Frequently Asked Questions

ABOUT OUR ALUMNI & PARENT TRAVEL PROGRAM 

HOO is Cavalier Travels?
“Cavalier Travels” is the familiar name for UVA’s Alumni and Parent Travel program under Global Networks and Programs in the Office of Engagement. We aim to engage our alumni, friends, and families in unique and educational group travel experiences. Mary Lynn Musser is the program’s senior associate director, Marieke Cappa is the assistant director, and we will have a part-time associate on board soon!

Why should I travel with UVA Cavalier Travels?
Enrichment
We offer a unique lens through which to view the world. A key component of our programs is the UVA faculty member who accompanies each trip, offering educational lectures from their expert perspective, and sharing meals, conversation, and learning with you every step of the way.

Connection
Trip feedback shows that UVA alums love traveling with other Hoos, their families, and friends, and staying in touch with them afterward! We sometimes arrange casual meet-ups on tour with local alumni who live in the destination.

Hands-On Wahoo Service
The Cavalier Travels team offers a personal touch before, during, and after your trip. We welcome your phone calls and email inquiries and want to keep you informed and comfortable with your travel experience. We walk you through the registration process, invite you to a pre-trip virtual meet-and-greet event, send you a “bonus” book on your destination, and compile a travelers’ directory.   

Tour Benefits
Traveling with Cavalier Travels offers many benefits that you do not always get on your own. For example: traveling with a UVA faculty lecturer; enriching activities managed by a professional tour director; visits to residences or gardens not open to the public; special, private events; four-star hotel accommodations (where available); internal transportation and luggage handling; daily camaraderie with UVA alumni, friends, and families!

ABOUT THE TRIPS

Do I need to be a UVA alum to travel with you?
Cavalier Travels programs are designed for UVA alumni and their parents, and we also welcome family and friends!

Who operates the tours?
Cavalier Travels partners with various highly regarded tour operators in the affinity (group) travel industry to offer professional tour experiences unique to UVA. The tour operator creates the itinerary, works with suppliers and destinations, and manages trip logistics. All your payments go to the tour operator, who holds ultimate responsibility for the tour.

Who leads the tours?
Each land tour is led by a professional tour director who is an expert on the history, culture, and language of the destination and who travels with you from beginning to end. Cruises are led by tour managers. A UVA faculty lecturer supplements your learning through lectures and conversations that tie their area of expertise to the region. Local guides provide in-depth knowledge of each site on the itinerary. A UVA staff member often accompanies the group to support travel logistics and group dynamics and bring a huge dose of Wahoo spirit!

How many and what kind of trips do you offer?
We offer an average of 20 trips every calendar year, from land-based landmark and museum tours to all-inclusive luxury cruises, riverboat cruises and rail journeys.

What is the size of your travel groups?
We can usually accommodate 18-24 registered travelers on land tours. We can accommodate a larger number of travelers on cruises.

Can I bring my family on a trip?
Some of our trips are family-friendly, and we encourage family travel with children aged 14 years and older who are interested in the destination. There is no special programming for children on the tour. Call Cavalier Travels to inquire.

Can solo travelers register for your trips?
Yes! We welcome solo travelers and strongly encourage you to register early, as single availability is limited on most tours. Please note that most tour operators charge a single supplement to the per-person, double occupancy price.

INQUIRIES AND REGISTRATIONS

How do I learn more about a trip?
You can contact Cavalier Travels by email, phone, or via a contact form. Please see “Contact Us” on this webpage.

Do you mail brochures about your trips?
We issue a Destinations brochure every year with all the following year’s trips, as well as trip-specific brochures. We also send email communications about our trips. Please email us at cavaliertravels@virginia.edu or call 866-765-2646 to be added to our mailing list. Our webpage is updated when new trips are confirmed.

How quickly do trips fill up?
Trips begin to fill as soon as they are advertised, especially the limited space for solo travelers. Some trips fill more quickly than others. When a trip is full, we will add you to a waitlist and contact you when space becomes available.

