Booking Conditions - English
BOOKING CONDITIONS – FRANCE
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO GUESTS:
You are viewing the Booking Conditions applicable to cruises with Royal Caribbean International (and any related goods and services booked through Royal Caribbean Group). These Booking Conditions are applicable only to guests whose Primary Country of Residence is France. If your Primary Country of Residence is not France, then please visit https://www.royalcaribbean.com/guest-terms/ to determine the Booking Terms and Conditions that apply to you.
“Primary Country of Residence” means the country in which you primarily reside at the time of booking the cruise. This must be indicated by you, your agent or other representative at the time of booking the cruise or during online check-in.
These Booking Conditions shall be governed by the laws of France, and any claim or dispute shall be resolved through alternative dispute resolution or under the laws and exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of France.
If you have any questions about the Booking Conditions that apply to your booking (or any related goods and services), please contact your travel agent or local RCL representative.
These booking conditions together with our Guest Conduct Policy and any other applicable policies or additional terms form the basis of your contract with us and apply to your booking. In the event of any inconsistency, these Booking Conditions shall prevail, unless we notify us otherwise. When you make a booking directly with us, the parties to the contract are you and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd or RCL Cruises Ltd, depending on which entity will operate the cruise ship (“Ship”) on which you will sail (the “Carrier”). You will be informed of the relevant contracting party at the time of booking and/or on your confirmation invoice.
“Carrier” includes: (i) the Vessel, or any substitute vessel; its boats or boats (ii) the operator, owner, manager and charterer of the Vessel; and (iii) with respect to the Land Tour portion of any CruiseTour, the operator of that Land Tour (“LTO”).
Your local booking office is RCL Cruises Ltd with address at Building 7, The Heights, Brooklands, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 0XW. Whether you book a Royal Caribbean® cruise vacation only, travel a cruise or build your own package with us, you can rest easy knowing that we will be responsible for the proper execution of all aspects of your vacation.
If you book a Royal Caribbean® cruise holiday solely in conjunction with other services (such as flights, shore accommodation and/or ground transfers) that are arranged or provided by a travel agent or tour operator (“tour operator”) with whom you book and not provided by us, your contract for your entire holiday, including the cruise and all other such services and arrangements, will be concluded with your tour operator and not with us. The tour operator’s own booking conditions will apply to your contract. Please ensure that you obtain a copy from your tour operator before or at the time of booking. Please note that we have no liability to you in these circumstances. However, in the event that we are held liable to you on any basis, our liability and/or obligations to you or your organiser will not be greater than or different from the liability and obligations we have under these Booking Conditions to consumers who have a contract with us. In such a situation, we will be fully entitled to rely on all defences, exclusions and limitations contained in the Booking Conditions set out below.
Key rights:
The combination of travel services offered to you is a package within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2015/2302 as transposed into English law by the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018. Therefore, all bookings will benefit from all EU rights applicable to packages in accordance with the applicable legislation in force at the time of booking. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd will be fully responsible for the proper performance of the package as a whole. In addition, as required by law, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd has put in place protection to refund your payments and, where transportation is included in the package, to ensure your repatriation in the event of insolvency.
Key rights under Directive (EU) 2015/2302 are available for your review at www.royalcaribbean.com/guest-terms.
1. BOOK YOUR CRUISE
1.1 How to Book?
You can book your cruise either directly on our website accessible at www.RoyalCaribbean.fr or through your usual travel agency. You must have the capacity to contract and in particular have the legal majority, be legally capable of contracting and not be under tutorship or curatorship. You warrant the truthfulness and accuracy of the information provided by you or any other person who made the booking in your name and on your behalf. All our offers are subject to availability.
When you make your reservation, the exchange of pre-contractual information or the provision of contractual conditions is carried out in writing. They can be done electronically under the conditions provided for in Articles 1369-1 to 1369-11 of the Civil Code.
In order to validate your reservation, you will be asked to pay a deposit, per person depending on the duration of the cruise and the date of departure, or 10% of the cruise fare for Suite category bookings. If the 10% value is less than the current standard deposit, the standard amount will apply. In addition, if you wish to take out the insurance cover that we offer on an optional basis, you will also have to pay the corresponding premiums when booking.
Deposit amounts vary by the duration of the cruise as follows:
for 1 – 5 nights 100 EUR per person
for 6 – 9 nights 165 EUR per person
for 10 – 14 nights 165 EUR per person
for 15 nights and more 490 EUR per person
The first person on the reservation must be at least 21 years old. All passengers will be required to provide us with the identification information on their passport or identity card. The date of birth of each passenger is requested at the time of booking. An unconfirmed reservation (see 1.2) does not bind the operator of the vessel, only the signature of the sales contract and the acceptance of the special travel conditions communicated at the time of signing the contract bind us.
1.2 How will my reservation be confirmed?
In case of booking through a travel agency, if the requested cruise is available, we will send an offer to your travel agent. If you wish to accept the offer, your travel agent will ask you for a deposit to confirm the reservation. At the time your travel agent returns the offer to us with your acceptance and makes the payment of the deposit, your reservation will be confirmed and a contract will be established with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd or RCL Cruises Ltd, as indicated in your booking confirmation.
The procedure is the same if you booked on our website or by phone.
As soon as you receive confirmation of your booking, insurance details (if underwriting) and any other documents, please ensure that all reported information is correct. If any information is incorrect, you must immediately inform us or your travel agent. We will not be liable for any misinformation if you have not informed us or your travel agent within 15 days of handing over the documents and 5 days after delivery of the cruise ticket.
The acceptance of the reservation is subject to the suspensive condition of payment by the passenger of the deposit mentioned in Article 1.1.
1.3 What information do I need to provide?
You are solely responsible for the information you provide. We cannot be held responsible for any erroneous or inaccurate information you may have communicated. You will find on our website all the formalities for leaving the territory and entering the territory(ies) visited or crossed (passport, visas, authorization, etc.).
Whatever the cruise chosen, and the countries visited, it is your responsibility to complete these formalities. Please see section 2.6 hereof for more information.
1.4 When should I pay the balance on my cruise?
The balance of your cruise (after deduction of the deposit paid) must be paid no later than 50 days before your departure date, or 120 days before the departure date for selected sailings of 15 nights or longer. If you book within this schedule, you will be required to pay the full price of your cruise when booking. Non-payment of the balance on the defined dates constitutes a breach which is the subject of an express termination clause of the contract likely to determine the termination of right, resulting in the application of the corresponding cancellation fees as provided for in Article 1.11 below.
For cruises during the Christmas and New Year periods, the balance is to be paid no later than 90 days before departure.
We inform you that we can proceed with the transaction via a bank in the United States. If you use your credit card to pay us for your cruise, your bank may, as a result of this transaction, charge you a fee.
We advise you to check with your bank about the amount of these fees and the terms of payment in the context of a transaction abroad.
1.5 What about the deposit paid to my travel agency?
Any money paid to your travel agency in connection with a booking of one of our cruises will be retained by them on our behalf until they return it to us. If you are unable to check in online, it may be because your cruise has not yet been on sale. In this case, please contact your travel agent.
1.6 What does the price include?
All prices listed in this brochure are per person in Euros, and are based on double occupancy per cabin. The price includes full board, accommodation, entertainment on board the ship (with the exception of certain activities or restaurants that may have an extra charge), port and embarkation costs.
Price does not include shore excursions, personal expenses such as drinks, laundry fees, health and beauty treatments, calls telephone, transfers from/to the boat, travel insurance, onboard service charges and any services or products not specified as included in the price.
For all consumption and care services carried out on board and paid for with the SeaPass system, an automatic supplement of 18% is added in the service concept. For cruises made entirely within the framework of the European Union, the amount of purchases or services purchased on board may be subject to value added tax (VAT).
The prices published in this catalogue are the prices in effect at the time of printing this catalogue. They are subject to amendment according to Article 1.7 below.
1.7 What does “Price from” mean?
The rates shown in this brochure are “From” rates. The “from” price represents the lowest price. “Prices from” are amounts that may change depending on the booking date and the occupancy rate (rates change according to the number of bookings already registered on that date). It is therefore according to your departure date and the date of your reservation that the price applicable to your cruise will be determined.
