Version: October 2026
These General Travel Conditions (ARB) form part of the package travel contract concluded between the customer and IVENT SAILING within the meaning of section 651a of the German Civil Code (BGB) and supplement the statutory provisions. Where these ARB do not provide otherwise, the statutory rules (sections 651a et seq. BGB) apply. Mandatory consumer-protection provisions that may not be varied to the traveller’s disadvantage (section 651y BGB) remain unaffected.
1. Conclusion of the contract
1.1 By registering, the customer makes a binding offer to IVENT SAILING to conclude a travel contract. Registration may be made in writing, orally, by telephone or electronically (e-mail, internet). IVENT SAILING provides the customer with the pre-contractual information required under Article 250 EGBGB beforehand.
1.2 The person registering is liable for the contractual obligations of all fellow travellers named in the registration as for their own, provided they have expressly assumed this obligation.
1.3 Offers made by IVENT SAILING are without engagement and non-binding; this applies in particular to prices, availability and service details in brochures, on the website and in individual quotations. The contract is concluded upon acceptance (booking confirmation) by IVENT SAILING; acceptance requires no particular form. IVENT SAILING promptly provides the customer with a booking confirmation on a durable medium.
1.4 If the booking confirmation deviates from the customer’s booking request, it constitutes a new offer without engagement by IVENT SAILING. If the customer accepts it, the contract is concluded only upon the ensuing confirmation by IVENT SAILING. Until that confirmation, IVENT SAILING is not bound.
2. Payment and insolvency protection
2.1 Payments towards the travel price before the end of the trip become due and are made only against delivery of the security certificate within the meaning of section 651t BGB. The security certificate names the customer-funds insurer.
2.2 Upon conclusion of the contract and delivery of the security certificate, a deposit of at least 20 % of the travel price becomes due; the exact amount is set out in the offer or the booking confirmation. The balance is due on the date stated in the booking confirmation; depending on the trip and service provider, this is usually between three months and 30 days before departure, provided the trip can no longer be cancelled for the reasons set out in clause 6.
2.3 No security certificate is required where the trip lasts no longer than 24 hours, includes no overnight stay and the travel price does not exceed EUR 500 (section 651t BGB).
2.4 Payment can be made by bank transfer or credit card; card payments are processed via a payment service provider. No additional fee is charged for payments with standard consumer credit cards (in particular Visa and Mastercard) (section 270a BGB). For payments not covered by section 270a BGB – in particular commercial credit cards, three-party cards (e.g. American Express, Diners Club) and cards issued outside the European Economic Area – IVENT SAILING may charge a fee corresponding to the actual costs incurred; the amount is shown before the payment is completed.
2.5 If the customer is in default, IVENT SAILING is entitled, after a reminder and a grace period, to withdraw from the contract and claim compensation under clause 4.
3. Services
3.1 The scope and content of the services follow from the trip description, the booking confirmation and the pre-contractual information under Article 250 section 3 EGBGB.
3.2 Deviating services or special requests are binding only if confirmed by IVENT SAILING on a durable medium. Services that the customer books directly with third parties without the involvement of IVENT SAILING (e.g. excursions, events, hire cars) do not form part of the travel contract.
4. Withdrawal by the customer (cancellation)
4.1 The customer may withdraw at any time before the start of the trip. What matters is receipt of the withdrawal notice by IVENT SAILING. A notice on a durable medium is recommended.
4.2 If the customer withdraws or does not commence the trip, IVENT SAILING may claim reasonable flat-rate compensation (section 651h BGB). The cancellation terms set out in the offer or the booking confirmation prevail. Only where no deviating cancellation terms are stated there does the following scale apply per person (in % of the travel price):
| Withdrawal before departure | Compensation |
|---|---|
| up to 90 days | 30 % |
| 89 – 60 days | 50 % |
| 29 – 15 days | 90 % |
| from 14 days / no-show | 100 % |
4.3 The deposit paid is retained as the minimum cancellation compensation and is not refunded. This corresponds to the processing and agency costs of at least 15 % of the travel price that IVENT SAILING incurs in any event, plus the deposits paid to the service providers, which are regularly non-refundable.
4.4 IVENT SAILING strongly recommends that the customer take out travel cancellation and trip interruption insurance. The above cancellation charges can amount to a substantial part of the travel price; such insurance protects the customer against these costs (see also clause 11).
4.5 For separately booked or arranged third-party services (in particular scheduled and charter flights, insurance, visas), different and possibly higher cancellation rates of up to 100 % may apply, to the extent the service providers charge these to IVENT SAILING. This is pointed out in the booking confirmation.
4.6 The customer is free to prove that IVENT SAILING incurred no loss or a substantially lower loss. Instead of the flat rate, IVENT SAILING may claim specifically calculated and substantiated compensation.
4.7 The customer’s right to name a substitute participant (section 651e BGB) remains unaffected. Additional costs caused by the substitute are borne by the customer.
