General Terms and Conditions & Conditions of Carriage

1. The General Terms and Conditions and Conditions of Carriage apply to Weisse Flotte Potsdam GmbH and all its affiliated companies.
2. By purchasing a ticket or signing a reservation or vessel charter agreement, the passenger acknowledges the following terms and conditions as binding.
3. The shipping company reserves the right to change the schedule. In the event of fog, storms, ice, or other adverse weather conditions, official closures of waterways, or circumstances beyond the company’s control (force majeure), the shipping company reserves the right to cancel trips, alter routes, or host events on board the vessels while they remain in port. In such cases, no claims for refunds or compensation shall be entertained. The shipping company further reserves the right to deploy vessels other than those specifically named in the timetable, on the ticket, or on the reservation form. All information is provided to the best of our knowledge. A scheduled trip may be cancelled if fewer than 20 tickets have been sold for that specific departure. Should a trip be cancelled due to insufficient passenger numbers, the full fare paid will be refunded.
4. Unless otherwise agreed, prices are gross prices and therefore include statutory value-added tax (VAT). Should the statutory VAT rate increase after the contract has been concluded, such increases shall be borne by the customer.
5. Tickets must be purchased at the ticket counters before starting the journey. Tickets must be presented in person upon boarding, kept for the duration of the journey, and shown to authorized ticket inspectors upon request. Tickets should only be purchased on board if no ticket counters are available or if they are closed. If a journey extends beyond the original destination, additional fare must be paid—without being prompted—to the captain or boatswain no later than the moment the original destination is passed. The tickets are valid only on the date of travel printed on them. If a valid ticket is not presented during a ticket inspection, the required ticket must be purchased, and an additional charge of EUR 30 must be paid. This additional charge must be paid immediately.
6. Tickets that have been purchased will not be refunded if the journey is not taken. No refunds are provided if the number of passengers in a group—for which tickets were purchased in advance—is reduced. This policy applies generally to all ticket purchases, whether made at ticket counters on the day of travel, via the online shop, or through advance sales at our own ticket outlets and agencies.
7. For trips involving reserved seating, passengers are entitled only to a seat at the table specified on their ticket or reservation. Should changes or rebookings become necessary, the shipping company reserves the right to assign a different table. There is no entitlement to a specific seat at any given table. For tour groups, the tour guide or group leader is responsible for ensuring that the seat reservations are observed. Breaking a journey is permitted only when using day tickets or round-trip tickets. No refunds can be provided for any unused portions of a journey.
8. Vouchers of any kind are valid for all scheduled services offered by the shipping company at the time of redemption, with the exception of water taxi services. For vouchers covering specific services, the regulations applicable to purchased tickets shall apply accordingly. There is no right to a cash payout. The statutory limitation periods apply to the redemption of the voucher. The limitation period begins at the end of the year in which the voucher was purchased.
9. Reserved tickets must be collected at the ticket counter no later than 15 minutes before the scheduled departure. The cancellation policy applies to any tickets that are not collected. For chartered trips, the cancellation terms specified in the vessel charter agreement shall apply.
10. For chartered trips, there is a minimum rental duration of 3 hours, starting and ending at the port of Potsdam. Vessels are provided with their standard seating layout. Any time required to clear or reconfigure the space at the client’s request will be charged as additional charter time. For all chartered trips, it is mandatory to enter into a catering agreement with Weisse Flotte Gastronomie GmbH.
11. Cancellation Policy
    1. Cancellations must be made in text form. For the purpose of meeting deadlines, the date of receipt by mail or the time of receipt by fax at Weisse Flotte Potsdam GmbH shall be decisive. If reservations are cancelled, flat-rate cancellation fees will apply under the conditions set out below.
    2. Für Reservierungen pro Person: 
       Als Stornierung gilt die Verringerung der Personenzahl ebenso, wie eine  Gesamtstornierung der Reservierung.
       1. Reservations for scheduled, day, and full-day trips can be cancelled free of charge up to 5 days before the day of the trip.
       2. Reservations for the fleet parade, evening cruises, brunch cruises, culinary themed cruises, Advent cruises, and special cruises may be cancelled free of charge up to 42 days before the date of the cruise.
       3. From that point until 3:00 PM, four days before the scheduled trip, a cancellation fee of 20% of the total trip price will apply. From then until 3:00 PM on the day before the trip, a cancellation fee of 50% of the total trip price will apply. Thereafter, or in the event of a no-show, 100% of the cost of the reserved service will be charged.
    3. For vessel charter agreements:
       1. Unless otherwise agreed, our invoices for the charter fee are payable in full within 14 days of receipt, and no later than one week prior to the start of the trip.
       2. Any withdrawal by the client from the contract concluded with us must be made in text form. Following the signing of the vessel charter agreement and up to 90 days prior to the scheduled event, a cancellation fee amounting to 10% of the total price of the trip shall apply. Should the client withdraw at a later stage, we are entitled to charge 50% of the agreed-upon remuneration. In the event of cancellation less than 14 days before the trip, 70% of the agreed fee will be charged; for cancellation less than 7 days before the trip, 90% of the agreed fee will be charged; and for cancellation three days or less before the trip, or in the event of a failure to show up for the trip, 100% will be charged.
    4. For pre-ordered catering services (per person): To ensure thorough preparation, the contracting party/client must notify Weisse Flotte Gastronomie GmbH of the final number of participants no later than 3:00 p.m., five working days prior to the event date. In the event of a late cancellation or a reduction in the number of guests, we will charge 100% of the agreed-upon catering services.
    5. The contractual partner/customer remains free to provide evidence that no damages—or damages significantly lower than those calculated in the aforementioned flat rates or cancellation fees—have been incurred.
12. In the interest of orderly traffic flow and passenger safety, instructions given by supervisory staff and vessel operators must be strictly followed, in accordance with §§ 1.03, 1.07, 9.04, 9.05, and 9.06 of the Inland Waterways Regulations.
13. The supervision of children is the responsibility of their parents or accompanying adults. In particular, they must ensure that the children’s behavior on board and on the jetties does not compromise their safety.
14. Dogs must be kept on a short leash while on board. Please be advised that in the state of Brandenburg, a muzzle is required when using public transport. Auf Ganztages-, Abendfahrten und Fahrten mit kombinierten gastronomischen Leistungen ist die Mitnahme von Hunden nicht gestattet.
15. The private use of musical instruments and sound-reproducing equipment is not permitted on board.
16. Fahrräder können nur nach Maßgabe vorhandener Möglichkeiten gegen Entrichtung einer Gebühr von 5 € pro Fahrrad transportiert werden.
17. Bulky items of luggage can only be transported if there is sufficient space available. Substances that are flammable, explosive, corrosive, or foul-smelling will not be transported.
18. Found items must be handed over immediately to the ship’s crew for forwarding to the shipping company.
19. Consuming food and drinks brought on board the vessels is prohibited. The shipping company reserves the right to conduct checks.
20. The passenger who causes damage to pier facilities, vessels, furnishings, inventory, etc., shall be held liable, even without proof of fault. In the case of vessel rentals, the renter may also be held liable for any such damage.
21. Complaints must be submitted in writing to the shipping company, following notification of the ship’s master.
22. Photographs and video footage are regularly captured during cruises and events hosted by Weisse Flotte Potsdam. These may be used for documentation, marketing, and promotional purposes—specifically for publication on the company’s website, on social media, and via other communication channels. By purchasing a ticket, passengers consent to the creation and use of such recordings, in which they may potentially be identifiable. Should an individual not wish to provide such consent, they must inform the staff on-site immediately.

