Aurora Terms & Conditions
TERMS AND CONDITIONS / GENERAL INFORMATION
1. INCLUSIONS AND EXCLUSIONS
1.1 INCLUSIONS:
– Transfer from airport to M/S Aurora and back to the nearest airport only (according to cruise destination).
– Accommodation in a double-bed or twin-bed cabin with en-suite shower bath, toilet and AC.
– Full board including all soft drinks on board (excluding beer, spirits, wine)
– Daily three dives during the day plus one night-dive, subject to weather conditions and cruise (no diving on day of departure and arrival)
– Multilingual guides on board (Europeans and Indonesians)
– Land excursions, according to safari programme
1.2 EXCLUSIONS:
– Fuel surcharge and port fees per pax 200 US$ for Raja Ampat, Cenderawasih Bay, Banda Sea & Maluku. For Komodo cruises, no fuel surcharge applies if the port of arrival/departure is Bima/Labuan Bajo/Maumere. The fuel surcharge applies if harbors like Benoa (Bali), Alor or similar are scheduled
– National Park Fees and Contributions to villages: 130 US$ Raja Ampat, 150 US$ for Cenderawasih Bay, 75 US$ for all other cruises. Note: These fees are subject to change without prior notice and new fees could be introduced at any time.
– NITROX supplement (see price list)
– Scuba diving courses (see price list)
– Diving and snorkeling gear, beer, wine and spirits
– Souvenirs, laundry, massage service on board, use of satellite phone
– Tips for crew: Clients will pay on board a service charge of minimum US$ 10 per night per person, this is an obligatory fee. Clients who wish to give additional gratuities, can do so in a separate envelope.
– Locally domestic airport-taxes and departure tax (max. 40.000 IDR for national flights and 150.000 IDR for international flights) per person
– Insurance for cancellation fee
2. RESERVATIONS AND DEPOSITS
2.1 DEPOSIT FOR INDIVIDUAL BOOKINGS:
All reservations must be made by electronic mail or facsimile transmission, if possible with the appropriate form that can be downloaded on www.auroraliveaboard.com, and state the cruise date to which the reservation refers, the number of berths required, all passenger names and any special requirements. All prices published on the website are meant as cash prices, respectively when money is wired via bank transfer.
A booking fee of 25% of the total price per person is to be sent upon booking to Biodiversity Explorations’ Bank Account (payment details in Clause 13) no later than 7 days after the date the reservation is made. If this booking fee is not received within the stated period of time, then your reservation is nullified and we cannot guarantee you that your required berths will be available for your desired cruise.
3. PAYMENT OF THE BALANCE INDIVIDUAL BOOKINGS
Payment of the balance must be made to your travel agent or directly to Biodiversity Explorations as following:
Upon booking: 25% of the cruise price
91 days prior to departure date: remaining 75% of the cruise price
If full payment of the balance is not received by this date then Biodiversity Explorations can cancel the booking and enforce cancellation policy as set out in Clause 5.
4. SHORT NOTICE BOOKINGS
Full payment must be made to Biodiversity Explorations at the time of booking if the reservation is made less than 91 days prior to departure. Please refer to payment details in Clause 13.
5. CHANGES OF RESERVATIONS
5.1 GENERAL:
If an agent or individual guest wishes to cancel or change a reservation, in any way, it must be done by facsimile transmission or electronic mail to Biodiversity Explorations at the address below.
E-Mail: info@scubaliveaboards.com
5.2 AMENDMENT FEES:
An administrative charge of 40 US$ will be charged if any changes are made to your booking 121 days or less prior to departure date. Changing of a cruise date will be treated as cancellation and new booking of a cruise. The date that Biodiversity Explorations receives the alterations to your booking by electronic mail, facsimile transmission or registered post will be the date used to determine whether a fee will be charged. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, the next working day will count.
