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Cancellation, rebooking and yacht substitution are different
Cancellation ends the booking and triggers the refund or retention calculation. Rebooking keeps the booking but changes its dates. A yacht substitution changes the vessel, and sometimes the base or operator. Treat each as a separate contract scenario.
Do not rely on a verbal promise that a change can be arranged. Before payment, ask for written terms with dates, retention amounts, substitution rules and the response deadline.
| Scenario | What to check |
|---|---|
| You cancel | Retention scale, non-refundable payments and refund timing |
| You rebook | Deadline, availability, price difference and fee |
| The yacht is substituted | What counts as equivalent and your right to decline |
| The operator cancels | Refund, alternative yacht and confirmation process |
How to read a cancellation scale
Most contracts retain a larger percentage as the start date approaches. Check whether the percentage is calculated from the total charter price or only amounts already paid, and whether compulsory extras, skipper services or transfers are included.
Also ask whether a first payment is non-refundable, whether a resale of the week changes the calculation, and where a cancellation request must be sent. Keep the contract, invoice, payment proof and correspondence together.
What a date-change clause should say
A useful rebooking clause states the deadline for a request, who confirms the new week, how the new price is calculated and what happens when no suitable yacht is available.
If the wording says only “subject to agreement”, do not treat the change as guaranteed. Ask for the deadline, fee and pricing method in writing before booking.
If the operator changes the yacht or cancels
A yacht may become unavailable because of technical issues, a delayed prior charter or a base problem. Check which substitute the operator may offer and what makes it equivalent: cabins, berths, yacht type, key equipment, base and price.
Ask what happens when the substitute is objectively different, whether you may decline it, and how a change of base affects the trip. “Similar yacht” is not a sufficient criterion without details.
Extraordinary events and cancellation insurance
Extraordinary events do not automatically create a full refund. The outcome depends on the contract, applicable law and booking type. If a booking legally qualifies as a package, EU package-travel rules may provide specific cancellation rights in unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances. A standalone yacht charter should not automatically be treated as a package.
Cancellation insurance is separate from the contract. Check covered reasons, exclusions for known events, evidence required, limits and the deadline for notifying the insurer. It does not replace clear charter terms.
What to do when plans change
Read the contract and record the date on which you decided to cancel or change the charter. Send a written request with the booking number and the exact outcome you want: cancellation, date change or a replacement participant.
Ask the operator to confirm receipt, the retained amount and its calculation, available dates, the refund deadline and any documents required. Use the channel required by the contract; after a call, confirm the discussion by email.
Checklist before payment
- Read the cancellation scale with dates and percentages.
- Confirm the amount on which retention is calculated.
- Check rebooking terms and any price difference.
- Ask whether a booking participant can be replaced.
- Define the criteria for an equivalent substitute yacht.
- Confirm the refund method and timing.
- Save the final contract and written confirmations.
Practical conclusion
Before payment, you should know how much can be retained at every point, whether dates can be changed, and what happens if the booked yacht becomes unavailable. If a clause is unclear, ask for a written explanation before you book.
Helm by TrimTeam can help compare charter terms for specific options, but base your final decision on the operator’s contract.
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