Meister Meetings & Travel Corp. d/b/a Top Group Travel is excited to help you with your travel. The following terms and conditions (the "Agreement") describe what you can expect from us. The terms "we", "us", and "our" refer to the Meister Meetings &Travel Corp. d/b/a Top Group Travel and the term "you" or "your," refers to the individual who signs this agreement. 

 By signing below, I authorize Meister Meetings & Travel Corp. d/b/a Top Group Travel to charge the credit card provided herein for myself and / or others listed on my reservation with the suppliers listed on my invoice or reservation.    

IMPORTANT TRAVELER INFORMATION:

• Due to our supplier, Avalon Waterways' policy the initial deposit of $250 per person for the basic land/cruise package tour is non-refundable
• Making reservations for this package signifies your acceptance of our Terms and Conditions (you will be able to review all of these before payment)
• Purchasing travel insurance is highly recommended to protect your investment (options will be provided during check-out)
• Cruise and Land Package inclusions, hotel accommodations, prices, itinerary and availability are subject to change at the discretion of Top Group Travel d/b/a Meister Meetings & Travel Corp. and / or our travel suppliers without notice.  We will notify you as far in advance as possible of any changes. 
• Your Cruise/Land Tour will be operated by Avalon Waterways.  Click HERE for their Terms and Conditions
• If final payment is not made by the noted date, we will attempt to contact you.  However, if we are unable to contact you and payment has still not been made in a timely manner your reservations may automatically cancel without notice by us or our travel suppliers.  A fee of $150 will apply to reinstate the reservation, if possible, to do so according to our travel supplier.
• It is important that names match your passports to avoid incurring a $100 name change fee and additional airline penalties of $300 or more per person charged by our cruise operator,  after your original booking has been processed.  This is in addition to a $75 processing fee charged separately by our agency.  To avoid this, please text or send us a copy of your passport when making your reservations so we have your correct information from the start
• After booking your reservation, all passengers will receive and must agree to our tour operator, Avalon Waterways guest acknowledgment and on trip contact form
• At least one guest sharing a room must be 18 or older at time of travel 
• Children are welcome if accompanied/supervised by parents and are at least 12 years old at time of travel (sorry, our travel supplier(s) do not offer any discounts for children) 
• Room availability and pricing is not guaranteed until first deposit is received 
• Hotel industry standards may require a credit card charge upon checking into your room for incidentals. You should also use a credit card as opposed to a debit card
• No Credit will be given for unused services, meals, transfers, accommodations or other such components of this trip

• Walking Requirements -When it comes to traveling to Europe, there is a lot of walking involved. Although there are many breaks in between walking, such as commuting on the bus and stopping for meals, it is still important that you travel under the proper expectations. Each day varies but you can expect to be walking/standing 2-4 hours per day. Please use this estimation of hours as a guide and not an exact rule.

  If you do get tired and need an additional rest, just remember that your tour leader is your best friend in these situations. Just let them know ahead of time and they will tell you the best places and times to get additional rest.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS & AGENCY DISCLAIMER

PLEASE READ THIS.   It is part of your contract for your trip and any related services, which you consent to when making a deposit or payment for any travel services.  Please contact us immediately if you have any questions.

The addressee of this notice will be the only recipient of this booking receipt and terms and conditions. It is the sole responsibility of the addressee to inform all other parties traveling of the contents of these terms and conditions. The booking passenger, by accepting this receipt and making payment to Top Group Travel, acknowledges that they have been advised of, reviewed, and hereby accept these terms and conditions and contract for travel related services.  All terms and conditions are subject to change at any time so please review again s as items may have changed.

COVID-19 WAIVER & AGREEMENT

Top Group Travel is taking many steps to thoroughly vet our hotel, airline, and other suppliers to ensure that they are taking all the necessary precautions and following the recommended guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and other governing authorities.  However, an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 continues to exist in any public space where people are present.  COVID-19 cases and deaths have been reported in all 50 states and across the globe and senior citizens and those with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable. 

