AMNH Expeditions: Terms

AMNH MISSION

The American Museum of Natural History, a world leader in scientific exploration, established AMNH Expeditions, the first museum educational travel program in the country, in 1953. The goal of AMNH Expeditions is to present educational travel programs that reflect past and current areas of interest and exploration by the American Museum of Natural History. The tours provide a combination of study, adventure, and leisure activities. “American Museum of Natural History Expeditions” is a registered service mark of the American Museum of Natural History. Participation in AMNH Expeditions helps support the Museum’s mission to discover, interpret, and disseminate – through scientific research and education – knowledge about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe.

Responsibility Statement
The AMNH Expeditions (AMNHE) are managed and operated by Academic Travel Abroad (ATA), a professional tour operator, hired as an independent contractor. ATA also may sub-contract with and appoint Tour Operators (TO) to operate AMNH Expeditions. It is understood throughout the Terms and Conditions that “we” or “us” refer to the American Museum of Natural History, Academic Travel Abroad, and any designated Tour Operator collectively. The American Museum of Natural History provides the educational enrichment and the Study Leader for the tour. Academic Travel Abroad and/or designated tour operators in turn, act only as agents for any transportation carrier, hotel, ground operator, or other suppliers of services connected with this tour (other providers), and the other providers are solely responsible and liable for providing their respective services. The passenger tickets in use by the carriers shall constitute the sole contract between the carriers and the passenger; the carriers are not responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time participants are not aboard their conveyances.

We shall not be held liable for (A) any damage to, or loss of, property or injury to, or death of, persons occasioned directly or indirectly by an act or omission of any other provider, including but not limited to any defect in any aircraft, watercraft, or vehicle operated or provided by such other provider, and (B) any loss or damage due to delay, cancellation, or disruption in any manner caused by the laws, regulations, acts or failures to act, demands, orders, or interpositions of any government or any subdivision or agent, thereof, or by acts of God, strikes, fire, flood, war, rebellion, terrorism, insurrection, sickness, quarantine, epidemics, theft, or any other cause(s) beyond their control. Baggage and personal effects are at all times the sole responsibility of the participant.

By registering for an AMNH Expedition, the participant acknowledges and agrees to the Responsibility statement and the Terms and Conditions herein. The participant waives and releases any claim against us for any such loss, damage, injury, or death, and each participant is required to sign a confirmation of such waiver and release as a condition to participating in the tour. If the program that you enroll on has a U.S. Department of State travel warning in effect for a destination on the program, you will receive a copy of the travel warning upon confirmation along with an additional Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk & Indemnity Agreement. You can rest assured that the safety of our travelers is of the utmost importance to us and we continually monitor the political and security situation within the destinations on each itinerary.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Eligibility and Health Requirements: Participation on an AMNH Expedition is a benefit of membership in the American Museum of Natural History. The Museum offers a variety of membership levels and enrollment information will be included in your confirmation materials or you may refer to www.amnh.org for details. Anyone under 18 at the commencement of the trip must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the entire program. On family expeditions, the educational component of the children’s program is geared to the minimum age specified in the trip itinerary. Acceptance of children under that age is at the discretion of the TO. There is no upper age limit; however, all participants must be in good physical and mental health.

By paying the deposit for passage, the passenger certifies that he/she does not have any physical or other condition of disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other passengers. Any physical condition requiring special attention, diet, or treatment must be reported in writing on the passenger information form sent to you upon confirmation onto the expedition. All reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate special diets and treatment; however, we cannot guarantee special arrangements. We reserve the right to decline to accept any person as a member of an expedition or to require any traveler to withdraw from an expedition at his or her own expense at any time when such action is determined by the tour staff to be in the best interest of the health, safety, and general welfare of the expedition group or individual expedition members.

Basis of Rates: All prices are per person based on two sharing a room or cabin, and fares are quoted in U.S. dollars. Per person rates for single, triple, or quad occupancy may be available if not already noted. Please inquire. The rates are based on current airfares, tariffs, fuel costs, and currency values which are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. The prices are based on the minimum number of participants specified in the pricing joining the expedition. While we will do everything possible to maintain the listed prices, they are subject to change. Due to fluctuations in oil prices, a fuel surcharge may be added to your tour price. If it is necessary to levy a surcharge we reserve the right to do so with notification prior to trip departure.

