Terms & Conditions – 316journeys.com

316 JOURNEYS LLC

Terms & Conditions — Catholic Pilgrimages

316 Journeys LLC (“316 Journeys,” “we,” “us,” “our”) is a tour operator specializing in Catholic pilgrimages. These Terms and Conditions, together with our Privacy Policy and the termsof our suppliers, constitute the entire agreement between the parties. These Terms contain waivers of liability, a class-action waiver, venue selection, and notice provisions.

By making any payment (cash, credit card, ACH, wire, or otherwise) or submitting a registration form toward any pilgrimage, you unconditionally accept all Terms stated here. If you register others, your acceptance applies to all individuals under your account.

Tour Pricing Basis

Pricing is based on double occupancy and on a minimum number of full-paying passengers (for example, 25). If the tour falls below the minimum, group rates from airlines, operators, and hotels may not be securable, and we may cancel, combine your group with another, or re-price based on the lower volume; existing contract prices would then be void.

Included in Price

Round-trip international airfare (where sold as an air-inclusive package)
First-class hotels (see Accommodations)
Deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach transportation and overseas airport transfers (arriving with the group)
Guided sightseeing with local guide and driver; all entrance, site, and admin fees as listed
Daily breakfast and dinner as listed in the itinerary
Whisper listening devices (with 20 or more on tour)
Tips for guide and driver, and hotel/restaurant gratuities, as specified in your itinerary.

Not Included in Price

Passports; visas; optional sightseeing; miscellaneous or individual transfers; airport transfers for those not arriving with the group; laundry; lunches and beverages at meals; baggage fees; visas and transfers for ground-only passengers; optional Travel Protection; and credit/debit card processing fees (see Payments). This list is illustrative, not exhaustive.

Visas. 316 Journeys is not responsible for securing your visas. Obtaining all required visas is the sole responsibility of each passenger. We will, however, facilitate and assist with visa requirements upon request. [NEW–16 — per Robert]

Accommodations

Assignments may be made up to final payment due date. If no roommate is available or you request a single, the single supplement applies.

The single-supplement figure is set per pilgrimage on a case-by-case basis (the 2024 Lourdes/Fatima terms used $950; the WCD brochure showed $699). This is an operational number, not a legal item.

Hotel sizes, standards, and accessibility vary regionally and often differ from U.S. standards. We reserve the right to substitute comparable hotels without prior notice and without refund. Where 4-star group availability is limited in historic or pilgrimage destinations, a 3-star property may be used.

Group Benefits (Spiritual Leader)

Each pilgrimage includes benefits negotiated for the group, which may include an honorarium for the spiritual leader, an earned tour ratio (for example, 1:10), and, at a stated passenger threshold (for example, 20 or more full-paying guests), a single room for the spiritual leader. Specific benefits are stated in each pilgrimage’s proposal.Generalized; keeps the structure without publishing dollar figures]

Payment Schedule

Registrations are processed in the order received. We reserve the right to refuse any booking and to return the deposit in that event.

Payments, Cards & Chargebacks

We accept ACH/eCheck and major credit cards (AMEX, Visa, MasterCard, Discover). ACH/eCheck carries no fee; card payments carry a processing surcharge. Within 105 days of departure, certain payments may be required by bank or cashier’s check. By registering, you authorize each charge for your trip, agree to these Terms including the cancellation terms, and agree not to make improper chargebacks. Before disputing any charge, you agree to contact us first. We reserve the right to dispute improper chargebacks and recover costs, including attorney’s fees.

Cancellation Fees & Refunds

Cancellations must be submitted in writing and are effective upon our receipt. 100% of cancellation fees may be covered by the optional Travel Protection plan, provided the premium has been paid by the final-payment date and the reason is insurable. For those who do not take protection, the following per-person schedule applies:

104–60 days prior: $400 per person, plus airline penalties and a single-room supplement if your cancellation forces single occupancy on your roommate.
59–45 days prior: $600 per person.
44–31 days prior: 40% of total package cost.
30 days to departure: 100% of total cost.
On or after departure: no refund for unused services. The actual 2024 schedule; confirm 316 keeps these exact figures]

The 316 Difference — independent-air travelers. Where you arrange your own air (for example, digital bookings ticketed through our air partner rather than a group block), your cancellation exposure is limited to the land-package schedule above plus your own airline’s penalties — we do not hold your group airfare against you. [NEW–16 — marketing wedge vs. competitors’ non-refundable group air]

Where a refund is due, the supplier is responsible for issuing it; suppliers may issue a travel voucher or credit in lieu of a refund. We are not responsible for a supplier’s failure to refund or for supplier insolvency.

