Scheduled Cruises (Booking & Cancellation Terms)

• In the case of Cancellations announced by the company, the customer is entitled to a full refund or held as a credit for a future cruise
• All bookings are required to be paid in full at the time of booking.
• All Cancellations incur a 15% cancellation fee (total booking) up to 2 weeks prior to the departure date.
• Cancellations made by the customer with less than 2 weeks’ notice and more than 48 hours' notice are subject to a 50% cancellation fee (total booking).
• Cancellations made by the customer with less than 48 hours’ notice of cruise departure are subject to a 100% cancellation fee (total booking).
• Bookings with over 10 guests are classified as group bookings.
• All cruise fares are quoted in Australian Dollars and include Australian Goods and Services Tax (GST)
• Booking transfers are at the discretion of NOVA cruises and will incur the same fees, terms, and conditions as cancellations.

Private Charters & Group Bookings (Booking & Cancellation Terms)

• In the case of Cancellations announced by the company the customer is entitled to a full refund or held as a credit for a future cruise
• Bookings with over 10 guests are classified as group bookings.
• A non-refundable Deposit of 25% (total booking) is required at the time of booking
• Full payment and confirmation of guest numbers are required 4 weeks prior to cruise date.
• Cancellations made by the customer with more than 4 weeks’ notice are subject to a 25% cancellation fee (total booking).
• Cancellations made by the customer with less than 4 weeks’ notice are subject to a 100% cancellation fee (total booking).
• Our minimum guest numbers are: "Bay Connections" is 30 (40 Nov/Dec on Fri/Sat/Sun). "The Princess" 60 (80 Nov/Dec on Fri/Sat/Sun). If less than this number attends the minimum must be paid for.
• All cruise fares are quoted in Australian Dollars and include Australian Goods and Services Tax (GST).
• Booking transfers are at the discretion of NOVA cruises and will incur the same fees, terms, and conditions as cancellations.

General Conditions

• NOVA Cruises Pty Ltd - reserves the right to cancel or change this specific cruise schedule if necessary. NOVA Cruises Pty Ltd holds the right to cancel any cruise due to insufficient bookings or weather conditions.
• NOVA Cruises Pty Ltd - will not be responsible or liable for any passenger's expenses (travel, accommodation) should a cruise be cancelled .
• Unless arranged prior, all cruises depart and return from Lee Wharf on Honeysuckle Drive, Newcastle.
• NOVA Cruises vessel "Bay Connections" & "The Princess" are fully licensed (no BYO permitted), Staff and crew are trained in and enforce the Responsible Service of Alcohol and our House Policy.
• At the discretion of the Vessel's Master and Owner, cruises may be terminated or passengers removed from the vessel due to antisocial or disorderly behavior.
• The Owners, Crew, and Masters of "Bay Connections", "The Princess" and "NOVA Cruises Pty Ltd" take all care but accept no responsibility for injury to persons or for loss of personal property however caused.

Privacy and Security Policy

NOVA Cruises Pty Ltd does not pass on any of your information to third parties, other than the relevant Australian government bodies in emergency situations. Contact information may be used in case of cruise cancellation advisories, and some direct marketing information unless you choose not to receive it.

Online booking Credit Card details are taken via eWAY Australia Online Payment Gateway and are not stored by NOVA Cruises Pty Ltd  (see eWAY eCommerce Security)  for more information. eWAY is focused on meeting security standards that are industry-leading and all transactions are protected by 128bit Advanced Encryption Standard. All payments displayed on this website and payments processed via eWAY are in Australian Dollars.

Delivery Policy

After ordering online, you will receive an email confirmation from NOVA Cruises containing your order details (if you have provided your email address). We will normally confirm receipt of your order within a few minutes of ordering. NOVA Cruises is not liable or responsible for any loss suffered as a result of a Ticket or Gift Voucher via email being blocked by filters or firewalls, or where the incorrect email address has been entered by the purchaser. If the recipient does not receive the emailed Tickets or Gift Voucher, please contact us immediately on 0400 381 787 or email info@novacruises.com.au to arrange for tickets or gift vouchers to be re-sent to an alternative or corrected email address.

Whale Sighting Policy

• If we do not sight a whale during your whale-watching cruise you will be entitled to a free stand-by return whale-watching cruise only to be taken with NOVA Cruises (does not apply to private charters). Group bookings on scheduled whale cruises are entitled to 1 x free stand-by return whale-watching cruise mid-week only.
• Free stand-by return whale-watching cruise must be taken within 12 months of the original booking date.
• Stand-by cruises not redeemed within 12 months will lapse and not be valid.
• Stand-by cruises are not transferable, replaceable, or redeemable for cash.
• Stand-by cruises can only be used by the original ticket holder.
• Photo identification is required upon redemption.
• A stand-by cruise can only be redeemed 24 hours before departure, pending availability