Privacy Policy

Overview & Scope

This Privacy Policy applies to all personal data collected by Aqua Cruise Houseboats through the following channels:

• Our official website at aquahouseboats.com
• WhatsApp and telephone enquiries and communications
• Booking forms — online, physical, or via third-party travel agents
• Email correspondence
• On-site guest registration at our jetty or houseboat
• Social media interactions (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube)

This policy does not apply to third-party websites, apps, or platforms (such as booking aggregators or travel agencies) that may link to or from our website. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

Information We Collect

We collect only the personal information necessary to provide our services, comply with legal obligations, and improve your experience.

Information You Provide Directly:

• Identity Information: Full name, date of birth (for government-mandated guest registration).
• Contact Information: Phone number, email address, home address (for billing and correspondence).
• Booking Information: Travel dates, number of guests, package preference, special requests, dietary requirements.
• Payment Information: Transaction reference numbers. We do not store full card or bank account numbers.
• Identity Documents: Government ID type and number (Aadhaar, Passport, etc.) as mandated by Kerala Tourism guest registration regulations.
• Health Information: Medical conditions voluntarily disclosed by guests for safety or accessibility planning. This is treated as sensitive data with highest protection.

Information Collected Automatically:

• Device & Technical Data: IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, and referring URL — collected via standard web server logs.
• Usage Data: Pages visited, time on site, links clicked, and session duration — collected via cookies and analytics tools.
• Location Data: General geographic location inferred from IP address (city/country level only). We do not track precise GPS location.

Information from Third Parties:

• If you book through a travel agent or OTA (Online Travel Agency), they may share your contact and booking details with us to fulfil the reservation.
• Review platform data (TripAdvisor, Google) may contain information you have shared publicly about your experience with us.

How We Use Your Data

We use your personal information only for legitimate, specified purposes. We will never sell your personal data to third parties.

Data Sharing & Disclosure

We treat your personal data with the utmost confidentiality. We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share your data in limited circumstances:

• Operational Partners: Transport providers, hotels, or activity operators who are part of your confirmed holiday package — shared only to the extent necessary to fulfil your booking.
• Government & Regulatory Bodies: Kerala Tourism, police, or other authorities when required by law (e.g., mandatory guest registration registers).
• Payment Processors: Transaction data is shared with payment service providers (UPI platforms, banks) solely to process your payments. We do not store full financial credentials.
• Analytics Providers: Anonymised, aggregated website usage data may be shared with analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics) to help us understand site performance. No personally identifiable information is included.
• Professional Advisors: Accountants, lawyers, or auditors who are bound by confidentiality obligations, where necessary for business or legal purposes.

In the event of a business sale, merger, or acquisition, your data may be transferred as part of the business assets. We will notify you via our website or direct communication if this occurs.

Cookies & Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your browsing experience and help us understand how visitors use our site.

• Essential Cookies: Required for the website to function correctly (e.g., maintaining your session). These cannot be disabled.
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand visitor behaviour (pages viewed, time on site) using Google Analytics. Data is aggregated and anonymised.
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences (e.g., language) to provide a better experience on return visits.
• Marketing Cookies: Used only if you have consented, to show relevant advertisements for our services on third-party platforms.

You can manage or disable non-essential cookies through your browser settings at any time. Note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of our website. Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies via their settings menus.

Data Retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes described in this policy or as required by law:

When data reaches the end of its retention period, we securely delete or anonymise it so it can no longer be associated with you.

Data Security

We take data security seriously and implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.

• Guest records and booking data are stored in password-protected, access-controlled systems.
• Physical guest registers (mandated by law) are stored securely at our premises with restricted staff access.
• Payment transactions are conducted through regulated, encrypted payment platforms. We do not store payment card details.
• Staff who handle guest data are trained on confidentiality obligations and data handling best practices.
• Our website uses HTTPS encryption to protect data transmitted through booking forms.

Your Rights

Under applicable Indian data protection law and principles of fair data handling, you have the following rights with respect to your personal data held by us:

• Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Right to Correction: Request correction of any inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Right to Deletion: Request deletion of your data where we no longer have a legal basis to retain it (subject to statutory obligations).
• Right to Object: Object to our use of your data for direct marketing purposes at any time.
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Where processing is based on your consent, you may withdraw it at any time. Withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of prior processing.
• Right to Data Portability: Request your data in a structured, commonly used format for transfer to another service provider where technically feasible.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at info@aquahouseboats.com or WhatsApp +91 98477 69499. We will respond within 30 days. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.

Children's Privacy

Our services are designed for adults and families. We do not knowingly collect personal data directly from children under 18 years of age. Booking and enquiry forms must be completed by an adult (parent or legal guardian) on behalf of any minors included in a booking.

If you believe we have inadvertently collected personal data from a child without appropriate parental consent, please contact us immediately and we will delete such data promptly.

Children's participation in all water activities is subject to parental consent, minimum age/weight requirements for safety equipment, and at the discretion of our captain.

Third-Party Links & Platforms

Our website and communications may contain links to third-party websites, booking platforms, social media channels, and map services (such as Google Maps). These platforms operate independently and have their own privacy policies.

• Google Maps — Google Privacy Policy
• WhatsApp — WhatsApp Privacy Policy
• Instagram / Facebook (Meta) — Meta Privacy Policy
• Google Analytics — Google Privacy Policy
• TripAdvisor — TripAdvisor Privacy Policy

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to read their respective privacy policies before providing any personal information on those platforms.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page.

For significant changes, we will provide a more prominent notice (such as a notification to email subscribers or a banner on our website). Your continued use of our services after changes are published constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

We encourage you to review this policy each time you make a new booking with us.

Contact Us & Complaints

If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints about this Privacy Policy or our data handling practices, please contact our Privacy Officer:

If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the relevant data protection authority in India. We will always endeavour to resolve your concerns directly before escalation is required.