SALTY DOG DAY SAILS BOAT CHARTER TRIP PREPARATION AND CONSIDERATIONS
Enjoying the best day of your vacation requires some transparency for consideration and preparation. We at Salty Dog Day Sails wish to give you as much information upfront to ensure your expectations are met so you can fully appreciate your experience.
Please use this page together with the FAQ’s page to plan your day!
Salty Dog Day Sails Boat Charter Trip Preparation and Considerations:
RATES, BOOKING & PAYMENT:
RATES: With 5 boats it is difficult to quote rates in one place without overwhelming with too many options as we offer so many varied trip itineraries for each boat, each with customization options. We suggest that you pick a trip from itinerary choices under the main navigation menu on the site’s upper right hand corner, then pick a boat from the fleet page or individual boat’s page then follow links to use our online calendar to book at reduced rates compared to calling or emailing our booking team. Again, best rates are available ONLINE.
BOOKING: We will encourage most bookings via the online booking calendar system by offering the lowest attainable rates using that secure method to secure your seats or charter date. Should you require more information to plan your PERFECT St. John sailing charter, then please keep in mind that agent-assisted bookings are higher rates than those offered online.
CANCELLATION POLICY: Bookings are subject to a non-refundable 20% portion of the rate. Please commit to sailing with us when you make your reservation otherwise outside our cancellation policy we will process refunds at 80% of original payment or in other words you sacrifice 20% of original rate to cancel and/or $100 rebooking fee with original value applied to new date/trip value noting that rates for new dates may not be the same but no refunds for lesser value dates will be given. See our full cancellation policy for details, but the bottom line is please keep your commitment to us as we will to you. For public trips we do not accept cancellations less that 48 hours in advance of departure and for private trips 2 weeks in advance of departure. No-shows are 100% charge on supplied credit card. We also do not accept cancellations over the phone. They must be in written form via email to: SaltyDogDaySails@gmail.com and we will confirm your written request with a cancellation notice reply email. We cannot take cancellations over the phone or voicemail.
PAYMENT: We love cash the day of the trip, but as a formality, we collect credit card information for pre-booking to guarantee your spot on the day of the trip: Visa, MC and AMEX. Online booking and/or credit card payment subject to CC processing fees roughly 2.75% whether you use the online calendar or email/call us to book.
GRATUITIES: Boat charters fall under tourism/hospitality/service industry. as a respectful reminder, it is considered appropriate to tip similarly for your experience as you would when dining out. The Captain and Crew make up a great portion of their income from such gratuities. As a convenience, we add an automatic 20% gratuity to all private charters and groups of 6 or more.
TIME: Trip times are noted with itinerary selection.
INCLUDES: Rates normally only include boat, fuel, captain/crew. Lunch & gratuities are extra. (gratuity of 20% is automatic for groups of 6 or more and for all private trips).
CONSIDERATIONS:
FOOD: Please bring boat-friendly snacks & beverages in soft-sided coolers/bags —or—inquire about our affiliate provisioning service.
BAR: Most trips offer a family-friendly open bar (sodas, water, & rum drinks) after 1st snorkel stop. Unless you are chartering the boat yourself, we are not known for being a booze-cruise charter on public trips—we are more family-friendly and while alcoholic beverages are provided and of course allowed, they will not be the focus. We want you smiling and coherent for the fun please!
LUNCH: Full day trips incorporate a lunch stop into the itinerary with for-purchase options or feel free to pack your own or allow us to have catering delivered for a fee.
SNORKEL GEAR: Most trips/boats offer snorkel gear for your use or for rental (n/c for private trips aboard luxury catamaran OFF CAY. If you bring your own we greatly appreciate it if you pre-rinse personal gear to limit sand on the boats!
TRIP PREP: Below is a list of items you may wish to pack for your comfort and convenience. please also consider our FAQ’s page to answer most questions.
Towels,
NON-SPRAY reef-safe sunscreen lotion,
Hats,
Sunglasses,
Lip balm,
Camera,
Cash for gratuity & credit card for purchases.
DEPARTURE: Meet in CRUZ BAY for pickup from beach in front of High Tide restaurant at Wharfside Landing. You will dinghy to boat so please wear flip flops or shoes ok to get wet). Future National Park Dock pickup may be an alternative (NPS proposes for-fee use of the former courtesy dock effective January 1, 2025 so this will be an additional fee-based option for groups preferring dock pickup versus dinghy).
Drop all guests in your group with bags/personal gear/towels at the Visitor’s Center pavilion by the restrooms and national Park office. Send the designated driver to find parking in town. We suggest paid lot for peace of mind as you cannot park in the National Park or Mongoose Junction lots. Try Slimman’s or Tropical Properties (above Low Key) lots for paid parking.
St. Thomas Guests: Take the hourly ferry from Redhook, St. Thomas which arrive in St. John roughly 25 minutes past the hour. If on a private trip, we will meet you at the above meet location on the half hour for your convenience.
