SCOTT MARINE SERVICES - BOOKING CONDITIONS FOR CHARTER HOTELBOAT WILLOW:
 

1. The term ‘SMS’ means Scott Marine Services. The term ‘Willow’ refers to the name of the current British Waterways licensed Hotel narrowboat used by SMS to provide the charter services described in this website. The term 'client' refers to the customers of SMS, who book a training or general cruising charter with SMS.

2. A booking for any Cruise or Training Course only becomes confirmed on receipt of the relevant booking deposit. On receipt of the booking form/deposit the customer will be sent confirmation of the booking and receipt of the deposit.

3. The balance payable for a training course or cruise becomes due for payment on or before 12 weeks prior to the date of commencement of the training or cruise. If the Training Course or Cruise is due to start in less than 12 weeks from the date of confirmed booking, the whole of the tariff becomes payable at the time of confirmed booking. Credit facilities are not otherwise available.

4. Cancellation by client: The client agrees that once a booking has been confirmed, by receipt of initial payment, a contract has been made between SMS and the client, and the full agreed tariff is payable even if the cruise is subsequently cancelled by the client. SMS therefore strongly recommend the use of holiday insurance. Any payments already received by SMS are returnable only at the sole discretion of SMS. Where 12 weeks or more notice of cancellation by the client is provided, SMS will endeavour to reschedule the cruise or course for a mutually convenient time, date & location, and any payments already received by SMS will be reassigned to the rescheduled cruise or course as appropriate. If a client has cancelled and rescheduling has not been mutually agreed, SMS will only make relevant refund if the original cruise dates have been fully taken up by another party.

5. Cancellation by SMS: SMS will not be liable should navigation of “Willow” be impossible over the previously scheduled route due to a canal ‘stoppage’. All efforts will, however, be made to re-route the cruise or training course in a suitable manner. Should the cruise be cancelled by SMS before the scheduled start date, and the cruise cannot be rescheduled by mutual agreement, the liability of SMS will be restricted to refund of any monies already paid to SMS in respect of that particular cruise. Should a cancellation by SMS be necessary part way through a training course or cruise which has already started, any refund made will be on an appropriate pro-rata basis. If a cruise is terminated under the provisions of 'Condition 11' herein (misconduct by trainees), no cancellation refund will be made.

6. Whilst SMS will endeavour to conduct the cruise or training course at the locations agreed at the time of confirmed booking, SMS hold the right to vary that location should that be necessary and unavoidable. Rescheduling of the cruise or training course to another date will be an acceptable option only provided that this can be mutually agreed. 

7. Any client requiring a diet consisting of foods not normally available from traditional grocers, butchers, greengrocers, fishmongers, must discuss their dietary requirements with SMS, BEFORE confirming a booking for any charter.  SMS reserve the right to refuse any booking for a charter if provisioning for the cruise cannot be carried out using such traditional grocers, butchers, greengrocers, and fishmongers.  We are not prepared to cater for vegan diets.

8. Smoking is prohibited within the interior of “Willow”. Alcoholic drinks purchased elsewhere may not be consumed aboard ‘Willow’.

9. SMS undertakes to take all reasonable care with regard to its clients’ and customers’ safety and property but accepts no further liability whatsoever for loss or damage to any article belonging to, or injury to, it’s clients / customers which may occur during a cruise or training activities.

10. For the purposes of the safety, all clients undertake to obey the safety instructions and advice provided by the crew of ‘Willow’ whilst the boat is underway. In particular this relates to safety procedures at locks, embarkation and disembarkation, and in respect of remaining safely within the curtilage of the vessel whilst passing hazards such as bridges and lock chambers.

11. It is not common practice for adult narrowboaters to wear personal buoyancy aids whilst boating on the inland canal system. Such buoyancy aids are not, therefore, provided by SMS. Customers and clients will be responsible for the provision of their own buoyancy aids, should they wish to wear them. “Willow” is, however, equipped with appropriate passenger vessel Lifebuoys.

12. For the purposes of safety and avoiding damage to third party property, those engaged in training by SMS (as opposed to ordinary hotel boat passengers) undertake to obey the instructions from, and safety advice provided by the SMS instructor. In the event of serious misconduct during training SMS may terminate the training course forthwith without refund. SMS may also terminate a course, forthwith and without refund, if a trainee is found to be apparently under the influence of drink or drugs. 

13. Willow has a traditionally designed steering position and side decks.  Those clients who have specifically agreed to undertake training in traditional narrowboating skills on board Willow are required to accept that such training in traditional skills (on a traditionally designed vessel such as Willow) is an activity which cannot avoid all risk of accident.

14. Training courses on “Willow” are not available to those under 18yrs.

15. SMS reserve the right to refuse a booking or charter without further explanation.

16. Sorry - SMS cannot provide facilities for the wheelchair-bound disabled on board “Willow”, although we will endeavour to assist by sourcing a suitable alternative vessel.