Welcome to First Bell Holiday. By visiting our website, contacting our cruise specialists, or completing any booking through us, you agree to the Terms & Conditions outlined below. Please read these terms carefully before using our services. If you do not agree, please refrain from using our website or booking services.
1. About These Terms
These Terms & Conditions form a binding agreement between you (the "Customer," "Traveler," "You") and First Bell Holiday (the "Agency," "We," "Us," "Our"). They govern your use of our website, telephone services, and any cruise booking facilitated by First Bell Holiday.
First Bell Holiday is an independent travel agency operating under CLIA accreditation number 14017953. We are not a cruise line, ship operator, or owner; we are a third-party distributor authorized to facilitate cruise bookings on behalf of multiple cruise line partners.
2. Our Role as an Independent Agency
When you book a cruise through First Bell Holiday, the actual transportation, accommodations, dining, entertainment, and shore experiences are provided by the cruise line you select. The cruise line's own terms, conditions, ticket contract, and policies will apply to your sailing alongside these Terms.
First Bell Holiday acts as an intermediary, assisting you with itinerary research, cabin selection, payment processing on behalf of cruise line partners, and customer support. We are compensated through commissions paid by cruise line partners and, where applicable, a transparent service fee disclosed prior to booking.
3. Quotes, Pricing, and Availability
All cruise prices, cabin categories, and itineraries displayed on our website or quoted by our advisors are subject to availability and may change without notice prior to deposit confirmation. Cruise line fares are dynamic — pricing can shift due to demand, taxes, port-fee adjustments, promotional changes, or currency fluctuations.
A quote is only guaranteed at the moment a booking is confirmed and the required deposit is received. Verbal quotes are not contractual until issued in writing as a booking confirmation.
3.1 Service Fees
Some bookings may carry a non-refundable First Bell Holiday service fee. This fee, if applicable, will be clearly disclosed before payment is collected. Service fees are separate from the cruise fare and are retained by First Bell Holiday for the planning, customization, and post-booking support we provide.
4. Booking Confirmation
A booking is considered confirmed only when (a) you have authorized payment of any required deposit or full fare, (b) the cruise line has issued a booking reference, and (c) you have received a written confirmation from First Bell Holiday containing the cruise details, payment summary, and applicable terms.
You are responsible for reviewing your confirmation immediately. Any discrepancy in spelling, dates, ship, cabin, or fare components must be reported to us within 48 hours.
5. Documentation and Travel Requirements
It is your responsibility to ensure you have valid travel documentation for your sailing, including but not limited to:
- A passport valid for at least six months beyond the sailing date (where required)
- Visas required by countries on your itinerary
- Health-related documents such as vaccinations or pre-cruise health declarations
- Government-issued identification for embarkation
First Bell Holiday may provide general guidance, but final documentation requirements are set by cruise lines and government authorities. We are not liable for missed sailings due to insufficient documentation.
6. Payments
Payments collected by First Bell Holiday are forwarded to the relevant cruise line on your behalf, less any applicable service fee. We accept major credit and debit cards. Final payments are due by the cruise line's specified deadline; failure to remit final payment may result in automatic cancellation by the cruise line and forfeiture of deposits.
7. Changes Made by the Cruise Line
Cruise lines reserve the right to modify itineraries, ships, departure times, or port calls due to weather, mechanical issues, safety concerns, geopolitical events, or operational needs. First Bell Holiday is not liable for such changes; any compensation, refund, or rebooking is governed by the cruise line's policies.
8. Cancellations and Refunds
Cancellation timelines and refund eligibility are set by the cruise line associated with your booking and are summarized in our Refund Policy. Service fees paid to First Bell Holiday are generally non-refundable once planning work has been performed.
9. Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance at the time of booking. Travel insurance can protect you against cancellations, medical emergencies, lost baggage, and travel disruptions. First Bell Holiday can help you evaluate options, but the insurance contract is between you and the insurer.
10. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, First Bell Holiday's liability is limited to the service fees we have collected directly from you for the specific booking in question. We are not liable for:
- Acts, omissions, or negligence of any cruise line, port authority, transportation provider, or third party
- Personal injury, illness, loss of property, or death occurring during travel
- Delays, missed connections, or itinerary changes
- Force majeure events including weather, strikes, pandemics, or government action
11. Acceptable Use of Our Website
You agree not to use our website to transmit harmful code, scrape pricing for competitive purposes, attempt unauthorized access, or misrepresent your identity. We may suspend access to anyone violating these terms.
12. Intellectual Property
All content on our website — including text, logos, branding, photography, and layout — is the property of First Bell Holiday or used under license. You may not reproduce, redistribute, or commercially exploit this content without prior written permission.
13. Communication Consent
By providing your phone number or email, you consent to receive booking-related communications from First Bell Holiday. You may opt out of promotional communications at any time by emailing contact@firstbellholiday.com or replying STOP to SMS messages where applicable.
14. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey, United States, without regard to its conflict-of-law principles. Any disputes shall be resolved in the state or federal courts located in New Jersey.
15. Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms periodically. Updated versions take effect when posted on this page. Continued use of our services after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
16. Contact
For questions about these Terms, please contact us:
📞 (866) 886-3901
✉ contact@firstbellholiday.com
📍 1070 Morris Ave, Apt 1147, Union, NJ 07083, United States