Legal · Policy 03

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Plain-English rules on how to cancel, when refunds apply, and how weather credits work — all in one place. If you booked a charter, the windows below are part of the contract you agreed to.

Last updated · 02 October 2026

§ 01Principle

We at FAM Tours depend on you, the client, to pick cautiously and to confirm that the charter you select suits your plans, your timing, and your budget. If over the long term your plans change we recommend you share your booking with family or friends who might enjoy it.

We value your business. While we are not liable for the conduct of individual crew members or for events outside our control, we will always do what we can to make things right. If something significant has let you down, please reach us — we will do everything reasonable to put it right.

Refund or credit — your choice. For any non-weather cancellation inside 72 hours, you may request a credit instead of a refund. Credits are valid for 12 months from the original charter date and may be applied to any future FAM Tours booking.

§ 02Cancellation windows

The fee depends only on the time between your cancellation and the booked departure time (GST):

  • More than 72 hours before departure — full refund of all amounts paid, or free change to a new date.
  • Between 24 and 72 hours before departure — 50% of the charter fee is non-refundable. Add-ons (catering, decoration) that have already been committed to a third party may also be retained at cost.
  • Less than 24 hours before departure — the booking is non-refundable in full.
  • No-show — charged at 100%.

§ 03How to cancel

To cancel, write to Booking@fam-tours.com or call +971 54 431 8815 quoting your booking reference (format BFAM-…). A cancellation is only effective when you receive written confirmation from us.

If your charter is within four hours of departure, please also call the mobile line so we can hold the vessel at the marina.

§ 04Refunds

Refunds will be made to the original payment method. We will never refund to a different account without written authorisation from the booking contact.

If you have paid by bank transfer, we will ask for your IBAN/SWIFT details to process the refund. If you have paid on board by card, we will refund the same card — refunds to a different card require a signed refund authorisation.

§ 05Weather & Force Majeure

FAM Tours reserves the right not to operate a charter that cannot be staged safely. Where the captain or the bookings office determines that the conditions exceed safe operating limits — Force Majeure events including small-craft advisory, sustained winds, thunderstorms, fog, port closure, maritime authority order, or any other cause outside our reasonable control — we will, at your option:

  1. Reschedule the charter to a mutually agreeable date at no additional cost; or
  2. Refund 100% of all amounts paid, including committed third-party add-ons.

Weather credits are always issued in full; no admin or processing fee applies.

§ 06No-show

If you do not arrive at the marina within 60 minutes of the booked departure time without notice, the captain will treat the booking as a no-show and the charter will depart without you. The full booking fee remains payable.

§ 07Non-refundable cases

Refunds are not applicable in any of the following circumstances:

  • If your booking voucher or ticket has expired (i.e. the booked departure time has passed).
  • If you do not show up at the time stated on your ticket, we reserve the right to charge a 100% no-show fee.
  • If you simply change your plans — see the cancellation windows above for the applicable fee.
  • If you arrive under the influence of alcohol or substances and the captain reasonably declines to operate the charter, the booking is non-refundable.

§ 08Refund timing

Refunds are processed within seven working days of the cancellation being confirmed in writing. Bank transfers may take an additional 3–5 working days to clear depending on the issuing bank.

If a refund has not appeared within 14 calendar days of our confirmation email, please contact us at Booking@fam-tours.com with your reference number.

§ 09Contact