General Terms & Conditions

The following are general terms & conditions regarding travel with Princeton Journeys. Please read carefully the specific terms & conditions as outlined for the trip you will be taking. Space on Princeton Journeys' trips is limited. Please register and submit the appropriate deposit amount by the date specified in the Trip Details.

Enrollment Eligibility:

While Princeton Journeys programs are designed primarily for undergraduate and graduate alumni of Princeton University, enrollment is open to all members of the Princeton community and any enthusiastic travelers seeking an educational travel experience. Registrations are taken on strictly a first-come, first-served basis.

For selected programs, enrollment will be open to only Princeton alumni and their traveling companions for the first four weeks that the program brochure is available. During this period, non-alumni participants can be waitlisted for the program and enrolled after the four-week period, should spaces remain available.  

Princeton Journeys and its tour operators reserve the right to accept or decline any person at any time, or to require any participant to withdraw from a program at his or her own expense when such an action is determined by the operator or Princeton Journeys to be in the best interest of the participant’s health and safety, or the general welfare of the other participants.

Pre-Registration: 

In order to assure that you will not miss out on the opportunity to travel to the destinations that most interest you, we do offer pre-registration for those programs that do not yet have a brochure available. Pre-registration forms are available on each of the program pages and will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. If a brochure is already listed for a program (in the section "Download Brochure") pre-registration is not possible. When making a deposit for these programs, your reservation will be confirmed (space permitting), and you will be subject to the cancellation policies set forth for each program.

Pre-registration does require a deposit. By depositing early, you will be assured a spot on the trip, provided it is not already sold out by the time your deposit is received by Princeton Journeys and the minimum number of participants necessary to run the program register. However, your deposit will be fully refundable up to the time normal registration opens-that is, when the trip-specific marketing (print or electronic) is launched, normally eight to ten months prior to the program's departure. If, for any reason, you wish to relinquish your spot prior to receiving the brochure, or within two weeks of the brochure being available, your deposit will be refunded with no penalty. After that time, your pre-registration deposit will become a fully-registered deposit and will be subject to cancellation policies governing the particular program in which you are enrolled.

Activity Level:

All participants must be in good health to join and enjoy Princeton Journeys programs. Any condition that may require assistance or special medical attention must be reported at the time a reservation is made. Assistance cannot be expected or guaranteed; participants much make arrangements for their own assistance. Personal attendants traveling with special needs participants will be treated as any other participant and will be subject to the same first-come, first-served policies and program rates. By forwarding the deposit for pre-registration or registration in full, the participant certifies that he/she does not have any physical or other limitations that would create a hazard for him-/herself or other travelers or would require adjustments to the program for other travelers.

Nearly all Princeton Journeys programs involve walking over uneven surfaces, climbing stairs, and navigating areas that are not handicapped accessible. The following activity level ratings are provided to give prospective participants an idea of the pacing of our programs and the degree to which a program requires special skills, stamina, or acclimatization to altitude or weather conditions.

• Moderate: Programs considered “Moderate” involve walking over uneven surfaces and climbing stairs at locations not handicapped accessible (i.e. no elevators, ramps, or handrails). Participants can expect to walk up to two miles per day and be on one’s feet for up to three hours at a time.


• Active: “Active” programs require participants to stand and walk for long periods (two to four hours) over rough terrain, such as dirt roads, gravel paths, or sand. Often, the climate in areas where “Active” programs occur is extreme in terms of heat, cold, humidity, or general air quality. Some programs denoted as “Active” may also be in areas of high elevation up to 9,000 feet above sea level.


• Challenging: Programs designated as “Challenging” may include some sort of physical demands outside the normal scope of everyday activity, such as full-day hiking, biking, or strenuous water sports. While most of these programs will not require previous experience in trekking or any such pursuit, all participants should be prepared for extended periods of aerobic activity. Programs will also be considered “Challenging” when prolonged physical activity, however mild or moderate, is undertaken in areas with elevations over 9,000 feet above sea level or extreme heat and humidity conditions.

Single Travelers:

On all programs, a limited number of single spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. In most cases, a single supplement is charged. In cases when single travelers are willing to share a room/cabin with one another and a suitable pairing is possible, the single supplements will be waived.

Insurance:

As a service to its travelers, the Office of the Alumni Association of Princeton University automatically provides all Princeton Journeys participants with basic medical, accident, and evacuation coverage under a group travel insurance policy. The specialized group policy, provided through Travel Insurance Services as “MedEvac 200,” underwritten by a member of the AIG group, and purchased on behalf of each named traveler individually, is intended to provide minimal levels of protection while you are traveling on this program.  The policy (as of July 2008) covers basic services up to the maximum levels listed below:

• Accident and sickness medical expense benefit:  $5,000
  
• Emergency evacuation and repatriation of remains: $200,000
  

This insurance does not include benefits for participant cancellation.  It is highly recommended that travelers supplement this basic protection with their own additional coverage, as well as trip cancellation / interruption or baggage coverage. Information on additional insurance is available and will be provided after receipt of one’s reservation.

Program Changes:

Although Princeton Journeys and its operators make every attempt to offer the itinerary as outlined in program promotional materials, changes of conveyance, accommodation, or schedule may become necessary due to weather, inaccessibility of sites, or other restrictions or limitations. Neither Princeton Journeys nor its operators shall be held liable for changes to trips or travel arrangements, nor for losses or additional expenses resulting from travel.  Princeton Journeys suggests that participants refrain from making non-refundable travel arrangements until the tour operator confirms that the program will run as advertised.

Cancellations and Refunds:

All cancellations must be in writing to The Alumni Association of Princeton University. Cancellations must be received by the date specified in the Trip Details and are subject to a per person non-refundable administrative fee. NOTE: Neither The Alumni Association of Princeton University nor the tour operators, accept liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable ticket in connection with a tour.

Disclaimer:

Princeton University, through its Office of the Alumni Association and Princeton Journeys, is pleased to provide this service of facilitating travel opportunities for its Alumni and Friends. The Office of the Alumni Association strives to work with the best tour operators to make available interesting and enriching travel opportunities for the Princeton family. Please note that the University does not conduct tours, nor does it act as an agent for guests interested in tours. Princeton Journeys acts as a facilitator with tour operators, with whom tour participants make arrangements for completing travel, and is pleased to act as a liaison with tour operators should you have any questions or concerns that may arise before, during, or after your tour. Princeton Journeys encourages you to familiarize yourself thoroughly with the tour operator’s cancellation and refund policies, and also to investigate available services such as trip cancellation insurance. The University is not responsible for changes to trips or travel arrangements or for losses or additional expenses resulting from travel.

Questions? Contact Princeton Journeys at (609) 258-8686.