General Terms & Conditions

PREAMBLE

The following Terms and Conditions govern the relationship between you, the passenger (“You”), and us, AMADEUS River Cruises, LLC (referred to herein as “AMADEUS”). By booking a cruise with us, You agree to be bound by these General Terms and Conditions (“Terms and Conditions”) as we may amend them from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the transportation of passengers and baggage on a vessel of the AMADEUS fleet, all of which are not owned by AMADEUS River Cruises, LLC, is also governed by the General Terms and Conditions of the Passenger Ticket Contract (available on request).

A deposit of 10 % per person is required to secure a confirmed reservation. When more than one cruise is booked, deposit and payment policies apply per cruise. The balance is due for payment no later than 120 days before the Departure Date. All reservations are subject to cancellation if payments are not received by the due date. Only upon full payment of the amount specified in the invoice, AMADEUS agrees to provide the services as specified in the invoice subject to these Terms and Conditions and the Terms and Conditions of the Passenger Ticket Contract. Your payment, starting your cruise, and/or acceptance or receipt of a ticket constitutes agreement to these Terms and Conditions and the Terms and Conditions of the Passenger Ticket Contract.

We accept payments by check, wire transfer, ACH or most major credit cards.

In cases of cancellation by You, AMADEUS has the right to collect and retain, and You agree to pay the following cancellation charges, calculated either as a flat-rate amount or as a percentage of the travel price and dependent on the number of days left until the planned departure date:

Cancellations must be made in writing via email to info@amadeus-rivercruises.com. Cancellation invoices are due for payment upon receipt. All days shall be calculated pursuant to the time zone of the location where the vessel departs.

“Departure Date” is the day of the departure of the vessel as set out in the published program, annual brochure and on our website at: www.amadeus-rivercruises.com. 

WITHDRAWAL AND TERMINATION BY AMADEUS: 

a) Without notice, if the passenger disrupts the execution of the travel or if his/her behavior is dangerous, harassing, abusive, threatening or otherwise disruptive to others or to himself or herself, including applicable hygiene and health/safety measures and orders/instructions by the ship’s captain or is not in accordance with these Terms and Conditions or the Terms and Conditions of the Passenger Ticket Contract, applicable rules or regulations, or the instructions of staff or crew members. In the event of such removal, AMADEUS is entitled to recover the full cruise fare and, such passenger may be left at any port or place the vessel calls without any liability of AMADEUS or its representatives. AMADEUS shall not be required to refund any portion of the cruise fare paid by any passenger who is removed under the terms of this paragraph, nor shall AMADEUS be responsible for expenses for lodging, medical care, meals, transportation, or any other expenses incurred by the passenger. AMADEUS shall be entitled to recover from the passenger any costs or expenses incurred by AMADEUS, its representatives, or the crew members in the removal of the passenger or the exercise or enforcement of this clause.

b) If, by two weeks prior to the Departure Date, the advertised minimum number of passengers has not been reached, which is 80 passengers per cruise and, in the case of shore excursions, 25 persons, or whatever other minimum number of passengers has been indicated for the cruise or service concerned, or there is otherwise insufficient reservations or demand for the cruise, excursion or service. In all such cases AMADEUS shall promptly inform the passenger of the cancellation and forward to him/her its withdrawal statement. All payments received by AMADEUS from a passenger for such cancelled cruise will be reimbursed promptly to such passenger. AMADEUS will not reimburse passengers for any expenditure (ie travel expenses and ancillary arrangements) made in expectation of the cruise taking place. 

c) If, by four weeks prior to the Departure Date, there has been a material unforeseen increase in the costs of the cruise, through no fault of AMADEUS, AMADEUS reserves the right to cancel such cruise. All payments received by AMADEUS from a passenger for the cancelled cruise will be reimbursed. AMADEUS will not reimburse passengers for any expenditure (ie travel expenses and ancillary arrangements) made in expectation of the cruise.

CHANGE IN SERVICES AND PRICES

a) AMADEUS reserves the right to alter published prices in the case of transportation price increases such as increased fuel costs, docking fees, or currency fluctuations or any other increases in prices/costs that were not known at the time of publication.

b) Changes and deviations to individual travel components, that become necessary after booking confirmation, and where there is no evidence of bad faith on the part of AMADEUS, are permissible provided they do not significantly alter the cruise program.

GUARANTEE, REDRESS AND DUTIES TO CO-OPERATE

If travel services are not provided as contracted, then the traveler may demand redress, either directly on board or via his/her booking agency. The passenger has a duty to cooperate within reason to keep possible damages and claims to a minimum. The traveler has a particular duty to advise the ship’s representative on board (specifically the hotel manager, cruise director) immediately of any possible complaints. 

