Since the general contractual conditions are updated from time to time in line with changes in the relevant legislative requirements, we recommend that our guests read the version applicable at the time of booking as published on our website.
1. Applicable regulations
1.1 this holiday package sales contract, which includes a cruise, is understood to be regulated both by these general terms and conditions and by any other terms and conditions contained in leaflets, pamphlets and brochures published by the organizer and other documents provided by the organizer to passengers.
1.2 this contract is also governed by italian law in accordance with the mandatory regulations in force concerning consumer protection (directive no. 90/314/eec and legislative decree no. 206 of september 6, 2005), the italian state code of travel and tourism regulations (legislative decree no. 79 of may and international regulations concerning the individual services comprising the holiday package.
1.3 in the event that any provision of these general contractual conditions is null and void or ineffective in some way, such invalidity shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of these general terms and conditions.
2. Closure of the contract
2.1 booking requests shall be made using the specific form (which may be submitted electronically), completed in full and signed by the passenger.
2.2 holiday packages purchased online are understood, for all legal purposes, to be offered for sale in italy and the associated contracts are understood to be entered into in italy.
2.3 the acceptance of bookings is subject to availability of places and the booking process is understood to be completed, with consequent closure of the contract, only upon confirmation by the organizer (which may be given online) and subject to payment of the deposit by the passenger as per 3.1.
2.4 promotions or offers including particularly favorable conditions different from those published in the brochures are subject to limits in terms of time and availability, according to the criteria established by the organizer from time to time at its absolute discretion.
2.5 travel agencies that hold a valid license act as intermediaries pursuant to art. 33, par. 1b) of the tourism code and may issue the passenger with a copy of thecontract only if the booking has already been confirmed by the organizer, as per 2.3.
2.6 in the event of a single booking made for several people listed together, the person making the booking guarantees that they have the necessary power to act on behalf of all the members of the group and, in any event, that all the contractual obligations will be fulfilled by all the people listed in the booking.
2.7 booking requests made by minors will not be accepted. Without prejudice to 2.6, bookings for minors shall be made by their parents or guardians or by other adults having the necessary power. Such bookings will be accepted only if the minor is travelling with at least one parent or with their legal guardian or another adult with a legal claim to the child.
2.8 Passengers are not permitted to travel if they will have entered the 24th week of their pregnancy by the beginning of, or at any time during the cruise. At the time of boarding, all pregnant women are required to produce a medical certificate stating that mother and baby are in good health and fit to travel. The letter must also include the estimated date of delivery (edd). Costa cruises cannot be held responsible or liable for any complications relating to pregnancy at any stage and arising during or after the entire cruise vacation.
2.9 the minimum age to sail is 6 months at the time of boarding.
2.10 booking requests for passengers with disabilities will therefore be granted subject to availability of these specially designed cabins and, where necessary, to the condition that the disabled passenger is accompanied by another person capable of providing the assistance required by the former as per regulation eu no. 1177/2010.
2.11 any passenger with a physical or mental condition, a disability or other needs requiring medical attention or special care during the voyage is required to notify the organizer at the time of closure of the contract. No booking request will be granted for a passenger whose physical or mental condition is such that their participation in the cruise would be impossible or dangerous for themselves or for others or who require special care or assistance that is not obtainable during the cruise on board the ship.
2.12 information about the cruise that is not contained in the contractual documentation, in leaflets, on the costa cruises website or in other media shall be supplied to the passenger by the organizer in compliance with the provisions of the tourism code, in sufficient time prior to the beginning of the vacation.
2.13 the assignment of a higher cabin category than the one purchased and guaranteed and/or on the basis of any commercial promotions shall not entitle the passenger to benefit from the privileges and rights associated with that cabin category. Cabins of the same or a higher level as the one assigned in accordance with the above may not have a double bed and/or may be equipped for guests with disabilities.
2.14 prior to the closure of the contract, the passenger is obliged to obtain sufficient detailed information regarding the health and safety conditions.
