Terms and Conditions

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Your contract

Your contract is with Norfolk Broads Direct Limited trading as Broads Tours (referred to in these conditions as ‘the company’). Any contract to hire a boat with the company incorporates the conditions below and is between the company and you as the hirer.  Any contract to undertake a river trip with the company also incorporates the conditions below and is between the company and you as the customer. The contract does not take effect until the company despatch written confirmation of your booking to you. The contract is made in England and is governed in all aspects by English Law. All correspondence should be sent to our trading address which is Norfolk Broads Direct Limited, The Bridge, Wroxham, Norfolk, NR12 8RX.

Acceptance of bookings

The company may refuse to accept a booking at its discretion and will not accept any booking made by a person less than 18 years old. Single sex, and groups aged predominantly under 25, must check before booking.

The Company reserves the right not to hire a boat to any person whom it considers is unsuitable to operate the vessel.

Payments

Full payment must be made via card or cash at the time of booking.

Pricing

Prices may vary throughout the year. All prices are quoted inclusive of any applicable VAT and are quoted in £ sterling.

Changes and Cancellations

No refunds or transfers will be given on river trips, day boats or day cruisers booked in advance, other than where the cancellation is made by the company.

Arrival and departure

Your arrival and departure times will be stated on your booking confirmation, and take precedence over any general information found on websites or printed material.

Security deposit

Please note that the company reserves the right to charge a security deposit to certain group types.

These groups include but are not exclusive to:

  • Single sex groups
  • Non-family groups of young people
  • Groups who are hiring multiple boats
  • Groups who appear to be carrying excessive amounts of alcohol

At the time of hire, a monetary security deposit will be taken of £200 per boat. This may be paid in cash or by card.

On your return to the yard at the end of the hire period a full refund of the security deposit will be made if all of the following terms are met:

The boat is returned

  • By the stated time
  • In a clean and tidy condition
  • Without any damage
  • Without the company receiving any reports of anti-social or unsafe behaviour

Your personal possessions

All customers are responsible for their personal possessions and property at all times and are required to exercise due care and attention to ensure their own personal safety and wellbeing.

Pets

Pets are permitted on selected river trips and day hire. Please see individual listings for details. There is an additional charge for pets on our river trips (other than assistance dogs).

There is a maximum of 2 dogs per booking.

Dogs must be always kept on a lead and must not be left unattended.

Modifications and accuracy

Every effort has been made to ensure that the individual descriptions of boats and trips contained in the marketing materials are correct.

Layout plans are for indicative purposes only and are not to scale.

Photographs may be used to show a style standard and may therefore not be identical to the vessel.

Complaints

Every effort has been made to ensure that you have an enjoyable and memorable experience. If, however, you have a cause for complaint, the company is anxious that remedial action is taken as soon as possible. It is essential that you contact reception immediately if any problem arises so that it can be speedily resolved. It is often extremely difficult (and sometimes impossible) to resolve difficulties properly unless the company is promptly notified. Please help the company to help you by following this procedure. If you fail to do so, this may affect your entitlement to claim compensation where this may otherwise have been appropriate.

Liability

All persons using any part of the premises, vessels or equipment do so at their own risk. The Company will not be held liable for any loss, injury or damage caused to any person, vessel, vehicle or other property on the premises unless such loss, injury or damage is caused by the negligence or wilful act of the Company.

The company is not liable for death, personal injury, or loss or damage to you or your property, or any property belonging to or in the possession of the hirer or any member of the hirer’s party (including any motor cars or their contents parked at the boat yard) unless it is caused by BT’s negligence or wilful default.

Party Members with limited mobility

If you have any members of your party with limited mobility, you must enquire as to the suitability of the boat at the time of booking. Whilst no guarantee can be given, the company will help and advise so far as is practical.

Force majeure

Neither party shall be held liable for failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this contract, if such performance is delayed or hindered by the occurrence of an unforeseeable act or event which is beyond the reasonable control of either party (“Force Majeure Events”).

Acts or events constituting Force Majeure Events shall include, but not limited to, Act of God, government intervention, directives or policies.

The party affected by a Force Majeure Event shall notify the other as soon as soon as reasonably practicable after commencement of a Force Majeure Event.

Your rights

Your statutory rights are not affected by anything contained within these conditions.

Day boat hire terms and conditions

Self-drive day boats and day cruisers are offered for hire by Norfolk Broads Direct Limited trading as Broads Tours.

All boats offered for hire are licensed by the Broads Authority and are operated in accordance with the Broads Authority’s Day Boat Licencing code.

