Winter 2024 / 2025 | Summer 2025 | Winter 2025 / 2026 | Summer 2026

Essential Information for 2025 Departures

Cruise America - General Conditions

All rentals are subject to the terms and conditions of the Rental Contract signed at the Cruise America office upon vehicle departure. The Rental Contract is the governing document between you (the Client) and Cruise. Rental prices, policies, and conditions are subject to change without notice.

On Arrival:

First Overnight
Your first overnight in North America, after an international flight, should be in a motel / hotel. You are not allowed to drive a motorhome on flight arrival day.

Getting to the Rental Center - Regular renters
After a relaxing first overnight, you must call the Rental Center in the morning (or if possible, the day before) to arrange an arrival time at the Rental Center for an afternoon (13:00 to 16:00 hours) departure. If you are scheduled to depart on a Saturday, please note some locations close earlier, therefore please call the day before if possible or first thing in the morning to arrange your departure time. Arrivals at the Rental Center without notice may result in departure delays, for which Cruise America accepts no responsibility. Transfers to the Rental Center are not included in your prepaid rental charges.

Getting to the Rental Center - Early Birders
With pre-purchase of Early Bird Departure Special, transfers from pre-advised designated hotel areas are of course provided, beginning at 9:00 AM (09:00 hours). You should call the Rental Center the day before you are scheduled to travel/depart in order for Cruise America to arrange your transfer details with you and to ensure your early arrival at the Rental Center. Arrivals at the Rental Center without notice may result in departure delays, for which Cruise America accepts no responsibility.

If you are staying in a hotel in a non-designated area, the transfer costs will remain your expense and may void other benefits of the Early Bird Departure Special.

Arriving at the Rental Centre:

Vehicle Familiarization
A tour of approximately 25 minutes is required to familiarize you and other drivers with the operation of the vehicle before departure. Video vehicle familiarization presentations in English, German, Dutch and/or French may also be available at most centers.

Driver Requirements
Vehicles can only be operated by qualified drivers 21 years of age or older. All drivers must have a valid and identifiable driver’s license. Your driver’s license and foreign passport are required as identification and will be verified. All drivers must be identified, authorized, and must sign the Rental Contract. There is no cost for additional drivers and no ‘under 25’ surcharge.

Upgrades
You may find the model reserved to be inadequate for your party. Where possible, upgrades to a larger sized model will be allowed at a charge determined from local posted rates. Our policy is to provide you with the model reserved. In some instances, circumstances may require an upgrade to a larger sized motorhome to accommodate an immediate departure. The upgrade will be provided at no charge to you and with no further liability to Cruise America.

Downgrades
You may find the model reserved to be too large for your comfort. Where possible, downgrades to a smaller sized model will be allowed at no charge to you. In some instances, circumstances may require a downgrade to a smaller model to accommodate an immediate departure. The downgrade, if accepted, will earn a credit based on the difference in price at the time of reservation and with no further liability to Cruise America.

Luggage Storage
Collapsible luggage is recommended on camping vacations, which you should take with you. Remaining luggage may be stored at most rental centers, all at your risk.

Stocking your Vehicle
All items listed subject to availability and substitution without notice.

Standard Equipment - generally provided with all rental vehicles:

110 Volt Adapter Renter Assistance Guide 25 ft. Power Cord 25 ft. Water Hose K.O.A. Campground Guide K.O.A. Value Card

Regional Campground Guide Box of Matches 9 Volt Battery 20 ft. Sewer Hose RV Toilet Paper

Provisioning Kit - Optional Item

Cookware Cooking Spoon Spatula Tea Kettle Broom Flashlight Soup Spoons Dinner Forks Steak Knives Coffee Cups Colander

Cooking Fork Mixing Bowl Plastic Pail Can Opener Soup Bowls Teaspoons Dinner Knives Tumblers Dinner Plates Paring Knife Carving Knife

Per Person Kit - Optional Item

Pillow Pillowcase Sheet Sleeping Bag / Comforter

Wash Cloths Bath Towels Dish Towel

Petrol / Propane for Cooking and Heating (All fuel is at your expense.)
Your vehicle at departure will contain a minimum one-quarter tank of petrol (gasoline) and adequate propane for appliance use. You may be charged a deposit for fuel included at departure, depending on local circumstances. Return fuels at the same level for refund of deposits. At the Rental Center, you will be given directions to the nearest fueling stations. There are no warranties concerning fuel consumption rates while en route.

