Spartan Voyages

Universities, museums, zoos, and aquariums often have travel programs for their members, alumni, and friends. This represents a small part of the travel industry called affinity travel — essentially, group travel for those who have a common interest in an organization. For AU, this program is a new venture, and one we are excited about.

Our alumni office is growing and evolving! We want to bring you opportunities to be together and connect with one another however is best for you. At other universities, travel programs are often a favorite way to engage and support one’s alma mater.

There are many! Have you ever planned a trip and thought, “This is so much!” AU Spartan Voyages takes care of everything for you — all you have to do is get yourself to your nearest airport. We will handle the luggage and planning, ensuring you have everything you need so that you can sit back and enjoy every moment.

AU works with travel companies who specialize in affinity group travel. They provide the itineraries and the logistics — they will even set up your flight for you, if you prefer. We provide travel companies with alumni names and addresses, which they do not sell; these lists are destroyed after every brochure mailing. There is never a financial transaction between you and AU. You will pay the travel company directly.

Absolutely! AU Spartan Voyages welcomes anyone interested in educational travel, including alumni, parents, families, and friends of the university.

We strongly recommend that you are adequately insured against trip cancellation and other travel-related risks. There are many insurance companies who provide travel insurance, such as Meyer and Associates, Travelex, and USI.

Many insurance companies offer a “Cancel For Any Reason” (CFAR) policy that will provide more coverage. Please contact your insurance company for further details. For re-booked trips that did not previously have travel protection, the new initial trip deposit date will be the date on which you officially book the new trip dates. Any time-sensitive coverage (Cancel For Any Reason or pre-existing condition waiver) will be determined by the new initial trip deposit date.

There are a limited number of single accommodation spaces available on most trips. Trip prices are based on double occupancy, and single travelers will incur an additional fee to cover the cost of the open space. Please note that the single supplement for a cruise is generally much higher than a land trip, since a substantial portion of the total trip cost is the ship cabin. Most tour operators will try to honor requests for roommates, but there is no guarantee that one will be available.

The level of physical activity varies by location and the type of trip (e.g., land or cruise). In general, travelers must be in good physical health in order to participate, but some accommodations can be made for minor health issues. Please refer to each trip brochure for details about the itinerary and its physical demands. Questions about accessibility are best directed to the tour operator.

Group trips typically include between 15–35 travelers. Some trips are also joined by travelers from other institutions or organizations. Trips designated as an AU-exclusive departure will not have other travelers.

There is no maximum age limit for travelers in good health. While we welcome any travelers over the age of 15, it should be noted that our trips are designed for an adult audience.

AU Spartan Voyages serves only as the sponsor of the travel program for alumni and friends. It is ultimately the tour operator’s decision whether to cancel a trip. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee any specific timeframe for trip cancellations. Should a change in travel advisory status occur, the tour operator will contact you as soon as the change is known. If you have any questions or concerns in the meantime, please contact the tour operator directly.

Concerns about travel to any destination are understandable. Both AU Spartan Voyages and our tour operators value the health and safety of our travelers as our top priorities, and we will make every effort to protect our travelers’ investments. Each tour operator has developed its own policies, and you should contact them for specific details related to your trip.

If you have paid for your trip in full, you will likely incur fees if you cancel. If your trip still operates, options can be limited. Depending on the destination, some of our tour operators offer travelers an opportunity to delay travel or choose another destination. Please contact the tour operator directly for any available options.

Unless a trip is canceled by the operator, normal cancellation policies and fees will apply, and the options noted above may be offered. Please be aware that in some circumstances, vouchers for future travel may be considered a refund. It is important to read carefully through a tour operator’s specific policies. Aurora University is not responsible for any refunds.