Boats are hired to members of the public age 18 years or over. There must be a minimum of two adults on all self-drive day boats and day cruisers. (At the discretion of the company an adult with a child of 14 or over may be able to hire a day boat.) No minor may control the boat without the direct supervision of an adult.

The stated maximum number of passengers must not be exceeded.

The company reserves the right to refuse to hire a dayboat to any persons that it considers to be unsuitable to operate the boat. This includes people who are, or appear to be, under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The Broads Authority byelaws 1995 state that: ‘A person shall not navigate a vessel whilst under the influence of drink or drugs to such an extent as to be incapable of taking proper control of the vessel’.

A security deposit will be taken from certain party groups, please see security deposit section of these terms.

The company is not liable for the death or personal injury of the hirer (or any of the hirer’s party), or for loss or damage to the hirer’s (or any members of the hirer’s party’s) possessions, unless it is caused by negligence on the part of the company.

Use of the pontoons, quays and other landings on the Broads system is entirely at the risk of the hirer and members of their party.

Hirer’s Responsibilities: The hirer will:

  • Sign the electronic waiver form. Acknowledging they will attend and adhere to the instruction given on safe navigation of the boat.
  • Ensure that all members of the party conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the rules of navigation.
  • Return the boat by the stated time and in the same condition it was hired. If the boat is not returned by the stated time, a late fee will be charged to the customer’s card.

Hirers are instructed that boating can be dangerous and, whilst the company has taken all reasonable care in the preparation of the vessel and in the provision of safety equipment, the hirer is responsible for their own safety, the safety of third parties around them and the safe return of the vessel.

Broads Tours’ Responsibilities: the company will:

  • Instruct the hirer how to operate the boat and the safety equipment on board.
  • Ensure that the boat and its equipment are in a functional state during the hire and that there is enough fuel for a day’s hire.
  • Ensure that hirers take buoyancy aids for all persons on board. We insist that these are worn at all times by children and advise that these are worn at all times by adults.

Hiring a Standard day boat

  • Standard day boats are available from 9am to 5.30pm (shorter hours apply in winter months).
  • Standard day boats seat a maximum of 8 passengers.
  • Seasonal minimum hire durations apply, please see dates and details on broadstours.co.uk.
  • All day boats are available to book online and we recommend advance booking to avoid disappointment. Last minute hire on the day is subject to availability.

Hiring a day cruiser

  • Day cruisers are available from 10am to 5pm for full day hire only (shorter hours apply in winter months).
  • Advance booking is strongly recommended, especially in peak season.
  • Day cruisers seat a maximum of 8 passengers.

Hiring a wheelchair accessible boat

  • Our wheelchair accessible boat is offered from 3 to 7 hours.
  • Suggested hire times are 10am-1pm or 2pm-5pm.
  • Advance booking is strongly recommended.
  • The wheelchair accessible day boat has a maximum capacity of 5 passengers.

Terms applicable to all day hire vessels:

  • Payments can be made by cash or card only.
  • Refunds or transfers will not be permitted.
  • In the case of unavoidable mechanical breakdown of the boat, the company will endeavour to provide an alternative boat. If this is not possible then a full refund or transfer to an alternative date will be offered. No compensation for other expenses incurred will be provided – this includes, but is not limited to, fuel, travel, accommodation, sustenance costs.
  • Bookings can be made online or in person on the day at our ticket window. Full payment must be made on booking.

Hiring multiple boats

Parties hiring multiple boats will be requested to pay an additional security deposit of £200 per boat – please see above section on security deposits.

Hirers’ Equipment

You may not take on the boat, without the company’s prior permission, portable cookers or heaters of any type, lighting equipment or anything which may cause danger to the boat, its equipment, or its occupants.

Loss of Water

You are responsible for any charges made by waterways authorities in respect of loss of water or damage to waterway property caused by you while in charge of the boat.

Accidents & Incidents

You are responsible for the boat’s safe navigation and must take all reasonable care. No minor may control the boat without the direct supervision of an adult. In the event of damage to the boat rendering it inoperable, however caused, no responsibility can be accepted by the company for loss of time or the cost of an alternative boat. In the case of any accident or damage to the boat, or any other craft, or to waterway property, or any third party’s property you must, for insurance reasons:

(a) record the name of any other boat involved with names, addresses and phone numbers of its owner and / or hirer (where applicable); and
(b) immediately report these facts to the boatyard with full details and extent of the damage; and
(c) report the full details in writing to the company on return from your hire.  No repairs may be put in hand without the company’s consent. On returning the boat at the end of your hire you must inform the company of any damage or items broken, lost or stolen.

