These terms apply to all trips, voucher purchases and hire agreements - In accepting your booking you agree to our terms and conditions.
All trips leave from St kilda Pier 'GPS' 1 Pier Road, STKilda 3182 Victoria. AUSTRALIA - at Upper LANDING 100m to The End of ST KILDA pier . Turn right at The Cafe walk over the foot bridge to entrance of Marina Gate. Dont enter Marina. The Upper landing is to The right of the cafe. Arrive 30 minutes prior to departure. We don't wait for late customers (unless the boat is privately booked).
All customers will receive a SMS text AT 5:00pm the night before to confirm the trip is going ahead after the weather forecast has been issued.
***** ALCOHOL POLICY 2021/2022 FULLY LICENSED PREMISES - wide variety of Drinks available for sale on board - BYO option on request talk to reservations staff about alternative liquor options.
NO ESKIES PERMITTED/ ABSOLUTELY NO DRUGS****
. The skipper has the right to refuse to allow alcohol to be brought on the vessel. If a group arrives for their charter clearly under the influence of alcohol and the skipper is of the opinion that the group is not in a suitable condition to take part in the charter, the trip will be cancelled and the full amount of charter will be forfeited. The sKipper reserves the right to refuse boarding to any person he or she believes is intoxicated prior to the commencement of the trip. During a trip, should the consumption of alcohol result in unruly behavior, the skipper reserves the right to terminate the trip without refund, The Skipper reserves the right to notify Police of the imminent return to the closest Port of Drunk & Disorderly customers. Any equipment lost due to negligence will be charged up to $165 per rod and reel unit and or cost's incurred in damage repair to boat.
Duty of Care / Safety Statement
All customers will be given a safety brief prior to departure including a life jacket drill. We have full public liability insurance. All customers are required to sign a passenger manifest prior to departure and sign a declaration that all pre-existing conditions and medication have been declared.
All Customers must declare any pre-existing medical condition or any medication prior to booking or departure. Some customers are deemed to be at increased risk and therefore may require special attention. We have the right to ask any customer to wear a life jacket through out our fishing trip, and the right to refuse a booking or refuse boarding if you are deemed to be high risk. Pregnant women, or blind people for example, may be at higher risk. Our vessel is suitable for physically handicapped people, but consideration of access to toilet over a bulk head should be considered. Children under 7 years are not permitted aboard our vessels. All children between ages 7-12 are required to wear a life jacket.
WEATHER CONDITIONS -
All trips are subject to suitable weather conditions. Melbourne Fishing Charters will not cancel unless we are absolutely confident the current weather forecast issued by the BOM is accurate. only MELBOURNE FISHING CHARTERS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CANCEL A FISHING TRIP BECAUSE OF WEATHER. We will SMS text all customers the night before between 4 and 6pm to confirm the weather. On occasions trips will be placed on standby until 5am on the day and the client will be updated at approx 5.05am. For group charters we recommend having an alternative activity planned incase weather changes are outside our control. From time to time the weather can change quickly and a reschedule may be necessary at short notice. The skipper, after consultation with the client dock side, has the right to cancel if deemed unsafe for ship, crew and customers. WE don't cancel unless we are absolutely confident we have all information regarding eh weather. REMEMBER - IT IS OUR AIM TO MAINTAIN A SAFE AND COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. IT IS NOT OUR INTENTION TO SPOIL YOUR DAY.
BOOKINGS
We are available everyday of the year to go fishing excluding Christmas Eve/Day/boxing day and New Years Eve / Day.
All bookings require a credit card as confirmation of booking/ or paypal deposit. We do require minimum number of individuals to run a trip to be viable. Bookings of 1 person welcome as long as we have enough people to join the trip to be viable. If Melbourne Fishing Charters does not get the required number of people we have the right to reschedule the trip. We will contact the customer before the day if we cannot honor the agreed time. All trips are refundable if we cancel and reschedule date is not suitable. Vouchers bookings are not refundable. We only reschedule voucher bookings. Private charter require 50% deposit on a credit card which is held as confirmation .
PRIVACY
All details obtained from clients i.e. telephone numbers, email address, postal address, facsimile number, credit card and bank account details, are only utilized for the express purpose of the operations of Melbourne Fishing Charters. These details are never sold, distributed or released to any other parties or bodies. In the instance of dishonored cheques or unauthorized credit cards these details will be forwarded to legal or recovery professionals.
PAYMENT for charter
All Payments are to be made prior to the vessel departing. The person making the booking is responsible for the payment of the entire amount. Bookings made must be paid for i.e. If a booking is for 6 persons and only 5 arrive for the trip, the full booking for 6 must be paid unless the space can be filled. All bookings of 3 or more persons are required to provide a credit card number and 50% of the charter fee. We prefer mastercard, visa or bankcard. Amex cards incur a 3% surcharge.
GIFT VOUCHERS
Any client holding a Gift Voucher issued by MFC or any agent must produce the gift voucher at time of boarding. Clients who miss the boat by arriving too late will forfeit their voucher. Clients who hold Gift Vouchers, book on and do not attend for their chosen trip will forfeit their Gift Voucher. Issued Gift Vouchers are not transferable for either Cash or Credit and money will not be refunded under any circumstances, replacement vouchers are available if lost or misplaced. Vouchers cant be used for part payment of Private Charter. . Cash refunds or credit cards reimbursements are not available for issued vouchers.
