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Terms & Conditions

General Policy

Whitsunday Expeditions accepts no liability for travel arrangements or expenses outside of our tours. While every effort is made to ensure the safety of our guests, we cannot be held responsible for personal injury, loss, or damage resulting from circumstances beyond our control.

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Whitsunday Expeditions reserves the right to amend or cancel tours at any time, with or without notice, if management or relevant authorities determine that safety may be compromised. The wellbeing of our guests and crew is our highest priority.

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All check-ins must be completed online prior to departure. If you experience any issues completing your check-in or have questions about the process, please contact our friendly reservations team for assistance.

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For full details, please review the terms below or contact Whitsunday Expeditions directly for help with your booking or to request changes.

    • By making a booking, the person making the booking confirms that they have read and accepted these Terms & Conditions on behalf of themselves and, where applicable, all persons included in the booking.

    • Prices are stated in Australian dollars and include GST where applicable unless otherwise stated. Optional activities, courses, equipment, drinks and other extras may incur additional charges.

    • Prices and inclusions applicable to a booking are those confirmed at the time the booking is accepted.

    • Passengers must arrive at the nominated meeting point by the advised check-in time.

    • Whitsunday Expeditions strongly recommends that all passengers obtain comprehensive travel insurance covering cancellation, illness, injury, medical evacuation, diving activities, missed connections, weather disruption, lost luggage and other unforeseen circumstances.

    • Our services come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law. Nothing in these Terms & Conditions excludes, restricts or modifies any consumer guarantee, right or remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded, restricted or modified.

  • Cancellation Policy
    All cancellations must be submitted to Whitsunday Expeditions in writing. Cancellation conditions depend on the type of booking and the notice provided before departure, unless different conditions are expressly stated in your booking confirmation.


    1. Overnight Tours
    Including scheduled overnight sailing and diving expeditions.
    Cancellations must be submitted at least 30 days before departure.

    • More than 30 days before departure: The applicable deposit and refund conditions will be confirmed at the time of booking.

    • 30 days or less before departure: Cancellation charges apply as specified in your booking conditions.

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    2. Day Trips
    Cancellations must be submitted at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure.

    • More than 24 hours before departure: Refunds are subject to the applicable booking conditions.

    • Within 24 hours of departure: Cancellation charges apply as specified in your booking conditions.

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    3. Private Charters
    Private charter cancellations are subject to a 90-day cancellation period.

    • More than 90 days before departure: The booking deposit is non-refundable.

    • 30–90 days before departure: 50% of the total booking price is payable.

    • Less than 30 days before departure: 100% of the total booking price is payable.


    4. General Cancellation Conditions

    • Failure to Attend or Early Departure

    • Failure to attend, late arrival or voluntarily leaving a voyage after departure does not ordinarily entitle the passenger to a refund, subject to any rights available under Australian Consumer Law.

    • Cancellations by Whitsunday Expeditions

    • Whitsunday Expeditions may cancel or reschedule a voyage where reasonably necessary due to severe weather, mechanical or technical issues, regulatory requirements, insufficient operational capability, safety concerns or circumstances outside our reasonable control.

    • Where Whitsunday Expeditions cancels a voyage before departure and cannot provide the booked service, passengers will be offered the remedies required by Australian Consumer Law and may also be offered alternative travel dates or another suitable experience where appropriate.

    • Additional Travel Expenses

    • Whitsunday Expeditions is not responsible for consequential expenses such as flights, accommodation, transfers or other travel arrangements, except where liability cannot lawfully be excluded.

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    • Booking is confirmed upon payment of deposit.

    • Balance payments must be made in full 30 days before charter commencement.

    • Cancellations 60 days or more before departure: loss of 50% of deposit.

    • Cancellations 30–60 days before departure: loss of full deposit.

    • Cancellations within 30 days of departure: forfeit of full charter price.

