Terms of Sale and Use

Effective Date: September 8, 2026
Last Updated: September 17, 2026

These Terms of Sale and Use ("Terms") apply to Cruise Mystery Files, operated by PodOps Media Inc., doing business as MyPodOps ("Cruise Mystery Files," "MyPodOps," "we," "us," or "our").

These Terms govern:

• use of cruisemysteryfiles.com;
• sailing and coverage requests;
• priority lists and waitlists;
• Founder Reservations and pre-orders;
• purchases of Cruise Mystery Files products;
• physical case kits;
• access to and use of the Cruise Mystery Files mobile application; and
• related services.

By placing a Founder Reservation, purchasing a Cruise Mystery Files product, activating a case, or otherwise agreeing to these Terms, you agree to the version of the Terms presented to you at that time.

Nothing in these Terms limits rights that applicable consumer law does not permit us to limit.

1. Who we are

Cruise Mystery Files is an independent entertainment product operated by PodOps Media Inc. d/b/a MyPodOps.

Cruise Mystery Files is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, or produced by any cruise line, cruise ship operator, port, travel agency, or other travel provider, unless we expressly state otherwise.

Cruise-line, ship, port, itinerary, venue, and sailing names are used to identify the real-world voyage for which a game has been prepared.

2. What a Founder Reservation is

A Founder Reservation reserves a place for a Cruise Mystery Files case associated with a particular game, ship, and departure.

A Founder Reservation is a pre-order reservation, not payment in full for the completed product.

When you make a Founder Reservation:

• you select or are shown a specific sailing;
• you select or are shown the game associated with the reservation;
• we reserve available Founder inventory for that combination;
• you pay the Founder Reservation deposit; and
• we continue preparing the final case, physical components, digital experience, or sailing-specific edition as applicable.

Some products offered for Founder Reservation may still be in development when reservations open. Where that is the case, we will identify them as pre-orders or otherwise make their development status clear.

3. The Founder Reservation deposit

The Founder Reservation deposit is currently:

$25.00 USD

The deposit is a real charge, not an authorization hold. The amount is collected when your Stripe payment succeeds and may appear on your card or bank statement.

The deposit is:

• credited in full toward the final purchase price of the case;
• not an additional fee; and
• refundable as described in these Terms.

We do not treat the deposit as permission to automatically charge the remaining balance.

4. Final price and remaining balance

Unless a final total purchase price is expressly identified as fixed when you reserve, a Founder Reservation does not guarantee a particular final retail price.

Before we collect any remaining balance, we will tell you the amount due and any additional charges we are collecting, which may include:

• remaining case price;
• shipping;
• applicable sales or similar taxes; and
• any other charge that applies to your order.

We will not charge the remaining balance without first presenting the amount to you.

If you do not wish to proceed after seeing the final amount, you may cancel the Founder Reservation before dispatch and receive the Founder Reservation deposit back in full.

5. No subscription

Purchasing a Cruise Mystery Files case does not enroll you in a recurring Cruise Mystery Files subscription.

The mobile application access provided with a case does not currently require a separate recurring subscription fee.

We will not convert a Founder Reservation or case purchase into a recurring charge without your separate affirmative agreement.

6. Sailing compatibility

Cruise Mystery Files are prepared for particular sailing profiles.

A sailing marked Confirmed has completed the compatibility review required for us to offer the applicable reservation.

A sailing marked In Validation has not yet completed that process.

Compatibility may consider matters such as:

• ship;
• departure date;
• sailing duration;
• itinerary structure;
• game duration profile; and
• other operational information needed to compile an appropriate edition.

A compatibility designation does not mean that every component of the final physical or digital product has already been manufactured or released.

7. Games that are still in development

A Founder Reservation may be offered for a game whose content, artwork, production files, mobile presentation, or sailing-specific edition is still being completed.

That is part of the nature of a pre-order.

We may make reasonable changes during development to matters such as:

• artwork;
• packaging;
• component layout;
• app presentation;
• puzzle presentation;
• supporting materials; and
• non-material story or production details.

We will not intentionally substitute a materially different product for the one you reserved without informing you.