Travel Protection (Insurance)

Travel Protection is strongly recommended and is available at registration through Vertical Insure. A plan should cover Trip Cancellation/Interruption, Medical Expense, Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation, and Baggage; we recommend purchasing in close conjunction with your travel purchase. Premiums are non-refundable and are not part of the cancellation schedule. 316 Journeys is not qualified to answer technical questions about insurance benefits or exclusions — direct those to the insurer. If you decline adequate coverage, you may lose your travel cost, and we will not be liable for any losses a protection plan would otherwise have covered.

Statements of Responsibility

We do not accept responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delays or changes in air schedules, hotel overbookings, or supplier cancellations or postponements. Travel suppliers include all tour operators, cruise lines, airlines, hotels, bus companies, entrance venues, and any other supplier used to operate the pilgrimage; such losses are the passenger’s responsibility. We reserve the right to make itinerary adjustments we deem desirable and to cancel any tour prior to departure. If a tour is canceled beyond our control, we will provide a refund or a future travel credit (usable two years from issuance) for funds paid, less nonrefundable supplier prepaid deposits, supplier change fees, nonrefundable travel-protection premiums, and a $150 administrative fee.

Changing Your Travel Dates

Requests to change your departure or travel dates must be submitted in writing and are subject to availability and to a change fee, plus any supplier penalties. Date changes requested close to departure may be treated as a cancellation and rebooking under the Cancellation schedule. Once air is ticketed, date changes are governed by the airline’s rules and are generally non-amendable.

Tour Postponement & Lack of Participation

If a pilgrimage is postponed or canceled by 316 Journeys for insufficient participation or other reasons within our control, you will receive a full refund of monies paid to 316 Journeys or, at your option, a future travel credit. This refund does not extend to air or other services you booked independently (for example, air ticketed in your own name through our air partner or another source); recovery of those costs is governed by that supplier’s rules — which is why Travel Protection is strongly recommended.

Spiritual Director / Priest

Each 316 Journeys pilgrimage is offered with a Catholic priest or spiritual director as its spiritual leader. The priest or spiritual director travels as the spiritual shepherd of the pilgrimage and is not an employee or agent of 316 Journeys. 316 Journeys is not liable for the acts, omissions, statements, or guidance of any priest, spiritual director, deacon, group administrator, or tour leader. Daily Mass and spiritual elements are subject to local church schedules, clergy availability, and local conditions; where a named church or Mass site is unavailable, an alternate may be substituted. If the named spiritual leader cannot travel (including for illness, assignment, or any other reason), 316 Journeys will make reasonable efforts to provide a substitute, and reserves the right to do so; a change of spiritual leader is not a material change and is not grounds for cancellation with refund by the participant. [NEW–16 — the single most important clause for the brand]

Tour guides and local representatives are independent suppliers, not employees of 316 Journeys.

Medical & Dietary

Participants requiring special assistance must be accompanied by a qualified, paid companion who assumes full responsibility for their well-being; written notice is required by the registration deadline. This pilgrimage involves significant walking and can be strenuous. Dietary requests must be submitted in writing and are not guaranteed. For safety and liability reasons, we cannot be responsible for accommodating food allergies or dietary restrictions; any additional meal expense is the participant’s responsibility.

Conduct Expected

Each participant must act responsibly and follow the guidance of the tour leader and spiritual director. Failure to do so may result in immediate return home at the participant’s sole expense with no refund. We reserve the right to cancel a reservation, before or during the tour, for inappropriate, disrespectful, or abusive conduct; cancellation penalties apply and no refund is granted. Participants shall indemnify and hold 316 Journeys harmless against third-party claims arising from their conduct.

Children & Age

Children younger than 13 are not permitted except within a private group and with written approval from the group leader. Anyone under 18 must travel with a parent or legal guardian. There are no discounts or special rates for children.

Passports & Documents

A valid passport is required, valid at least 6 months after the return date. Names provided must match the passport exactly; name-change fees resulting from mismatches are the passenger’s responsibility. Passport information and a copy of the photo page must be submitted no later than 105 days prior to travel; failure may result in VAT charges, change fees, or denial of travel. A passport card is not accepted. Visas, reciprocity fees, immunizations, and entry/exit taxes are the passenger’s sole responsibility; entry may be refused even with complete documents. As stated under “Not Included,” 316 Journeys does not secure visas but will facilitate and assist upon request.

Health

Recommended inoculations may change; consult your doctor before departure. Meeting health entry requirements is your responsibility. By offering international travel, we do not warrant that such travel is advisable or risk-free, and are not liable for losses resulting from it.

Price Increases

All prices are subject to change prior to payment in full due to currency fluctuations, fuel-surcharge increases, government tax/fee increases, or unforeseen circumstances. You will be notified upon discovery of an increase and may pay the difference or cancel with full refund. You may also be subject to a government-imposed tax/fee increase after payment in full.

Airline Routes, Tickets, Times & Fees

To keep prices low, we do not guarantee the most direct routing. Air is economy class on IATA/ARC carriers using non-refundable, non-amendable group tickets for groups of 10 or more flying together on the entire itinerary. Group space is typically blocked about 11 months prior; unsold space is released around 105 days prior, after which changes, late additions, or cancellations incur fees. Ticketing may occur any time after the final-payment date. Name-change fees are a minimum of $200 up to full ticket replacement. Seat assignments are not guaranteed and may be changed by the airline up to boarding. Once issued, tickets cannot be changed or refunded. If you depart from a different city, deviate, or arrange your own air, you are responsible for booking all needed flights and transfers. Flight information is provided 60–30 days prior; final documents approximately 2–3 weeks prior. Checked-baggage and optional airline fees are not included.Your air language is strong and specific]

Note for digital passengers. Passengers booking their own air through our air partner fall under the independent-air provisions above and in Cancellation. [NEW–16]

Deviations & Air Upgrades

All deviations and upgrade requests must be submitted in writing and approved, and are subject to a per-person assessment fee plus any additional supplier fees. Passengers ticketed with deviations or upgrades will likely not fly with the group and must provide their own transfers.

Itinerary Changes & Alterations

All touring is subject to change at the discretion of the local operator. Every effort is made for accuracy, but the availability of sites, the order of sites, and the number of days may be altered for airline/hotel schedules and local conditions. All Masses are subject to local church schedules and may be substituted with alternate Mass sites. No change to the itinerary is effective unless approved in writing by an authorized officer of 316 Journeys; no other person is authorized to modify the arrangements or make any warranty. Such changes are not a material breach and are not grounds for cancellation with refund. If changes necessitate extra overnights, you will be charged a minimum of $125 per night (double) or $175 per night (single); meals for extra nights are not included. If changes necessitate extra overnights, you will be informed of the additional fee that you will be charged. Meals for extra nights are not included.

Force Majeure

We accept no liability and pay no compensation where performance is prevented or affected by circumstances amounting to force majeure — events we or our suppliers could not foresee or avoid, including acts of God, war or threat thereof, insurrection, riots, strikes, civil action, government decisions or advisories, transport technical or maintenance problems, air-carrier schedule changes, terrorism or threat thereof, natural or nuclear activity, epidemics or pandemics or threat thereof, quarantine, adverse weather, fire, and similar events outside our control. Cancellation for any such reason is not eligible for refund.

Release of Liability & Assumption of Risk

Except where otherwise stated, we act only as agent for the suppliers securing hotels, transportation, and other services, and are not liable for any supplier’s failure to provide them. The passenger agrees that we assume no liability for injury, death, damage, loss, theft, accident, delay, or irregularity arising from any negligent or willful act or omission of any supplier; nor for acts of war, insurrection, terrorism, civil uprising, military action, strikes, labor unrest, Act of God, or any act of any third party.

We expressly disclaim liability for personal injury, property damage, lost baggage, accident, delay, or any special or consequential damages occasioned by any air carrier, hotel, transport operator, sightseeing company, tour operator, tour leader, or spiritual director, or their employees. Where a motorcoach seat has a safety belt, we are not liable for injury arising from an accident if the belt was not worn. You voluntarily participate with knowledge of significant risks and accept them, and release 316 Journeys, its related companies, and personnel from all claims, known or unknown, arising from your participation; this release binds your heirs, representatives, assigns, and all members of your party including minors.

Additional Terms

Release of Likeness. Payment of deposit grants permission to record and use the registrant’s name, likeness, voice, comments, and submitted materials in any medium for advertising, marketing, publicity, or educational purposes without compensation, unless you notify us in writing prior to deposit.

Brochure/Printing Errors. We are not responsible for typographic or printing errors in any brochure, itinerary, or confirmation.

Severability. If any provision is unenforceable, it is struck and the remainder stands.

Claims Deadline. All claims must be submitted in writing and received by 316 Journeys no later than 60 days after pilgrimage completion; claims not received within this period are waived and barred.

Amendments. We may correct errors and amend these Terms at any time; amended Terms are effective upon posting to our website. Review the current Terms before booking and before travel.

Governing Law, Venue & Class-Action Waiver

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Florida, without regard to conflicts-of-law principles. Any claims must be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction located in Palm Beach County, Florida. You agree to bring claims only in your individual capacity and not as a plaintiff or class member in any class or representative action. 316 Journeys shall not be liable for other than compensatory damages, and you waive any right to punitive damages.