Conditions of hire Crown Blue Line, Connoisseur, Emerald Star 2007

1. Booking
Please complete and sign our, or the travel agent’s, booking form and pay the 35% deposit. The person who signs the form is called the “Lead Name”. They must have the authority to sign on behalf of all the other travellers in the group. When the Lead Name signs the form, they confirm that the people named on it accept the booking conditions. The Lead Name is responsible for the full cost of the holiday, including insurance premiums and cancellation or amendment charges. We will send all documents and other information to the Lead Name, who must inform other members of the party. Reservations can be held without payment for 48 hours.

2. Payment of balance
The balance of the hire charge must be paid 8 weeks before the cruise start date. If payment is not received by this time, your holiday will be cancelled and you will lose your deposit. If you book through a travel agent, all contact with you will be via them. Money, which you pay to the travel agent, will be held on trust by them on your behalf.

3. Conditions of hire
Hirers must be over 18 years of age.
The minimum number of people required to hire a boat is 2. The number of passengers on board may not exceed the maximum amount of passengers the boat is licensed for. The hirer must conform to the rules of river navigation, and also the instruction given by the company and the river authorities. The hirer shall restrict his cruising to those waters permitted by the company. The Hirer shall not sail after nightfall, nor engage in towing, sub hiring or lending of the boat.

4. Cancellation
Cancellation must be notified in writing to Crown Blue Line/Emerald Star/Connoisseur by the Lead Name. If you cancel your holiday, more than 90 days before the holiday is due to start Crown Blue Line/Emerald Star/Connoisseur will retain the 35% deposit. In all other cases the hirers remain responsible for payment of the full hire price.
 

Cancellation or amendment type	MORE THAN 56 DAYS  before departure	LESS THAN 55 DAYS  before departure
Cancellation of cruise	cost 35 % of the total hire charge	cost 100 % of the total hire charge
Modification to a cheaper cruise	refund of difference less a 50 euro admin fee	50 euro admin fee and no refund of difference
Modification to a more expensive cruise	50 euros admin fee plus the price difference	50 euros admin fee plus the price difference
Change of route/direction	50 euro amendment fee plus refund of difference or difference in price charged	50 euros amendment fee plus no refund of price difference or one-way fee. Incremental price difference charged
Change of region/country	50 euro amendment fee plus refund of difference or difference in price charged	50 euros amendment fee plus no refund of price difference. Incremental price difference charged

*Note: If changing from a return trip to a one way trip, the one way fee of €100 is also applicable. If you have taken out our Travel Insurance and the reason for cancellation is within the scope of the insurance, then the deposit or balance of the hire maybe reclaimed from Chase Parkinson Ltd.

5. If we cancel or amend your holiday
If we have to make a major change to your holiday we will offer you an alternative holiday to the same standard or a full refund of any monies paid. Should your chosen boat not be available to charter through no fault of Crown Blue Line/Emerald Star/Connoisseur, we will provide an alternative boat acceptable to the hirer. Alternatively we will refund the hirer the boat hire cost.
We strongly recommend you provide us with an emergency contact telephone number in case of any unexpected changes that need to be made to your holiday at short notice. We reserve the right in any circumstances to cancel your holiday. However, we will not cancel your holiday less than 8 weeks before your departure date, except for reasons beyond our control, or the failure by you to pay the final balance.

6. Insurance
Crown Blue Line/Emerald Star/Connoisseur has comprehensively insured the boat and its equipment. The policy covers damage or loss to the boat and its equipment and also no less than €7m third party liability. This policy extends to cover any incident caused by the hirer or the hirer’s crew. The policy in place has certain reasonable exclusions to cover as a result of certain actions by the hirer or the hirer’s crew. These include wilful damage or gross negligence, person being under the influence of drugs or alcohol or as a result of not obeying the instructions of a member of Crown Blue Line/Emerald Star/Connoisseur staff. If the insurer fails to indemnify Emerald Star/Connoisseur because of the above then the hirer is responsible for all costs, losses, expenses, damages and claims incurred by, or awarded against, Crown Blue Line/Emerald Star/Connoisseur which would otherwise be covered by the indemnity. Crown Blue Line/Emerald Star /Connoisseur insurance does not cover the hirer’s personal belongings. 