If a material change means we can no longer provide substantially the product you reserved, you may cancel and receive a full refund of amounts paid for the unfulfilled product.

If we determine that we cannot complete or fulfill the case, we will cancel the reservation and refund the amounts paid for it.

8. Sailing-specific editions

A case may be prepared for a particular:

• cruise line;
• ship;
• sailing;
• departure date; or
• duration profile.

Your reservation confirmation identifies the applicable voyage.

A case designed for one voyage may not be appropriate for another voyage.

Do not assume that a case for the same ship on a different date, or for a different ship with the same itinerary length, is interchangeable unless Cruise Mystery Files confirms it.

9. If we cannot confirm or maintain compatibility

If we cannot confirm compatibility for a sailing for which we accepted a Founder Reservation, we will refund the Founder Reservation deposit in full.

You do not need to request that refund.

If circumstances change after compatibility has been confirmed and we can no longer reasonably supply the applicable edition, we may:

• offer an appropriate replacement edition with your agreement;
• offer to move the reservation to another compatible sailing; or
• cancel the reservation and refund the applicable amounts paid.

We will not force you to accept a materially different case.

10. Cruise cancellations, itinerary changes, and sailing changes

Cruise lines may change:

• ships;
• ports;
• itineraries;
• arrival or departure times;
• sailing dates;
• venues;
• onboard operations; or
• the cruise itself.

Those decisions are outside our control.

If your cruise is cancelled, moved, or materially changed, contact us as soon as reasonably possible.

Where feasible, we may transfer or re-issue your reservation for a compatible replacement sailing.

If that is not reasonably possible and the case has not been dispatched, you may cancel for a refund of amounts paid for the case.

11. Expected shipping window

The expected dispatch or shipping window applicable to your reservation will be displayed before or at the time you reserve and may also appear in your confirmation.

The shipping information recorded with your reservation is the promise applicable to that reservation unless you later agree to a revised date.

An "expected shipping window" is our good-faith estimate based on the information reasonably available to us when we make the promise.

12. If shipping is delayed

If we learn that we cannot ship within the shipping period we promised, we will provide any notice and options required by applicable law.

Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, this may include:

• a revised estimated shipping date;
• the option to agree to the delay; or
• the option to cancel and receive a prompt refund.

If we determine that we cannot ship the product at all, we will cancel the unfulfilled order and provide the required refund.

Nothing in these Terms requires you to accept an indefinite shipping delay.

13. Cancellation before dispatch

You may cancel a Founder Reservation and receive a full refund of amounts paid toward the unshipped case at any time before the case has been dispatched, unless a different rule required by applicable law is more favorable to you.

To cancel, contact:

hello@cruisemysteryfiles.com

A product is considered dispatched when it has been physically provided to the carrier for delivery.

14. Returns and cancellation after dispatch

Dispatch does not eliminate any return, withdrawal, rejection, warranty, or cancellation right that applicable law gives you.

After dispatch, return and cancellation rights may vary depending on:

• where you live;
• the nature of the product;
• whether a product was made to particular specifications;
• whether digital content has already been supplied; and
• applicable consumer-protection law.

Where applicable law provides a cooling-off, withdrawal, return, rejection, repair, replacement, or refund right, those rights continue to apply.

We do not use these Terms to waive rights that applicable law does not permit a seller to waive.

15. Damaged, defective, incomplete, or incorrect products

If your case arrives damaged, materially defective, missing a required component, or materially different from what you ordered, contact us.

Depending on the problem, we may provide an appropriate:

• replacement component;
• replacement case;
• digital replacement;
• repair;
• refund; or
• other remedy.

Your statutory rights concerning defective or non-conforming goods and digital content are unaffected.

16. Shipping destination

Cases are shipped to the delivery address you provide.

We do not ship a case directly to your cruise ship, your cabin, the cruise terminal, or a port, unless we expressly offer such a service.

You are responsible for providing an accurate and deliverable shipping address.

If you change address before dispatch, contact us promptly.

17. Shipping charges, taxes, duties, and customs

Shipping charges and taxes collected by us will be disclosed before we collect the applicable balance.

