Question 1

Do your charters come with a captain?

Accepted Answer

Yes, our charters are ONLY captained charters

Question 2

What is included with your private charters?

Accepted Answer

Boat with captain (deckhand also on our larger passenger boats); a couple of paddle boards (Except the boat "Nemo", there is only one paddle board included), pool floats, lily pad, large cooler with ice and water bottles, Bluetooth speaker, blow up slide on each of the 16 passenger boats. Snorkle equipment is optional, please let us know if you would like it included in your trip.

Please note: The "adventure park" that we previously had has been banned by the National Parks Service. They control Crab Island, and as of May 22nd, 2023 they have informed us that these items are no longer allowed. We apologize for any inconvenience, and have worked hard to add more floats to your experience within the new National Parks Parameters.
 
March-October: You can customize the trip for Crab Island, Snorkeling, Dolphin Watching, and more!
November-February: Dolphin and Harbor Cruises

Question 3

Can I change the time of the trip?

Accepted Answer

Time options depend on the season. Please note, these are fixed times and cannot be customized. 
 
We can change the start time of an 8 hour cruise as long as there is not a sunset cruise scheduled on that boat that evening. If we do not have a scheduled trip before your trip, your captain may reach out and see if you would like to start your trip sooner.

Question 4

How many pontoon boats do you have?

Accepted Answer

We have 4 double decker pontoons with a slide (Takin it Easy/Chillin the Most/Osprey/Sweet Caroline)

We have one luxury lounger pontoon without a slide (Nemo)

We have 4 Coast Guard specification-built pontoons with a restroom on them (Island Time/Happy Hour/Waterloo/Dancing Queen). You can find more information on these under "Our Boats"

We have one 22 passenger non-private and private boat available without a restroom. You can view this under "Mongoose"

We have a 32 passenger boat with a restroom that does private and non private tours. You can find this under "It's Tricky"

Question 5

What is the maximum number of passengers on each of the boats?

Accepted Answer

6 Passenger boats (Chillin the Most/Osprey/Sweet Caroline/Takin it Easy/Nemo)-

6 people regardless of age. This is a coast guard law-we cannot legally take more than 6.

16 Passengers (Island time/Happy Hour)– 16 passengers max each regardless of age (under 2 are not charged for-however they do count towards the passenger count)

18 Passengers (Dancing Queen)- 18 passengers max each regardless of age (under 2 are not charged for-however they do count towards the passenger count)

20 Passengers (Waterloo)- 20 passengers max each regardless of age (under 2 are not charged for-however they do count towards the passenger count)

22 Passengers Crab Island and Harbor Tour (Mongoose)- 22 passengers max regardless of age. Under 2 must purchase an infant ticket

32 Passengers Crab Island and Eco Tour (It's Tricky)- 32 passengers max regardless of age. Under 2 must purchase an infant ticket

Question 6

Can we bring food, drinks or snacks on the boat?"

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can bring any food, drinks or snacks that you would like to have on your charter.

Question 7

Can we bring alcohol on the boat?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can bring alcohol for 21 years and up

Question 8

Are there vendors on Crab Island?

Accepted Answer

Yes, there are vendors selling ice cream, t-shirts, food, pineapples, coconuts. There is even a general store selling floats, sunscreen, etc.

They operate from March-1st to October 31st. Vendors and times they are out there are not guaranteed, as there are many companies and their schedules change daily.

Question 9

Where do we go on your charters?

Accepted Answer

Your private charter can be totally customized with these options:
 
1. Crab Island- This is a sandbar, not to be mistaken for an actual island. We have floats, beer pong tables, and slides to make this the ultiumate hangout. We suggest at least 2 hours here. Available from March-October
 
2. Snorkeling- We have snorkel equipment available upon request, we snorkel by the jettys or there are several beach options we can take you to. Available from March-October
 
3. Dolphin Cruise- We can take you to search for dolphins in the harbor, or kick back blast the music and cruise!
 
4. Specter Island-This is exclusive to our 8 hour cruises, it is a series of islands by Fort Walton that are secluded and great for a large group hangout. We suggest going to the Gulf for lunch if you go there! Available from March-October

Our non private charter goes to Crab Island for approximately 2 hours, and spends 30 minutes on a dolphin cruise. The rest of the time is spent in transit to and from the dock.

