Cruise prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel and cruise ship accommodations, motor coach transportation, port charges, land excursions, admissions, entertainment, sightseeing, special dinners, porterage, and the services of the Tauck Directors, hotel and ship staff, and local guides and drivers are included. All-day soft drinks, daily cocktail hour, and wine with dinner aboard the cruise ship are also included. Transportation from Leonardo da Vinci International Airport in Fiumicino to the Rome Cavalieri, The Waldorf=Astoria Collection is included, regardless of the day and time of your arrival, provided we have your updated flight information at least two weeks before the start of the tour. will provide transportation from Le Levant  to Leonardo da Vinci International Airport is also included. Transportation will also be provided to Rome Cavalieri and The Waldorf Astoria Collection for guests who choose to post-stay.Transportation to and from airports and train stations may be shared with other Tauck guests.

Hotel and Cruise Ship Accommodations - The cruise price includes all hotel and cruise ship accommodations. Our standard is to provide the best available accommodations without sacrificing value. Although the quality of accommodations may differ slightly from one hotel to another, our commitment to your comfort is unwavering. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are usually two-bedded rooms plus a rollaway cot and are not recommended for comfort. On-board Le Levant, all cabins have twin beds that can be pushed together to form one queen bed; triples have a couch/sofa bed and are small if the third person is an adult. All cabins have a bath with shower only.

Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary.

Aboard Le Levant, breakfast and lunch are served in a panoramic restaurant; dinner is served in a fine-dining restaurant. French cuisine is featured and complimentary wine is offered with dinner. Both restaurants accommodate all guests in one seating.

Complimentary soft drinks, coffee and tea service are available throughout the day. Each night you are invited to attend a complimentary cocktail hour. The legal drinking age aboard the cruise ship is 21.

Tauck Director – Cruising Mediterranean Shores is conducted by one Tauck Director for each 40 guests, who will remain with the group throughout the tour. Your Tauck Director is a professional, fully trained employee of Tauck.

Gratuities Included – All appropriate gratuities for the Tauck Director, restaurant, hotel and ship staffs, and local guides and drivers are included.

No Options Sold – Your Tauck Director will assist you with information on free-time activities based on honest opinion and guidance, but will not sell you anything. This means better value and a more relaxed, pleasant experience for you.

 

Airfare to the tour departure point and from the tour ending point is not included. Airfare may be purchased from us for travel originating in the United States.

Hotel Rooms Before and After Tours – To avoid jet lag and possible flight delays, you may wish to make hotel arrangements for the nights preceding or following your cruise. As a service, we will book additional nights for you on a space-available basis using special rates only available through us. Hotel room charges will be added to the cruise cost. If you wish to spend additional nights, please consult the Extend This Journey section on this webpage and discuss it with your reservations sales consultant or your travel agent when you book your cruise.

Luggage Responsibility – Although every effort is made to handle your luggage carefully, we cannot be responsible, assume liability or accept claims for loss or damage to luggage and personal effects due to breakage, theft, or fair wear and tear through hotel, airline and group carrier handling. It is important for your own self-interest and protection that you make certain you have adequate insurance to cover these eventualities. Please refer to the Tauck Travel Protection  for more information.

• Pack at least one change of clothing in your carry-on bag
• Split your items between your suitcase and a traveling companion's suitcase
• Do not pack any vital medications or valuables in your checked luggage
• Confirm that your luggage is checked and tagged to your final destination at airport check-in
• Place your luggage claim tags in a secure place for your flight
• File a claim for any missing luggage immediately before leaving the baggage claim area
• Secure a case number and contact information for follow-up communications
• Make certain that the airline has your onward itinerary

Your Tauck Director will assist you with airline and other carrier communications, but has no inside contacts to guarantee or expedite recovery of lost luggage. All recovery costs, including the communication costs, are your responsibility. Check your travel protection details for covered expenses.

Personal Expenses  such as phone calls, room service, alcoholic and other beverages not specifically included, laundry, dry cleaning, airline excess luggage charges, vaccinations, visa fees and services, airport arrival and departure taxes, individual airport transfers (when applicable), and other optional or incidental extras are not included and may be significant.

