GENERAL INFORMATION

Traveling Cyclones Program

The Iowa State University Alumni Association provides educational travel tours for Cyclones everywhere: our alumni, their families, and friends. The travel program is designed to provide enjoyment, to promote educational and cultural experiences, and to strengthen alumni bonds to the university, while carrying Cyclone spirit to every part of the world.

Program Information

The Traveling Cyclones travel program will offer over 55 trips in 2024, including ocean and river cruises as well as land tours, both international and domestic. Traveling Cyclones provides alumni and friends the opportunity to travel together on trips that provide enriching and quality educational opportunities, sometimes with an ISUAA staff host, and always under the direction of top-rated tour directors and operators. Our goal is to create a unique experience for our travelers and connect Traveling Cyclones everywhere to ISU in a special way.

Disclaimer

Dates, schedules, pricing, and program details are all subject to change. Please verify details, dates, and pricing prior to booking a reservation directly with the tour operator, and check www.ISUalum.org/Travel for updates throughout the year.

WHO CAN TRAVEL WITH TRAVELING CYCLONES?

The opportunity to travel with us is open to all ISU alumni and friends. We do hope that alumni of Iowa State who travel with us choose to be members of the ISU Alumni Association. Membership in the alumni association supports the association’s many programs.

MAY I ARRANGE MY OWN AIR TRAVEL?

To guarantee the best airfares, our tour operators have negotiated special rates with major airlines that may require passengers to take non-direct flights. Please feel free to discuss a land only option should you wish to book your own more direct flights or use frequent-flyer miles. The ISU Alumni Association has no control over air travel. Important to remember: If you book your own flights, you are responsible for making connections with the main group.

WHERE CAN I GET MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT A CERTAIN TRIP?

Brochures may be requested online at www.ISUalum.org/Travel

Brochures will be mailed about 6-11 months prior to departure. However, each tour operator makes its own decision on how many brochures to mail, so not everyone may receive every brochure. In most cases, there is no need to wait for a brochure to reserve space on a tour. Electronic versions of most brochures are available at www.ISUalum.org/Travel.

Many tours fill quickly, so we encourage you to reserve your spot as soon as you can.

HOW DO I MAKE A RESERVATION FOR A TRIP?

Please contact Lainey Crawford at the ISU Alumni Association tollfree at (877) ISU-ALUM (478-2586), locally at (515) 294-5775 or LaineyC@iastate.edu. Reservations are honored in order of receipt. You may also call the tour operator associated with the trip.

WHAT IF I’M BOOKING JUST FOR MYSELF?

Trip pricing is based on double occupancy, or two people sharing a room or cabin. You can find our trips with no single supplement listed on page five in the Table of Contents. Many of the trips offered will require a single supplement for those who wish to travel alone. On most tours, a limited number of single rooms are available. We keep a database of single travelers and send out email requests to those looking for a roommate. Contact Lainey to be added to the list.

WILL MY TOUR INCLUDE A HOST?

A minimum number of participants is required to secure the services of an ISU Alumni Association host. We make every effort to send a host from our staff on as many departures as possible as we know this greatly enhances the travelers’ experience and makes the trip unique. Please note that our tour operators provide tour directors or program managers on every trip, and they do a fantastic job. Their goal, and ours, is to take great care of you and make sure you have the trip of a lifetime.

Traveling Cyclones Mission

DO I HAVE TO BE IN GOOD PHYSICAL SHAPE TO TRAVEL?

To enjoy the alumni travel experience, passengers must be in good physical and mental health and be able to keep pace with the group. Passengers requiring extraordinary help must be accompanied by an assistant who will provide all required aid.

IF I CANCEL, WILL I GET A REFUND?

Tour participants are subject to cancellation penalties as outlined in the individual trip brochures. Cancellation penalties are structured to coincide with advance payments that our tour operators must make to their suppliers, and the penalties are strictly enforced due to these contractual commitments. Because our tour operators have different cancellation policies, please make sure that you understand all cancellation penalties prior to making your trip deposit. We also highly encourage purchasing trip cancellation insurance.

SHOULD I PURCHASE TRIP INSURANCE?

We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance to ensure coverage in case of an illness, injury, medical evacuation, delay, or unforeseen emergency. For your convenience, the ISU Alumni Association has partnered with USI Travel Insurance Services to provide insurance to our passengers. We suggest that you check with your medical insurance company to determine whether you are covered when traveling outside the United States. Details on the ISUAA’s travel insurance information are found at My.TravelInsure.com/ISUAA.

For 50 years, Traveling Cyclones have connected Cyclones everywhere through amazing adventures of world discovery. A program of the ISU Alumni Association, Traveling Cyclones is an educational and cultural exploration for all alumni, families and friends – including solo travelers. When you book your Traveling Cyclones tour, you have the assurance of an exceptional journey that is safe, offers convenient options from departure to destination, and fosters lifelong connections. Partner with the ISU Alumni Association as you choose your next adventure. Let’s go there!