Terms and Conditions
Booking:
A binding contract between us comes into existence when we send a written confirmation, which will be then followed by the invoice to the party leader or the travel agent. Changes to these booking conditions or the general terms and conditions will only be valid if agreed by us in writing.
Amendment of Booking:
If possible, we will offer to amend the booking. The cost of the change depends on your booked trip and ranges from 30 to 50 EUR per booking. In addition, we will advise if any penalties or other fees may apply.
Cabin Occupancy:
If there is an odd number of guests on the booking or one person traveling alone, we will ensure that the sharing persons will be allocated a cabin with a member of the same gender (for odd number bookings you must advise shared male or female with booking confirmation). Single Occupancy is charged at Cabin Share Rate +50%.
Children:
No children under the age of 8 will be allowed onboard. Children over the age of 8 years and minors up to 18 years must be supervised by a parent or designated responsible adult at all times. We cannot provide a legal chaperone service. Children less than 8 years may be accepted on board for a full charter; booking is subject to written agreement from the group leader.
Insurance:
It is a condition of your contract with Ocean Lovers - Sea Breeze Liveboard that you purchase comprehensive dive and travel insurance coverage specific to your booking. Ocean Lovers - Sea Breeze Liveaboard will not be responsible for any financial loss incurred by issues beyond our control such as, but not limited to; weather, an 'Act of God', or changes made by the local authorities. You are responsible to check that these include:
a. Dive Injury Insurance: covering all risks, costs, and expenses likely to be incurred as a result of a diving injury, including but not limited to re-compression chamber treats, air evacuation, and loss or damage to possessions. This insurance should cover all scuba diving or water sports activities that you are likely to undertake during your trip.
b. Medical Evacuation Insurance: covering all risks, costs, and expenses likely to arise from a diving or non-diving injury requiring your evacuation to a place of specialist care, including but not limited to low altitude air evacuation; specialist treatment and direct; and indirect losses.
c. Comprehensive Travel Insurance: valid at the time of booking to cover any pre-departure cancellations should you have to cancel your trip for an insured reason such as illness or serious accident, any changes or cancellation to your travel plans, loss or damage to your luggage and contents.
You must be satisfied that your insurance fully covers all your personal requirements, including pre-existing medical conditions, cancellation charges, medical expenses, and repatriation in the event of an accident or illness, diving injuries, and medical evacuation. If you choose to travel without adequate insurance cover, we will not be liable for any losses howsoever arising, in respect of which insurance cover would otherwise have been available.
Cutting Your Holiday Short:
If you are forced to return home early, we cannot refund the cost of any travel arrangements you have not used. If you cut short your holiday and return home early in circumstances where you have no reasonable cause for complaint about the standard of accommodation and services provided, we will not offer you any refund for that part of your holiday not completed, or be liable for any associated costs you may incur. Depending on the circumstances, your travel insurance may offer cover for curtailment and we suggest that any claim is made directly with them.
Disabilities and Medical Problems:
We are not a specialist disabled holiday company, but we will do our utmost to cater to any special requirements you may have. If you or any member of your party has any medical problem or disability which may affect your booking, please provide us with full details before you make your booking so that we can try to advise you as to the suitability of your chosen arrangements. We may require you to produce a doctor’s certificate certifying that you are fit to participate. Acting reasonably, if we are unable to properly accommodate the needs of the person(s) concerned, we will not confirm your booking.
Complaints:
We make every effort to ensure that your holiday arrangements run smoothly but if you do have a problem during your holiday, please inform the responsible cruise director immediately who will endeavor to put things right.
If the problem cannot be resolved and you wish to complain further, you must send formal written notice of your complaint to us, ideally within thirty (30) days of the end of your stay, giving your booking reference and all other relevant information. Please keep your letter concise and to the point. This will assist us to quickly identify your concerns and speed up our response to you.
Rental Equipment:
Each guest has to inspect rental equipment, sign rental liability and check for good working order, and to be free of defects before first use. Any damage or loss that happened while rental gear is under the responsibility of the guest should be immediately reported to the guide on board. The guide will advise extra costs for lost items.
Itinerary:
All dives and some wreck dives are subject to the diver’s experience and weather permitted. All liveaboard itineraries are subject to Egyptian Government, Coast Guard, and Marine Police approval. All itineraries are an example and might be changed due to weather conditions. The final route plan will be arranged with the group on board. The last decision is with the captain and guide – safety is always first! Every effort is made but there is no guarantee diving at specific sites.
If, in the unfortunate event, dives are missed or dive sites are not reached due to weather conditions or other unforeseeable changes, Ocean Lovers - Sea breeze Liveaboard will not offer a refund or compensation. This includes also all Marine Park and extra fees (not refundable).
External Guides:
Prior to departure: please, send a copy of your diving license, proof of active status, and diving and liability insurance for all hosted guides onboard. Further, we need short information about their experience with liveaboards in the area. We keep the right to reject external guides at any time. Our own licensed guides are always the responsible ones onboard.