Single Travelers: A limited number of single rooms are available at extra cost on a first-come, first-served basis, but availability cannot be guaranteed. We make every effort to match single travelers who request a roommate. Neither a single room nor a share can be guaranteed. Participants will be notified if we are unsuccessful in finding a suitable roommate. In this case, the single supplement will be charged.

Deposits, Payments, Cancellations & Refunds: Reservations may be placed by calling (800) 462-8687 between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday or by visiting our website at amnhexpeditions.org. Submitting an online reservation request does not guarantee confirmation; our reservations team will reply within two business days regarding the status of your reservation. Deposits, payments, and cancellations terms for jet and private plane programs are available in the individual trip brochures.

Deposits and Payments: A deposit of $600, $750, or $1,000 per person is required to reserve space, as described in the Expedition Rates information. Final payment is due 120 days prior to departure for trips with a $1,000 deposit or 90 days prior for trips with a $600 deposit. Full payment is required for reservations made after final payment date. Acceptable forms of payment are check or credit card.

Cancellation by Traveler when a $600 or $750 deposit is required: Once confirmed, if you cancel 121 days or more prior to departure, a refund less an administrative fee of $300 per person will be made. Cancellations that occur between 91 to 120 days prior to departure are subject to full forfeiture of the deposit. Per person charges for cancellations that occur between 61 to 90 days prior to departure are subject to forfeiture of 50% the expedition price. Per person charges for cancellations that occur less than 61 days prior to departure are subject to full forfeiture of the expedition price.

Cancellation by Traveler when a $1,000 deposit is required: Once confirmed, if you cancel 181 days or more prior to departure, a refund less an administrative fee of $500 per person will be made. Cancellations that occur between 121 to 180 days prior to departure are subject to full forfeiture of the deposit. Per person charges for cancellations that occur between 91 to 120 days prior to departure are subject to forfeiture of 50% the expedition price. Per person charges for cancellations that occur less than 91 days prior to departure are subject to full forfeiture of the trip price, unless the tour is full and your space is resold (in which case the $1,000 administrative fee will apply).

Cancellation by AMNH Expeditions: We reserve the right to cancel any trip because of inadequate enrollment that makes the trip economically unfeasible to operate or because of good-faith concerns with respect to the safety, health, or welfare of the participants. If we cancel an expedition prior to departure, you will receive a full refund of monies paid to us or a credit for future travel equivalent to the monies paid to us, or a combination thereof. If we cancel the trip in progress, you will receive a prorated refund based on the number of days not completed on the expedition. Travel Insurance: For your protection, trip cancellation and travel insurance is strongly recommended. Detailed information on the cancellation and travel insurance available through AMNH Expeditions will be provided with your reservation confirmation and is available online at www.amnhexpeditions.org. Certain policy protections are only available within 14 days of booking your tour, so please ask your reservations agent for details when you call. This insurance is at an additional cost and is available up until you make final payment for the expedition.

Air Tickets Purchased Independent of the Tour: We urge you to check airline cancellation penalties before purchasing airline tickets since departure times and flights can change. Tours also can be cancelled due to low enrollments. We do not accept liability for cancellation penalties related to domestic or international airline tickets purchased independently in conjunction with a tour.

Itinerary Changes: The itineraries and study leader staff presented are subject to modification and change. Every reasonable effort will be made to operate programs as planned, but alterations may still occur without allowance of refund.

Smoking Policy: For the comfort of all participants, we ask that there be no smoking during all group activities, including excursions and meals.

Photography: Participants on AMNH Expeditions may be photographed or, in some cases, videotaped for the educational and promotional purposes of the American Museum of Natural History and AMNH Expeditions.

"Who You Travel With Makes A World of Difference"
AMNH Expeditions, Central Park West at 79th Street, NY, NY 10024-5192
1-800-462-8687 • expeditions@amnh.org