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Orange Beach Dolphin Cruises

More Than a Boat Ride… We Make Memories!

Policies / Located @ 5749 Bay La Launch Ave Orange Beach Al.

Reservation requests are ONLY taken by Phone !No quotes are offered via email due to limited equipment and availability.

 

Dolphin Sighting and Interactions

  • PLEASE READ ENTIRE POLICY PG.
  • Reservations taken 7 days a week 9 am to 5 pm
  • Gratuity Policies, Deposit Refunds and Cancellation info are detailed below.
  • Reservations are Required and can only be made by Phone.
  • When you are prepared to book, Pkg Type, Group Size, Date and Deposits are required.
  • Receiving a quote for  Providing us with an Approximate group size for different packages, or options for multiple availabilities. IS Not A Reservation !
  • Deposit Amounts are Calculated On Pkg. and Exact Group Size !
  • UNREAD information COULD PREVENT and CXL your trip with us without the possibliity of refund!
  • Any Pkg. with Free Wave Runners Offered Require Refule Charges in exchange for Free Rental time. (see details and costs below under Wave Runner Refuel )
  • On the day of your trip DO NOT ARRIVE WITH ANY ADDITIONAL GUESTS REGARDLESS OF AGE , it is NOT Permitted !!
  • 48 Hours Notice is required by Barefoot Family Dolphin Safaris to COMPLY will all United States Coast Guard’s FEDERAL Safety Requirments as well as recalculate any additional costs.
  • There are no refunds if you choose to forfeit the trip because your last minute guest can’t be accomodated for, after we agreed to the original resevation arrangement size of your group and the amount of  equipment needed and priced for your original group count.
  • Your are still responsible for the Entire Charter amt payable in full if you forefit your time with us.Equipment has been readied and fueled  for you personnaly. Captains and Crew assigned, and we cannot resell your pkg in such short notice.  So please let us know 48 hours prior to change the group size.
  • Please Arrive 30 min early.
  • Drive to 5749 Bay La Launch Ave Orange Beach Al 36561.
  • Remember these are wild dolphins. Dolphins can be seen 9o % of the time when calm winds prevail and Days of FRESH Rain water HAS Not Flooded the Estuary. We can only Observe and Respond. These dolphin are not in Sea World and not trained to entertain us.
  • We do not Guarantee sightings, feedings, or certain behavior of any wild animal and caution others to use common sense before booking with anyone that makes those types of promises.
  •  It is a Federal offense to to feed, swim, or harass dolphin in the Coastal and Inland waters of the United States.
  •  Swimming and feeding activities are ONLY permitted in Zoo environments. ie “Sea World”. (Some Search Engines have mis categorized Barefoot and have we been actively asking for corrections to be made)
  • Foreign countries do not have the same protection laws.
    Weather and social conditions in a dolphin colony Are Not in The Captains Control
    and WILL Effect any Captain’s chance to find dolphin.

Gratuities & Group Size Limits

A friendly reminder 🙂

We are a Private Charter Co. and NOT  a Commercial Multi Passenger Water tour bus Head Boat taking 40 to 100 people on a single trip.We offer Private and Single pkgs for your guests exclusively Single pkgs accomadate UP to 8 guests.  Double pkgs (w/additional equip and crew.) UP to 16.

You do not share the vessel with anyone other than your guests and friends ,no overcrowded decks, no upredictable behavior from strangers and their children.

For charter patrons that have experience with Privatly Chartering an entire vessel and already know this,We aplogize.  But for guests unfamiliar with private charter practices anywhere it’s  necessary to make known that Captains and Crews on private charters are for hire and are a apart of the service industry.

Therefore if You received good service and had a good time with us gratuities are appreciated 🙂

( Marinas do not pay them for any services that they have provided to your family and guests )
15 to 20 % is the suggested norm for the entire Crew including Captain which is shared equally among themselves.

Your trip like all trips with good private charter companies have personnel trained in preliminary safety procedures until EMT first responders arrive if needed.
Crew are there to help and assist your family to make playtime easy.

Crew do the tubing
Provide clean vessels and equipment after every trip
Stock on board coolers
Take pictures for you
Give important points and equipment to prevent you from and avoiding problems and VERY EXPENSIVE TICKETS by Marine Authorities.
They show you how to get the most out of your equipment, your time with us and provide personal services.
We take you to places off the beaten path to see places we take our families !
Please report any poor service,any posted signs on our vessels or crew attempting to remind groups of gratuities ,or any unprofessional behavior.

