Terms and conditions
Payment Terms
Confirmation of your booking will be advised in writing noting the costs, departure time and departure point, along with other relevant details. An invoice will be forwarded requesting a 30% deposit which is payable within seven (7) days of your confirmation. A further 30% is required 60 days prior, with full payment of the charter required fourteen (14) days prior to sailing.
The charter rate and catering (if applicable) will be charged on confirmed minimum numbers advised fourteen (14) days prior to the charter date. Charters will be charged from the confirmed departure time. Please ensure your group is aware of the correct departure point and the departure time. Additional charges i.e. for extra charter time, guests, beverages, etc. must be paid at the end of your charter on the charter day. If previously arranged, an invoice can be forwarded after your charter, which is payable within seven (7) days of the charter date.
Cancellation Policy & Terms
Due to limited vessel availability, once your booking has been confirmed and should a cancellation occur, the following charges will apply;
Within 60 days of the charter date 30% of the full charter costs.
Within 30 days of the charter date 50% of the full charter costs.
Within 7 days of the charter date 75% of the full charter costs.
If cancellation occurs within 24 hours of the charter time, the full cost of catering will be added if catering supplies have been obtained by Ocean Sailing Expeditions. If catering arrangements are made direct with Ocean Sailing Expeditions caterers and/or client’s external caterers, the cancellation terms and conditions of the catering company contracted will apply. Ocean Sailing
Expeditions accept no responsibility for these external agreements and/or terms & conditions.
In the event the Captain decides it is imprudent to put to sea due to inclement weather (or forecast inclement weather) prior to guest arrival, or within 24 hours of charter departure, a credit note to the value of all monies paid will be issued, which can be used against a future charter within 90 days, subject to availability.
If the weather conditions at the time of the charter departure (or forecast weather conditions) prevent the vessel safely departing The Viaduct Marina (or any other designated berth) within 6 hours of charter departure or after guest arrival onboard, the charter can still proceed as an ‘Alongside Charter’. Should this occur, the charterer will be compensated with a NZ$1,500 + GST discount on the vessel charter hire, to be refunded into the charterer’s nominated bank account within seven (7) working days from the charter date.
Please note: Boarding is permitted 30 minutes prior to your departure time. It is appreciated if prompt disembarkation of your group can be completed on arrival back to the marina. This is to allow the vessel crew and caterers to carry out post-charter detailing of the vessel. A complimentary 15 minutes has been allowed for you to disembark after your charter is completed.
Unless by prior arrangement, any extra time will be charged at the standby rate. Please advise your group to wear comfortable shoes for their cruise. No stiletto heels or dark / hard soled shoes are allowed on board as they damage the teak decks. Shoes must be removed inside the vessel.
Children
Parents or guardians are solely responsible for the behaviour of children in their care or under their supervision. Under no circumstances is Ocean Sailing Expeditions responsible for the supervision or care of any child whether they are unaccompanied or travelling with their parent or guardian.
Smoking
Smoking, including e-cigarettes and vaporising, is not permitted on Ocean Sailing Expeditions vessel(s).
Sale of Liquor
Ocean Sailing Expeditions is licensed to sell alcoholic beverages and must always comply with the Sale and Supply of Liquor Act 2012. All guests accept that the sale of alcohol will only be sold in compliance with the Sale and Supply of Liquor Act 2012 and conditions of the licence. Alcohol will not be sold or supplied to intoxicated people, minors, or anyone who does not have valid ID identifying them as 18 years or over. The Bar Manager on board the vessel reserves the right to stop the purchase and service of alcoholic beverages. Only alcohol purchased on-board (or approved under BYO terms) may be consumed on the vessel. Customers violating this condition will be required to surrender their alcohol. Under no circumstances are bottles of spirits to be bought onboard.
Rubbish
The Hauraki Gulf is precious and needs to be looked after, please use the rubbish bins provided on the vessel or take it with you. Please do not dispose of any rubbish overboard.
Pets
Ocean Sailing Expeditions does not permit animals on their vessel(s).
General
Ocean Sailing Expeditions may sell services of other operators who are not connected with Ocean Sailing Expeditions and whose operations are outside the control of Ocean Sailing Expeditions. Ocean Sailing Expeditions accept no responsibility or liability for the service provided by those operators except as required by law.
If a customer is using the Ocean Sailing Expeditions’ service for business purposes, the provisions of the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 do not apply.The Ocean Sailing Expeditions bar operations are cashless. Only debit and credit card payments will be accepted on board. All prices are in New Zealand Dollars and include Goods and Services Tax.
All services, sailings and itineraries are subject to change at Ocean Sailing Expeditions’ discretion. Reasons may include, but are not limited to weather and sea conditions, and operational and safety requirements.
Liability & Indemnity of Ocean Sailing Expeditions
Customers travel at their own risk and Ocean Sailing Expeditions will not be responsible for any loss, damage, cost, expense or injury suffered by customers, or loss or damage to a customer's property.
Ocean Sailing Expeditions will not be liable for any loss, damage or delay caused by or arising from an event beyond their control. If there is contributory negligence on the part of a customer or other person, Ocean Sailing Expeditions’ liability is subject to the law relating to contributory negligence. Nothing in these Conditions is intended to limit or replace any rights customers have under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993;
The Charterer will indemnify Ocean Sailing Expeditions at all times against any loss, damage or cost suffered or incurred by Ocean Sailing Expeditions as a direct or indirect result of a breach by the Charterer of its obligations under these Conditions.
Luggage & Personal Belongings
Crew may determine whether luggage is acceptable as carry-on luggage, based on space in the vessel, safety and the size of the luggage. All luggage taken on-board is carried at the owner’s/guest’s risk;
Ocean Sailing Expeditions accepts no responsibility for lost, stolen or damaged luggage;
All luggage must be stored in designated luggage areas.
Our liability for intentional damage or loss is limited and proof of value may be required;
All goods are carried at the discretion of the Captain of the vessel;
Filming & Audio
Commercial use of video, photography or audio recording equipment without permission of Ocean Sailing Expeditions is prohibited. For commercial use of video, photography or audio recording equipment on or around the wharf areas, please contact Auckland Transport, or on DOC islands, please contact DOC.
Code of Conduct
Captain and Crew instructions must always be followed while boarding or disembarking, and throughout the duration of the cruise. Ocean Sailing Expeditions’ Captain and Crew reserve the right to refuse travel on our vessel to any person, or to remove any person, who:
is deemed unruly; or
is using abusive or offensive language; or
is in an unclean state; or
is unfit to travel, including but not limited to any person under the influence (or suspected to be) of drugs or alcohol; or
is likely to cause distress or discomfort to other guests or vessel crew; or
has engaged in any unlawful activities affecting either directly or indirectly Ocean Sailing Expeditions crew or other guests; or
is contravening or breaching any of the General Terms and conditions; or
is failing to follow any safety or operational instructions issued by Ocean Sailing Expeditions’ crew; or
for any other reason where the safety or security of crew or guests may be at risk.
The Captain and Crew have the right to inspect the contents of any guests luggage for any noxious plant or animal pest on any service whose destination is part of the Department of Conservation Estate.
The Captain of the vessel has the right to refuse access on any service to any guest carrying any noxious plant or animal pest. We want our guests to have a comfortable and enjoyable trip with us, so we ask that you observe our Code of Conduct while travelling with Ocean Sailing Expeditions.