Delays

Every boat is checked before the start of each hire and, in the event of a mechanical failure, the right is reserved to delay departure until a repair has been affected, to reduce the chances of a mechanical breakdown. If a breakdown of any kind occurs, you must report it to the company immediately so that repairs can be made to enable you to resume your cruise. Provided that the company is so informed, they will take steps to repair the boat and/or its equipment as speedily as practicable in the circumstances. Apart from these obligations, the company shall not be liable in any respect for any indirect or consequential loss or damage, whether financial or otherwise, suffered as a result of such a breakdown. The company shall not be responsible for the consequences of delays or restrictions on cruising arising from obstruction, repairs or damage to waterways, flooding, shortage of water, industrial action or other circumstances beyond their control. The right is reserved to restrict cruising if unusual or hazardous conditions prevail.

River Trips

River-trips are offered by Norfolk Broads Direct Limited trading as Broads Tours.

All trips depart from and return to Broads Tours, Wroxham

All trip times and durations are published on our website. On rare occasions these times may be subject to change without notice.

All trips are subject to a minimum number of passengers.

All river trips depart promptly. Please ensure adequate time to arrive, park, and use the facilities prior to your river trip.

We can accommodate a limited number of manual wheelchair users on specific trips. We are not able to accommodate electric or very large manual wheelchairs. It is always at our discretion whether we accept certain types of wheelchairs on board.

It is advisable that all wheelchair users book online or telephone our office in advance to reserve spaces. We advise wheelchair users and other people requiring extra boarding assistance to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time.

The skipper remains in charge of the boat during the trip. For health and safety purposes, all passengers must comply with any instructions given by the skipper or the crew.

The skipper may refuse to carry any passenger, or may direct any passenger to disembark, where the behaviour of that passenger is liable to cause nuisance or offence to the other passengers, or put their own, or the safety of the other passengers, the crew or the vessel at risk.

There is a licensed bar on board each passenger boat. No alcohol may be brought on board. The crew reserve the right to refuse to sell alcohol to an individual, and if they feel it necessary, they will ask to see photo ID. Please note it is illegal to purchase alcoholic drinks for anybody under the age of 18.

Smoking and vaping are not permitted in any area of the boat on timetabled trips.

We shall not be liable for any loss, damage or delay to you or your party whilst embarking or disembarking from the boat or during the voyage unless such loss is caused by the negligence of the skipper or crew.

Tickets issued are for specific sailing times and vessels – they are not transferable. If a person is unable to go on a trip after purchasing a ticket, we may, at our discretion, issue a ticket for an alternative trip on the same day. A refund will not be payable.

River Trip Group Bookings

We offer a discount of 15% to groups that bring parties of 20 or more adults.

A provisional group booking can be made online by completing a booking request form.

Upon receipt of the completed booking request form, the company will issue written confirmation of the booking.

Final numbers must be confirmed and payment made in full 14 days before departure.

Group booking cancellations

If you are compelled to cancel your booking, you must notify the company immediately in writing (email). If the booking is cancelled with less than 14 days’ notice, the coach company / group leader will remain liable for full payment of the group price.

On Arrival

On the day of the trip the group leader / coach driver should present themselves at the boarding area and make themselves known to one of the skippers.

Coach company credit account terms

Certain approved coach companies that work with us on a regular basis have a credit account with us. These account holders are not required to pay a deposit, we will invoice the full amount after each trip, for the number of passengers advised 7 days before the trip. The relevant discount will be awarded providing the numbers on each trip are 20 passengers or more.

Invoices should be paid within seven days.

Private charter of river trip vessels

A provisional booking can be made by telephone or email. A provisional booking can be held for up to 14 days. If a completed booking form and stated deposit are not received within this period, the reservation is automatically cancelled. Booking forms can be downloaded from our website or requested from our office.

Upon receipt of the signed booking form and deposit, the company will issue written confirmation of the booking.

The deposit forms part payment of the cost of the charter, it is not refundable.

The balance of hire is payable 14 days before the charter date. If the booking is made within 14 days of the charter date, the total hire fee is required at the time of booking. If the balance of the charter cost is not received by the 14 days prior to the hire, the company will cancel the booking and the hirer may still be liable for the full balance.

Private charter Booking cancellations

If you are compelled to cancel your booking, you must notify the company immediately in writing. If the booking is cancelled more than 14 days before the charter date only the booking deposit will be forfeited. If the booking is cancelled with less than 14 days’ notice, the hirer will remain responsible for full payment of the charter price and the cost of goods or services incurred on the hirer’s behalf.

