Booking & Cancellation Policy
Please read this policy before starting a reservation. It's also shown at checkout and must be acknowledged before payment. See also our Terms & Conditions.
The person who submits the reservation is the contracting party and sole point of contact for the group — responsible for payment, guest information, and relaying these terms to every guest. San Blas Yacht Club coordinates directly with this person only.
A 20% deposit confirms the reservation — or the full amount, if you choose to pay in full at checkout. About 25 days before boarding we will ask to place a pre-authorization on your card to secure the remaining balance. You may settle any time before then by bank transfer or in cash for a 5% discount, or by card. The pre-authorization is released once your funds reach our account — by bank transfer (please allow up to 10 business days) or in cash on boarding day. Separately, a refundable $1,000 security hold is placed on the card and remains until the end of the charter to cover any accidental damage. It is a flat amount, not a percentage, and it is required on every charter — including those paid in full by bank transfer. We ask for it about 7 days before boarding via a secure link we email you, or at the time of booking if you are boarding sooner than that. Bank transfer fees, including any intermediary bank charges, are the client's responsibility.
Cancel 25 days or more before boarding: we retain the 20% deposit, which is held as credit toward another charter with us within 24 months if you rebook. Cancellations less than 25 days before boarding are non-refundable. If the balance is paid in cash on boarding day and the charter is cancelled, the card on file will be charged for the applicable balance.
We strongly recommend that every guest purchase their own comprehensive travel insurance for this trip — covering trip cancellation, delays, and unforeseen medical emergencies.
Cabins are assigned by guest count: 2 guests per cabin as standard, with solo-cabin requests available at booking. The crew assigns specific cabins to guests on boarding day.
Quiet hours run 8:00 p.m.–8:00 a.m. Sound carries far over the water and the islands are home to Guna families — please keep music and noise low overnight, out of respect for neighbouring yachts and the local communities. Alcohol is served in moderation for safety. Smoking, open flames, and candles are prohibited in cabins and enclosed areas. The captain has full authority over safety, itinerary, and onboard conduct at all times, and may end a charter for serious breach.
Before boarding we place a refundable $1,000 authorization hold on the lead guest's card. It is a hold, not a payment — nothing is taken, and it is released after disembarkation once the yacht has been checked over. Where damage, loss, or breakage of the vessel, its equipment, or its fixtures is caused by guest negligence or misconduct, we may charge the repair or replacement cost from that hold; if the cost exceeds the hold, the balance remains payable.
Please tell the crew straight away if anything is spilled, marked, or broken. We can almost always put it right on the spot at no cost to you — a spill mentioned immediately is wiped clean, while the same spill left unmentioned can soak into the gel coat or upholstery and become a genuine repair. Prompt honesty is what keeps this hold refundable, and we would far rather hear about it than discover it.
Illegal drugs, weapons, or other illicit materials are strictly prohibited on board and during transfers; violation may result in immediate termination of the charter without refund, and we may notify the relevant authorities and pursue charges.
We coordinate authorized transfers to and from the fleet. If a guest arranges independent transportation and cannot reach the boat on time, the reservation amount remains unchanged and no refund applies.