General Terms

A. General Provisions

1. These General Terms and Conditions (GTC) apply to every contract concluded with Erlebnishotel “Zur Schiffsmühle” GmbH in Grimma (hereinafter “the Hotel”). Any terms and conditions other than those of the Hotel shall not become part of the agreement, even if the Hotel does not expressly object to them.

2. The Hotel may adjust prices after the contract has been signed if more than one month will elapse between conclusion of the contract and provision of the service. In such cases a corresponding price increase is permissible.

3. Contracts are binding on both parties. They cannot be terminated unilaterally. Cancellation is possible only with the Hotel’s consent and in accordance with § A 10 of these GTC. Special agreements are possible, but they must be recorded in writing in the contract.

4. Reserved rooms are available from 3:00 p.m. on the arrival day. Unless a later arrival time has been expressly agreed, the Hotel may re-let reserved rooms after 6:00 p.m. Rooms must be vacated by 10:30 a.m. on the departure day. The Hotel may issue written confirmations of room bookings at its discretion.

5. An option expressly designated as non-binding must be confirmed or released by the option deadline. Confirmed options are treated as firm reservations. Without timely confirmation the Hotel may allocate the reserved services elsewhere.

6. The Hotel may require a reasonable advance payment or security deposit when or after the contract is concluded. The amount and due dates shall be agreed in writing.

7. Sub-letting or re-letting the provided rooms and any use other than accommodation are prohibited. For function rooms, the contractually agreed purposes and times apply.

8. If the ordering party is not also the organiser or orders on behalf of another, both shall be jointly and severally liable.

9. Invoices are payable within 14 calendar days without deduction. In case of default the Hotel may charge interest at 5 percentage points above the base rate in force on the due date, unless higher damages are demonstrated. The contracting party may set off claims only if its counter-claims are undisputed or adjudicated with final effect.

Default on even a single invoice entitles the Hotel to suspend all further and future services or to make them conditional upon 100 % pre-payment, without notice. For reservations totalling more than 10 overnight stays, the Hotel may demand 50 % advance payment if the customer’s residence or registered office is abroad, and 100 % regardless of the number of overnight stays.

10. If a customer cancels services booked in advance, the following percentages of the agreed price remain payable:
      • 60–31 days before the service period – 10 %
      • 30–21 days before the service period – 30 %
      • 20– 9 days before the service period – 50 %
      • 8 days before the service period – 90 %
      • On the day of arrival until 3 p.m. or no-show – 100 %

 Cancellation fees are reduced by any revenue earned by re-letting the cancelled rooms.

 Special rules
  • Event tickets: No reservations possible; purchased tickets are non-returnable and non-refundable.
  • Catering: Free cancellation or changes up to 10 working days before the event. The total amount is due 10 days before the event; otherwise 90 % cancellation fees (excluding travel costs) apply.
  • Packages (“Arrangements”): 30 % due on booking; the remaining 70 % eight weeks before arrival. Bookings within eight weeks require 100 % payment immediately. Fees: up to eight weeks before arrival – 30 %; thereafter – 100 %. Taking out travel-cancellation insurance is recommended.

11. For restaurant reservations of 10 or more persons (children count), a no-show fee of € 15.00 per absent person is charged.

12. Objects or materials left in public areas, technical facilities or conference rooms are deemed “brought in” only if expressly taken into custody by authorised staff. In guest rooms, liability covers only items introduced by the entitled guest. Except in cases of intent or gross negligence, the Hotel’s liability for such items is limited to € 3,500. Sections 701–703 BGB apply; all other liability is excluded unless the Hotel, its legal representatives or agents caused the damage wilfully or through gross negligence.

13. Consumption of food or beverages brought in is prohibited in public areas, restaurants and function/meeting rooms. Smoking is forbidden in guest rooms, restaurants and function/meeting rooms. If rooms cannot be re-let due to smoking, lost revenue plus € 150 cleaning costs and any fire-service charges will be billed to the offender.