3. Payment
3.1 when the contract is entered into, the passenger shall pay a deposit of no less than 25% of the price, and the balance shall be paid at least 45 days before departure.
3.1.1 if the contract is entered into less than 45 days before departure, the whole amount shall be paid at the time of closure in a single transaction.
3.2 non-payment of the balance due by the deadlines stated above shall constitute a breach of contract giving rise to the right to terminate the agreement pursuant to art. 1456 of the civil code, subject to payment of compensation for any further damages sustained by the organizer.
3.3 the cruise ticket, which is a legal document permitting access on board the vessel, shall be delivered to the passenger after payment of the full price and a few days before departure.
3.4 payments made via travel agencies are only considered finalized when the organizer actually receives the amounts due.
3.5 if the contract is entered into by telephone at least 8 days before departure, payment may also be made by bank transfer. For contracts finalized thereafter and up to 2 days before departure and for contracts with payment in installments as per 3.1.1, payment may only be made by credit card.
3.6 in any case, all payments shall be made by the passenger in accordance with any specific instructions given by the organizer in accordance with the provisions of this article 3.
4. Prices
4.1 the prices (basic, comfort and deluxe rates) are all-inclusive to the extent indicated in the brochure, on the website, in the quote and/or booking request and in the contract form signed by the passenger. Prices do not include the service charge described in the “useful information” section of the brochure and the website. This charge is mentioned specifically in the note under the price of the cruise, both on the website and in the brochure. The service charge will be debited at the end of the cruise on the basis of the actual number of days spent on board.
Passengers will also be asked to pay the following sums:
(i) euro 50 in the case of a name change as per art. 7 below;
(ii) euro 190 in the case of cancellation at least 45 days before departure.
4.2 for each cruise there will be a limited number of cabins available for sale at the prices stated in the brochure.
4.3 in accordance with art. 40 of the tourism code, the prices may be changed up to 20 days prior to the scheduled departure date as a result of increases compared to the prices in effect at the time of publication of the cruise program:
(i) in the cost of air fares,
(ii) in the cost of ship fuel,
(iii) in the duties and taxes on services included in the holiday package, such as embarkation, disembarkation or landing fees at ports or airports. The difference in the price of the package will be as follows:
in case (i) regarding flights, the difference between the fare calculated according to the criteria stated in the note at the end of these general terms and conditions and the fare on the departure date;
in case (ii) there will be no price rise for increases in the cost of fuel of less than 10%. For increases in fuel costs of 10%, the price of the lowest cruise category shown in the brochure(excluding any flights, transfers, port taxes, and memberships fees and service charge) will be 3% higher. The increase shall
Apply to all passengers for all departure dates for the cruise in question.
4.4 the prices are understood to be per person. However, in the event of unused tickets or cancellations resulting in a passenger being the sole occupant of a cabin, a supplement shall be payable on that cabin.
5. Changes to the voyage
5.1 in accordance with art. 4.1 of the tourism code, if it is necessary to make one or more significant changes to the voyage, the organizer shall inform passengers in writing, notifying them of the type of change and consequent price variation.
5.2 any passenger who does not accept the proposed change(s) referred to in 5.1 may cancel the cruise, without paying any penalty, and the provisions of 6.1 shall apply.
5.3 passengers shall inform the organizer (via the travel agency if they prefer) of their decision to cancel within two working days of the date on which they learned of the change, failing which such change shall be understood to have been accepted.
5.4 if, subsequent to the departure date, the organizer cannot supply an essential part of the services guaranteed in the contract, they will propose appropriate alternative arrangements to continue the voyage as scheduled in a manner that is compatible with the technical and safety requirements of operations, without any price increase for the passenger, or the latter shall be reimbursed for the difference between the original services envisaged and those provided, subject to payment of compensation for any further damages sustained by the passenger.
