01Overview

SailMatch is a cruise quote marketplace operated by SailMatch LLC, a Massachusetts limited liability company ("SailMatch," "we," or "us"). We collect and process personal information to connect cruise travelers with certified travel agents. We are committed to protecting your data and being transparent about our practices.

SailMatch is operated from the United States and intended for travelers and travel agents in North America. Information we collect is processed and stored in the United States.

By using SailMatch, you consent to the data practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the platform.

02Information We Collect

Information you provide

Account information: Name, email address, phone number, and password when you create an account
Profile information: For agents, this includes agency name, IATA/CLIA numbers, years of experience, cruise line specializations, a photo, and a professional bio
Quote requests: Cruise preferences, travel dates, guest details, cabin preferences, and special requirements
Clarification questions and answers: The bounded questions Travelers may ask on a quote before accepting it, and the Agent's answers
Booking confirmations: If we ask whether you completed a booking, the answer you give us
Feedback: Post-match surveys, ratings, and issue reports you submit

Information collected automatically

Usage data: Pages visited, features used, and actions taken on the platform
Device information: Browser type, operating system, and device identifiers
Log data: IP address, access times, and referring URLs

Information we receive from others

Booking documentation: When an Agent reports that a matched Traveler booked, the report includes the cruise line's guest invoice, which contains booking details such as the lead guest's name, booking number, and cruise fare. We use it to verify the booking and bill the Agent's platform fee

03How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

Operate and improve the SailMatch platform
Connect Travelers with qualified travel agents
Process and display quote requests and agent responses
Deliver pre-acceptance clarification questions and answers. These messages are automatically screened, and contact details (such as email addresses, phone numbers, and links) are removed before delivery so both sides stay anonymous until a quote is accepted; attempted workarounds are logged for review
Verify agent credentials and maintain platform quality
Verify reported bookings and bill platform fees, including by comparing Agent booking reports, guest invoices, and Traveler booking confirmations
Maintain agent quality ratings using post-match surveys and issue reports
Send service-related notifications and updates
Analyze usage patterns to improve the user experience
Prevent fraud and enforce our Terms of Service

04Information Sharing

We share your information only in the following circumstances:

With Agents: When you submit a quote request, your cruise preferences (sailing details, cabin type, guest count) are shared with verified travel agents so they can provide quotes. Your name and contact information are not shared with Agents while quotes are being collected. When you accept a quote, your name, email address, and phone number are shared with the Agent whose quote you accepted so they can complete your booking
With Travelers: While quotes are being compared, Travelers see an anonymized profile of each quoting Agent: a star rating, completed-match count, and years of experience, with no name, photo, or agency name. When a Traveler accepts a quote, the winning Agent's full identity (name, agency, photo, bio, email address, and work phone) is revealed to that Traveler
Service providers: We use third-party services that process data on our behalf under contractual obligations to protect your information: Google Firebase for authentication, data storage, and hosting; Stripe for billing platform fees to agencies; and Resend for delivering our emails
Aggregate data: We may share aggregated, non-personally-identifiable information about platform usage, quote trends, and market activity with partners or third parties for analytical purposes
Legal requirements: We may disclose information when we believe in good faith that the law requires it, or to protect the rights, safety, or property of SailMatch, our users, or the public

We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We do not share your data with advertisers for targeted marketing purposes.

05Anonymity & Identity Reveal

SailMatch is designed so that quotes compete on price, perks, and reputation, not on who knows whom. Until you accept a quote, identity is protected in both directions:

Agents can see your cruise preferences and travel details, but cannot see your name, email, phone number, or any other identifying information
You see each quoting Agent as a verified professional with a rating and match history, but not their name, photo, or agency
Pre-acceptance questions and answers are automatically screened, and contact details are removed before delivery, so neither side can identify or contact the other outside the platform
Agents are prohibited from using any information obtained through SailMatch to contact you outside the platform without your consent

Identity is revealed at one moment: when you accept a quote. At that point, your contact details are shared with the winning Agent, and that Agent's full identity and contact details are shared with you, so the two of you can complete the booking directly.

In one other limited situation, information may be shared with an agent: if you submit feedback referencing a specific agent or match, we may share your contact information with that agent to help resolve the issue.

06Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information, including encryption in transit and at rest, secure authentication protocols, and regular security reviews.

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is completely secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

07Cookies & Tracking

SailMatch uses cookies and similar browser storage (such as localStorage) to maintain your session, remember your preferences and cookie choices, and understand how you use our platform. These include:

Essential cookies: Required for authentication and core platform functionality
Preference cookies: Store your settings and preferences (such as "remember me")
Analytics cookies: Help us understand usage patterns, traffic sources, and improve the platform experience

When you first visit, a banner lets you accept all cookies or only essential ones. Analytics stays off unless you opt in. You can also control cookies through your browser settings; disabling essential cookies may prevent you from using certain features.

Do Not Track

Some browsers offer a "Do Not Track" (DNT) setting. SailMatch currently does not respond to DNT signals, as there is no industry-wide standard for how DNT should be interpreted. We will update this policy if a uniform standard is adopted.

08Third-Party Services

SailMatch relies on the following third-party services to operate the platform:

Authentication & database: Google Firebase for secure sign-in, data storage, and hosting. Google sign-in is available as an optional way to create and access your account
Security & fraud prevention: Google reCAPTCHA Enterprise runs invisibly to verify that requests come from real visitors rather than automated abuse. It may collect device and interaction signals for this purpose, and its use is governed by Google's Privacy Policy and Terms of Service
Analytics: Google Analytics 4, which runs only if you opt in through our cookie banner. It collects usage information such as pages viewed, session duration, and general geographic location
Payments: Stripe processes platform-fee invoices for travel agencies. Payment details entered on Stripe's invoice pages go directly to Stripe; SailMatch never sees card or bank account numbers
Email delivery: Resend delivers account and service emails on our behalf

These providers process data on our behalf and are contractually obligated to use it only for the purposes we specify. We do not allow third parties to use cookies or tracking pixels on our platform for the purpose of serving targeted advertisements.

09Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information through your account settings
Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated data
Portability: Request your data in a structured, machine-readable format
Objection: Object to certain processing of your personal data
Opt-out: Unsubscribe from non-essential email communications at any time via your account settings or the unsubscribe link in any email

You can export your data and delete your account directly from your account settings. To exercise any other right, please contact us through our Contact page or email contact@sailmatch.com. We will respond to verified requests within 30 days.

10U.S. State Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), provides you with additional rights regarding your personal information:

Right to know: You may request that we disclose the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you, the sources of that information, our business purpose for collecting it, and the categories of third parties with whom we share it
Right to delete: You may request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain legal exceptions
Right to non-discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of your CCPA rights
No sale of personal information: SailMatch does not sell personal information as defined under the CCPA

If you live in another state with a comprehensive privacy law (including Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, and Texas), you have similar rights to access, correct, delete, and obtain a copy of your personal information, and to opt out of targeted advertising and sales of personal data. SailMatch does not sell personal information or use it for targeted advertising, and we honor access, correction, and deletion requests from all users regardless of state, through the mechanisms described in Your Rights above.

Some browsers can send a Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal. Because SailMatch does not sell or share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising, there is no sale or sharing for a GPC signal to opt out of.

To submit a privacy-rights request, email contact@sailmatch.com with the subject line "Privacy Request." We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.

11Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. If you delete your account, we delete or irreversibly anonymize your personal information right away: your profile is anonymized, your contact details are removed from your requests, and your notifications are deleted.

Records of completed matches and platform-fee billing are retained, with your identity removed, for legal, accounting, and audit purposes. Quote request data and clarification history may be retained in anonymized form for analytics purposes.

12Children's Privacy

SailMatch is not intended for children under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child, please contact us and we will take steps to delete it promptly.

13External Links

The SailMatch platform may contain links to third-party websites, including cruise line sites, agent websites, and partner services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites. When you leave SailMatch, this Privacy Policy no longer applies, so we encourage you to review the privacy policies of any site you visit.

14Policy Changes

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make significant changes, we will notify you by email or through a prominent notice on the platform. The "last updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision.

15Contact

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please reach out through our Contact page or email us at contact@sailmatch.com.