International orders may also be subject to:

• import tax;
• customs duty;
• brokerage;
• carrier fees; or
• similar governmental charges.

Where those amounts are not collected by us in advance, they may be collected by the carrier or destination country.

We will identify whether applicable charges are included where reasonably practicable before you complete the final purchase.

18. What you are buying

A completed Cruise Mystery Files product may include:

• a physical evidence case or kit;
• printed clues or documents;
• physical evidence or props;
• access to an edition of the Cruise Mystery Files mobile experience; and
• related digital content.

The exact contents vary by game and edition.

The product description and reservation/order confirmation identify what applies to your order.

19. Mobile application and internet access

The Cruise Mystery Files app is designed so that a prepared case can operate without continuous internet connectivity once the required case content has been successfully downloaded and prepared on a supported device.

An internet connection may initially be required to:

• install or update the app;
• activate a case;
• confirm entitlement;
• download a release;
• prepare the case for offline use; or
• synchronize information.

You should complete the application's Ready for Offline Play preparation before leaving reliable internet access.

We are not responsible for shipboard internet availability or pricing.

20. Supported devices and software

Use of the app requires a reasonably compatible supported device and operating system.

Technology changes over time, and we cannot guarantee that every historical or future device will support every feature indefinitely.

Where a feature is optional, such as augmented reality, we may provide an alternative presentation when the device does not support that feature.

Critical gameplay should not depend solely on an optional hardware feature.

21. Application updates

We may release updates that:

• fix defects;
• improve compatibility;
• improve security;
• improve accessibility;
• repair presentation issues; or
• support future Cruise Mystery Files cases.

Some updates may be required before downloading a new game release.

We will not intentionally use an app update to change the canonical solution to an edition you already purchased.

22. License to use the app and game materials

When you purchase or legitimately activate a Cruise Mystery Files case, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the associated application and game materials for your own private, non-commercial entertainment.

This is a license to use the content, not a transfer of intellectual-property ownership.

You may use the game with the family, friends, or private group participating in your case.

Except where applicable law permits otherwise, you may not:

• sell or commercially redistribute digital case files;
• reproduce and sell physical components;
• publish complete case materials or answer keys;
• distribute decrypted game files;
• circumvent entitlement or access controls;
• use our assets to create a competing commercial edition;
• remove copyright or proprietary notices; or
• attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems.

Nothing here prevents ordinary personal discussion, reviews, photographs of your experience, or other lawful commentary.

We ask that public reviews avoid revealing major spoilers without an appropriate warning.

23. Intellectual property

Cruise Mystery Files games, characters, stories, puzzles, evidence designs, graphics, software, branding, and other original materials are owned by or licensed to PodOps Media Inc. and are protected by applicable intellectual-property laws.

Cruise-line names, ship names, trademarks, logos, and other third-party property remain the property of their respective owners.

Our use of a cruise-line or ship name to identify a compatible sailing does not give us ownership of that name and does not imply endorsement.

24. Safe and responsible play

Cruise Mystery Files is entertainment.

Nothing in a game authorizes you to:

• enter crew-only or restricted areas;
• ignore ship rules or safety instructions;
• interfere with crew;
• disturb other passengers;
• touch or remove property that is not part of your game;
• access another passenger's cabin or belongings;
• impersonate ship personnel;
• interfere with ship operations; or
• engage in unsafe activity.

Always follow instructions from the cruise line, captain, crew, port personnel, and applicable authorities.

If game instructions appear to conflict with a real-world safety instruction, the real-world safety instruction controls.

25. Optional locations and onboard venues

A case may suggest playing a chapter in a type of onboard location or identify an appropriate venue for atmosphere or convenience.

Unless we expressly state otherwise, a particular real-world venue is not required to solve the case.

Cruise lines may:

• close venues;
• rename venues;
• change operating hours;
• restrict access;
• host private events; or
• modify ship layouts.

Those changes do not necessarily make a game incompatible.

Use an available alternative if the suggested location is unavailable.

26. Augmented reality and camera features

Some cases may include optional augmented-reality or camera-assisted experiences.

Pay attention to your real surroundings while using them.

Do not use an AR feature where doing so would be unsafe or prohibited.

