Booking & Cancellation Policy

All bookings made through Faneca Expeditions are governed jointly by the operator's booking terms and conditions and by Faneca Expeditions' agency terms set out below. By proceeding with payment you acknowledge and accept all terms applicable to the booking.

Why this policy is strict

Liveaboard diving operates under demand-constrained capacity. Vessel commitments — fuel, crew, port and park-authority permits, certification and access fees — are paid forward by the operator at the moment of confirmation. Cabins are released by operators on a strictly allocated basis, and most premium itineraries are oversubscribed for a season or longer.

For these reasons, Faneca Expeditions applies the following terms to all confirmed bookings, in addition to any cancellation schedule operated by the vessel operator.

1. Non-refundable

All payments received are strictly non-refundable from the moment funds clear, regardless of when the cancellation is made or the reason for cancellation. This applies to the cabin cost, nitrox, extra cylinders, transfers, and every other line item on the invoice. This is Faneca Expeditions' agency policy and applies in addition to any cancellation schedule operated by the vessel operator.

2. Non-transferable

Trip dates, cabin assignment, and guest name are non-transferable to alternative sailings, future departures, or third parties unless expressly agreed in writing by both Faneca Expeditions and the operator. Where the operator permits a name transfer under its terms, an administration fee will apply.

3. No-show

Failure to embark on the scheduled sailing date for any reason will be treated as a cancellation under the terms above, with no refund or rebooking entitlement.

4. Insurance — your only refund mechanism

Given the non-refundable nature of these bookings, comprehensive dive and travel insurance is the only mechanism through which the cost of an unforeseen cancellation — illness, family emergency, travel disruption, missed connections, or otherwise — can be recovered. We strongly advise activating cover at the moment of payment, not later.

Standard travel insurance often excludes diving-related incidents. Please ensure your policy covers diving to the depths and conditions of your specific trip, and includes hyperbaric chamber treatment, evacuation, and trip cancellation. We recommend DAN (Divers Alert Network) or an equivalent specialist insurer.

5. Operator-side cancellation

In the rare event of cancellation by the operator — vessel unavailability, force majeure, government or park-authority restriction, or vessel occupancy falling below the operator's minimum threshold — the operator's standard rebooking and refund policy will apply, and Faneca Expeditions will advocate directly with the operator on your behalf. Most reputable operators do not cancel within 90 days of departure except for events beyond their control.

6. Pricing changes

Operators reserve the right to increase the price of confirmed bookings by up to 8% to reflect changes in fuel costs, third-party taxes and fees, and exchange rates. Marine park fees, transit and access cards, and any pre-payable fuel surcharges are subject to change by the operator or by the relevant national authorities. Any such change will be passed through to you and advised in writing as soon as Faneca Expeditions is notified.

72-hour holds (pre-payment)

A reservation submitted via the 72-hour hold system on this site is a non-binding placeholder. No payment is taken at the time of hold; no booking is confirmed and no funds are transferred. The hold simply gives you a 72-hour window to confirm availability with the operator and decide whether to proceed. The non-refundable terms above only apply once funds have cleared on a confirmed booking.

Operator-specific addenda

Specific operators may impose terms in addition to those above (for example, deposit schedules, balance-due deadlines, or trip-specific cancellation tiers). These will be communicated in writing at the time of booking and form part of your contract. Where operator and agency terms overlap, the stricter terms apply.

Questions

If anything in this policy is unclear before you commit to a booking, please ask. We would rather answer ten questions before payment than handle one dispute after.

Email: info@fanecaexpeditions.com
Concierge: fanecaexpeditions.com/concierge