By traveling, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and any other airborne viruses.   While we do our best to provide you with up-to-date information, we cannot be liable if you become sick or contract COVID-19 during travel and recommend each traveler to assess their level of risk tolerance.  We urge you to check the latest guidance from the CDC, the State Department travel advisories, as well as review the individual supplier's websites before traveling:

Center for Disease Control:

US State Dept.:

• All passengers must provide a valid passport with expiration date no earlier than January 2026.  Here is a Link to Passport Info
• All passengers must provide proof of being fully vaccinated for COVID19 including additional "booster" shots if required by appropriate government agencies and our tour suppliers to participate in tour. No refunds will be given for not complying. 
• All passengers may be subject to wearing masks, pre-departure or onsite COVID testing, health screenings and other health protocols as required by airlines, travel suppliers and government agencies. No refunds will be giving for not complying. 
• Name changes, revisions or additions after the original booking has been processed are allowed at the discretion of our travel suppliers and may be subject to cancellation and rate increases in addition to a $75 processing fee charged separately by our agency

AGENT/INTERMEDIARY:

I understand that Top Group Travel is not the source or supplier of the travel services I have requested and acts solely as an agent or intermediary for the actual suppliers of such services. I have been advised that the suppliers whose names appear in the information supplied to me are those who are responsible for providing the travel services I have purchased. I consent to and request the use of those suppliers and agree not to hold Top Group Travel responsible should any of these suppliers: 1) fail to provide the travel services I have purchased; 2) fail to comply with any applicable law; or 3) engage in any negligent act or omission that causes me any sort of injury, damage, delay, or inconvenience 4) change policies that I do not agree with after purchasing.

I accept that Top Group Travel is not responsible for, nor will I attempt to hold it liable for, any injury, damage, or loss I may suffer because of any conditions, actions or omissions that are beyond its reasonable control. I will not hold it responsible for any injury, damage, or loss I may suffer while on any third party provided or operated excursion or activity.

I further understand and acknowledge that travel to many parts of the world may involve the risk of a variety of hazards to my health and/or safety, including but not limited to infectious diseases (i.e. COVID19, Ebola, Zika, Malaria, etc.) crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and warfare.  Because of changing conditions and each traveler’s risk tolerance is different, Top Group Travel is not in a position to advise me whether I should travel to any particular place at any particular time.  Rather, to assist me in making an informed decision, I should refer to objective third-party sources of travel information, such as that maintained by:

U.S. Department of State (travel.state.gov).

Center for Disease Control Travelers’ Health (https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel) 

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS/LEGAL NAMES:

I agree to review my travel documents for accuracy regarding but not limited to names, dates, destinations, routing, activities, and excursions, etc., immediately upon receipt and will contact Top Group Travel immediately if I have any questions, omissions, or corrections.  I understand that discounted fares typically involve restrictions and that changing any aspect of my travel arrangements may result in the payment of additional money.  Conversely, cancellation of any aspect of my travel arrangements may result in financial penalties, in accordance with the supplier’s cancellation policies.

I understand that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires me to carry a government issued identification card to board a flight. I have been advised that the name, date of birth and gender that appears on the identification card must exactly match the same such data that is listed on my airline ticket and in my booking records.   No nicknames, incorrect spellings, different surnames, etc. will be accepted. I acknowledge that my failure to strictly comply with these requirements may result in denied boarding or an undue delay at an airport or cruise security checkpoint causing me to miss my flight, cruise or incur additional fees and costs. 

I understand that if traveling internationally, I must have a valid passport (expiration should be six (6) months past your travel dates) and depending upon my destination and nationality, I may need to obtain one or more visas.  All non-US Citizens are responsible to obtain documentation requirements independently.

Top Group Travel is not responsible for the issuance of travel identification such as passports and/or visas and travelers should ensure they have or have been approved for the appropriate documents before purchasing travel.

Note to Client: Passport and visa information may be obtained by contacting the Travel Advisory Section of the U.S. State Department at 202.647.5225 or by visiting the State Department's Web site at travel.state.gov. Non-U.S. passport holders should be sure to contact the embassies of their destination and transit countries to obtain entrance requirements. To obtain medical information, you may contact the Centers for Disease Control at 404.332.4559 or visit the CDC's Web site at www.cdc.gov.

ERRORS AND OMISSIONS:

*In the event the price listed, quoted, or confirmed is incorrect due to a system error, human error or other error, The Company or the tour operator reserves the right to correct the price and reinvoice you at the correct price.

PAYMENTS: 

Final Payments are due on or before April 25, 2025. 

