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Terms & Conditions of Booking

Your contract is with Sobriety Holidays Ltd. 3 Park View Court, South Street, Cuckfield, West Sussex RH17 5LB. Upon making a booking, you agree to these terms and conditions. The contract, which is made on acceptance of the booking confirmation, is based on these terms and conditions and is subject to the jurisdiction of the English courts. The departure date is the date of arrival onboard Sobriety Holidays Ltd sailing vessel.

1. Booking Information

Please check your booking confirmation for errors and discrepancies, as this information is used to facilitate your holiday. Any errors on the booking confirmation should be notified to Sobriety Holidays Ltd. within 7 days of receipt, or, if the departure date is less than 14 days from the date of issue, within 24 hours. After this period, the booking confirmation is deemed to have been accepted. The contract is between the party leader (the person named on booking confirmation form) and Sobriety Holidays Ltd. The guest information requested is necessary to obtain navigation permits for your holiday; this can be completed by email or by post. This must be completed 10 weeks prior to your departure date, or, if the departure date is less than 10 weeks after booking, within one week of receipt of your preference forms. If the departure date is less than a week from booking, the information must be supplied within 24 hours and at least 48 hours prior to departure. If this is not possible, the party leader must contact us before departure. Any delays to your holiday as a result of incomplete or inaccurate crew details are out of our control and no compensation will be paid. The information supplied forms part of the contract between us.

2. Pricing & Payments

The price of the holiday is as stated in the Pricing Plan page and is in either Pounds Sterling or Euros. These prices supersede any previous price lists and are subject to change. Once you have paid a 30% deposit of the accepted booking confirmation, the price will not normally be subject to change. Any offers and discounts available cannot be applied retrospectively. The balance of your holiday must be paid at least 6 weeks before departure. If there is less than 6 weeks between the issue of your booking confirmation and the departure date, the balance must be paid in full with the deposit. Late payment of the balance may incur a 0.5% per week surcharge.

3. Changes to your Holiday by You

Minor changes to your holiday (for example, the substitution of one guest for another, or addition of a guest) may be possible provided 14 days notice is given. Any requests for changes must be authorized by the party leader and may be subject to a £50 administration fee. Any additional guests will be charged for as per published prices. The charge for the removal of a guest is dependant on the notice given and is charged at the same rate as a holiday cancellation (see 3.1). If, after receipt of your booking confirmation, you wish to change the date or duration of your holiday, we will do our utmost to assist you. However, changes may not be possible. The cost of any changes will be the additional holiday cost (if any), based on the brochure prices and may also be subject a £50 administration fee. Changes made within 6 weeks of departure are treated as a cancellation and re-booking. The party leader (person named on booking confirmation form) may cancel your holiday at any time. The charge for canceling your holiday is dependent on the notice given:

3.1

If the reason for cancellation is covered by your insurance policy, you may be able to reclaim any charges.

4. Changes to Your Holiday by Us

Sobriety Holidays Ltd makes arrangements for the holidays many months in advance and occasionally it may be necessary to make changes to those arrangements. We must reserve the right to change your holiday booking, or in extreme circumstances only, cancel your booking in its entirety.

4.1 If we cancel your arrangements     

If we are forced to cancel your arrangements we will inform you as soon as possible. We will offer you the choice of an alternative of at least comparable standard (if available) or a full refund of all monies paid to us in respect of your arrangements. We will not cancel your arrangements after the date specified on the final invoice for payment of the full balance unless that balance has not been paid by you or unless it is due to reasons beyond our control as detailed in the paragraph entitled Force Majeure‚ below. 

4.2  If we are forced to cancel your holiday for any reason after the date on which final payment is due then in addition to the above options we will also pay compensation as detailed below. (see 4.5) These compensation payments will not be paid to you if the cancellation is due to reasons beyond our control and detailed in the paragraph entitled 'Force Majeure' below.

4.3 If we change your arrangements

In the unlikely event of such changes arising we will endeavor to inform you as soon as is reasonably possible. Should a major change arise we will of course notify you immediately and you will have the choice of either:

a)  Accepting the changed arrangements

b)  Accepting an offer from us of an equivalent holiday on another date (subject to availability).  If this is of an equivalent or higher price you will not have to pay more but if it is of a lower standard we will refund the difference in price.

c)  Canceling your holiday and receiving a full refund of all monies paid.

