The Trailblazer

About Brendan Worldwide Vacations

Brendan Vacations offers a variety of mid-range tours including escorted tours, hosted programs, and do-it yourself itineraries as well as river cruises in Asia, Europe, and Russia. Tours generally cost between $75 and $275 per person per day.

Traveler profile

Americans, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, and British passengers.

Group size

In Europe, escorted tours range from 22 to 49 people; in North America they range from 30-52 passengers, and in other destinations groups range from 6-49 people. On do-it-yourself tours, you travel with just your party but meet other travelers for certain sightseeing.

Tour directors

Tour guides with experience in their destination accompany every escorted tour. Do-it yourself tours have hosts in each city who will greet you and help you get settled.

Hotel type

First Class hotels generally centrally located.

What's included

Most city tours included. There are also side excursions offered at extra charge.

Free time

Many optional side trips are planned, which you can skip if you prefer free time. There is also leisure time built in at each destination.

Booking Policy

All cancellations must be advised in writing. The following per person cancellation fees apply:

AFRICA PROGRAMS:
61+ days prior to departure: Full deposit
60-36 days prior to departure: 30% of total price
35-16 days prior to departure: 50% of total price
15- Departure Day /no show: 100% of total price

Botswana Safari:
91+ days prior to departure: Full deposit
90-61 days prior to departure: 20% of total price
60-46 days prior to departure: 50% of total price
45-Departure Day/no show: 100% of total price

ASIA PROGRAMS:
Cruises & Escorted Tours in China:
95+ days prior to departure: Full deposit
94-31 days prior to departure: 50% of total price
30-0 days prior to departure: 100% of total price

Locally Hosted & Independent Programs:
66+ days prior to departure: Full deposit
65-22 days prior to departure: 20% of total price
21-8 days prior to departure: 30% of total price
7-1 days prior to departure: 40% of total price
Departure Day or later - 100% of total price

Pandaw Cruises:
120+ days prior to departure: Full deposit
120-60 days prior to departure: 20% of total price
59-21 days prior to departure: 50% of total price
20-0 days prior to departure: 100% of total price

RIVER CRUISING PROGRAMS:
Amadeus Waterways:
121+ days prior to departure: Full deposit
120-90 days: 15% of total price
89-60 days: 35% of total price
59-30 days: 50% of total price
29-7 days: 80% of total price
6-Departure Day: 100% penalty
Cancellation charges listed above also apply to port charges, upgrades and transfers.

Uniworld and Egypt Cruises:
90+ days prior to departure: Full deposit*
89-60 days: 35% of total price*
59-30 days: 50% of total price*
Less than 30 days: 100% of total price*
No Shows: 100% penalty*
* Air taxes and port charges are fully refundable if they have been paid prior to canceling your trip.

China Cruises:
95+ days prior to departure: Full deposit
94-31 days: 50% of total price
Within 30 days: 100%

EUROPE, IRELAND & BRITAIN, AND ITALY PROGRAMS:
46+ days prior to departure: Full deposit
45-22 days prior to departure: 25% of total price
21-8 days prior to departure: 30% of total price
7-1 day(s) prior to departure: 50% of total price
On Departure Day or later: 100% of total price

SOUTH & CENTRAL AMERICA PROGRAMS:
66+ days prior to departure: Full deposit
65-35 days prior to departure: 20% of total price
34-8 days prior to departure: 50% of total price
7-1 day(s) prior to departure: 60% of total price
Departure day or later: 100% of total price

Galapagos Cruises:
61+ days before departure: Full deposit
within 60 days before departure: 100% of total price

Patagonia cruises:
65+ days prior to departure: Full deposit
64-30 days prior to departure: 25% of total price
29-15 days prior to departure: 50% of total price
14-Departure Day: 100% of total price

Carnival: Once paid, the full payment is non-refundable, regardless of when the package is cancelled.

SOUTH PACIFIC PROGRAMS (INCLUDING FIJI & TAHITI):
46+ days prior to departure: Full deposit
45-22 days prior to departure: 25% of total price
21-8 days prior to departure: 30% of total price
7-1 day(s) prior to departure: 50% of total price
On departure day or later: 100% of total price

Fiji Programs:
46+ days prior to departure: Full deposit
45-21 days prior to departure: 20% of total price
20-04 days prior to departure: 35% of total price
Within 3 days of departure: 100% of total price.
Certain hotels, resorts and islands may charge additional cancellation penalties.

Blue Lagoon Cruises:
46+ days prior to departure: Full deposit
45-0 days prior to departure: 100% of total price

Tahiti Programs:
46+ days prior to departure: Full deposit
45-21 days prior to departure: 20% of total price
20-4 days prior to departure: 35% of total price
Within 3 days of departure: 100% of total price
Certain hotels, resorts and islands may charge additional cancellation penalties. Additional fees apply to Bora Bora Cruise programs.

UNITED STATES & CANADA PROGRAMS:
Tour Only
45+ days prior to departure: Full deposit
45-22 days prior to departure: 25% of total price
21-8 days prior to departure: 30% of total price
7-1 days prior to departure: 50% of total price
Departure day: 100% of total price

Tour & Train
50+ days prior to departure: Full deposit
50-35 days prior to departure: 35% of total price
34-20 days prior to departure: 50% of total price
19-8 days prior to departure: 75% of total price
7 days or less: 100% of total price

WINTER ESCAPES PROGRAMS:
46+ days prior to departure: Full deposit
45-22 days prior to departure: 25% of total price
21-8 days prior to departure: 30% of total price
7-1 day(s) prior to departure: 50% of total price
On departure day or later: 100% of total price

River Cruises:
90+ days prior to departure: Full deposit
89-60 days prior to departure: 35% of total price
59-30 days prior to departure: 50% of total price
29 days-Departure Day/No show: 100% of total price

“Departure day” is considered the date Brendan services begin.
If the cancellation fees are less than the required deposit, the entire deposit amount applies as the cancellation fee. Cancellation charges apply to extra nights prior to and after the tour, cruise or safari. Flight changes after deposit has been received or flight cancellations after tickets are issued incur airline revision/cancellation fees. Air-inclusive tours, cruises or safaris cancelled after receipt of tickets will be processed after return of tickets to Brendan. Lost ticket replacement can take up to 1 year and processing fees will be assessed.
NOTE: Additional penalties may apply from certain hotels and service providers.
Additional fees will apply for any air tickets already issued.

If Brendan cancels a tour, cruise or safari, we will re-book passengers on the same tour, cruise or safari with a different departure date or a similar tour. All re-bookings are subject to availability. If that tour, cruise or safari is unacceptable, Brendan will refund all monies paid to Brendan by your travel agent; there is no additional liability. Brendan cannot assume responsibility for any additional costs or fees relating to the issuance and/or cancellation of air tickets or other travel arrangements not made through Brendan.

NON-REFUNDABLE AIR TICKETS
Many of our departures are not guaranteed. If you are purchasing a non-refundable air ticket, please make sure that your travel agent explains the difficulties associated with non-refundable airfares. Brendan cannot be held responsible for any change/cancellation penalties associated with these non-refundable airfares.

REFUNDS FOR UNUSED SERVICES
No refunds will be made for unused services once travel arrangements have commenced. Please note that employees of any domestic and/or overseas supplier are not authorized by Brendan to indicate or make refunds without respect to Brendan's stated Terms and Conditions.