14. If a contracting party endangers hotel operations or safety, the Hotel may terminate the contract. This also applies in cases of force majeure or other unforeseeable, extraordinary, unavoidable circumstances that render performance impossible or unreasonable for the Hotel or of no interest to the customer.

15. The Hotel is liable for damages only if
      • they are caused by intent or gross negligence or by the absence of warranted characteristics, or
      • the Hotel culpably breaches an essential contractual obligation, or
      • the damage is covered by insurance that the Hotel has or could reasonably have obtained, or
      • life or health is typically at risk.

For breaches of essential duties without intent or gross negligence, liability is limited to foreseeable, direct damage. Any exclusion or limitation also applies to tort claims and to claims against employees or agents. Liability for items brought in (§ A 12) remains unaffected.

16. Providing a parking space, even for a fee, does not constitute a contract of safekeeping. The Hotel is not liable for loss of or damage to vehicles or contents unless caused intentionally or by gross negligence; the same applies to its agents.

17. Defects must be reported immediately, at the latest on departure. Claims must be asserted in writing within one month after the contractual end of service. They expire after six months, counting from the day service was due to end.

18. Place of jurisdiction for all disputes is Grimma. German law applies.

19. No oral or written side agreements exist. Amendments or additions require written form; the same applies to any waiver of this requirement.

20. Should any provision be invalid, the remaining provisions remain effective. The parties shall replace an invalid clause with a valid one that comes closest to its economic intent. Statutory provisions otherwise apply. The Hotel’s data-protection policy forms part of the contract.

21. The Hotel may refuse foreign currency, cheques and credit cards. The following are prohibited on all hotel premises: scattering confetti, rice, artificial petals, etc. (real petals may be scattered in front of the booked rooms). If nonetheless done, the Hotel may charge € 35.00 per staff hour (minimum € 50.00).

B. Additional Terms and Conditions for Events

1. Event reservations become binding only when the organiser signs the provisional contract sent by the Hotel, returns it within the stated deadline and pays any required advance (minimum € 20 per planned participant). Function rooms are available solely for the written-agreed time and purpose; any extension requires prior approval by the events department and the Hotel’s written consent. § A 10 applies to cancellations; any advance is offset against cancellation fees.

2. Room size is based on the participant number agreed in the contract. Numbers above the guarantee are accepted; the Hotel will ensure smooth operation, subject to extra costs. Billing is based on the actual number present. If the participant count is reduced by up to 10 % up to eight days before the event, the Hotel will adjust services free of charge; otherwise the reduction is treated as a partial cancellation (§ A 10).

3. The Hotel may change rooms where reasonable for the organiser.

4. Food and beverages may not be brought in unless they are part of the event (e.g. demonstrations). In special cases (national specialities, kosher meals, etc.) a written agreement can be made; a service fee or corkage, agreed in that document, will then be charged.

5. Changes on the event day to furnishings, fittings or seating are possible only for an extra charge.

6. Decorations or other items may be affixed only with the Hotel’s prior written consent. The organiser is liable for damage to furnishings or inventory caused during set-up, dismantling or the event by participants, visitors, staff or other third parties within the organiser’s sphere. The same applies to loss of Hotel property. Insurance against such risks is recommended.

7. Insurance for exhibits or decorations brought in is the organiser’s responsibility. The Hotel’s liability is governed by § 690 BGB (gratuitous custody: care as in own affairs).

8. Should equipment supplied by the Hotel malfunction, the Hotel will remedy promptly; no right of retention or reduction arises. If the Hotel hires equipment from third parties for the organiser, it acts in the organiser’s name and for the organiser’s account; the organiser is liable for proper handling and return and shall indemnify the Hotel from third-party claims.

9. If music is played, the organiser must register the event with GEMA where required and indemnify the Hotel from all claims arising from unauthorised use of GEMA or third-party rights.

10. If the event’s start or end time is changed without the Hotel’s prior written consent, the Hotel may charge additional readiness costs unless it is responsible for the change.

11. Marked emergency exits must remain unobstructed. § A 18 of these GTC applies.

Version dated 01 May 2025