4.4 Force Majeure

Very rarely we may be forced by force majeure to terminate or change before or during your holiday.  This is extremely unlikely but we regret that we cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where the performance or prompt performance of our contractual obligations is prevented or affected by circumstances amounting to force majeure. Force majeure means any event which we or the supplier of the services in question could not foresee or avoid. Such events may include but are not limited to war or threat of war, riots, civil strife, terrorist activity, industrial action, natural or nuclear activity, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events outside our control.

4.5 In addition to this we will pay you (per person) compensation in accordance with the scale below:

More than 56 days - Nil

43 - 56 days - £5
29 - 42 days - £10
15 - 28 days - £15
0 - 14 days - £20

When the major change has been made as a result of unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control the consequences of which could not be avoided even with all due care we cannot offer any compensation.

5. Alcohol and/or Drugs – Termination and Indemnity

Sobriety Holidays Ltd policy is a total abstinence of alcohol and/or drugs.  This means that no one in the party or crew member shall be allowed to have consumed any amount of either alcohol or drugs for the whole duration of the holiday either on board or off.  If it is suspected that a member of the party or crew, have partaken of alcohol and/or drugs they will be removed immediately with no financial refund.  It is each member of the party’s responsibility to adhere to these terms and drug and alcohol tests maybe taken if necessary. By agreeing to these Terms & Conditions you are consenting to undergo an alcohol and drug test if required.

5.1    Each member of the party must accept responsibility for the proper conduct of themselves both on board and off.  Sobriety Holidays Ltd reserve the right to terminate without further notice the holiday arrangements of any person who refuses to comply with the reasonable instructions of either the skipper or any crew member, who in their opinion believes the said persons behaviour is likely to cause danger, damage or distress to themselves or any third party. This also includes threatening, abusive or insulting words or actions. Upon termination our responsibility for your holiday ceases and we shall not be liable for any extra costs incurred by you.

6. Insurance

Yacht sailing carries an element of risk one of which can be sudden and extremely dangerous changes in weather conditions. Participation in this activity is at your own risk. The skipper of the yacht has primary responsibility for the safety of guests and crew at all times. In the interests of safety, the skipper may change the itinerary; decide whether passages should be made and if these should be under power or sail. All guests must make their own travel insurance arrangements and ensure that this covers them for a yacht sailing holiday and any other activities envisaged. Please note that Sobriety Holidays Ltd is not responsible for delays and cancellations to flights. Please ensure that your insurance will cover these eventualities. Children aboard the yacht are the sole responsibility of their parents/guardians. Use of the dinghy assumes liability for the full cost of any damage or loss occurring during the clients' use. Please note that this could be in excess of £3,000. If any damage is done to the yacht, its contents and/or equipment due to negligence of any party member, the cost of replacement or repair will be charged to the Party Leader (person named on booking confirmation form) and payment will be due within fourteen days of date holiday ended. This also applies to any establishment that may be visited with or in the name of Sobriety Holidays Ltd.

7. Complaints

If you have a problem during your holiday with Sobriety Holidays Ltd, please notify a crew member immediately and they will endeavor to put things right.  If your complaint is unable to be resolved locally, please follow this up within 14 days of your return home by writing to Sandra Wyatt, Business Manager, quoting your booking reference number. It is strongly advised that you communicate the problem whilst on the holiday as we will have missed the opportunity to investigate and rectify the situation and this will significantly reduce your rights to compensation.

8. Travel Advice

At the time of writing (January 2008), no vaccinations are required for British Citizens visiting Turkey. However, we strongly recommend that you obtain and read a copy of The Department of Health booklet T6, Health Advice for Travellers. If you are traveling to Turkey, we recommend you obtain an EHIC (previously the E111), which will assist in receiving emergency medical treatment in an EU country. For more information, go to www.dh.gov.uk or phone the UK Department of Health on 0207 210 4850 during normal office hours. British nationals visiting Turkey are required to pay a £10 visitor visa charge payable on arrival in Turkey and it must be paid with a £10 note.   For up to date information and advice on traveling to Turkey, please go to www.fco.gov.uk or phone the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office Advice Line on +44 (0) 870 606 0290.