What to Expect

• Cruise programs give passengers the convenience of unpacking once while visiting many places at a relaxed pace. Vessels range from deluxe ships, to sailing yachts, to small expedition ships. On cruise programs the MIT Alumni Travel group makes up a part of the entire group of passengers on board.
• Land programs are usually exclusive to the MIT Alumni Travel community, and some of these itineraries are customized for MIT.
• Family adventure programs cater to alumni and their children and grandchildren. Typically, children age seven and older are welcome to participate; a few of the more challenging family trips may require a minimum age of 12 or 14 years old. Daily activities on the family trips provide something for every age group.
• Train journeys are very popular. There's nothing quite like rail travel: the unhurried pace, the congenial atmosphere on board the train, and the spectacular sites visited are special indeed.

Most trips do not include airfare; check pricing details for individual trips. All trips are sold as a package, and portions of the trip cannot be purchased à la carte. If you arrive late to a trip or must depart early, the tour operator is not able to provide refunds for unused portions of a trip. We strongly encourage tour participants to purchase trip insurance.

Members of the MIT faculty, local experts, or lecturers from other institutions lead the programs and share their knowledge to further enrich the tour participants’ experience. In some cases, a staff host from the MIT Alumni Association will accompany the group. Some trip departures are exclusive to MIT alumni and their guests, while others are shared with alumni from other universities and non-profit institutions. 

Prior to your trip departure MIT Alumni Travel will send confirmed travelers information on the MIT enrichment lecturer or host for the program. An MIT guest list will be provided as well.

When an MIT enrichment lecturer is noted for the trip, we will make every effort possible to run the trip with the advertised enrichment lecturer. On rare occasions, a need may arise for the lecturer to cancel. In these cases, MIT and the tour operator will seek to find a replacement, but enrichment lecturer participation is not guaranteed. Registered tour participants are bound to the tour operator's terms and conditions regardless of whether MIT sends an enrichment lecturer.
 

On all programs, a limited number of solo rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis. In most cases a supplement is charged for this accommodation. In cases when solo travelers are willing to share a room/cabin with another traveler, and a suitable pairing is confirmed, the supplements will be waived.

The MIT Alumni Travel Program trips are designed for people in good health who are comfortable participating in physical activities as part of a group. 

For the most enjoyable and rewarding experience, please use your best judgment to make your trip selection in keeping with your health, physical condition, and individual circumstances. Please bear in mind that each day will be busy with touring and group activities; your level of preparedness and ability will have an impact on the other participants. 

Trips can range from requiring between three to seven hours of physical activity per day (or more). Activities range from walking, sometimes on uneven terrain, to climbing stairs, getting on and off motorcoaches or other forms of transportation, and standing for extended periods of time. Some tours require navigating difficult terrain, exposure to high altitudes, and option activities like biking snorkeling, hiking, and trekking. For more demanding trips, a pre-trip physical training program may be recommended

Please contact the tour operator for more details on the physical demands of the trip.

Also, see Eligibility to travel with MIT.

As we relaunch the MIT Alumni Travel Program, alumni and friends should direct all trip inquiries to, and confirm travel directly with, the tour operators. Each trip's web page provides the tour operator's contact email and/or phone number. The MIT Alumni Travel Program relies on tour operators to address and remedy any issues that may arise in connection with a trip. The tour operators stand ready to answer your questions, provide advice, and confirm reservations when you are ready, either over the phone or via their online portals. The MIT Alumni Travel Program is available to act as a liaison with tour operators should tour participants have any questions or concerns. The travel program can be reached at compass@mit.edu.

Refund policies vary by program. Please read the "Terms and Conditions" and the "Cancellation/Refund" sections of the tour operator's trip brochure to learn about the refund policy for your particular trip. Your financial commitments are directly with the tour operator, with all tour funds being paid to the operator. Shortly after a trip deposit is made, an administrative fee will be charged by the tour operator for any cancellations received. As the trip departure date approaches, higher cancellation fees will apply and are not negotiable.

We recommend the purchase of travel insurance. Please research any insurance plan that best suits you. As a convenience, we offer insurance information for your reference.