A non-AR alternative should be available for critical game content.

27. Family games and minors

Some games are designed for family participation.

Age recommendations are guidance about the intended puzzle/content audience and are not a substitute for adult judgment or supervision.

An adult should:

• make the reservation or purchase;
• activate the game where required;
• supervise participating minors as appropriate; and
• determine whether the content and activity are suitable for their group.

Children should not be instructed to interact with strangers, crew members, or restricted areas as part of gameplay.

28. The cruise itself is not part of our product

Your cruise fare, transportation, accommodations, excursions, onboard purchases, travel insurance, and other travel arrangements are separate from your purchase from Cruise Mystery Files.

Cruise Mystery Files does not operate your cruise.

We do not control:

• whether your cruise operates;
• the condition of the vessel;
• ports visited;
• travel delays;
• weather;
• onboard services; or
• actions of the cruise line.

Unless required by law or caused by our own breach, we are not responsible for cruise fares, airline tickets, hotel costs, excursion costs, lost vacation time, or other travel expenses merely because a Cruise Mystery Files product is delayed, unavailable, or requires replacement.

29. Accuracy of sailing information

We obtain sailing information from cruise operators, data providers, and other sources and take steps to verify information before making a case available.

Cruise schedules can change after verification.

If you become aware of a material sailing change, please tell us so that we can determine whether your edition remains appropriate.

30. Payments and Stripe

Payments are processed through Stripe.

Your payment may also be subject to Stripe's applicable terms and privacy practices.

A payment is complete only when our systems receive confirmation that the applicable transaction succeeded.

We reserve the right to reject, cancel, or refund a transaction where reasonably necessary because of:

• suspected fraud;
• duplicate payment;
• pricing or technical error;
• unavailable inventory; or
• inability to fulfill the order.

If we cancel a paid order for one of these reasons, we will refund the applicable amount.

31. Chargebacks and payment disputes

If you believe a charge is incorrect, you may contact us at:

hello@cruisemysteryfiles.com

We encourage you to contact us so we have an opportunity to investigate and resolve the issue.

Nothing in these Terms takes away any lawful right you have to dispute a charge with your card issuer, bank, Stripe, or another payment provider.

32. Availability and inventory

Founder inventory may be limited by:

• sailing;
• game;
• edition; or
• production capacity.

Placing a case in a browser, beginning checkout, or submitting a form does not guarantee inventory unless our system confirms the applicable reservation.

We may temporarily hold inventory during checkout to prevent multiple customers from reserving the same final availability.

Expired or cancelled checkout attempts may cause that inventory to be released.

33. Reservation transfers

If you move to another sailing, contact us.

Where a compatible edition exists and production has not progressed beyond a point where transfer is reasonably possible, we may transfer your reservation.

A transfer is not guaranteed.

If we cannot transfer an unshipped reservation and you do not wish to keep the original reservation, the cancellation and refund provisions above apply.

34. Electronic communications

You agree that reservation confirmations, order notices, shipping-delay notices, balance notices, refund confirmations, activation information, and other transactional communications may be provided electronically using the email address you gave us.

It is your responsibility to provide an email address you can access.

Transactional communications are different from marketing and do not require marketing consent.

35. Privacy

Our collection and use of personal information is described in the Cruise Mystery Files Privacy Policy.

Marketing consent is separate from acceptance of these Terms.

36. Events outside reasonable control

Events outside our reasonable control may affect development, production, shipping, digital infrastructure, carriers, or travel.

These may include:

• severe weather;
• natural disasters;
• strikes;
• carrier disruptions;
• government action;
• widespread infrastructure failures;
• supply-chain interruptions; or
• similar events.

This provision does not remove any cancellation, delay-notice, refund, or other right that applicable law gives you.

37. Our responsibility to you

We are responsible for providing the product and services described in your reservation or order subject to these Terms and applicable law.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, we are not responsible for indirect or consequential losses that were not reasonably foreseeable when the contract was made.

In particular, except where applicable law requires otherwise, purchase of a Cruise Mystery Files case does not make us responsible for the cost of:

• your cruise;
• airfare;
• hotels;
• excursions;
• missed ports;
• other entertainment;
• lost vacation time; or
• unrelated travel arrangements.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability where doing so would be unlawful, including liability that applicable law does not permit us to exclude.