7. Damage Waiver
Insurer's charge Emerald Star/Connoisseur an excess with every incident for which a claim is made. To encourage a duty of care from you, the hirer, and to contribute to covering this cost we ask you to pay either:
Option 1 Refundable Damage Deposit
On arrival at the base, you leave a refundable damage waiver of €1500, which will only be exercised if the boat or any of its equipment/inventory is returned damaged or lost, as well as costs of any accidental damage or injury to any third parties. This will not be the case if there is evidence of gross neglect, which is excluded from our cover under our insurance policy.
Option 2: Non-refundable damage waiver
This charge between €75 and €155 can be paid on arrival or at the time of booking. With this option you will be fully covered if the boat or any of its equipment inventory is returned damaged or lost, as well as costs of any accidental damage or injury to any third parties. This will not be the case if there is evidence of gross neglect, which is excluded from our cover under our insurance policy.
These charges do not alter the hirer’s potential liability outlined in the insurance paragraph above.

8. Embarkation/Disembarkation and Cruising Route
Boat embarkation time is from 4pm on your start day and disembarkation must be by 9am on the return day. Available boats will be allocated to clients strictly on a rotational basis from the time a client arrives at the base and presents himself/herself for boarding. Crown Blue Line/Emerald Star/Connoisseur shall not be liable for any loss or damage as result of any delay in boarding the boat due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control. The Company reserves the right to make changes to the times/and or direction of the cruise. Minor changes will not entitle the hirer to cancel and be entitled to a refund.

9. If we change your boat
If we have to make a major change to your holiday we will offer you an alternative holiday to the same standard or a full refund of any monies paid. Should your chosen boat not be available to charter through no fault of Crown Blue Line/Emerald Star/Connoisseur, we will provide an alternative boat acceptable to the hirer. Alternatively we will refund the hirer the boat hire cost. We strongly recommend you provide us with an emergency contact telephone number in case of any unexpected changes that need to be made to your holiday at short notice.

10. Prices
The prices quoted in the brochure are based on costs, exchange rates, taxes and levies as known at July 2006. Crown Blue Line/Emerald Star/Connoisseur reserves the right to revise prices in the event of any substantial changes.

11. Navigational Restrictions
Our brochure offers a number of cruising suggestions for each region based on our experience and knowledge of the area. At the start of your cruise, you will receive a Waterways Guide and/or detailed cruising notes for your region, clearly stating which waterways are navigable and which are prohibited or restricted. The base team will also advise on any specific routes, which are prohibited or restricted, or procedures falling under the control of the National Inland Waterways Authorities. Our guarantee does not cover cruising in areas that are prohibited or restricted. Please contact the sales team prior to departure if you wish to cruise on any waterways not covered in our brochure.

12. Accidents and Loss of Equipment
If the boat is involved in an accident of any nature, the hirer must immediately contact the base and complete an accident report form supplied and ask any other party involved to complete the same form. The hirer will not ask for any repairs to be carried out without Crown Blue Line/Emerald Star/Connoisseur prior agreement. Should any equipment be lost, stolen or broken, the hirer must report this on return of the boat.

13. Bicycle Theft Waiver
You can insure your bicycle against theft for a charge of between €10.00 for one week and €15.00 for two-week. This can be booked and paid for on arrival at the start base.

14. Technical Assistance
Crown Blue Line/Emerald Star/Connoisseur has a breakdown service during normal working hours every day of the week. We will endeavour to attend & repair a breakdown or technical incident as quickly as possible. The hirer will have no claim against Crown Blue Line/Emerald Star/Connoisseur for any failure caused by the hirer including but not limited to grounding, and in such instances the company will reserve the right to recover from the hirer the expenses incurred in repairing the boat.

15. Security Deposit
Before departing the base on board your cruiser, you will be required to leave a Security Deposit of €150. This deposit is towards the cost of the following incidentals:
• Fuel Charges (See under fuel charges) • Cleaning Fee (See under return of the boat)
• Grounding Fee – Charged if you ground the boat and assistance was required 
• Damage to or loss of bicycles

16. Return of the boat
The boat must be returned by 9am on your final day (10.00 for short breaks) at the correct base. Late returns will incur an abandonment fee of €500. If the boat is left in an unsatisfactory condition a cleaning fee of between €50 and €100 will apply dependent on the type of boat.

17. Fuel Charges
In France, Holland and Germany, Crown Blue Line/Connoisseur charges the amount of hours the engine has been running. At the start of your cruise you will be informed how much the per hour charge will be and the current engine hours on your boat will be agreed and recorded with you. In Ireland, Italy, England and Scotland, Crown Blue Line/Emerald Star/Connoisseur charges for fuel by the litre. At the start of your cruise the boat will be handed to you with a full tank of fuel and you will be informed by the staff member how much your fuel will cost per litre.

