HOW TO BOOK:
Before
booking we suggest that you take the time to have a good browse through this
website to find out all about - 'Willow' the boat; We your crew; and the
unique charter services we offer.
If you like what you see, ring us
(on either of the telephone numbers shown above)
anytime between 9.30am and 9.30pm (7 days, but please make that UK time) for a chat about your
requirements - there will be no hard sell. You may
alternatively wish to call us on 'skype', if you have that facility.
We will be able to receive your skype call on a skype enabled phone
handset, even if we are not at our PC.
As an alternative to
phoning you may wish to e-mail us with your requirements, or for advice.
E-mail is the suggested contact method for those enquiring from
overseas. Although Willow is equipped with broadband it connects
through radio signals - and there are still a few isolated poor reception areas within our cruising range.
However we will reply to any enquiry just as soon as we can, and in any case within 24hrs. For those who prefer,
all arrangements can be made by e-mail. Just click on the 'email us'
button and your computer should provide an immediate addressed blank
email form.
Having discussed your
requirements, we can then plan your cruise
(that can sometimes take
a few days to sort out), obviously without obligation.
We will then submit the plan for your approval, by phone or email.
This may seem a slow process, but this detailed planning is what true
private charter is all about. If you wish to go ahead, we will
offer the cruise as a 'provisional booking' which will be held for 72
hours (a week for overseas clients), pending confirmation. If you require a special diet (perhaps dietary
intolerances)
please go to our page on
special diets.
The booking becomes confirmed on our receipt of your booking deposit (50% of booked tariff or £250GBP whichever is the lesser).
The balance of the
tariff becomes due and payable no later than 84 days (12 weeks) before the
start of the cruise. For those using post, our postal address is shown on
the top header of this web page, and on our booking form. UK clients should send cheque payments by post accompanied by a completed booking form (which can be printed off from
booking
form). UK clients
can also pay by internet banking or even BACs, according to preference. We ask that all clients
confirm that they have read and accept our
booking conditions - confirmed by either
completion of a signed booking form, or by E-mail confirmation.
On confirmation, we will
send you a receipt of your deposit and confirmation of the booking;
‘joining instructions’; and a ‘likes / dislikes’ questionnaire.
This is now usually done by e-mail from ‘Willow’, but we can use good
old fashioned paper post for UK clients without e-mail facilities. We
will receipt each payment received.
We recommend that overseas clients send funds using Electronic Bank
Transfer (also known as 'International Money Transfers' or 'Telegraphic
Transfers'). This is a trusted and traceable method for both
parties. It may take a few days for the funds to arrive - but we
really aren't in that much of a rush. In our experience it's also
the most cost effective method for clients. All payments from
overseas must be calculated to be the correct tariff value in pounds
sterling - to arrive in our account at that net value.
We have, in the past,
accepted payments via the 'Paypal' Agency, but we have recently heard
allegations about them unjustifiably holding back client funds.
When we challenged Paypal directly about the problem, Paypal were unable to give us
any justification and 'went silent' on the issue. We have had no
problem directly with Paypal - but our sympathies are with the client
and feel duty bound to highlight that there may be a potential problem.
For your security and peace of mind, we comply with the EC Package Travel Directive,
whereby advance payments received are held in a special bank account until the date of the cruise.
This is a European Directive to safeguard against possible client losses through possible
insolvency of the tour provider.
