Blue Danube - Notre Dame Alumni Association

AMADEUS R OYAL
World Affairs Scholar
Professor William C. Wohlforth
Special Guest Lecturer
October 17 to 29, 2016
aboard the Deluxe M . S .
ransylvania and ththee
D anube D elta to V ienna
Blue Danube
P a s sage aalong
long th e
Dear Alumni and Friends,
From the dawn of civilization, the Danube River has ranked among the world’s most storied waterways.
Over the course of the past two millennia, it has seen the passage of Roman legions and crusading knights,
the indomitable Janissaries of the Ottomans and the proud Hussars of the Habsburgs. A channel for
commerce, culture and conquest since its banks were first settled, the Danube links the heartlands of
Central Europe with the nations of the Black Sea and the Orient beyond. Join us for an extraordinary
opportunity to cruise nearly the entire length of this fabled river, from the Black Sea and the UNESCO
World Heritage-designated Danube Delta to the Habsburgs’ imperial capital of Vienna.
This unique and exceptional travel program features six countries, three UNESCO World Heritage
sites and the enchanting eastern Danube River Valley, a mystical, seldom-visited region steeped in
natural beauty that remains virtually untouched and unknown to American travelers. Cruise for nine
nights aboard the exclusively chartered, deluxe M.S. AMADEUS ROYAL, newly renovated in 2015; spend two
nights in Romania’s elegant capital of Bucharest, whose splendid architecture earned the city its nickname,
“Little Paris,” and visit mythical Transylvania, where authentic medieval castles and local lore keep the legend
of Dracula alive. Here, a rich mosaic of medieval cities, charming villages and rugged countryside awaits you
amidst the ancient lands of Bulgaria and Serbia, the spectacular Carpathian Mountains and Hungary’s fabled
Puszta (plains), to the glittering palaces of Budapest and magnificent grandeur of Vienna. Admire a masterful
display of traditional horsemanship in the Hungarian heartland, cruise through the dramatic Iron Gates
dividing the Carpathian and Balkan Mountains—the last natural barrier on the Danube River where no fewer
than six languages are spoken—and experience the fascinating Slavic heritage of medieval Belgrade.
We hope you will join us on this unique travel offering!
For Notre Dame,
Dolly Duffy ’84
Christa LeeVan
Executive Director
Travel Program Director
Notre Dame Alumni Association
Notre Dame Alumni Association
P.S. A minimum number of participants is required to secure the services of a Notre Dame representative. We make
every effort to send a faculty lecturer, priest or host from Notre Dame on each departure as our travelers tell
us this greatly enhances their experience and makes the trip unique. If this is important to you in making your
decision to travel on this program, please call 800-634-2631 to confirm that one will accompany the group before
making your final payment or visit our website at my.nd.edu/travel for the most up-to-date host listing.
Special Guest Lecturer
William C. Wohlforth is the Daniel Webster Professor of Government at Dartmouth College. A widely
recognized expert in international relations, he has published works on topics ranging from the
Cold War to European security, Russian foreign policy and contemporary US grand strategy. He is
the editor of five books and the author of three others, including America Abroad: The United States’
Global Role in the 21st Century (Oxford 2016) with co-author Stephen G. Brooks. He has
published some 60 articles and book chapters and his work has appeared in journals including Foreign Affairs,
International Security, American Political Science Review and World Politics. He is a member of the editorial
boards of the Cambridge Studies in International Relations, Princeton Studies in International History and
Politics, Security Studies and International Security; is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations; and
has served as a consultant for the National Bureau of Asian Research and the National Intelligence Council.
Before coming to Dartmouth in 2000, Wohlforth held faculty appointments at Princeton University and
Georgetown University. He has taught undergraduate courses on a wide array of topics, including international
politics, Russian foreign policy, leadership and grand strategy, violence and security and decision-making.
U.S./Bucharest, Romania
Monday and Tuesday,
October 17 and 18
Depart the U.S. and arrive
in Bucharest. Check into
the Five-Star ATHÉNÉE PALACE
HILTON BUCHAREST, ideally located
on Piaţa George Enescu, named
after Romania’s most famous composer.
Attend the Welcome Reception this evening.