5.3 CANCELLATION FEES:
– If the reservation is cancelled more than 120 days prior to the departure date then a cancellation fee of 135 US$ per person per booking will be deducted from the deposit and the remaining amount returned or credited against any future bookings.
– The date that Biodiversity Explorations receives the alterations to the reservation by electronic mail, or facsimile transmission will be the date used to determine whether a fee will be charged. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, the next working day will count.
5.3.1 CANCELLATION POLICY FOR INDIVIDUAL BOOKINGS:
The following cancellation fees are charged for cancellations within 120 days or less prior to departure:
– 120 – 91 days prior to departure 25% of the cruise price
– 90 – 60 days prior to departure 50% of the cruise price
– 59 – 0 days prior to departure 100% of the cruise price
5.4 TRAVEL CANCELLATION INSURANCE:
It is highly recommended that all customers purchase a travel cancellation insurance.
5.5 SUBSTITUTE PASSENGERS:
If for any reason a passenger cannot make a trip that has already been booked, then the reservation can be transferred to another person. The new passenger will be subject to the contract conditions of Biodiversity Explorations. Passenger substitution will be allowed up to 3 days, or less depending on the cruise, prior to the day of departure. Biodiversity Explorations takes no responsibility for changes to any bookings not made by Biodiversity Explorations on behalf of the passenger (i.e. air tickets, hotel reservation etc.). A fee will be charged pursuant to Clause 5.2.
5.6 SCUBA DIVING INSURANCE:
We highly recommend that every diver has a diving insurance
6. SPECIFICATIONS ON “BOAT CHARTER”
6.1 NUMBER OF PASSENGERS:
The maximum number of passengers is 15 (on request, triple cabins can be made available for families).
6.2 PUBLISHED RATES:
As set out in separate publication.
6.3 SCHEDULES AND ITINERARIES:
All scheduled cruises can be booked as full-boat charters. There are certain changes to the scheduled itineraries allowed by the chartering customer subject to prior arrangement and approval by Biodiversity Explorations.
6.4 UNSCHEDULED FULL BOAT CHARTER DESTINATIONS AND ITINERARIES:
If the charter is booked to sail outside the scheduled cruise itinerary or to another area, then the following terms are applicable:
– A charter deposit to be paid as set out in Clause 6.5.
– A mobilization / demobilization fee will be added to the total cost of the cruise depending on location. The price of this fee will be dependant on the location of the charter and will be given to the client prior to the due date of the deposit.
– All domestic airfares and transportation costs will be paid by the customers at the published rate.
6.5 CHARTER DEPOSIT INDIVIDUAL BOOKINGS:
25% of the total price as non-refundable deposit will be charged. Payment of the deposit must be made 7 days after the booking is made. Payment details as set out in Clause 13.
6.6 PAYMENT SCHEDULE:
–
180 days before cruise departure, another 25% of the total amount is due. This amount is non-refundable.
– 91 days prior to cruise departure, full payment of the remaining amount on the invoice is due.
– If the charter is cancelled 91 days or less prior to departure, no payments will be refunded.
6.7 CHARTER DEPOSIT AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE FOR TOUR OPERATORS:
Total price is calculated based on 12 paying guests (diver’s rate), according the following conditions:
– 10% deposit at the moment of booking
– Further 15% within 180 days from the date of cruise departure
– Further 25% more within 91 days from the date of cruise departure
– Total balance within 60 days from the date of cruise departure
Maximum release time: 180 days. In case of cancellation before 180 days, the deposit will be returned, except a 5% penalty for administrative costs.
Other penalties for cancellation:
– 180-91 days = 25%
– 90-60 days = 50%
– 59 days = 100%
7. CHANGES TO BROCHURE DESCRIPTION AND/OR WEBSITE, CHANGES TO RATES AND TRANSPORTATION COSTS
7.1 CHANGES BEFORE CONCLUSION OF THE CONTRACT:
Biodiversity Explorations reserves the right to make alterations and changes to brochure information, service descriptions and prices in the brochures and pricelists at any time before the time of booking. Should the necessity arise, Biodiversity Explorations will inform the agent or individual client prior to entering the contract. The date the contract is entered is the date that a booking fee is received by Biodiversity Explorations.