5.5 in the event that it is not possible to provide alternative arrangements, or the passenger rejects the arrangements for good reason, the organizer shall provide an equivalent means of transport to take the passenger to their departure point or to a different place agreed on, and refund the difference between the cost of the original services envisaged and those effectively
5.6 pursuant to art. 40 of the tourism code, the organizer may review the flat-rate sales price of the holiday package.
5.7 however, the reviewed price shall not be more than 10% higher than the original price.
5.8 if the price increase is greater than 10%, the passenger may cancel the voyage and shall be reimbursed for any amounts already paid to the opposite party.
in case (iii), the full amount of the increase in duties and taxes.
In the event of a decrease in the costs mentioned in (i), (ii) or (iii) compared to the prices in effect at the time of publication of the cruise program, the passenger shall be entitled to a price reduction as follows:
in cases (i) and (ii), the difference between the fare calculated according to the criteria stated in the note at the end of these general terms and conditions and the fare on the departure date;
in case (iii), the full amount of the reduction in duties and taxes.
6. Cancellation by the passenger
6.1 in accordance with art. 42 of the tourism code, a passenger may withdraw from the contract, at no additional cost, only in the cases and subject to the terms in art. 5, as well as in the event of the holiday package being cancelled before departure for any reason, unless this is due to the fault of the passenger. A passenger who exercises their right to withdraw shall have the right to an alternative holiday package of equivalent or higher value at no additional cost, or to a holiday package of lower value with reimbursement of the difference; otherwise, they shall be reimbursed for any amounts already paid within seven working days of the date of withdrawal or cancellation.
6.2 in the cases mentioned in the previous paragraph, the passenger shall have the right to compensation for any further damages due to non-performance of the contract.
6.3 paragraph 6.2 does not apply if the holiday package is cancelled due to lack of the minimum number of participants required, where applicable, and the passenger is informed in writing at least twenty days before the scheduled departure date, or due to force majeure, excluding overbooking.
6.4 a passenger who withdraws from the contract for reasons other than those specified in the previous paragraph will be charged the following amounts as a percentage of the price of the package:
€190,00 for cancellations at least 45 days before departure;
50% of the price of the package for cancellations between 45 and 30 days before departure;
75% of the price of the package for cancellations between 30 and 15 days before departure;
100% of the price of the package for cancellations from 14 days before departure.
7. Name changes
7.1 a passenger who is unable to go on the cruise may add a new guest on the booking provided that:
A) the passenger notifies the organizer in writing of the details of the name change at least 6 working days before the date of departure;
B) there is no reason relating to passports, visas, health certificates, hotel accommodation, transport services or any other factor which would prevent the new guest from taking the cruise on the same terms as the original passenger; c) the new guest pays the organizer the amount referred to in 7.2 below and, if the package includes an air fare, any service fees charged by theairline for name changes.
7.2 in any case the passenger shall pay a euro 50 per person service fee charged per name change. The original passenger shall also be jointly liable with the new guest for payment of the balance of the price, and also for payment of any amounts referred to in 7.1 (c) above.
7.3 the cruise ticket is transferable only in the event of a name change done in accordance with the previous paragraphs.
7.4 the right to do a name change as per the previous paragraphs is subject to the exclusions and restrictions laid down in binding regulations, in particular regarding security, which are applicable to the individual services making up the holiday package.
7.5 the organizer shall regard a request for a name change for reasons other than the passenger being unable to use the holiday package or a request submitted after the deadline in 7.1 as a full cancellation and a new booking shall
Be required for thenew guest. In such case the original passenger shall be liable for payment of the charges set out in 6.4 above and the new guest shall be liable for payment of the full amount of the holiday package.