5. Rebooking
Changes to the travel date, destination, vessel, place of departure, accommodation or transport at the customer’s request after conclusion of the contract are possible, where feasible, against reimbursement of the actual additional costs plus a processing fee of EUR 100 per change. The customer is free to prove that no or substantially lower costs were incurred. Rebooking requests from the 30th day before departure, as well as a change of vessel or destination, are treated as a withdrawal with re-registration under clause 4.
6. Withdrawal and termination by IVENT SAILING
6.1 IVENT SAILING may terminate the contract without notice if the traveller, despite a warning, persistently disrupts the trip or behaves so contrary to the contract that its immediate termination is justified. In this case the claim to the travel price remains, less expenses saved.
6.2 IVENT SAILING may withdraw, within the statutory periods of section 651h(4) no. 1 BGB, if a minimum number of participants stated in the trip description is not reached. Amounts already paid are refunded promptly.
6.3 In the event of unavoidable, extraordinary circumstances (e.g. force majeure), IVENT SAILING may withdraw under section 651h(3) BGB; payments made are refunded. Further claims by the customer for self-booked third-party services (flights, hotels, ferries) are excluded to the extent permitted by law.
7. Nautical matters
The command of the vessel rests with the responsible captain. For reasons of the safety of vessel and persons, in view of weather, wind or sea conditions, official orders or other nautical requirements, the route, ports, berths and anchorages as well as the programme may be changed. Such nautically justified changes do not constitute a travel defect. The statutory liability of IVENT SAILING under clause 8 remains unaffected.
8. Liability
8.1 IVENT SAILING is liable under the statutory provisions for the proper performance of the travel services.
8.2 The liability of IVENT SAILING for damage other than personal injury that was not caused intentionally or through gross negligence is limited to three times the travel price (section 651p(1) BGB).
8.3 Where a travel service is based on international conventions (e.g. air or sea transport), IVENT SAILING may invoke the limitations of liability provided for therein (section 651p(3) BGB).
8.4 IVENT SAILING is not liable for performance failures in third-party services booked by the customer directly with third parties without the involvement of IVENT SAILING.
9. Co-operation and duties of the customer
9.1 The customer must notify any travel defect without undue delay to the local tour representative and, in every case, to IVENT SAILING, and request remedy (section 651o BGB). Notification to IVENT SAILING is made by e-mail to sales@ivent-sailing.com or by SMS or WhatsApp to +49 151 16405665 (also outside business hours). Notice must be given in good time to enable IVENT SAILING to provide a remedy during the trip. If the customer culpably fails to give notice although able and reasonably expected to do so, claims for a price reduction (section 651m BGB) and damages (section 651n BGB) are excluded to that extent; defects raised for the first time after the end of the trip are not recognised in that case. The local tour representative may provide remedy but is not authorised to acknowledge claims.
9.2 Sailing trips make physical demands. The traveller must be able to hold on securely, to board and leave a tender with assistance and to use a ship’s ladder with a handrail. Medical conditions or limitations requiring special care must be notified at the time of booking. IVENT SAILING or the captain may refuse participation where a person is evidently unfit to travel; clause 6.1 then applies accordingly. Travel from the 26th week of pregnancy is not recommended.
9.3 In the case of baggage damage in air transport, the customer must submit a damage report (P.I.R.) to the operating airline without undue delay (in the case of loss within 7 days, in the case of delay within 21 days). Claims under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 are to be directed to the operating airline.
10. Passport, visa, entry, health and customs requirements
IVENT SAILING provides information on general passport, visa and health requirements. The customer is responsible for complying with all regulations relevant to the trip; this also applies to the customs regulations of the destination and home country. The customer bears any disadvantages arising from non-compliance, unless these result from culpable incorrect information or a failure to inform on the part of IVENT SAILING.
11. Insurance
Insurance is not included in the travel price unless expressly stated otherwise. In view of the possible cancellation charges under clause 4, IVENT SAILING expressly and strongly recommends that the customer take out travel cancellation and trip interruption insurance. IVENT SAILING further recommends travel health, travel accident and baggage insurance with worldwide cover.
12. Choice of law and place of jurisdiction
12.1 German law applies. If the customer is a consumer whose habitual residence is in another state, the mandatory consumer-protection provisions of that state remain unaffected (Article 6 Rome I Regulation or equivalent rules).
12.2 The customer may sue IVENT SAILING at its registered office or, where mandatory law so provides, at the customer’s place of residence. For actions by IVENT SAILING against the customer, the customer’s place of residence is decisive. If the customer has no general place of jurisdiction in Germany, is a merchant or a legal person under public or private law, relocates their place of residence or habitual abode abroad after conclusion of the contract, or if this is unknown at the time the action is brought, Potsdam is agreed as the place of jurisdiction.
13. Note on dispute resolution
The European Commission’s online dispute resolution platform is available at ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr. IVENT SAILING is neither obliged nor willing to take part in proceedings before a consumer arbitration board.
14. Final provisions
Should individual provisions of these ARB be invalid, the validity of the contract and of the remaining provisions remains unaffected. Invalid provisions are replaced by the statutory rules.