Child Restraint Seats & GPS - Not Provided by Cruise America
You must supply your own child restraint seats for transfers and while en route. GPS devices are not available to rent. You must bring your own or, alternatively, you can easily purchase one locally.

Food, Bottled Water and Other Camping Items
Please ask for a map or directions to nearby supermarkets for you to stock up on food and bottled water.

Payment of Deposits / Charges:

Security Deposit
A basic refundable security deposit of USD $500 and the use of a credit card to pay for all local charges and deposits is required at departure. Upon vehicle return, all extra charges are balanced against the security deposit and a credit will be issued to cover the refund. Cash is not accepted for security deposits or any additional charges at departure.

Burning Man Departures
Please note that all Burning Man departures from select locations will require a increased Security Deposit of USD $1,000, in order to ensure our vehicles are returned in the same manner they are offered, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

The Security Deposit of USD $1,000 (increased from “normal” Security Deposit of $500) shall automatically be collected at departure, for ALL rentals departing on the following days and from the following locations:

2024 / 2025 / 2026
Departure Dates: 21 August to 27 August 2024 / 20 August to 26 August 2025 / 19 August to 25 August 2026
Security Deposit: USD $1,000
Locations: All locations in California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon & Utah.

No Exceptions will be allowed

Mileage Charges
Your itinerary will determine estimated travel miles. If you have not pre-paid to your tour operator for mileage packs, estimated travel miles are payable at departure. Upon vehicle return, any additional miles/kms over prepaid miles are charged at the per mile/km rate. There are no refunds for unused miles.

Mileage Rates at Departure / Return:
USD $0.39 Per Mile

Kit Charges
Vehicle Provisioning Kit USD $125 per kit
Per Person Kit USD $75 per kit

Generator Charges
If you choose to operate the gasoline-powered 110-volt generator, extra charges will accrue at $3.50 per hour as determined by an installed running time meter. Or, unlimited usage may be prepaid or purchased at departure at a rate of USD $8 per rental day. The generator is not required for normal vehicle operation.

Camping Chairs
Camping chairs are available for USD $12 per Rental. However, due to the cyclical nature of our business, we cannot guarantee availability of camping chairs 100% of the time. During high volume rental periods, we may be unable to provide chairs. In this case, we will provide clients with instructions on where to find reasonably priced alternatives.

One-Way Rental Fees
One-way fees between rental locations within the USA are allowed and will vary in cost from $350 to $750 depending on pick up location and routing. Your tour operator will advise the rate applicable to your one-way choice at the time of booking.

Taxes
All rental charges are subject to sales tax by law. In some cases, taxes will not have been collected on items pre-paid to your tour operator, therefore these unpaid taxes will be collected directly from you at departure, at rates prevailing at the Rental Center at time of departure.

Cancellation Conditions (round trip rentals)
46 days or more prior to departure - USD $200
16 to 45 days prior to departure - USD $600
8 to 15 days prior to departure - USD $850
1 day to 7 days prior to departure - USD $1,050
Departure day / No Shows * - Full Rental Charges
* Reservation “no-shows:” A client failing to arrive on departure day or who declines vehicle at departure is classified as a “departure day” cancellation.

Cancellation Conditions (one way rentals)
46 days or more prior to departure - USD $600
16 to 45 days prior to departure - USD $1,000
8 to 15 days prior to departure - USD $1,500
1 day to 7 days prior to departure - USD $1,900
Departure day / No Shows * - Full Rental Charges
* Reservation “no-shows:” A client failing to arrive on departure day or who declines vehicle at departure is classified as a “departure day” cancellation.

Amendments - Reservation Changes
The first change only is at no charge. This first change may involve several aspects of the reservation (party size, items prepaid). The second and subsequent changes are at USD $50 per aspect, per change. As usual, reservation changes are subject to availability and Flex Plan Reservation Change Rules where the higher flex rate shall apply.