Is there a deadline to register for a trip?
It’s best to register before the final payment date, generally 95-120 days before departure (or sooner). Some trips can still be booked within 60 days of departure, but are considered “on request,” which means the hotel space has been released, and the tour operator must request it back. Full payment is due to the tour operator at booking. If they cannot confirm space, they will fully refund you.

How do I register for a trip?
Please call or email Cavalier Travels (see “Contact Us”) with your passport name, preferred name, phone number, and email address. We will forward your information to the tour operator, who will contact you to confirm details and complete your registration.

How do I make payments for a trip?
The tour operator collects all payments, not Cavalier Travels. Most tour operators accept credit cards, checks, and wire or ACH transfers. Some tour operators will email you a secure payment link, and some will arrange payments by phone or email.

What is included in the price of a trip?
Most trips include meals (all breakfasts, some lunches, and *some dinners), internal transportation, entrance fees to local sites, baggage handling, and ** gratuities; services of a professional tour director/manager, excellent English-speaking local guides, and enriching lectures by a UVA faculty member; and airport-to-hotel transfers for travelers who book airfare through the tour operator.

*Most trip itineraries include time on your own to experience local cuisine.
**Tips for the tour director are typically not included on most land tours.

Is airfare included in the price of a trip?
Some programs include discounted group airfare. The tour operator limits these economical flight options to select gateway cities, and frequent flyer upgrades are not available (although you can usually accrue frequent flyer miles). Unless specified, international and domestic airfare are not included in the price of a trip. Most tour operators can arrange your flights, sometimes at an additional cost.

TRIP CANCELLATION

Are trips guaranteed to operate?
Most of our trips operate every year. However, sometimes Cavalier Travels and the tour operator cancel a trip due to low registrations, and rarely, unsafe conditions. If Cavalier Travels and the tour operator cancel a tour, your payments might be refunded or transferred to another tour.

What if I want to cancel my trip?
The tour operator has a cancellation policy for every trip. The cancellation policy is listed in the operator’s Terms & Conditions that acknowledge when you complete your registration. The tour operator’s Terms & Conditions are also posted on the Cavalier Travels webpage. Please note that tour operators adhere to strict cancellation dates. They cannot refund payments close to departure after they have paid their suppliers. Cavalier Travels does not collect or refund payments. We highly recommend you purchase travel insurance to protect your investment.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

What are your physical and/or health requirements?
You must be in good health to enjoy Cavalier Travels programs. Any condition that requires special medical attention or assistance must be reported at the time a reservation is made. Our webpage gives information on the rigors of individual trips. Most involve walking, often on uneven surfaces or climbing stairs. Participants can “opt-out” of any excursion. If you have concerns about your ability to participate, feel free to call us. We recommend you check with the tour operator, your physician, or other health resources (see Travel Resources page) to determine the specific health recommendations for your destination.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Do you offer travel insurance?
We strongly encourage you to purchase travel insurance that covers trip delay, trip interruption, trip cancellation, lost baggage, medical services, and evacuation to safeguard your investment against unexpected circumstances. UVA offers travel insurance policies through USI; you can obtain a quote here: https://select.travelinsure.com/?pcode=33140. Most of our tour operators also offer travel insurance. We suggest that you also explore “Cancel for Any Reason”, or CFAR, policies, or policies that cover you in the event of a political crisis or natural disaster. Be sure to include both the cost of air travel and land arrangements in your insurance coverage.

Cavalier Travels does not recommend one policy over another, and we are not insurance experts. You can learn more about travel insurance on sites such as www.tripinsurancestore.com. Your credit card company might also cover you in certain countries.

You might consider purchasing optional travel health insurance. Check with your health insurer to determine if and how you are covered outside the U.S. Medicare does not provide coverage for those traveling outside the U.S. This restriction applies to passengers on cruise ships registered in foreign countries (most cruise ships have foreign registry). Many health insurance plans do not guarantee payment directly to foreign hospitals. They might have a deductible or not cover the cost of emergency medical transportation.

It’s a good idea to have your camera, jewelry, sports equipment, or other valuable possessions specially listed on your homeowner’s policy. Travel Insurance limits what you can claim for certain personal belongings.

Updated April 2026