CANCELLATION OR RESCHEDULE
- Private Charter ( whole boat booked) - We refund tariff only if the cancellation is within 14 clear days before departure. Other wise deposit 50% of is forfeited. . This applies to a trip that has been rescheduled due to a cancellation. Non negotiable
- Group Cancel >5 persons - We refund tariff only if the cancellation is within 7 clear days before departure. Other wise a 50% of tariff fee is charged. A cancellation in less than 7 days will lose 100% of tariff or tariff collected. This applies to a trip that has been rescheduled due to cancellation, at the discretion of Melbourne Fishing Charters.
- Individual (<5 Persons) We refund tariff only if the cancellation is within 24 hours before departure. Other wise a 100% of tariff fee is charged. At the discretion of Melbourne Fishing Charters.
- A no show on day or cancel in less than 24 hours is charged at 100% of tariff.(absolutely Non Negotiable)
RECREATIONAL FISHING LICENCE
(RFL) AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE ONLINE
RFL are required in all Victorian waters. Melbourne Fishing Charters has made complete disclosure of this requirement by web site, printed information, booking confirmation, pre-departure briefing and signs on board our vessels. RFL are not available for purchase on board. Should Department of Primary Industries Fisheries Officers board our vessel during a trip, any passenger without a RFL is solely responsible for his/her RFL and any ramifications from such inspection.
TREATMENT OF STAFF
Our Staff have all been selected for their expertise in their field. As workers they are not to be insulted, sworn at, abused or defamed. The Skipper reserves the right to cancel any trip or return to any Port any individual (without refund) where staff are being harassed and or abused.
REFUNDS ON CHARTER DAY
Melbourne Fishing Charters has a strict no refund policy once the trip has departed. Should an individual become unwell and request to be returned to port, the Skipper of the trip will make a decision relating to a termination of a charter or returning to port to drop a customer off. Melbourne Fishing Charters will use their discretion as to the issuing of a refund. On the occasion where the advice of Melbourne Fishing Charters and the crew of the trip is ignored by the client, there is no refund available.
GENERAL BEHAVIOUR
It is a requirement that all Customers behave in a respectful manner whether that be prior to, during or after the charter, having full consideration for all other users of the Pier and it's immediate vicinity. Obscenities and unruly behavior will not be tolerated under any circumstances and may result in your booking being cancelled and payment forfeited.Any equipment lost due to negligence will be charged up to $165 per rod and reel unit and or cost's incurred in damage repair to boat
DRUGS
Drugs are not tolerated in any form. If a customer attempts to smoke or consume an illegal substance the skipper will immediately report this to the Marine Police and the trip will be immediately cancelled. No refund will be paid and the matter will be handed to the police.
RISK ASSESMENT AND DUTY OF CARE
All customers will be given a full safety and security brief prior to the vessel leaving port as part of our duty of care. Customer's will be asked about pre-existing medical conditions and declaration about any medication. These details are entered into the ships log. Customers are asked to complete a liability release and assumption of risk form prior to departure if a pre-existing condition is present. A non declaration of a pre-existing medical condition is considered negligent and Melbourne Fishing takes no responsibility for an incident arising.
FISH GUARANTEE
It is our mission to optimize everyone's opportunity to catch a fish. Melbourne Fishing Charters does not guarantee every customer catches a fish. Fishing is a sport of chance and many variables outside our control determine the catch rate. The crew of Melbourne Fishing Charters will offer customers a discount voucher invitation to retry. Customers behavior found to be outside the spirit of fishing and good sportsmanship will not be invited back or offered a discount. A dispute arising from the voucher will result in the voucher being invalid.
CUStOMER CHARTER
We promise to do our best to make your day run as smoothly as possible from your initial reservation through to your day on the water. Our team promise to do their very best to make your day safe and comfortable given the varying conditions at sea. Customers are reminded that our vessels are fishing vessels not 5 star luxury liners. We guarantee our food service to be fresh and hygienically prepared. Vegetarians, Halal and Kosher recommend cater your self. We don't guarantee a fish lunch as this depends on the daily catch.
Our Toilet facilities are private and clean. The toilets are marine style and different to a domestic style toilet. We recommend using a toilet before departure at public facilities in St Kilda if use of the toilet on board is a concern. Smoking is allowed in designated area as directed by the crew.
CHILDREN ON BOARD
7 - 12 years and under, is considered a child. Children must be able to fit a child life jacket and it is our policy that a life jacket provided by us is to be worn throughout the charters. We request that each child is supervised by a paying adult, on a 1: 1 ratio, As a consideration to other fisherman, large family groups may be asked to hire a boat privately. Max 10 children per charter on mixed charter at the discretion of Melbourne Fishing Charters reservation staff. Limited children's life jackets are available on board. Children under 7 years are at additional risk in the event that the ship be abandoned. We do not allow children under 7 years.
Children under 15 must be accompanied by full paying adult.( no fisho rate available $45)
SPECIAL NEEDS
Melbourne Fishing Charters has the right of refusal to any booking deemed to be at increased risk of safety with out prejudice. This includes any customer with a pre-existing condition or any medication that puts the charter and customers at additional risk.
SPIRIT OF FISHING
Our team love fishing and we genuinely want to show our customers a good time. We do not tolerate negative or poor-spirited fisher people. Come prepared to only have fun!
