Booking Policy - Mermaid Liveaboards

BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE POLICY – NEW BOOKINGS

First and foremost, it is Mermaid Liveaboards’ every intention to operate our iconic liveaboard cruises from as soon as borders allow !

Over the years we have remained constant, reliable and professional through the impact of tsunamis, earthquakes, volcano eruptions and more. We truly wish to say here and now that we are strong and we will continue to weather each storm. With your continued support, we can achieve this together.

To assist our guests, we have extended the following extraordinary terms and conditions for bookings made for departures from September 2020 until further notice.

For any new bookings made for cruises departing from October 1 2021 :-

In the event of your country’s or Indonesia’s official government border closure prevents you from travelling, guests will receive a “price paid credit voucher” for travel valid for 24 months from affected cruise start date.***
Applies to Covid only related cancellations made 30 days or less prior to your trip departure date
Normal booking terms and conditions and payments are to be met to benefit from this flexibility
Note Full boat charters are subject to separate terms and conditions. Contact us to discuss
The cancellation prevailing conditions include:-
– your country’s border or Indonesia’s border official government closure prevents you from travelling
– all flights*** to the destination have been cancelled/restricted by origin government or Indonesia
– if guests would be officially required to do a quarantine period as they travelled into Indonesia
– guests’ country has introduced a law forbidding its citizens to travel- this claim must be proven with official notification – it is not valid for “personal choice to cancel nor advice from country not to travel nor for level 3 or less advisories.”
– if you are demonstrating flu-like conditions (doctor’s certificate must be provided) or a contact history which indicates possible exposure within 15 days of departure

Terms and conditions applicable for Covid affected bookings- to be read in conjunction with all other terms and conditions as outlined in our booking policies:-

transfer may be used one time only for the same destination subject to availability through to Dec 21 2023 and no additional payment is required for the actual cruise payment – or :-
If there is no availability for your requested date/destination then you may select another date/ destination through to Dec 21 2023 or receive a “price paid credit voucher“ for use up to 24 months from the affected cruise start date – subject to any date exclusions valid at the time of rebooking
any credit voucher may be used to its full value
If the rebooking destination is greater value than the original booking/credit voucher then the balance must be paid. There are no cash refunds for any unused portion of the credit voucher nor can it be redeemed for on board costs
* excluding bank charges
** if flights are departing one country but the flights’ transit country impacts feasibility for return to your country, you must utilize another flight routing that’s acceptable to your country-*** subject to date exclusions valid at time of rebooking
**** bookings made between Sept 1 2020 and Sept 30 2021 are subject to the policy set for that period however can choose to apply the policy as set out here
Mermaid Liveaboards reserves the right to schedule a maximum of four covid transfers/credit note bookings on any one date. Requests for new dates are subject to availability at time of rebooking.
Full Boat Charters are subject to separate discussion only and dates are subject to approval by Mermaid Liveaboards.

Revision date: October 1 2021:- The above is now applied and cancels and supersedes all previous announcements. Due to the enormity of the covid situation, and unprecedented situations as they arise, we reserve the right to modify terms and conditions as the situation dictates, without notice.

General Booking, Cancellation, Payment and others policies effective date October 2021

Acceptance of the booking means that you and/or your agent agree to the terms and conditions as outlined below in their entirety. Payments are to be made by telegraphic transfer in Euros, remitter to pay all charges, to the account nominated on your invoice only. Please send a copy of your transfer advice by scan email to info@mermaid-liveaboards.com as soon as you process payment and we will confirm receipt as soon as it arrives in our bank. Alternatively, you may choose to pay via PayPal to email address info@mermaid-liveaboards.com Please note: we accept guest payments via PayPal for all invoiced services. PayPal can charge to your credit card or bank account – as per your instructions. Sorry, we do not accept cruise payments via Credit Card, Traveler’s cheques, Personal cheques or Money orders. Onboard sales are accepted in Euros, US dollars, Indonesia Rupiah or via credit card at no fee. Please note onboard credit card charges will be processed in Indonesian Rupiah only as per government regulation.

Mermaid Liveaboards reserves the right to alter published rates without prior notice and/or to introduce any other fees as deemed necessary by the company eg fuel surcharges. Mermaid Liveaboards also is held accountable solely by the laws of Indonesia and as they apply to the parent company – PT Indonesia Liveaboards. Any contractual laws from countries other than Indonesia remain the responsibility of the agent to manage. National Park and Port fees are subject to increase and/or amendment by government policy and are out of the control of Mermaid Liveaboards and PT Indonesia Liveaboards.

For agents
When you accept the booking from Mermaid Liveaboards and PT Indonesia Liveaboards you accept that it represents you/your company and not that of the individual guest. Therefore you/your company accept all responsibility for any/all payments including making the payment by the due dates. If payments are not received by the due date, the space will be automatically released for resale and any monies already paid subject to the cancellation terms and conditions set out below.

Prices include
Transfers from/to airport and all free of charge points outlined in our FAQ section, all meals & snacks, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, soft drinks and drinking water, tanks, weights, weight belts and diving with experienced Divemasters/Instructors.

Prices do not include
Transfers outside of the free of charge zones outlined in our FAQ section, national park/Port Fees Komodo and Alor cruises €175 for Mermaid II, €200 for Mermaid I, Raja Ampat cruises €200, Fuel Surcharges if applicable, Nitrox fills €6, rental equipment, onboard courses, massages, souvenirs and alcoholic beverages

Snorkelers will be charged same rate as divers

IMPORTANT NOTES

Please fill in the guest information form when you book your cruise and forward immediately to Mermaid Liveaboards via email info@mermaid-liveaboards.com Please ensure you provide an email address and phone contact number for each guest plus complete the emergency contact information section.

