Booking Terms & Conditions

Booking T&Cs

TERMS & CONDITIONS

PAYMENT POLICY
A 25% non-refundable deposit is required to confirm a Private Charter or Scheduled Charter with S.E.A Fiordland.

Full payment is required 60 days prior to the trip departure date unless stated otherwise.

All bookings will be confirmed on payment of deposit with S.E.A Fiordland.

INSURANCE

All passengers are strongly advised to purchase private comprehensive travel insurance that includes trip cancellation, trip delays due to weather, evacuation, possible loss of personal belongings and medical cover. Please read your insurance policy carefully and ensure it covers all potential activities. In a medical emergency, any evacuation, vessel relocation, medical or other expenses are the financial responsibility of that passenger.

It is the passengers responsibility to ensure their insurance policy covers all potential activities.

CANCELLATION POLICY
We realise circumstances can change. If we receive written notice of your cancellation via email to emma@seafiordland.com, 8 weeks or more from the Private Charter or Scheduled Charter departure date, we will refund 75% of the full price payment.

If we receive written notice of your cancellation via email to emma@seafiordland.com less than 8 weeks from the Private Charter or Scheduled Charter departure date, then you will forfeit the full price payment and your deposit. If another group can fill your dates, you may be eligible for up to a 75% refund.

If for any reason you think you may need to cancel your trip for any reason the sooner we know, the more chance we have of being able to fill that slot, therefore, the more likely hood of you getting a better refund.

Any Notification of Cancellation must be in writing and sent by email to emma@seafiordland.com

There will be no refund of any part of your trip cost should you fail to arrive at a Private Charter or Scheduled Charter departure time. Trip departures may not be delayed due to passenger circumstance – including events beyond your control, medical problems, airline delays, weather etc. If other transport is required to get you to the vessel due to you not arriving before the Private Charter or Scheduled Charter departure time, this will be at your cost.

S.E.A Fiordland reserves the right to amend timetables, cancel charter departures and substitute vessels at any time for safety or operational reasons including due to unsafe weather conditions or unforeseen vessel maintenance.

Due to the variability of weather and other conditions beyond our control, S.E.A Fiordland cannot guarantee certain activities will be available. The actual route activities and anchorages may vary.

In the event of a Private Charter or Scheduled Charter being cancelled by S.E.A Fiordland before departure, passengers will be given the option to reschedule or a full refund on the Charter portion only (i.e. excluding transport already taken). If there is a delayed start due to adverse weather, conditions, or situations beyond our control, no refunds will be given. If a Private Charter or Scheduled Charter is cancelled during a sailing due to unforeseen circumstances, adverse weather affecting passenger safety and comfort, unforeseen operational reasons or any other issue, passengers may receive a partial refund at S.E.A Fiordland's sole discretion. Full refunds will only be given when S.E.A Fiordland cancels a Private Charter or Scheduled Charter before departure.

S.E.A Fiordland recommends clients should always have private comprehensive travel insurance.

All transactions are conducted in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Due to exchange rate fluctuations, at times there may be some variance in the amounts refunded compared to the amount initially charged. S.E.A Fiordland does not accept any liability for these variances or any subsequent credit card/bank charges relating to these transfers to customer's accounts.

All agreements/contracts are subject solely to New Zealand (NZ) Law and the exclusive jurisdiction of the New Zealand Courts.

In the event of a cancellation or amendment to your booking, the notification period is in NZ time (NZST)

LIABILITY AND INDEMNITY
Passengers travel at their own risk (to the extent permitted by law), and S.E.A Fiordland is not responsible for any loss, damage, cost, expense, or injury suffered by passengers or loss or damage to a passenger's property.

Without limiting the foregoing, the following conditions apply:

In respect of all passengers, S.E.A Fiordland is not liable for any loss, damage or delay caused by or arising from an event beyond the control of S.E.A Fiordland, including any act of God, inevitable accident, riot, civil commotion, strike, lock-out, stoppage or restraint of labour, regardless of the cause and whether partial or general.

S.E.A Fiordland does not warrant that S.E.A Fiordland's services are available at any particular time or at all. S.E.A Fiordland is not liable to a passenger or any other person:

for any consequences or loss or damage, arising from any variation, cancellation or delay in the time of arrival or departure from any stop of any vehicle.

For any loss or damage as a result of a cancellation or any variation of the time of arrival or departure from any stop of any vehicle.

For damage to any property of a passenger; or
For the death of any passenger or other person or for injury, harm, disease or damage to health, whether physical, mental or otherwise (including mental or nervous shock or distress) suffered by a passenger or any other person.

If there is contributory negligence on the part of a passenger or other person, S.E.A Fiordland's liability is subject to the law relating to contributory negligence.

S.E.A Fiordland may vary or cancel wholly, or in part, the scheduled services are shown in S.E.A Fiordland's timetable or may alter the point at which S.E.A Fiordland will pick up and set down passengers.

The passenger indemnifies S.E.A Fiordland at all times against any loss, damage or cost suffered or incurred by S.E.A Fiordland as a direct or indirect result of a breach by the passenger of its obligations under these terms and conditions.

HEALTH & SAFETY
At S.E.A Fiordland, our passenger's health, safety and comfort are foremost.

Once aboard the Vessel Tasman Explorer, the skipper will give clear safety instructions direct to all Passengers. Passengers should listen carefully to these instructions and comply with all aspects of safety advice. In the unlikely event of an emergency, passengers must obey all instructions from the S.E.A Fiordland fully trained skipper and crew.