To find out the price of the cruise on the departure date and for the cabin category you have chosen, please contact your travel agent or consult our booking site www.RoyalCaribbean.fr
1.8 What is a “Guaranteed” cabin (GTY)?
On some cruises, we offer the possibility to make a so-called “Guarantee” reservation: as part of this offer, you can book a cabin among the different types offered (we indicate which cabins are available for this so-called “guarantee” reservation before booking). Once your “Guarantee” cabin has been assigned to you, we will not be able to accept any change requests.
In the event that, due to constraints inherent in the booking process, we are unable to offer you the cabin initially booked as a guarantee, we will offer you, as far as possible, an overclassification in a cabin of higher category. In any case, we reserve the right to change the location from your cabin at any time until your boarding (check-in). In any case, you are guaranteed to get a cabin of the minimum category that you have chosen and that we have agreed to reserve for you.
From time to time, we may set up promotional offers on “Guaranteed” cabins.
1.9 Can the price be changed after booking?
We reserve the right to increase or decrease the price of unsold holidays at any time. You will receive confirmation of the price of your chosen holiday as above. After confirming the price of your chosen holiday at the time of booking, subject to correction of errors, we will only increase or decrease the price in the accordance with the terms of this paragraph. Price increases or decreases after booking will be passed on in the form of a surcharge or refund. A surcharge or refund will be payable, subject to the conditions set out in this clause, if the cost of carriage or the duty, tax or charge payable for services such as landing fees or embarkation and disembarkation fees at ports or airports increases or decreases, or if our costs increase or decrease as a result of adverse or beneficial changes in the exchange rates used to calculate the cost of your holiday. If the surcharge is more than 8% of the trip price (excluding change fees) and we inform you in writing at least 20 days before the start of the trip, you have the right to choose one of options (a), (b) or (c) as in clause 4.5 explained in more detail. You have 14 days from the date of issue printed on the notice to let us know whether you wish to opt for option (b) or (c) under clause 4.5 below; otherwise we will assume that you have accepted the change and will invoice you accordingly for the additional costs, stating the additional payment period. If you do not tell us within this period that you wish to choose one of the two options, we are entitled to assume that you do not wish to do so and will pay the additional cost. The surcharge must be paid together with the balance of the travel price or within 14 days of the date of issue printed on the surcharge invoice, whichever is the later. Additionally, we may instead charge the increased price onboard.
Please note that travel services are not always purchased in local currency and some apparent changes due to contractual and other safeguards will not affect the price of your holiday. We reserve the right to correct errors in advertised and confirmed prices. We will do this as soon as we become aware of the error. Please note that changes and errors may occasionally occur. You must verify the price of your chosen holiday at the time of booking. Please note: Any change you make to your booking may result in a change in price as explained below.
1.10 Cancellation rules.
If you wish to cancel or modify your booking, you must inform us immediately, either directly in writing (electronic format accepted) or through your travel agent.
In case of cancellation, you will have to pay the following cancellation fees:
| Cruise Length: | Days to Sailing: | Cancellation Charge (Per Guest): |
| 1 – 14 nights | 50+ days | Deposit only (including increase deposit for non-refundable add-ons) |
| 49 – 31 days | 50% of total price | |
| 30 – 15 days | 75% of total price | |
| 14 days or less | 100% of total price | |
| 15+ nights | 120+ days | Deposit only (including increase deposit for non-refundable add-ons) |
| 119 – 31 days | 50% of total price | |
| 30 – 15 days | 75% of total price | |
| 14 days or less | 100% of total price |
The percentage applies to the price of all services booked with our services due per person for the cruise, as defined in Article 1.6 above.
Flight and cruise package: Cancellation or modification of the flight and cruise package must be requested in writing 59 days before the date of travel.
Any changes or cancellations received less than 59 days prior to departure will incur cancellation fees as stipulated by the terms of the confirmed flight ticket based on the airline’s rules. In some cases where the booking of a flight requires the early issuance of the ticket, in case of cancellation even 59 days before the departure date, the fees will be applied in accordance with the company’s regulations regarding confirmed airline tickets.
For hotel and transportation reservations, the same cancellation fees as for the cruise may apply.
The passenger has the right to terminate the contract on any date before departure and thus be entitled to reimbursement of the amounts that would have been paid, but in any case,
The passenger must pay the cancellation fee according to the table above, and the management fee if applicable.
Insurance premiums and costs resulting from changes will not be refunded. In addition, you will not be entitled to any refund if you do not show up on the date or place of departure of your cruise agreed (Paris or provincial airport or, in the case of a cruise alone, at the port of embarkation), if you cancel all or part of your cruise on the same day or after the date of your departure, or if you shorten your cruise for any reason.
Note: Bookings made on board are governed by special booking and cancellation conditions, different from those set out here. They will be communicated to you on board prior to the confirmation of your reservation.
1.12 Can I change my reservation?
It is your responsibility to confirm your ability to travel before making a booking. Depending on your selected fare type, once your Holiday is confirmed you do not have an automatic right to cancel or make certain changes, unless we have breached our obligations hereunder or otherwise provided under Applicable Law. If you wish to make a change to your Holiday, you must notify us at least 91 days before departure for flight-inclusive Holidays or final payment date for all others. Depending on the nature of the change, you may be required to submit your request in writing. We will endeavour, but cannot guarantee, that we will be able to accommodate every change request.
If we accept your change request, a non-refundable fee will become immediately payable, together with any fare difference, costs incurred by ourselves, and costs or charges incurred or imposed by any third parties (e.g., airlines or ground transport providers), which may, in some cases, be the full cost of the fare. Amendment fees will be assessed as follows:
i) Name changes (the substitution of one Guest’s details for another) can be requested up to 7 days before sailing and a fee of € 50 per name change per booking will apply. The replacement guest must fulfil all necessary conditions for participation in the cruise (for example age, health, and visa requirements). Name changes to the lead guest or both names on a booking will be deemed a transfer.
ii) All other changes (for example, transfers, changes to ship, sail date, flights, or brand) can be requested up to final payment date sailing and a fee of € 75 per guest per booking will apply.
The change fees above are those imposed by us only. Transfers are accepted only on a “like for like” basis, i.e., same ship, sail date and stateroom. Depending on the change, some of our suppliers may treat name changes as cancellations and rebooking. Any promotions applied to a booking (for example, loyalty discounts, residency rates, or minimum occupancy) must be satisfied following any changes to the booking, or such promotion(s) will be forfeited, and the booking will be repriced at prevailing rates.
1.13 Do I need travel insurance?
Passengers are strongly advised to take out personal travel insurance simultaneously with the purchase of their cruise, to cover the main risks related to the trip and in particular the risk of cancellation of the contract or the need for medical repatriation. You have the possibility to take out this optional insurance with us (trip/flight cancellation contract or loss of luggage/interruption of stay). You will find the complete description of the guarantees offered as well as the details of the special insurance conditions on our website www.royalcaribbean.fr.
These coverages are offered by a third-party insurance company and have specific limitations, exclusions and obligations in the event of a claim that are subject to change over time. Therefore, only guarantees, general and special conditions of insurance as stipulated online at the time of the reservation and accessible on our website www.royalcaribbean.fr will govern the contractual relationship with the customer and will be enforceable against us as well as the insurance company. Please note that some countries require you to have taken out assistance and/or repatriation insurance in order to agree to issue you a visa. Please refer to Article 2.6 below for more details.
1.14 how do I schedule my return trip?
Certain circumstances (strikes, weather conditions, riots, medical emergency, assistance to another vessel, technical or mechanical damage that does not allow the vessel to move at a normal speed, etc.) may affect the return schedule of our vessels. The return time communicated to you must therefore be considered indicative. You are strongly advised to allow a security period of a few hours between the scheduled time of return of your cruise and that of the departure of your train/plane/coach/etc. return. Similarly, we recommend that you do not make any commitment on the scheduled day of return from your cruise as well as the day after this return.
2. BEFORE I LEAVE
2.1 Where can I deposit my valuables?
Make sure that your valuables and valuables (medicines, means of payment, jewelry, fragile items, travel documents, cameras, videos, phones, computers, etc.) are packed in carry-on baggage and are not left in the cabin or any other place on board unprotected. For added safety, we recommend that you drop them off at the purser’s office or, in the mini safe provided for this purpose in your cabin. It is also strongly recommended that you take out appropriate insurance. For items lost or damaged by our proven fault, we will reimburse you a maximum of
3,375SDRs (maximum amount set by Article 5 of the Athens Convention on Valuables Deposited in the Hands of the Carrier, applicable pursuant to Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No. 392/2009 of 23 April 2009 per passenger per cruise and this, regardless of the number of pieces of baggage involved.
