1) Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using the Merker Travel Design website or our services, you agree to these Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the site.
2) Electronic Communications Consent
By using the site or communicating with us electronically (e.g., submitting forms, emailing us, texting us), you consent to receive communications from us electronically. You agree that all notices, disclosures, agreements, and other communications we provide electronically satisfy any legal requirement that such communications be in writing. You may opt out of non-transactional marketing by emailing us at any time; however, we may still send transactional or service-related messages (e.g., booking updates).
3) Who We Are
Merker Travel Design LLC (“I,” “we,” “us,” “our”) is an independent travel design/advisory business. We research, recommend, and facilitate travel arrangements with third-party suppliers such as cruise lines, hotels/resorts, tour operators, rail/air carriers, activity providers, etc. (“Suppliers”).
4) Your Responsibilities
- Provide accurate information, including legal names matching passports/IDs.
- Review all confirmations and supplier terms upon receipt and notify us promptly of any discrepancies.
- Comply with all applicable laws and Supplier rules, including payment and cancellation deadlines.
5) Pricing, Payments & Changes
- Prices, availability, promotions, and inclusions are set by Suppliers and may change at any time prior to full payment. Errors and omissions excepted.
- Deposits and final payments are typically made directly to Suppliers via their secure systems; we may provide timelines and instructions.
- Changes requested after booking may incur Supplier fees and any difference in fare/price.
6) Cancellations & Refunds
Cancellation policies are determined by each Supplier and vary by product and fare type. Refund eligibility (if any) is governed by Supplier terms. We may assist with cancellations or changes in accordance with those terms.
7) Supplier Terms Control
Your purchases are subject to the applicable Supplier’s contract of carriage, terms & conditions, and liability limitations, which control in case of conflict. We are not the manufacturer, owner, or operator of the travel services you purchase.
8) Passports, Visas & Entry Requirements
You are responsible for meeting all entry, exit, health, and documentation requirements for your itinerary (including passports, visas, vaccinations, and any other government requirements). We may provide guidance and resources, but final responsibility rests with each traveler.
9) Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance which may help protect against trip interruption/cancellation, medical emergencies, evacuation, delays, and lost baggage. Upon request, we may share options for your review.
10) Health, Safety & Accessibility
Please disclose any dietary needs, mobility, or accessibility considerations during planning so we can advocate with Suppliers. We do not control facility design, ship configuration, or third-party services and cannot guarantee accommodations beyond Supplier capabilities.
11) Limitations of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Merker Travel Design LLC is not liable for acts, errors, omissions, representations, warranties, breaches, or negligence of any Supplier or for any personal injury, death, property damage, delay, overbooking, strike, force majeure, or other events beyond our control. In no event shall we be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages. Our total liability, if any, shall not exceed the amounts directly paid to us for advisory or planning services related to the claim.
12) Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Merker Travel Design LLC and our owners, officers, agents, and representatives from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or related to: (a) your use of the site or services; (b) your breach of these Terms; or (c) your violation of law or the rights of any third party.
13) Force Majeure
We are not responsible for performance delays or failures caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including acts of God, weather, public health events, governmental actions, war, terrorism, labor disputes, or network/platform outages.
14) Intellectual Property
All content on this site (text, graphics, logos, design) is owned by or licensed to Merker Travel Design LLC and protected by applicable laws. You may not copy, distribute, or create derivative works without our prior written permission.
15) User Content
If you submit or share any content with us (e.g., testimonials, reviews, photos, feedback) (“User Content”), you represent and warrant that you own or have the necessary rights to submit the User Content and that it does not infringe the rights of any third party. You retain ownership of your User Content, but you grant Merker Travel Design LLC a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, transferable, and sublicensable license to use, reproduce, modify for formatting, publish, display, and distribute the User Content in any media for marketing and promotional purposes. We may edit or remove User Content at our discretion.
16) Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. The “Effective date” above will reflect the latest version.
17) Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Ohio, without regard to conflict-of-laws rules. Venue for any dispute shall lie in the state or federal courts located in Ohio, and you consent to such jurisdiction.
18) Contact Us
Email: info@merkertravel.com
Phone: 216-525-9059
Mail: Merker Travel Design LLC — Mentor, Ohio, USA
Note: Additional disclosures specific to certain products (e.g., cruise ticket contracts) may be provided on our Disclosures page or by the Supplier directly.