VIP: All passports must have a minimum of 6 months validity including the period you will be in Indonesia plus some free pages. Failure to have a valid passport may have you stranded in your home country or another country outside of Indonesia!

Transfer information is required to be provided a minimum of 4 weeks prior to the cruise. Guests may go directly to the Mermaid Liveaboard vessel in port; however please contact info@mermaid-liveaboards.com to check on arrangements and suitable times

All divers are required to complete a liability release waiver and to show proof of diving certification and dive medical insurance such as Padi, Dan or equivalent on check-in. Please have these available in your hand luggage.

FIT and Group Bookings (less than 8 pax): Deposits, Payments, and Cancellations
Deposit	30% within 10 days of booking
Final Payment	60 days prior to departure
Last Minute Bookings ie less than 60 days	100% payment within 2 days of booking or before boarding for bookings made on day of departure
Cancellations:
More than 90 days prior departure:	Refund of deposit less €100.00 administration charge per person
90 to 60 days prior departure:	Cruise non-transferable and deposit lost
Less than 60 days prior departure:	No Refund, Non-transferable

Transfers are only accepted if requested more than 90 days prior to the cruise date. Transferred cruises are only transferable within 18 months of the original cruise date and will be adjusted to the rates applicable for the new cruise date: any discounts valid for the original booking do not transfer to th new date unless the same offer is valid for the same destination at time of transfer request.

Important Note: Refunds will be made by bank transfer only – beneficiary to pay all fees

Full Boat Charter or Group Bookings: Deposits, Payments and Cancellations
Mermaid I (8 or more guests) Mermaid II (9 or more guests) : To earn any charter free of charge concessions, charters must be identified at time of booking and are required to strictly follow all charter payment terms and conditions. If group/charter payment terms are not met, the space will be immediately released for resale and cancellation terms below will be applied. Please note Free of Charge concessions are only available for Charter bookings, not group bookings and only as published. Please note: Failure to make payment by any of the set dates will result in the cruise being released for resale. – 10% non-refundable deposit is required within 10 business days of booking- next 25% of the total cost to be paid at least 120 days before the cruise departure date- Balance, 65% of the total cost to be paid at least 90 days before the cruise departure date.
Cancellations: More than 120 days before the departure date: all payments will be refunded, less the 10% initial deposit.Less than 120 days but more than 90 days before the departure date: all payments will be refunded, less 25% of the total cost. If cancellation is made for part of the charter/group then the refund will be pro-rated accordingly. All payments for the cancelling guests will be refunded less 25% of the total cost of each cancelling guest. Any free of charge concessions will be lost in their entirety as these are given only as an incentive only for Full Boat Charter bookings. Less than 90 days before the departure date: no refunds will be made and date transfers are not accepted for any reason.

Mermaid I (8 or more guests) Mermaid II (9 or more guests) : To earn any charter free of charge concessions, charters must be identified at time of booking and are required to strictly follow all charter payment terms and conditions. If group/charter payment terms are not met, the space will be immediately released for resale and cancellation terms below will be applied. Please note Free of Charge concessions are only available for Charter bookings, not group bookings and only as published. Please note: Failure to make payment by any of the set dates will result in the cruise being released for resale.
– 10% non-refundable deposit is required within 10 business days of booking- next 25% of the total cost to be paid at least 120 days before the cruise departure date- Balance, 65% of the total cost to be paid at least 90 days before the cruise departure date.

Cancellations: More than 120 days before the departure date: all payments will be refunded, less the 10% initial deposit.Less than 120 days but more than 90 days before the departure date: all payments will be refunded, less 25% of the total cost. If cancellation is made for part of the charter/group then the refund will be pro-rated accordingly. All payments for the cancelling guests will be refunded less 25% of the total cost of each cancelling guest. Any free of charge concessions will be lost in their entirety as these are given only as an incentive only for Full Boat Charter bookings. Less than 90 days before the departure date: no refunds will be made and date transfers are not accepted for any reason.

Mermaid Liveaboards and PT Indonesia Liveaboards reserve the right to cancel any trip if there are fewer than the equivalent of 3 deluxe cabin guests. We will do our utmost to transfer guests to a vessel we deem to be of equal or better standard. Alternatively, we may ask the guest to transfer to the date before/after the cruise; in the event none of these options is possible, we will offer a full refund (allow maximum 1 week process time)

Mermaid Liveaboards and PT Indonesia Liveaboards do not accept any legal liability for loss or damage to any luggage or dive equipment while being transferred to/from the vessel nor while on board. We will offer every assistance possible to help with any insurance claims for lost or damaged property. Guests will be charged for repair/replacement of damaged/lost equipment deemed by the Tour Leader/Cruise Director/company management to have occurred due to the guest’s negligence

Lastly, Mermaid Liveaboards and PT Indonesia Liveaboards do not offer refunds in the event of personal injury, airplane delay, mechanical breakdowns, weather, sickness, strikes, war, criminal acts, quarantine, pandemics, acts of God, and if another guest requires immediate evacuation and the vessel must return to port or any other event beyond its actual control

Guests are strongly advised to have valid dive medical, travel and cancellation insurances. Guests are also strongly recommended to plan their holidays to arrive in the departure ports at least 1 day prior to the cruise. Please remember you are going to some truly exotic locations where the infrastructure is still being developed. Be prepared for some of the world’s best diving plus a maximum of comfort, service, and safety on M/V Mermaid I & II – Welcome on board!