GROUP TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PARTICIPANT LIABILITY WAIVER & RELEASE

1. ROLE OF COMPANY

PNTC acts as travel advisor, program curator, and arranger of travel services. Transportation, accommodations, tours, activities, and other travel services are provided by independent third-party suppliers (“Suppliers”).

PNTC does not own, operate, or control any Supplier and shall not be liable for injury, damage, loss, delay, or expense arising from any act or omission of a Supplier, except as otherwise required by law.

2. MINNESOTA PBS

Minnesota PBS is the sponsoring organization for this journey and may provide a representative or host who travels with the group.

Minnesota PBS is not a travel agency, tour operator, transportation provider, accommodation provider, insurer, or other travel Supplier.

3. HOSTED TRIPS

This journey may include representatives or hosts from PNTC and Minnesota PBS.

While the journey is expected to be hosted, PNTC and Minnesota PBS cannot guarantee the attendance of any particular individual. If a scheduled host is unable to attend, another representative may be substituted or the journey may proceed without that individual.

Host availability does not affect the validity of the booking or entitle a Participant to a refund.

4. BOOKINGS AND PAYMENT

Reservations are confirmed upon receipt of the required payment and written confirmation from PNTC.

Participants may select one of the following payment options:

• Payment in Full: $6,995 USD per person, due at registration.

• Payment Plan: $7,350 USD per person, payable as follows:

  • $2,450 USD per person due at registration

  • $2,450 USD per person due January 15, 2027

  • $2,450 USD per person due February 14, 2027

The payment plan price is a separate published trip price and is not a financing arrangement for the $6,995 payment-in-full price.

Failure to make a required payment by its due date may result in cancellation and application of the cancellation terms below.

5. MINIMUM ENROLLMENT

This journey requires a minimum of 10 paid Participants.

If minimum enrollment is not reached by January 15, 2027, PNTC may cancel the journey, offer the journey at a revised price, or make reasonable adjustments to the program.

If PNTC cancels solely because minimum enrollment has not been reached, Participants will receive a refund of amounts paid to PNTC toward the journey. PNTC and Minnesota PBS are not responsible for independently purchased airfare, insurance premiums, or other travel expenses.

6. CANCELLATION POLICY

All cancellations must be submitted to PNTC in writing.

All payments are non-refundable once made, regardless of the reason for cancellation, including illness, injury, family emergency, schedule changes, transportation disruptions, or other personal circumstances.

No refunds will be provided for unused services, missed activities, or voluntarily declined portions of the journey.

Because all payments are non-refundable, Participants are strongly encouraged to purchase trip cancellation and interruption coverage in addition to the required travel medical coverage described below.

7. REQUIRED TRAVEL INSURANCE

Travel insurance with travel medical coverage is required for all Participants. Participants may purchase coverage through PNTC or independently. Participants purchasing coverage independently must provide proof of coverage before travel.

PNTC will not evaluate or certify the adequacy of independently purchased insurance coverage except to confirm that any objectively stated coverage requirements established for the program have been documented.

Participants are responsible for understanding the coverage, exclusions, limitations, and claims requirements of their selected policy.

8. FORCE MAJEURE

PNTC and Minnesota PBS shall not be liable for failure to perform due to events beyond their reasonable control, including natural disasters, severe weather, public health emergencies, government restrictions, transportation disruptions, war, terrorism, civil unrest, strikes, or labor disruptions.

Refunds, credits, or rescheduling under such circumstances are subject to Supplier policies and funds recoverable from Suppliers.

9. MEDICAL AND EVACUATION RESPONSIBILITY

Participants are solely responsible for medical expenses, emergency services, evacuation, repatriation, and related costs.

PNTC and Minnesota PBS do not provide medical care or insurance.

10. HEALTH, MOBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

Participants are responsible for determining whether they are physically able to participate in the journey.

This program may include substantial walking, stairs, uneven or cobbled surfaces, rural terrain, periods of standing, and boarding and exiting vehicles.

