Cookie Policy

2. Cookies We Use and Their Purpose

We strive to be transparent about our cookie use. Below are categories of cookies utilized on our site and why we use them:
 

• Strictly Necessary Cookies: These cookies are essential for you to move around our website and use its features. Without these cookies, services you have asked for (such as navigating between pages, making a secure booking, or accessing secure areas) cannot be provided. We do not require your consent to place strictly necessary cookies; however, you can still block them via your browser settings (but parts of the site may not work).
  
  Examples:
   

  • Session identifier cookies: to keep track of your session when you log in or proceed through a booking form. This ensures that the site remembers your selections as you go from page to page (for instance, remembering your retreat selection and dates as you fill in your details).

  • Security cookies: to detect and prevent security threats. For example, we might use a cookie to help prevent Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) in form submissions.

  • Cookie consent cookie: ironically, we set a cookie to remember your cookie preferences (so that we don’t keep asking you every time you visit if you’ve already made a choice).
     

• Functionality Cookies: These cookies allow our website to remember choices you make and provide enhanced, more personal features. They are not strictly necessary, but they improve your experience. For example, if our site offers the ability to remember your login or your preferred location, a functionality cookie would handle that.
  
  Examples:
   

  • Remembering form inputs you’ve filled (so if you navigate away and come back, you don’t have to start over).

  • If we integrate with tools (like maybe an embedded map or chat widget), those might use cookies to function properly or recall your interactions.
     

• Analytics and Performance Cookies: We use these to collect information about how visitors interact with our website. This helps us improve our content, navigation, and overall user experience. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and not used to identify you personally. We do request your consent for analytics cookies, as they are not essential.
  
  Examples:
   

  • Google Analytics: We may use Google Analytics to gather data on site usage (e.g., number of visitors, pages viewed, time spent on site, how users found us). Google Analytics sets cookies like _ga, _gid, etc., which assign a random ID to distinguish users and throttle request rate. The data collected by these cookies (including your IP address, though configured to anonymize IP where possible) is transmitted to Google servers. We use this data for statistical reporting. (Note: If we use GA, we will have configured it in compliance with GDPR, such as not sharing personal data and honoring Do Not Track if feasible.)

  • Stripe Cookies (for Payments): When you go to our payment page or use Stripe elements, Stripe may set cookies such as __stripe_mid and __stripe_sid. These cookies help Stripe detect fraud and ensure that payment processes are secure. They are considered necessary for the payment function (so they may fall under strictly necessary when making a payment), but we list them here for transparency. They hold an identifier that Stripe uses to correlate sessions for security.
     

• Advertising/Targeting Cookies: At present, M&P INTERNATIONAL FREIGHT LTD does not deploy advertising cookies or third-party ad networks on our website. We do not show third-party ads or do behavioral tracking for advertising purposes. If this ever changes, we will update this policy and ensure such cookies are only set with your explicit consent.
   

• Third-Party Cookies: Aside from analytics and Stripe as mentioned, our site might include content from other services that set cookies.
  
  For instance:
   

  • If we embed a YouTube video on a page, YouTube might set cookies to track video views or remember your player settings. These could include advertising cookies by YouTube/Google if you play the video. We would treat those as third-party cookies requiring consent (so if you decline cookies, we will attempt to use a privacy-enhanced mode or inform you that playing the video will set cookies).

  • Social Media Widgets: If our site had a Facebook “like” button or Twitter share widget, those services could set cookies. Currently, we don’t have such social plugins integrated, but we mention this as a general practice note.
     

We maintain a list of the specific cookies in use and their key details (name, purpose, duration, type) in an appendix or table format on our website (or you can request it from us). This list may be updated periodically as we add or remove features.

3. Consent and Managing Cookies

When you first visit our site (and periodically thereafter, as required), you will see a cookie notice or banner that explains that we use cookies and gives you the option to allow or disable certain categories (except the strictly necessary ones). We seek your consent for using any non-essential cookies, such as analytics or functionality cookies that are not purely essential.
 

Your Choices:
 

• You can choose to accept all cookies, reject non-essential cookies, or customize your preferences through our cookie consent banner or settings. If you opt out of analytics cookies, for example, our site will honor that and not load Google Analytics for you.

• If you dismiss the banner without making a choice, we will treat that as an implied consent for the default setting (which we will state on the banner; usually we default to no analytics unless you opt-in, to be safe, or we default to enabled but allow easy opt-out—our implementation will clarify this).

• You can change your cookie preferences at any time by accessing the “Cookie Settings” link on our site (usually found in the footer or within this policy page). By adjusting those settings, you can enable or disable categories of cookies and save your preferences.
   

Browser Settings:

In addition to our site controls, you have the ability to manage cookies through your web browser settings. Most browsers allow you to:
 

• See what cookies are set on your device and delete them on an individual basis.

• Block third-party cookies (or all cookies) from specific or all sites.

• Clear all cookies when you close your browser.

• Get notifications when cookies are being set so you can choose to accept or reject them.
   

Each browser’s method is different – here are quick pointers: in Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies and other site data; in Safari, Preferences > Privacy; in Firefox, Options > Privacy & Security > Cookies; in Edge, Settings > Site permissions > Cookies. Adjusting settings can help protect your privacy, but note that if you disable cookies entirely, our site (and many sites) may not function optimally. At minimum, allow first-party essential cookies to use our online booking features.
 

Do Not Track: Our site currently does not respond to “Do Not Track” (DNT) signals due to the lack of a common standard. If a standard for DNT is established in the future, we will reassess our approach. In the meantime, using our consent tools or your browser settings are the best ways to control cookies.

4. Cookie Policy Updates

• We may update this Cookie Policy as needed to reflect changes in technology, legislation, or our usage of cookies. Significant changes will be communicated via our website (for example, we might re-present the cookie banner to obtain fresh consent if we introduce a new category of cookies). The “Last Updated” date below indicates when this policy was last revised.
   

• By continuing to use our site after any changes are posted, you acknowledge the updated policy. However, we will not reduce your rights under this policy without obtaining consent where required (for example, we won’t start using personal data from cookies for new purposes without informing you).

5. Contact Us