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Booking Conditions

It is important that you read the following Booking Conditions.

These Booking Conditions together with our ‘Things You Need To Know’ (which, appear on our website and are 5. ALTERATIONS AND CANCELLATIONS BY US
available on request) form the basis of your contract with us. Please read both these sections carefully as it applies (1) Changes to confirmed holiday arrangements sometimes have to be made and we reserve the right to do so in
to all bookings you make with us unless otherwise specified. All holidays arranged by us are operated by Shearings accordance with this Clause 5. Most changes will be insignificant and we have the right to make these. Where
Travel Limited which operates under an independent trust account structure in accordance with The Package and an insignificant change is made before departure, we will notify you in writing. No compensation is payable for
Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 (“PTRs”). In these Booking Conditions, ‘we’, ‘us’ and ‘our’ are references insignificant changes. Occasionally, before departure, we may be constrained by circumstances beyond our control
Shearings Travel Limited “You” means all persons named on the booking including anyone who is added or substituted to make a significant alteration to any of the main characteristics of the travel services which form part of your
at a later stage (or any of them as the context requires). References to “departure” are to the start date of the holiday confirmed booking or to any special requirements which we have accepted as referred to in Clause 11. Where we
arrangements booked with us. For online and telephone bookings, we will communicate with you by e-mail if you have to do so, Clauses 5(4) and 5(5) will apply.
have provided us with your e-mail address for this purpose. You must check your e-mails on a regular basis. We may (2) All alterations which are not significant in accordance with Clause 5(1) will be treated as insignificant changes.
also contact you by telephone and/or post if we cannot, for whatever reason, contact you by e-mail or we consider it
appropriate to do so. Travel documents are sent by post or by e-mail. Except where otherwise stated, you may contact (3) Our holidays require a minimum number of bookings to enable us to operate them and we reserve the right to cancel
us by e-mail for any of the reasons mentioned in our Booking Conditions providing you contact us at any holiday where this minimum number is not achieved. The minimum number applicable to any particular holiday
customer.services@shearings.com. On sea/river cruising holidays, the terms and conditions of the cruise operator apply depends on a number of factors. Failure to achieve the applicable minimum number does not, however, oblige us to
in addition to these conditions. Copies of these terms and conditions are available on request. Where there is any cancel. We will notify you of cancellation for this reason by the date referred to in Things You Need To Know under
conflict between the terms and conditions of the cruise operator and these Booking Conditions, the relevant provision of the heading Prices & Brochure/website Accuracy – Changes & Errors.
these Booking Conditions will take precedence. Your contract for all sea/ river cruising holidays will be with us. (4) In the event we have to significantly alter any of the main characteristics of your confirmed arrangements or
1. HOLIDAY PAYMENT (INCLUDING AUTOMATED BALANCE PAYMENTS) accepted special requirements, we will provide you with the following information in writing as soon as possible:
You must pay a deposit per person (as shown in our applicable brochure and on our website) together with all (i) the proposed alteration and any impact this has on the price; (ii) in the event that you do not wish to accept the
applicable insurance premiums (if you wish to purchase the travel insurance we offer) at the time of booking. The alteration, details of any substitute package we are able to offer (including the applicable price); (iii) your entitlement
balance of the price of the holiday is due for payment no less than 42 days before departure for all coach holidays (other to cancel your booking and receive a full refund if you do not want to accept the alteration or any substitute package
than holidays to Oberammergau Passion Play or tours which include sea or river cruising), 28 days before departure offered; and (iv) the period within which you must inform us of your decision and what will happen if you don’t do so.
for Self-Drive holidays, 70 days before departure for sea or river cruising and Oberammergau tours. If the balance is (5) If you choose to cancel your booking in accordance with Clause 5(4), we will refund all payments you have made
not paid on time we reserve the right to treat your booking as cancelled by you and apply the cancellation charges set to us within 14 days of the date we receive your instruction to cancel. If we don’t hear from you with your decision
out in Clause 3. For bookings made on or after the balance due date, the full amount is due at the time of booking. The within the specified period (having provided you with the above mentioned information for a second time), we will
person making the booking accepts responsibility for paying for all the people on the booking. You must be at least 18 cancel your booking and refund all payments made to us within 14 days of our doing so. No compensation will be
years old to make a booking with us. Any authorised travel agent of ours through whom you make a booking will be payable or other liability accepted where a change results from unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances
responsible for relaying information from you to us and vice versa. For the purposes of compliance with time limits or (see Clause 6).