Participants requiring mobility assistance or other accommodations must notify PNTC prior to travel so that the feasibility of reasonable accommodations may be evaluated with Suppliers. PNTC does not provide personal attendant services.

11. ASSUMPTION OF RISK

Travel and participation in excursions involve inherent risks, including illness, injury, physical exertion, environmental hazards, uneven terrain, transportation incidents, criminal acts, weather, third-party negligence, and unpredictable conditions.

By participating, you knowingly and voluntarily assume the ordinary and inherent risks associated with travel and the activities in which you participate.

12. PASSPORTS AND ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Participants are solely responsible for obtaining and maintaining a valid passport and any required visas, electronic travel authorizations, health documentation, or other entry requirements applicable to their individual circumstances.

PNTC may provide general travel requirement information as a courtesy but is not responsible for denied boarding or entry resulting from missing, expired, or inadequate documentation.

13. CONDUCT AND REMOVAL

PNTC reserves the right to remove any Participant whose behavior is disruptive, abusive, unsafe, unlawful, or substantially interferes with the operation of the journey or enjoyment of other Participants.

A Participant removed for conduct reasons will not receive a refund and is responsible for any resulting transportation, accommodations, or other expenses.

14. ALCOHOL RESPONSIBILITY

Participants are solely responsible for their consumption of alcohol and related conduct and must comply with local laws and Supplier policies.

15. MEDIA, SOCIAL MEDIA AND PRIVACY

Photographs and video may be taken during the journey. Unless a Participant opts out in writing prior to departure, the Participant grants PNTC permission to use photographs or video in which the Participant appears for reasonable promotional and marketing purposes.

Any use by Minnesota PBS is subject to Minnesota PBS's applicable media policies or separate participant authorization.

Participants must respect the privacy of fellow travelers. Unauthorized intrusive recording, harassment, or inappropriate use of another Participant's image may result in removal from the journey.

16. AIR TRAVEL DISCLAIMER

Unless expressly stated otherwise, airfare is not included.

Airlines operate independently and are governed by their own terms and applicable laws and conventions, including the Montreal Convention where applicable.

PNTC and Minnesota PBS are not responsible for flight delays, cancellations, missed connections, baggage issues, or expenses resulting from a Participant's individual air arrangements.

17. CHARGEBACKS AND PAYMENT DISPUTES

Participants agree to contact PNTC promptly regarding disputed charges and provide PNTC a reasonable opportunity to investigate and resolve the matter before initiating a chargeback.

Initiating a chargeback does not alter the cancellation policy, Supplier terms, or other contractual obligations associated with the reservation.

Nothing in this section limits rights available under applicable consumer protection or payment card laws.

18. LIABILITY WAIVER AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

To the fullest extent permitted by law, you acknowledge and accept the inherent risks of travel and release PNTC, Twin Cities Public Television, Inc. doing business as Minnesota PBS, and their respective owners, officers, employees, contractors, representatives, and authorized hosts from claims arising from the ordinary and inherent risks associated with participation in the journey.

PNTC and Minnesota PBS are not responsible for the acts or omissions of independent Suppliers, circumstances outside their reasonable control, or indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages.

This release does not apply to liability that cannot lawfully be waived or limited.

Suppliers may require Participants to sign additional waivers or releases as a condition of participation.

19. INDEMNIFICATION

To the fullest extent permitted by law, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless PNTC and Minnesota PBS from third-party claims arising from your unlawful or intentional misconduct or material breach of these Terms.

20. DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND GOVERNING LAW

These Terms and any dispute arising from participation in the journey are governed by the laws of the State of Minnesota.

Any additional mediation, arbitration, venue, jury-trial waiver, or class-action waiver requirements shall apply only to the extent expressly stated and enforceable under applicable law.

21. ENTIRE AGREEMENT

These Terms, together with the registration confirmation, published journey inclusions, and any applicable Supplier terms incorporated into the reservation, constitute the agreement governing your participation in the journey.

If any provision of these Terms is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in effect.