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While snacks and beverages will be available for purchase, lunch is not included on our 3 and 4 hour trips. Please feel free to bring your own snack items.
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Keep a rain jacket, hat, and gloves close at hand at all times.
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Warm Layers during the cooler months
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Camera and/or handheld video equipment.
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Sweat Pants and or Hoodie during the cooler months
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USD Cash / Credit Cards for final balance if owed and for gratuities.
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Dry clothes to change into after the trip.
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Sunscreen, Hat, Towels and a small bag/backpack to tote your personal items onboard.
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No Alcohol allowed before the swim portion of your trip.
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Yes, it is included with your tour. We are required to wear a wetsuit in the refuge, and we have wetsuit sizes from toddler size one to 5X. “We have you covered” ! We also provide a water noodle to assist you in the water. Face it, after the age of 35, we can longer exit our Floaty with style and grace..lol
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Best time to see manatees? Is, when your here! In the 80’s when manatee tours started, we assumed we had to get out early to find manatees like other wildlife. We have learned that manatees come and go all day. Early to beat the crowds but all tour times are equally productive. We have a 98% success rate every day.
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We recommend children from the ages 2 and up. Must respect the boat rules to participate, this goes for our older (70 and up) children as well..
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Bookings of 2 People *This will not apply to bookings of 3 or more people. Bookings with two people may be subject to an additional $25 charge taken at time of the experience if the public boat has no other parties included at the time of your launch.The Start up Fee*This startup fee covers the cost for the conversion of a public experience to a private experience and the cost associated with it..The 6 Per max * Private ToursWe can only allow 6 persons on a boat, ( USCG REGULATION). We do have 7 boats, so if your group is more than 6 person then we can use multiple boats.Shared Boats: 5 or less passengers, Captain may add others to fill your vessel. Maybe consider the Private 3 hour or Private 4 hour. Private boats are great if you want just you and your family onboard. ( 1 to 6 passengers allowed in private)
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We ask that you are comfortable in the water. This is not a snorkeling event like in the Keys or the Bahamas but more like floating with a water noodle viewing the manatees from above.
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Yes, however each person will need a ticket to board the boats. We do suggest if you are just riding the boat to come prepared to swim, once you see the manatee magic, you may want to join us in the water.
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Yes, you will need reservations and we suggest at least a week ahead of time. You can make your reservation on this site for convenience. If you require next day reservation or more than 6 in your group, please call for advanced placement.
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Cancellations
🌊 Reservation & Booking Confidence
When you reserve your manatee tour with us, you’re securing a limited spot on a small-group experience with a licensed captain and vessel.
We understand that travel plans can change , and we’ve designed our policy to give you flexibility while protecting your reserved time on the water.
🔁 Flexible Rescheduling & Future Credit
All deposits and payments are protected and never lost.
If your plans change, your booking value will be issued as a transferable credit with no expiration, which can be used for a future tour.
📅 Cancellation Guidelines
To keep our small-group tours running smoothly:
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More than 72 hours before your tour:
You may receive a 70% refund, with 30% retained as an administrative fee.
The remaining value may also be applied as a future credit if preferred. -
Within 72 hours of your tour:
Your booking will be converted into a future-use voucher (valid for 1 year).
A small rebooking fee may apply when rescheduling.
No-shows:
Due to limited seating and reserved resources, no-shows are not eligible for credit or refund.🐋 Manatee Sightings Guarantee
Manatees are wild animals, and while sightings are very common, they are not guaranteed.
- 👉 If your tour does not see manatees, we will provide a return voucher with no expiration so you can come back and enjoy the experience again.
⚓ Operator Cancellations (You’re Fully Covered)
If we need to cancel your tour due to:
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Weather conditions
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Water safety
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Mechanical issues
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Government restrictions
👉 You will receive the full value of your booking as a credit with no expiration OR the option to reschedule at no additional cost.
✈️ Special Circumstances
We understand that unexpected situations can happen.