Question 10

If we decide to go snorkeling, does your charter provide the snorkel equipment?"

Accepted Answer

Yes, as long as you let us know that you would like the snorkel equipment as we don’t keep it on the boat unless we know someone wants to use it. We sanitize the equipment after each use

Question 11

Are the charters private?

Accepted Answer

All of our charters are private except for our Non-Private Crab Island and dolphin cruise tour. This is a shared boat experience with up to 22 passengers maximum for the standard, and 30 passengers for the premium.

Question 12

What is the pricing for your charters?

Accepted Answer

Please click "Book Now" to view pricing, as it varies by season/passengers/time. Give us a call at 850-517-6011 for any questions. 
 
Gratuity is NOT included in the total price unless it is an 8 hour charter, multiple boat charters, or our non-private tour. The 8 hour options have a 18% auto gratuity included in the final price and our non-private has a 15% gratuity added.

Question 13

Can we put down a deposit on a charter?

Accepted Answer

Yes for all private charters you can put down a deposit + tax to reserve your date/time. This can be done over the phone at 850-517-6011 or online at Book Now.  The balance of your charter is due 48 hours BEFORE your charter. We automatically charge the card on file unless another one is provided.

Deposit amounts:

6 passenger vessel- $250 plus tax
16/18/20 passenger Vessel- $350 plus tax
22/36 Passenger- $500 plus tax

Please note: there is a online tax charged if booked online. You can avoid this fee by giving us a call to put down a deposit. All non private charters are due at the time of booking.

Question 14

Where do your charters pick up?

Accepted Answer

Heron Harbor, 314 Harbor Blvd Destin FL 32541

This is also where our kiosk is located to book in person or purchase apparel

Question 15

Does it cost to park at these locations?

Accepted Answer

Heron Harbor Parking: Parking ranges from $10-$30/car. This fee is NOT imposed by us. Parking is managed by Premium Parking and payment can be made via text, mobile app, camera pay, pay machine, or website.
Parking Fees:
4 Hours: $10
6 Hours: $12
10 Hours: $16
12 Hours: $18
24 Hours: $20
STAR Rate (Premium Spots, Front Row):
4 Hours: $15
8 Hours: $20
12 Hours: $25
24 Hours: $30
*Please note these prices are subject to change

Question 16

What is your cancellation policy?

Accepted Answer

Private Charters:

Our cancellation policy is one week (7 days) prior to your charter you can cancel for any reason and receive a full refund of your deposit and/or amount paid. Once the one week (7 day) window has passed, there is no refund and the full amount will be due. As for bad weather, our captain will make the call, if necessary, to cancel and we will issue a full refund IF we cancel the charter due to the weather. The customer cannot cancel the charter….the cancellation MUST come from our captain. We try not to cancel a charter too soon as the weather can change by the minute here in Destin.

There is an optional cancellation insurance that can be added to your reservation for an additional fee that allows cancellation up to 24 hours beforehand for any reason. The booking will be refunded minus the insurance and processing fees.

Non-Private Charters:

Our cancellation policy is 48 hours prior to your charter you can cancel for any reason and receive a full refund of your deposit and/or amount paid. Once the  window has passed, there is no refund and the full amount will be due. As for bad weather, our captain will make the call, if necessary, to cancel and we will issue a full refund IF we cancel the charter due to the weather. The customer cannot cancel the charter….the cancellation MUST come from our captain. We try not to cancel a charter too soon as the weather can change by the minute here in Destin.

There is an optional cancellation insurance that can be added to your reservation for an additional fee that allows cancellation up to 3 hours beforehand for any reason. The booking will be refunded minus the insurance and processing fees.