New Zealand has a 'no-fault' government-backed medical injury treatment scheme, administered by the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC).

Under ACC legislation, passengers are prevented from suing the operator for any mishap or misadventure. Should there be a medical incident or injury, S.E.A Fiordland will do everything in its power to organize prompt medical assistance. In the case of injury, the cost of that assistance will be borne by the ACC scheme.

All passengers while onboard with S.E.A Fiordland must:

- Act in a safe and reasonable manner
- Cooperate with, and observe all instructions from S.E.A Fiordland staff
- Follow all signs and notices
- No alcohol may be consumed prior to water activities, hunting excursions or helicopter interactions
- Not interfere with or use emergency equipment or emergency exits except in an emergency
- Not behave in an unsafe, noisy, violent or antisocial manner
- Not litter or tamper with or damage any property of S.E.A Fiordland

- Considered themselves competent in the use of common sense

CHARTER CHANGES
Charter activities, and desired locations, are not guaranteed by S.E.A Fiordland, they always remain at the discretion of the skipper.

To transfer our vessel to different locations within New Zealand, we require clear and safe weather passage on both inbound and outbound journeys. If this is not possible, S.E.A Fiordland reserves the right to alter the location, without warning and recompense to the client.

These decisions are made in the interest of safety for our guests, crew and vessel, and are not taken lightly. They are not grounds for pricing alteration, discount, or compensation.

S.E.A FIORDLAND ACTIVITIES
KAYAKING, TENDER, HUNTING, WALKING AND ANY LAND/WATER-BASED ACTIVITIES
All passengers must wear and approved life jacket in accordance with weight, use any safety equipment that is provided to them from S.E.A Fiordland and follow all instructions from Crew/Skipper in regards to any Land/Water based activities.

All activities are subject to weather conditions and are only available for Adult Passengers. Children (Under 16 Yrs.) may be involved in Land/Water based activities with permission from their Guardian and the Skipper. Children must have Adult supervision at all times with any Land/Water Based Activities. S.E.A Fiordland reserves the right to cancel or modify any activities due to unsafe weather conditions or not meeting the minimum number requirements. Detailed risk management and strict safety procedures are observed. However, there remains an element of risk. Risks include extreme weather and water conditions which can change rapidly, cold water and limited kayaking landing sites. S.E.A Fiordland accepts its legal responsibilities but cannot be held responsible for personal injury or loss, theft or damage to passenger belongings outside of any legal liability.

S.E.A Fiordland cannot guarantee clients safety. Clients doing any of the activities must follow instructions and adhere to safety requirements.

FISHING POLICY
We are passionate about protecting our children's ability to fish, for generations to come. The taking of sea-life as well as being within the fisheries regulations will only be taken to supplement meals for passengers whilst aboard the Tasman Explorer or to be taken home. The amount of fish taken for this purpose, methods used, and the locations fished, is solely at the skipper's discretion.

SCUBA AND FREEDIVING POLICY
Due to the new adventure activity regulations, we can only offer diving from the vessel under special new rules. While S.E.A Fiordland supplies weights, tanks, and carries emergency oxygen equipment, our private charters are not 'guided' diving trips. All Scuba divers must have a current diving ticket, be medically fit and accept that they are entirely responsible for their actions, including supplying their own serviced regulators.

ALCOHOL

No alcohol may be consumed prior to water activities, hunting excursions or helicopter interactions. It is your responsibility to supply your own alcohol as S.E.A Fiordland does not supply alcohol.

MODEL RELEASE

S.E.A Fiordland may take photos and video during your charter for marketing reasons. S.E.A Fiordland and the photographer/videographer hold unrestricted rights to use and publish photographs in which you may be included for editorial, trade, advertising and any other purpose and in any manner and to alter and composite the same without restriction or approval.

Please advise in advance if you do not wish to be photographed or filmed.

RISK WAIVER

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RISK WAIVER & RELEASE OF LIABILITY

In consideration of, and in recognition of the inherent risks of the activity associated with the participation in the S.E.A Fiordland Private Charters or Scheduled Charters, I agree, on behalf of myself, my/our heirs, representatives, successors, executors, administrators and assigns, do hereby release, waive, discharge and agree not to sue S.E.A Fiordland, its officers, directors, shareholders, agents, volunteers, and employees, from any and all claims or demands, obligations and/or causes of action of any nature whatsoever which I may have against S.E.A Fiordland, its officers, directors, shareholders, agents, volunteers, and employees, on account of any personal injury, property damage, death or accident of any kind, arising out of or in any way connected with the participation in the S.E.A Fiordland Private Charter or Scheduled Charter whether any of my acts during the journey are supervised or unsupervised and I agree to indemnify and hold harmless the persons or entities mentioned in this paragraph from any and all liabilities or claims made by other individuals or entities as a result of my actions. I further certify, acknowledge and agree on behalf of myself that: I am physically, and mentally capable of participating in the activity; I assume responsibility for and voluntarily assume the risks for any personal injury, death and related expenses involved with this activity; I accept responsibility for damage to my personal property; I accept the responsibility to question the staff of S.E.A Fiordland. If I hear, see or feel that anything is questionable, dangerous, incorrect or unclear, I assume the risks for accidents or injury caused by the negligence of my guides and leaders. I further acknowledge on behalf of myself that wearing appropriate clothing and footwear are necessary safety precautions, and that utilizing such medication against dangerous diseases that requires special care due to side effects, is thoroughly at my own risk.