Terms & Conditions

Tall Ship Sailing in the Bay of Islands

General Terms and Conditions

Your acceptance of the terms and conditions outlined are required to process your
reservation.

REFUNDS

Summer Sailing

Bookings for scheduled departures are non-refundable if the customer cancels within
24 hours of departure or does not attend.

Bookings for scheduled departures are fully refundable if;

The customer cancels more than 24 hours prior to departure.
The operator cancels the departure and an alternative date cannot be arranged due to departure dates or pre-booked activities or trips on the day.
The cancellation is due to COVID-19-related travel changes.

Private Charters

Bookings are locked in when booking form is returned. Tentative dates can be held for two days, the date will be released back if booking form is not returned within the 2 day holding period. Invoices will be sent to the given email address.

Bookings made in high Season (20 Dec – 20 Jan) are non-refundable. Bookings made outside of high season are:

Fully refundable if customer cancels 14 days prior to departure.
50% refundable if customer cancels 8-13 days prior to departure.
Non-refundable if customer cancels within 7 days prior to departure.

For private charters, deposit invoice is due 1 month after the booking is made and full payment is to be paid 7 before departure date.

For school bookings, final payment is to be paid within 14 days after the departure date.

CANCELLATIONS

R. Tucker Thompson reserves the right to alter proposed routes or cancel any departure in the interest of passenger safety or comfort. All departures are subject to minimum numbers, sea and weather conditions and R. Tucker Thompson reserves the right to cancel departures in the event that minimum requirements are not met.

If a cancellation is made under these terms a full refund will be provided.

PRICING

Prices are subject to change without notice.

All prices stated are in New Zealand Dollars and include 15% Goods and Services Tax. Adult fares apply to all passengers 16 years and over. Child fares apply to children aged 5 to 15. There is no charge for children under 5 years old, however, infants must be included in your booking due to vessel capacity limits and they do not qualify for food and beverage inclusions.

PAYMENT

Full payment must be made at the time of booking for all scheduled departures (apart from schools).
Full payment for any booking made on account is due on the 20th day of the month
following the departure date.

COVID 19

Operating procedures have been carefully fine-tuned with your health, wellbeing, and
safety in mind. We have obtained COVID Clean accreditation from Qualmark (Tourism
New Zealand’s official quality assurance organisation).

The R. Tucker Thompson will operate under the government guidelines.
Masks are not required on deck and are recommended below deck. Hand sanitiser is
provided and the ship in cleaned to a high standard between trips.

MARINE MAMMAL VIEWING

We operate under a number of restrictions to minimise disruption to marine mammals’ normal movements and behaviour. You are required to comply with all instructions from the staff and crew of the R. Tucker Thompson.

BIO-SECURITY

Before your trip, please ensure you play your part in keeping our islands pest-free! Please clean and check your clothing and belongings for rats/mice, ants and weed seeds to protect our natural environment.

MARKETING

I give R. Tucker Thompson Sail Training Trust permission to send me emails and/or post relating to R. Tucker Thompson events and promotions, as well as the right to use all photos and videos of me taken during the activity for promotional and social media purposes.

DISCLAIMER

These are adventure activities, which carry with them a certain element of risk; these risks are outlined below.

To the extent permitted by law, R. Tucker Thompson holds no liability for damage to you
or your property. This is subject to any rights or remedies you may have under the
Consumer Guarantees Act 1993.

To the extent permitted by law, R. Tucker Thompson holds no liability for disruption to
your travel plans. We recommend our guests hold a comprehensive travel insurance
policy in case of any unexpected changes in their travel plans that may incur a
cancellation fee.

For the comfort of all passengers and in accordance with New Zealand government
legislation, we do not allow smoking or vaping on our vessels or vehicles.

Tucker Thompson has the right to refuse any passenger who appears intoxicated at
the time of boarding.

UNDERSTANDING THE RISKS

Before sailing on the R. Tucker Thompson you will be required to acknowledge that we have outlined the risks, this agreement is outlined below:

I am aware that participating in the sailing, swimming and climbing activities offered by the R. Tucker Thompson can be hazardous if they are not conducted with care, control and responsibility. I acknowledge that these risks could result in my injury (physical or mental) or even death.

I accept that these activities inherently involve risks and potential hazards. The risks and hazards include, but are not limited to injury from flapping sails, loose lines, moving spars, falling equipment, trip hazards, drowning, falling from rigging, falling on ladders or losing balance when the vessel moves with the wind and ocean.

I also except that these activities take place in a natural environment and as such incur risk from natural disasters such as tsunami, extreme weather events, fire, and earthquakes.

Medication/health conditions

I have informed the staff of the R. Tucker Thompson (or will, prior to undertaking the activity) of any medical conditions, previous injuries and any medication I am currently taking which may affect my ability to undertake activities such as climbing or swimming or being actively engaged in the sailing of the ship. Anything other than being a passive passenger aboard.

I confirm I am physically fit and able to participate in the activities and I have not been advised otherwise by a qualified medical person.

I consent to receive any medical treatment that may be deemed necessary by staff of the R. Tucker Thompson in the event of injury, accident or illness while undertaking activities aboard.

I understand it is my responsibility to disclose any conditions (health or otherwise) that may affect the safety and enjoyment of myself and those around.

Conditions of participating in activity

I agree to obey the rules and instructions given by the skipper and crew.
I accept that if I do not adhere to the instructions and rules, or if I act dangerously, recklessly or in a way that might endanger myself or others, the skipper of the R. Tucker Thompson may remove me from the activity or ship. If this occurs, I acknowledge I will not receive a refund.
I accept that R. Tucker Thompson Sail Training Trust reserves the right to cancel this activity if it becomes concerned for my safety, or the safety of another person.
I agree to wear appropriate clothing and use/wear all safety equipment that is provided

Drugs/Alcohol

I confirm I am not under the influence of intoxicating alcohol or drugs (be they legal or illegal) which may in any way impair my ability to undertake activities aboard the ship. For example if you would like to climb the rigging or swim, you will do so prior to consuming alcohol purchased on aboard.

Limited Liability of R. Tucker Thompson Sail Training Trust

I understand that if I act recklessly or intentionally, and don’t follow the rules or instructions set out by and the Skipper and Crew, which I have been made aware of, the Trust will not be held responsible for any injury, damage or loss I cause to myself/my property, or another person/their property, resulting from my action (or lack of action).