Alcohol:
Please, be aware that the risks associated with diving and water activities are increased with the consumption of alcohol or under the influence of a hangover can impair your judgment, and when scuba diving can increase the risk of decompression sickness. Please, drink responsibly, within your own limits, and act with respect for others and your own safety at all times. Ocean Lovers reserve the right to refuse entry to the water if they believe you are no longer safe in control of your own actions and safety. If the guides deem that you are unfit to dive you will be asked to sit out the dive. Your safety and well-being are paramount so this request by the dive guides will only be made to avoid accidents.
Behavior:
Anti-social or aggressive behavior will not be tolerated and individuals who cause a disturbance to other guests/crew/guides may be removed from the boat at their own expense.
Force Majeure:
We do not accept liability or pay any compensation where the performance or prompt performance is prevented or affected by a result of “force majeure” (any event which we as the supplier of the service could not foresee or avoid. Such events may include pandemics, war or threat of war, riot, civil strife, actual or threatened terrorist activity, industrial dispute, natural or nuclear disaster, adverse weather conditions, port closures, fire, and all similar events outside our control.
Payment:
A booking is only confirmed after receiving the agreed-upon deposit.
The outstanding balance should be paid before the deadline mentioned in the invoice, in order to avoid delays in departure.
25% down payment within 7 days of the invoice date required, full payment latest 40 days before departure. Payment by transfer to our bank account in Egypt or as advised. In case we do not receive all payments due (including any surcharge where applicable and invoiced) in full and on time, we are entitled to assume that you wish to cancel your booking. For non-included locally paid items (Local Fees, on-board sales) payment must be made locally by guests on board using cash in EUR, USD, Pound Sterling, or Egyptian Pound.
Cancellation Policy:
91 or more days before arrival date: 10% of the full price
between 90 and 41 days before arrival date: 25% of the full price
As of 40 before arrival date: 100% of the full price
Note: the above percentages are of the total booking cost, not on a deposit received.
All cancellations must be made in writing to [email protected] cancellation fees are charged from the date of written cancellation received. Any cancellation, especially on Individual bookings must be sent without any delay in order to sell free places to secure the required minimum numbers for confirmed sailings.
Ocean Lovers - Sea Breeze Liveaboard is an Egyptian Company and comes under Egyptian law. There is no third-party liability insurance of European standards available in Egypt and hence Ocean Lovers - Sea Breeze Liveaboard recommends strongly that guests have adequate personal diving and non-diving insurance to cover all diving and non-diving risks involved.
Included:
- dive guides
- 7 nights of full-board accommodation onboard or for the last night at a 4* hotel (not optional, depending on the boat schedule)
- mineral water, tea, coffee, and soft drinks
- 3-4 dives per day (2-3 dives on the first and the last day)
-5 and a half days of diving
- tanks, weights
- Nitrox 28-32%. In case of a technical error, there is no refund.
- 2-way airport or hotel transfers.
Not Included:
- Marine park and port fees, reef tax, diving permits, fuel surcharge 150 -180€ per person per week *depending on itinerary.
- international and domestic flights
- 35€ Visa Assistance at the airport, lost luggage assistance
- rental equipment
- alcoholic beverages
- crew gratuities recommended is 70€ per guest a week
- surcharges for cabins on the upper deck 100 - 150€ per person
General:
• Last night of the trip might be spent onboard at the Port or in a 4* hotel, according to the boat's schedule.
• We reserve the right to change the departure and arrival port if the schedule of the boat so requires.
• The itinerary could be changed according to weather permitting & military maneuvers.
• We reserve the right to change boats with the same or higher category without a surcharge. For a lower category, we will compensate the difference
• If the minimum number of participants is not reached, we reserve the right to cancel and/or reschedule the tour free of charge 4 weeks before the start of the safari.
• All details of participants should be submitted 4 weeks before the start of the trip (full name, nationality, passport number, rental equipment request, dietary needs).
• For last-minute booking not later than 1 week before the start of the trip, unless specified differently.
• Please, make sure that the passport is valid for at least six more months after arrival.
• All participants should have a copy of their passports/ID upon check-in onboard, as well as a valid dive certificate and a log book.
• The guests have free limited Wi-Fi on board available. The possibility of purchasing a SIM card with additional internet can be requested.
• In case of any dispute arising out of or in connection with this contract/offer jurisdiction of the court of Hurghada, Egypt will be the court of dispute.
• In case of further price changes by the Government or a significant increase in fuel prices, we reserve the right to adjust our prices.
Check-In & Check-Out:
Check-in is not before 4 pm on the first day of the liveaboard.
Check-out is latest by 10 am on the last day of the liveaboard.
The transfer from/to the airport from/to the boat is included in the route supplement.
Please, contact us to discuss options if your flight is either very early or later.