Terms and Conditions

Notice: These are the Terms and Conditions of the legally binding contract between you as our customer and Vegan Travel UG (haftungsbeschränkt) operating as Vegan Travel (hereinafter referred to as the "Tour Operator", "Carrier", or "Vegan Travel"). This Tour Participant Contract contains substantial provisions regarding payment, price revisions, cancellation fees, limitations of liability, and governing law. Travel Protection and Cancellation Insurance coverage is strongly recommended.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

These Terms and Conditions apply to all vessels and tours chartered, operated, or organized by Vegan Travel UG (haftungsbeschränkt) unless otherwise agreed in writing.

1. DEFINITIONS

a. "You", "your", "guest", "customer", and "passenger" refer to all persons named on the booking or traveling under this contract, including minors.

b. "We", "us", "our", and "Tour Operator" mean Vegan Travel UG (haftungsbeschränkt), Wolbecker Windmühle 61, 48167 Münster, Germany, registered at the local court of Münster (HRB).

c. "Ship" means the chartered or operated vessel on which the passenger travels.

d. "Master" means the Captain of the Ship or any licensed officer acting under their authority.

e. "Cruise Fare" means the total amount payable for the confirmed travel services as set forth in your booking confirmation/invoice, excluding optional shore excursions, personal incidentals, or separate insurance fees.

2. BOOKING & CONTRACT FORMATION

A binding travel contract is concluded once Vegan Travel confirms your reservation in writing (via email, invoice, or booking confirmation). Vegan Travel acts as a fully bonded and insured Tour Operator in accordance with European Directive (EU) 2015/2302 and German statutory travel law (§§ 651a et seq. BGB).

3. CRUISE FARE, CURRENCY & PAYMENT TERMS

All payments shall be made in Euros (EUR) unless explicitly quoted otherwise in writing. 

a. Deposit: A deposit as specified on your booking invoice (standardly 20% to 30%, depending on the specific expedition or promotional tier) is due upon booking confirmation.

b. Final Balance: The remaining balance is due no later than 90 days prior to the scheduled departure date, unless a different payment date is expressly designated on your official invoice.

4. PRICE ADJUSTMENTS, FUEL SURCHARGE & SUPPLEMENTS

a. Right to Adjust Prices: Vegan Travel reserves the right to adjust the confirmed Cruise Fare after conclusion of the contract in the event of demonstrable cost increases occurring after booking confirmation relating directly to:

   (i) The cost of fuel or other power sources (Fuel Supplement);

   (ii) The level of taxes, fees, or charges imposed by third parties not directly involved in the performance of the cruise (including harbor fees, lock fees, pilotage charges, passenger embarkation/disembarkation taxes, and environmental levies); or

   (iii) Currency exchange rates relevant to the specific package.

b. Fuel Supplement Calculation: If fuel prices increase significantly between the date of booking and departure (based on official bunker index metrics or verifiably higher charterer fuel rates charged by the ship owners), Vegan Travel may levy a fuel surcharge not exceeding the actual per-passenger cost increase incurred.

c. Downward Price Adjustment (Right to Reduction): In the event of a decrease in the aforementioned costs (such as fuel price reductions or lower port fees) occurring between contract conclusion and departure, the passenger is entitled to a corresponding price reduction. Vegan Travel may deduct actual administrative expenses incurred in processing such refunds.

d. 20-Day Cut-Off Deadline: Any price increase or fuel supplement will be communicated to the passenger with clear calculations on a durable medium (email) no later than twenty (20) consecutive days prior to the scheduled departure date. No price increases may be imposed within 19 days of departure.

e. Passenger Cancellation Rights (8% Threshold): If any price increase or fuel supplement exceeds eight percent (8%) of the total confirmed Cruise Fare, the customer is entitled to:

   (i) Accept the proposed price change within a reasonable deadline specified by Vegan Travel; or

   (ii) Terminate the contract without incurring any cancellation fee, receiving a full refund of all monies paid to date.

5. ITINERARY CHANGES, RIVER CONDITIONS & OPERATIONAL DISCRETION

a. Deviations & Force Majeure: River levels (unusually high or low water), lock maintenance, weather hazards, canal closures, strikes, civil unrest, or official navigational restrictions may require operational adjustments beyond the Tour Operator's control.

b. In such events, the Master and Tour Operator reserve the right to alter sailing routes, adjust docking locations, provide comfortable alternative transportation (such as luxury coaches), or arrange equivalent hotel accommodations where navigation is safely impeded. Such alterations do not constitute a material defect or cancellation provided the core character of the tour is maintained.

c. If a voyage must be canceled prior to embarkation due to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances, all monies paid will be refunded promptly in accordance with statutory European package travel directives.

