privacy policy

Effective Date: 01/01/2025

Cruising the World with Horton Novak (“we”, “our”, “us”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, disclose and manage your personal information when you visit our website www.cruising-the-world.com (“Website”), including across all devices, browsers, email subscriptions, and third-party services we may use.

Email Sign-Up and Marketing

By signing up for our newsletter or member-exclusive content, you consent to receive occasional emails from Cruising the World with Horton Novak. These may include marketing communications, updates, promotions, or information relevant to your interests.

  • You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link found in every email we send.
  • We will never sell, rent, or share your email address or other personal information with third parties for marketing purposes.

 

Collection of Personal Information

We may collect and hold personal information such as:

  • Your name and email address (e.g., for newsletters or comments)
  • Technical data (e.g., IP address, browser type, operating system, pages visited)
  • Information you provide to us through contact forms or interactions

We collect this information when you:

  • Subscribe to our newsletter
  • Use our website or interact with our content
  • Contact us through forms or email

 

Use of Personal Information

We collect and use your personal information for the following purposes:

  • To operate and improve the Website
  • To communicate with you (e.g., newsletters, updates)
  • To understand how users interact with our website
  • To comply with legal obligations and respond to lawful requests

We will only use your personal information for the purposes for which it was collected, unless otherwise permitted by law.

Non-Personally Identifiable Information & Cookies

We may collect non-personally identifiable information such as browser type, IP address, referring URLs, and usage data to improve our website and user experience.

Our website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and provide tailored content. Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us recognise your browser and remember certain information, such as your preferences and activity on the site.

We use cookies for purposes including:

  • Analysing website traffic and usage patterns
  • Remembering user preferences and settings
  • Enabling login and account functionality
  • Marketing and remarketing activities

 

You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings, including blocking or deleting cookies. However, please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality and user experience of the Website.

Some third-party services integrated into our website (such as analytics tools, ad networks, or embedded content) may also use cookies. These third parties are responsible for their own privacy policies and cookie usage.

For EU visitors: we seek your consent before placing non-essential cookies on your device, in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Children’s Privacy

Our website and services are not directed at individuals under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children without verifiable parental consent, in compliance with the Australian Privacy Principles and international standards such as the U.S. Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

If you believe we have collected personal information from a child under the age of 16 without proper consent, please contact us immediately and we will take appropriate steps to delete such data.

GDPR Compliance (for EU Visitors)

If you are a resident of the European Union or the European Economic Area, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) provides you with certain rights regarding your personal information. These include:

  • Right to Access – You may request access to the personal data we hold about you.
  • Right to Rectification – You may ask us to correct or update inaccurate or incomplete information.
  • Right to Erasure – You may request deletion of your data, subject to legal or legitimate grounds for retention.
  • Right to Restriction – You can request that we limit the processing of your data under specific conditions.
  • Right to Data Portability – You may request a copy of your data in a machine-readable format.
  • Right to Object – You may object to our processing of your personal data for certain purposes.

 

If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us via the details provided below. We may ask you to verify your identity before proceeding with your request.

International Data Transfers

As we operate primarily from Australia, your data may be stored and processed in Australia or in other countries where we or our service providers maintain facilities. We take reasonable steps to ensure that any overseas recipient of your personal information complies with privacy standards comparable to those required under Australian law.

Third-Party Services and Advertisers

We may use trusted third-party services (e.g., Google Analytics, affiliate networks, ad servers) to deliver ads and analyse website traffic. These third parties may collect information using cookies and similar technologies but do not receive your personally identifiable information from us.

We currently participate in the following programs:

  • Amazon Services LLC Associates Program
  • GetYourGuide Affiliate Program
  • Viator Affiliate Program
  • Booking.com Affiliate Partner Program
  • DJI Affiliate Program
  • Other programs via Travelpayouts


These programs may collect or process data according to their own privacy policies. We encourage you to review those policies on the respective websites.

Data Storage and Transfers

Our Website may be hosted outside Australia (e.g., in the United States). By using our Website, you consent to the transfer and storage of your personal information outside Australia. We take reasonable steps to ensure that overseas recipients do not breach the Australian Privacy Principles.

Your Rights and Access

Under the Privacy Act 1988, you have the right to:

  • Access personal information we hold about you
  • Request correction of your information
  • Withdraw your consent to receive communications

 

Web Beacons

We may use web beacons—also known as clear GIFs or pixel tags—on this Website or in our emails.
These are small, often invisible graphics that help us understand how users interact with content, such as confirming if an email was opened or if a page was viewed.
Web beacons do not collect any personally identifiable information (PII). Instead, they gather limited details such as cookie identifiers, timestamps, and the page or email on which the beacon was placed.

