Booking Your holiday will only be confirmed once we receive a completed and signed booking form and 30% deposit. Options can only be held for 48 hours.
Payment of balance The balance of the hire charge must be paid 8 weeks before the cruise start date. If payment is not received by this time, we reserve the right to cancel your holiday and retain your deposit. Please note: booking payments through agents are held by the agent on behalf of the hirer until booking confirmation is received from us. Thereafter, payments held by the agent are on behalf of us. We are not able to accept responsibility for payments made to agents, but not actually received by us.
Conditions of hire Hirers must be over the age of 18 years, with exception of cruising in Ireland where hirers must be over the age of 21 years. The minimum number of people required to hire a boat is 2.
Cancellation To cancel your cruise we will require written confirmation from the party leader. The postmark date is the date on which the cancellation becomes effective.
Up to 8 weeks before departure - Loss of deposit Less than 8 weeks before departure - Loss of full balance
If you have taken our cancellation insurance and the reason for the cancellation is within the scope of the insurance, then the deposit or balance of the hire may be reclaimed from Travel & Personal Underwriters Ltd. We reserve the right in any circumstances to cancel your holiday. However, we will not cancel your holiday less than 8 weeks before your departure date, except for reasons beyond our control, or the failure by you to pay the final balance. If we are unable to provide your booked holiday, you will receive a full refund of all the monies paid by you or the offer of an alternative holiday of a comparable standard.
Holiday insurance The Company is responsible for the insurance of the boat and its equipment, and the hirer’s 3rd party liability as hirer of the boat. The Company’s insurance does not cover the hirer’s personal belongings. We strongly recommend that you take cancellation and personal holiday insurance – a summary of the Travel & Personal Underwriters Ltd insurance that we offer is on page 6. If you do not require our insurance we will ask you to complete an insurance indemnity form with your alternative insurance policy details.
Security deposit/Damage waiver Option 1: Security deposit – on arrival at your base, you will be asked to leave a security deposit which will only be retained if the boat is returned unduly dirty or damaged, or if any equipment has been lost, stolen or damaged. Option 2: Non-refundable damage waiver – you can choose to pay this and you will be fully covered in the event of any loss, accidental damage or 3rd party (negligence excepted). Please see Holiday extras for the cost of the above.
Embarkation/Disembarkation and Cruising Route Boat embarkation time is from 4pm on your start day and disembarkation must be by 9am on the return day. The Company reserve the right to make changes to the times/and or direction of the cruise. Minor changes will not entitle the hirer to cancel with a refund or compensation.
If we change your boat If we have to make a major change to your holiday we will offer you an alternative holiday to the same standard or a full refund of any monies paid. Should your chosen boat not be available to charter through no fault of Connoisseur, we will provide an alternative boat acceptable to the hirer. Alternatively we will refund the hirer the boat hire cost, and the hirer will have no further claim on the company. We strongly recommend you provide us with an emergency contact telephone number in case of any unexpected changes that need to be made to your holiday at short notice. The Company reserves the right to reverse the direction of the cruise for operational reasons beyond its control.
If you change your holiday In the case that you need to change your holiday (departure date, boat, base, region) there will be a £25 administration fee per boat.
Prices The prices quoted in the brochure are based on costs, exchange rates, taxes and levies as known at Sept 2006. Connoisseur reserve the right to revise prices in the event of any substantial changes.
Navigational Restrictions Boats must cruise within their limits indicated in the documents supplied to the hirer from the start base.
Restrictions or Interrupted Cruising Connoisseur does not accept liability or give refunds in the event of cruising waters being restricted or cruising being interrupted due to events beyond the company’s control.
Accidents and Loss of Equipment If the boat is involved in an accident of any nature, the hirer must immediately contact the base and complete an accident report form (found on board) and ask any other party involved to complete the same form. The hirer will not ask for any repairs to be carried out without Connoisseur’s agreement. Should any equipment be lost, stolen or broken, the hirer must report this on return of the boat.