Vehicle Departure - Leaving the Rental Centre:

Time of Departure - Regular Renters
Vehicle departure time begins at 1:00 PM (13:00 hours), however please note, if you are departing on a Saturday, times may vary as some locations close earlier. This policy is similar to the “check-in” policy at a hotel. Your actual departure time will vary. There are no refunds for late pick-ups.

Time of Departure - Early Birders
With pre-purchase of Early Bird Departure Special, vehicle departure time runs between 9:00 AM (09:00 hours) and Noon.

Vehicle Acceptance
You will be required to sign a Vehicle Acceptance / Service Satisfaction form listing the condition of the vehicle, to ensure you depart in a vehicle cleaned to your standard which is in good working order, with complete kits, adequate propane tank, empty waste tanks and an appropriate gasoline level. Be sure to have any items corrected prior to departure if you are not happy.

While En Route:

We Provide a Travelers Assistance Hotline 24-hours a day 7-days a Week ...
For concerns that clients may have, whether mechanical breakdowns, service problems, or holiday impairment, the client MUST call the (800) 334-4110 number. A call to the departure rental center is not recommended. Please note that availability of a toll-free number for Travelers Assistance on a 24-hour 7-day a week basis is unique to Cruise America. If the client calls Travelers Assistance they should have the Renter Assistance Guide in hand. The Travelers Assistance representative will refer to specific pages within the guide.

Renter Assistance Guide
The Renter Assistance Guide discusses operation of all features of motorhome operation. Important instructional information is included in the Renter Assistance Guide. You are responsible for reading the Renter Assistance Guide thoroughly. This Guide will also advise what to do in the case of an accident or any damage that may occur to the motorhome, as well as tips regarding the use of included safety equipment. This is the first place you should look if there is a problem

The Renter Assistance Guide (English or German) is included with each motorhome rental, please Contact US so we may send you a copy.

Accidents / Collision
In the event of an accident, you must notify Travelers Assistance immediately from the scene of the accident (see phone number above). You will be given instructions on how to proceed. You must also obtain a police or bench report. If you are unable to obtain a police report at the scene of the accident, you must go to the local police station and obtain a bench report. We will accept either report.

Ferry Restrictions
Ferry reservations can be dificult to manage during high season. We recommend you make a reservation for at least a 30 foot vehicle on the ferry, irrespective as to the size of the motorhome reserved, to avoid problems due to possible upgrades.

Travel Restrictions
Coverages are invalid if problems occur in the following areas and all recovery expenses are at the client’s own cost. Violations of these restrictions void damage waivers and may subject you to liability for all vehicle damages including to tires, towing charges and other related expenses as a result of a breakdown associated with operating in these areas. Clients should consult with departure location personnel for complete information on travel restrictions and local circumstances at the time they collect their motorhome.

Alaska, Yukon and Northwest Territories & Newfoundland
Travel on all public and/or numbered roads is permitted. Travel on non-public roads, unpaved back roads, trails and the like – commonly called ‘logging roads’ or on any surface subjecting the vehicle to unreasonable damage or road hazard is prohibited. Clients may receive further information from Cruise America regarding seasonal travel restrictions as well. We reserve the right to restrict travel, dependent on current road conditions.

Death Valley and other Desert Areas
Vehicles are allowed to operate in Death Valley and other desert areas, however, extreme caution must be observed. Clients visit these areas at their own risk and are thus responsible for all recovery and other charges. During certain periods these areas are not habitable and could pose a danger to the driver and passengers.

Manhattan, New York City
Due to restrictions on vehicle heights, propane gas and parking, vehicles with propane are not permitted in Manhattan and are not permitted to travel through any underground or underwater tunnels.

Mexico
Travel the United States border into Mexico in a Cruise America vehicle is strictly prohibited.

Winter Warning
Vehicle operating systems are not fully operable during subfreezing temperatures. Check the Renter Assistance Guide for winter operations but be aware that in Canada and northern US cities, vehicles are likely to have anti-freeze in holding tanks meaning that vehicle water facilities will not be available to you.
Click here for more information 34kb PDF

Refueling and Servicing
You must turn off engine and all ignition sources including gas appliances, refrigerator, hot water heater, stove, furnace, etc. each time you refuel. You are responsible for checking and maintaining engine oil, fluids, tire pressure, and coolant levels at each refueling, as well as reporting mechanical failures immediately. You may be held responsible for mechanical damage if you fail to do so.