limitation periods as set out or referred to in these Booking Conditions, receipt by such an authorised travel agent of

messages, requests or complaints intended for us will be treated as receipt by us. However, we are not responsible for (6) Occasionally, it may be necessary to cancel confirmed holiday arrangements. We have the right to terminate
any advice given to you by your travel agent that did not originate from us. All monies you pay to one of our authorised your contract in the event (i) we are prevented from performing your contracted holiday arrangements as a result
travel agents for your holiday with us will be held by the agent on your behalf until the agent has verbally confirmed of unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances (see Clause 6) and we notify you of this as soon as reasonably
your booking. After that point, your agent will hold the monies on our behalf until paid to us In the unlikely event of our possible or (ii) we have to cancel because the minimum number of bookings necessary for us to operate your holiday
financial failure, all monies then held by the travel agent or subsequently paid by you to the travel agent will be held by has not been achieved and we notify you of cancellation for this reason as referred to in Clause 5(3). Where we
the agent without any obligation on the agent to pay such monies to us. have to cancel your holiday in these circumstances, we will refund all monies you have paid to us within 14 days
2. OUR AGREEMENT of the date we inform you of the cancellation but will have no further or other liability to you including in respect
of compensation or any costs or expenses you incur or have incurred. We will of course endeavour to offer you
A contract is made when we, or your travel agent, verbally confirms your booking or, if you make your booking online, comparable alternative arrangements where possible which you may choose to book in place of those cancelled. We
when it is confirmed by the issue of an electronic confirmation and invoice at the end of the booking process. For all also have the right to cancel if you fail to make payment in accordance with the terms of your contract in which case
bookings (other than bookings confirmed online), we will endeavour to post our confirmation to you or your travel agent Clause 3 will apply.
within 7 days of confirming your booking for all other holidays. You must check all documents we send you carefully as
soon as you receive them and advise us immediately if anything appears to be inaccurate or incomplete. We cannot (7) If we have to make a significant alteration as referred to in Clause 5(1) or cancel as referred to in Clause 5(6), we will,
accept any liability if we are not notified of any inaccuracy (for which we are responsible) in any document within 14 where compensation is appropriate, pay you the compensation set out in the table below, subject to the exceptions
days of us sending it out (or in the case of travel documents/tickets, 5 days). We both agree that English law will apply to the payment of compensation referred to in Clauses 5(5) and 5(6).
to your contract and to any dispute, claim or other matter of any description which arises between us (“claim”) except
as set out below. We both also agree that any claim (and whether or not involving any personal injury) must be dealt PERIOD OF NOTIFICATION MINIMUM COMPENSATION PER MAXIMUM COMPENSATION PER
with by the courts of England and Wales only unless, in the case of court proceedings, you live in Scotland or Northern GIVEN TO YOU OR YOUR FARE PAYING PASSENGER WHEN FARE PAYING PASSENGER
Ireland. In this case, proceedings must either be brought in the courts of your home country or those of England and TRAVEL AGENT PRIOR TO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE OR ALTERNATIVE IF FULL REFUND ACCEPTED
Wales. If proceedings are brought in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you may choose to have your contract and any claim DEPARTURE DATE HOLIDAY ACCEPTED
governed by the law of Scotland/ Northern Ireland, as applicable (but if you do not so choose, English law will apply).
3. HOLIDAY CANCELLATION BY YOU MORE THAN 105 DAYS NIL NIL NIL NIL NIL NIL
You may cancel your confirmed booking at any time before departure. You may also transfer your booking as referred to
below. If you want to cancel your booking after we have confirmed it, you must do so by email or in writing by posting
or hand delivering it to us or your travel agent. Your notice of cancellation will only be effective when it is received in BETWEEN 71 AND 105 DAYS NIL NIL NIL NIL NIL NIL
writing by us at our offices or your travel agent. We will ask you to pay cancellation charges per person on the scale
shown below based on your original booking departure date. In calculating these cancellation charges, we have
taken account of possible cost savings and the generation of income from other bookings which may be able to utilise BETWEEN 61 AND 70 DAYS NIL NIL 2%* NIL NIL £10
cancelled services to the extent this is likely to be achievable. Once we have the facility to do so, cancellation charges
which are in addition to payments we have already collected from you will be deducted from your debit or credit card.
