Terms & Conditions — Gulet Charter

Belvedere Travel acts as the UK agent for a Turkish gulet company based in Bodrum. The client making the booking is the Group Organiser and acts on behalf of their group of family and friends. Belvedere Travel corresponds with the Group Organiser only, and not with other individual members of the group.

Correspondence is conducted by email, digital message and telephone. A legally binding contract is established by that correspondence and the issuing of an invoice, and comes into force once the holiday dates have been agreed and the deposit has cleared. From that point the Group Organiser is responsible for supplying all monies owed within the timescales below, together with the information required for travel to Turkey for every member of the group.

• A deposit of 30% is payable at the time of booking. Where the party size is confirmed, this is 30% of the charter fee plus food and drink costs; where it is not yet certain, the deposit is calculated on the applicable minimum number of adults.
• The full balance is due six weeks before the first day of the holiday.
• If the balance is not received by the six-week deadline the holiday is not secure, Belvedere Travel may resell the period to other clients, and the deposit is forfeited.

The Group Organiser may cancel, but charges apply. The date of cancellation is the day Belvedere Travel is notified during office hours (9am–5pm); notification after 5pm is treated as received on the next working day.

Invoices and documentation for insurance claims will be supplied on request.

The gulet providers may change or cancel the agreement in circumstances beyond their control. Where such circumstances are caused by the providers, monies are repaid to the Group Organiser within a week of notification. Where major changes are required, an equal or better alternative, or a deferment, will be offered if possible. The captain may alter the route at any time for reasons of weather or safety; no compensation arises in that case.

Clients are responsible for holding adequate travel and medical insurance. Passports and other travel documents must remain valid for at least 180 days after departure from Turkey. Visa requirements should be checked before travel. Belvedere Travel accepts no liability for these matters, which remain the responsibility of each individual client; the Group Organiser is responsible for informing their group of this requirement.

Safety instructions are issued by the captain shortly after embarkation and displayed in the cabins. Clients must adhere to them. The gulet provider may remove clients where the safe execution of the journey is seriously hindered by dangerous or unruly behaviour.

The Group Organiser and their group are responsible for any damage they cause and are liable for the cost of repairs. Any such bills are settled with the captain before leaving the gulet.

Any problem should be raised with the captain as soon as it becomes apparent so that the crew can put it right. The gulet providers will consider all complaints and, where they are found liable, will consider compensation. Belvedere Travel will act as intermediary between the parties. Any legal proceedings must be commenced within one year of the original start date of the holiday.

Belvedere Travel is an intermediary between the gulet provider and the Group Organiser and is not liable for damages or cancellation incurred by either party. The gulet providers are not liable for losses ordinarily covered by clients’ travel, medical or cancellation insurance. The liability of the gulet provider is limited to the monies originally paid for the chartered period and the services provided on board, and excludes excursions, water sports, flights, hotels, transfers and related expenses.

Force majeure means an extraordinary event beyond the control of the parties, including war, strike, riot, crime, epidemic or act of God. Neither Belvedere Travel nor the gulet provider is liable in such circumstances, but the holiday will be deferred where possible, normally to the following year. If the Group Organiser declines a deferment, the cancellation terms above apply.

These terms and any dispute arising from them are governed by English law and subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.