At Caring Compass Travel, our professional planning fees reflect the time, research, and expertise that go into creating a seamless cruise vacation tailored to your needs. These fees ensure that every detail is handled with care, from stateroom selection to group coordination—so you can enjoy stress-free travel.

Why Planning Fee?

Planning fees are for professional services provided and are not applied to your trip balance. They reflect the time spent researching cruises, hotels, tours, transfers, and excursions, contacting suppliers, drafting itineraries, and coordinating logistics.

Travel Planning Fee: For more complex itineraries, Caring Compass Travel may charge a Travel Planning Fee, which is nonrefundable and nontransferable and applies per trip. Your Planning fee includes:

• Two (2) proposed itinerary options
• Two (2) revisions

Important: If no deposit is made within 14 days of receiving the first quote, a $50 continuation fee may apply due to rate and availability fluctuations.

By investing in a planning fee, you receive:

• A customized travel plan based on your needs and budget
• Multiple options tailored to your request
• Peace of mind knowing your details are handled by a professional
• Ongoing support before, during, and after your trip

If you choose not to book your trip for any reason (decide not to travel, book elsewhere, or were just pricing), the planning fee will be retained for services rendered.

Fee Structure

• Complimentary Consultation – Begin with a no-obligation conversation to discuss your travel goals.
• Individual Cruise Planning (up to 4 travelers): $150
• Family or Small Group Cruise (5–10 travelers): $300
• Large Group Cruise (11–30 travelers): $750 total (can be divided equally among travelers)
• Mega Group Cruise (31+ travelers): $1,500 total (can be divided equally among travelers)
• Cruise + Pre/Post Land Package (hotel, transfers, tours): $100 flat add-on
• Air Ticketing (if not booked directly with the cruise line): $50 per person
• Award Travel (miles/points): $150 per person
• Change Fee (outside supplier’s policies): $50 per person
• Additional Itinerary Revisions (beyond 2 included): $50 each

Additional Notes:

• Adding travelers to an existing booking may incur additional fees.
• Group trips require extensive time and research; please allow 3–5 business days for a complete quote.
• If you have an emergency while in travel status, I will assist you without an additional charge if your emergency is due to an issue beyond your control. If you miss your flight, I can assist you but will charge a $50 fee for emergency services.
• Once your itinerary is built, you may shop and compare it online—but the fee remains nonrefundable.

Cancellation Fees (in addition to supplier penalties)

• 0–60 days from deposit: $50 per person
• 61–90 days from deposit: $100 per person
• 91+ days from deposit: $150 per person

Payment & Policies

• Payment Before Planning: All fees must be paid in full before services begin.
• Nonrefundable: Planning and cancellation fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable.
• Secure Billing: Payments are processed safely through Stripe. Split payments, when permitted, incur a 3% transaction fee.
• Supplier Policies: All bookings are also subject to each supplier’s terms and conditions, including their cancellation policies.
• Our Role: Caring Compass Travel provides professional planning services and acts as an intermediary with travel suppliers. We are not responsible for changes, cancellations, or disruptions beyond our control (e.g., weather, supplier insolvency, force majeure).

By investing in a planning fee, you are securing personalized travel design, dedicated support, and professional expertise to make your cruise vacation seamless and stress-free.