Purpose and Scope

This Cancellation Policy governs all yacht rental bookings, fishing boat charters, water sports activities, and special event services provided by ElegantCruise Yacht Rental LLC (“the Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us”). By making a reservation with Elegant Yacht Rental, the client (“you,” “your,” or “guest”) acknowledges, understands, and agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions set forth in this policy. This policy applies to all bookings made through our website (elegantyachtrental.com), telephone reservations (+971 58 591 9031), email communications (info@elegantyachtrental.com), WhatsApp messaging, or in-person consultations at our office located at 611, Office Court Building, Oud Metha, Dubai 118310, United Arab Emirates.

Booking Requirements and Confirmation

All bookings require advance reservation to ensure proper preparation, crew scheduling, and fleet availability management. We recommend booking several weeks to one month in advance, particularly for weekend reservations, holiday periods, and peak season dates (including Ramadan, Eid celebrations, New Year’s Eve, and major sporting events such as Formula 1 weekends). Bookings are considered confirmed only upon receipt of the required deposit payment and written confirmation from our reservations team. The deposit amount and payment schedule will be communicated at the time of booking based on the specific charter package, vessel type, and event duration selected. Until deposit payment is received, vessel availability cannot be guaranteed.

Standard Cancellation Terms

Our cancellation policy is designed to be fair while protecting our business interests and accommodating client circumstances. The following cancellation fees apply based on the timing of cancellation relative to the scheduled charter date:

*More than 14 Days Before Charter Date*: Full refund of all payments received, minus a nominal administrative processing fee of 5% of the total booking value. This administrative fee covers payment processing costs, reservation system management, and administrative overhead associated with booking modifications. Refunds will be processed to the original payment method within 45 business days of cancellation confirmation.

*7 to 14 Days Before Charter Date*: 70% refund of all payments received, representing a 30% cancellation fee retained by the Company. This fee compensates for lost opportunity costs, crew scheduling commitments, and vessel allocation that cannot be readily resold on short notice. The remaining 70% will be refunded to the original payment method within 45 business days.

*48 Hours to 7 Days Before Charter Date*: 50% refund of all payments received, with a 50% cancellation fee retained. At this timeframe, the Company has substantially committed resources including crew assignment, provisioning, and potential rejection of other booking requests for the same vessel and time slot.

*Less than 48 Hours Before Charter Date*: No refund will be issued. Cancellations within 48 hours of the scheduled departure represent substantial operational commitment that cannot be recovered or redirected. However, in such cases, clients may request to reschedule their charter to an alternative date within six months of the original booking date, subject to vessel availability and any applicable price differences.

*No-Show or Failure to Arrive*: If the client fails to arrive at the designated departure location within 30 minutes of the scheduled departure time without prior notification, the booking will be considered cancelled without refund, and the vessel will be released for other bookings.

Group and Event Booking Cancellations

Special event bookings, corporate functions, wedding celebrations, and large group charters (parties of 20 or more guests) are subject to modified cancellation terms due to the substantial operational planning, staffing requirements, and resource allocation involved. For group and event bookings, the following enhanced terms apply:

Event bookings cancelled more than 30 days before the scheduled event will receive a full refund minus a 10% administrative fee. Cancellations made between 14 and 30 days before the event will receive a 60% refund. Cancellations made between 7 and 14 days before the event will receive a 30% refund. Cancellations made less than 7 days before the event will not be eligible for any refund. Additionally, for wedding and major celebration bookings, a signed event agreement and non-refundable deposit of 50% of the total booking value is required at the time of confirmation, with the remaining balance due 14 days prior to the event.

Weather-Related Cancellations and Rescheduling

The safety of our guests and crew is paramount. The Company reserves the sole right to determine weather conditions that may affect the safety and enjoyment of the charter experience. In the event of unfavorable weather conditions including but not limited to high winds exceeding safe operating limits (typically exceeding 15 knots for smaller vessels, 25 knots for larger vessels), rough sea states, sandstorms, visibility issues, or extreme temperatures that render the experience unsafe or substantially diminished, the following provisions apply:

The Company will proactively monitor weather conditions and contact clients at least 24 hours before their scheduled charter if conditions are expected to be unfavorable. In such cases, clients may choose to reschedule to an alternative date and time at no additional cost (subject to vessel availability), or receive a full refund of all payments made. If weather conditions deteriorate on the day of the charter after guests have arrived at the departure location, the Captain, in consultation with Company management, will make the final determination regarding departure. In such cases, guests will be offered a full refund or the opportunity to reschedule at no additional cost. The Company accepts no liability for weather-related cancellations beyond providing the options specified herein.

Force Majeure

The Company shall not be liable for failure to perform any obligation under this Cancellation Policy if such failure results from circumstances beyond reasonable control including but not limited to government actions, regulations, or restrictions, war, terrorism, civil unrest, pandemic or epidemic conditions, natural disasters, extreme weather events, port closures, fuel shortages, or labor disputes affecting maritime operations. In force majeure circumstances, the Company’s liability shall be limited to refunding all payments received, and the Company shall have no further obligation or liability to the client.

Refund Processing and timelines

All approved refunds will be processed to the original payment method used for the booking. Credit card and debit card refunds typically appear on statements within 7 to 14 business days after processing, while bank transfers may require up to 45 business days depending on the financial institution and destination country. The Company will provide confirmation of refund processing within 3 business days of approval. Refund inquiries should be directed to info@elegantyachtrental.com with the original booking reference number.

Amendments and Date Changes

Date changes and amendments to confirmed bookings are permitted subject to availability and may incur administrative fees depending on the nature of the change. Changes requested more than 14 days before the charter date may be accommodated without penalty, subject to vessel availability. Changes requested within 14 days of the charter date may incur a modification fee of up to 10% of the booking value. Name changes for booked guests may be made at no cost up to 24 hours before the charter date. All amendments must be confirmed in writing by a Company representative to be effective.