Terms and Conditions

Please kindly read these terms and conditions carefully. On booking online or signing our booking form when making a reservation over the phone or by email, you are deemed to have read and accepted our Booking Terms and Conditions and are accepting the terms of these conditions on behalf of all persons in the party.

These terms and conditions constitute an agreement with the Merchant. By entering the site you accept these terms and conditions. The terms and conditions are subject to change at any time, and it is your responsibility to check these terms and conditions regularly in case there are any changes.

Continuing to use the site after a change has been made is your acceptance of those changes.

 I. Rate

Prices are subject to 10% tax and service charge, quoted in American Dollars or Vietnamese Dong. Our prices for cruises are generally per cabin, not per person, except for promotions and day cruises.

II. Deposit and Cancellation

Deposit payment can be settled by cash, bank wire transfer, credit card or PayPal. Deposits are generally 30% of the total cost, which is required as soon as the booking is confirmed.

 III. Cruise cancellation due to bad weather conditions

Cruising and sailing in the Cat Ba Archipelago is regulated by the Cat Ba Port Authority. Every morning, the Port Authority delivers a permit to each cruise company allowing them to sail in the Cat Ba Archipelago. Both day cruises and overnight cruises are regulated this way.

In case of bad weather conditions and risks of tropical storm, the Port Authority might limit the possibilities of cruising and even decide to cancel all cruises.

In such cases, the final decision by the Port of Authority is usually only known at 3.00pm on the day of departure. Below are the possible scenarios that can occur and alternatives offered to passengers by Heritage Cruises:

1. ON THE DAY OF ARRIVAL 

1.1. Situation

On a day with bad weather conditions or risks of tropical storm, Heritage Cruises will inform guests/travel agents as soon as possible of the risk of cancellation, the possible scenarios that can occur, and will offer different alternatives to the guests/travel agents.

At 3.00pm, Heritage Cruises will know whether:
– the overnight permit is granted;
– the overnight permit is denied but day cruising is allowed;
– all cruising is forbidden for both day and night.

1.2. Terms and conditions

Upon arrival, guests can choose:

1.2.1. Not to wait, and cancel their cruise altogether.
1.2.1.1. If guests decide to cancel the cruise before receiving final decision from the local authorities, Heritage Cruises will not offer any refund.
1.2.2. To wait until 3.00pm and enjoy lunch on board (if presence of people on the boats anchored in the marina is allowed by the Port Authority).
1.2.2.1. If the guests wait, enjoy lunch on board and at 3.00pm the cruise is cancelled, then only 35USD will be charged to cover the lunch.
1.2.2.2. If guests wait, enjoy lunch on board and at 3.00pm only a day cruise is allowed, then only 90 USD will be charged to cover the lunch and day cruise.
1.2.2.3. If guests wait, enjoy lunch on board and at 3.00pm overnight cruising is permitted, then only USD345 will be charged to cover the lunch, day cruise and overnight.

2.  ON THE SECOND DAY OF A 3-DAY/2-NIGHT CRUISE

2.1. Situation

The permit to cruise on the second day of the 2- or 3- night cruise is delivered by the Port Authority at 8.00am the day of cruising, under normal circumstances. If the cruising permit is denied at 8.00am, guests will go back to the harbor at 10.30am with guests checking out that day. They will have then the same possible scenarios and alternatives as in section 1 above.

2.2. Terms and conditions

Heritage Cruises will refund as follows:
2.2.1. In case cruising is entirely denied on that day: cruise will only be charged as 2 days/1 night
2.2.2. In case guests decide to remain for lunch on board, when permitted, but cruising ends up being entirely denied on that day: cruise will be charged as 2 days/1 night +35USD to cover the lunch.
2.2.3. In case guests decide to remain for lunch on board, when permitted, and cruise a few hours during that day, when permitted, but overnight cruising ends up being denied: cruise will be charged as 2 days/1 night + 140USD to cover the lunch and day cruise.
2.2.4. No refund can be claimed when overnight cruising ends up being allowed and the guests spend the second night on board as well.
2.2.5. No refund can be claimed if guests decide to end their cruise at 10.30am on the second day without waiting for the final decision from the Port Authority.

3. ON THE DAY OF DEPARTURE

In case of bad weather conditions or risks of tropical storm on the day of departure (check-out), the Port Authority may order the ship to return to the marina earlier than planned. No refund can be claimed in this situation.

4. TRANSPORTATION 

4.1. Guests using transportation not booked via Heritage Cruises shall contact their travel agent/ transportation supplier directly to make all necessary arrangements deriving from a cruise cancellation.
4.2. For guests using Heritage Cruises Transportation Services, Heritage Cruises will arrange transport back to Hanoi.
4.3. As Heritage Cruises shall not be held responsible for any cruise cancellation due to weather conditions, if transportation has been used, the cost of transportation cannot be refunded by Heritage Cruises.

5. OTHER CONSEQUENCES OF POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS 

5.1. Cruising Itinerary

Even when cruising permits are delivered, bad weather conditions might force our Management, Captains and Crew to modify the schedule: change of routes, visits cancelled or modified, etc.
By booking with Heritage Cruises, all guests agree that all programs are subject to change without prior notice.

