The following information will help you book your Cosmic Trails 2 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 retrieve your tickets. Only passengers booked through InSight Cruises will be able to participate in the Cosmic Trails 2 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 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 Cosmic Trails 2 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. 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 cabins without a balcony 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 $400 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.)
FULL PAYMENT is due on December 1, 2010 ("FINAL PAYMENT Deadline") (or, if you book after December 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.
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 $400 deposit, with no penalty, for any reason — so long as this cancellation is outside of the final payment deadline of December 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.
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.
PRE-CRUISE HOTEL STAYS: Sightsee Ft. Lauderdale from our on-the-beach homebase, the Westin Ft. Lauderdale (or equivalent; the Westin is only available for one night; for two nights the cruiseline is offering the Hilton Marina). 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.
|
1 NIGHT |
2 NIGHTS |
|
SINGLE OCCUPANCY |
$229 |
$599 |
|
SHARED DOUBLE |
$149 |
$329 |
|
3RD PERSON |
$69 |
$149 |
(All prices are PER PERSON. Hotel prices subject to change. If, when you book, the prices have changed you will be notified. Hotels stays can be removed from your reservation prior to FINAL PAYMENT Date without any penalty.)
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER (KSC) TOUR: $225 per person. Includes our March 5 tour (as described here) plus: lunch onsite at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), transportation from the KSC to our pre-cruise hotel in Ft. Lauderdale (March 5), and dinner (on March 5). If you book by June 1, 2010 this trip is included with your $1,375 Conference fee.
IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: A Passport (valid through September 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. Please see the MUST READ tab on the ITINERARY page for links to the U.S. State Department’s information on ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS for U.S. Citizens for countries on our itinerary. You can also 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).
Cosmic Trails 2 PROGRAM CANCELLATIONS and REFUNDS: The Cosmic Trails 2 Program fee is subject to the following cancellation fees: $95 if cancelling before October 1, 2010; $195 if cancelling from October 1, 2010 to November 30, 2010; $395 if cancelling between December 1, 2010 and January 31, 2011; no refunds offered if cancelling on or after February 1, 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. 
InSight Cruises provides access to this insurance; a TripInsurance.com Enhanced Protection brochure is included with you initial invoice. TripInsurance.com is the most cost-effective product we've seen and for $30 extra, trip cancellation or interruption due to unforseen business reasons can be purchased. TripInsurance.com is only available for U.S. and Canadian residents. Trip Cancellation Insurance payments are not refundable (but sometimes are transferrable). We prefer Access America or Travel Guard for those over 65 (brochures for these products are sent to as well if you are 65 or older) as they are “first payor’; TripInsurance.com is, by and large, less expensive and offers, for $30 extra, trip cancellation or interruption due to unforseen business reasons. We therefore do not send Access America or Travel Guard brochures to those passengers under the age of 65. 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. Trip Cancellation Insurance payments are not refundable (but sometimes are transferrable).
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.
|
CABIN TYPE |
CRUISE RATES ARE PER PERSON, |
|||
|
$899 |
[ GUARANTEED SHARE (GS) |
|||
|
$1,049 |
[ GS & PHYSICALLY |
|||
|
$1,249–$1,449 |
[ PHYSICALLY |
|||
|
$1,799 |
[ PC AVAILABLE ] |
|||
|
$2,699 |
[ PC AVAILABLE ] |
|||
3rd AND/OR 4th PERSON RATE: ages 2 and older: $550; 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: 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 COSMIC TRAILS PROGRAM: Over 24 hours of seminars plus three cocktail parties. The Program fee is $1,375. Traveling companions who do not want to participate in our Cosmic Trails 2 Program can simply enjoy their cruise and need not pay this additional fee.
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED: Government taxes, port charges, and cruiseline fees (78.50); an InSight Cruises service charge ($50); gratuities ($11 per person per day); your bar bill; soda; the spa; casino action; Holland America shore excursions; our trip to Arecibo Observatory; dining in the two private restaurants (about $20 pp); and any expenses of a personal nature are extra. (Taxes and fees are subject to minor change.)
AIR TICKETS PURCHASED INDEPENDENTLY OF THE CRUISE: We urge you to check airline cancellation penalties before purchasing airline tickets since international 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.
Need help? Have questions?
Want to book voice-to-voice?
Please give us a call: 650-787-5665
READ CAREFULLY:
RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT AND LIABILITY DISCLAIMER
Cosmic Trails 2 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 Sky & Telescope 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. Sky & Telescope 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.
Sky & Telescope 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. Sky & Telescope 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 Sky & Telescope 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 COSMIC TRAILS 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 2010 © InSight Cruises