Breakdown Assistance and Repair Reimbursement
During a motorhome vacation some aspects of the vehicle or coach systems may fail or be impaired. Our objective is to get you back on the road as quickly as possible. If a mechanical breakdown should occur, Cruise America will assist you to secure over-the-road maintenance from reputable service providers. All repairs require authorization by phone from Travelers Assistance at (800) 334-4110 who will document your problem on a customer service log. Tools for vehicle repair are not provided.

Your expenses for authorized repairs will be paid directly by Cruise America or you will be reimbursed upon presentation of receipts. Any vehicle service expense over USD $75 requires a call to Travelers Assistance 1-800-334-4110. If the cost is under USD $75 you may have the service completed, but you must keep the receipt for reimbursement. Rental centers are authorized to reimburse receipts up to USD $75 without a customer service log. Engine battery jump-starts require Travelers Assistance approval in advance.

Travel Expense Reimbursement
In the event the vehicle is in breakdown repair for 12 hours or less, through no fault of yours, our responsibility to you is limited to a refund of the daily rental rate or portion thereof. Radio, air conditioning, refrigerator, generator, microwave, appliance and cruise control malfunctions are not considered breakdowns and no refunds are available for repair time to these items. In the event of a mechanical breakdown that is immediately reported to Travelers Assistance and requires the vehicle to be in repair for more than 12 hours, certain living/transportation expenses are reimbursable.

Living / transportation expenses are not covered in cases of radio, air conditioning, refrigerator, generator, microwave, appliance, and cruise control malfunctions since these are not necessary for basic operation of the vehicle. Expense reimbursement is void in case of collision, accident, or failure to call Traveler’s Assistance immediately. These provisions provide up to USD $30 per day per person for lodging and up to USD $30 per day per party for transportation expenses. Total provisions are limited up to USD $3,000 per tour. You must present all receipts for a refund of expenses.

Damage to Vehicle / Your Financial Responsibilities:

Damage to Vehicle - Breach of Terms & Conditions of Rental Contract - Your Responsibility
If the Rental Contract is breached or if you fail to secure a police report, or if you engage in prohibited uses, you are responsible for any and all loss of or damage to the vehicle from any cause, regardless of fault and all related expenses.

Damage to Vehicle - Your Responsibility
The Customer only has responsibility for up to only $2,500 deductible per incident regardless of fault for vehicle loss or damage per occurrence, provided they abide by the Terms & Conditions of the Rental Agreement, report promptly in case of an accident or vehicle damage, and avoid prohibited uses.

Insurance:
** New Information - Insurance **  (Effective for all departures 01 February 2025 and later)

Auto Liability
Cruise America maintains third party liability protection coverages on its rental vehicles of USD $10,000,000 against claims of bodily injury and property damage brought against the company as a result of the operation or use of its vehicles. This covers Cruise America as a company only.Basic minimum statutory auto liability coverage is included in the rental rates on a secondary basis. All coverages are subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Rental Contract.

In both the United States and Canada, the company provides Auto Liability coverage for your clients on a secondary basis for bodily injury, property damage and personal injury protection (PIP) as required by the inancial responsibility laws of the state or province in which an accident may occur , for claims made against the client and/or authorized drivers. The liability coverage is void if the rental vehicle is not operated safely in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and in compliance with all terms and conditions of the Rental Agreement.

Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI) – Included with USA Rentals
SLI provides excess liability coverage up to a total of USD $500,000 combined single limit of coverage per occurrence against claims made by third parties for bodily injury, death, and/or property damage caused by operation of the vehicle. EXCLUSIONS APPLY. A partial list is contained in the Rental Contract. Please check at departure.

Damage Responsibility
As a result of including insurance in the pre-paid rate, we have been able to vastly improve both the coverage for your client and the simplicity of the transaction. Your client only has responsibility for up to only USD $2,500 deductible per incident regardless of fault for vehicle loss or damage per occurrence, provided they abide by the Terms & Conditions of the Rental Agreement, report promptly in case of an accident or vehicle damage, and avoid prohibited uses.

