Terms and Conditions

In confirming your charter/ tour booking with Royale Coachlines you agree to adhere to the following Terms and Conditions of Carriage.

Payment

1.1 Royale Coachlines may request a deposit on any tour/ charter hire.
1.2 New ‘Customers’ may be asked to complete a credit application or requested to make payment in full prior to departure.
1.3 Existing ‘Customers’ must make payment in full on receipt of invoice.
1.4 All payments made by credit card will incur a surcharge.
1.5 Credit may be stopped for any ‘Customer’ with an invoice outstanding at 60 days.
1.6 Royale Coachlines reserves the right to charge interest, at current bank overdraft rate, on any invoice outstanding at 60 days.
1.7 All Royale Coachlines’ quotes are based on the most logical route unless otherwise requested. Where itinerary (route and time) changes are made, Royale Coachlines may adjust the quoted rate accordingly.

2. Overnight Charters

2.1 Where an itinerary requires an overnight stay, all meals and accommodation will be covered by Royale Coachlines and incorporated into the quote, unless otherwise agreed.
2.2 Where accommodation is supplied by the ‘Customer’ it must meet minimum standard levels being a single motel/hotel room with its own toilet and shower facility. Royale Coachlines does not permit their Drivers to share a room with Tour/ Charter Leaders or ‘Passengers’.
2.3 Meals must be of an acceptable standard.

3. Repairs/ Cleaning

3.1 The ‘Customer’ will be responsible for meeting any costs of repairing damage to the vehicle, or cleaning the vehicle as a result of the conduct and actions of the ‘Passengers’ carried on behalf of the ‘Customer’.

4. Drivers

4.1 The New Zealand Transport Agency requires Royale Coachlines Drivers to comply with legal hours of duty. Notably:
> Drivers must take a break of at least 30 minutes after 5 1/2 hours of work time.
> In any period of work of up to 24 hours, drivers can work a maximum of 13 hours and then must take a break of at least 10 hours (as well as the standard half-hour breaks every 5 1/2 hours).
4.2 Royale Coachlines will only confirm quotes that comply with New Zealand legislation relating to the above requirements.
4.3 Royale Coachlines Drivers cannot undertake requested itinerary changes from any member of the ‘Group’, including the ‘Person in Charge’, without prior approval from Royale Coachlines operations/ management.
4.4 Royale Coachlines Drivers reserve the right to refuse to carry members of the ‘Group’ who choose to break the obligations outlined in these Terms and Conditions of Carriage. The Driver has been instructed to contact Police should the need arise.
4.5 Royale Coachlines Drivers are legally required to advise all ‘Passengers’ that seat belts, where fitted, are required to be worn; however, the Driver is under no legal obligation to ensure ‘Passengers’ adhere to this rule.
4.6 Royale Coachlines Drivers are responsible for the safety of the vehicle and ‘Passengers’ and therefore have the final say as to whether it is safe for the vehicle to travel parts of the itinerary.

5. Consumption of Alcohol/ Food

5.1 Under Section 38 of the Summary Offences Act 1981, it is an offence to consume alcohol while on board a Royale Coachlines vehicle.
5.2 If the ‘Group’ wishes to carry alcohol to their destination, it must be stored in the separate luggage compartment; it must not be carried inside the vehicle with the ‘Passengers’.
5.3 If the ‘Group’ wishes to consume alcohol onboard, the ‘Contact Person’ must apply for a ‘Special License’ through their Local Council. A copy of this license must be carried on board the chartered vehicle and our separate alcohol policy must be signed by the ‘Group’.
5.4 It is the Drivers discretion to allow the consumption of food onboard, unless it is a specific condition of the ‘Special Licence’ in which case consumption of food on board will be permitted.
5.4 Smoking is prohibited on all Royale Coachlines vehicles under the provisions of the Smoke-free Environments Amendment Act 2003.

6. Liability

6.1 Royale Coachlines cannot be held responsible for any loss, injury or damage resulting from any activity associated with the charter. This includes, but is not limited to: loss, injury or damage as a result of civil disturbances, act of terrorism, theft, road closure, itinerary changes, adverse weather, natural disaster or any costs associated with late arrival to delivery points.
6.2 Royale Coachlines cannot be held responsible for damaged luggage, luggage left behind on the vehicle, or theft of luggage that is directly the result of passenger interference.
6.3 Royale Coachlines cannot be held responsible for any ‘Passengers’ left behind at stops; this responsibility falls on the ‘Person in Charge’ of the ‘Group’.

7. Cancellation Policy

7.1 ‘Customers’ who cancel bookings, prior to departure, but after a portion of the booking has already taken place will incur all actual charges in relation to that portion of the booking. This includes, but is not limited to, Drivers accommodation, departure from depot to pickup ‘Group’, empty running and ferry crossings.
7.2 There will be no cancellation fee for bookings cancelled prior to expenses incurred by Royale Coachlines.
7.3 Royale Coachlines reserves the right to arrange alternative transport or alter itineraries where necessary. To the extent permitted by law, all our liability for damage to your property, disruption to your travel plans, or mental injury is excluded. This exclusion is subject to any rights or remedies you may have under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993.

8. Contact Person

The ‘Contact Person’ is the person making the booking on behalf of the ‘Customer’. On confirming a booking with Royale Coachlines’, the ‘Contact Person’ accepts personal liability for ensuring the ‘Customers’ payment of the booking, and related costs, is made in full and on time. Royale Coachlines reserves the right to pursue the ‘Contact Person’ directly for payment should the ‘Customer’ fail to make payment in full and on time.

This is not necessarily directed at our regular ‘Customers’ and ‘Contact Persons’ who have a satisfactory credit history with Royale Coachlines and whose on-going business we appreciate. It is intended more to protect Royale Coachlines against new ‘Customers’ with no credit history. The name of the ‘Person in Charge’ of the ‘Group’ must be given at the time of booking. This person must travel with the ‘Group’, remain sober, and is responsible for, but not limited to; ensuring all ‘Passengers’ within the ‘Group’ follow the directions of the driver, the vehicle is left undamaged, rubbish removed and ‘Passengers’ are not left behind at stop