Any payment received in excess of the applicable cancellation charge will of course be refunded. BETWEEN 43 AND 60 DAYS COACH NIL SELF-DRIVE 2%* SEA/ RIVER CRUISE & OBERAMMERGAU 2%* COACH NIL SELF-DRIVE £10 SEA/ RIVER CRUISE & OBERAMMERGAU £10
PERIOD BEFORE COACH SELF-DRIVE SEA/RIVER CRUISE
DEPARTURE WITHIN HOLIDAY HOLIDAYS & OBERAMMERGAU BETWEEN 29 AND 42 DAYS 2%* 2%* 2%* £10 £10 £10
WHICH CANCELLATION IS HOLIDAYS
RECEIVED IN WRITING LOSS OF LOSS OF LOSS OF
BETWEEN 14 AND 28 DAYS 5%* 5%* 5%* £10 £10 £10
MORE THAN 105 DAYS FULL DEPOSIT FULL DEPOSIT FULL DEPOSIT
BETWEEN 71 AND 105 DAYS FULL DEPOSIT FULL DEPOSIT FULL DEPOSIT LESS THAN 14 DAYS 10%* 10%* 10%* £20 £20 £20
BETWEEN 61 AND 70 DAYS FULL DEPOSIT FULL DEPOSIT 50% OR FULL DEPOSIT,
IF GREATER (8) In the event that unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances (see Clause 6) occur in the place of destination
of your tour or its immediate vicinity which significantly affects the performance of the contracted arrangements or
BETWEEN 43 AND 60 DAYS FULL DEPOSIT FULL DEPOSIT 50% OR FULL DEPOSIT, the carriage of passengers to that destination, you will be entitled to cancel prior to departure without payment of
IF GREATER cancellation charges. We will notify you as soon as practicable in the event of this situation occurring.
6. UNAVOIDABLE AND EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES
BETWEEN 29 AND 42 DAYS 50% OR FULL FULL DEPOSIT 60% OR FULL DEPOSIT, Except where otherwise expressly stated in these Booking Conditions, we regret we cannot accept liability or pay
DEPOSIT, IF GREATER IF GREATER
any compensation where the performance, or prompt performance, of our contractual obligations to you is prevented
or affected, or you otherwise suffer any damage, loss or expense of any nature, as a result of unavoidable and
BETWEEN 15 AND 28 DAYS 60% OR FULL 100% 75% OR FULL DEPOSIT, extraordinary circumstances. In these Booking Conditions, unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances means a
DEPOSIT, IF GREATER IF GREATER
situation which is beyond our control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable
measures had been taken. Such situations are likely to include (whether actual or threatened) war, riot, civil strife or
BETWEEN 4 & 14 DAYS 90% OR FULL 100% 90% OR FULL DEPOSIT, unrest, terrorist activity, industrial dispute, natural or nuclear disaster, adverse weather conditions (including flooding
DEPOSIT, IF GREATER IF GREATER
and exceptionally high or low water levels on rivers), coach breakdown or accident, fire, pandemics/epidemics, closure,
restriction or congestion of airports, ports, stations, other transport hubs or airspace, flight or port restrictions imposed
LESS THAN 4 DAYS 100% 100% 100%
by any regulatory authority or other third party and volcanic activity. Unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances
Cancellation charges are calculated on the basis of the total cost payable by the person(s) cancelling, excluding will also include the UK Foreign Office advising against all travel or all but essential travel to any country, region or
destination where relevant to your holiday.
insurance premiums paid to us or paid to your own insurance provider, amendment charges and any pre-booked
entrance tickets or upgraded Grand Prix, Le Mans, concert and/or opera tickets all of which are non-refundable. 100% River and Coastal Cruises
cancellation charges will apply for any pre booked P&O Ferries Club Class Lounge bookings if you cancel less than 43 Occasionally, water levels may vary to the extent that the operation of the cruise ships on our river or coastal cruising
days before departure. Where any excursions are pre-booked, the cost is not refundable in the event of cancellation programme is affected. It is ultimately the Captain’s decision regarding the running order of the itinerary and any
of the holiday after the balance due date. In the event of a cancellation of a booking secured by a low deposit, you will changes which may be necessary. This situation constitutes unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances. In the event
be liable to pay the remainder of the full deposit amount. For sea and river cruise inclusive bookings, you must pay the that any resulting change is significant or the cruise has to be cancelled, Clause 5 will apply. However, no compensation
charges levied by the operator concerned, in addition to the charges set out above where cancellation charges of less will be payable and we will not be responsible for any costs or expenses incurred as a result.