6. CANCELLATION BY THE PASSENGER & REPLACEMENT FEES

Cancellations must be submitted in writing (via email) to Vegan Travel at service@vegan-travel.de. Because Vegan Travel operates dedicated full-ship charters with strict charter-party financial commitments, cancellations are subject to the following non-negotiable fee schedules. The applicable schedule depends on the type of vessel and voyage confirmed on your booking invoice:

A. BOUTIQUE SMALL SHIP CRUISES, EXPEDITIONS & SPECIAL TOURS / EXTENSIONS

Due to the exclusive charter commitments, limited passenger capacity (approx. 8 to 30 cabins/suites), and advance financial obligations imposed on Vegan Travel by vessel owners, all small ship cruises, expeditions (including Amazon, coastal yachts, etc.), as well as pre- and post-cruise extensions and custom land arrangements, are strictly subject to the following terms:

* 91 days or more prior to scheduled trip start date: 25% of full fare ("loss of deposit")

* 31 to 90 days prior to scheduled trip start date: 50% of full fare

* 0 to 30 days prior to scheduled trip start date / No-Show: 100% of full fare

B. STANDARD LARGE RIVER & OCEAN CRUISES

For larger river vessels and standard ocean passenger ships not designated as small ship expeditions:

* 121 days or more prior to scheduled sailing date: Administrative cancellation fee of €100.00 per person (all other amounts paid will be refunded)

* 120 to 90 days prior to scheduled sailing date: 25% of full fare ("loss of deposit")

* 89 to 60 days prior to scheduled sailing date: 35% of full fare

* 59 to 30 days prior to scheduled sailing date: 50% of full fare

* 29 to 0 days prior to scheduled sailing date / No-Show: 100% of full fare

C. EXPEDITION EXCEPTIONS

Dedicated, separate payment and cancellation terms continue to apply to our Arctic & Antarctic expedition programs as expressly set forth in the specific Antarctica and / or Arctic documentation and booking agreements.

D. OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION FOR INSURANCE CLAIMS

Vegan Travel is fully bonded and insolvency-insured under statutory European travel regulations; cancellation fees cannot be waived or adjusted at our discretion. Official cancellation invoices issued by our accounting desk serve as formal, verified documentation of non-refundable travel expenses for submission to independent trip cancellation and travel insurance providers.
Insurance company: R&V Germany

7. PASSENGER FITNESS, CONDUCT & 100% PLANT-BASED MISSION

a. 100% Vegan Experience: All meals, snacks, and catering provided aboard our chartered vessels are exclusively plant-based. Guests agree to respect the mission and group environment of Vegan Travel.

b. Code of Conduct: Passengers must observe the ship's rules, safety protocols, and lawful directions of the Master and expedition crew. The Master reserves the right to disembark any passenger whose behavior poses a danger to safety, causes severe disruption, or violates international maritime safety regulations, with no entitlement to refund.

c. Special Assistance & Medical Conditions: Guests requiring mobility assistance or managing severe medical conditions/allergies must notify Vegan Travel at the time of booking. Certain small vessels or historic river ports lack elevator or wheelchair accessibility.

8. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

a. Statutory Maritime Frameworks: Vegan Travel's liability for death, personal injury, and loss of or damage to baggage is governed and strictly limited by applicable international conventions, including Regulation (EC) No 392/2009, the Athens Convention relating to the Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea (where applicable), and the Strasbourg Convention on the Limitation of Liability in Inland Navigation (CLNI).

b. Independent Contractors: Vegan Travel acts as charterer and tour operator. Independent third-party providers (such as external airline carriers, optional shore excursion guides, or individual taxi companies) operate under their own independent contracts and terms.

9. AIR TRANSPORTATION

Air travel arranged in connection with our tours is subject to the individual tariffs, tickets, and conditions of carriage of the operating airlines, governed by the Montreal Convention 1999 and European Regulation (EC) No 261/2004.

10. GOVERNING LAW & JURISDICTION

a. Governing Law: This contract and all claims arising hereunder shall be governed exclusively by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, without prejudice to mandatory consumer protection provisions of the customer's home jurisdiction under EU conflict-of-law rules.

b. Jurisdiction: Insofar as permitted by law (for commercial entities or non-EU residents), the courts of Münster, Germany shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any disputes arising out of or in connection with this contract.

11. SEVERABILITY

Should any provision of these Terms and Conditions be found invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in whole or in part, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired.

Last Updated: 17 September 2026.
NB: This update reflects non-substantive structural and formatting adjustments intended solely to enhance readability; the legal provisions remain unaltered.