For further assistance, please let us know as soon as possible any problems you are experiencing. If you discover the loss, delay or damage on board, you must let us know immediately, at the Guest Relations Desk. The time allotted to let us know of your loss, delay or damage is as follows:
For any apparent damage, you must notify us before, or at the latest at the time of departure of the ship, or for other services when using them or at the end of their use. For any non-apparent damage, you must notify us within 15 days of the departure of the ship or at the end of the use of this service.
You will then need to provide us with your bank details for any refund. You will also need to notify us if your insurance covers this damage.
We may reduce the amounts to be paid to you based on the amount you have received from any insurance company.
2.2 What am I forbidden to bring?
You must not carry in your baggage or on board (or in any of the countries where the ship will stop) any dangerous, illegal or prohibited objects or products, such as firearms, explosives or other flammable substances, drugs, etc., and any animals. A passenger in possession of such items may be denied boarding. In addition, if we or the Captain have reason to believe that a cabin contains an object or substance that should not have been brought on board, the Captain or a duly authorised officer shall have the right to enter the cabin concerned, search the cabin and seize such object or substance.
Note: make sure that any sharp object (razor, scissors …) is not put in the hand luggage.
2.3 What should I do if my belongings are lost or damaged during my cruise, or if there is a delay in services?
(See clause 2.1 concerning valuables.)
It is the responsibility of our passengers to remove all personal items from their cabins when they leave the ship. If an item is left on board, then we will do our best to find it; If we fail to do so, we cannot be held responsible. Any forgotten object can be destroyed. You must notify us as soon as possible.
If you discover this loss or damage on board, you must immediately report it to the Guest Relations Desk. The time allotted to let us know of your loss or damage is as follows:
For any apparent damage, you must notify us before, or at the latest at the time of departure of the ship, or for other services when using them or at the end of their use.
For any non-apparent damage or loss, you must report it to us within 15 days of the departure of the vessel or at the end of the use of this service.
If you can prove that the damage or loss is our fault, or that of our service providers, we will reimburse you for the damage or loss suffered on your cabin baggage up to a maximum of 2,250 SDRs (maximum amount set by Article 8 of the Athens Convention on Cabin Baggage), applicable pursuant to Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No. 392/2009 of 23 April 2009).
This also applies to damage or loss when embarking or disembarking the vessel. In any case, you will then need to provide us with your banking information for any refund. You will also need to notify us if your insurance covers such damage or loss. We may reduce the amounts to be paid to you based on the amount you have received from any insurance company.
2.4 What should I do if my belongings are lost or damaged during air transport?
Air carrier liability is limited by national or international law which is applicable to them. An extract of these conditions is given to the User with his ticket.
In case of sale of an air transport service outside the tourist package, you must contact the Carrier directly.
2.5 How much luggage to bring?
The maximum weight of luggage allowed per passenger, when boarding, is 90 kilos. However, airlines have restrictions on the number of bags that can be carried on board, limits on the quantity, size and weight of baggage allowed on planes. Check your flight ticket for flight limits. Please note that the baggage limit is usually set at a maximum of 20 kilos per person, but may vary depending on the airline.
Any excess may be charged by the airline.
2.6 Passports & Visas
You will find on our website www.royalcaribbean.fr all the formalities for leaving the territory and entering the territory(ies) visited or crossed (passport, visas, authorization, etc.). In case of booking made with your travel agency, the latter will also inform you of the necessary formalities.
The formalities indicated on our www.royalcaribbean.fr website only apply to travelers holding a French passport. You are solely responsible for ensuring police, health (vaccination obligations, in particular) or customs formalities, as well as the consequences that may result. The completion of these formalities as well as the resulting costs are your responsibility. Most often, a valid passport is required for foreign destinations outside the European Union.
Some countries require that the validity date of the passport be longer than six months after the date of return; that the passenger is in possession of his return ticket (for planes), an exit ticket or sufficient funds and/or that the passenger can prove the purchase of assistance/repatriation insurance necessary for the issuance of a visa. For some countries, children must have an individual passport even if they are already listed in their parents’ passports and are travelling together. It is your responsibility to be in good standing with the authorities of each of the countries where you must stop and to ensure that visas and any other necessary documents are issued. We can in no way be held responsible in the event that you are refused boarding or disembarkation, or impose the payment of a fine if you do not have the necessary documents.
Since 2 April 2004, the United States has announced the extension of its “US – VISIT” procedure on arrival and departure to all passengers, including those benefiting from the Visa Waiver Program, from 30 September 2004. This means that all passengers arriving in the United States must give their fingerprints (ink-free procedure) and be photographed by a digital device.
Most passport holders will be asked for a visa for Russia:
Be aware that this visa takes a long time to obtain. If you are doing an excursion organized and sold by Royal Caribbean International® in Russia, you will not need a visa; however, if you want to visit on your own, you will need to obtain one. To do this, contact the Russian embassy.
You must make sure that your passport and ticket have exactly the same name. In case of discrepancies, you may be refused entry on the plane/ship or on a stopover or in a country. We could not be held responsible in that case. Some port authorities sometimes ask for an ID document with a photo when you disembark at certain port calls. We recommend that you take a photocopy of your passport with you and keep it with you whenever you are off the ship. It is the passenger’s responsibility to identify and obtain travel documents, and to have them in their possession at the time necessary. Passengers who do not have their travel documents may be denied access to the plane or boat or entry into a country, and may be fined. No refund or compensation will be offered to passengers who will disregard the obligations laid down in this Article or who will not have their travel documents in their possession. The passenger alone will bear any penalty and/ or fine that may be imposed and resulting from non-compliance with police, health or customs regulations, as well as the consequences that may result. We will not be able to nor be held liable in any way whatsoever, nor be required to reimburse tickets or any costs whatsoever resulting from the passenger’s failure to comply with the obligations incumbent on him for the completion of police, border crossing, health or customs formalities.
Since January 1, 2003, a security law has been passed in the United States; it is now necessary to provide the American immigration services, at the time of booking and no later than 70 days before the date of departure, with personal information concerning the passengers booked: passport, date of birth, emergency contact, etc. An information request form will be sent to you upon confirmation of your reservation. We recommend that you visit our www.royalcaribbean.fr website and click on “Online Check-in” and follow the instructions to complete this identity form. This form will facilitate your boarding and expedite your access on board the ship. If you have not checked in online, you must do so at the port of embarkation at least two hours before the ship’s departure time.
If you are unable to complete your online check-in, it may be due to non-payment for your cruise. We invite you to contact your Travel agency. Note that all passengers must be checked in and present on board the ship no later than 90 minutes before the cruise departs, otherwise they will not be allowed to board. You will need to have your reservation number, the name of the ship and the date of embarkation in order to complete the online form, or to correct it if the information recorded is not correct.
If you do not have Internet access, contact your travel agency who will help you with this process. It will guide you to verify your information, and modify it. Our procedure may change, in which case we will inform you at the time of booking or well before. We may also be required to transmit the information you provided at the time of booking to the various suppliers involved in your cruise.
At the time of printing this brochure, the European airlines we work with are obliged to provide passenger details to US or other authorities. This includes certain information that you have provided to us. If you fail to provide us with the correct and necessary details, we reserve the right to refuse your booking or, if you do not provide them in due time, you may be denied access on board the ship and/or plane for the return. We will not be held responsible for this and we will not compensate you or reimburse you. Your return will be at your expense.
If we suffer surcharges or other financial penalties as a result of your fault, you will be held responsible and must reimburse us for the sums requested.
Passengers arriving on U.S. soil will be photographed and will be required to give their fingerprints. For more information, please contact your travel agent at the time of booking, or contact the U.S. Embassy.
