Legal
The terms that govern your voyage.
Booking & Payment
Booking & payment.
How bookings are confirmed, what taxes apply, and which payment methods we accept.
About the Company
Sail Lanka Charter (Pvt) Ltd is a private limited company registered in Sri Lanka. All charters are operated under licences issued by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). All captains hold valid SLPA maritime certificates.
Booking Confirmation
All bookings are subject to availability. A booking is confirmed only upon receipt of full payment or a non-refundable deposit as specified at checkout. We reserve the right to decline any booking at our discretion prior to confirmation.
Pricing & Taxes
All prices are quoted in US Dollars (USD) unless otherwise stated at checkout. Sri Lanka Social Security Contribution Levy (SSCL), Value Added Tax (VAT), and applicable Service Charges are calculated and itemised at checkout. The Sri Lanka Department of Wildlife Conservation Wildlife Fee (currently USD 18 per person) applies to all whale watching and open-ocean overnight departures and is added at checkout. Published prices are subject to change without notice until a booking is confirmed.
Payment Methods
Online bookings accept card payments in LKR and USD via Commercial Bank Payment Gateway (IPG). Instalment payments in LKR are available via MintPay. Manual bank transfers are accepted for selected booking types — contact reservations to arrange. All payments are processed in accordance with the policies of the relevant payment provider.
Cancellations
Cancellation policy.
Our cancellation fees, weather policy, and what happens if we cancel your departure.
Guest-Initiated Cancellations
Cancellation fees apply based on the number of days before the scheduled departure date on which written notice of cancellation is received:
- 90+ days25% of the deposit non-refundable
- 60 – 89 days50% of the full charter rate non-refundable
- 30 – 59 days75% of the full charter rate non-refundable
- Under 30 days100% of the full charter rate — no refund
- No-show100% — no refund rights, no credit toward a future booking
- Peak period15 Dec – 10 Jan: 100% in all cases, except cancellations initiated by us due to weather or minimum passenger numbers
Weather & Safety
Sailings may be postponed or cancelled due to adverse weather conditions as determined solely by the captain, in consultation with Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard reports. In such cases, guests will be offered a reschedule to a mutually agreed date or a full refund of amounts paid. No additional compensation is payable.
Minimum Passenger Numbers
Shared experience departures require a minimum number of passengers to operate, as stated at the time of booking. If minimum numbers are not reached, we will offer a reschedule. Where a guest is unable to reschedule and provides documentary evidence of the reason, a full refund will be issued.
Force Majeure
In the event of a force majeure circumstance affecting the guest — including death, serious illness, or serious accident — we may, at our discretion, allow amounts paid to be credited toward a future booking. Any such credit is valid for 12 months from the original departure date and is not transferable or redeemable for cash. Documentary evidence will be required.
General Terms
General terms.
Guest responsibilities, liability, governing law, and how these terms are updated.
Guest Responsibilities
All guests must follow the instructions of the captain and crew at all times. Safety briefings must be attended before departure. Any guest who poses a risk to the safety of the vessel, crew, or other passengers may be removed from the vessel without refund at the captain’s discretion. Guests are responsible for their personal belongings at all times.
Children & Minors
Children are welcome on all sailings. Child pricing applies to guests under 12 years of age on shared experiences. All guests under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian for the duration of the voyage. The accompanying adult accepts responsibility for the minor’s safety and conduct on board.
Liability
Sail Lanka Charter (Pvt) Ltd operates in full compliance with Sri Lankan maritime law and carries mandatory maritime insurance. Our liability for personal injury, death, or property damage is limited to the extent required by applicable law. All guests sail at their own risk and acknowledge the inherent risks of open-water sailing. We accept no liability beyond what is mandated by applicable Sri Lankan legislation.
Governing Law
These terms and conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Sri Lanka. Any dispute arising in connection with a booking or voyage shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Sri Lanka.
Updates to These Terms
These terms are reviewed and updated periodically. The version published on this page at the time of booking applies. We recommend reviewing these terms before each booking. Continued use of our services after any update constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.
Terms of Use
Use of this website.
The terms governing your use of the Sail Lanka website itself — separate from the booking contract above.
Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using the Sail Lanka website, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use. If you do not agree, please do not use the site. These terms apply to all visitors, browsing users and prospective guests.
Intellectual Property
All content on this website — including text, photography, imagery, video, vessel names, the Sail Lanka brand, logos, trademarks, and the website’s design and code — is the property of Sail Lanka Charter (Pvt) Ltd or its licensors and is protected by copyright and trademark law. You may not reproduce, redistribute, republish or commercially exploit any part of this site without our prior written permission.
Acceptable Use
You agree not to use automated tools, scrapers or bots to access the site beyond what is permitted by our robots.txt; not to attempt to interfere with, disrupt or compromise the security or operation of the site; not to impersonate any person or misrepresent any affiliation; and not to use the site for any unlawful purpose.
Content Accuracy & Changes
The information on this site — including pricing, vessel specifications, departure ports, seasonality and itineraries — is provided for general guidance and may change without notice. Binding terms apply only at the point of booking confirmation. We make no warranty that the content is complete, current or free of errors.
Website Availability
We do not guarantee that the website will be available uninterrupted or free of errors. We may suspend, modify or withdraw the site, or any part of it, at any time without notice. Where the booking flow is unavailable, please contact reservations directly to complete your booking.
Third-Party Links
This site may link to third-party websites — including payment gateways, WhatsApp, and partner organisations. We do not control these sites and are not responsible for their content, policies or practices. Inclusion of a link does not imply endorsement.
Ready to sail?Let’s design your
Let’s design your
journey
Every Sail Lanka voyage is tailored to you. Share your destination, travel companions, and preferred experience, and we'll craft a journey that's uniquely yours.