Reviews

  • Please DO NOT write about a negative experience related to a weather event, cloudy skies,or drizzle for ANY dolphin tour company you choose to use in our area.  (All tour entities in our area do their best to encounter dolphin.Please be fair when sharing )
  • We are in a Sub Tropical Environment Captains cannot predict the weather or wild dolphin behavior or How Many Dolphin Are  Going To Be Seen the day of your trip.
  • We can only inform you based on past individual personal encounters and some known or published material information.

 

Dolphin WaverunnerPreparing for your Trip !

  • Notify us of any health concerns when booking
    – Physical Restrictions
    – Allergies
    – Medicines carried aboard
  • AGE AND WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS APPLY.

 

Before You Arrive

  • Apply sunscreens…. sprays are not permitted on board.
  • Go to the Potty
  • Wear Bathing Suits if you are intending to get wet !
  • Bring Towels
  • Bring Snacks but NO BANANAS (will explain later:) )
  • Camera Optional

 

Wave Runner Requirements and Refuel cost for Free W/R pkgs. If Applicable.

Must Have valid US State Issued Dr. Lic or Learners Permits

    • Must be 18 to operate a wave runner solo. Damage dep required w/ Vaild CC from Charterer

Jet Ski Rental Orange Beach

  • Must be 19 with Valid CC  to be “The Charterer” and Sign for any and All Total damages or Total losses to EWA LLC or any Property Owner that incures damages from anyone on your charter with us.
  • Must have a parent or any 21 yr old accompany any one under 18 wanting to operate a wave runner (ie 15 16 or 17 yr olds w/ Valid Permit or Drivers Lic.)
  • All citiations and damages are the responsibility of the Charter.
  • (These are NOT Rentals They are part of your charter and are Deluxe Models )
  • **FREE W/R Pkgs provide 2 Runners** Extra runners additional cost per pkg.
  • Refuel chg apply to all Free W/R Pkgs Not the boat in your pkg.
  • Approx Refuel cost  per Runner   2Hr   $18 to $22  3Hr $26 to $30    All day $54 to $69
  • The W/Rs can be used together at once by the entire group OR have split use for family tubing. IT IS YOUR Choice to use the equipment provided any way you choose. IF your group is undecided and half wishes to tube we will then use one of the 2 runners provided for us to tube that part of the group and the rest and go on a run and return to take turns.
  • All groups are free to switch activities for everyone to participate.
  • Exclusive W/R use can be chartered separately for additional equipment cost.
  • You are in control of the use at any time

General Info

  • No weapons or any illegal substances of any kind allowed (signed releases are required )
  • Charterers are completely responsible for all personal behavior and behavior of others while on board our vessels.
  • No Alcohol or under the influence of drugs or alcohol
  • All trips are private for you and your guests
  • All pkgs are limited to 6 passengers (some 8 passengers)
  • You Can charter and pay for additional equipment or (2 pkgs for larger groups (max 20)
  • Please arrive 30 min before boarding time and call for someone to come meet you in the parking lot.
  • All of these details are provided in your confirmation text only sent to you once we have received your deposit to book your date.
  • YOU CAN ONLY RESERVE BY PHONE

 

Orange Beach DolphinBad Weather and Refunds

  • You are going to visit a sub tropical environment light drizzle, clouds overall cloudiness is typical along with pop up showers and possible full sun on any given trip during the year.
  • NON of these events constitutes a refund of any kind. IT IS THE NATURE OF BEING ON A CHARTER. Additionally if you elect not to fulfill you reservation based on conditions above or for ANY reason 24 ON THE DAY OF YOUR RESERVATION  including the weather outlined above … NO Refund is given and You Will Be Charged the ENTIRE cost of your Charter.
  • Keep your phone handy ONLY the CAPTAIN will call you if BAD WEATHER IS EMINENT (it is his trip and he will make that determination) THEREFORE DO NOT CALL THE OFFICE.
  • A ” Bad Weather” Definition is Present Lightning AT our marina OR in the area we are going to (not where you are) Constant rain AT our marina (Not Where you are )
  • Weather May look bad where you are but fine where we are going to and may never reach us at all.
  • If BAD WEATHER IS eminent you may (between you and the Captain ONLY) agree to a better time for both of you. Or if cannot agree on a new time and cancel you will receive your deposit refund ( minus $40 which was collected at time the of your booking for admin fees paid to the Marina, not us )
  • IF second time is selected and both parties agree to that appt, no refunds are given at all if YOU want to change again or back out.   Deposits can be refunded prior to 24 hrs of your BOARDING time (minus $40 for Admin fees to Marina)
  • No Refunds once we leave the dock.

 

So Remember “We are more than a boat ride…. We make Memories”! We hope to meet you and your family so we can help create one of your Vacation Memories!

God Bless and a have a wonderful vacation in Orange Beach Al !