System For Travel Authorization (ESTA)
ESTA is an automatic and mandatory system, used to determine the eligibility of visitors who wish to travel to the United States through the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
Passengers scheduled to travel to the U.S. must register on the ESTA https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov website, and complete the I-94W form online. Once the information is saved, the passenger will have to print the document. The airline will check the registration of the passenger on the ESTA website before boarding. For their cruise, guests will need to provide a printed I-94W ESTA receipt and present it at the pier before boarding the ship. Please note that we cannot be held responsible for the non-eligibility of passengers for the ESTA program decided by the Department of Homeland Security. Any application refused by ESTA must be forwarded to the U.S. Embassy in order to apply for a visa to travel to the United States. In addition, we inform you that the formalities relating to the ESTA program are paid. In this regard, we invite you to visit the ESTA website available at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.
2.7 Medical contraindications – Pregnancy
Please contact your GP to find out what health measures (e.g. vaccines) are needed for the destinations presented in this brochure. We regret to inform you that passengers entering their 24th week of pregnancy, or reaching this period during their cruise, will not be allowed to travel. If at your departure your pregnancy is between the 23rd and 24th week, we inform you that a certificate of fitness to travel issued by your doctor will be requested when you board. We must receive this medical document at least 30 days before your departure date.
2.8 Check in.
If you checked in online, bring your SetSail pass and ID documents to the Cruise Terminal. Go to the check-in area where a passenger greeter will check your identification documents and give you your SeaPass® card to board the ship. If you have not checked in online, bring a completed Passenger Information form, your onboard account form, and your identity papers to the Cruise Terminal where a guest greeter will issue your tickets, check your identity documents, check you in and direct you to the ship.
3. ON BOARD THE SHIP
3.1 Catering on board
You can choose from several catering services on board our ships. Indicate your preference when booking your table, as well as the number of guests. Food service is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. It is therefore recommended to book your table as soon as possible to avoid any disappointment. A reservation taken subject to the allocation, before departure, of the service and the table you wish, will not be accepted.
The number of your table will be confirmed to you when you board. Please note that meal times may vary when the ship is docked, due to excursions.
The “My Time Dining®” program is now available throughout the fleet Royal Caribbean International® and allows you to choose your dinner time, which must be between 18:00 and 21:30 each evening. The “My Time Dining®” program is subject to a fee. Its price is communicated to you when you make your reservation.
The “My Family Time Dining®” service is also available on board a selection of cruises, only on the first service. This program allows children to dine during the first service and then to be able to participate in the activities of the program.
“Adventure Ocean®”. The “My Family Time Dining® ” service is only offered to children aged 3 to 11 years on the first day of the cruise and at no extra cost.
If you wish to book this program, please specify this when booking your cruise.
3.2 Specific diets
Royal Caribbean International® offers the following diets on board its ships: vegetarian, diabetic, low calorie, salt-free, anti-cholesterol. Other diets, such as kosher, gluten-free, lactose-free, are available upon prior request. It should be noted that kosher meals are prepared in advance and are, like other specific diets, only available for dinners in the main dining room.
Royal Caribbean International® does not provide baby meals, but it is possible to purchase them before your cruise, by visiting our website secure.royalcaribbean.com/ royalgifts/onboard-delivery/gifts/babies/. Baby meals ordered on time will be delivered once on board. Please provide us with as many details as possible regarding requests for specific diets 90 days before your departure, either by post or by e-mail to the following address: reservations.fr@rccl.com. We will endeavour to satisfy all reasonable requests, but cannot guarantee them.
3.3 Can special requests be guaranteed?
Unfortunately not. If you have a special request, please let us know the details and terms (or your travel agent) when booking your cruise. We and our service providers will do our utmost to comply with these requests (to the extent that they are reasonable), but cannot guarantee them. Under no circumstances can we be held liable in the event that a particular request is not met. Costs that may be incurred due to special requests must be paid before your departure or on site. Unless agreed in writing when booking your cruise, a reservation made subject to the realization of a particular request cannot be accepted.
3.4 Alcohol consumption on board
The minimum age for consuming alcoholic beverages on board Royal Caribbean International® ships varies depending on the ship’s point of departure at the beginning of the cruise. For cruises departing from Europe, Asia, Australia and South America, the minimum age to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages is 18 years old.
For cruises departing from North America, the minimum age to purchase and consume alcohol is 21 years old. During calls at Labadee and CocoCay as well as at U.S. ports, the minimum age to buy and consume alcohol is also set at 21. We reserve the right to change minimum age limits without notice where required by local laws or as deemed necessary to ensure optimal travel conditions and passenger safety. If a passenger has not reached the minimum drinking age for drinking alcohol on board at the departure of the cruise but reaches this minimum age during the cruise, he will be able to register with the Guest Relations Desk upon presentation of his passport, and will be allowed to purchase and consume alcohol. Please note that pursuant to laws relating to the territorial waters you will pass through or applicable laws in the country of embarkation, shops located on board may be closed or subject to restrictions on the availability of certain items. In addition, the rate of VAT and other local taxes may vary depending on the territorial areas crossed. Restrictions apply and this policy is subject to change without notice.
On the day of boarding only, each adult passenger of drinking age is allowed to board a bottle (75cl) of wine or champagne to consume in their cabin. When consumed in any restaurant, bar or lounge on the ship, a corkage fee of $15 per bottle will apply. Alcoholic beverages purchased during stopovers or in shops on board will be stored and consigned in dedicated areas. These beverages will only be delivered to passengers on the last day of the cruise by way of delivery to the cabins.
Security will be able to inspect all types of containers brought on board (water bottles, soft drink bottles, mouthwashes, luggage, etc.) and will place any object containing alcohol in dedicated areas. Passengers under the age of 21 will not be returned to confiscated alcohol. As noted, if a passenger reaches the minimum drinking age during the cruise, they will be able to register with the Client Relations Office upon presentation of their passport, and will be allowed to purchase and consume alcohol as long as the other conditions related to Royal Caribbean International® ‘s good conduct policy will be satisfied. A passenger who has violated one of the rules related to the policy governing the consumption and conditions of acquisition of alcohol on board (overconsumption, provision of alcohol to a passenger under the minimum age, irresponsible driving, violation of the rules related to the deposit of alcoholic beverages) may be disembarked or not be allowed to board. The costs incurred by the violation of the rules of good conduct will remain the responsibility of the passenger.
In this case, we will not be able to make refunds, pay compensation or be held responsible for any expenses that you may have to bear as a result.
Royal Caribbean International® reserves the right to revoke or restrict any passenger’s ability to access alcoholic beverages, without age restrictions, for reasons of safety or comfort of other passengers.
Restrictions related to local laws are applicable for the duration of the vessel’s presence in the port of the territory concerned and until entry into international waters.
3.5 Service fees (tips)?
On all our vessels, service charges (tips) are paid to staff members whose services you consider to have been satisfactory and who have paid special attention to you.
We offer the possibility to prepay gratuities before departure as indicated in paragraph 3.6. All beverage bills purchased on board are automatically increased by 18% on your SeaPass® account.
3.6 What should I do on the last day of my cruise?
On the last day of the cruise, guests who have not chosen to prepay gratuities at the time of booking will be able to tip staff members who have made their cruise an unforgettable experience.
Passengers are required to prepare their baggage and place it before midnight in front of their cabin door. The cabin boy will give colored labels for each piece of luggage. Please ensure that your name and home address are legibly written on each label, and that you remove all labels that have already been used from your bags. We also thank you for keeping in your hand luggage all your fragile or valuables (camera, camera, jewelry, medicines, etc.). It is the responsibility of passengers to ensure that they do not forget any object in their cabin before disembarking at the end of the cruise.
If, however, an object has been forgotten on board, Royal Caribbean International® will take the necessary steps to find it. If it is impossible to find this object, Royal Caribbean International® will in no way be held responsible for the loss of this object, and will refer to the insurance possibly taken out during your reservation. Finally, please note that any forgotten item or not claimed within 30 days of the end of the cruise, may be destroyed, without Royal Caribbean International® being held responsible for the consequences that would result.
3.7 Smoke-free regulations
There are smoking and non-smoking areas on all our ships. Smoking is strictly prohibited in bars, restaurants, theatre, corridors, public areas of the ship and in all cabins. A $250 penalty will be added to your SeaPass® flight note if you smoke in your cabin or on your cabin balcony. Passengers under the age of 18 are not allowed to buy or consume tobacco on board.
