Cancellation and refund policy

1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1. Universe Travel & Business, the owner and operator of the GlobTravLink platform (hereinafter referred to as the COMPANY), provides a Platform for searching and booking travel services, products, and related solutions offered by third-party organizations and independent entities (including, but not limited to: cruise lines, airlines, hotels, resorts, ground transportation operators, car rental and yacht charter companies, tour operators, excursion organizers, private campsite owners, and individual tour guides; hereinafter referred to as SUPPLIERS).

1.2. The COMPANY acts strictly as a technological intermediary (booking agent) between the CLIENT and the SUPPLIER. The COMPANY bears legal and financial responsibility solely for the services it designs, organizes, and executes entirely on its own. Exclusive liability for the quality, scheduling, safety, and direct execution of any third-party services listed on the Platform rests solely with the respective external SUPPLIERS.

1.3. Execution of the Contract: The contract is deemed legally executed, and these cancellation rules unconditionally accepted, at the exact moment the CLIENT or Agent processes any payment (whether full, partial, or a deposit). The issuance of confirmation documentation (vouchers, boarding passes, tickets) is strictly a technical verification of the completed transaction and does not alter the legal validity of the obligations and penalties established at the time of payment.

2. CANCELLATION AND REFUND TERMS FOR THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

2.1. All cancellation rules, including submission deadlines, withholding amounts, and penalty fees, are governed by the internal policies and fare rules of the specific SUPPLIER providing the service. By making a payment, the CLIENT acknowledges that they have independently reviewed and fully agreed to the cancellation policy of the chosen SUPPLIER.

2.2. The Back-to-Back Refund Principle: The actual refund of monetary funds to the CLIENT or Agent for cancelled services of third-party SUPPLIERS will be processed by the COMPANY only after and strictly to the extent that such funds have been physically returned to the COMPANY’s bank accounts by that specific SUPPLIER. The COMPANY provides administrative assistance in negotiations but bears no financial liability for SUPPLIER denials, delays, or insolvency.

2.3. Non-Refundable Fees: For any type of monetary refund, credit card/bank transaction fees, as well as fixed service and administrative fees charged by the COMPANY for consultations, sourcing, and booking management, are strictly non-refundable, as the booking service is deemed fully rendered at the moment the payment is processed.

2.4. Any modifications to cancellation rules or rates initiated by SUPPLIERS take effect immediately and apply directly to the CLIENT's active bookings.

3. CANCELLATION OF COMPANY-HOSTED SERVICES (UNIVERSE ORIGINAL)

3.1. Cancellations of Company-Hosted Services (custom tours, specialized fishing tours, organized campouts, and events marked as Universe Original) initiated by the CLIENT are governed by the following strict penalty schedule, unless explicitly stated otherwise on the product page:

• Cancellation 30 or more calendar days prior to the start date — Full refund less a 10% non-refundable administrative processing fee based on the total cost of the product;
• Cancellation between 29 and 14 calendar days prior to the start date — A penalty of 50% of the total product cost shall be withheld from the User;
• Cancellation less than 14 calendar days prior to the start date — A penalty of 100% of the total product cost shall be withheld (no refund will be issued), as the COMPANY has already committed non-refundable outlays for group infrastructure, logistics, and transport allocations.

4. LIABILITY AND FORCE MAJEURE

4.1. The COMPANY assumes no legal liability for the acts, omissions, negligence, or financial insolvency (bankruptcy) of third-party SUPPLIERS, nor for the CLIENT’s subjective dissatisfaction with service quality, provided it complies with the official descriptions issued by the SUPPLIER.

4.2. Force Majeure: Circumstances beyond reasonable control include: military actions of any nature, anti-terrorist operations, civil unrest, labor strikes, natural disasters (including hurricanes, storms, floods), epidemics, technical failures of port or transport infrastructure, and official government travel bans or advisories. In such cases, cancellation and refund terms are determined exclusively by the specific SUPPLIER of the service (the respective cruise line, airline, hotel, etc.). If the SUPPLIER issues a future travel credit or voucher instead of a cash refund, the COMPANY will transfer it to the CLIENT's name. Direct cash refunds from the COMPANY’s proprietary funds will not be provided.

4.3. Staff Protection and Informed Status: Agents and employees of the COMPANY operate based on data provided by the CLIENT and the SUPPLIER. The CLIENT is independently responsible for reviewing current geopolitical, weather, and health conditions in the destination region prior to payment. Subjective apprehensions arising after payment do not constitute grounds for penalty-free cancellation if the SUPPLIER continues to execute the service.

5. TRAINING, MEMBERSHIP, LISTING, AND PARTNER PROGRAMS

5.1. Payments for any type of business membership, partner fees, access to training platforms, and programs for all participant categories (including Agents, Managers, Guides, and Partners) are final, operational, and entirely non-refundable.

5.2. Payments for listing packages (service placements on the Platform), promotional options, marketing services, and SUPPLIER subscriptions are non-refundable from the moment technical access to the functionality is granted or publications are activated.

5.3. Refunds for services specified in clauses 5.1 and 5.2 will not be issued under any circumstances, including: a participant's personal decision to cease activities, dissatisfaction with marketing results, changes in personal or business circumstances, or changes in applicable legislation.

5.4. Participants in partner programs covenant to strictly maintain confidentiality, safeguard the COMPANY's intellectual property, and refrain from utilizing acquired business technologies to benefit competitors.

6. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS

6.1. All claims and cancellation requests must be submitted to the COMPANY strictly in writing (via the personal account dashboard or official support email) within 20 calendar days following the scheduled completion date of the service. Written communications sent via third-party instant messengers or oral notices carry no legal validity.

6.2. The COMPANY strongly advises all CLIENTS to independently obtain comprehensive travel insurance (including trip cancellation and medical coverage) to mitigate potential financial risks.