This agreement is between the Participant(s) on one side and Mike Reyfman & Dmitry Arkhipov (the Organizers, hereafter) on behalf of RUSARC LLC (the Operator, hereafter) for booking an allocation and full board on the Antarctic Photography Expedition Cruise aboard the schooner Elsi. The round-trip airfare from Punta Arenas, Chile, to the Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Martin Airport on King George Island, Antarctica, is included in the trip cost.
The agreement is valid from the moment the deposit is paid until TBD. The parties agree that payment obligations and other obligations listed in this agreement will survive contract termination if they are not fully met.
All payments are non-refundable.
We understand that unforeseen circumstances may force you to cancel your participation in our trip. A full refund will be issued if you find a full-paying customer to take over your spot. Please inform us as soon as possible if you need to cancel, and we will attempt to find a replacement for your spot.
The Organizers reserve the right to cancel the itinerary due to insufficient reservations.
In the very unlikely event that the itinerary is canceled prior to departure, the Organizers will provide a full refund of all collected funds. This refund will be the limit of the Organizers' liability. The Organizers are not responsible for any expenses incurred by trip members in preparing for the trip, including non-refundable or penalty-carrying airline tickets, special clothing, or other trip-related expenses.
Force majeure refers to any event beyond the reasonable control of the Organizers and Operator that is inevitable and extraordinary, including but not limited to natural disasters, adverse weather conditions, epidemics, pandemics, global health emergencies, pollution, public unrest, strikes, war, changes in laws or regulations, coercive measures by the state, or quarantine. Such events that make the execution of the route and services on board partially or completely impossible give the Operator the right to postpone or cancel the expedition.
The Organizers and Operator will make every effort to suggest alternative dates for the expedition. All participants will receive a personal voucher for the amount paid. The voucher will be valid for 12 months from the original date of departure and can be renewed for an additional 24 months.
If a participant is late in payment by more than 30 calendar days, all previously made payments will expire, and the application for participation in the tour will be canceled.
Name changes on a reservation can be made without a fee, provided they are made at least 90 days before departure.
Participants younger than 18 years of age are not allowed on the Antarctica expedition cruise.
This voyage is conducted in English. If you speak another language, please let us know. Assistance is also available in Ukrainian and Russian.
All passengers are subject to instructions or regulations given by the Captain and Tour Leaders.
The itineraries published on the website and in any other sources serve as examples only. The real itineraries of any expedition cruise (including all scheduled landings and excursions) in polar regions are heavily dependent on weather and ice conditions. Occasionally, conditions and/or safety concerns may require itinerary changes. The Captain and Tour Leaders will make every effort to find the best alternative to the original itinerary while keeping passengers informed and updated. Such decisions will be made in the interests of all passengers aboard and with regard to the safety of the vessel.
Itinerary changes are not subject to passenger approval or consent, and in the event of such changes, no refunds or price adjustments are possible.
The Operator reserves the right to change the itinerary, date, or place of departure due to weather conditions, availability of anchorages, political conditions, or other factors beyond the Operator's control without consulting the participants. Booking with the Operator constitutes acknowledgment that itinerary changes are possible.
The Organizers reserve the right to use photographs and/or videos taken during the voyage for promotional purposes. Passengers may not charge for their appearance in any photographs or videos.
Smoking in cabins or public areas of the ship is strictly prohibited by safety regulations. There will be a designated smoking area outside.
Alcohol consumption is at the discretion of the Captain and Tour Leaders. When underway, alcohol consumption is not permitted for safety reasons. However, when comfortably anchored in a cove for the night, passengers may enjoy a glass of wine with their meal.
Passengers may bring onboard a moderate amount of hard liquor. Inebriation will not be tolerated, and the Captain or Tour Leaders have the right to refuse alcohol to anyone deemed intoxicated or even cancel a trip if guests do not adhere to this policy.
There are no excessive physical health requirements for travel in polar regions. However, the expedition cruise takes place in a remote region on a small vessel. Please note that no specialized medical assistance is available in these regions, and medical personnel will not be on board. Passengers with certain medical or health issues may not be suitable for this type of expedition and are advised to exercise appropriate caution.
We require all passengers to submit basic medical information prior to departure. Upon receipt of this information, specific physical conditions may necessitate additional documentation from a physician certifying fitness to travel on a polar expedition voyage. If additional medical confirmation is requested, boarding will not be allowed without that confirmation.
Important Notice: Please carefully consider whether your health condition is adequate for participation in the expedition cruise in remote regions.
If the passenger decides to participate despite a medical condition and/or the concerns of their physician and their condition deteriorates while aboard, requiring emergency evacuation that the passenger's insurance company does not recognize as appropriate and/or legitimate, all evacuation expenses will be borne by the passenger.
The Operator has a pregnancy policy allowing women to participate with explicit doctor's permission and after signing a specific waiver.
Please note that environmental conditions may require a level of fitness and mobility. In these cases, individual participation in specific landings may be restricted by the Captain or Tour Leader.
It is mandatory for all passengers to carry adequate travel insurance that includes medical, evacuation, and repatriation coverage. Passengers must ensure that their insurance covers cruise travel in polar regions and has evacuation and repatriation coverage of no less than $200,000 USD per person. As part of the pre-departure forms, the Operator requires information on the insurance company name, policy number, coverage amount, and 24-hour contact number. Any risks not covered by the insurance policy are the passenger's responsibility. Passengers must have proof of insurance while aboard and produce it if requested.
The payment of a deposit or other payments for a reservation constitutes consent to all the provisions contained herein.
The Operator and Organizers are not responsible for any costs or penalties related to air transport or other services that are canceled. They are not liable for failure to provide services or accommodations to the extent that such services or accommodations cannot be provided due to force majeure or other circumstances beyond their control.
The Operator and Organizers shall not be held liable for (a) any damage to, or loss of, property or injury to, or death of, persons caused directly or indirectly by an act or omission of any other provider, including but not limited to any defect in any aircraft, watercraft, or vehicle operated or provided by such other provider; and (b) any loss or damage due to delay, cancellation, or disruption caused by laws, regulations, acts or failures to act, demands, orders, or interventions of any government or its agents, or by acts of God, strikes, fire, flood, war, rebellion, terrorism, insurrection, sickness, quarantine, epidemics, theft, or any other causes beyond their control. The participant waives any claim against the Operator and Organizers for such loss, damage, injury, or death. In the event of itinerary changes due to unforeseen circumstances or force majeure, the Operator and Organizers are not liable for any costs incurred by passengers, and no refunds or price adjustments are possible.
By registering for our voyage, the participant certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical, or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for themselves or other participants. The Operator reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to accept, decline, or remove any participant from the voyage.
The Operator and Organizers reserve the right, without penalty, to make changes to the published itinerary whenever conditions warrant or if deemed necessary for the comfort, convenience, or safety of participants.
If a passenger misses any scheduled departure flight, the Operator and Organizers shall not be liable for any costs, expenses, or damages incurred by the passenger as a result, and no refund of fare shall be granted.
Baggage and personal effects are at all times the sole responsibility of the participant.
Passengers are not permitted to bring or have on board any pets, animals, firearms, flammable or hazardous items, controlled or prohibited substances, or drugs.
Acceptance of the initial services provided on the trip constitutes acceptance of these terms and conditions. By advancing a deposit to the Organizers, the depositor agrees to be bound by the Terms & Conditions stated above.