3.8 Shore Excursion and Related Activities
The information contained regarding shore excursions on our systems and documentation is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. Our descriptions may refer to activities available in the ports you visit. Please note that these tours are owned and operated by local operators who are independent third parties. We have no responsibility for these activities, as they are not managed, supervised or controlled in any way by us. These activities are carried out by local operators completely independent of us and we act as an agent of these operators. They are not part of your contract with us, although we suggest particular operators/centres and/or help you book these activities in any way, unless they are expressly booked as part of your package holiday.
The agreements you enter into directly with the providers regarding shore excursions are between you and the local operators and do not form part of your contract with us, regardless of whether we can provide you with practical assistance in booking these activities or even making the booking on your behalf. Accordingly, we cannot accept any liability, whether in contract, tort or otherwise, in connection with these activities.
Shore excursions may involve or require physical exertion, or involve some degree of risk or danger, and you should carefully consider whether the shore excursion is right for you. It is your responsibility to adequately research all shore excursions and/or activities in which you intend to participate and to make any relevant requests to third party operators to ensure that you are prepared with appropriate attire for the excursion/activity, including attire suitable for difficult/hazardous terrain, physical exertion for long periods of time and/or extreme weather conditions.
Therefore, we cannot guarantee that shore excursions are available in general or for disabled people – please contact us or your travel agent for information on specific excursions.
Special arrangements for persons with reduced mobility or disabilities may be available on certain shore excursions that have been assessed as appropriate. For more details, including the financial implications of making these special arrangements, please email shorexaccess@rccl.com with details of any special requirements. If applicable, please also provide the dimensions, weight and battery type of the wheelchair/scooter. Tours involving flights, special events, ground and hotel stays may incur charges for us and may be subject to cancellation fees.
We cannot guarantee and make no representations as to the accuracy of the information provided by us or local operators in connection with such activities or about the stations/area/location you visit in general (except as regards the services that will form part of your contract) or that any particular excursion or activity that is not part of our contract will take place, or how it will unfold, as these services are not under our control.
If you feel that any of the activities mentioned, which is not part of our contract, is vital for the enjoyment of your holiday, write to us immediately and we will inform you of the latest known situation. If we become aware of material changes to resort/region information and/or such outside activities, which can reasonably be expected to affect your decision to book a holiday with us, we will pass on such information at the time of booking, although we cannot guarantee to do so.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, you acknowledge and agree that the very nature of the recreational activities on the shore excursion in which you participate may be dangerous, with inherent risks, dangers and dangers and injuries (and sometimes death) may occur, and you agree to assume and accept all risks of personal injury or death that may occur. Potential hazards and risks associated with these activities may include, but are not limited to, difficult and dangerous terrain, physical exertion for long periods of time, extreme weather including sudden and unexpected changes, and difficulty evacuating in the event of injury.
By using, participating, engaging or booking a shore excursion, you accept these risks and agree that Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. trading as Royal Caribbean Group, and all of its subsidiaries, affiliates, employees, successors, assigns, affiliated ships, respective masters, officers and crew, operators, charterers, underwriters, agents, servants, administrators, contractors and third party operators are not liable for any claim that you, your dependents or legal representatives (except in the case of negligence on our part) in the event of breach of contract, any law or legal obligation resulting in personal injury or death, any direct/indirect or consequential loss or damage, including, without limitation, financial loss (such as loss of profits or use of capital or income or otherwise), or for any punitive, exemplary, special or incidental loss or damage, whether such liability arises out of contract, of a tort, of equity, of its provision of shore excursions.
By using, participating, engaging in or booking a recreational activity, you acknowledge, accept and understand that the risk warnings contained above constitute a “risk warning” for purposes of any relevant legislation.
Please note: any dispute or claim arising out of a shore excursion must be brought against the local tour operator, however, if such dispute or claim is made against a Royal Caribbean contracting entity, it must be brought in the courts of France, in accordance with the laws of France, which have exclusive jurisdiction over such dispute or claim.
TENDERS
In some ports, the ship will anchor offshore and use smaller boats that can accommodate about 100 people (known as tenders) to transport guests ashore. Guests will travel to a boarding platform from which you will board the tender. Occasionally and for operational reasons, we need to switch from a dockside stopover to a tender. Please note that passengers board, travel and disembark at their own risk.
Tender services are provided by independent third parties and Royal Caribbean International does not operate, supervise or control them in any way. Consequently, we cannot guarantee that the tenders are available or even adapted to customers in general or that they are available and adapted for people with disabilities or reduced mobility. Royal Caribbean International is not responsible for any illness, injury or death of a passenger or for any damage to or loss of baggage or other personal property of a passenger arising out of or in connection with travel and disembarkation on the tenders, as these services are not under our control.
You are responsible for following all instructions given to you by the staff on the tenders. If you cause damage to the tender or its furnishings, or equipment, or any other property on the tender, or to any other passenger, you will be fully responsible for such damage and will indemnify Royal Caribbean International against any costs or claims that may arise.
The ship’s doctor
A shipboard doctor is present on each ship as an independent health professional and assists passengers in need of care. He is in no way an employee of Royal Caribbean. Passengers have the possibility to consult the ship’s doctor on a voluntary basis, and all of his fees are the responsibility of the passenger and are not included in the price of the cruise. When the ship’s doctor considers that a passenger is fit or not fit to embark and/or continue the cruise, his decision is final and binding on the passenger and Royal Caribbean International® without our liability being incurred as a result.
4. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
4.1 Group travel
These Terms and Conditions applicable to passengers travelling alone differ from the General Conditions applicable to passengers travelling in groups. Consult your travel agency or Royal Caribbean International® for booking arrangements for group travel.
4.2 Fitness to travel and passengers with reduced mobility
You must ensure that your physical and medical condition allows you to travel without endangering yourself and other passengers. At the time of booking (or as soon as possible if your physical or medical condition changes after booking), you must notify your travel agent (or our services, if you have booked your journey directly with us) in writing of any assistance or equipment necessary for your stay (cabin, seat or services including medical assistance) as well as any need to provide medical equipment on board.
We also ask you to notify us of any medical or physical condition that may require treatment or that should require our attention during your stay, or that may affect your holiday in any way (services that may be made available to you), so that we can prepare for your arrival and make every effort to welcome you safely. We thank you for providing us with as much information as possible.
Our ships have a limited number of accessible cabins specially equipped for passengers with reduced mobility, or other conditions that do not allow them to access cabins intended for passengers without special needs.
Passengers booking these specially equipped cabins must sign and return a special form to ensure that the cabins are properly allocated to the people who need them and that they are well suited to their medical needs. We reserve the right to cancel the reservation or assign a cabin not equipped with special equipment to passengers who do not require such equipment, in order to ensure the safety and comfort of everyone. Please contact your travel agent or our booking services for more information.
When the ship is at anchor and in order to ensure the safety of passengers with reduced mobility, specific equipment will be required during embarkation and disembarkation, subject to weather conditions. For more information, please contact us.
We would also like to draw your attention to the fact that some ports or ports of call do not have infrastructure adapted to the transport and reception of passengers with reduced mobility or passengers with certain disorders. Passengers using wheelchairs must bring their own folding wheelchair. If you wish to bring your motorized wheelchair on board, or a scooter, it is necessary to inform our Special Services Department by e-mail to the booking.fr@rccl.com address, in any case, at the latest at the time of booking, in order to ensure that its dimensions are compatible with the facilities on board the ship. Passengers using wheelchairs may be prevented from accessing certain parts of the ship or ports of call which are not suitable for persons with reduced mobility, in particular when using boats.
Any passenger with a physical or mental disability must be independent or travel in the company of a person who can provide any necessary assistance. A passenger who could not reasonably be considered physically or mentally fit to travel, or who would require the care of an attendant, may be refused boarding. Pursuant to European Union Regulation 1177/2010 of 24 November 2010, we reserve the right to refuse to accept a reservation, to issue or provide a ticket or to board a disabled person or person with reduced mobility:
in order to comply with applicable security requirements laid down in international, European Union or national law, or in order to comply with safety rules established by competent authorities.
if the design of the ship or the infrastructure and equipment of a port (including port terminals) make it impossible to embark, disembark or transport the person concerned under safe or operationally feasible conditions.