Bucharest/Transylvania
Wednesday, October 19
Today, travel to intriguing Transylvania,
Latin for “the land beyond the forest,”
and into central Romania’s rich
medieval heritage. Enjoy the autumnal glory
of the spectacular Carpathian Mountains,
an evocative backdrop of grand medieval
castles with soaring spires where the
mythical Gothic narrative of Count Dracula
is kept alive through local storytelling.
Tour imposing 14th-century Bran Castle,
commonly known as Dracula’s Castle,
which Romania’s beloved Queen Marie
transformed into the royal family’s
summer residence.
Following a traditional Romanian lunch,
visit the elegant, 19th-century fairy-tale
Peleş Castle, with its Neo-Renaissance
façade and Florentine, French and Moorish
interiors, arguably the most beautiful castle
in all of Europe. Intended as the summer
residence of Romania’s King Carol I, Peleş
contains over 170 rooms, all lavishly
furnished, and is home to one of the largest
art collections in Central and Eastern Europe.
Return to Bucharest for an evening
at leisure.
Bucharest/Embark Ship
Thursday, October 20
In the morning, enjoy a panoramic tour
of this dynamic capital city and visit the
National Art Museum in the 19th-century
Royal Palace, housing Romania’s finest
collection of artistic treasures. Following a
traditional Romanian lunch, see the
immense Palace of Parliament, Europe’s
largest administrative building.
Drive through the rolling Romanian
campii (plains) en route to Feteşti to embark
the deluxe M.S. AMADEUS ROYAL. Attend the
Captain’s Welcome Reception this evening.
St. Gheorghe/Danube Delta
Friday, October 21
In the village port of St. Gheorghe,
board a small excursion boat for
a private cruise of the untouched
Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, where
land, river and sea converge to create one
of Europe’s largest and best preserved
wilderness areas. The fertile marshlands of
this UNESCO World Heritage-designated
delta shelter extensive numbers of fish and
birds—over 300 avian species have
been observed here, including the rare
red-throated diver, the pygmy cormorant
and the dalmatian pelican—many of them
migrants from Northern Europe and the
Central Asian steppes.
Cruising the Danube River
Saturday, October 22
Enjoy the colorful autumn scenery
of the lower Danube, seldom seen
by Westerners. Attend specially
arranged onboard lectures.
Cover photo: Look for the Monastery of Mraconia (“hidden place”) as you cruise
the dramatic Iron Gates, the Danube River’s spectacular passageway through the
Carpathian and Balkan Mountains.
Photo this page: Hungary’s neo-Gothic Parliament Building, a UNESCO World
Heritage site, shines proudly on Budapest’s historic Banks of the Danube.
SLOVAKIA
BRATISLAVA
BUDAPEST
VIENNA
Puszta
AUSTRIA
ROMA
Tran
HUNGARY
MOHÁCS
KALOCSA
Iron
Gates
ti c
ria a
Ad Se
SVISHTOV
SERBIA
BUL
Belgrade, a historic trading hub between Europe and the
Balkans, lies where the Danube and Sana Rivers meet.
Ruse for Arbanasi, Bulgaria/
Veliko Târnovo/Svishtov
Sunday, October 23
Dock in Ruse and travel to the
quiet, 12th-century hillside village of
Arbanasi, where nearly 90 historical
buildings are protected monuments.
See its distinctive stone houses, famous for
their fortified Bulgarian architecture and
richly decorated interiors. Visit the
perfectly preserved Konstantsaliev House
to learn more about the comfortable life
of a 17th-century merchant. Inside the
15th-century Birth of Christ Church, admire
its elaborate icons and frescoes.
Continue to the medieval town of
Veliko Târnovo, historic capital of the
Bulgarian Empire between the 12th and
14th centuries. Following lunch in a local
restaurant, enjoy a brief walking tour
through the open-air museum of its historic
town center. See the impressive 12th-century
Tsarevets Fortress and walk through lively
Samovodska Charshia, Veliko Târnovo’s
old marketplace street.
Reboard the ship in Svishtov.
BUCH
anu
be R
D
BELGRADE
Cruising the Danube River/
Iron Gates
Monday, October 24
Today, enjoy cruising through some of
southeastern Europe’s most picturesque
scenery including the legendary Iron Gates,
naturally carved by the Danube River
in the course of its passage through the
Transylvanian Alps.