5.2. Special Dining Venues

Heritage Cruises offers the opportunity to dine on a beach, in a cave or in a floating village. Guests booking these extra services should be aware that it might be necessary to cancel outside dining at the last minute in case of bad weather conditions and to replace it by dining in the ship’s dining room. Heritage Cruises cannot be held responsible for the cancellation of outside dining due to bad weather conditions and thus will not offer any refund.

6. BOAT INSPECTIONS 

The Port Authority, Haiphong Province Authorities and other Officials may request, without prior notice, to inspect one or more of the fleet’s ships.
Heritage Cruises shall not be held responsible for any delays, change of schedule, early check-out that could occur due to the Officials’ inspection, and will thus not offer any refund.

7. GUESTS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT

7.1. Permits can be denied due to thick fog: in this case, it is impossible for Heritage Cruises to know or predict this in advance.
7.2. Although for most tropical storms we usually have warnings and information 24 to 48 hours in advance, it is very often impossible to predict how powerful it will be when reaching the coast of Vietnam and sudden trajectory changes are also very common, hence the delay in obtaining, then communicating, information.
7.3. Very often Heritage Cruises receive from the Port Authority many contradictory pieces of information before the final decision at 3.00pm. Heritage Cruises will communicate to the passengers all information as given by the Port Authority and should not be held responsible for inconsistencies, last-minute changes, and contradictions.
7.4. In the case of risk of tropical storm at night, the weather might show no sign of danger upon the guests’ arrival and only change much later and quite suddenly.
7.5. Some other cruise companies in Cat Ba Archipelago might decide to go against the decision of the Port Authority. It is their personal choice not to observe the orders of the local authorities and to put at risks the lives of their passengers.

CONSIDERING THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF ITS PASSENGERS AS ITS NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, HERITAGE CRUISES WILL ALWAYS COMPLY WITH THE PORT AUTHORITY’S DECISION.

Although Heritage Cruises understands the importance for visitors to see Cat Ba Archipelago and Halong Bay and is highly honored to have been chosen by our guests to see Vietnam’s most mythical site, we will never put our passengers in danger.

Note:

1. Passengers using the services of a travel agent should then contact their travel agent to make the necessary arrangements for transportation, accommodation, etc.
2. In case of tropical storm warning, it is usually forbidden to have people on board, even when the vessels are anchored in the harbor.
3. Passengers using the services of a travel agent should then address their travel agent for refund. Heritage Cruises directly refunds the agent the amount paid by them.

IV. Final Payment

Final payment is due 30 days prior to departure date for FIT bookings and 60 days prior to departure date for GIT bookings.

If reservations are made less than 60 days prior to the departure date for GIT bookings and less than 30 days prior to the departure date for FIT bookings, payment in full is required at the time of booking. If final payments are not received on time, Heritage Cruises may cancel the reservation and invoke the cancellation fee.

Except as otherwise agreed by the Merchant, client payments shall be made in cash or by credit card. Credit card transactions do not incur bank charges.

In cases where credit facilities have not been agreed with the client/agent, payment shall be made by swift or telegraphic transfer to the Merchant’s bank account. Any bank charges levied by the sending bank relating to transfers to the Merchant must be paid by the client/agent.

V. Refund of unused services

No refunds or exchange can be made in respect of accommodation, meals, sightseeing tours, transport or any other services which are included in the tour price but not utilized by the guest.

VI. Voucher

A voucher will be issued by Heritage Cruises after the booked trip is confirmed and payment is completed.

A service voucher will be sent by email/fax to the passenger.

VII. Liability and Insurance

Heritage Cruises accept no responsibility for any loss, injury, damage or delay due to natural disaster, political actions, weather or causes beyond its control

Travel insurance and medical precautions are essential. Your travel insurance must provide cover against personal accident, medical expenses, emergency repatriation and personal liability. We strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance at the time of booking.

VIII. Confirmation

All confirmations are generally made by return fax or email within 2 working days. In case immediate confirmation is not possible, we will inform you of the booking status at the time of reservation.

IX. Child policies:

Under 12 years old:
•    Free of charge sharing cabin with two adults (maximum 1 child).
•    An additional charge of 35USD per extra bed, if required, in the cabin for 2-day/1-night program or 70USD per extra bed for 3-day/2-night program. Baby cot is free of charge. This extra service is subject to Heritage Cruises availability.

If a child occupies a cabin on their own, the full adult rate is applied.

Over 12 years old: will be charged same rate as adults.

X. Passengers’ information

The client is requested to submit all passenger details at least 24 hours prior to check in (Full name, Date of birth, Gender, Nationality, Passport number, Vietnam visa expiry date, Contact number). Passengers are advised to bring their passport during the tour as representatives of the Cat Ba Port Authority can board to check at any time.

XI. Payment Instructions

Payments can be made by credit card, bank transfer or cash. We accept Visa Card, American Express, MasterCard.

I. Deposit and cancellation

Deposit payment can be settled by bank wire transfer or credit card. Deposits are generally 30% of the total cost and are required within 3-7 days of the booking being confirmed.

Cancellation will be charged as follows: