Terms & Conditions

Reservation and Cancellation Policy

To reserve your place, please complete and mail a Wilderness Travel trip application along with a deposit of $2500 per person. For immediate confirmation, call us at 1-800-368-2794 and charge the deposit to your Visa, MasterCard, or American Express credit card.

Payment Schedule

At time of reservation: $2500
Due 9 months prior to departure (Jan 22, 2013): 50% of trip cost
Due 4 months prior to departure (June 22, 2013): Balance

Cancellation Policy

Minimum cancellation fee: $750
From 15 months prior to departure (July 22, 2012): $2500 non-refundable
From 9 months prior to departure (Jan 22, 2013): All deposits to date non-refundable
From 4 months prior to departure (June 22, 2013): 100% of cruise cost non-refundable

If we are able to resell your cancelled cabin by June 22, 2013, your deposits will be refunded less the minimum cancellation fee of $750 per person. Cancellations must be in writing by email, fax, or mail. We reserve the right to treat the reservation as cancelled if payments are not received when due.

Note: Payment Schedule, Cancellation Policy, and Single Supplement Policy for this program differs from the policy for regular trips stated in our annual catalog and on this web site.

Notes on Pricing

Singles/Triples: A very limited number of guaranteed single cabins are available in Standard and Superior Suites at 150% of the double occupancy rate. Singles in all other categories are 200% of the double occupancy rate. A third person may be added to double occupancy cabins on the Magellan, Columbus, and Marco Polo decks, with the third person using a sofa bed and paying 50% of the double occupancy cruise price. Quad occupancy is not available. Call for availability and specific pricing.

Shared Cabins: Participants traveling by themselves and wishing to share a cabin at double occupancy rates may request a roommate. We will do our best to match you with another single traveler. If this is not possible a single supplement rate of 150% of the per person rate for that cabin category will apply. Single travelers matched up by Wilderness Travel may be assigned to a Standard or Superior Suite, and before confirming a reservation such travelers must understand that they will have to pay 150% of the per person rate for their cabin category, in the event we cannot match them with a roommate.

Air Travel and Extensions

International air travel is not included in this program. Information about booking your flights and a pre-cruise extension in Morocco will be provided approximately one year before departure. Please note that all participants must use the charter flight from Praia to London on November 6, 2013.

Travel Insurance

Due to the remoteness of many of the locations visited on this trip, participants are required to purchase full medical, emergency evacuation, and repatriation insurance that covers you for at least $25,000, plus Trip Cancellation Insurance. Due to limited medical facilities, you may need to be evacuated to Europe or even back to the US in case of serious illness or injury. Evacuation by air may or may not be possible, depending on the location. If you require evacuation from a trip, you are responsible for payment of all evacuation costs. You must pay evacuation costs directly to the evacuation service prior to the evacuation. Acceptable forms of payment are typically cash or travelers checks. Credit cards may or may not be accepted. If you are able to use your credit card, be aware that a service charge will be assessed in addition to the actual cost of the evacuation. You must bring one of these forms of payment with you in case of emergency. You will need to contact your insurance company for procedures and reimbursement policy.

Trip cancellation insurance reimburses you for non-refundable payments should you need to cancel your trip due to a covered sickness or injury to yourself, a traveling companion, or family member, or for certain other unforeseen circumstances. For details, see the Description of Coverage brochure and enrollment forms included with your confirmation packet. Travel insurance must be paid for before final payment for the trip. If you purchase your own insurance elsewhere, you must provide us with proof of coverage, policy number, and the contact phone number for your insurance carrier.

Special Notes

Wilderness Travel and Noble Caledonia have signed an agreement for the charter of the Island Sky. However, the agreement will not take full effect until June of 2012, and until that time, reservations for this program cannot be guaranteed. In the unlikely event that this program cannot be operated for any reason, whether due to the charter agreement failing to take effect or to other reasons that are beyond the control of the operators, the refund of all payments received shall release Wilderness Travel, Inc. from any liability.

All astronomers and other guest experts named in this brochure are confirmed at the time of publication. If any speaker must cancel, Wilderness Travel will attempt to provide, but cannot guarantee, a suitable replacement.

In the uncertain, often volatile oil market of late, it is difficult to predict fuel costs over the long term, and more specifically, at the time of the voyage. Our prices are based upon the prevailing fuel rates at the time of the brochure printing, which is well in advance of departure. While we will do everything possible to maintain our prices, if fuel prices increase significantly prior to the time of the voyage, it may be necessary to institute a fuel surcharge.

Island Sky

One of the finest small ships in the world, the Island Sky features 57 spacious, outside-facing suites with marble-appointed bathrooms. Each suite includes a flat-screen TV with DVD player, hairdryer, individually controlled air-conditioning, and mini-fridge. High quality service and attention to detail are the order of the day aboard the Island Sky, with an on-board atmosphere more similar to a yacht than a cruise ship. Having undergone significant refurbishment in 2010, she features a large lounge, a library and bar, and an elegant dining room as well as spacious outside decks. The ship’s relatively small size lets her drop anchor in remote areas and in small ports where larger ships can’t go, and the fleet of inflatable zodiacs offers access in wonderfully remote places. Island Sky has a staff and crew of 75.

Deck Plan

Note: Listed above are our signature accommodations for this trip. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.

Our Trip Leaders

Here are the Trip Leaders scheduled for this journey (please note that leader assignments are subject to change).