I have been advised to use a credit card as this may offer me the opportunity to dispute the charge should a vendor cease operating.  Prices and availability quoted by Top Group Travel are not guaranteed until deposit is fully paid. Pricing and availability may change without notice. I agree that Top Group Travel is not responsible for any errors or omissions in any quotes, advertisements, including on our website, resulting in inventory, content, or pricing discrepancies nor is Top Group Travel responsible for any errors or omissions that may occur as a result of incorrect information from third parties. Suppliers reserve the right not to honor any published prices that it determines were erroneous due to electronic, printing, or clerical error. You acknowledge this right and agree to hold Top Group Travel harmless for any actions or damages arising from Supplier pricing.

You will be notified at the time of booking whether your deposit is fully refundable, partially refundable, or non-refundable and are subject to any terms and conditions of the Supplier or our agency. We will advise you of the date that full payment is required.  I understand that I have authorized this transaction and will hold Top Group Travel harmless with respect to these instructions. It is understood that Top Group Travel may request government issued photo identification and may verify the billing address of the card.

I agree to pay all advance deposits and final payments before the due dates and understand that if payments are not made in full before due dates that my travel arrangements are subject to cancellation penalties.  Without limitation, I agree to hold Top Group Travel harmless for cancellation of any booking for either late payment or a credit card being denied for payment.

I understand that the airline tickets, cruises, tours, travel packages or other products I am purchasing are subject to supplemental price increases that may be imposed after the date of purchase. Post-purchase price increases may be applied due to additional costs imposed by a supplier or government. I acknowledge that I may be charged additional sums by Top Group Travel to offset increased fees, fuel surcharges, taxes, minimum numbers not being met for a tour, fluctuations in foreign exchange markets or any combination thereof. I hereby consent to any post-purchase price increases and authorize Top Group Travel charge my credit card for such additional amounts.

CANCELLATION:

Cancellations by Avalon Waterways ("The Company") also listed on their website and subject to change

The Company reserves the right to cancel or reschedule any trip departure for any reason, including insufficient demand, strikes, lockouts, riots, stoppage of labor or Force Majeure Event (see under "Force Majeure").

In the event of a cancellation by The Company prior to departure for reasons excluding Force Majeure (see section “Force Majeure”), The Company will try, at your discretion, to rebook the same trip with a different departure date, or a similar trip, but there is no guarantee of availability. The Company will refund the difference in price if the alternate is lower. You are responsible for additional costs if the alternate is higher. If this rebooking option is not acceptable to you, The Company’s only responsibility is to refund the amounts paid by you for the reservation.

In the event of a cancellation by The Company prior to departure or during your trip for conditions under Force Majeure (see section "Force Majeure"), The Company will provide a future travel/booking credit for the portion of your trip impacted. Future travel/booking credit will be redeemable for travel with The Company for one year past your original trip start date. If a future travel/booking credit is not acceptable to you, in the majority of Force Majeure situations, you can notify the company within 21 days of advisement and The Company’s only responsibility is to refund the amounts paid by you for the portion of your trip impacted. If you do not notify the Company within 21 days of advisement, a refund is no longer available.

The Company is not liable or responsible for any arrangements made independently of The Company. The Company assumes no responsibility for costs or fees you incur for independent arrangements not booked through The Company, inclusive of, but not limited to, airline, hotel, excursion and travel protection related charges.

Please Note:

Prior to final payment there is a potential for a price increase(s) from our Cruise Operator due to minimum number of passengers not being met, fuel surcharges, government levied taxes and fees and currency fluctuations.  We will notify you as far in advance as possible if this occurs.   Additionally, if airfare is purchased from Avalon Waterways, additional deposits will be required when making air reservations

Cancellation Schedule 

AIRFARE (applicable only if Top Group Travel books your air directly):

If Airfare is booked through Tour Operator:

Air Inclusive Deposit Amounts, Final Payment Dates & Cancellation Fee Schedule

Airfare & Flights

Air reservations are available through The Company only for travel originating from the United States. Airfare purchase in connection with tours or cruises must be round-trip.  The Company does not offer one-way tickets.

Airfare Contract

All airlines are independent from The Company; The Company does not own, manage or operate any air carrier or aircraft.

Your airline ticket is a contract between you and the air carrier only, even if you purchase through The Company. By purchasing your air services through The Company, you waive all liability for The Company for such air services, to the extent allowable under appliable law.

Airfare Options

Flex-Air, Instant Purchase Air and Intra-Trip Air:

• Flex-Air allows flexibility if you want to make changes to your trip schedule with lower revision fees.
• Instant Purchase Air may offer additional airline options, but has more restrictions, may be non-refundable and/or have higher revision fees.

Depending on product and destination, some trips may only offer one air option.

Intra-Trip Air

Intra-Trip Air (or intra-vacation air as commonly known) is airfare that is provided within a tour or cruise itinerary and required for transport from one itinerary location to another. Intra-trip air may be Flex-Air or Instant Purchase Air depending on the product. This will be explained at the time the reservation is made. On some Independence by Globus itineraries, intra-trip air is optional in that it does not require purchase through The Company. This airfare will be additional to the tour or cruise itinerary pricing, payable at time of selection.

Air Inclusive Trips

At the time of booking, additional per person, non-refundable, non-transferable deposits and payments are required for your domestic and/or international flights and/or for intra-trip air. These are in addition to the deposits and payments above. Air-inclusive trip pricing is guaranteed upon receipt of deposit or payment in full for the entire reservation as specified in the information below. Air services are subject to the carrier’s terms and conditions, to these Terms, and to any applicable law.

Flex Air:

• Deposit Amount: $300 per person up to the full ticket amount
• Final Payment Date: Per product schedule above
• Cancellation Fees: $300 per person up to the full ticket amount 

Instant Purchase Air:

• Deposit Amount: Full ticket amount at time of reservation + processing fee* (USD)
• Final Payment Date: At time of reservation
• Cancellation Fees: Full air ticket amount plus processing fee

Intra-Trip Air

• Deposit Amount: $250 per person
• Final Payment Date: Per product schedule above
• Cancellation Fees: Airfare is part of the tour or cruise total package and subject to the cancellation fees noted above in the Cancellation Fee Schedule section.

Processing Fee

*Processing fees per person: $30 North & Central America; $50 Europe/Middle East; $80 for all other destinations. These fees are always non-refundable.

Airfare Fees

After your airfare is booked, any revisions you make may incur fees. This includes correcting errors in your information or services (names, dates, schedules, class of service, airlines, other). At the time of request, fees are applied and payable immediately. The Company is not liable for necessary amendments due to errors in information provided by you. See “Accuracy of Invoice Details” above for your responsibilities and liability.

Air Routings

Air routings are subject to availability. Routings are not guaranteed and are subject to change at any time.

Airline Mileage Accrual

Frequent Flyer mileage accrual is at the discretion of the airline(s), and is not always granted for airfare purchased through The Company. The Company has no liability if accrual is denied and/or if upgrades are not allowed. Many airlines do not permit upgrades on airfare purchased through The Company using frequent flyer miles, status or certificates. This is at the sole discretion of the airlines. Cancellation fees, as noted above, will apply to all airfare, regardless of accrual grants.

Seat Assignments

Seat assignments are not guaranteed even after they are assigned and The Company has no control over airline seat assignments. Airlines, the tour operator if applicable, and The Company reserve the right to change seat assignments at any time without notice, for any reason. Most airlines charge a fee to pre book a seat.

Airfare Schedule Changes

Unless provided for in these Terms or under applicable law, The Company is not responsible or liable for any airline cancellations, schedule changes or delays. Prior to check-in, for airfare purchased through The Company, The Company may be able to assist if you are rescheduled, delayed or cancelled. After you check-in, The Company can no longer assist you and you must work with the airline directly to arrive at your destination. The Company is not liable for expenses you incur if you miss your flight or flight connection.

For air purchased through The Company, if any air schedule requires an overnight stay in a gateway city, The Company can assist you with hotel reservations; however, the cost of the overnight stay (including, but not limited to, hotel and meals) is your expense.

Any amendments you make voluntarily to your air or air schedule may incur change fees or additional charges up to the full ticket price. These are your responsibility to pay.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Information

At the time of air reservation through The Company, you are required to provide all Transportation Security Administration (TSA) information. This information includes full name, date of birth, gender and redress number (if available) for all participants. We submit information to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Reservations without this information are not processed and an air reservation will not be secured.