     

    We highly recommend that all charter guests obtain comprehensive travel insurance to protect against unexpected cancellations.

    • Deposit: A non-refundable deposit of 15% of the total cruise cost is required at booking.

    • Payment Options:

      1. Payment Plan – Five equal instalments, with schedule agreed with Whitsunday Expeditions.

      2. Full Payment – Due 90 days before departure date.

    • Scuba diving and other in-water activities involve inherent risks.

    • Passengers participating in scuba diving must satisfy applicable certification, experience, medical and fitness requirements. Certified divers may be required to provide evidence of certification and information regarding their diving experience and most recent dive.

    • Whitsunday Expeditions and its dive staff reserve the right to restrict or refuse participation in a dive where reasonably considered necessary for safety.

    • Passengers are responsible for accurately completing all required medical declarations and obtaining medical clearance where required.

    • Introductory dives and diver training are subject to applicable training-agency standards, medical requirements, participant performance and environmental conditions. Completion or certification cannot be guaranteed merely by purchasing a course.

    • Passengers must have an appropriate level of mobility and general fitness for the activities they choose to undertake. Voyages may involve boarding tenders, climbing ladders, entering and exiting the water, walking on beaches or uneven terrain and moving around a vessel at sea.

    • Passengers are responsible for their personal belongings. Whitsunday Expeditions' liability for loss or damage is subject to applicable law.

    • Passengers must comply with instructions relating to marine park requirements and environmental protection. Wildlife sightings, water visibility, marine life, coral conditions and other natural phenomena cannot be guaranteed.

    • Passengers must comply with reasonable instructions given by the Master and crew.

    • Whitsunday Expeditions may restrict a passenger's participation in an activity or, in serious circumstances, remove a passenger from the voyage where their behaviour creates an unreasonable safety risk to themselves, other passengers, crew or the vessel.

    • This includes serious intoxication, dangerous conduct, harassment, violence, deliberate disregard of safety instructions or unlawful behaviour.

    • Additional costs arising from a passenger being removed from a voyage because of their conduct are their responsibility to the extent permitted by law.

    • Passengers must not participate in scuba diving or other safety-sensitive activities while affected by alcohol or drugs.

    • The Master or relevant crew member may refuse participation where they reasonably believe a passenger is impaired. Illegal drugs are prohibited onboard.

    • Where applicable, voyages may be subject to minimum passenger numbers and operational requirements.

    • If Whitsunday Expeditions is unable to operate a departure, affected passengers will be contacted as soon as reasonably practicable and provided with the options available to them.

    • Whitsunday Expeditions operates in a dynamic marine environment. Our voyages are expedition-style experiences and published itineraries are intended as a guide rather than a guaranteed schedule.

    • Routes, destinations, dive sites, activities, departure and arrival times and the order in which locations are visited may change.

    • Access to any particular destination or dive site, including the Outer Great Barrier Reef, SS Yongala, Faith Reef, Elizabeth Reef, Bait Reef, Whitehaven Beach and individual Whitsunday Island locations, cannot be guaranteed.

    • All itineraries are subject to weather, sea state, swell, tides, currents, visibility, marine conditions, mooring availability, regulatory requirements, vessel operations and other safety considerations.

    • The Master has final authority over the navigation and safe operation of the vessel and may alter the route, itinerary, destinations, dive sites, activities, departure or arrival times where reasonably necessary.

    • Where a planned destination or activity cannot safely or reasonably be provided, Whitsunday Expeditions will endeavour to provide a suitable alternative destination or activity where conditions permit.

    • Safety decisions may be made before departure or during a voyage as conditions develop.

    • No particular reef, island, wreck, dive site, number of dives or activity is guaranteed unless expressly stated otherwise in writing.

    • Published dive sites and anticipated numbers of dives are indicative and depend upon weather, sea conditions, currents, tides, visibility, vessel movements, passenger safety, regulatory requirements and operational considerations.