Nothing in these Terms limits your statutory consumer rights.

38. No guarantee that you will solve the mystery

The product is an entertainment and puzzle experience.

We do not guarantee that every player will:

• solve every puzzle without hints;
• identify the culprit correctly;
• achieve a particular score;
• complete the game within an estimated play time; or
• reach the same theory as another group.

Difficulty and completion time vary between players.

That is not by itself a defect in the product.

39. Third-party services and app stores

Use of the app may involve services supplied by third parties, including:

• Apple;
• Google;
• Stripe; and
• other infrastructure providers.

Their services may be governed by their own terms.

These Terms govern your relationship with Cruise Mystery Files and PodOps Media Inc.; they do not replace terms that independently apply between you and a third-party provider.

40. Suspending access for misuse

We may suspend or restrict access to the app or service where reasonably necessary because of:

• fraud;
• unauthorized distribution;
• attempted circumvention of security controls;
• attacks on our systems;
• unlawful conduct; or
• material breach of these Terms.

We will not use this provision to deny a legitimate refund, warranty, or consumer right.

41. Governing law

To the extent permitted by applicable law, these Terms are governed by the laws applicable in the State of Maryland, United States, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

If you are a consumer living somewhere that gives you mandatory rights or permits you to bring a claim in your local courts, this section does not take those rights away.

Nothing in these Terms requires a consumer to waive protections that applicable law makes mandatory.

42. Resolving a problem

If something goes wrong, please contact us first at:

hello@cruisemysteryfiles.com

We will try to resolve the issue directly.

This request to contact us first does not prevent you from exercising a legal right, contacting a regulator, disputing a payment where permitted, or bringing a claim where applicable law allows.

43. Severability

If a court or other competent authority determines that part of these Terms is invalid or unenforceable, that part will be limited or removed only to the extent necessary.

The remainder of the Terms will continue to apply.

44. No waiver

If we do not immediately enforce a provision of these Terms, that does not mean we permanently waive it.

A waiver concerning one situation does not automatically apply to another situation.

45. Entire agreement for your reservation

Your reservation confirmation, product description, shipping commitment, applicable order details, and the version of these Terms presented to you form the agreement concerning your Founder Reservation or purchase.

If a specific written term in your reservation confirmation conflicts with a general provision of these Terms, the specific reservation term controls for that reservation unless applicable law requires otherwise.

46. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms for future transactions as Cruise Mystery Files develops.

The version you accepted is recorded with your reservation, together with the time of acceptance.

A later change to this page does not change the Terms governing an existing reservation unless you expressly agree to the change or applicable law requires it.

If we ask you to agree to a material change affecting an existing reservation and you do not agree, we will explain the available options, including cancellation and refund where appropriate.

47. Additional consumer rights

Depending on where you live, consumer-protection laws may give you rights in addition to those described here.

Nothing in these Terms reduces rights that applicable law does not allow us to exclude or restrict.

Consumers in some jurisdictions may have statutory rights relating to:

• cancellation of distance purchases;
• returns after delivery;
• defective goods;
• digital content;
• delayed shipment;
• refunds; and
• conformity with the product description.

Where those rights apply, we will honor them.

48. Optional cancellation form for jurisdictions requiring one

You do not need to use this form to cancel. An email clearly telling us you wish to cancel is sufficient under our pre-dispatch cancellation policy.

You may use the following wording if convenient:

To: hello@cruisemysteryfiles.com

I hereby give notice that I wish to cancel my Cruise Mystery Files Founder Reservation/order.

Name:

Email used for reservation:

Reservation or order number, if known:

Ship / sailing date, if known:

Date:

We may ask for reasonable information necessary to locate and verify the reservation.

49. Contact

Cruise Mystery Files is operated by:

PodOps Media Inc. d/b/a MyPodOps

Cruise Mystery Files:

cruisemysteryfiles.com

MyPodOps:

mypodops.com

Questions, cancellations, refund requests, and customer support:

hello@cruisemysteryfiles.com