Belgrade, Serbia
Tuesday, October 25
One of the oldest cities in Europe,
Belgrade traces its origins from the
Stone Age, followed by Romans,
Byzantines, Serbs, Turks and Austrians,
each of whom left lasting impressions here.
The walking tour features historic
Terazije Square and the iconic domed
Temple of St. Sava, Serbia’s patron saint.
Tour the imposing and strategically
built Kalemegdan Fortress, one of the
world’s oldest fortresses, constructed by
Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in 535 and
visit the famous “House of Flowers”
memorial dedicated to Yugoslavia’s
longstanding leader, Josip Broz Tito.
Commissioned by Romania’s longest-serving monarch in 1873, the stunning Peleş Castle outside the
picturesque Carpathian Mountain town of Sinaia is one of Europe’s best preserved palaces.
UNESCO
World Heritage Site
Cruise Itinerary
Air Routing
Land Routing
ANIA
nsylvania
Danube Delta
ST. GHEORGHE
HAREST
River RUSE
FETEŞTI
VELIKO
TÂRNOVO
Black
Sea
LGARIA
GARIA
Seven hundred architects and 20,000 builders worked around the clock
for five years to construct Bucharest’s sprawling Palace of Parliament.
Mohács, Hungary/Kalocsa
Wednesday, October 26
Dock in Mohács and enjoy a scenic
drive across Hungary’s protected Puszta,
one of Europe’s largest expanses of
rolling grassland plains. Visit a revered
traditional horse farm to see a performance
of authentic Hungarian horsemanship.
Enjoy lunch and folk entertainment in the
farm’s award-winning csárda (tavern), then
continue to Kalocsa, famously known for
its creation of intricately patterned, brightly
hued Hungarian embroidery. Visit the
fascinating Local Country House and
Paprika Museum for further insight into
regional culture and customs and the
traditional methods of cultivating paprika,
the spice that locals refer to as “red gold.”
Budapest
Thursday, October 27
Austrian-born Archduke Joseph, who
became the “most Hungarian Habsburg,”
is credited with developing in Budapest an
imperial capital that rivaled Vienna. Buda and
Pest, the centuries-old twin cities that face
one another across the Danube River,
the embankments along this storied river
and the Buda Castle Quarter together are
designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Tour Pest, where the elegant, Neo-Gothic
19th-century limestone Parliament Building
towers over the river. Pass through
Heroes’ Square and admire the monuments
honoring the Magyar chiefs who
conquered Hungary in A.D. 896. Visit the
Renaissance Revival-style 19th-century
Hungarian State Opera House, one of the
most beautiful performing arts venues in
the world—its interiors are decorated with
frescoes by eminent painters, including
Mór Than and Károly Lotz.
The imposing Chain Bridge links
river-level Pest to the hills of Buda across
the Danube. On Castle Hill, visit the
stately, Neo-Romanesque late-19th-century
Fisherman’s Bastion and the ornate
St. Matthias Church, first built in 1015.
Enjoy an afternoon at leisure in Budapest.
Bratislava, Slovakia
Friday, October 28
Dock in Slovakia’s capital, located
in the foothills of the impressive
Carpathian Mountain range overlooking
the banks of the Danube River.
Beautifully restored since the end of the
Cold War, the city showcases 21st-century
life amidst its 1000-year-old history.
Enjoy a walking tour of the city’s
Staré Mesto (Old Town); its medieval,
The Patriarch’s Church of the Ascension, declared the
th
“mother of all churches” by the Bulgarian Kingdom in Renaissance and 19 -century architecture
1235, crowns the medieval citadel of Veliko Târnovo. is among the finest in central Europe.
Visit the Romanesque 14th-century
Cathedral of St. Martin, the elaborate
Primatial Palace and see St. Michael’s Gate,
Bratislava’s oldest preserved medieval
fortification, originally built in 1300.
This afternoon, cruise through
Austria’s scenic Donau-Auen National
Park, which preserves the last remaining
major wetlands in central Europe.
Enjoy the Captain’s Farewell Reception
this evening.
Vienna, Austria/U.S.