You may settle your on-board expenses using American Express, MasterCard and VISA or U.S. dollar and Euro. U.S. traveler’s checks are accepted on a limited basis. The Euro is the official currency used on board.

 

Airline Security Measures –

If you are traveling from the U.S., the U.S. Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Secure Flight program requires that your name, as it appears on your domestic or international airline ticket, must precisely match your name as it appears on the government-issued photo ID (i.e., passport or driver’s license) that you present during security screening. The ID name must also match any additional airline data, such as frequent-flyer information. For example, if you present your driver's license to security and it says John T. Smith, your ticket must also say John T. Smith, not John Thomas Smith, Jack Smith, or any other variant. Your date-of-birth and gender information provided to the airline must also match your passport.

If you make your air travel arrangements through us, please ensure that the name you provide us precisely matches your name as shown on the identification you will use while traveling. If you make your own airline reservations, please ensure that the airline has the correct information.

For more information on the Secure Flight program, please visit the TSA web site by clicking here.

If you are traveling from an airport outside the jurisdiction of the U.S, you will need to determine what travel documentation and identification is required for that particular airport.

Due to heightened security regulations, certain items such as a metal nail file, pocketknife, cigarette lighter, or tweezers, and some liquid, gel, or aerosol items may not be permitted in your carry-on luggage. Please call your airline prior to departure to obtain current information on non-permissible carry-on items and recommended airport check-in times.

Air Services – Airfare may be purchased through us for travel originating in the United States. By using our air services, you agree that we, in purchasing, selling or otherwise arranging air transportation, are acting only as your agent and are not liable or responsible for any accident, death, personal injury, illness, property damage, delay or other loss or expense of any nature whatsoever arising directly or indirectly out of any act of God, or any actions or omissions (including any failure to provide services) or default of, any carrier. All carriers are independent contractors and are not owned, managed, controlled or operated by us. Your airline ticket constitutes a contract between yourself and the airline only, even if purchased through us. We are not liable for, and do not assume responsibility or accept claims with regard to seat assignments, schedule changes, flight changes, cancellations, claims for a refund or reimbursement of airline ticket fees, or any other loss incurred by you for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation to, bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar relief from creditors). We must handle ticketing for our special fares, which are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed until reserved. Our air services can only be purchased in conjunction with a one of our tours. Tickets or e-ticket numbers will be mailed with final documents. If you cancel or change your air booking before or after departure, all airline cancellation and change fees will apply.

Cruise Regulations – International maritime security guidelines require that your passport information be provided to us prior to your embarkation. You need to provide this information to us as soon as you book your cruise or boarding may be denied. Once you board the riverboat, your passport will be held by the purser until you disembark.

Holiday and Museum Closures – Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or the many state, religious and civic holidays locally observed. You may wish to log on to Wikipedia to view a list of holidays by country by clicking here.

Itinerary Changes and Price Flexibility – We pledge to make every effort to operate all cruises as advertised. We reserve the right to alter or curtail the itinerary, or substitute sightseeing, hotels, and/or conveyances as deemed necessary. Any savings realized by these changes will be refunded to you. Any resultant added expense will be covered by us. Although not expected, prices on this website may be modified due to unexpected significant external factors not forecast at the time of publication.

Journey Start and End Times are provided at time of booking.  The tour begins at 6:30 PM local time at the Rome Cavalieri, The Waldorf=Astoria Collection on the first day of the tour. You or your booking agent will be advised of any change to this schedule. When making flight arrangements, please allow sufficient time to claim luggage and clear customs in order to join the cruise on time. Your tour ends at Leonardo da Vinci International Airport in Fiumicino at 9:30 AM. Each carrier and each airport has different rules regarding how early you must arrive for flight check in. Please contact your individual carrier for this information.

Membership will be granted to all persons. We reserve the right to terminate the tour of any person who is abusive of others or whose behavior disrupts the tour.

Photography on Tour – Occasionally, we will use photographs and/or video taken by fellow guests or your Tauck Director on your cruise for print, Internet and other media promotional purposes. If you prefer that your image not be used in any marketing activities, please notify your Tauck Director at the start of your tour.