Making Your Own Flight Arrangements

If you make your own flight arrangements, The Company is not responsible for any loss resulting from cancellation or changes in international gateways, itineraries, or travel dates. It is best to avoid airline tickets with high change fees.

a. General Conditions Governing Air Transport

Airline tickets are highly restrictive, non-refundable, and non-transferable. Modification of passenger names, dates, times, routings, or departure/arrival airports is at the sole discretion of the airline and, if permitted, will likely be subject to a substantial change fee.  Passenger is responsible for any such fees.  Regarding the purchase of air tickets, Top Group Travel acts simply as an intermediary between you and the airline.  Once you book a reservation, your credit card or debit card will be charged for the amount shown – regardless of whether the reservation is used. Credit will not be given for any unused airline tickets and cannot be used toward any future bookings.

Seat assignments are subject to the airlines policies and may not be able to be made until you are at the airport on the day of departure.  Airline tickets booked through Top Group Travel may not be eligible to earn frequent flyer miles. You agree to confirm all bookings with the airline prior to the stated date of departure (Top Group Travel recommends confirming 48 hours prior) and check in online for your boarding passes 23 hours prior to departure.

Direct flights may be “non-stop” or may involve one or more stopovers (in the latter case this means the same flight by the airline, because the flight number remains the same).  The same applies to connecting flights that may be subject to crew changes.  When you reserve a scheduled or charter flight involving a stop-over in a town, and the second flight takes off from a different airport to the airport of arrival, ensure that you have sufficient time for reaching the second airport.  The journey to the other airport is at your own expense.  Top Group Travel will not reimburse you for these costs, nor will it be liable if you miss the second flight.

Top Group Travel’s responsibilities in respect to air travel are limited by the relevant airline’s conditions of carriage.  The airline fulfilling your contract for carriage may change from the airline mentioned by Top Group Travel.  Top Group Travel is not able to specify the type of aircraft to be used by any airline.  If an airline cancels or delays a flight, you must work directly with the airline to ensure you arrive at your destination on or ahead of time. Top Group Travel will not provide any refund for Trips missed, in part or full.

b. Luggage

Each airline has its own policy regarding luggage.  We recommend that you check with your airline ahead of time for any weight restrictions and additional charges relating to checked baggage. You will be responsible for paying to the airline any additional charges for checked or overweight baggage, including, but not limited to, golf bags, ski equipment and oversized luggage.  If you exceed the weight limit set by your airline, and excess weight is permitted, you must pay a supplement directly to the airline at the airport.

The airline is liable to you for the baggage you entrust to it only for the compensation contemplated in the international conventions and relevant statutes.  In the event of damage, late forwarding, theft, or loss of luggage, you should contact your airline and declare the damage, absence, or loss of your personal effects before leaving the airport, and then submit a declaration, attaching the originals of the following documents: the travel ticket, the baggage check-in slip, and the declaration.  Top Group Travel strongly recommends that you obtain an insurance policy covering the value of your items.

c. Limitation of Liability for Air Transport

In addition to the limitations of liability set forth above, you agree that Top Group Travel is not liable for any damages arising from or related to any airline timetable changes, delays, cancellations, missed connections, mechanical problems, inclement weather, seating reassignments, lost/delayed baggage, screening, and security delays, refused boarding or failure to check-in properly.

TRAVEL INSURANCE:

I understand travel insurance has been offered to me for purchase to cover certain risks inherent in travel such as supplier bankruptcy, trip interruption and/or the inability to travel due to a medical or personal emergency. If I choose not to purchase travel insurance or if I purchase travel insurance on my own, I agree not to hold Top Group Travel responsible for any liabilities or financial losses I may incur associated with my travel purchases.

PHOTO RELEASE:

I agree to grant to Top Group Travel and its authorized representatives’ permission to record on photography film and/or video, pictures of my participation along with the other guests I am registering for this event. I further agree that any or all the material photographed may be used, in any form, as part of any future publications, brochure, videos, webpage or other printed or digital media or materials used to promote Top Group Travel, and further that such use shall be without payment of fees, royalties, special credit or other compensation.

ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT NOTES:

1. Pregnancy: If you are pregnant or may become pregnant, it is important to ensure you meet the conditions of travel for your trip or cruise (generally not advised to be traveling beyond 24 weeks). All these issues are your responsibility to comply with and no refunds will be granted for any denial of travel.

2. In some locations, your aircraft may be subject to insecticide spraying prior to the flight or while you are on the aircraft, you are strongly encouraged to always check the list of countries that require airlines to treat the passenger cabin with insecticides http://alturl.com/3rtty as this list is updated regularly.

3. I understand that these terms are binding and that any dispute I may have must be resolved only by arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association in Palm Beach County, Florida in which Top Group Travel is located.