Booking Terms & Conditions

Melanin at Sea Group Cruises Operated by A Rich and Jazzy Life LLC Cruise arrangements sold through Cruises & Tours Unlimited

Last updated: [8/31/2026]

1. Who you are contracting with

Melanin at Sea is a group travel brand operated by A Rich and Jazzy Life LLC ("we," "us," "Melanin at Sea"). We organize and host the group experience: themed events, meet-ups, group photography, onboard gatherings, and community programming.

Your cruise booking is made through Cruises & Tours Unlimited as the selling travel agency, and your travel is governed by the passenger ticket contract of the cruise line, which is a contract between you and the cruise line directly. Nothing in these terms modifies that contract.

We act solely as an organizer and agent. We do not own, operate, or control any cruise ship, aircraft, hotel, restaurant, ground transport, or tour operator.

2. Photography, video & media release

Melanin at Sea sailings are documented extensively. Professional and informal photography and video recording take place throughout the sailing, including at group events, meet-ups, ports, and onboard gatherings.

By booking, you grant A Rich and Jazzy Life LLC a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, irrevocable right to:

• Photograph, film, and record you

• Use, reproduce, edit, publish, and distribute your image, likeness, voice, and appearance

• Do so across any medium, including YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, our website, promotional materials, and future advertising

This is granted without compensation, notification, or approval rights, and without limitation as to time or territory. You waive any right to inspect or approve the finished materials.

This release applies to every guest in your cabin. If any guest is under 18, the booking guest confirms they are the parent or legal guardian, or have obtained consent from the parent or legal guardian, and grant this release on that guest's behalf.

Participation in group photography and video is a condition of joining a Melanin at Sea group cruise. If you have a specific concern about appearing in published content, contact us at Cruise@melaninatsea.com before booking so we can discuss whether this sailing is a fit.

You retain the right to take your own photos and videos for personal use. Content produced by or for Melanin at Sea remains our property.

3. Air travel

You are solely responsible for arranging and paying for all air travel to and from the departure and disembarkation ports. We do not book, arrange, recommend, or guarantee flights.

We are not responsible for:

• Flight delays, cancellations, rescheduling, or missed connections

• Missing the ship's departure for any reason

• Costs of rejoining the ship at a later port

• Any expense arising from air travel arrangements

Strongly recommended: arrive at least one full day before sailing, and do not book a same-day departing flight before late afternoon on disembarkation day.

4. Travel insurance

Travel insurance is strongly recommended for every guest. We recommend coverage that includes trip cancellation and interruption, emergency medical treatment, emergency evacuation and repatriation, baggage loss and delay, and travel delay.

Medical coverage matters especially on international sailings, where your domestic health insurance may provide little or no coverage and evacuation costs can be substantial.

Declining insurance is your choice and your risk. Neither A Rich and Jazzy Life LLC nor Melanin at Sea is responsible for any loss, expense, or damage that travel insurance would have covered.

5. Travel documents, health & entry requirements

You are responsible for obtaining and maintaining all required travel documents, including valid passports, visas, and any health documentation required by the countries on your itinerary.

Most international destinations require a passport valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates. Requirements change; verify current requirements well ahead of departure.

We are not responsible for denied boarding, denied entry, deportation, or any resulting loss caused by inadequate or expired documentation.

You are responsible for assessing your own fitness to travel and for any medical care needed during travel.

6. Assumption of risk

Travel — including cruise travel, shore excursions, water activities, and independent exploration in foreign countries — involves inherent risks, including illness, injury, accident, theft, loss of property, civil unrest, adverse weather, and death.

You voluntarily assume all such risks. You are responsible for your own safety, health, conduct, and personal belongings at all times, both onboard and ashore.

7. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, A Rich and Jazzy Life LLC, Melanin at Sea, and their owners, officers, employees, hosts, and representatives are not liable for:

• Any injury, illness, death, loss, damage, delay, or expense arising from your travel

• The acts, errors, omissions, negligence, or default of any independent supplier, including cruise lines, airlines, hotels, tour operators, transportation providers, and excursion vendors

• Loss or damage to personal property

• Changes to itinerary, ports of call, schedules, or onboard offerings made by the cruise line

• Events beyond our reasonable control, including weather, mechanical issues, port closures, strikes, civil unrest, government action, public health emergencies, or acts of God

• Any consequential, incidental, indirect, or punitive damages

Our total liability for any claim arising from your participation shall not exceed the amount you paid directly to A Rich and Jazzy Life LLC for group experience fees, excluding cruise fare, taxes, and third-party charges.

8. Independent suppliers

All travel services are provided by independent third-party suppliers. We act only as an intermediary in arranging group participation.

Each supplier has its own terms and conditions, which govern your relationship with them. Your cruise is governed by the cruise line's passenger ticket contract, which you should read.

Shore excursions, whether booked through the cruise line or independently, are operated by third parties. We do not inspect, endorse, or assume responsibility for them.

9. Group events

Melanin at Sea group events — themed nights, meet-ups, cocktail receptions, group excursions, and similar — are organized for the enjoyment of the group.

• Some events carry a separate cost, clearly identified at the time of booking

• Events, themes, hosts, and schedules may change without notice

• Participation is voluntary and at your own risk

• Events may be modified or cancelled due to weather, ship schedule, venue availability, or circumstances beyond our control

• No refund is due for events that do not take place, other than a refund of any separate fee paid for that event

10. Payments, changes & cancellation

Deposits, payment schedules, and cancellation penalties are set by the cruise line, not by us, and are disclosed at the time of booking.

• Deposits may be non-refundable depending on the fare type booked

• Missing a final payment deadline may result in automatic cancellation and loss of deposit by the cruise line

• Cancellation penalties escalate as the sailing date approaches

• Name changes, cabin changes, and category changes may incur cruise line fees

• Group rates and amenities apply only while you remain booked within the group block

You are responsible for meeting all payment deadlines. We will make reasonable efforts to remind you, but reminders are a courtesy, not an obligation.

11. Conduct

We reserve the right to exclude any guest from Melanin at Sea group events whose conduct is disruptive, harassing, discriminatory, threatening, or harmful to other guests, without refund.

The cruise line separately reserves the right to deny boarding or remove any guest under its own passenger contract. We have no control over and no liability for such decisions.

12. Itinerary changes

Itineraries, ports of call, arrival and departure times, ship assignments, and onboard offerings are set and may be changed by the cruise line at any time, for any reason, without liability to us.

Published itineraries are subject to change. We are not liable for any resulting disappointment, loss, or expense.

13. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless A Rich and Jazzy Life LLC, Melanin at Sea, and their owners, officers, employees, and representatives from any claim, loss, liability, or expense — including reasonable attorneys' fees — arising from your conduct, your breach of these terms, or your violation of any law or third-party right.

14. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Georgia, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any dispute shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Georgia, and you consent to that jurisdiction.

15. Severability & entire agreement

If any provision is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in full effect.

These terms, together with the cruise line's passenger ticket contract and any written booking confirmation, constitute the entire agreement regarding your participation.

16. Contact

A Rich and Jazzy Life LLC Cruise@melaninatsea.com melaninatsea.com