Spirit of Queenstown Scenic Cruise

• SDL carries full Public Liability Insurance for all passengers travelling on any SDL vessels or vehicles.
  
  Liability and Indemnity
• Passengers travel at their own risk (to the extent permitted by law) and SDL is not responsible for any loss, damage, cost, expense or injury suffered by passengers or loss or damage to a passenger’s property.
• Without limiting the foregoing, the following conditions apply:
• a. In respect of all passengers, SDL is not liable for any loss, damage or delay caused by or arising from an event beyond the control of SDL, including any act of God, inevitable accident, riot, civil  commotion, strike, lock-out, stoppage or restraint of labour, regardless of the cause and whether partial or general.
• b. SDL does not warrant that SDL services are available at any particular time or at all. SDL is not liable to a passenger or any other person:
• (i) for any consequences arising from any variation or delay in the time of arrival or departure from any stop of any vehicle;
• (ii) for any loss or damage as a result of a cancellation or any variation of the time of arrival or departure from any stop of any vehicle;
• (iii) for damage to any property of a passenger; or
• (iv) for the death of any passenger or other person or for injury, harm, disease or damage to health, whether physical, mental or otherwise (including mental or nervous shock or distress) suffered by a passenger or any other person.
• c. If there is contributory negligence on the part of a passenger or other person, SDL’s liability is subject to the law relating to contributory negligence.
• d. SDL may vary or cancel wholly or in part the scheduled services shown in SDL timetable or may vary the point at which SDL will pick up and set down passengers.
• The passenger indemnifies SDL at all times against any loss, damage or cost suffered or incurred by SDL as a direct or indirect result of a breach by the passenger of its obligations under these terms and conditions.
  
  Health & Safety
• Health, safety and comfort is SDL’s primary concern. Prior to every cruise departure, the skipper either shows a safety video or gives clear safety instructions over the public address system. Passengers should listen carefully to these messages and comply with all aspects of safety advice. In the unlikely event of an emergency, passengers must obey all instructions from the SDL fully trained skipper and crew.
• New Zealand has a ‘no fault’ government-backed medical injury treatment scheme administered by the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC). Under ACC legislation, passengers are prevented from suing the operator for any mishap or misadventure. Should there be a medical incident or injury SDL will do everything in its power to organise prompt medical assistance. In the case of injury the cost of that assistance will be borne by the ACC scheme. The nearest medical centre to Milford Sound is located in Te Anau (120 kilometres away).
• All passengers while in an area controlled by SDL must:
• a. Act in a safe and reasonable manner
• b. Cooperate with, and observe all instructions from SDL staff
• c. Follow all signs and notices
• d. Not smoke
• e. Not consume alcohol unless available on SDL service
• f. Not interfere with or use emergency equipment or emergency exits except in an emergency
• g. Not behave in an unsafe, noisy, violent or antisocial manner
• h. Not litter or tamper with or damage any property of SDL
  
  Disabled Passengers
• The Milford Sound Cruise Terminal, toilets, promenade decks and wharves are all wheelchair accessible.
• New Zealand Maritime law dictates that all external vessel doors must be water tight and this includes a door sill to prevent seawater entering the vessel. Disabled passengers may need some assistance to negotiate the door sill.
• All vessels comprise either two or three deck levels accessed by internal and external stairs. Wheelchair accessibility is confined to the main boarding deck only.
• Toilets on the vessels are not wheelchair accessible.
• The Milford Underwater Observatory chamber is not wheelchair accessible as it is 10 metres below the water and accessed by stairs. For health and safety reasons, staff are not permitted to participate in carrying of passengers on and off vessels.
• Please seek further advice at the time of booking.
  
  General Terms and Conditions
• SDL reserves the right to amend timetables, cancel cruise departures and substitute vessels at any time for safety or operational reasons including due to unsafe weather conditions or vessel maintenance.
• Minimum numbers apply on all trips.
• Milford Sound is a natural environment so wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.
• All prices are listed in New Zealand dollars (NZD) and are inclusive of GST. Unless otherwise specified, prices are valid from 1 October 2017 until 30 September 2018 and may change without notice.
  
  Amendments/Cancellations/Refunds
• Reservations may be amended to another date or time subject to space and availability. No charge is made for this amendment but any difference in price will need to be paid by the passenger. Please always quote the booking confirmation number when amending a booking.
• Unless otherwise specified, any cancellations are required to be made at least 24 hours prior to departure. Cancellations made within 24 hours or on the day of travel are not entitled to a refund.
• Claims for refunds due to circumstances out of passengers control should be submitted in writing no later than 30 days after the date of departure. Passengers are recommended to insure themselves against cancellation charges and possible loss of personal belongings.
  
  Children and Infants
  Unless otherwise specified:
• Children are aged 4-14 years inclusive
• Infants are aged 3 years and under and travel free on all cruises (except Coach & Cruise products, please see below)
• Requirements for children and infants travelling on Milford Sound Coach & Nature Cruise, Milford Sound Coach & Scenic Cruise (Queenstown and Te Anau departures) and Go Milford Day Trip Coach trips from Te Anau:
• An Infant fare must be purchased to be allocated a seat on the coach – inclusive all infants aged 0–3 years
• A Child fare must be purchased to be allocated a seat on the coach – inclusive all children aged 4–14 years
• An appropriate child restraint must be provided by the caregiver (adult) in order for an infant or small child to travel
• In accordance with New Zealand Law, all children must be correctly secured in an approved restraint until their seventh birthday
  
  Cancelled Sailings
• SDL reserves the right to cancel any cruise at any time due to unsafe weather conditions, vessel maintenance, or not meeting the minimum passenger numbers required to sail.
• In the event of a cruise being cancelled prior to departure, passengers will receive any pre-ordered food and given the option of an alternative sailing or a full refund on the cruise portion only.
• If a cruise is cancelled during a sailing due to unforeseen circumstances, adverse weather affecting passenger safety and comfort, unforeseen operational reasons or any other issue, passengers will receive a partial refund. Full refunds will only be given when a cruise is cancelled prior to departure.

Please note that the bookings are processed manually and please chat to us before making the booking or you can book with us and your booking is confirmed only once confirmed by the tour operator.

• Cancellations 24 hours or less from the time of departure or no show will incur a 100% charge or no refund of prepayment.
• SDL reserves the right to cancel any cruise at any time due to unsafe weather conditions, vessel maintenance, or not meeting the minimum passenger numbers required to sail.
• In the event of a cruise being cancelled prior to departure, passengers will receive any pre-ordered food and given the option of an alternative sailing or a full refund on the cruise portion only.
• If a cruise is cancelled during a sailing due to unforeseen circumstances, adverse weather affecting passenger safety and comfort, unforeseen operational reasons or any other issue, passengers will receive a partial refund. Full refunds will only be given when a cruise is cancelled prior to departure.
• Reservations may be amended to another date or time subject to space and availability. No charge is made for this amendment but any difference in price will need to be paid by the passenger. Please always quote the booking confirmation number when amending a booking.
• Unless otherwise specified, any cancellations are required to be made at least 24 hours prior to departure. Cancellations made within 24 hours or on the day of travel are not entitled to a refund.
• Claims for refunds due to circumstances out of passengers control should be submitted in writing no later than 30 days after the date of departure. Passengers are recommended to insure themselves against cancellation charges and possible loss of personal belongings.