Saturday, October 29
Disembark in Vienna and continue on the
Post-Program Option or transfer to the
airport for your flight home.
M.S. AMADEUS ROYAL
The deluxe M.S. AMADEUS ROYAL, newly renovated in
2015, features the comforts of a floating luxury hotel.
This exclusively chartered ship offers 69 river-view,
air-conditioned, spacious, stylishly appointed
Suites (237 square feet) and Staterooms
(162 square feet). All Suites and select Staterooms
feature a French balcony (floor-to-ceiling sliding
glass door with iron railing). Each has two twin beds
Stateroom Category 2
(convertible to one queen bed), a private bathroom
with shower (Suites have bathtub with shower),
individual climate control, direct dial telephone,
flat-screen television, writing desk, safe and hair dryer.
Freshly prepared continental meals featuring local
ingredients are served in single, unassigned seatings
in the delightfully scenic Panorama Restaurant and
include early-risers’ coffee, buffet breakfast and
lunch, afternoon tea, four-course dinner and
late-evening snack. Complimentary house wine and
Panorama Restaurant
beer are served with lunch and dinner.
Inviting public facilities are spacious and include the Panorama Bar, Lido Bar,
Amadeus-Club with Internet station, beauty salon, boutique, fitness studio with
massage services and early morning exercise classes and Sun Deck with outdoor
dipping pool and chess board. Complimentary audio headsets are available for all
shore excursions. The ship has an elevator serving all passenger decks except the
Sun Deck, and laundry service is available. There is no doctor aboard the ship.
The English-speaking, international crew provides warm hospitality.
The M.S. AMADEUS ROYAL meets the highest safety standards and is one of the
only European river ships to have been awarded the “Green Certificate” of
environmental preservation.
Vienna Post-Program Option
The former seat of the Habsburg Empire and one of Europe’s most beautiful cities and
vibrant cultural centers, Vienna showcases an open-air museum of splendid Baroque
architecture in its historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Tour this remarkable
city’s most important landmarks, including the lavish Hofburg Palace and the
Habsburgs’ summer estate at Schönbrunn Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Accommodations are for two nights in the Five-Star INTERCONTINENTAL WIEN HOTEL.
The Post-Program Option is available at additional cost. Details will be provided with your reservation confirmation.
In 1762, a six-year-old Mozart performed for Empress Maria Theresa and the imperial family in the
Habsburgs’ exquisite Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna.
Included Features
In Bucharest, Romania
◆
Two nights in the Five-Star ATHÉNÉE PALACE
HILTON BUCHAREST, with breakfast each morning.
◆ Welcome Reception in the hotel.
◆ Full-day excursion to fabled Transylvania, including
visits to 14th-century Bran Castle, or “Dracula’s Castle,”
fairy-tale Peleş Castle and a traditional Romanian lunch.
◆ Visit to the National Art Museum, housed in the
19th-century Royal Palace, and lunch.
◆ City tour to see the Palace of Parliament, Europe’s
largest administrative building.
Scenic transfer from Bucharest to Feteşti for embarkation.
On board the exclusively chartered,
deluxe M.S. AMADEUS ROYAL
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Nine-night cruise from Feteşti, Romania, to
Vienna, Austria, with port calls at St. Gheorghe, Romania,
for the Danube Delta; Ruse for Arbanasi and
Veliko Târnovo, Bulgaria; Belgrade, Serbia; Mohács,
Kalocsa and Budapest, Hungary; and Bratislava, Slovakia.
Spacious, air-conditioned Suite or Stateroom, each with
a private bathroom.
All meals served at single, unassigned seatings—
early-risers’ coffee, buffet breakfast and lunch,
afternoon tea, four-course dinner and late-evening
snack—featuring fine continental cuisine.
Complimentary wine and beer are served with
lunch and dinner.
Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Receptions.
Private small boat cruise of the Danube Delta, a
UNESCO World Heritage site and Biosphere Reserve,
to observe the distinct and abundant bird life.
Excursion to the village of Arbanasi, Bulgaria,
known for its unique stone architecture, with visits
to the Konstantsaliev House and the 15th-century
Birth of Christ Church.
Visit to the historic Bulgarian Empire capital of
Veliko Târnovo, with lunch.