4.3 Minimum age required to travel with Royal Caribbean
Unless otherwise provided by law, passengers under the age of 21 are not permitted to travel alone and/or be accommodated alone in a cabin. Passengers under the age of 21 must be accompanied by:
one of their parents (parents who do not have the same surname as their child must provide proof of their relationship: family record book, birth certificate, etc.);
a guardian over 21 years of age, who must be in possession of the document proving his capacity;
an adult authorized to accompany the minor passenger and who must be in possession of a notarized letter signed by at least one of the parents or by the guardian and a representative of the law (lawyer or notary, for example), and must present this authorization at boarding.
If none of the aforementioned authorizations is presented, the minor may be denied the right to board. No compensation or reimbursement of the cruise or the costs incurred by this refusal to board may be granted to the minor or any person accompanying him, as well as to the person who paid for the cruise of the minor without Royal Caribbean International® being held liable in this respect. The authorization issued to the person accompanying the minor must also authorize him to take medical decisions on the advice of a doctor, in the event of an accident or illness of the minor.
These age limits do not apply to married couples as long as one of the couple’s two persons is at least 21 years old (a marriage certificate will be required at the time of registration).
Minors must be placed in a cabin adjacent to that of their parents. There are certain areas of the ship with age limitations. The minimum age of a child to take a cruise is 6 (six) months, except for: Transatlantic, Transpacific, Hawaii, some cruises in South America, and others where the minimum age requirement is 12 (twelve) months. The health and safety of our passengers is our priority, which is why no derogation from this rule is possible. Full details can be found in the daily logbook or from each ship’s Information Office.
The age of a passenger is assessed on the day of departure of the cruise and determines his status throughout it.
Exception: For cruises departing from any of the ports outside the United States and Canada, the minimum age for solo travel is 18, not 21. This rule applies, for example, to all cruises departing from a European port.
We are delighted to welcome families with children on board our ships. Free activities have been specially designed for children. Please consult the details and schedules of the available programs. We ask parents not to leave their children unattended on deck, in lounges or on dance floors, especially at night.
Children are not allowed on certain areas of the ship.
The number of children on board increases during school holidays. Cribs are available and the request must be made at the time of booking, however, it will be necessary to take into account that the cradle will reduce the space of your cabin. There is normally a childcare service (depending on the applicable hourly rate), when crew members are available.
The minimum age for cabin guarding service is 12 months. All children who participate in children’s programs must know how to go to the toilet alone. Children with diapers cannot swim in the pools, nor use the hydromassages. Except on Freedom Class and Oasis Class ships that have a Baby Splash Zone where they can bathe in layers. An additional fee may apply on board for certain children’s activities.
Note: Facilities and activities for children under 3 years old are limited.
4.4 Changes to routes and schedules
Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that the ship will call at each of the planned ports and follow the itinerary indicated in the commercial brochure. Certain unforeseeable circumstances (strikes, weather conditions, riots, medical emergency, another vessel, technical or mechanical damage not allowing the ship to move at a normal speed, etc.) may occur during the cruise and require the Captain, in order to ensure the safety of passengers, to cancel or shorten a stopover, to make additional stopovers and, more generally, to make changes to the planned itinerary or to change ships or ports.
Royal Caribbean International® will make its best efforts to avoid any changes that would prejudice the smooth running of the cruise.
4.5 Change or cancellation of reservation.
Although Royal Caribbean International® makes every effort to avoid any modification or cancellation of cruises, it may be required to make changes or correct errors in the sales brochure, prior to or after the booking confirmation, or be forced to cancel reservations that have been confirmed. Exceptionally, we may be forced to cancel so-called “back-to-back” cruises on U.S. territory due to limitations related to local laws, including cabotage laws prohibiting us from following our original itinerary (see Article 4.6). In addition, maintenance or construction work on ships may be necessary during the cruise. If this work is likely to degrade your travel conditions, we will inform you as soon as possible.
In the event that Royal Caribbean International® has to make a substantial change or cancel a cruise, we will notify you as soon as possible by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt. You will be able to choose from one of the following options:
A. accept changes to the cruise;
B. Book another of our cruises, similar to the one originally booked, depending on availability. If the fare for the new cruise is lower than the fare for the cruise originally booked, you will be refunded the difference in fare. If you do not wish to refer to the alternative cruise offered by Royal Caribbean, it will be possible to choose another of our cruises subject to availability. In this case, you will have to pay the fare (or surcharge) the new tour concerned, or you will receive a refund of the difference if the fare is lower;
C. cancel or accept the cancellation of your cruise, in which case you will receive a full refund of all monies already paid to Royal Caribbean International®. In this case, in accordance with the legislation in force, cancellation fees may be due to you under the same conditions by Royal Caribbean International®, except for cancellations due to force majeure.
The above options are only applicable to substantial changes affecting cruises listed in the sales brochure. In the event of force majeure (cf. paragraph 4.11), Royal Caribbean International® may be forced to modify or interrupt the cruise during its execution. Should this very rare situation occur, Royal Caribbean International® will not make any refund (unless we obtain a refund from our suppliers) or compensation of any kind, and will not be liable for any reason.As for minor changes in the organization of the cruise, these will not give you the right to cancel your cruise or substitute another one.
After your departure, we may exceptionally be forced, for reasons of safety or force majeure and in your interest, to shorten your cruise and bring you back to port. In this case, we will not be able to make refunds (except in the event that we are reimbursed ourselves by our service providers), pay compensation or be held liable for any expenses that you may incur as a result.
Before booking, you will be informed of any substantial changes in the organization of cruises, as mentioned in the brochure, and any substantial price changes. You will be informed of these changes, which remain exceptional, at the time of your reservation.
4.6 Consecutive cruises, called “back to back”
On some destinations, we offer our passengers the opportunity to take a cruise “back to back”, i.e. two consecutive cruises: for example, a cruise in the Western Caribbean immediately followed by a cruise in the Eastern Caribbean. We draw your attention to the fact that, as part of a “back to back” cruise, the activities, menus and entertainment offered on board may be identical during both cruises. Please also note that, to ensure the maintenance and upkeep of the ship between the two cruises, some services may not be available on board during the connecting day. You will also need to disembark in order to submit to customs and immigration formalities at the end of the first cruise. Passengers on a back-to-back cruise will also need to update their SeaPass® on the day of the connection in order to use it on the new cruise. This formality must be accomplished on the dock, before re-embarking for the next cruise. If you have booked the same cabin for both cruises, you will be able to leave your luggage in your cabin. If you have booked different cabins for each cruise, you will need to pack your bags at the end of the first cruise. In this case, your luggage will be stored in a dedicated space until your new cabin is available.
Please note that our non-U.S. flag vessels, pursuant to U.S. law, we are not permitted to accept reservations for two cruises or more than two consecutive cruises if the itinerary of the first cruise begins in a U.S. port and the itinerary of the second cruise is destined for a different U.S. port than the cruise departed. An exception to this rule is provided for in the event that these itineraries include a stopover outside US territory.
If you wish to book two consecutive cruises that start and end in different U.S. ports, please contact us or your travel agent to check the specific conditions of such a reservation, prior to any reservation. In the event that a booking has been made in violation of US law, we reserve the right to cancel your booking and refund the price paid.
4.7 Good conduct policy
In order to board and remain on board our ships, passenger behaviour must comply with our Guest Conduct Policy throughout their stay. This policy is intended to ensure that all passengers can enjoy a safe and enjoyable cruise and, as such, this Policy sets out the standards of conduct to be followed by all passengers throughout their vacation on board a Royal Caribbean International® ship, including transfers, at boarding terminals, on board, at ports of call, during shore excursions and to our private destinations. Please consult our Guest Conduct Policy Guest Health, Safety, and Conduct Policy – Guest Terms and Conditions (royalcaribbean.com) and/or contact your local booking office for more details prior to your trip.
4.8 Can I be refused to travel?
In the event that, in the opinion of the Captain or the ship’s doctor, you are unfit to travel, for any reason whatsoever, or if you present a danger to yourself, to other passengers or property, or violate safety rules, or risk disturbing the smooth running of the cruise, Royal Caribbean International® reserves the right to deny you boarding on its ships, access to the services and activities offered as part of the cruise or to interrupt your cruise at any time during your trip. You will then be likely to be disembarked in any of the ports where the ship calls without Royal Caribbean International being held liable in this respect if Royal Caribbean International®® has not committed any fault.
You will be responsible for paying all costs, expenses or losses incurred as a result, without being entitled to reimbursement from Royal Caribbean International®.