Travel Document Requirements –

If you are a U.S. citizen, you will need a passport valid for six months beyond the completion of your Tauck journey for entry into Italy, Monaco, France, Spain and Tunisia; however, you will not need a visa for the short duration of this tour. Please note that longer stays abroad for any purpose may require additional travel documentation.

If you are a citizen of another country, you should contact a consulate or embassy of each of the countries visited on this itinerary to determine what travel documentation is required.

We recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, the date of expiration and your citizenship, as well as both sides of your driver’s license. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.

Travel with Children

Valet laundry and dry-cleaning service is available at the Rome Cavalieri, The Waldorf=Astoria Collection. In addition, hair dryers, irons and ironing boards are either located in your hotel guest room or are available immediately upon request. Aboard the ship, laundry and pressing services are available for a fee; there is no dry-cleaning available. Hair curling and clothes irons are not permitted aboard the cruise ship.

We recommend that you pack an adequate supply of your prescription medication in its original container to last through your entire journey, together with a copy of your doctor’s prescription (or a letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you), a list of the generic names of your medication, your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag to avoid any inconvenience in the event that your flight or luggage is delayed.

Following is a list of recommended items to pack for cruising on the Mediterranean Sea:

Elevation - The maximum elevation on this tour is 1,370 feet (411 meters) in Lucca and Pisa. Most time is spent at sea level.

Health - To enjoy this cruise, you should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances, often over unpaved and uneven surfaces. Some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot. Many of the sites visited were built in antiquity and have many steps and inclines. It is important that you wear sturdy, comfortable walking shoes that have already been broken-in. The amount of walking that you choose to do, however, is at your discretion.

Le Levant has an elevator that connects all decks, except the Sun Deck.

We regret that we are unable to accommodate wheelchairs on this tour. Le Levant does not have wheelchair-accessible cabins or staterooms. We also cannot provide you with individual assistance for walking, dining or other personal needs. If you need such assistance, you must be accompanied by an able companion who will help you.

Le Levant has a licensed and registered French physician on board for professional and emergency services, which are available at customary charges. The ship's small infirmary is designed to provide medical care for certain temporary illnesses and accidents, and is not intended or capable of providing ongoing treatment of preexisting medical conditions.

Smoking is not permitted on the motor coaches. On board the ship, certain outer decks have been designated as non-smoking areas. There is no smoking permitted in the interior of the ship.

If you have a medical condition that might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify us as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly.

If you are a resident of the U.S, no vaccinations are currently required for travel to any of the countries on this itinerary. For complete vaccination information, contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, , The Travelers' Health Section of the CDC operates a 24-hour "Travelers' Health Hotline" at 800-232-4636 (toll-free in the U.S.). You may also log on to the CDC website by clicking here.

If you are a resident of another country, please contact an embassy or consulate of each of the countries on the itinerary to determine what vaccinations may be required for you to visit.

Luggage Restrictions –

Checked Luggage – General

While it is common for airlines to allow passengers to check more than one piece of luggage per person, space constraints during your Tauck journey make it difficult to accommodate extra luggage. We ask that you limit your checked luggage to one average size suitcase per person.

Recently, airlines have adopted policies enforcing strict number, size and weight limits. Luggage exceeding maximum restrictions may require expensive overage fees, frustrating and hurried re-packing at the ticket counter, or even risk being left behind.

Many carriers require that checked luggage not exceed a weight of 50 lbs (22.7 kg) per piece. Airlines revise luggage policies frequently and often without notice; therefore, we cannot be held liable for the accuracy of the weight limit listed above. We urge you to check with your airline before traveling to determine current number, weight and size restrictions. It is also important to note that restrictions for luggage number, weight and size may vary with the same airline based on the class of service you select. First and Business Class ticket holders may have different restrictions than Coach Class travelers. You may wish to consult the website, luggagelimits.com, by clicking here.

We cannot be held liable for additional fees or inconveniences imposed by the airline due to luggage number, weight and size policies.

Please be sure to attach your Tauck luggage tag to your suitcase before leaving home!

Carry-on Luggage - General

Although oversize bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many on-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.

