BOOKING YOUR CHARTER

All charters run 9 am to 9 am. You may board the afternoon before your charter for a fee of $75.00 (taxes included). Most yachts are on a Sunday to Saturday schedule, however, charters can begin any day of the week depending on yacht availability. Some of the larger yachts may have restricted start days. Minimum charter length is 6 days, with discounts for longer periods. Charters fewer than 6 days are possible in low season subject to approval by management.  Once you have selected your yacht, just call, e-mail, fax or write us to book your charter dates.

Winter Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm PST.
Summer Office Hours: Daily 9:00am to 5:00pm PDT

TOLL FREE 1-877-647-3815 (Canada & US only)
Phone:  (250) 339-4914  or  (250) 339-7222
Fax: (250) 339-2217
email: charter@desolationsoundyachtcharters.com

DEPOSITS AND PAYMENTS

A 25% deposit (plus taxes) is required to confirm your booking. A VISA or MasterCard  deposit confirms your booking immediately. Your yacht can be held for 10 days pending receipt of your cheque. The balance of the fee is due 60 days prior to departure. The security deposit is due on the day of your charter. Payments made less than 60 days prior to departure must be made by VISA, MasterCard,  cash, cashier’s cheque or traveler’s cheque.

CURRENCY

All prices are based on Canadian Dollars. All currencies are accepted and converted to Canadian Dollars at the bank rate quoted on the day payment is received. Click on EXCHANGE RATES, to convert foreign currency to Canadian Dollars.

INSURANCE

Yacht insurance is provided at a cost of  $25-$45 per day (including taxes), depending on the yacht. This insurance covers the hull value and protection and indemnity (P&I) up to $2,000,000.00. In addition to the insurance a refundable security deposit, $1000 to $6000 depending on the yacht, is required.

SECURITY DEPOSITS

A refundable Security Deposit of $1000 to $6000 is required for all yachts.  This deposit will be refunded after the termination of your charter pending a satisfactory check-in report.  This deposit relieves the charterer of loss or damage, over the amount of the deposit, to the yacht or it's equipment.
EXCEPTION: Loss or damage over the amount of the deposit is caused by gross negligence or wanton or willful misuse by the charterer, his or her family, guests or agents, for which the charterer may be solely liable.

CANCELLATION POLICY

An administration fee of $300.00 (plus 5% GST) per booking will apply on cancellations received more than 90 (91+) days prior to departure and the balance of deposit refunded. If cancelled between 60 and 90 days prior, a charge of 25% of the total fee will apply.  If cancelled less than 60 (59-) days prior, a charge of 100% will apply.

LATE CHANGE FEES

When changes are made to an existing charter agreement, it may be deemed necessary to apply a charge fee in order to offset costs incurred in implementing the change. Any changes in the type of yacht or date changes will be deemed a cancellation and will incur any penalties mentioned under the Cancellation Policy section of this document.

TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE

We are pleased to announce that we are now able to offer Trip Cancellation and Interruption insurance. This insurance must be purchased within 48 Hours of the initial deposit. The cost of this insurance depends on the total cost of your charter. This covers cancellations due primarily for medical reasons. 

OUR GUARANTEE

We maintain our yachts to the highest standards and we back that up with a guarantee.  In the unlikely event you should lose more than 5 hours sailing time due to failure of our equipment, it will be made up to you, either in additional sailing time or in monetary credit towards future charters.  This guarantee is a clear statement of our willingness to stand behind our commitment to you. 
Subject to certain restrictions.

Desolation Sound Yacht Charters Ltd. guarantees that if you have a breakdown during your charter, we will complete repairs within five (5) hours of notification, or you will be compensated for your vacation time lost.

What is covered:
The following equipment is considered essential to the operation of the yacht and is covered under our guarantee: engine, transmission, sails, standing and running rigging, battery and alternator.

What we will do:
If you should encounter a breakdown of any of the above-mentioned equipment, we will correct the problem within 5 working hours of receiving your call.  If we fail to correct the problem within that 5 hours, you will receive compensatory sailing time at the end of your scheduled charter (if available), or a sailing credit toward your next charter.  Compensation will be based on actual time lost less the 5-hour grace period.  The credit value per charter hour will be based on a 12-hour working charter day (7AM to 7PM), the number of days of charter and the charter fee paid.

What we ask you to do:
To receive guaranteed service on your charter, you must contact the base at the time of breakdown, problem or dissatisfaction.  All situation details must be presented by the head charterer at the end of the charter, and agreed upon by Desolation Sound Yacht Charters Ltd. at that time.

What this guarantee does not cover:
All other breakdowns will be serviced, but compensation will not be provided if repairs take more than the aforementioned 5 hours.  Exclusions to the compensated guarantee are as follows: VHF, refrigeration, hot water system, stereo/cassette/CD player, dinghy, outboard, knot meter, depth sounder, and other items which do not render the yacht inoperable.  Also excluded from the 5 hour compensated guarantee are breakdowns which occur outside the defined Desolation Sound-Comox area and problems resulting from negligent operation by the charterer or his/her guests.

If you encounter any difficulties at all during your charter, please do not hesitate to call us with any of your concerns.  Desolation Sound Yacht Charters Ltd. has a dedicated staff willing to offer whatever assistance they can to insure that  your vacation is the very best it can be.

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Authored by: Desolation Sound Yacht Charters Ltd.
Last Updated:  January 3, 2008