top of page
Classic Performances FAQ
Planning a performance tour comes with plenty of questions, and we're here to help! Explore our frequently asked questions to learn more about Classic Performances by CTS, from tour planning and travel arrangements to performance opportunities, logistics, and creating unforgettable experiences for your ensemble.
General
All tours are led by local, licensed tour guides who are experts in their respective destinations. We will also provide you with a tour manager that stays with your group throughout the duration of your trip.
All tours are led by local, licensed tour guides who are experts in their respective destinations. We will also provide you with a local tour manager that stays with your group throughout the duration of your trip.
We offer tours for students from 4th grade through university level, with itineraries designed to complement academic curriculum.
We’re happy to plan trips across the U.S.A. and internationally. The top domestic destinations are Chicago, Cleveland, Nashville, and New York City. The top international destinations are Austria, England, Ireland, and Italy.
Top Domestic Tour Destinations
Top Experiences: The Art Institute, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Willis Tower’s Skydeck, 360 Chicago.Informal Performance Opportunities: Field Museum, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, Navy PierFormal Performance Opportunities: Athenaeum Center, Chicago Symphony CenterWhen to Visit: Spring, Summer, Fall
Top experiences: Great Lakes Science Center, Cleveland Museum of Art, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland Zoo, Museum of Natural History, Cuyahoga Valley National ParkInformal Performance Opportunities: Great Lakes Science Center, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Formal Performance Opportunities: Playhouse District Theaters, Severance Music Center, Blossom Music CenterClinic Opportunities: Baldwin Wallace University (band, orchestra and choir)When to Visit: Spring, Summer, Fall
Top experiences: Country Music Hall of Fame, Grand Ole Opry, General Jackson Showboat, Trolley Tour, Belle Meade Estate, Johny Cash Museum, Ryman Auditorium, Historic RCA Studio BInformal Performance Opportunities: Opry Plaza, Country Music Hall of Fame, Studio B Recording Session, General Jackson ShowboatFormal Performance Opportunities: Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Ryman AuditoriumWhen to Visit: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Top experiences: Times Square, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Broadway, and Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Broadway ShowsInformal Performance Opportunities: One World Observatory, Intrepid Aircraft CarrierFormal Performance Opportunities: Lincoln Center for Performing Arts, Carnegie HallWhen to Visit: Spring, Summer, Fall
Top International Tour Destinations
Top experiences: Informal Performance Opportunities: Basilica of the Birth of the Virgin Mary (Mariazell, St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Vienna), Karlskirche (Vienna)Formal Performance Opportunities: Musikverein (Vienna)When to Visit:
Top experiences: Informal Performance Opportunities: Formal Performance Opportunities: When to Visit:
Top experiences: Informal Performance Opportunities: Formal Performance Opportunities: When to Visit:
Top experiences: Informal Performance Opportunities: Formal Performance Opportunities: When to Visit:
Trip Planner Information
Absolutely! We’ll provide a sample itinerary, and you’ll have the flexibility to modify it — adding, removing, or swapping activities to best fit your groups’ goals and interests.
We’re a full-service company, supporting you every step of the way:Technology: 24/7 online portal access for rooming lists, payments, and live manifests. Marketing Collateral: Custom brochures, posters, and social media graphics to promote your trip. Personnel: A dedicated Relationship Manager will work with you to develop an itinerary, conduct parent meetings, and a pre-departure meeting. A Corporate Travel Tour Manager will stay with you throughout the duration of your trip, from departure to return.Digital Itinerary:
We recommend planning domestic tours 6–12 months and international tours 12-18 months in advance to secure admissions at popular museums and attractions. If you’re under six months out, reach out — we’ll work to accommodate your timeline.
Rooming lists are typically due 60 days prior to departure, unless your hotel requires earlier submission.
Booking Your Tour
Scan to the QR code or click the link found on your brochure (Learn More or Book Online), or search for your trip on the Corporate Travel website using the search bar and click ‘BOOK NOW’.Create an account or use your existing username and password.Confirm that the trip code and group code in the link match those supplied for the tour.Provide passenger information details for yourself, another traveler, or multiple members of your travel party.Select tour options (and Travel Protection) if applicable.Review payments and provide payment method.Carefully read through the Terms and Conditions and check the box to acknowledge your agreement.Click ‘Confirm Payment’ to finalize your booking.Once you have completed your booking, you will receive a confirmation email.
Domestic tours offer single and double accommodations for adults and quad accommodations for students. In the event of an unequal number of travelers, some students may be accommodated in a triple room. International tours offer single and double accommodation. Occasionally, triples or quad occupancy accommodations can be requested but are not as common as they are in the U.S.A.If you are registering on your own and do not have a roommate, you are responsible for the single occupancy rate.
Trip Preparation & What to Expect
Trip inclusions vary by school but often include meals, transportation, accommodations, and guided tour activities.
Rooming is coordinated by the school. Typically, students stay in quad rooms, while adults stay in single or double accommodations. Contact your school’s group leader for specific details.
Students should follow their school’s dress guidelines and dress in layers for changing weather. We recommend packing one formal outfit for special events or dinners. Any additional clothing requirements will be shared before departure.
Contact your Relationship Manager to learn if scholarship opportunities are available for your school. We’re also happy to provide creative fundraising tips and ideas.
Many schools welcome parent volunteers as chaperones or fundraising coordinators. Some also organize matching t-shirts for group visibility (and a fun keepsake!). Reach out to your school for opportunities.
Itineraries vary by destination, but any free time will be supervised and organized within chaperone groups.
Handheld devices are permitted based on your school’s policies, but we encourage students to focus on the experience and connect with their peers.* If you take photos during the tour, we’d love to see them! Send them our way for a chance to be featured on our social media.
Safety on Student Tours
Your child’s safety is our top priority. For domestic tours, we provide trusted overnight security at each hotel and partner only with reputable vendors and suppliers. Our team conducts careful attendance checks each time students re-enter the bus or move between activities to ensure everyone is accounted for.
In coordination with your group/organization/school, parents or guardians will be notified immediately. Our team will take all necessary steps to ensure your child’s well-being and recovery.
Medication is monitored and managed by the school throughout the tour. We recommend keeping essential items like EpiPens or inhalers accessible on the bus, as luggage stored underneath will not be easily reachable during travel.
About 45 days before your tour, you’ll receive a survey requesting allergy and dietary information. We use this to plan meals and restaurant experiences that meet each student’s needs.
Check with your group leader for phone policies. While phones are great for photos and communication, we encourage students to stay engaged and fully immersed in their learning experience.
Cancellations & Travel Protection
Please complete this form to submit your cancellation.If you have purchased trip protection/travel insurance, please contact your insurance provider directly to process a claim.
No, all payments made to Corporate Travel are non-refundable. This is why Corporate Travel always recommends the purchase of trip protection/travel insurance to protect your investment in the case of a cancellation.Tour payments cannot be transferred to other tours. A name change (passenger replacement) is considered a cancellation, and deposited amounts remain nonrefundable and nontransferable.
In the rare case where a featured leader or the sponsoring organization cannot participate due to extenuating circumstances, we will do our best to secure a suitable replacement. Travelers will still be expected to travel as planned.*We always recommend Travel Insured’s Cancel For Any Reason Plan for those who wish to have additional securities against unlikely scenarios.
bottom of page