TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Bookings

Once North-by-West Maritime Expeditions (hereafter referred to as NbW) receives your booking enquiry, we will check availability and will contact you to confirm your voyage. 

Your booking is not secured until we contact you to confirm your booking and a 25% deposit has been received. Please do not book any travel arrangements prior to having received a confirmation of your booking from us.

Payments

Payments can be made by PayPal or bank transfer (please note that there is a 3% surcharge for PayPal payments). 

The balance of the voyage fee is due 8 weeks before the voyage starts. If a booking is made less than 8 weeks before the start of the voyage, full payment will be taken at that time.

Cancellation by You

Please notify us as soon as possible if you wish to cancel a booking for a voyage. If you cancel your booking within 14 days of paying your deposit and at least 8 weeks prior to departure, a full refund, less an administration fee of €50.00 per person in your booking, will be made.

A deposit will become non-refundable 14 days after the date of booking. If you cancel a voyage 8 weeks or more before the start of the voyage, you will be liable for 50% of the full voyage fee.

If you cancel a voyage less than 8 weeks before the start of, or after the commencement of your voyage then you will be liable for the full cost of the voyage.

If we are able to resell your cancelled berth, we will in all cases reimburse you the full cost less the deposit.

We strongly recommend that you obtain travel insurance cover, should you need to cancel a voyage.

Cancellation by Us

In the unlikely event that we are forced to cancel a voyage due to unusual and unforeseen circumstances beyond our control (Force Majeure), we will endeavour to offer you an alternative voyage at a mutually agreeable date. 

If we have to cancel a voyage due to any other reasons, e.g. technical failure, then a full refund or an alternative voyage will be offered. 

In all cases our liability is limited to offering a refund only up to the amount paid and we will have no further liability to you with respect to consequential economic loss.

Amendments to Voyages

NbW reserves the right to make necessary amendments to any voyage with regard to start/end destinations or the planned itinerary. In the unlikely event of any changes, we will endeavour to contact you at the earliest possible opportunity. 

All decisions of any amendments will be made by the Skipper and no refunds or liability will be accepted by NbW. The company will not be responsible for any cost of travel.

We appreciate that things change in life, so if you need to change a voyage, please contact us at the earliest opportunity. All changes of voyages or crew are subject to availability and at our discretion. All changes will incur a €50 amendment fee per person in your booking.

 A change of voyage cannot be made less than 8 weeks before your voyage departure. This will be considered a cancellation and such fees and terms will apply.

Health and Safety

Your safety is our primary concern. Ezra is equipped with safety gear in excess of that required by law, and is run by highly experienced and qualified crew. You will receive a full safety briefing at the start of the voyage. You must agree to abide fully with the instructions of the skipper and permanent crew.

A voyage on Ezra is a hands on experience and your participation is required to sail her to the best of her potential. A reasonable level of fitness is required to sail with us, so if you or any of your party suffer from any medical condition that might affect their health and safety during the voyage, e.g. heart conditions, epilepsy, diabetes or if you are on any medication that may be adversely affected by seasickness, you must disclose these facts to us at the time of booking. This information will be held in confidence by us until the completion of your voyage. Failure to disclose a condition could result in the affected person being put ashore for their own safety. In this case we will not be liable for any refunds or expenses incurred.

We aim to sail Ezra as much as possible, taking into account both present and forecast weather conditions, the ability of the crew and the waters we are sailing in. We will endeavour to fulfil any reasonable requests and wishes our guests may have, however in all these matters the skipper’s decision is final.

The lower age limit for sailing with us is 18 if unaccompanied, 12 if accompanied by a parent or guardian, unless the whole boat is being booked, in which case younger children are certainly welcome.

Consumption of alcohol is at the discretion of the skipper.

What’s Included

• Accommodation aboard for the duration of the voyage
• All meals and drinks for the duration of the voyage
• All group excursions
• All fees and permits for the duration of the voyage
• Exposure suit for zodiac excursions
• Comfortable and warm bedding
• CO2-compensation for all transportation, including your flights

What’s not Included

• Flights to and from the departure and destination ports, respectively (if required, we will assist you with the booking of those)
• Personal insurance (medical, accident, liability)

What we Expect of You

• A keen interest in discovering and exploring your destination
• A modicum of physical fitness
• Your willingness to help out with daily chores aboard – the less time we as a group spend doing that, the more time we have to explore and enjoy!
• You don’t need any sailing experience, but you’re very welcome to help with seamanship tasks if you so desire

Liability and Insurance

Ezra is covered by professional insurance that includes third party liability. This does not cover you for any loss or damage to your property not attributable to our negligence or defects of the vessel. We strongly recommend that you obtain your own travel insurance to cover as a minimum medical and personal accident expenses, loss of and damage to personal effects, as well as voyage cancellation. Please confirm with your insurer that your policy covers you while sailing in areas farther than 12 Nautical Miles offshore.

NbW acts in good faith and disclaims responsibility for any loss, damage, accidents, sickness or schedule changes caused by weather or road conditions, force majeure such as natural catastrophes, strikes or any irregularities beyond the control of NbW. NbW cannot be held responsible for acts, defaults of, or delays caused by, any agent, guide, restaurant, hotel, coach operator, airline, or any persons or companies, however caused. In the case of any changes to flights (domestic and international), you and any member of your party are responsible for any additional costs incurred as a result of such changes, (i.e. additional hotel nights, meals, transfers, etc.). All medical costs arising during tours must be paid by the client. NbW cannot be made responsible for losses that a passenger may face due to delay, regardless whether the loss is direct or indirect.