Terms & Conditions

Scheduled Cruises

All scheduled cruises bookings made with Skarv Line Charters Limited are subject to the following Terms & Conditions.

We are Skarv Line Charters Limited, operating as Skarv Lines Scottish Adventure Cruises, a company registered in Scotland under company number SC773182 whose registered office address is 26-30 Marine Place, Buckie, United Kingdom, AB56 1UT. Hereafter known as Skarv Lines.

All cruises or holidays booked with Skarv Lines are organised and sold subject to the following conditions. Please note that by booking a place on one of our scheduled holidays/cruises you are agreeing to these terms and conditions.

1. Skarv Lines gives notice that all arrangements made by us are on the condition that we shall not be liable for any death, injury or damage, loss, delay or irregularity, which may be caused, by any persons, situations or conditions to you the client. Skarv Lines cannot be held responsible for any mishap to yourself or your property, any losses or additional expense due to the consequences of flight or ferry cancellations, vehicle accidents, strikes, sickness, war, weather, Government or customs or police intervention or other such happenings amounting to Force Majeure.

Skarv Lines and its employees are covered by third party liability insurance up to a maximum of £2,000,000.

By making a booking you acknowledge that Skarv Lines has taken all reasonable steps to safeguard its liability in this regard and that Skarv Lines is not responsible in any way for any liability whatsoever to you. Moreover Skarv Lines is not responsible for any liability to you whatsoever when you are residing on the vessel; boarding or disembarking the vessel; or in transit to and from the shore to the vessel by dinghy or tender; or for you when you, any other persons, are using, operating, any of the equipment found on Nova Spero, or any Skarv Lines vessel or property (such as dinghies, galley equipment, creels, ropes, halyards, tenders, anchor windlass, winches, heaving lines, chains, mooring lines, blocks, etc.).

2. Reservations: are not confirmed until a non-refundable deposit of 25% of the total booking value has been paid.

Provisional bookings will be held for 2 days pending receipt of the deposit. Upon receipt by us of your deposit we shall send you a confirmation of your cruise details along with a note of the balance amount and when it is due. Generally, the balance amount is due 8 weeks before departure.

Every person making a booking on behalf of a passenger or group of passengers warrants and confirms that he/she has the authority of that passenger and that each such passenger/group agrees to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. Payment will be accepted by BACS or online payment portal.

3. Cancellation by client: In the unfortunate circumstance that you can no longer travel as planned and need to cancel your reservation, the following cancellation terms apply:

- More than 56 days prior to the start of your holiday/cruise: you will be charged your deposit.
- Between 56 and 30 days: you will be charged 50% of the holiday/cruise cost.
- Between 30 and 14 days: you will be charged 75% of the holiday/cruise cost.
- Less than 14 days before the start of your holiday/cruise or on or after the commencement of the cruise: you must pay the full holiday/cruise cost.
- Amendment Administration Fee – Skarv Lines will consider all requests to transfer rather than cancel cruises. Any such transfers will incur an administration fee of £60.

We appreciate that wholly unforeseen events may result in cancellation. In view of the above and for your peace of mind we therefore strongly advise you to take out appropriate comprehensive Travel Insurance at the time of your booking.

4. Cancellation by Skarv Lines: If owing to circumstances beyond our control, we cannot provide the holiday booked or a suitable alternative, we will refund all money paid to us in full, and you will have no further claim against us. In this instance we are not liable for any personal expenses you may have incurred as a result of your booking such as travel tickets (flight, rail etc.), travel insurance etc.

5. Changes by Skarv Lines: In extreme circumstances Skarv Lines reserves the right to change the name/route of a cruise prior to departure. Furthermore, if numbers dictate, two cruises may be amalgamated into one.

6. Health and safety: All persons booking are declaring that they, and any persons on whose behalf they are booking, are in good health and are sufficiently fit, mobile and agile. Any special health conditions or concerns which may affect your or other people’s enjoyment of the holiday/cruise must be notified to us in good time prior to the departure/embarkation date. The skipper may refuse to carry any passenger or luggage on any cruise for any cause relating to the safety of the vessel or any property or any other persons on board. In such circumstances the passenger will not be entitled to any compensation or payment whatsoever except we shall refund to the passenger any money paid to us in respect to the cruise unless a serious health concern has not been declared beforehand.

7. Children: No unaccompanied children under the age of sixteen (16) can be carried. Children aged 4 to 16 can be accommodated at 50% of the adult cruise price (maximum 4 children per cruise). All passengers under 18 years of age are wholly the responsibility of their parents/guardians at all times. No animals will be carried unless with permission.

