Guides · 2026-08-10
Dhow Cruise Cancellation & Weather Policy
Plans change, especially on holiday, so here is our cancellation and weather policy in plain language. The headline: cancel or reschedule free of charge up to 24 hours before your cruise. No forms, no phone queues: one WhatsApp message is enough.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
If you cancel at least 24 hours before your scheduled boarding time, you pay nothing and owe nothing. Just send us a WhatsApp message on +971 50 23 48 228 with your name and booking date, and we will confirm the cancellation in writing. There are no cancellation fees and no vouchers-forced-on-you: a cancellation is a cancellation.
Rescheduling your cruise
Most guests who cannot make their date prefer to move the booking rather than cancel it. Rescheduling is free up to 24 hours before the cruise, subject to availability on your new date. Tell us the new date you want and we will confirm the seats. In peak season (December to February) and on weekends, give us as much notice as you can so we can hold the best availability for you.
Cancelling within 24 hours
If you need to cancel on the day of the cruise, message us as early as possible. Same-day cancellations are handled case by case: where we can resell or reallocate the seats, we will move you to another evening free of charge. We ask for honesty and early notice, and in return we are flexible. Guests who simply do not show up without any message cannot be refunded or rescheduled.
Weather policy: what happens on rough days
Dubai's waters are calm almost all year, but on rare occasions high winds or rough seas mean the maritime authorities restrict sailing. Safety is not negotiable: if the cruise cannot sail, it will not sail. In that case you choose: a free reschedule to any other evening, or a full refund of whatever you paid. We notify affected guests by WhatsApp as early as the decision is made, usually by mid-afternoon on the day.
How to cancel or reschedule: step by step
One: open WhatsApp and message +971 50 23 48 228. Two: write your name, your cruise date, and whether you want to cancel or move to a new date (and which date). Three: wait for our written confirmation, which usually arrives within minutes during working hours. Keep that confirmation message; it is your proof. That is the entire process.
Refunds: timing and method
Where a refund is due, for example after a weather cancellation, it is processed back through the same method you paid with. Refunds are initiated within 2 working days of confirmation. If you paid nothing in advance, which is the case for most WhatsApp bookings confirmed without prepayment, there is simply nothing to refund and nothing owed.
Special sailings: Ramadan and New Year's Eve
Standard policy applies to Ramadan iftar cruises. New Year's Eve is the one exception: because it is a special premium sailing with fixed catering and entertainment costs, NYE bookings require earlier confirmation and have a stricter cancellation window, which we state clearly at the time of booking. For every other night of the year, the 24-hour free policy above applies.
Travel insurance and large groups
If you booked your Dubai trip with travel insurance, keep your cancellation confirmation message: most policies cover prepaid activities, and our written WhatsApp confirmation is accepted as proof of cancellation. For large groups and private charters, the same 24-hour free cancellation applies to the booking as a whole, but we ask groups of 20 or more to give us 48 hours' notice where possible, simply so a large block of seats can be released back into sale for other guests. New Year's Eve remains the one exception with its own terms, stated clearly at booking. For every other night of the year, the rule is simple: tell us a day ahead, and changing or cancelling costs you nothing. Keep our WhatsApp number saved from the moment you book, so rescheduling is always one message away.
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