Terms and Conditions

Reservations and Payment. A deposit of US$1,500 per person is required to confirm a reservation with final payment due 90 days prior to departure. All prices and payments are in US dollars.

Cancellations and Refunds. All requests for cancellations must be received in writing. Cancellations received 90 days prior to departure are fully refunded less an administrative fee of $500 per person. Please note that within the 90- day limit all deposits and tariffs are forfeited. If cancellation occurs within the 90-day period and full payment has not yet been received, the full penalty will still apply and unpaid monies are due immediately. For these and other reasons mentioned below, you are strongly encouraged to obtain trip cancellation insurance. Prices quoted are based on group participation and no refunds will be made for any part of the program in which you choose not to participate. It is understood that refunds cannot be made to passengers who do not complete the tour for any reason whatsoever.

Itinerary. The itinerary described is subject to change at the discretion of the ship's master. We reserve the right to change the itinerary due to weather conditions, availability of anchorages, political conditions and other factors beyond our control without consulting the participants. It is understood that such decisions will be made in the best interests of all passengers aboard and with regard to the safety of the vessel. Participants have no right to any refund or other considerations in the event of these inevitable itinerary changes.

Rates. Voyage rates are based on tariffs and exchange rates in effect at the time of printing and are subject to change prior to departure. Substantial changes in tariffs, exchange rates and the price of fuel, services and labor sometimes increase the cost of expedition arrangements significantly, and we reserve the right to alter our prices accordingly.

Responsibility. Please read this important information carefully. The payment of a deposit of any part or full payment for a reservation on this tour shall constitute consent to all the provisions contained herein. Quark Expeditions Inc. (QEI), Oceanic Odyssey Cruises (OOC) Deep Ocean Expeditions (DOE) and Supernova Expeditions Ltd. (SEL) act as general sales agents for the vessel and as such exercise every possible care. However, QEI, OOC, DOE, SEL, their subsidiaries and/or associated Agents, shall not be held responsible for property loss or damage and/or any damages resulting from illness, personal injuries or death which may be sustained by reason of, or while engaged on, any tour whether due to the ownership, maintenance, use, operation or control of any aircraft, helicopter, automobile, bicycle, boat, vehicle, hotel, common carrier or any other conveyance used in carrying out these tours. We can assume no liability due to any cause whatsoever whether caused by failure or delay or other irregularity, acts or omissions occurring during a tour under which the means of transportation or other service provided thereby is offered or supplied by owners, operators or public carriers for whom QEI, OOC, DOE and SEL act only as agent.

QEI, OOC, DOE and SEL reserve the right (at their discretion) to alter or omit any part of the itinerary or change any reservation, feature and/or means of conveyance without notice and for any reason whatsoever and without allowance or refund and with extra costs, if any, resulting there from paid by the passengers. We reserve the right to cancel any tour prior to departure, in which case payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part. QEI, OOC, DOE and SEL shall not be responsible for any injury to person (whether or not resulting in death) or damage to property arising out of any act of war, insurrection, revolt or other civil uprising or military action occurring in the countries of origin, destination or passage. QEI, OOC, DOE and SEL strongly urge individual passengers obtain appropriate insurance coverage. Baggage is at the owner's risk entirely. In case of a medical problem arising during the voyage, either on board or on shore, which results in costs for evacuation, use of aircraft or repatriation, the responsibility for payment of these costs belongs solely to the passenger.

QEI, OOC, DOE and SEL strongly advise that passengers ensure that such eventualities are covered by travel insurance. If not covered by travel insurance the responsibility still remains with the passenger and QEI, OOC, DOE and SEL specifically decline any responsibility whatsoever.

The transportation companies concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not aboard their carriers or conveyances. The passenger contract in use by the carriers concerned (when issued) shall constitute the sole contract between the transportation companies and the purchaser of these tours and/or passage. By accepting the ticket the passenger also agrees to its terms and conditions. By forwarding of deposit, the passenger certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other passengers. QEI, OOC, DOE and SEL reserve the right to cancel or withdraw any person as a member of the tour at any time.

Tropical Diving - Papua New Guinea (PDF)