Terms of Service

The following conditions are part of the charter contract, which is concluded between the customer, hereinafter referred to as "charterer", and the company Hausboot-Havelskipper GbR, owners Veit Didczuneit and Maximilian Klee, hereinafter referred to as "charter company", for a houseboat. With the booking, the charterer accepts the conditions for himself and the people traveling with him.

1. Conclusion of contract

By submitting the online booking form, the charterer submits a binding contractual offer to the charter company. The charter company can reject this offer without giving reasons. A legally valid contract, and thus an acceptance of the offered contract by the charter company, only comes about when the charter company sends a booking confirmation to the charterer. If the charterer makes an inquiry by e-mail or telephone, the charter company will submit a contract offer, which the charterer must confirm. By confirming the offer, the charterer accepts the contract. The charter company must declare this contract legally valid by means of a booking confirmation. Since the charter company begins work immediately after conclusion of the contract, the charterer, with his express consent, loses his legally required 14- day right of withdrawal.

2. Prices and Due Dates

A deposit of 50% of the charter price must be paid within 5 days after the booking confirmation has been sent. The remaining amount is due for payment 4 weeks before departure. For bookings made less than 4 weeks before the start of the trip, the charter price is due for payment in full immediately. All payments are to be made by bank transfer to the charter company's bank account. If the charterer does not meet his payment obligations on time and in full, the charter company is entitled to withdraw from the contract.

3. Cancellation / withdrawal from the contract The charterer is entitled to withdraw from the charter contract before the start of the journey without giving reasons. The cancellation must be made in writing. The following cancellation costs apply: 0% of the charter price and a processing fee of €150 if the letter of cancellation is received up to 6 months before the start of the charter;

50% of the charter price if the letter of cancellation is received up to 3 months before the start of the charter; 90% of the charter price if the letter of cancellation is received up to 30 days before the start of the charter.

4. Unavailability

If the charter company is unable to make the houseboat available due to unforeseen events, the charterer will be reimbursed in full for all payments already made. The charter company is not responsible for water closures, shipping restrictions or other interruptions in emergencies, as well as in cases of high water, low water, strikes or force majeure.

5. Delivery/return of the houseboat

Check-in begins at 2:00 p.m. on the day of arrival. The return must be made by 10 a.m. on the day of departure. The houseboat is handed over by the charter company in a technically perfect, operational, fully tanked and clean condition. During the handover, the charterer receives an introduction to the houseboat and its use. Charterer and charter company jointly check the houseboat and its furnishings for damage before departure and document this. If something is damaged on board during the journey, the charterer is obliged to inform the charter company immediately about the damage that has occurred. When taking it back, the charter company will check the houseboat again and is entitled to claim any damage that has not been previously documented, as described under “8. Liability” described. The charterer is responsible for ensuring that the return takes place on time. In the event of a late return, the charter company will charge EUR 50 for each hour started. If the agreed charter time is exceeded, the charterer undertakes to continue paying the charter price and other costs incurred as a result of the overrun. If a subsequent charter is lost due to exceeding the limit, the charterer is liable for the damage incurred.

6. Boatman

The boat driver must be of legal age. He is jointly and severally responsible with the charterer for the rental object. The charter company reserves the right to refuse the handover if, in its opinion, the boat operator cannot take responsibility. In such a case, the payments already made by the charterer will be refunded. The charterer has no further claims.

7. Use of the houseboatThe houseboat is to be used with the utmost care. The regulations/instructions of the water police and other authorities must be followed. The charterer undertakes to only take the maximum number of people (4) on board and not to organize any races. The towing of other watercraft is only permitted in an emergency and must be reported to the charter company immediately by telephone. The charter boat may only be towed after consultation with the charter company in order to avoid high salvage costs. The charterer undertakes to report grounding and similar minor accidents to the charter company upon return, not to set sail in bad weather conditions, eg from wind force 4, or to seek the nearest port or a safe anchorage. If damage occurs to the raft or equipment during the charter period, the charterer must inform the charter company immediately by telephone in order to coordinate the expediency of the repair with him. Costs for repairing wear and tear and damage that is not your fault will be reimbursed by the charter company against receipt, provided that these have been agreed with the charter company in advance. The replaced parts are to be handed over to the charter company. Accidents and averages must be reported immediately to the nearest port or police authority. All personal details and ship types and the names of all those involved in the accident are to be determined. The charterer writes a short report with a sketch, which all those involved in the accident sign. This report will be given to the charter company upon return. Locking is only permitted with the permission of the charter company. If the charterer does not fulfill this obligation, he can be held liable for the damage. Barbecuing and subletting or lending the houseboat is prohibited. Journeys between sunset and sunrise are not permitted. Locking is only permitted with the permission of the charter company.

8. Liability The charter price includes comprehensive insurance (EUR 500 excess) and liability insurance for the houseboat. Damage caused by the charterer and not fully covered by the existing hull and liability insurance must be compensated by the charterer to the charter company, even beyond the deposit paid. A deposit of EUR 01722533844 per charter trip is required. The deposit must be paid in cash before departure. Damage caused by the charterer must be borne by the charterer up to the amount of the excess, even if a lower deposit has been paid. If the charterer causes damage that makes it impossible to continue chartering the charter boat, it is up to the charter company to claim the charter cancellation costs from the charterer. The charter company reserves the right to withhold the entire deposit to cover the cost of repairing the boat. If the charterer and boat operator are not identical, both are jointly and severally liable. Any defects on the charter boat must be reported to the charter company immediately. The charterer is not authorized to carry out repairs or have them carried out on his own authority. In the event of damage that cannot be calculated immediately, the full deposit can be retained until the damage has been finally settled. The occurrence of defects cannot be ruled out and justified, even with the best care and maintenance, provided there is no significant impairment in the overall use of the boat, neither a right of recourse against the charter company, nor a reduction in the charter price or a withdrawal from the contract. If a technical problem occurs during the journey, please inform us immediately. In the case of self-inflicted problems, the costs will be charged to the charterer. The charterer and his companions use the houseboat and its accessories at their own risk. Claims of any kind against the charter company for damage incurred by the charterer or his companions during use of the houseboat, parts of the houseboat or accessories are excluded. Furthermore, any liability for the loss of or damage to personal belongings of the charterer or his companions is excluded. The charter company assumes no liability for the correctness of any map material provided and the accuracy of the displays of the instruments.

9. Jurisdiction and place of performance

The place of jurisdiction and fulfillment is Potsdam. German law applies exclusively. Subsidiary agreements must be in writing.

10. Website

We take the right to keep our website up to date and encourage every charterer and prospective customer of our houseboat to follow updates in all areas of the website. This also includes text changes and price changes.

11. Vouchers and discount promotions

Promised discounts on bookings will be offset against the booking and cannot be paid out. They are only valid until the stated offer period. The discounts are only compatible with the payment behavior already mentioned under point 2. The total amount of the booking is reduced by the discount amount. Discounts cannot be combined with other offers/discounts/vouchers.

12. To drive through the lock and tracking

Locking (drive through the lock) is only possible after consultation with the charter company.

The location of the boats works via GPS and is available to the charter company at any time.

13. Right of withdrawal

According to Section 312g Paragraph 2 Number 9 BGB, the consumer/charterer has no right of withdrawal.