Passage through the dramatic, naturally carved Iron Gates
dividing the Carpathian and Balkan Mountains.
Tour of Serbia’s historic capital of Belgrade, featuring
the medieval city center, Kalemegdan Fortress and the
Josip Broz Tito memorial.
Excursion to the Hungarian Puszta (plains), for a
demonstration of Hungarian horsemanship and lunch
at a revered csárda (tavern).
Visit to Kalocsa, famous for its fine Hungarian
embroidery, to tour its Local Country House and
Paprika Museum.
Tour of Budapest, a UNESCO World Heritage site,
including visits to the historic landmarks of the
19th-century, Renaissance Revival-style Hungarian State
Opera House, the Fisherman’s Bastion and the ornate
St. Matthias Church.
Guided tour of Bratislava’s well-preserved medieval
Staré Mesto (Old Town).
Enhanced Travel Services
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Transfers and luggage handling abroad for
participants whose arrival(s)/departure(s)
coincide with the scheduled group transfer(s).
All excursions and visits, as outlined above, with
experienced local guides.
Gratuities to local guides and drivers on included
excursions and transfers.
Hospitality desk in the hotels and aboard the ship.
The services of experienced Gohagan & Company
Travel Directors throughout the program.
Complimentary use of a state-of-the-art audio headset
for each participant during guided excursions.
Travel document wallet, name badge and
pre-departure information.
Automatic $250,000 flight insurance policy for each
participant ticketed on flights by Gohagan & Company.
The
Route of
Emperors and Kings
The legendary Danube River is a great symbol
of diverse cultures and epic histories that have
unfolded along its venerable banks.
Fifth-century philosopher Herodotus
declared it “the greatest of all rivers which
we know” when ancient Greeks traveled up
from the Black Sea through the naturally
carved Iron Gates, well before it became a
long-standing frontier of the Roman Empire.
After changing hands from the Romans,
Ottomans and Byzantines, some of the world’s
most enchanting capital cities were built upon
its banks—Vienna, Bratislava, Belgrade and
Budapest—and the river served as a historical
path traveled by European dynasties like
the Wittelsbach and Habsburgs. In 1854,
Empress Elisabeth of Austria traversed
its waters to visit her future husband,
Emperor Franz Joseph I, in Vienna.
In mythical Transylvania, amidst
the unparalleled natural beauty of the
Carpathian Mountains, explore fairy-tale
castles like Bran and Peleş, built on a
medieval route that served as the scenic
yet mysterious backdrop for Bram Stoker’s
Dracula, one of literature’s best-loved tales.
Where the river empties into the Black Sea,
the incredible Danube Delta is a UNESCO
World Heritage site that began to form
around 4000 B.C. and is one of the last
remaining protected wilderness areas
in Europe. From the river’s unsurpassed
natural allure emerged The Danube School,
a highly expressive style of 16th-century
German landscape painting. The wild beauty
of the Danube valley influenced artists
of this movement—its flora and fauna,
flowing waters, fir trees, misty atmosphere
and the glowing effects of light and weather
form the subject of a great many paintings
from this period.
In addition to fine art, the river
remains inextricably linked to other forms
of culture; its storied waters also inspired
the famous melody of Johann Strauss II’s
“An der Schönen blauen Donau,” or
“The Blue Danube,” waltz. This captivating
region of great historical and cultural
significance is a seldom-visited jewel in
the crown of Central and Eastern Europe,
with a mystique that continues to intrigue
and inspire musicians, writers, artists and
travelers to come from all over the world.
M.S.
AMADEUS ROYAL
Sun Deck
Mozart Deck
Strauss Deck
Haydn Deck
LAND/CRUISE TARIFF (per person, based on double occupancy)
Description - All river-view accommodations with two twin beds convertible Early Booking Price
Stateroom to one queen bed, private bathroom with shower, individual climate control,
Category* seating area, radio, television, safe and hair dryer.
through
March 14, 2016
Regular Price
after
March 14, 2016
$5395
$5995
$6595
6
5
4
Stateroom with window. Haydn Deck, aft. (limited availability)
Stateroom with window. Haydn Deck, midships.