8. Unlawful goods: No illegal drugs, dangerous and illegal material or other unlawful goods are permitted on board the vessel and the passenger(s) will free and release Skarv Lines from any liabilities or responsibility arising out of any breach of this condition. Smoking is not permitted within the vessel, designated smoking areas on deck will be advised by the crew.

9. Delays and alterations: It is a fundamental booking condition that you accept that in taking part in this sort of holiday/cruise requires an element of on-tour flexibility. The itineraries stated on our website and literature are indicative only and not a guarantee that a particular route will be followed or place reached. You must acknowledge that delays and alterations and their results, such as inconvenience and discomfort, are possible where unforeseen circumstances arise. Skarv Lines, or the skipper, reserve the right to vary the holiday/cruise in any way we consider preferable due to adverse weather or any other conditions. Ultimate decisions regarding the safety of the vessel, the sailing conditions, its tender and those onboard, rest with the skipper.

10. Complaints or concerns: In the unlikely event that you have a complaint or concern please report it immediately to a crew member in order that we may log the issue and deal with it promptly. If the issue cannot be immediately resolved, further communications must be made in writing within 28 days of the cruise. The Laws of Scotland will govern any claims, disputes, legal action or proceedings arising out of or connected with this booking contract.

Whole Boat Charter

All scheduled cruises bookings made with Skarv Line Charters Limited are subject to the following Terms & Conditions.

We are Skarv Line Charters Limited, operating as Skarv Lines Scottish Adventure Cruises, a company registered in Scotland under company number SC773182 whose registered office address is 26-30 Marine Place, Buckie, United Kingdom, AB56 1UT. Hereafter known as Skarv Lines.

Skarv Lines and its employees are covered by third party liability insurance up to a maximum of £2,000,000.

2. Reservations: charter bookings are not confirmed until a non-refundable deposit of 50% of the total booking value has been paid.

Provisional bookings will be held for 10 days pending receipt of the deposit. Upon receipt by us of your deposit we shall send you a confirmation of your cruise details along with a note of the balance amount and when it is due (8 weeks before departure).

3. Cancellation by client: In the unfortunate circumstance that you can no longer travel as planned and need to cancel your reservation, the following cancellation terms apply:

- More than 56 days prior to the start of your holiday/cruise: you will be charged your deposit.
- Between 56 and 30 days: you will be charged 75% of the holiday/cruise cost.
- Less than 30 days before the start of your holiday/cruise or on or after the commencement of the cruise: you must pay the full holiday/cruise cost.
- Amendment Administration Fee – Skarv Lines will consider all requests to transfer dates rather than cancel cruises. Any such transfers will incur an administration fee of £60.

We appreciate that wholly unforeseen events may result in cancellation. In view of the above and for your peace of mind we therefore strongly advise that all passengers take out appropriate comprehensive Travel Insurance at the time of your booking.

5. Health and safety: All persons booking are declaring that they, and any persons on whose behalf they are booking, are in good health and are sufficiently fit, mobile and agile. Any special health conditions or concerns which may affect your or other people’s enjoyment of the holiday/cruise must be notified to us in good time prior to the departure/embarkation date. The skipper may refuse to carry any passenger or luggage on any cruise for any cause relating to the safety of the vessel or any property or any other persons on board. In such circumstances the passenger will not be entitled to any compensation or payment whatsoever except we shall refund to the passenger any money paid to us in respect to the cruise unless a serious health concern has not been declared beforehand.

6. Children: No unaccompanied children under the age of sixteen (16) can be carried. All passengers under 18 years of age are wholly the responsibility of their parents/guardians at all times. No animals will be carried unless with permission.

7. Unlawful goods: No illegal drugs, dangerous and illegal material or other unlawful goods are permitted on board the vessel and the passenger(s) will free and release Skarv Lines from any liabilities or responsibility arising out of any breach of this condition. Smoking is not permitted within the vessel, designated smoking areas on deck will be advised by the crew.

8. Delays and alterations: It is a fundamental booking condition that you accept that in taking part in this sort of holiday/cruise requires an element of on-tour flexibility. The itineraries stated on our website and literature are indicative only and not a guarantee that a particular route will be followed or place reached. You must acknowledge that delays and alterations and their results, such as inconvenience and discomfort, are possible where unforeseen circumstances arise. Skarv Lines, or the skipper, reserve the right to vary the holiday/cruise in any way we consider preferable due to adverse weather or any other conditions. Ultimate decisions regarding the safety of the vessel, the sailing conditions, its tender and those onboard, rest with the skipper.

9. Complaints or concerns: In the unlikely event that you have a complaint or concern please report it immediately to a crew member in order that we may log the issue and deal with it promptly. If the issue cannot be immediately resolved, further communications must be made in writing within 28 days of the cruise. The Laws of Scotland will govern any claims, disputes, legal action or proceedings arising out of or connected with this booking contract.