Discounts

The following discounts on the full fare are granted to the groups of persons listed below, upon presentation of official documentation.

Only one fare discount can be claimed at a time!

No discounts are granted for: special excursions, day trips, full-day trips, evening cruises, trips that include catering services, or combination tickets. Eligibility for a fare discount must be claimed prior to the purchase of a ticket. Tickets that have already been purchased cannot be returned or refunded retroactively. Weisse Flotte Potsdam GmbH is not subject to the provisions of Section 145 of the German Social Code, Book IX (SGB IX).

In 2018, presenting a regular ticket for the Museum Barberini entitles you to a €1 discount on any scheduled cruise offered by the Weisse Flotte Potsdam. Conversely, a regular ticket for the Weisse Flotte entitles you to a €1 discount on admission to the Museum Barberini. In each case, the tickets are valid only for the same day.

Bordcard 50

Enjoy the full experience for half the price! With the “Bordcard 50,” you can travel on scheduled and day cruises for an entire year at half the cost (valid from the date of purchase; non-transferable). Available for 45.00 euros at our ticket counter and at the Potsdam Tourist Information centers.

Family Ticket – Boat Trips for the Whole Family

Family Ticket: Parents & Children = 1 Price
For the “Palaces Tour” (Schlösserrundfahrt) and the “Havel Lakes Tour” (Havelseenrundfahrt), parents accompanied by their children (up to five children, aged 14 and under) can board for a set, all-inclusive family price.

Small family ticket: For the palace tour and the Havel lakes tour, parents accompanied by their children (up to five children, aged 14 and under) may board at a specified, fixed family price.