$4395
$4995
$5595
3
Stateroom with French balcony (floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors
with railing). Strauss Deck, aft. (limited availability)
$5895
$6895
2
Stateroom with French balcony (floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors
with railing). Strauss Deck, midship.
$6395
$7395
Stateroom with window. Haydn Deck, forward. (limited availability)
Stateroom with French balcony (floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors
$7895
1
$6895
with railing). Mozart Deck, midship and aft.
with French balcony (floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors
Junior Suite
with railing), tub/shower, larger seating area, minibar and bathrobes.
$8595
$7595
Suites Mozart Deck, forward.
◆ Singles are available in category 4 at $8995 and in category 2 at $9995 on or before March 14, 2016.
Add $1000 for reservations made after March 14, 2016.
◆ Taxes are an additional $130 per person and are subject to change.
*M.S. AMADEUS ROYAL has been specially contracted for this tour, and the applicable deck plan is available
on request from Gohagan & Company and reflects the only valid cabin categorization of the vessel.
PASSAGE ALONG THE BLUE DANUBE RESERVATION
Send to: 2016 Passage along the Blue Danube
University of Notre Dame Alumni Association
c/o Thomas P. Gohagan & Company
209 South LaSalle Street, Suite 500
Chicago, Illinois 60604-1446
FORM
Please make my/our reservation(s)
in Stateroom Category:
1st Choice _____ 2nd Choice _____
❏ Double occupancy
(two twin beds).
❏ Double occupancy
(one queen bed).
❏ Single accommodations.
_____ _________________________________________________ ___________
School/Year ❏ I am reserving as a single but
Title Full Name (exactly as it appears on your passport)
prefer to share accommodations
and will allow you to select
_____ _________________________________________________ ___________
School/Year
Title Full Name (exactly as it appears on your passport)
my roommate (shares cannot
be guaranteed).
Call the Notre Dame/Gohagan Travel line at 877-406-3263 and ask
for the Passenger Services Coordinator handling this program.
____________________________________________________________________
Please make my/our reservation(s):
Street Mailing Address (no P.O. Box number please)
Vienna Post-Program Option
______________________________________ ________ _____________-______ ❏ Double at $595 per person.
City
State
ZIP Code
❏ Single at $895 per person.
_________________________________ __________________________________ ❏ I am reserving as a single but
Telephone: (Home)
(Mobile)
prefer to share accommodations
and will allow you to select
my roommate (shares cannot
be guaranteed).
_________________________________ __________________________________
Email Address
(Business)
____________________________________________________________________
Preferred Name(s) on Badge(s)
Tour No. 127-10/17/16-078 ❏ I/We want you to book
my/our air from
Program reservations require a deposit of $800 per person and $200 per
person Vienna Post-Program Option. By reserving and depositing on this
program, I/we agree to the Release of Liability, Assumption of Risk and Binding
Arbitration Agreement as printed on the outside back cover of this brochure.
__________________________
❏ Enclosed is my/our check(s) for $__________ as deposit.
to Bucharest, Romania, with
return from Vienna, Austria,
at additional cost to be advised.‡
(fill in departure city)
Make checks payable to Thomas P. Gohagan & Company.
❏ I/We authorize you to charge my/our deposit of $__________ to:
❏ Visa ❏ MasterCard
❏ Economy Class
____________________________________________________ _______________ ❏ Business Class
Card Number
Exp. Date
❏ First Class
____________________________________________________________________
Signature as it appears on credit card
All FINAL PAYMENTS are required to be made by check or
wire transfer by July 14, 2016.
‡
Note: Airfare is subject to change and
availability and is nonrefundable.
❏ I/we will make my/our own
air arrangements.
This ND Alumni travel opportunity is open to members of the Alumni Association, members of their families and all
friends of the University. You should know the ND Alumni travel program is totally self-supporting and none of your
local club membership dues nor any other association income is used to subsidize the cost of the travel program.
PRSRT STD
U.S. Postage
PAID
Gohagan &
Company
RELEASE OF LIABILITY, ASSUMPTION OF RISK
AND BINDING ARBITRATION AGREEMENT
RESPONSIBILITY: Thomas P. Gohagan & Company, the sponsoring
associations/organizations, and its and their employees, shareholders,
subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors or trustees, successors, and
assigns (collectively “Gohagan”), do not own or operate any entity which
is to or does provide goods or services for your trip including, for example,
lodging facilities, airline, vessel, or other transportation companies, guides
or guide services, local ground operators, providers or organizers of
optional excursions, food service or entertainment providers, etc. All such
persons and entities are independent contractors. As a result, Gohagan
is not liable for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such
person or entity or of any other third party.
In addition and without limitation, Gohagan is not responsible
for any injury, loss, death, inconvenience, delay, or damage to person
or property in connection with the provision of any goods or services
whether resulting from, but not limited to, acts of God or force majeure,
acts of government, acts of war or civil unrest, insurrection or revolt,
bites from or attacks by animals, insects or pests, strikes or other labor
activities, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind or the threat thereof,
sickness, illness, epidemics or the threat thereof, the lack of availability
of or access to medical attention or the quality thereof, overbooking
or downgrading of accommodations, mechanical or other failure of
airplanes, vessels, or other means of transportation, or for any failure of
any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart timely or safely.
If due to weather, flight schedules or other uncontrollable factors, you are
required to spend an additional night(s), you will be responsible for your own
hotel, transfers and meal costs. Baggage is entirely at owner’s risk. The right
is reserved to decline to accept as a trip participant, or remove from a trip,
without refund, any person Gohagan judges to be incapable of meeting the
rigors and requirements of participating in the activities, or who is abusive to
other trip participants, leaders or third parties, or who Gohagan determines
to detract from the enjoyment of the trip by others. Specific room/cabin
assignments are within the sole discretion of the hotel or cruise line.
Gohagan reserves the right to change the itinerary or trip features at
any time and for any reason, with or without notice, and Gohagan shall
not be liable for any loss of any kind as a result of any such changes.
Ship schedules, port calls, hours of arrival and departure, sightseeing events,
special programs and guest lecture series (if applicable), are subject to change
or cancellation without prior notice. Gohagan is not responsible therefor
and is not required to compensate passengers under these circumstances.
Gohagan may cancel a trip (or an option) for any reason whatsoever;
if so, its sole responsibility is to refund monies paid by the participant to it.
Gohagan is not required to cancel any trip for any reason including without
limitation, United States Department of State, World Health Organization
or other Warnings or Advisories of any kind. Gohagan is not responsible for
penalties assessed by air carriers resulting from operational and/or itinerary
changes, even if Gohagan makes the flight arrangements or cancels the trip.
Gohagan reserves the right to substitute vessels, hotels or attractions of a
similar category for those listed in this brochure.
NOT INCLUDED: Taxes; passport, visas and associated fees; personal
expenses such as laundry, telephone calls and Internet access; accident/
sickness, trip cancellation, and baggage insurance; gratuities to ship and
hotel personnel; optional sightseeing excursions; baggage charges on
aircraft; local departure air/airport tax(es); airfare and associated local
taxes, airport facility and security taxes and federal inspection fees not
listed in the “Included Features” section of the brochure; transfers and
baggage handling to/from airport/hotel/ship on day(s) of arrival and/or
departure if you are arriving earlier or later than and/or departing earlier
or later than the scheduled group transfer(s); any overnight on land due
to flight schedule(s); meals, alcoholic or other beverages and all other
services not specifically mentioned in the “Included Features” section.
AIRFARE: Airfare is subject to change and availability and, depending
on the fare basis, likely is nonrefundable. Your airline ticket
constitutes a contract between you and the airline, even if purchased
through Gohagan.
LUGGAGE: Luggage allowance policies are set by the airlines and may
change without prior notice. Please contact your airline(s) for the most
current luggage allowance policy.
PHYSICAL ACCESSIBILITY: All programs require physical independence
and mobility. Any physical or mental condition that may require special
medical attention or physical assistance (for example, the need for a
wheelchair) must be reported in writing when you make your reservation.
Travelers must be able to embark or disembark motorcoaches alone or with
minimal assistance from your traveling companion and climb stairs and step
over raised thresholds without assistance. Travelers requiring assistance must
travel with a companion who will be responsible for handling equipment.
DISCOUNTED RESERVATIONS: Discounts apply only to those
reservations received in the offices of Gohagan in writing, accompanied by the
required deposit, by March 14, 2016. In the event a “discounted” reservation
must be cancelled, no “replacement” reservation can be substituted at the
discounted rate. A “replacement” reservation is a new reservation and can
be substituted only at the full-fare tariff. Cancellation penalties may apply.
CANCELLATIONS: Cancellations for all or any part of the trip including
Pre/Post Program(s) reservation(s) will not be effective until received in
writing in the offices of Gohagan. Should you have to cancel, the following
terms will apply: reservation cancellation(s) are subject to a $200 ($50 Pre/
Post Program(s)) per person administrative fee from the time of booking
through 121 days prior to departure; from 95 through 120 days prior to
departure, $800 ($200 Pre/Post Program(s)) per person; from 61 through
94 days prior to departure, 40% of the published full regular tariffs; from
45 through 60 days prior to departure, 55% of the published full regular
tariffs; from 22 through 44 days prior to departure, 70% of the published
100 Eck Center
Notre Dame, IN 46556-5661
Bratislava’s Staré Mesto, or Old Town, charms with its
cobbled streets, craft merchants and outdoor cafés.
full regular tariffs; cancellations 21 days or less prior to departure, a
no-show, or early return from the trip will result in forfeiture of 100% of the
published full regular tariffs. In addition, any applicable airline cancellation
fees, optional excursion cancellation fees and administrative fees may apply.
TRIP INSURANCE: Because our cancellation policies are strictly enforced, we
strongly recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance. In the event
that you must cancel your participation in a travel program, trip cancellation
insurance may be the only source of reimbursement. Trip cancellation insurance
is available through Travel Insurance Services for comprehensive coverage of
such expenses in conjunction with cancellation due to illness or accident, and
damaged or lost luggage. Notre Dame will send you an application upon
receipt of your reservation and again prior to final payment.
RATES: Prices quoted are based on fares in effect at the time of printing and
are subject to change at any time. On land and/or cruise programs, even after
full payment, Gohagan reserves the right to increase the tour price in the
event of cost increases due to changes in supplier costs, currency fluctuations
or fuel or energy surcharges and all such increases are to be paid to Gohagan
upon notice to the tour participant of such increases. On programs which
include Gohagan purchased interstate or international air (which originates
or returns to the United States), no increased costs will be passed on after
final payment except for subsequently imposed governmental tax increases.
REGISTRATION: CST#: 2031868-40, WST#: 601 767 666, OST#: TA 0905.
BINDING ARBITRATION: Any controversy or claim arising out of or
relating in any way to this Release of Liability, Assumption of Risk and
Binding Arbitration Agreement, the brochure, or any other information
relating in any way to the trip, or to the trip itself, shall be settled solely
and exclusively by binding arbitration in Chicago, Illinois, in accordance
with the commercial rules of the American Arbitration Association
then existent. In any such proceeding, the substantive, but not procedural
law of Illinois will apply. The arbitrator and not any federal, state, or
local court or agency shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute
relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability, conscionability,
or formation of this contract, including but not limited to any claim that
all or any part of this contract is void or voidable.
ACCEPTANCE OF CONTRACT: By forwarding of deposit, the
participant certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical or
other condition of disability that would create a hazard for him/herself
or other participants and accepts the terms contained in this Release of
Liability, Assumption of Risk and Binding Arbitration Agreement.
ASSOCIATION DISCLAIMER: The University of Notre Dame, through
its Alumni Association, is pleased to provide this service of facilitating
travel opportunities for its Alumni and Friends. We strive to work with the
best partners to make available interesting and enriching travel options for
the Notre Dame family. Please note that the University does not conduct
tours, nor does it act as an agent for guests interested in tours. The Alumni
Association acts as a facilitator with tour operators, with whom tour
participants make arrangements for completing travel. We are 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. The Alumni Association
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, nor for losses or additional
expenses resulting from travel. The Alumni Association reserves the right to
withdraw its affiliation with any individual tour should conditions warrant.
Photo Credits: AGE Fotostock, Alamy, Corbis, Estock Photo, Superstock;
all images are rights managed and cannot be used without permission.
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