8. Cancellation by the organizer
8.1 if, before departure, the organizer notifies the passenger of cancellation of the package referred to in this contract, irrespective of the reason unless it is due to the fault of the passenger, the organizer shall, if possible, offer the passenger a replacement package. The passenger shall have the right to choose either to accept this replacement package or to receive a refund as set out in the paragraphs below. The replacement package offered by the organizer shall be of at least equivalent value to the one cancelled; if the organizer is unable to offer a replacement package of equivalent or greater value, the passenger shall have the right to be reimbursed for the difference.
8.2 if the organizer cancels the holiday package, pursuant to art. 33 e) of legislative decree no. 206/2005, they shall reimburse the passenger by paying the latter double the amount paid and effectively collected, except in the case of force majeure, fortuitous events, lack of the minimum number of participants required or refusal by the passenger to accept the alternative package offered by the organizer. In any case the refund shall never exceed twice the amount that the passenger would have owed on the same date, as per art. 6.4. Therefore, in the event of cancellation of the holiday package 45 to 59 days prior tothe departure date, the organizer shall only be required to refund the amount, if any, paid by the passenger and actually collected by the organizer.
8.3 in the aforementioned cases of force majeure, fortuitous events, lack of the minimum number of participants required (subject to notification by the organizer no later than 20 days prior to the departure date) or refusal by the passenger to accept the alternative package offered by the organizer, the passenger shall only have the right to be reimbursed for the amount actually paid, within 7 working days from the date of cancellation.
9. Sostitutions
9.1 the passenger shall have their own individual passport or other proper travel documentation, depending on their nationality, for all the countries included in the itinerary, as well as any holiday and transit visas and health certificates that may be required. The relevant information in the brochures refers (unless otherwise stated) to passengers whose citizenship is that of thecountry in which the brochure is published.
9.2 the passenger shall not bring merchandise, live animals, weapons, ammunition, explosives or inflammable, toxicor dangerous substances on board and/or use in the cabin any electrical appliances, including but not limited to irons, water heaters, kettles, electric cookers, hair dryers and heaters.
9.3 the passenger shall be liable for any damages incurred by the organizer due to non-compliance with the aforementioned obligations. In particular, the passenger shall be liable for any damages caused to the ship, its furnishings and equipment, for loss or damage caused to other passengers and third parties, as well as all for any fines, penalties and expenses imposed on the organizer due
Authorities or other officials of any country included in the cruise.
9.4 the passenger shall provide the organizer with all documents, information and details that the latter may require to exercise their right of subrogation for the passenger vis-à-vis third parties who may be held liable for any loss or damage sustained by the passenger, and the latter shall be liable to the organizer for any prejudice to the subrogation right caused by failure to comply with this clause.
9.5 the passenger shall provide the organizer with all the information necessary to enable compliance with security requirements, and in particular those laid down in council directive 98/41/ec and the italian ministerial decree of 10.13.1999. The collection and processing of data (including images) shall be carried out in compliance with the general data protection regulation (eu) 2016/67
9.6 the passenger shall attend safety briefings and emergency drills that the organizer arranges on board the ship. If this requirement is not met, the master
Pursuant to art. 186 of the italian maritime law and in accordance with 10.2 below, may take all appropriatemeasures including disciplinary disembarkation of the passenger concerned.
10. Powers of the master
10.1 the master of the ship has the right to retain the charge and the conn without a pilot, to tow and assist other vessels under any circumstances, to deviate from the scheduled route, to enter any port (whether or not it is on the route)
Vessel to proceed on the voyage.
10.2 the passenger is subject to the disciplinary authority of the master of the ship as far as vessel and navigational safety are concerned. In particular, the passenger shall comply with all instructions and orders issued on board, including those relating to safety briefings and emergency drills as per 9.7 above.
If, in the sole opinion of the master, a passenger is unfit to begin or proceed on the cruise or their physical or mental condition constitutes a risk to the vessel or to the health and safety of any other guest or crew member, or their behavior is such that it may affect the enjoyment of other passengers, the master has the right, depending on the case in question, a) to refuse passage, b) to order the disembarkation of the passenger at any port, c) to refuse to allow the passenger to disembark at a particular port, d) to confine the passenger to a certain area of the ship or to refuse to allow them to take part in certain activities on board. Similar measures may be taken independently by air carriers or other service providers, in accordance with the disciplinary authority they are granted by law or by contract; in this regard the organizer shall bear no liability in relation to these air carriers or service providers.