ACTS OF GOD, STRIKE, OR OTHER CONDITIONS BEYOND CONTROL

a) Before the cruise starts: If execution of the cruise is made more difficult, jeopardized or impaired as a result of extraordinary circumstances that were unforeseeable at the time of entering into the contract and out of the control of AMADEUS such as war, strikes, civil unrest, sovereign directives (such as the requisition of accommodation or of means of transportation), embargoes, natural disasters, accidents, epidemics, pandemics, damage to the vessel (especially to the hull and engines, etc.), or other occurrences that are equivalent in their effect to the examples mentioned above (force majeure), the contracting parties may withdraw from the contract before the start of the trip, without any claims against AMADEUS arising from this, in particular for damages. 

b)After the cruise has begun: If the circumstances specified above come about after the cruise has begun and the cruise is ultimately delayed, then AMADEUS is authorized to reconstruct the remaining journey such that other routes or means of transport are organized, for example, by avoiding a harbor, or by traveling overland, so that the journey can be ended at approximately the original time specified. In such a case, the cruise price will not be reduced and AMADEUS will not be liable for any claims or claims for damages. 

c) Termination of a cruise: Should a cruise have to be terminated due to any of the above mentioned circumstances, AMADEUS is authorized to transport passengers and their baggage by alternate means of transport (such as by train, bus or airplane) to the agreed starting or end point of the cruise, or to an appropriate intermediate point with suitable means of transport. AMADEUS will not be liable for any claims or claims for damages. 

d) Ship in distress: Should another vessel be in need of the cruise ship’s assistance during a cruise, AMADEUS is not liable for any delays caused by the assistance rendered or by any rescue operation. The decisions regarding such possible assistance rest solely with the ship’s captain. AMADEUS will not be liable for any claims or claims for damages. 

e) Changes in the water level: Unusually low or high river water levels may cause changes to the itinerary, possible re-embarkation onto another vessel or transfer(s) by coach or rail, or may even lead to a shortening of the journey. AMADEUS, the operator and the ship’s captain sometimes have to make such decisions quickly. Such measures do not justify termination or withdrawal from the contract by the person traveling and AMADEUS will not be liable for any claims or claims for damages.

UNUSED SERVICES

If as a result of an early disembarkation or other reasons, passengers do not make use of individual cruise services that were properly offered, there is no refund or pro rata refund of the unused cruise services. Within reason, AMADEUS will make an effort to try to obtain any reimbursement from relevant service providers. 

TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION/ETIAS/VISAS

All passengers must have passports valid for six months following disembarkation and necessary visas when boarding. Passengers are advised to check with their travel advisor or their consulate service to determine which documents they must obtain. If incorrect documents are obtained, passengers will be unable to participate in particular shore excursions and may be denied boarding and/or entry into certain countries. AMADEUS accepts no responsibility for obtaining required visas, ETIAS, nor for advising guests of visa or other immigration requirements. (ETIAS – European Travel Information Authorization System is an online document authorization which is anticipated as a requirement for US citizens travelling into the Schengen Zone of countries in Europe beginning in 2027).

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Travel Insurance is not included in the listed fares. A Travel Insurance Plan is highly recommended to protect you from loss in case you need to cancel your trip, as well as trip interruption, damage to and/or loss of baggage, costs of possible medical treatment outside your home country, repatriation services etc. For further details visit our website: www.amadeus-rivercruises.com/your-cruise/travel-insurance.html.

REVISIONS/CHANGES

After receipt of deposit for a cruise by AMADEUS, name changes are subject to a $36 charge per change. 

CHILDREN/MINORS

Due to the nature of our cruise itineraries, AMADEUS vessels do not maintain facilities or services for children. 

• For children ages 14 (fourteen) years and under, AMADEUS’S prior consent must be obtained before booking. Without such consent, participation in the cruise is not permitted. 
• Minors 17 (seventeen) years and younger must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or another responsible adult over the age of 21; accommodation shall in all cases be in the same cabin as the accompanying adult person. The accompanying adult person assumes full and unrestricted responsibility for supervision throughout the entire cruise, including during shore excursions, particularly with respect to safety.

For Children/Minors, a liability waiver will be required.

FOOD INTOLERANCES AND DIETARY REQUIREMENTS

Our chefs and restaurant staff make every effort to accommodate dietary requirements and food intolerances to the best of their ability. However, individual requests can only be considered if service fulfillment for all passengers on board can also be ensured. To ensure dietary requirements are taken into account, AMADEUS must be notified in writing at least 121 days prior to departure. Without timely notification, passengers cannot expect their dietary requirements to be considered. In all cases, passengers are responsible for checking the served food within their own capabilities. The carrier reserves the right to deny boarding to passengers if fulfilling specific dietary requirements would exceed the operational capacity on board. In such cases, no compensation of any kind can be claimed from AMADEUS These restrictions also apply to any additional services, such as shore excursions, transfers, or other arrangements booked through the carrier in connection with the cruise. In some instances, a liability waiver will be required.