    • The Dive Supervisor and Master may alter, relocate, postpone or cancel individual dives where reasonably necessary. Alternative dive sites or activities may be substituted where appropriate.

    • Minor or reasonable itinerary changes resulting from weather, sea conditions, tides, safety or operational requirements are an inherent part of expedition-style marine travel.

    • Where circumstances known before departure require Whitsunday Expeditions to make a significant change to the overall nature of the experience originally booked, affected passengers will be notified as soon as reasonably practicable and advised of the available options.

    • Nothing in these Terms & Conditions excludes or limits any right or remedy available under Australian Consumer Law.

    • Passengers must arrive at the nominated meeting point by the advised check-in time.

    • Published departure and return times are estimates and may change because of weather, sea conditions, vessel movements or operational requirements.

    • Passengers should allow sufficient time between the scheduled return of the vessel and any onward flights, transfers or other travel arrangements.

  • Guests on overnight vessels who require alternative dietary options (e.g., vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, gluten-free, dairy/lactose-free) will incur a dietary surcharge, payable at check-in.

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    Please contact our Reservations Team for specific surcharge amounts, as they vary by vessel.

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    Please note: We are unable to accommodate Halal or Kosher dietary requirements.

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    We believe food is an essential part of the guest experience and provide meals designed to fuel an active day on the water.

    • Passengers must arrive at the nominated meeting point by the advised check-in time.

    • Published departure and return times are estimates and may change because of weather, sea conditions, vessel movements or operational requirements.

    • Passengers should allow sufficient time between the scheduled return of the vessel and any onward flights, transfers or other travel arrangements.

  • Due to limited space onboard, guests are asked to pack light using soft-sided bags only — no hard-case or trolley bags, please.

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    Please note that there is no luggage storage available at the marina. Storage options are available on Airlie Beach’s Main Street.

  • While we do our best to accommodate guest cabin requests, these cannot be guaranteed. Alternative arrangements will be offered where possible, and bookings will be confirmed upon acceptance.

  • Guests are required to vacate their accommodation and pack luggage on the final day of the tour to allow our crew to prepare cabins for the next departure.

  • We cannot refund costs if you miss your tour due to weather-related road closures, flight cancellations, or other disruptions.

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    We strongly recommend all guests obtain travel insurance covering illness, injury, cancellation, and loss or damage to belongings — particularly during the wet season.

    • More than 14 days prior to departure: $50 transfer fee.

    • Within 14 days of departure: Subject to operator discretion and $50 transfer fee if approved.

     

    To request a date change, please contact:
    info@whitsundayexpeditions.com.au

  • If Whitsunday Expeditions cancels a tour for safety or operational reasons:

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    • Direct Bookings: Receive a 100% refund (excluding booking/transaction fees).

    • Third-Party Bookings: Please contact your agent directly; their terms apply.

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    Guests may alternatively choose to reschedule or receive an open-dated ticket.

     

    • Whitsunday Expeditions may cancel or reschedule a voyage where reasonably necessary due to severe weather, mechanical or technical issues, regulatory requirements, insufficient operational capability, safety concerns or circumstances outside our reasonable control.

    • Where Whitsunday Expeditions cancels a voyage before departure and cannot provide the booked service, passengers will be offered the remedies required by Australian Consumer Law and may also be offered alternative travel dates or another suitable experience where appropriate.

    • Whitsunday Expeditions is not responsible for consequential expenses such as flights, accommodation, transfers or other travel arrangements except where liability cannot lawfully be excluded.

    • Travel insurance is strongly recommended.

  • Guests may be refused boarding if they:

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    • Show flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath), or

    • Have had close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case.

     

    If you experience symptoms before your tour, contact us immediately.

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    Cancellations within the standard cancellation period are non-refundable; however, Whitsunday Expeditions can provide a support letter for travel insurance claims.

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    We strongly recommend that all guests maintain travel insurance covering COVID-19-related cancellations.

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