In rare cases involving:
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Documented medical emergencies
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International travel disruptions
A partial refund may be considered, with administrative costs retained.
💳 Payments & Reservations
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Deposits secure your reservation and vessel time
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Remaining balances may be paid at check-in (if not prepaid)
We accept multiple payment methods for your convenience
📸 Event Photography
If your tour is canceled by us, event photography will be fully refunded.
🛡️ Booking Protection & Agreement
By reserving your tour, you acknowledge:
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Your spot is reserved on a limited-capacity vessel
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Deposits secure your experience and are non-refundable
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Credits and vouchers ensure your experience is never lost
💬 Need Help?
We’re here for you.
“We’re a small, family-run operation — if anything comes up, just reach out and we’ll take care of you.” simply email:
[email protected]💳 Payment & Reservation Agreement
By completing your reservation, you acknowledge that your booking secures a limited spot on a scheduled charter, including vessel time, captain, and crew.
Deposits are applied toward reserving your experience and are non-refundable, but your booking value is always protected through our flexible credit and rescheduling options.
If you have any questions or need to make changes to your reservation, we’re here to help — please contact us directly so we can assist you as quickly as possible.
Unauthorized payment disputes or chargebacks may delay resolution, as your reservation confirmation and agreement to these terms will be used to verify the transaction.
Policy Agreement
All guests confirm acceptance of this policy during the online booking process by selecting the required acknowledgment checkbox before completing their reservation.
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Yes, special bookings for the larger groups. Call 352-257-8687 for groups larger than 6 persons. Group discount start at 48 persons.
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Yes, We suggest the 8 AM Manatee Swim and the 1 PM Air Boat, or the 9 Am Air Boat and the 12 noon or later Manatee Swim.
These boarding areas are in 2 different locations but the times stated above allow for a quick lunch in between. -
Yes, only on our private charters. Please advise us at booking. All fur babies must be always in a respectful mood. No excessive barking or swimming allowed while on the tour.
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Yes, but the infant will still need a ticket to board the boats. We must count each person as a passenger, regardless of age, height, weight or participation.
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Yes, we have to ask you to be very respectful of the manatees, you will not always get the shot you want. You may also choose to have our IN water guides take the pictures for you that you can purchase after the tour.
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We recommend Tampa, St Pete and Orlando!
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We are roughly 1.45 hours from Orlando and 1.20 hours from Tampa. 1.45 hours from the Clearwater Area
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Yes, we recommend the Florida Cracker Riverside Resort and there are many others within a few minutes of boarding your boats.
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1. Family owned and operated for over 20 years. We love our manatees
2. Small groups and many boarding times to fit you vacation schedule3. Lovely and personal staff who really care about your manatee magical experience4. Involved with special needs groups and Veterans5. Clean and sanitized equipment and boats6. All crew certified as USCG captains and in water guides (deck hands) and randomly drug tested.7. Photos to purchase after your tour8. Rated number 1 organically best tour in our area.9. We are the only place (Citrus County Florida) allowed to conduct the manatee tours10. Hot and cold beverages upon return11. Quick and easy online booking with real time availability. 24-hour bookings will need to call 352-257-868712. Most importantly, this is a lifestyle for our crew, not just a job. You will get to experience a magic that is truly unforgettable. -
Location-Specific Marina Access Fee
Our Crystal River / Kings Bay tours depart from a privately owned marina, which is the only marina available for tour operators to safely launch and board vessels within the refuge area. This marina has implemented a $5 per-person access and parking fee, not included in tour pricing and not controlled by our company. As this is a marina-specific policy, all operators are required to comply.
Guests may avoid this fee by booking our Homosassa location ( Click Here) and resort, which offers private docks, no additional marina fees, and smaller group sizes with fewer guests per boat for a more relaxed experience.
Both locations deliver unforgettable manatee encounters, with Crystal River being our most popular refuge tour during the October–May season