Cruise America also offers a product to our mutual clients called “Zero Damage Plan.” Zero Damage Plan (ZDP) can be purchased at the rental counter and enables renters to reduce their responsibility for loss of or damage to the vehicle from $2,500 to zero ($0). ZDP provides peace of mind to many of our clients that have expressed an interest in an option for further reducing their damage responsibility while on rent.

ZDP is available for a nominal nightly fee and can be purchased in advance if elected accordingly or at the rental counter. The current price is USD $19.95 per day up to a maximum of 30 days (USD $598.50). For longer rentals there is still coverage but no additional daily fee.

Coverage Summaries – USA Departures
Provided you abide by the Terms and Conditions of the Rental Agreement, report accidents and/or damage promptly, and avoid prohibited vehicle uses, your coverages include:

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Effective for all departures from 01 February 2025 and later

Vehicle Return:

Vehicle Return Time - Regular Renters
Vehicles are to be returned by 9:00 AM (09:00 hours) and in no case later than 11:00 AM (11:00 hours).

Vehicle Return Time - Early Birders
With pre-purchase of Early Bird Departure Special, you must return vehicle to Rental Center between 9:00 AM (09:00 hours) and, in no case later than, 3:00 PM (15:00 hours) unless you are returning on a Saturday. Please note Saturday times may vary, as some locations close earlier.

Vehicle Return Late Fees / Charges
A fee of USD $25 per hour will be charged for each hour that the vehicle is overdue without permission. You agree to return vehicle in the same condition as it was received, excluding normal wear and tear. Depending on local conditions, a cleaning and/or waste tank evacuation fee may be assessed at vehicle return up to USD $150. You will also pay for damages or loss of equipment. There are no refunds for early returns.

Tolls - Parking / Traffic Violations
Please be aware that the implementation of All-Electronic Tolling is becoming more and more prevalent in many popular areas of the USA and Canada. "All-Electronic" Tolling means the traveler using these roads has no option to pay local tolls with cash. Instead, a picture of the vehicle's license plate is taken and used to assess toll charges. Clients of Cruise America are responsible for the payment of these charges.

THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXPLANATION OF HOW CRUISE AMERICA WILL HANDLE THESE CHARGES.

In some cases, a process called "Reassignment" is allowed and is utilized by Cruise America. In this process, Cruise America transfers the client's information, including name and home address, to the relevant tolling authority. The relevant tolling authority bills the clients directly and no further correspondence with Cruise America takes place. The client must resolve the outstanding tolls and/or fees directly with the tolling authority. The advantage for the client in this process is the avoidance of any administrative charges by Cruise America.

For all other cases, Cruise America will pay the tolling authority or road agency directly. We will add a USD $15 administrative fee and charge the client's credit card used for the rental. Please note our administrative fee is per rental, not per violation.

Special Note: Please be aware of the difference between automated tolling and services such as Fastrack and EZ Pass lanes. Using Fastrack and EZ Pass lanes without the corresponding transponder will result in punitive fees in addition to the regular toll rates. Fees in these cases can often be as high as USD $25 - USD $100 per violation. It is the client's responsibility to avoid using these lanes under all circumstances in order to avoid such fees.

Finally, fines for parking, red light, speeding and other trafic violations are treated similarly to the above, however, the administrative fees charged by Cruise America in these cases is USD $50 per rental.

Parking / Traffic Violations
You are responsible for reporting and payment of all parking/traffic violations at rental return. Your credit card will be charged for any charges/fines/penalties issued to Cruise America in addition to an administrative fee of up to $250 as a result of your not reporting a parking/traffic violation at return.

Return Transfers
Transfers are not included in your prepaid rental charges. Return transfers are your responsibility. Only with pre-purchase of Early Bird Departure Special are return transfers to designated hotel areas or airport included with the fee. A late return will void our responsibility to you for return transfers. Return transfers are normally accomplished up to 4:00 PM (16:00 hours).

Shortening of Rental Period
If a renter shortens their hire period by more than a week - it may be treated as a cancellation of the whole booking and a re-booking. This depends on when the amendment takes place and how many days of hire are being cancelled. Please ensure you always have travel insurance in place.

*Terms and Conditions are Subject to Change at any time*