The charter booking is accepted on the understanding that the craft booked will be placed at the hirer’s disposal on the date and time confirmed to the hirer. In the unlikely event that the cruise should not be possible through circumstances beyond our control (mechanical breakdown, bad weather etc) – we will make every effort to provide an alternative boat, but this cannot be guaranteed. Should it not be possible to provide an alternative boat then all monies paid will be refunded in full and the contract shall be discharged without further liability on either party.

During the hire period the vessel is under the complete control of the skipper and crew. The skipper’s decision is final in all circumstances concerning the safety of the vessel. The hirer remains responsible for the conduct of the passengers during the charter and for any loss or damage to the boat caused by the passengers.

For certain parties e.g. people under 25 years of age, and office parties, an additional security deposit of £500.00 will become payable. In such instances, we require the signatures of two people on the booking form who will remain sober and responsible for the behaviour of the guests throughout the trip. We do not accept stag or hen parties.

The hirer shall make good and/or pay for all losses, damages or breakages to any fixtures, fittings or equipment on the vessel during the hire period.

The company may at the discretion of the skipper vary the course of the voyage should circumstances make this necessary. The company does not guarantee that any vessel will commence or complete any journey or any part thereof in any given time or if conditions are beyond the control of the company.

No liability can be accepted for loss, damage or expense occurring as a result of breakdown during your cruise.

The company reserves the right to alter prices and timing without prior notice.

Our vessels are licensed by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency to carry a maximum number of passengers. This limit must under no circumstances be exceeded. A passenger is defined by law as any person over one year of age.

If on-board catering is required, it is the responsibility of the client to liaise with the chosen caterer directly. The hirer can provide their own catering or use an alternative caterer for cold buffets only. Hot food can only been provided by caterers approved by the company.

If on-board entertainment is required, it is the responsibility of the client to liaise with Brian Russell or Norfolk Jazz directly. An alternative entertainer may be sourced by the client.

We require a Private Charter Environment Noise Control form to be signed by all providers of on-board entertainment. If an acceptable level of noise cannot be agreed upon the skipper will have the authority to cut off the power supply to any amplifiers.

With prior arrangement, the hirer may bring wine or Prosecco to the booking office which Broads Tours crew will serve as a reception or toast drink only. A corkage charge will be made for this.

For private charter customers, a bar account can be opened. The bar account will need to be paid by card at the end of the charter and before departure.

Details of the charter such as catering, bar account, entertainment requirements should be clearly stated on the booking form. The charter may be varied by the company should circumstances make this necessary.

Terms and Conditions for Evening Music Cruises

Broads Tours operates a programme of Evening Entertainment Cruises.

Evening Entertainment cruises must be booked in advance using our website or in person at our ticket window.

All Evening Entertainment cruises tickets are for the date booked only, they are not transferable or refundable.

All Evening Entertainment cruises depart from and return to Broads Tours, Wroxham. All trip dates and the entertainment providers are published on our website.

On rare occasions the entertainer may be subject to change without notice.

All trips are subject to a minimum number of passengers.

Trips may be cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control. These include, but are not limited to, adverse weather conditions, lack of water, breakdown of the vessel.

The company does not offer discounts on Evening Entertainment or any other special event.

It is not possible to accommodate wheelchair users on our Evening Entertainment Cruises.

Evening Entertainment Cruises are not suitable for dogs or for young children – all passengers must be aged 16 and over.

Terms and Conditions for Educational Discovery trips

Broads Tours offer educational trips for school and youth groups for groups of up to 60 people.

Discovery trips can include a tour of Hoveton Great Broad Nature Trail.

The group will be split into two or three smaller groups to take a tour around the Nature Trail. These groups will be led by Natural England Wardens, Natural England volunteers and Broads tours staff Discovery trips must be booked in advance, it is recommended that the lead adult / teacher phone in to discuss the topics that they would like to cover during the trip.

A completed booking form will be required with final numbers and balance due 14 days before the trip.

Use of website disclaimer

The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by Norfolk Broads Direct Ltd trading as Broads Tours, and whilst we endeavour to keep the information up-to-date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including, without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of or in connection with the use of this website. We do not guarantee that our site will be secure or free from bugs or viruses. You are responsible for configuring your information technology, computer programmes and platform to access our site. You should use your own virus protection software.

Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of the company. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.

Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. However, the company takes no responsibility for and will not be liable for the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.

You are responsible for ensuring that all persons who access our website through your internet connection are aware of these terms of use and other applicable terms and conditions, and that they comply with them.