General Terms & Conditions

Order placement

Upon confirmation of the order or booking, the following terms and conditions are deemed accepted.

1. Scope of services

The lessor shall ensure that the customer is handed over a seaworthy and fully functional charter boat. Should faults or damage occur during the hire period, the lessor shall ensure that any faults impairing the operability of the boat are remedied without undue delay.

If the lessor remedies reported damage without undue delay, the customer has no entitlement to a reduction in the hire price. If the lessor is unable, for reasons beyond its control, to make the hired boat available to the customer, it may propose an alternative date or refund the entire hire price. Any further compensation is excluded unless the lessor or its vicarious agents acted with gross negligence.

2. Use of the vessels MS Hamburg, MS Vera, MS Sylvia

The hirer charters a vessel from Reederei Böttcher and enters into a contract with Reederei Böttcher. The use of the vessels and conduct on board must comply with the generally accepted rules of seamanship and the provisions of the BinSchStrO and the Noise Protection Regulation. Any conduct that endangers or disrupts safety on board or other waterway users must be avoided.

The hirer and guests must follow the instructions of the skipper and the shipping company's crew on board. They are not authorised to steer the vessel. They are not permitted to use or soil the vessel to a degree beyond normal and reasonable use. They are obliged to inform their guests before departure and continuously on board of the above obligations, to ensure compliance and to supervise them within reasonable limits.

The skipper and crew are authorised to remove from the vessel, without any refund, guests who are more than slightly intoxicated or who for any other reason pose a danger to themselves or others.

Bringing and consuming personal drinks is prohibited. In the event of a breach, the lessor reserves the right to charge a flat rate for the lost bar revenue. The flat rate is €20.00 per person per hour.

On the upper deck of MS Sylvia 20 persons are permitted, on MS Hamburg 60 persons. Accessing the upper deck is at the guest's own risk. Persons on the upper deck are required to sit down when approaching a bridge and to follow the safety instructions of the crew.

The toilets are by design not suitable for the disposal of paper and solid materials. Failure caused by improper use may lead to immediate termination of the trip. In any event a flat-rate repair fee of €100.00 is due immediately, in addition to any further damage claims. Urinating over the side is prohibited.

Bringing children and pets on board must be agreed with the lessor before departure. The hirer or their guests must ensure, and are solely responsible for ensuring, that children and pets are supervised throughout the entire time on board. Guests, in particular children, who cannot swim must wear a life jacket, which the skipper will gladly provide.

The shipping company must be informed of the nature of the event at the time of booking. The shipping company reserves the right to refuse to start or to terminate cruises for stag/hen parties, demonstrations or political events without any refund.

3. Payment terms

Unless otherwise agreed, all payments are to be made to the specified business account. Upon receipt of the order confirmation or charter agreement, the hirer shall pay a deposit of €200.00 within 7 days of the booking confirmation. The remaining balance is to be settled up to 3 days before departure. Departure will only take place after payment of the full invoice amount. For short-notice bookings, 100% of the total amount is to be transferred.

Other payment terms are only binding with prior written consent. Any additional costs incurred shall be borne by the hirer. If the hirer defaults on payment, the lessor is entitled to withdraw from the charter agreement and claim damages for non-performance.

Catering services ordered on board (including drinks) will be settled by the shipping company with the customer after the end of the trip in accordance with the price list on board. These are due immediately after the end of the trip and must be paid by the customer in cash or by debit card, unless an invoice and subsequent settlement has been expressly agreed.

4. Cancellation terms

If the contract is cancelled by the hirer or the hirer terminates the contract for reasons not attributable to the lessor (Reederei Böttcher), a flat-rate cancellation fee will be charged.

The cancellation fee is as follows:

• Up to 4 weeks before departure: 60% of the fare
• Up to 7 days before departure: 80% of the fare
• Up to 1 day before and in the event of no-show: 100% of the fare

The lessor (Reederei Böttcher) reserves the right to claim evidence of a higher loss. The hirer may provide evidence that no loss was incurred or that it was significantly lower than the flat rate.

Free cancellation is only possible up to 14 days after receipt of the written booking confirmation. Cancellation must be made in writing.

5. Liability of the hirer

The hirer is fully liable for damage caused intentionally, negligently or through gross negligence. The hirer is also liable for damage caused by their guests.

6. Liability of the lessor

Liability for breaches of contract due to force majeure such as fog, high or low water levels, accidents, navigation bans, ice, operational faults or interruptions is excluded. If the crew is unable to reach the vessel's berth due to road closures and protests, this also falls under force majeure.

Claims for damages arising from impossibility of performance, non-performance, positive breach of contract, culpa in contrahendo and tort are excluded to the extent that the damage was not caused intentionally or through gross negligence.

If, due to a change in legislation, it is not possible to hire out the vessel, we reserve the right to withdraw from the contract. In this case no claims arise; any deposits already paid will be refunded in full.

7. Boarding and disembarkation

Boarding and disembarkation are only possible and permitted at the agreed mooring. Boarding or disembarkation at other moorings is not possible.

Jurisdiction & final provisions

Jurisdiction: Zossen

All amendments and verbal side agreements must be made in writing.

Severability clause

Should individual provisions be legally invalid or lose their legal validity, this shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions.

As of: January 2026