Update on Tour Cancellations Due to the Ongoing War in Israel

We hope this letter finds you well. We write with heavy hearts. The tragic events in Israel since October 7, 2023 have deeply affected us all. The ongoing conflict has disrupted many lives and led to the cancellation of your tour to the Holy Land. We apologize if we have not yet responded to you individually. We care deeply about our customers. We were weighing our options and struggling to make a decision.

When the conflict began, we immediately started efforts to refund customers scheduled for tours in October and November 2023. At the time, we hoped and prayed for a swift resolution which would allow us to resume our trips to Israel and to continue processing refunds. Sadly, the war continues. No one could have anticipated this tragic and prolonged conflict. It has severely impacted our financial situation, making it impossible for us to refund everyone.

We want to remind you of the terms and conditions that apply to our tours, which state that “Maranatha Tours is not responsible for any . . . loss, . . . delay or inconvenience . . . resulting from any event or cause beyond the direct control of Maranatha Tours . . . [including] acts of war (whether declared or undeclared) or . . . criminal, terrorist or threatened terrorist activities of any kind[.]” Terms & Conditions, §4(A). Participants also agree to release Maranatha Tours from “any and all claims [related] to your participation in a Maranatha Tours sponsored tour, including, but not limited to, claims for negligence, breach of contract, [and] breach of express or implied warranties[.]” Id. at §4(B). The agreement further states that “cancellations due to circumstance outside the control of Maranatha Tours . . . are not the fault of Maranatha Tours. . . . cancellation for any reason not within Maranatha Tours’ control will not be eligible for a refund.” Id. at §6(A). For these reasons, Maranatha Tours “recommends you purchase a Travel Protection Plan that helps provide coverage for Trip Cancellation[.]” Id. at §1(H).

Even though we are not contractually required to issue refunds, we gave careful thought to issuing refunds anyway. Our ability to do so is severely impacted by the ongoing situation, which has halted our operations indefinitely.

Unfortunately, we have determined that we are unable to give everyone a refund. However, we are committed to addressing each customer’s concerns individually. If you have questions or need to discuss your situation further, please contact our customer service team at [email protected]. If the return of your deposit is causing you significant financial distress, please contact us to explain your situation. While we cannot guarantee a refund, we are here to listen and assist where possible.

We deeply regret any inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding. Your safety, trust, and satisfaction are very important to us. We are praying for peace in the Holy Land and for all affected.

Thank you for your understanding.

Blessings,

Michael S. Reilly
President
Maranatha Tours
[email protected]