Once your cruise has been interrupted, Royal Caribbean is relieved of any liability to you. None of the sums collected by Royal Caribbean International® can be refunded.
In order to ensure the health of passengers, we may ask passengers boarding and showing symptoms of gastroenteritis-type syndromes, or easily contagious diseases, to reschedule their cruise if recommended by our medical team.
We also reserve the right to refuse boarding or access to the services and activities offered as part of the cruise, or to interrupt your cruise at any time.
what time during your trip, if your condition did not allow you to travel or if you violated safety rules or risked disturbing the smooth running of the cruise.
In the event that Royal Caribbean International denies you boarding because of your physical or mental disability, or medical conditions requiring special care of which you have not informed your travel agent or Royal Caribbean International® pursuant to Article 4.2 hereof and in accordance with European Union Regulation 1177/2010. In this case, only the sums paid for your maritime transport will be refunded. See also paragraph 1.3 on disclosure.
In order for Royal Caribbean International® passengers to enjoy the most enjoyable cruise and holiday possible, we have established rules of good conduct for passengers. These regulations are available on board each vessel and on our website www.royalcaribbean.fr. This regulation applies to passengers embarking on our ships. In case of violation of these rules of good conduct, Royal Caribbean International® reserves the right to resort to appropriate sanctions, such as confiscation of objects and equipment which has caused inconvenience or, if necessary, disembarkation of the passengers concerned.
4.9 What is our liability to customers?
Subject to section 4.10 below, we undertake to ensure that any holiday arrangements we have agreed to make, perform or provide, as the case may be, as part of our contract with you, are made, performed or provided with reasonable skill and care. This means that, subject to these booking conditions, we will accept liability if, for example, you suffer death or personal injury or if your contractual holiday arrangements are not provided as promised or prove to be deficient as a result of a failure by us, our employees, agents or suppliers to exercise reasonable skill and care in the realisation, the performance or provision, as the case may be, of your contractual holiday arrangements. It is your responsibility to demonstrate that reasonable skill and care have not been used if you wish to make a claim against us. In addition, we will only be liable for the acts or omissions of our employees, servants or agents if they were acting as such at the time of the alleged act or omission acting lawfully and performing tasks or services on our specific instructions, and in connection with either their employment or engagement by us.
We will not be liable for any injury, illness, death, loss (e.g. loss of use), damage, expense, cost or other sum or claim of any kind resulting from any of the following:
The act(s) and/or omission(s) of the person(s) concerned or any member of their party; or
The act(s) and/or omission(s) of a third party unrelated to the provision of your stay and which were unforeseeable or unavoidable; or
An event or circumstances that we or the service provider could not have foreseen or avoided even with all reasonable precautions; or
The act and/or omission(s) of any person who, at the time of the alleged act or omission, was not acting lawfully and was performing duties or services on our specific instructions, and/or in connection with their employment or engagement directly by us; or
“Force majeure” as defined in Section 5.10.
We cannot accept any liability for any damage, loss, expense or other sum of any kind (1) which, based on the information you provided to us in relation to your booking prior to our acceptance, we could not have foreseen you would suffer or suffer if we broke our contract with you; or (2) is not the result of breach of contract or other fault on the part of us or our employees. In addition, we cannot accept any liability for business losses. We do not accept any responsibility for services that are not part of the holiday package. This includes, for example, any additional services or facilities that your hotel or any other supplier undertakes to provide to you, or where the services or facilities are not advertised in our brochure or on the website, and we have not agreed to arrange them. In addition, regardless of the wording we use on our website, in any of our brochures or elsewhere, we undertake only to exercise reasonable skill and care as set out above and we have no greater or different liability to you. If the particular services that gave rise to the claim or complaint complied with local standards, laws and regulations applicable to those services at that time, the services will be deemed to have been properly provided. This will be the case even if the services did not comply with United Kingdom laws and regulations, which would have applied if those services had been provided in the United Kingdom. The exception to this is when the claim or complaint concerns the lack of a security device, which could lead a reasonable holidaymaker to refuse to take the stay in question.
4.10 What is our limit of liability to customers?
On board our ships, you can participate in recreational activities. You acknowledge and agree that, by their very nature, recreational activities in which you participate may be dangerous with inherent risks, dangers and dangers, and bodily injury (and sometimes death) may occur and you agree to assume and accept all risks of bodily injury or death that may occur. By using, participating in, engaging in or booking any recreational activity, you accept these risks and agree that Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. trading as Royal Caribbean Group, and all of its subsidiaries, affiliates, employees, successors, assigns, affiliated ships, respective masters, officers and crew, operators, charterers, underwriters, agents, servants, and administrators are not liable for any claim by you, your dependents or your legal representatives for negligence, breach of contract or law or legal obligation resulting in personal injury or death, any direct/indirect or consequential loss or damage, including, without limitation, financial loss (such as loss of profits or use of capital or income or otherwise), or for any punitive, exemplary, special or incidental loss or damage.
By using, participating, engaging or booking recreational activities on board, you acknowledge, accept and understand that the risk warnings contained above constitute a “risk warning” for purposes of applicable law.
You acknowledge, agree and understand that Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. trading as Royal Caribbean Group, and all of its subsidiaries, affiliates, employees, successors, assigns, affiliated ships, respective masters, officers and crew, operators, charterers, underwriters, agents, servants, and administrators are in no way responsible for the actions, inaction, omissions, negligence or willful or willful misconduct of independent third parties, including, but not limited to, any independent third party providers of offers, shore excursions and/or activities and you agree to assume and accept all risks of personal injury or death that may arise, and hereby waive the right to pursue any claim against Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. trading as Royal Caribbean Group, and all of its subsidiaries, affiliates, employees, successors, assigns, affiliated ships, respective masters, officers and crew, operators, charterers, underwriters, agents, servants, administrators, contractors and third party operators for any personal injury or death in any way resulting from such activities. All participants who engage in such recreational activities do so at their own risk. The limitation of liability for any shore excursion activity is covered by section 3.8 of these Booking Conditions.
THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES:
Please note: Lead Guest accepts on behalf of themselves and their travelling party that Carrier’s exclusions and limits of liability (including all rights, defences and immunities) specified in these Booking Conditions shall also apply to and benefit: (a) designated third parties include any parent, subsidiary, affiliate, assignee or successor company of all entities identified in this Clause, (b) the officers, directors, employees, agents, crew and pilots of all the entities identified in this Clause, (c) any and all agents, independent contractors, suppliers, concessionaires, physicians and medical personnel, retail shop personnel, health and beauty staff, fitness staff, shore excursion providers, tour operators, (d) shipbuilders, manufacturers and designers of the Vessel or Transport, (e) suppliers, installers and maintainers of all component parts, launches, appurtenances, craft or facilities (whether at sea or on shore) related to the Vessel or any substitute ship or Transport, owned or operated by their owners, operators, managers, agents, charterers, contractors, concessionaires or others, and (f) owners and operators of all shoreside properties or facilities at which the Vessel or any substituted ship or the Transport may call. This Clause is without prejudice to the applicable statutory rights of any guest.