18. Air Travel Conditions of Carriage
You must comply with the conditions of carriage applied by land, sea and air carriers. The provisions of the Warsaw Convention 1929 (as amended) concerning the carriage of passengers and their luggage by air, and the airlines’ conditions of carriage, may apply to you and your party during your flight, and during boarding and disembarkation. These provisions and conditions may limit or exclude liability for death or personal injury, or loss of or damage to luggage, and may make special provisions for valuables. We will supply a copy of the conditions of carriage applicable to your flight, and of the Warsaw Convention, if you request them."

19. Your security – Limitations on our liability
Our liability to you for any loss or damage which you may suffer is limited to three times the price of your holiday. This excludes personal injury resulting from the non-performance or improper performance of the services |involved in the holiday, and is subject to the limitation of liability described below. Health and safety standards applicable to the services provided by us under this contract should meet the local standards applicable to your holiday destination. However you should be aware that these vary widely across the programme and may well not match those standards enjoyed in Ireland. Any compensation payable by First Choice shall be limited in accordance with the lowest limit allowed under applicable International Conventions governing the services, or the amount you can recover from them under the laws of Ireland, or the relevant country in which |they operate. Transport operators have their own conditions of carriage, which form part of your contract with us. These conditions, and the provisions of the International Conventions, generally limit the liability |of transport operators.
20. Sea and Rail Conditions of Carriage. When you book your travel with a carrier, the conditions of that carrier will apply, some of which limit liability. Clients should note carefully that such conditions include clauses limiting or excluding liability in respect of injury, loss or damage. All members of the party are subject to the carrier’s terms and conditions. This brochure is issued on the sole responsibility of Crown Blue Line/Emerald Star/Connoisseur. It is not issued on behalf of, and does not commit the carriers mentioned, or any carrier whose services are used in the course of the holiday. Any cancellations by the hirer may incur charges levied by the carrier for which you will be responsible.

21. Hirers suitability
The hirer must accept responsibility for the proper conduct of him/herself and any members of their party. Crown Blue Line/Emerald Star/Connoisseur cannot be held responsible for under age consumption of alcohol. We reserve the right in our absolute discretion to terminate without further notice the holiday arrangements of any client who refuses to comply with the reasonable instructions or orders of the company staff, its agent or other responsible person and whose behaviour in their opinion is likely to cause distress, damage or danger or annoyance to other customers, staff, any third party or to property. Upon such termination our responsibility for your holiday ceases and we shall not be liable for any extra costs incurred by you.

22. Boat Descriptions
Boat layout plans, specifications and illustrations in the brochure are general guidance. Some models within boat classes have minor variations.

23. Force Majeure
We regret we cannot accept responsibility for or pay any compensation where performance or prompt performance of our contact with you is prevented or affected by reason of circumstances amounting to ‘Force Majeure’. Such circumstances include without restriction: the destruction or damage of your boat through fire, flood, explosion, storm or weather damage; accidental damage; criminal damage or any other force outside of our control. These also include flooding, shortage of water, obstruction, repairs to any waterway, lock or navigational equipment, shortage of or non-availability of fuel, riots or civil strife, industrial action or nuclear disaster, fire, adverse weather conditions, port blockades, war or threat of war, and actual or threatened terrorist activity or similar.

24. Complaints
If you have a complaint whilst you are on holiday, please inform the base manager or a Crown Blue Line/Connoisseur/Emerald Star office immediately so that remedial actions can be taken. If you wish to make a claim against us then you must notify us in writing 28 days of your return home by writing to our Customer Services Department at Emerald Star/Connoisseur, The Marina, Carrick -on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, Ireland. Disputes which cannot be amicably settled, may (if you so wish) be referred to the arbitration under a special scheme which, although devised by arrangement with the Irish Travel Agents Association, is administered quite independently by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

25. Dogs
Dogs can be taken on Crown Blue Line/Emerald Star/Connoisseur holidays. We do impose a charge for taking dogs and we ask you to bring a basket/blanket for the dog to sleep on. Animals are not allowed to lie on bedding or settees. Please do not leave dogs unattended on your boat. If the base feel extra cleaning is required on the return of your boat, you will be asked to pay the cleaning fee.

26. Data Protection
To ensure that your holiday runs smoothly, we (and your travel agent, if you use one) need to use information such as your name and address etc. We will apply appropriate security measures to protect this data. However, we must pass it to suppliers of your holiday arrangements. We may also supply it to security or credit checking companies, and to public authorities such as customs and immigration. If we cannot pass this information to the relevant suppliers we cannot provide your holiday. When you make this booking, you consent to this information being passed to the relevant people. Information held by your travel agent is subject to that company’s own data protection policy. We can supply a copy of your information held by us; there is a small charge for providing this. 

Cancellation insurance