Terms & Conditions

1. Rates
All prices are quoted in Vietnam Dong, depending on the daily rate. Our prices for cruises are generally per cabin, not per person, except for promotions with mandatory special terms and conditions. Our rates are dynamic based on our cruise demand and business season which is applied per calendar year and are subject to the calendar day of a month of cruise embarkation.

2. Sightseeing & Entrance Fee
Regarding port entrance fees and sightseeing fees, Grand Pioneers is responsible for buying and paying for tickets on behalf of passengers. In case of any increased entrance and sightseeing fees as regulated by the local/port authority, Grand Pioneers shall inform all passengers about a mandatory surcharge (applicable to early reservations).

3. Advanced Registration
All passengers (children included) are required to provide full passport information at least 24 hours before arrival date as per Port Authority Regulations. Late updates after 10.30 AM of your cruise date will be charged a penalty of VND 2,500,000 per booking for our resubmission to the authority. Please contact us to provide your information.
Check-in time from 11:00 AM to 11:45AM. Kindly noted that LATE ARRIVAL will not be accepted as regulated by local authority.

4. Deposit & Advance Payment
Deposit payments (applied for GIT bookings – group bookings) can be settled by bank wire transfer, or credit card, in which case deposit is required at the time of inquiries confirmed. For FIT bookings, full payment is required at the time of the reservation to secure the booking.

5. Rate Specifics
The adult cruise rate applies to passenger aged above 11 years at the time of travel (meaning 11th birthday has passed at the time of travel). For children aged 11 years and under, special prices apply.
- Children from 0 to 4 years old: free of charge and limited to 1 child per 1 cabin, 2nd child will be charged according to cruise policy which might not be collected at the time of booking but upon your arrival at our check-in lounge. Our specialist will reach out to you regarding this.
- Children 5-11 years old: children rate will apply and a maximum 02 children per cabin
- Extra bed is available with surcharge applied.

6. Cancellation and Amendment/Modification
Terms and conditions for cancellation and amendment or modification of reservations are different among types of rates. We suggest all customers read thoroughly before proceeding with the booking and making a payment. All terms & conditions will be stated on the booking voucher generated from our website or provided by our customer specialists.
For health issues, an MC (medical certificate) will be required to be able to discuss booking modification possibilities.
In every case, No-show will be fully charged and non-refundable.

7. Promotional & Package Rates
All bookings with promotional & package rates are non-refundable and cannot be amended or modified. Failure to arrive at our cruise will be treated as a no-show and no refund will be given.

8. Final Payment
The final payment has to be settled before the check-in date. These payments are due in our office or submitted online in advance before the departure date. All payment in full is required at the time of booking (for FIT inquiries) or before the arrival date (for GIT bookings). If final payments are not received on time, Grand Pioneers may cancel the reservation and invoke the cancellation fee.
Except as otherwise agreed by the Merchant, the Client’s payment shall be executed by cash or credit card. Credit card transactions might incur bank charges at times depending on Grand Pioneers's real-time policy.
In cases where credit facilities have not been agreed with the Client/Agent, payment shall be executed by swift or telegraphic transfer to the appropriate Merchant’s bank account. Any bank charges levied by the sending bank relating to transfers to the Merchant must be paid by the Client/Agent.
Payment will be settled through our bank account in advance and Grand Pioneers Cruise shall receive the payment in full before the arrival date.

9. Refund of Unused Services
No refunds or exchanges can be made in respect of accommodation, meals, sightseeing tours, transport, or any other services that are included in the tour prices but not utilized by the tour member.

10. Vouchers/Confirmations
Confirmations will be issued by Grand Pioneers after the booked trip is confirmed and payment is completed. A service voucher will be sent by email to passengers.

11. Liability & Insurance
Grand Pioneers Cruise accepts no responsibility for any loss, injury, damage, or delay due to natural disasters, political actions, weather, or causes beyond its control. Travel insurance and medical precautions are essential. Your travel insurance must provide coverage against personal accidents, medical expenses, emergency repatriation, and personal liability. We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance before any trips.

12. Halong Bay & Bai Tu Long Bay Bad Weather Policy
Due to ad-hoc weather changes in North Vietnam that may occur in certain seasons of the year, authorities may not allow cruise operations on last-minute notice due to national safety regulations.
In the case of adverse weather conditions that prevent the ships or cruises from being given the order to depart Grand Pioneers will issue a refund to you, after deducting any incurred costs, such as transportation services, meals, day tour tickets, and other related expenses.
Please note that the Ha Long Port Authority regulations dictate that departure orders will be issued and announced daily based on the real-time weather conditions. Grand Pioneers will be responsible for keeping you updated on any changes. However, if the cruise is authorized to depart and you choose to cancel your booking or service, please be aware that we will not be able to refund the costs you have already paid, as per the terms of your booking.

13. Complaints
In the unlikely event that you do have a problem during your trip, please inform the cruise management immediately, who will endeavor to put things right. If you suffer any loss or damage to your luggage, please inform us immediately. If your complaint is not resolved locally and you wish to complain further, please send formal written notice of your complaint to us within 03 days of the end of your trip (giving your booking reference and all other relevant information). Failure to do so will affect our ability to investigate your complaint and could affect your rights under these conditions.

14. Force Majeure
Except where otherwise expressly stated in these conditions, we will not be liable or pay compensation if our contractual obligations are affected by any event which we or the supplier(s) of the service(s) in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. These events can include but are not limited to, war, terrorism, threat of war, civil strife, fire, flood, or any other extreme weather conditions, and its consequences or the threat of such activity, riot, labor difficulties, the act of any government or other national or local authority including port or river authorities, industrial dispute, lock closure, natural or nuclear disaster, chemical or biological disaster, adverse weather, sea, air, ice and river conditions, loss of power, epidemics or pandemics, inability to obtain any necessary license or consent and delays caused by sub-contractors and all similar events beyond our or the supplier(s) concerned control.

In case of a Force Majeure which makes it impossible or prevents fulfilling the booking contract at the time of travel or within a reasonable period before the travel date, the booking contract may be terminated by either party. Such an event also requires the existence of official announcements by national or international authorities (for example the issuing of travel warnings, declarations of risk, or [partial] state of emergency) at the time of travel, within a reasonable timeline before the travel date or ceases to exist.

Please note that you will not be entitled to a cash refund. Travel agents or resellers who book on behalf of a guest and have not paid us cancellation charges if any, when terminating a booking contract due to Force Majeure, will not be offered a refund in the form of a future credit unless open charges have been balanced in return.

15. Animals
Animals, pets, and livestock are not allowed on board and will not be carried on any vessel.

16. Jurisdiction and applicable law
Any rights and obligations relating to your booking and journey and any contract agreement or confirmation to which they apply are governed by the local law where the vessel is registered. Any dispute, claim, or other matter which arises out of or in connection with any agreement or your booking will be dealt with by the courts of the company in the flag state only.