For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and that you bring only those items you need handy during the day such as make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or on the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may be inaccessible during daytime travel.

 

Cell Phones - We understand and appreciate the value of instant communication when we travel; it keeps us in touch with friends and family, and it's a reassurance in the event of an emergency. However, the use of cell phones can be disruptive to a tour and to other guests who are enjoying their vacation. As a courtesy to others, we ask that you refrain from using your cell phone while on the motor coach, during group functions, when sightseeing and when your Tauck Director is addressing the group as a whole. There will be many opportunities to make and receive calls at times when it does not affect others.

Please contact your cell phone carrier to determine if your service extends to Italy, Monaco, Spain and Tunisia.

Currency and Exchange Rates - The currency in France, Monaco, Italy and Spain is the Euro. In Tunisia, the currency is the Tunisian Dinar.

Money can be exchanged at exchange bureaus and major hotels, but banks give the best rates. All major credit cards and travelers’ checks are widely accepted at most hotels, restaurants, and shops. ATMs are widespread and are generally the most cost effective and convenient method of obtaining money.

You may settle your shipboard account with U.S. currency or Euro currency, American Express, Visa, MasterCard and travelers’ checks. There is no foreign exchange facility on board Le Levant.

To obtain the most current exchange rates for all national currencies, you may want to check your local newspaper or log on to oanda.com by clicking here.

Customs and Tax-Free Shopping – Each country visited has its own Customs clearing process. You should familiarize yourself with the  specific required declarations of Italy, Monaco, Tunisia and Spain before you travel. In general, you are not permitted to bring live plants, fresh fruits and other produce items into most countries. You may find additional information by visiting VisaHQ.com by clicking here. 

 

If you are a U.S resident who will be returning to the U.S. at the end of the tour, you are entitled to a duty-free exemption based on the total value of merchandise purchase abroad, as long as you physically bring them with you. There are limits to the amount of alcohol that can be a part of this exemption. Certain restrictions apply to unaccompanied goods mailed from abroad to the U.S. Please call your local customs office or consult the U.S. government's customs regulations as contained in their publication entitled Know Before You Go.

If you are a resident of another country, please refer to your own country’s rules and regulations regarding customs and duty-free shopping to ensure compliance upon your return.

Many countries levy Value Added Taxes (VAT) on consumer goods and services. (The tax rate may be higher for luxury items and lower for basic goods.) As a rule, if you are not a resident of the country (or of the country’s intergovernmental economic community, e.g., the European Union) in which the purchase is made, you may be entitled to a VAT refund and should inquire about the refund policy where you shop.

Electrical Current – The electrical current in is 220 V, 50 Hz. If you bring electrical devices that are not compatible with this system, you may want to bring the appropriate adapters and converters.

Internet Access is available as indicated below:
Rome Cavalieri – In-room wireless and high-speed internet access
Le Levant – Internet access aboard the ship is available for a fee

Time Zones – All of the destinations on this tour share the same time zone; they are 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (or Greenwich Mean Time). From late March through October, these locations switch to Daylight Saving Time and are 2 hours ahead. To determine current time in major cities around the world, we suggest you log on to timeanddate.com by clicking here.

Weather – The western Mediterranean Sea is an area where the climate is temperate and unpredictable. As a general rule you can expect temperatures to range from 60 to 95°F (16 to 35°C) during the summer and from 45 to 75°F (7 to 24°C) during the spring and fall but be prepared for occasional extremes.

 

To read about current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, noaa.gov, by clicking here.
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Cancellation Fees – Regardless of reason, cancellations of confirmed bookings result in our incurring costly penalties and cancellation fees from our travel and hotel providers. Therefore, if you have to cancel a confirmed booking, we will charge you a cancellation fee according to when your cancellation notice is received in our Norwalk, CT office. To help limit your liability, please refer to  Tauck Travel Protection on this webpage for more information.

If you choose to purchase Tauck’s Protection Product or Cancellation Fee Waiver, you will have your cancellation penalties reduced. Click here for more details.

If you choose not to purchase Tauck Travel Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver, you will incur cancellation penalties per person as follows: