Policies - Gokul Cruise Luxury Houseboats

Flexible Changes (15+ Days Notice)

You may request one complimentary date amendment up to 15 days prior to your scheduled check-in date. This is subject to houseboat availability and any applicable seasonal rate differences.

Late Changes (7 to 14 Days Notice)

Amendments requested between 7 and 14 days prior to check-in will incur a flat amendment fee of 20% of the total booking value.

Lock-in Period (Within 7 Days)

No amendments or date changes can be processed within 7 days of your check-in date. Within this window, any requested changes will be treated as cancellations and will be subject to our standard Cancellation Policy.

Peace of Mind Guarantee (Strikes & Weather)

If your trip cannot proceed due to labor strikes, government restrictions, or adverse weather/natural calamities that make navigation unsafe, we will issue a 100% Future Cruise Voucher. This voucher is valid for 12 months, allowing you to reschedule your experience.

In the rare event of a technical or operational issue with the boat prior to departure, management will make every effort to provide an equivalent or upgraded houseboat. If an alternative vessel is unavailable, a 100% full refund will be issued to the guest.

The operator's financial liability is strictly limited to the total amount paid by the guest for the houseboat booking. The operator is not responsible or liable for any secondary or incidental expenses incurred by the guest, including but not limited to flights, train tickets, or alternative hotel accommodations.

More than 30 Days Prior to Arrival

A full refund of your deposit will be issued, minus a 10% booking holding fee calculated from the total booking value.

15 to 30 Days Prior to Arrival

You may choose one of the following options:

A refund of your deposit, minus a 20% booking holding fee calculated from the total booking value.
Convert 100% of your deposit into a Credit Voucher valid for 12 months from the original check-in date.

7 to 14 Days Prior to Arrival

Cancellations made within this window will incur a 50% cancellation fee. You will receive a 50% refund of the total booking value.

Within 7 Days of Arrival

Cancellations made within 7 days of check-in are strictly non-refundable.

Peak Season (December 20 – January 5)

All bookings scheduled between December 20 and January 5 are strictly non-refundable and non-amendable upon confirmation, regardless of when the cancellation notice is given.

No-Shows & Early Departures

No-shows or early departures from the houseboat due to personal reasons are entirely non-refundable. The only exception is if an official government weather warning or safety restriction prevents the vessel from sailing.

Welcome aboard! To ensure a safe, relaxing, and memorable journey, we kindly ask our guests to review and observe the following house rules:

1. Arrival, Check-In & Check-Out

Standard Timeline: Check-in begins at 12:30 PM, and check-out is at 9:00 AM the following morning.
Early Arrivals & Late Departures: Early check-in or late check-out requests are subject to vessel availability and will incur an additional fee.
Late Arrivals: To maximize your cruising time, we recommend arriving punctually. In case of a late arrival, our crew will make every effort to recover missed time by avoiding the Day 1 lunch break anchor and initiating an early morning cruise start on Day 2 (prior to the standard 8:00 AM time). However, final check-out times remain fixed as scheduled.

2. Cruise Timings, Navigation & Routes

Day 1 Cruise: Your cruise commences shortly after arrival and continues until 5:30 PM / 6:00 PM, including a 45 to 60-minute anchor break for lunch. At the end of the day, the vessel will anchor at a designated location for the night halt (per maritime safety regulations).
Day 2 Cruise: The morning cruise resumes the next day from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM, bringing you smoothly back to the jetty for check-out.
Fixed Cruise Routes: The cruise itinerary and route are finalized and scheduled at the time of booking. Consequently, no modifications or route changes can be accommodated upon arrival.

3. Crew, Kitchen & Culinary Policies

Crew Availability: Our dedicated onboard crew is at your service from your arrival until 10:00 PM, resuming the next morning from 7:00 AM until departure.
Dining & Kitchen Hours: To ensure the freshest culinary experience and allow our hardworking crew sufficient rest before their shift concludes at 10:00 PM, the onboard kitchen closes strictly at 9:30 PM. We kindly request that dinner is served by 8:30 PM.
Food & Kitchen Restrictions: Guests are strictly prohibited from bringing raw food materials or raw ingredients onto the houseboat. For safety, hygiene, and operational reasons, the onboard kitchen is reserved exclusively for our culinary crew and is not available for guest use.

4. Onboard Policies & Amenities

Smoking Policy: For safety reasons and the comfort of all guests, smoking is strictly prohibited inside the bedrooms, cabins, dining areas, and guest decks. Smoking is only permitted on the captain's deck, where ashtrays are provided.
Alcohol Consumption: Guests are welcome to bring their own alcoholic beverages, provided prior approval is obtained from management at the time of booking. Alternatively, our onboard crew can assist you in procuring beverages locally upon request (subject to local availability and statutory hours).
Pet Policy: We love animals, but pets are allowed onboard only with prior management approval. Pet stays are entirely at the owner's risk, and owners are responsible for their pet's safety, behavior, and cleanliness throughout the cruise.
Wi-Fi Connectivity: Complimentary Wi-Fi is provided onboard. However, please keep in mind that network coverage fluctuates through remote backwater stretches; signal strength may occasionally drop, and the operator is not responsible for network connectivity disruptions.

5. Child Policy & Property Damages

Children (0–5 Years): Infants and toddlers under 5 years old stay on a complimentary basis. They are welcome to share existing bedding and meals with their parents.
Damages & Liability: Guests are expected to treat the houseboat and its amenities with care. Any damage caused to the boat, interiors, electronics, or decor by guests (or their pets) will be charged directly to the guest at actual repair or replacement cost before check-out.

Booking Deposit: A 50% deposit is required to confirm any booking.
GST: 5% applicable if not included in the quote.