Technical Assistance Connoisseur has a breakdown service during normal working hours every day of the week. We will endeavour to attend and repair a breakdown or technical incident quickly and within the context of availability of materials and personnel. The hirer will have no claim against Connoisseur as a result of grounding, breakdown or failure of the boat. When such breakdown or failure is negligence of the hirer the company will have the right to recover from the hirer the expenses incurred in rectifying the matter.
Return of the boat The boat must be returned by 9am on your final day. Late returns will incur an abandonment fee of 500 Euros. Should extra cleaning be necessary we will charge 50-100 Euros.
Fuel Charges On collection from the base, your boat will have a full tank of fuel. A fuel deposit will be taken and the current engine hours on your boat noted. At the end of your holiday the staff will calculate how many engine hours you have used and charge you per engine hour.
Crown Travel Air Travel Special Conditions Crown Travel Ltd is fully licensed and bonded by the Civil Aviation Authority ATOL 2252, to operate air inclusive holidays. (a) Although flights are on scheduled services,travel is restricted to confirmed flights, and holiday durations may not normally be varied. (b) Special fares apply and if the hirer cancels or fails to travel on the flights booked, the hirer may be liable to forfeit part, or in some circumstances, the whole of the fare. (c) Crown Travel Ltd reserves the right to pass on additional costs levied by the airlines used, by way of airport taxes, increase in seat price and/or fuel surcharges. (d) All flights are on normal scheduled services. The aircraft type and approximate flight timings are given in good faith and are based on the proposed schedules given to us by the airlines. Variations may occur.
Crown Travel Sea and Rail Carriers Conditions When you travel with a carrier,the conditions of that carrier apply, some of which limit liability. Clients should note carefully that such conditions include clauses. (a) Limiting or excluding liability in respect of injury, loss or damage. (b) Making all members of the party subject to the carrier’s terms and conditions. This brochure is issued on the sole responsibility of Crown Travel Ltd. It is not issued on behalf of, and does not commit the carriers mentioned, or any carrier whose services are used in the course of the holiday. Any cancellations by the hirer may incur charges levied by the carrier for which you will be responsible.
Unsuitable hirers We reserve the right to refuse to hand over or to repossess the boat from any hirer who, in the opinion of the company is not suitable to take charge. In such case, the company will refund the boat hire charge and its liability to the hirer will cease.
Boat Descriptions Boat layout plans, specifications and illustrations in the brochure are general guidance. Some models within boat classes have minor variations.
Force Majeure We regret we cannot accept responsibility for or pay any compensation where performance or prompt performance of our contact with you is prevented or affected by reason of circumstances amounting to ‘Force Majeure’. Such circumstances include: the destruction or damage of your boat through fire, flood, explosion, storm or weather damage; accidental damage; criminal damage or any other force outside of our control. These also include flooding, shortage of water, obstruction, repairs to any waterway, lock or navigational equipment, shortage of or non-availability of fuel, riots or civil strife, industrial action or nuclear disaster, fire, adverse weather conditions, port blockades, war or threat of war, and actual or threatened terrorist activity or similar.
Complaints If you have a complaint whilst you are on holiday, please inform the base manager or a Connoisseur office immediately so that remedial actions can be taken. If you wish to make a claim against us then you must notify us in writing within 28 days of your return home by writing to our Customer Services department at our Port Solent address. Disputes which cannot be amicably settled, may (if you so wish) be referred to the arbitration under a special scheme which, although devised by arrangement with the Association of British Travel Agents, is administered quite independently by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
Pets Dogs can be taken on Connoisseur holidays. We do make a charge for taking dogs and we ask you to bring a basket/blanket for the dog to sleep on. Animals are not allowed to lie on bedding or settees. Please do not leave dogs unattended on your boat. If the base feel extra cleaning is required on the return of your boat, you will be asked to pay.