Question 17

What if it rains or bad weather the day of your charter?

Accepted Answer

The captains’ have a good radar app and will make the call on the weather an hour before the charter. Please note: The call on the weather can ONLY be made by the captain. You will get a full refund of amount paid if your trip is canceled due to inclimate weather. 
 
In the off season, it can get down into the 50s. We would suggest wearing warmer clothing, as we have blankets on board. Cold weather will not prevent the charter from operating.

Question 18

Do children cost the same as adults on your charters?

Accepted Answer

For our private charters: Yes, we count by the head not by the age. Children under 2 ride for free.

Non-Private: Pricing is tiered by age, please select book now to view all pricing

Question 19

Do we need to arrive early for our charter?

Accepted Answer

You need to allow enough time to find the location and find the boat on the harbor; it isn’t necessary to be there too early as the captain will pick you up promptly at the time of your charter. We suggest getting to the docks 30 minutes beforehand.

Question 20

Are there life jackets on the boats?

Accepted Answer

Yes, there are coast-guard required life jackets on our boats. If you have small children, you may want to bring their own life jacket as all children 8 and under are required by law to wear a life jacket while on the boat and the coast guard approved ones may not be the most comfortable for small children

Question 21

Can we bring our own cooler on the boat?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can bring your own cooler and/or you can add to our cooler. If you have a lot of items, you will want to bring an additional cooler as the one on the boat is big, but it may not hold all of the drinks/snacks for a large group

Question 22

What other items should we bring for our charter?

Accepted Answer

Here is what we suggest
 
Peak season/spring break:
 
1. Sunscreen
2. Towels
3. Snacks
4. Money for tips/vendors
5. Bathing Suits

Question 23

If we have floats or rafts we want to bring, do you have an air pump on the boat?"

Accepted Answer

Yes, we keep an air pump on the boat for our equipment that you can use if you have floats or rafts that you want to bring on your charter

Question 24

Can we add extra time to our charter if we want to stay longer?

Accepted Answer

No, we are on a specific schedule from May 15-October 30; If your charter is during the off season, you can add extra time with prior approval from the captain.

Question 25

Can we request a specific captain for our charter?

Accepted Answer

You can request a specific captain for your charter and we will try to honor your request, however, due to scheduling and days on/off, we may not be able to honor your request. All of our captains are professionals and will make your time on our charter a fun and memorable one!

Question 26

What is included in the bachelorette party pack?

Accepted Answer

Includes:
Bride sash
"Last Sail Before the Veil" Tote
"I Do Crew" Koozies for the group (White Claw Fit)
Temporary Tattoos
Inflatable Diamond Ring
Captain's hat for Bride

Question 27

Do your boats have a restroom on board?

Accepted Answer

Island Time I & II/Waterloo/Dancing Queen have a restroom on board.

Our premium non private has a restroom on board, and is available for private charters under "It's Tricky"

Question 28

Are your boats wheelchair accessible?

Accepted Answer

Our boats do not have a ramp attached to them, and our 6 passenger boats are not large enough for a wheelchair. If they are mobile enough to board the boat, please note they will need to either step up or down onto the boat depending on the water levels.

Question 29

The date that I am looking for is booked, what are my options?

Accepted Answer

1. If you are looking for our larger boats, you can book multiple 6 passenger vessels if available
2. You can give us a call and see if any of our partners have availability
3. You can join our waitlist here: https://www.destinpontooncharters.com/waitlist

Question 30

Is gratuity included in the final price?

Accepted Answer

Gratuity is not included in the price for our 4 hour charters, suggested tip is 15-20% of the pre tax total.

8 Hour charters have an automatic gratuity included of 18%. Multiple boat bookings will also have an automatic 18% added.

Gratuity of 15% is added to our non-private tours

Question 31

Is smoking allowed on the boats?

Accepted Answer

Smoking is not permited on the boats or any of the equipment. If you would like to exit the boat at crab island or another location, you can smoke away from the boat.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions