Several brands from The Travel Corporation, including The Red Carnation Hotel Collection, Luxury Gold, Insight Vacations, African Travel, Inc. and Uniworld have updated their precautionary measures and cancellation policy as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The Red Carnation Hotel Collection
Red Carnation says it is following the recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In addition to these measures, it encourages travelers to learn more about what you can do to travel safer.
(The World Health Organization has several recommendations to reduce exposure to a range of illnesses, including hand and respiratory hygiene as well as safe food practices.)
For guests who have booked a pre-pay rate and are due to stay between March 13 and December 31, 2020, you will have the option to amend your booking from 12 months of your planned arrival date. If you are able to claim your hotel stay via your travel insurance, please let Red Carnation know and it will arrange for any documents you require to be sent to you.
If you would like to book a future date, bookings may be cancelled one day prior to your arrival date without any fees being incurred.
Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold
Owing to the evolving COVID-19 situation and government travel advisories and restrictions, Insight Vacations is temporarily suspending operations in Europe, the UK and the Middle East of all guided vacations commencing from March 13 until April 30, 2020. Similarly, Luxury Gold is temporarily suspending operations in Europe, the U.K., the Middle East, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa of all guided vacations commencing from March 13 until April 30, 2020.
All guests currently booked on a guided vacation during this temporary suspension may change their travel dates or destination. We can assist you with your new date or destination for any time in 2020 or 2021, with a full credit of all monies paid for the land portion of the trip redeemable against your revised journey with Insight Vacations or another TTC brand (Luxury Gold, Trafalgar, Brendan Vacations, CostSaver, Uniworld, U by Uniworld) to any destination. If travel insurance was declined, you will be responsible for any change fees charged by the airline.
For guests with existing bookings to Europe, the UK and the Middle East (for Insight Vacations) or to Europe, the UK, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa (for Luxury Gold) departing from May 1 and more than 30 days from today for other destinations, or any new bookings being made, the brands are temporarily offering a fee waiver until 30 days prior to departure should guests wish to change their dates or travel to a different destination. Airlines may have different policies and penalty charges, which are the guest’s responsibility.
Guests currently traveling to the above destinations with Insight Vacations or Luxury Gold have the option to continue their travels or return home early and receive a pro rata travel credit for the unused land portion of their trip.
Trips operating in North America are operating as planned.
African Travel, Inc.
"We are all hands-on deck both here and in Africa and caring for you continues to be our top priority," Sherwin Banda, president of African Travel, Inc., said in a statement. "Our team is taking every precaution to work with our guests who are currently traveling and those looking to change their travel plans."
However, with recent travel restrictions in some of the countries where African Travel, Inc. operates, the safari operator is offering most travelers the ability to postpone travel for up to one year from the original booked travel date without penalties. Provided that you contact African Travel, Inc. at least seven days before your departure, almost all programs can be re-booked to a future date of the exact same safari. If you decide to re-book your safari, you have up to 60 days from that date to confirm new plans. If the new date is priced higher than the currently booked departure, travelers are responsible to pay the difference in price.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Previously announced, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection has announced the suspension of all European itineraries until April 23. Uniworld is offering guests the opportunity to rebook travel dates to any 2020 or 2021 cruise or receive a Future Cruise Credit eligible to be used during the next 24 months. This policy bolsters the brand’s recently updated cancellation policy, allowing guests more time and flexibility to make decisions about their upcoming travel plans.
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