7.2 CHANGES TO PRICE AFTER THE CONTRACT HAS BEEN ENTERED:
In rare circumstances, it is possible that prices must be increased. The circumstances under which this may occur are as follows:
1. Increases in transportation costs (including fuel costs)
2. Increases in state taxes and duties (i.e. embarkation/disembarkation fees, sales taxes etc.)
3. Currency fluctuations.
Biodiversity Explorations reserves the right to raise the agreed price up to 45 days prior to departure.
7.3 ITINERARY AND SERVICE CHANGES AFTER BOOKING AND BEFORE DEPARTURE:
Biodiversity Explorations reserves the right to change the itinerary and particular services if required due to unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances. Biodiversity Explorations will make every effort to offer equivalent alternatives of a comparable standard. Biodiversity Explorations will inform the agent or individual client of such changes at the earliest possible date and the effect they will have on price.
8. TRIP CANCELLATION BY BIODIVERSITY EXPLORATIONS
8.1 CANCELLATION FOR REASONS CAUSED BY THE CUSTOMER:
Biodiversity Explorations reserves the right to cancel a booking if actions on the customer’s part give justifiable cause to do so. In such instance Biodiversity Explorations will refund any payments already made. Further claims against Biodiversity Explorations will not be entertained.
8.2 FORCE MAJEURE AND UNPREDICTABLE ACTS OF MAN:
Biodiversity Explorations reserves the right to cancel a trip for reasons of Force Majeure (i.e. natural disasters, epidemics etc.) or unavoidable acts of man (i.e. war, riots, strikes etc.). In the event of this happening, Biodiversity Explorations will advise you at the earliest possible date.
8.3 TRIP CANCELLATION BY BIODIVERSITY EXPLORATIONS FOR OTHER REASONS:
Biodiversity Explorations reserves the right to cancel a trip for other reasons that are unavoidable and will inform the customer at the earliest possible date.
9. CHANGES TO THE ITINERARY AND SERVICES
If Biodiversity Explorations deems it necessary to change an itinerary during a trip (i.e. due to weather conditions etc.) and the trip is adversely affected, then Biodiversity Explorations will refund the difference between the agreed tour price and the services actually provided.
10. DAMAGES RESULTING FROM PERSONAL INJURY, ILLNESS OR DEATH
Damages resulting from illness, personal injuries or death which may be sustained by reason of, or while engaged on, any trip whether due to the ownership, maintenance, use, operation or control of any aircraft, helicopter, automobile, bicycle, boat, vehicle, hotel, common carrier or any other conveyance used in carrying out these trips. Biodiversity Explorations assumes no liability due to any cause whatsoever whether caused by failure or delay or other irregularity, acts or omissions occurring during a trip under which the means of transportation or other service provided thereby is offered or supplied by owners, operators or public carriers for and on behalf of Biodiversity Explorations.
Biodiversity Explorations shall not be responsible for any injury to person (whether or not resulting in death) or damage to property arising out of any act of war, insurrection, revolt or other civil uprising or military action occurring in the countries of origin, destination or passage. In case of a medical problem arising during the voyage, either on board or on shore, which results in costs for evacuation, use of aircraft or repatriation, the responsibility for payment of these costs belongs solely to the passenger.
11. LOSS OR DAMAGE TO PERSONAL BELONGINGS
Biodiversity Explorations does not take any responsibility for loss or damage to guests’ personal belongings that are due to Force Majeure causes (refer to Clause 8.2).
12. DISABILITIES
By forwarding of deposit, the agent or individual guest certifies that the passenger does not have any mental, physical or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other passengers. Biodiversity Explorations reserve the right to cancel or withdraw any person as a member of the tour at any time.