Disclaimers and Responsibility
INFORMATION ON SPECIFIC TRIPS
The annual catalog about the Duke Travels program is sent to many alumni and friends of the university; brochures on particular trips will only be mailed to a limited number of individuals as they become available. If you are interested in receiving additional information about specific trips, please email us at travel@daa.duke.edu or call 919-684-2988. Please be sure to indicate which trips interest you.
EDUCATIONAL DISCLAIMER
The Duke University Office of Alumni Affairs offers the Duke Travels program to foster lifelong learning and engagement opportunities for alumni, parents and friends of Duke University. These offering do not indicate Duke University’s or the Office of Alumni Affairs’ endorsement or support of political, social, economic or other policies in the areas of the world visited. These trips are instead provided as educational and leisure opportunities that Duke alumni, parents and friends can choose to participate in to learn about and experience our global society. If you have suggestions for future travel programs, please contact Duke Travels at travel@daa.duke.edu.
DATE AND PRICE DISCLAIMER
Due to the advance planning of trips, all dates, itineraries and prices included in this catalog are subject to change. Our sponsoring tour operators provide the descriptions in this catalog. Unless otherwise noted, airfare is not included in the price of our trips. For the most current information about our programs, please visit our upcoming trips page.
RESPONSIBILITY
The Duke Travels program selects and works with U.S. tour operators that specialize in high-quality educational travel. The Alumni Travel Program requires that all tour operators carry professional liability insurance and that they meet strict criteria, including established reputation, professional, experienced staff, a working knowledge of destinations, quality operations and financial responsibility. If they do not meet our high standards, we will not engage their services.
Program itineraries and advertised staff and speakers are subject to change. Every reasonable effort is made to operate the tour as planned; however, should unforeseen world events, local conditions or other issues, require an itinerary to be altered, the tour operator reserves the right to do so for the safety, comfort and best interest of the group. In these circumstances, the tour operator determines the best solution, working in collaboration with Alumni Travel Program staff. Tour pricing is subject to change for unanticipated increases in the price of fuel or a substantial fluctuation in the currency exchange, which could result in an added cost to the tour. In each case, the Alumni Travel Program staff works with the tour operator to minimize imposing any additional fees or surcharges on registered participants.
Once a trip reservation form and the initial trip deposit is sent, travelers receive a confirmation letter from the Alumni Travel Program and pre-trip informational mailings from the tour operator. All travel arrangements and trip payments are made with the tour operator. The tour operator is responsible for distributing preparatory trip materials and information and is responsible for executing and managing the trip itinerary. Trip participants must review, accurately complete and sign the tour operator’s health and responsibility waiver form prior to trip departure.
Refund policies vary by program. Generally, written cancellations received at least 90* days prior to departure merit a refund, less an administrative fee. This fee, charged by the tour company, can range from $100 to $800 and is usually not covered, even by travel insurance. Within 90 days of departure—and as the departure date approaches—increased fees may apply. Penalties for cancelling may total 100 percent of the program price within a few weeks of departure. Purchase of a short term travel insurance policy is recommended.
The liability of Duke Alumni Association, as sponsor, and its tour operators, as suppliers, is strictly limited.
*Please read the Cancellation/Refund and Responsibility sections of the trip brochure to learn about the refund policy for your particular trip. Payment for travel constitutes acceptance of the terms and conditions set out therein. Please consider purchasing trip cancellation insurance; information will be sent to registered travelers upon receipt of the trip deposit.