automatically be cancelled and cancellation penalties will be assessed. You will be sent reminders via email and by phone before your reservation is cancelled. Passengers typically receive cabin assignments upon booking but these cabin assignments are subject to change.
AIR ADD-ONS: Airfare from most major North American cities is available from us. InSight Cruises passes on our costs plus adds a $50 per person service fee. Please call or email us for an exact quote. For mid-winter cruises, when flights are occasionally cancelled, we highly recommend purchasing air through the cruiseline because they take responsibility for getting you on the ship. Similarly, we also recommend purchasing the cruiseline's air for those wishing to arrive on the day their cruise departs.
PRE-CRUISE HOTEL STAYS: All hotel pricing (both Geneva and Rome) includes breakfast, taxes, and roundtrip airport transfers.
In Geneva our 4-star hotel (TBA) pricing is as follows:
|
1 NIGHT |
2 NIGHTS |
|
SHARED DOUBLE |
$159 |
$318 |
|
SINGLE OCCUPANCY |
$249 |
$498 |
(All prices are PER PERSON. Hotels stays can be removed from your reservation prior to FINAL PAYMENT Date without any penalty.)
Sightsee Rome from our homebase, the Visconti Palace Hotel. The two transfers (airport to hotel and then hotel to pier — it’s at least 20 miles or 45–60 minutes from the airport/pier to downtown Rome) are included.
|
1 NIGHT |
2 NIGHTS |
3 NIGHTS |
|
SHARED DOUBLE |
$329 |
$499 |
$678 |
|
SINGLE OCCUPANCY |
$409 |
$669 |
$929 |
(All prices are PER PERSON. Hotels stays can be removed from your reservation prior to FINAL PAYMENT Date without any penalty.)
IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: A Passport (valid through November 1, 2011) 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 check with government agencies, embassies or consulates to determine documentary requirements. You can find a wealth of information and contact data here. You WILL be denied boarding without proper proof of citizenship and without all necessary visas.
Along with many thousands of American travelers, we rely on
Zierer Visa Service for our visas (we are not affiliated with Zierer, we are simply happy customers).
Bright Horizons PROGRAM CANCELLATIONS and REFUNDS: The Bright Horizons Program fee is subject to the following cancellation fees: $95 if cancelling before June 1, 2010; $195 if cancelling from June 1, 2011 to June 30, 2011; $395 if cancelling between July 1 and September 15, 2011; no refunds offered if cancelling on or after September 15, 2011. All conference cancellation fees, however, can be applied to any future InSight Cruise!
CRUISE CANCELLATIONS, REFUNDS, INSURANCE and CHANGES: Any cancellation or any change of status (or request for a change in status) which relates to your booking must be transmitted, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, to InSight Cruises in writing. If you have purchased insurance, and there is an unnecessary delay in notifying us of your change in status, your "cancellation date" will be affected and will likely adversely affect your insurance reimbursement.
From the 14th day after booking, a Cancellation Processing Fee of $95 per person will be assessed (but will be applied towards any future InSight Cruise). Name changes are generally not permitted by the cruiselines. Per person cruise cancellation fees are based on date of receipt of notice to cancel (via in writing or email):
Guarantee Shares please NOTE: If you cancel within 90 days of sailing, you forfeit your entire cruise fee.
NOTE: "Departure Date" also incorporates any cruiseline air and/or purchased cruiseline pre-cruise hotel stays. Please understand that there will be no exceptions to our cancellation policy.
To protect against cancellation penalties, Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance is available and strongly recommended. When you book an InSight Cruise, we include one or more trip insurance brochures in with your invoice. We offer three options:
1) Travel Guard Platinum is best for those with limited health insurance as it’s “First Payer” insurance. This product is ideal for those who rely on Medicare, for instance, or others who do not have healthcare coverage outside the United States. In addition, for those looking for “cancel for any reason” coverage, Travel Guard’s Platinum insurance offers it. For a 50% premium surcharge, they’ll provide cancel-for-any-reason insurance. However, this insurance does not reimburse 100%. (Cancel For Any Reason must be purchased within 10 days of your initial deposit.) Please study the details before you’re certain you need this additional coverage. Travel Guard’s Platinum product, M.H. Ross’ Advantage Bridge plan (see just below), and CSA’s Sail Safe (again, see below) will reimburse you 100% for covered reasons — assuming you have insured the full cost of your trip. You can get a Travel Guard quote and purchase the insurance here.