While you cannot opt out of web beacons directly, you may reduce their effectiveness by disabling cookies in your browser settings or configuring your browser to alert you when cookies are being used, allowing you to approve or block them individually.

Analytics

We use third-party analytics tools, including Google Analytics, to help us understand how users engage with the Website. These tools may use both first-party and third-party cookies (such as Google’s DoubleClick cookie) to collect and analyse usage data, show relevant advertising, and improve user experience.

If you prefer to limit data collected by Google Analytics, you may opt out by installing the browser add-on , or manage your ad preferences via Google Ads Settings.

Aggregated and Non-Personal Information

We may share aggregated, de-identified data (that does not identify individuals) with third parties, including business partners and advertisers. This data helps us better understand user behaviour, develop content and improve services. For example, we may disclose the number of visitors to a specific page or highlight popular Website features.

This information does not include personally identifiable information and is used solely for analytics, marketing performance and service optimisation.

Mobile Devices

When you access the Website or use our services via a mobile device, we may collect certain information such as device type, model, operating system, version, and IP address.

Location Data:

We do not actively collect precise geolocation data from your mobile device unless you give us express consent. However, general location data may be inferred from your IP address to provide appropriate services or content.

Push Notifications:

If you choose to receive push notifications, we may send alerts about messages or service-related updates. You can manage or disable these notifications in your device settings.

Mobile Analytics:

We use mobile analytics to track how our app is used, improve functionality, and resolve issues. The data collected is not linked to personally identifiable information.

Social Media

Our website may include links or buttons that connect to third-party social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, Twitter). If you click these, your browser will connect directly with the respective social media platform, which may collect information such as your IP address, device details, and your interaction with the button.

These interactions are governed by the privacy policies of the social platforms, and we recommend reviewing them separately.

We do not control how social platforms collect or handle your data once you leave our website.

Collection, Use, and Disclosure of Personal Information

We only collect personal information where it is reasonably necessary for our functions and activities, and we handle it in line with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

How We Collect Information: You may provide us with personal information directly through:

  • Registering or creating an account;
  • Subscribing to newsletters;
  • Participating in surveys, polls, or competitions;
  • Interacting with our customer support;
  • Posting content in public areas of the Website;
  • Engaging with advertising or promotional offers.

 

We may collect details such as your name, email, phone number, address, date of birth, payment information, demographic data, and any other details you choose to provide.

Your Consent: By using this Website or submitting your personal information, you consent to its collection, use, and disclosure in accordance with this privacy policy and applicable Australian law.

User-Generated Content

Any personal information you disclose in public areas of the Website (e.g., reviews or forums) becomes public information. We encourage you to use caution when sharing any sensitive details. We cannot guarantee the privacy or security of any personal information you voluntarily post in public view.

Communications

We may use your personal information to:

  • Respond to your enquiries;
  • Send service updates;
  • Notify you about changes or improvements to the Website;
  • Provide promotional or marketing materials (unless you opt out).

 

You may unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time by following the unsubscribe link in our emails or contacting us directly. However, we may still send service-related notifications when necessary.

Disclosure of Personal Information

We may disclose your personal information:

  • When required by law, court order, or to cooperate with government authorities;
  • To protect our legal rights or prevent fraud;
  • To third-party service providers (e.g., payment processors, customer support providers) who assist us with the operation of the Website;
  • As part of a business transfer, sale, or restructuring (in compliance with the Privacy Act);
  • With your consent or as otherwise permitted under the APPs.


All third parties engaged by us are required to comply with strict confidentiality and data handling obligations.

Access, Correction, and Deletion of Personal Information

You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you and request corrections if it is inaccurate, out-of-date, or incomplete. You can also request to deactivate or delete your account by contacting us directly.

We will respond to all requests in accordance with Australian privacy laws and retain personal information only as long as necessary for legal, security, or business reasons.

Changes to This Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with the updated effective date. Your continued use of the Website indicates your acceptance of these changes.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about our Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at:

Horton Novak
330 Church St.
Parramatta – Sydney,
NSW, 2150
Australia

Or via our contact form here. ,
We will endeavour to respond within a reasonable time and in accordance with applicable laws.