The provisions of the Convention concerning the Carriage of Passengers and Their Baggage by Sea, 1974, as supplemented and/or amended by any other applicable legislation from time to time in force, including, but not limited to, Regulation (EC) No. 392/2009 (together ‘The Athens Convention’) applies to your cruise and to the process of embarking and/or disembarking the ship. For any claim involving death or personal injury or delay, loss or damage to baggage, the only liability we have to you is in accordance with the Athens Convention. This means that you are not entitled to make a claim against us that is not expressly permitted by the Athens Convention or that exceeds the limits provided by the Athens Convention. Any claim covered by the Athens Convention must be made within the time limits set by the Athens Convention. The Athens Convention limits the maximum amount that we, as a carrier, must pay for liability for death or personal injury and for claims for baggage and valuables. Where a claim or part of a claim (including those involving death or personal injury) relates to or is based on travel arrangements (including the process of embarking and/or disembarking the relevant carriage) provided by an air, rail or road carrier or any stay in a hotel, the maximum amount of compensation to be paid by us to you will be limited. The maximum we will have to pay you for that claim or part of a claim if we are found liable to you on any basis is, unless expressly provided otherwise in the Booking Conditions, the maximum that the carrier or hotelier concerned would have to pay under the international convention or regulation that applies to the travel arrangements or hotel stay in question (for example, the Warsaw Convention as amended or not and the Montreal Convention for international air travel and/or for airlines holding an operating licence granted by an EU country, the EC Air Carrier Liability Regulation No 889/2002 for domestic and international air travel). Note: Where a carrier or hotel would not be required to make a payment to you under the applicable international convention or regulation in respect of a claim or part of a claim, we are also not required to make payment to you for that claim or part of the claim. In any payment, we are entitled to deduct any sums you have received or are entitled to receive from the carrier or hotelier for the complaint or claim in question. Copies of applicable international conventions and regulations are available upon request from us. If you have booked a cruise with an international or regional flight with us, please also see section e 3.4. The current maximum limits that apply under the Athens Convention for liability for death or personal injury caused by a navigational incident are 250,000 SDRs (approximately £240,000), unless caused by an act of war, natural phenomenon, civil war, terrorism or any other exception provided for in the Athens Convention. If we are found to have been negligent, this limit is increased to 400,000 SDRs (approximately £410,000). The limit of our liability for death and personal injury for non-shipping incidents is limited to 400,000 SDRs (approximately £379,000). In the case of liability for damage and loss of baggage, where baggage is deposited on the ship, this is limited to 3,375 SDRs (approximately £4,000) and for damage and loss of carry-on baggage, it is limited to 2,250 SDRs (approximately £2,500). £240,000.
4.11 What is the responsibility of passengers?
You shall indemnify Royal Caribbean International® against any costs, fines, penalties, losses or other expenses that we may incur or that may be imposed on us as a result of any acts, omissions or violations of any law committed by you or any other person for whom you are responsible. In addition, you will be responsible and shall indemnify Royal Caribbean International® for any damage caused to the vessel, its furniture, equipment or other property, caused deliberately, negligently and/or by omission, committed by you or any other person for whom you are responsible.
4.12 What are the cases of force majeure?
Unless otherwise stated in these terms and conditions, we cannot accept any liability or pay compensation if your holiday and/or any other service we have promised to organise or provide cannot be provided at all, or as promised or if you otherwise suffer any damage or loss (as further described in clause 5.7 above) resulting from circumstances beyond our control (“force majeure”). When we talk about circumstances beyond our control, we mean any event that we or the provider of the service in question could not have foreseen or avoided even after taking all reasonable precautions. Such events may include war or threat of war, acts of terrorism or threats of such acts, riots or civil commotion, industrial action, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, adverse weather conditions, health risks, epidemics, mechanical difficulties (which we could not have foreseen or avoided despite our usual full mechanical checks), the unavailability of ports and ancillary facilities; the inability of cruise lines to arrange cruises as a direct or indirect consequence of any governmental or regulatory order, including the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union (including the loss or restriction of navigation or transit rights or the right of cruise passengers to access ports and/or ancillary facilities) and any similar circumstances beyond our control. If, in the event of unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances, we cannot guarantee your prompt return home after your cruise holiday, Royal Caribbean International will be responsible for the accommodation required for a period not exceeding three nights per traveller. These limits may vary for people with reduced mobility, pregnant travellers and people with special medical needs who have told us of their needs at least 48 hours prior to travel. Likewise, if unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances prevent us from completing the trip, and we inform you without undue delay before the start of the package, we will have no liability to you, except the refund of the amount paid for the stay within 14 days. We will not be deemed to have unduly delayed in notifying you of the cancellation (i) 20 days before the start of the package in the case of trips lasting more than six days, (ii) 7 days before the start of the package in the case of trips lasting between two and six days and (iii) 48 hours before the start of the package for trips of less than two days.
4.13 What is the procedure to follow in the event of claims or disputes that may involve Royal Caribbean’s liability?
In the event that you are not satisfied with the service provided, it is your responsibility to report it immediately on board and in writing to the Guest Relations Desk or a Royal Caribbean International® manager. This will make it possible to try to find a solution to this difficulty as quickly as possible. If your problem cannot be solved as you wish, you can send a complaint by registered letter with acknowledgment of reception at your travel agency or Royal Caribbean International® within 28 days of your return from the cruise at the Customer Relations Department, 63ter Avenue Edouard Vaillant – 92100 Boulogne Billancourt – France. You must include your booking number, the name of the ship you travelled on, the date of departure of the cruise, the names of the passengers concerned and all the details of your claim. Incomplete claims cannot be acted upon. The Royal Caribbean shall not be liable for any claim that has not been made in accordance with the procedure described in this article. After contacting the customer relations department and in the absence of a satisfactory response within 30 days, you can refer the matter to the Tourism and Travel Mediator, whose contact details and referral procedures are available on the website: www.mtv.travel. The use of mediation is free of charge for the consumer and does not bind Royal Caribbean or the consumer who are free to follow or not the opinion of the Ombudsman (which, we remind you, is confidential).
These booking conditions are subject to French law and all claims relating to your holiday must be addressed to the local booking office as detailed in your confirmation invoice. While we will always seek to resolve any legitimate claim amicably, in the event that we cannot reach an agreement through arbitration, the French courts have exclusive jurisdiction to hear any dispute.
4.14 What does Royal Caribbean do with my personal data?
In accordance with the law 78-17 of 6 January 1978 known as Informatique et Libertés, we inform you that your reservation is subject to computerized nominative processing. This information is mandatory and allow us and service providers to process and execute your booking and cruise activities. You have the right to access, modify and delete data concerning you.
You can exercise this right by sending us an email to: contact.fr@rccl.com.
4.15 Price and validity of the information contained in the sales brochure
Royal Caribbean International®’s procedures and regulations are constantly evolving. At the time of printing the sales brochure, all the information and prices mentioned in this pamphlet were valid; however, they are likely to have changed at the time of booking your cruise. Although every effort is made to ensure the validity of the information contained in this brochure, errors may unfortunately occur. You should check with your travel agent or Royal Caribbean International® that all information is correct at the time of booking. Royal Caribbean International® cannot be held liable for errors, modifications and/or incorrect information in any version of the sales brochure to which you refer not updated.
PRIVACY STATEMENT
For the purposes of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) and the UK Data Protection Act 2018 (the “Data Protection Regulation”), RCL Cruises Ltd or RCL Cruises (Cyprus) Ltd is a data controller. In order to process your booking, we need to collect certain personal data about you. These details will include, where applicable, the names and addresses of party members, credit/debit card or other payment details and special requirements; such as those related to any disability or medical condition, which may affect the holiday arrangements chosen, and any dietary restrictions that may disclose your religious beliefs. We may also need to collect other personal information such as your nationality, citizenship, gender and passport details in addition to the information mentioned above to provide it to third parties in order to carry out your holiday. We need to pass on your personal data to companies and organisations that need to know it so that your holiday can be provided (e.g. your airline, hotel, ship operator, other supplier, credit/debit card company or bank). We may also be required, either by law or by applicable third parties (such as Immigration), such disclosures will only be made if permitted by the Data Protection Regulation or the General Data Protection Regulation (as applicable) and any related legislation. These companies, organisations and third parties may be outside the European Union, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein if your holiday is to take place or involve suppliers outside these countries and we will take steps to ensure that your personal information is kept secure in accordance with European standards (EEA) All information you provide to us in connection with your booking (including information relating to , disability or medical condition or your religious beliefs) will remain confidential but may be shared with third parties as necessary in order to provide you with services, for example transfers via air or land ports. You generally have the right to ask us (by post or email) what information about you is held or processed, for what purpose and to whom it may or has been disclosed. We may be entitled to charge a fee to respond to such a request. We will respond to your request within 40 days of receiving your written request and fees. In certain limited circumstances, we may refuse your request. If you believe that any of your personal data, which we process, is inaccurate
or incorrect, please contact us immediately.
For more details on our privacy policy, please visit https://www.royalcaribbean.com/resources/privacy-policy for more details and to find out how to contact us.
CCTV (CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION)
We use CCTV to record images on all Royal Caribbean International® ships for the security and safety of our crew and guests. For further information on how this information is used and how long it is stored for please contact Royal Caribbean International® at privacy@rccl.com.
The content of these terms and conditions supersedes all previous editions. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the terms and conditions at the time of publication, errors may unfortunately occur occasionally, and the information may have changed since the date of publication.
Release date: 1st January 2026