10.3 the organizer and the master of the ship shall have the liberty to comply with any orders or directions whatsoever issued by the government or authorities of any nation or by any person acting or purporting to act on behalf of or with the authority of such government or authorities or by any person having under the terms of the war risks insurance on the ship the right to issue such orders or directions. If by reason of, and in compliance with any such orders or directions anything is done or is not done, the same shall not be deemed a deviation or a breach of contract. Disembarkation of any passengers or discharge of baggage, in accordance with such orders or directions shall constitute due and proper fulfillment of the obligation under the contract, releasing the organizer from any liability for the continuation of the voyage or the repatriation of the passengers.
12. Accommodation on board or in hotels
12.1 the organizer has the right to assign the passenger a different cabin from the one reserved, as long as it is of the same category or higher.
12.2 if included in the package and in the absence of official standards, hotel accommodation abroad shall be rated using roughly the equivalent of the classification system in force in italy.
13.Pawn and retention
13.1 the organizer shall be liable for damages incurred by passengers due to total or partial non-fulfillment of the contractual services, whether they are supplied by the organizer personally, or by third party service providers. The organizer shall not be held liable when thedamages arecaused by thepassenger (including acts performed independently by the passenger during the delivery
Of tourist services), by a third party who is not a contractual service provider, by fortuitous events, by force majeure, or by circumstances that the organizer, acting with due diligence, could not have reasonably anticipated or avoided.
13.2 all exemptions, limitations of liability, disclaimers and exceptions that may be cited by the organizer by virtue of this contract shall also be extended to employees, representatives, associates, agents, subcontractors or assistants acting in any capacity.
13.3 the organizer shall bear no liability in relation to the passenger for any non-compliance by the travel agent or other intermediaries involved in the closure of the contract, as far as concerns the obligations of such third parties.
13.4 if the organizer has paid sums by way of refunds or compensation to the passenger, the organizer is subrogated to the rights and actions of thepassenger vis-à-vis third parties bearing liability.
14. Limitation of liability
14.1 in no case shall the compensation payable by the organizer be greater than the limits of liability prescribed by commission regulation (ec) no. 329/2009 and, where applicable, by national and international laws in force regarding non-performance of the service concerned.
14.2 if the organizer is also the shipping company and/or owner and/or carrier and/or charterer of the ship used for the cruise, the current laws concerning limitation of liability or the applicable provisions of commission regulation (ec) no. 392/2009 and subsequent amendments shall still apply.
15. Excursions
15.1 excursions are subject to the contractual terms and conditions of the local operator providing the services and to any applicable national law.
15.2 the prices and itineraries of any shore excursions published in thebrochure are approximate only and are subject to variation. The times and itineraries of the tours may be subject to change as a result both of external circumstances (for example, weather conditions, strikes, transport delays etc.) And of the operational requirements of the tour operators.
15.3 in the event of cancellation of an excursion due to technical issues or force majeure or failure to obtain the minimum number of participants, organizer shall reimburse the passengers concerned.
15.4 unless otherwise stated, shore excursions are not specifically designed for physically challenged guests. Nevertheless, if requested, organizer can recommend tours that are designated as easy. Excursions suitable for passengers with slight mobility problems are marked as such with a special symbol. Therefore, prior to purchasing a shore tour, the organizer recommends that guests obtain as much information as possible on the internet, in the brochure or by contacting the toll-free number, to find out whether or not the excursions that they are interested in are suitable for non-ambulatory passengers.
15.5 for certain types of excursion, due to their characteristics (for example the use of vehicles driven by the passengers), special conditions, requirements or regulations may apply.