than 100% apply. You may be able to make a claim under your travel insurance policy if your cancellation falls within 7. ITINERARY CHANGES
the conditions of the policy. Claims must be made directly to the insurance company concerned. Where any cancellation It may be necessary, sometimes at short notice or without any prior notice, to make changes to an itinerary due to
reduces the number of full paying party members below the number on which the price and/or any concessions weather, traffic or road conditions and other circumstances outside our control. Regrettably, coaches, trains, and ships
(including free places for group bookings) agreed for your booking were based, we will recalculate these items and do occasionally break down or suffer mechanical or technical problems, or certain facilities on board a coach, train or
re-invoice you accordingly. ship may become faulty/unavailable. Every effort will be made to rectify such issues as quickly as possible. In some
4. HOLIDAY ALTERATION BY YOU instances it may be necessary to replace the vehicle or aircraft which cannot be repaired. We cannot accept any
You may transfer your booking or your place on the booking to someone else (introduced by you) without payment of responsibility for delays caused by any form of breakdown.
our cancellation charges provided the person to whom you are making the transfer satisfies all the conditions which 8. TRAVEL DELAY
form part of your contract with us. Requests for a transfer must be made in writing at least 7 days prior to departure (1) Whilst we try to avoid delays to your sea crossing/tunnel crossing, unfortunately, they occasionally happen. If there
and must be accompanied by the name and other applicable details of the replacement person. Where a transfer to is a delay, we will endeavour to minimise any discomfort by providing extra services to you (in the event of delay to your
a person of your choice can be made, all costs and charges incurred by us and/or incurred or imposed by any of our rail/ferry/ cruise departure, responsibility for any refreshments, meals and where necessary, overnight accommodation,
suppliers as a result, together with an amendment fee of £25 per person, must be paid before the transfer can be rests with the carrier).
implemented. As most cruise companies do not permit name changes for any reason either at all or less than a certain These additional services, as shown below, are subject to availability and the prevailing circumstances. We shall not be
period before departure, these charges are likely to include the full cost of the cruise where applicable. Should you responsible for reimbursement of any payment you have to make unless we have given our agreement beforehand. (2)
wish to make any other changes to your booking, please advise us as soon as possible. Whilst we cannot guarantee If your ferry or cruise ship is cancelled or delayed the operator of the services, at be required to pay you compensation
changes can be made, we will endeavour to meet requests if we can. Where we are able to do so, the following charges within the EU under EC Regulation 1177/2010 – the Passenger Rights Regulations 2010. Where applicable, you must
will apply to reflect the work likely to be involved in making the change. Where we consider the change to be a minor pursue the carrier for the compensation or other payment due to you. All sums you receive or are entitled to receive
one, there will be an amendment fee of £25 per person. In the event we consider the change to be more involved, we from transport represent the full amount of your entitlement to compensation or any other payment arising from such
charge an amendment fee of £40 per person for each item you want to change. Where a change affects a sea or river cancellation or delay applicable. This includes any disappointment, distress, inconvenience or effect on any other
cruise booking the charges imposed by the cruise operator in making the change will also be payable in addition to our arrangements. The fact a delay may entitle you to cancel the transport arrangements concerned does not automatically
amendment fee. However, where a change requested after balance due date (see Clause 1), (other than transfers as set entitle you to cancel any other arrangements even where those arrangements have been made in conjunction with
out above), amounts to a cancellation of your original booking, we will ask you to pay cancellation charges on the scale those transport arrangements. We have no liability to make any payment to you in relation to any ferry or cruise delay
shown in Clause 3, together with the full cost of your new holiday. Insurance premiums may be transferable from one or cancellation. If, for any reason, we make any payment to you or a third party which the ferry or cruise operator is
holiday to another (including when you travel earlier or later than originally booked), but not from one person to another. responsible for in accordance with the Passenger Rights Regulations, you must, when requested, assign to us the rights
NB: You can change the travel date on your Towergate insurance as long as the new travel date is within the policy you have or had to claim the payment in question from the ferry or cruise operator.
validity dates. In the event that we agree to a change of holiday dates at any time, any further requested change of
dates will be treated as a cancellation of the original booking to which cancellation charges will apply. The rescheduled
holiday will then be treated as a new booking at the then applicable price.
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