2) Another company we have very high regard for is M.H. Ross. Read about their Bridge product here:
http://InSightCruises.com/pdf/AdvantageBridge.pdf. While they do not offer the advantage of “First Payer” (i.e., you will need to submit any during-the-trip medical expenses to them after you have submitted these expenses to your primary medical insurance carrier), they will reimburse you for your out-of-pocket health expenses plus about two dozen other potential loss items. In our opinion, if you’re under the age of 55, M.H. Ross’s Bridge product is the most cost-effective “trip cancellation and
interruption” coverage available and we heartily recommend it. You can get a quote and purchase the insurance here.
3) For those 55 years of age and older, we highly recommend CSA’s Sail Safe Cruise Program plan:
http://InsightCruises.com/pdf/CSA_Plan_Summary.pdf. Unlike the two policies above, CSA Sail Safe is not priced based on your age. The cost of the insurance is based solely on your trip cost. In addition, you can purchase CSA Sail Safe up to 24 hours prior to the Final Payment Deadline and still be covered for pre-existing conditions (granted that you are fit to travel at the time of purchase). Also, like Travel Guard and M.H. Ross, for about a 50% premium surcharge, CSA will provide cancel-for-any-reason coverage. (M.H. Ross’ cancel-for-any-reason does not impose any “fit to travel at time of purchase” requirement.) In the case of CSA, you must purchase cancel-for-any-reason coverage within 24 hours of booking your event. For M.H. Ross and Travel Guard, you have 10 days after booking to purchase cancel-for-any-reason coverage. You can get a quote and purchase CSA’s insurance here.
NOTE: The products mentioned above are only available to U.S. and Canadian citizens. For those living outside North America we do recommend buying insurance from any local travel agency. Travel Guard and M.H. Ross waive pre-existing conditions if you purchase the insurance within 10 days of booking. Therefore, you will get maximum coverage and benefits if you book their insurance the day you book. Trip Cancellation Insurance payments are not refundable (but sometimes are transferrable). Cancel-for-any-reason coverage varies slightly, carrier to carrier, based on the level of penalty when you cancel. Typically, if you cancel at the last possible moment, you are only likely to get between 70% and 80% back.
A signed Insurance Waiver is due in the InSight Cruises office upon issuance and no later than the final payment date. Your booking is subject to cancellation unless we receive this paperwork.
Need help? Have questions?
Want to book voice-to-voice?
Please give us a call: 650-787-5665
|
CABIN TYPE |
CRUISE RATES ARE PER PERSON, |
|||
|
$1,899 |
[ GUARANTEED SHARE (GS) |
|||
|
$2,099 |
[ GUARANTEED SHARE (GS) |
|||
|
$2,449 |
[ GS & PHYSICALLY |
|||
|
$2,749 |
[ GS & PC AVAILABLE ] |
|||
|
$3,249 |
— |
|||
|
$3,699 |
[ PC AVAILABLE ] |
|||
|
$3,899 |
— |
|||
|
$5,299 |
Add'l info (PDF file) |
|||
3rd AND/OR 4th PERSON RATE: ages 2 and older: $699; under 2 years old: $450.
ALUMNI DISCOUNTS: A $25 discount is given for each previous InSight Cruise attended. Minimum discount is $50 per person for previous InSight Cruisers. Maximum discount is 10% of the cruise fare.
NOTE: CRUISE PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE: If, when you book, any of the prices on this page have changed you will be notified and have the option to cancel without penalty.
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE CRUISE PRICE: Port taxes, all your food (excluding optional meals in the private restaurants), including 24-hour room service and a 24-hour pasta bar; tea, coffee, a half-dozen juices, and milk; use of the gym; and, every evening, Holland America provides top-flight Las Vegas-style entertainment in their large show lounge.