PASSENGERS WITH RESTRICTED MOBILITY

AMADEUS has considerable respect for people with restricted mobility who choose to travel. In this sense it will not discriminate against persons with a disability in any way. Taking part in a river cruise does, however, place certain demands on passenger mobility. On all ships, passengers must be able to walk up and down narrow gangways to and from the ship, as well as on various stairs and ramps without a walking aid or wheelchair. Scooters and wheelchairs are not permitted on board and the carrying of other walking aids may also be restricted due to safety reasons. For this reason, persons with restricted mobility must inform AMADEUS before booking and must receive permission regarding travel. If a passenger is not permitted to travel for this reason or any other medical reason AMADEUS will not be liable for any claims or claims for damages.

OPERATOR

The AMADEUS ships described in our brochure and other publications are operated by Lueftner Cruises GmbH / Vienna-Austria.

 

AMADEUS

AMADEUS acts solely as a Sales Agent/Preferred Supplier for the above-mentioned operator of the vessels
described in this brochure. AMADEUS neither owns nor operates any of the vessels described herein and thus assumes no responsibility or liability for acts or omissions of the vessel owners or operators or their respective employees, agents or contractors in regard to the cruises described herein.

RESPONSIBILITY

AMADEUS accepts no liability or responsibility, whether caused by railroad, boat, aircraft, motor coach or any other conveyance, for any injury, damages, loss, accident, delay or irregularity which may be caused either by reason or defect, through the acts, omissions or defaults of any company or person, or in carrying out the arrangements of the cruise, as a result of any cause beyond the control of AMADEUS River Cruises. Guests specifically release AMADEUS River Cruises from all claims for loss or damage to baggage or property or from personal injuries or death, or from loss or delay, arising out of the acts, omissions or negligence of any independent contractors, such as air carriers, vessel owners or operators, hotels, shore excursion operators, restaurateurs, transportation providers, medical personnel or other providers of services or facilities. All arrangements made for tour participants with independent contractors, including medical services, are made solely for convenience to participants and are done at the participant’s own risk. Medical personnel are independent contractors. AMADEUS specifically disclaims all liability for damages for emotional distress, mental suffering or psychological injury of any kind. Tickets, vouchers, and any other travel documents are subject to all terms and conditions of the respective suppliers (some of which may limit supplier’s liability). Under no circumstances shall AMADEUS be construed as a carrier under a contract for safe carriage of the passenger or his or her belongings. AMADEUS and the owners and operators of the vessels identified in this brochure shall be entitled to any and all liability limitations, immunities and rights applicable to them or any of them under the Strasbourg Convention on the Limitation of Liability of Owners of Inland Navigation Vessels (CLNI), with protocols and amendments, together with the further provisions of the International Convention of Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims, 1976, with revisions and amendments (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Convention”), if and as applicable, as well as any other applicable laws limiting liability. AMADEUS and the owners and operators of the vessels shall be entitled to claim the benefit of whichever law, regulation, treaty or doctrine provides the greatest legal protections to AMADEUS and the owners and operators of the vessels.

ARBITRATION

Any dispute between You and AMADEUS, directly or indirectly relating to the Terms and Conditions or your cruise, shall be first submitted to mediation in Chicago, Illinois, before a mediator mutually agreed to by the parties. The parties shall share equally the cost of the mediator. If mediation is not successful, the dispute shall be exclusively resolved by arbitration which shall be commenced by filing a Notice of Arbitration under the then current Commercial Rules of the CPR International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution Rules for Non-Administered Arbitrations (“CPR Rules”). The entire dispute and all related disputes that the Parties may have or possess shall be arbitrated in accordance with the CPR Rules then in effect, by a sole arbitrator. The arbitration shall be governed by the United States Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Paragraphs 1-16, and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered by any court having competent jurisdiction. The place of arbitration shall be Chicago, Illinois. The prevailing party shall be entitled to an award of costs and reasonable attorneys' and arbitration fees. Any action to enforce the arbitrator's decision shall be brought in the state or federal courts in the State of Illinois. Our relationship and these Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of the State of Illinois, U.S.A. Arbitration against AMADEUS must be commenced within one year following the date of cruise completion. Neither AMADEUS nor any affiliate shall in any case be liable for other than compensatory damages, and You hereby waive any right to punitive damages.

AMADEUS River Cruises, LLC
411 S Wells St., Suite 5W, Chicago, IL 60607