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE BRIGHT HORIZONS PROGRAM: Over 36 hours of seminars plus four cocktail parties. The Program fee is $1,475. Traveling companions who do not want to participate in our Bright Horizons Program can simply enjoy their cruise and need not pay this additional fee.
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED: $167.07 for government taxes and fees (subject to minor change); an InSight Cruises booking fee ($100); gratuities ($11 per person per day); your bar bill, soda, the spa, casino action, Holland America shore excursions, and any expenses of a personal nature are extra. (Taxes and fees are subject to minor change.) In addition to the fees above, the following Service Fees (which are non-refundable) will be assessed when the various services are rendered:
FULL PAYMENT is due on July 1, 2011 ("FINAL PAYMENT Deadline") (or, if you book after July 1, at the time of booking). Passengers are not confirmed on the manifest and cruise tickets are not issued until your account is paid in full.
AIR TICKETS PURCHASED INDEPENDENTLY OF THE CRUISE: We urge you to check airline cancellation penalties before purchasing airline tickets since departure times and flights can change. InSight Cruises accepts no liability for cancellation penalties related to domestic or international airline tickets purchased independently in conjunction with this cruise.
PAYMENT INFORMATION: 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.
READ CAREFULLY:
RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT AND LIABILITY DISCLAIMER
Bright Horizons is managed by InSight Cruises, hired as an independent contractor. InSight Cruises acts only as an agent for the respective suppliers by making arrangements for transportation, accommodations, and other services. Neither Scientific American nor InSight Cruises shall be held liable for personal injury, death, property damage or accident, delay, or irregularity arising out of any act or omission of these suppliers. Scientific American and InSight Cruises reserve the right, without penalty, to make changes in the published itinerary whenever, in their judgment, conditions warrant, or if they deem it necessary for the comfort, convenience, or safety of our participants.
Scientific American and InSight Cruises also reserve the right, without penalty, to decline to accept any person as a participant, or to require any participant to withdraw from the event at any time, when such action is determined by InSight Cruises staff to be in the best interests of the health, safety, or general welfare of the group or the individual participant, subject only to the requirement that the recoverable portion of the total amount paid that corresponds to the cost of unused services and/or accommodations be refunded, if applicable. Scientific American and InSight Cruises accept no liability for the purchase of non-refundable airline tickets to the cruise departure city and return. Baggage and personal effects are at all times the sole responsibility of the participant.
Dates, schedules, and program details, although provided in good faith based on information available at the time of publication of the flyer(s) or the website, are subject to change and revision.
AS A CONDITION OF ACCEPTANCE OF ANY APPLICATION, EACH APPLICANT MUST AGREE TO THE STATEMENT SET FORTH BELOW:
The undersigned has read carefully the Responsibility Statement and Liability Disclaimer set forth (left), the schedule of activities for this event, as well as the terms and conditions of application and participation as set forth in the event brochure and/or these webpages, and recognizes and accepts any risk associated with the event and the conditions, including the refund policy, set forth above. The undersigned further acknowledges that there are many risks and uncertainties inherent in any travel, including but not limited to the hazards of various modes of transportation, forces of nature, acts or omissions of foreign governments, terrorism, war or insurrection, theft, illness, and damage to person or property due to the negligent acts or omissions of event staff or others. In consideration of, and as part payment for, the right to participate in the event, the undersigned, on behalf of himself, his dependents, heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, agrees to release Scientific American and Insight Cruises and its officers, employees and agents, from liability for personal injury, death, property damage or loss suffered by any person in connection with this event, even if caused by the negligence (but not the reckless, willful, or fraudulent conduct) of event staff or other related persons or entities. In addition, by registering for this event, the applicant certifies that he or she is mentally and physically capable of full participation in this tour.
BY REGISTERING FOR THE BRIGHT HORIZONS CRUISE, THE PARTICIPANT AGREES TO THE RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT AND LIABILITY DISCLAIMER AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS HEREIN.
InSight Cruises (CST# 2065380-40)
264 S. Meridith Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91106
TEL: (650) 787-5665
Email: neil@InSightCruises.com
264 S. Meridith Ave., Pasadena, CA 91106 • 650-787-5665 • Copyright 2011 © InSight Cruises • Scientific American is a trademark of Nature America, Inc.
