Policies:

Parking:

Parking at Seaview Harbor Marina, Longport:

Guests are encouraged to park in the back lot or crushed shell lots at the marina. Parking in the solar panel lot is reserved for marina slip owners/renters. This is a policy established by Seaview Harbor Marina.

Parking in Cape May:

Guests sailing The Cape Escape sail are reminded that this is a one-way sail from Longport. If leaving a vehicle in Cape May in preparation for your arrival on our sail, we recommend parking at Fisherman’s Memorial Park, Harborview Park, or The Lobster House parking (if permitted).

Sail South Jersey is not responsible for theft, towing fees, or damage to passenger vehicles while on passage and that the above are solely parking recommendations and not to be taken as rules or law.

Payment Method:

At this time, Sail South Jersey only accepts cash payments. Plans for introducing card payment is being explored for the future.

Refunds and Discounts:

Refunds issued accordingly if payment is received prior to day of departure

Cancellation-by-Passenger: Full refund if requested 3 days before date of departure. 50% refund if requested within 3 days of departure. 20% refund if requested day of departure.

Cancellation-by-Captain: Full refund regardless of timing to departure plus arrangements to be made for make-up departure date if so desired.

Reasons for Cancellation-by-Captain include, but are not limited to:

  • Sea state of waves 4+ feet

  • Wind speeds above 20 knots sustained

  • Natural disasters or weather phenomena affecting relevant activities or vessels underway

  • State of emergencies or official state/county/Coast Guard ordinances affecting relevant activities or vessels underway

  • Disabled engine or disablement of vessel

Light rain is not a reason for Cancellation-by-Captain. Rain ponchos will be provided to guests in the event of rain. The Captain may choose to communicate concern for weather in ample time prior to departure date, but cancellation request due to light rain or cloudy weather will fall in the category rules of Cancellation-by-Passenger.

Motion sickness/“sea sickness” experienced by the passenger will not result in a refund. Sea sickness is very common to experience while sailing and boating. We recommend utilizing OTC medications or patches prior to your departure date if you are prone to sea sickness. In the event you experience sea sickness while underway, we can provide holistic/therapeutic options to aid your symptoms.

Dolphins and other marine life are never guaranteed to be seen while underway. We cannot ensure that wild animals will present themselves to passengers in the wild. Not having observed marine life while underway will not result in a refund.

Smoking/vaping and illicit/recreational drug use is prohibited aboard and will result in an immediate cancellation without refund and potential report to local authorities as required by law. Passengers found to be obviously under the influence of any judgement impairing substances prior to embarkment will be subject to cancellation without refund as well. Smoking and vaping increase risk of fire aboard our vessel and has the potential to damage finish of teak, fiberglass, sailcloth, and durability of running rigging.

Employee/Student ID cards must be shown for Shore Medical Center (SMC) employees, college students, Police/Fire/EMS to receive discount benefits. Discounted prices will be refunded on days of departure following proof of ID card. Please do not have these cards or any other valuables out in your hand while embarking the vessel due to risk of dropping them in the water.

Ship’s Cat, Luffy:

There is a cat aboard this vessel. His name is Luffy, taken from the nautical term luff which is a part of the sails and an action to head further into the wind. If there are any known feline dander allergies, we suggest you take allergy medication that best works for you while sailing with us. No, we cannot “put the cat away” as the vessel is as much his home as it is our’s. He serves very well as a mate and dolphin spotter! He is extremely friendly and loves meeting new people and receiving pettings, but as with all cats, caution is recommended especially when petting near his belly. He is not declawed, but his nails are regularly trimmed. Cat teeth are sharp and cats are known to play bite when excited. That being said, Luffy has never bitten anyone strong enough to draw blood in his entire life, but awareness and common sense are encouraged when interacting with the ship’s cat. Learning there is a cat aboard the vessel is not a reason for cancellation with full refund in itself and cancellation requests will fall in the category rules of Cancellation-by-Passenger. Feel free to bring cat treats on your trip with us as a gratuity to the ship’s skipper, Luffy! Learn more about Luffy here: Meet the Crew

Food and beverage

Passengers may bring their own food and beverage if so desired. While offered when underway, feel free to BYOB of wine, rosé, or champagne. While we adopt a BYOB format, we also encourage responsible and safe drinking on the water. We are happy to open any bottles of wine, champagne, rosé, or sangria you may bring aboard. No need to bring glassware; wine glasses and champagne flutes will be available as well as bottled waters. We have socialized over alcohol for millennia, however, the effects of alcohol are dramatically increased on the water. Therefore, risk is taken seriously and drinking responsibly and safety is a priority.

Safety Briefing/Orientation

A safety briefing/orientation will be held prior to every departure from the docks as required by law. Every passenger, including children, must be present and attentive for this briefing.

Damages/Loss/Inury

Loss or damage of personal property overboard at the docks or while underway is the responsibility of the individual who experienced the loss or damage. Methods for mitigating risk of loss or damage to personal property will be discussed in the safety briefing/orientation prior to departure.

Injury to self while onboard the vessel is the responsibility of the individual who experienced the injury to self. Methods for mitigating risk of injury to self will be discussed in the safety briefing/orientation prior to departure.

Waivers

Waivers will be sent to the emails of all passengers and are required to be signed and returned to the sailsouthjersey@gmail.com email prior to day of departure.

Tips

Tipping is not required, but is always appreciated as it helps with the cost of fuel, quality of services, and treats to the ship’s furry skipper, Luffy.

Lifejacket requirement for children under 13 years of age

Children under the age of 13 years of age are required by law to wear a life jacket at all times while underway on the vessel. While we have limited number of Coast Guard approved life jackets available for guests that meet this criteria, we recommend bringing your own Coast Guard approved life jackets for children under 13 years of age on your date of departure with the goal of increased comfort and familiarity to our young passenger.

Use of the head

Use of the day head (the ship’s toilet) down below in the main salon is open to the public. General instruction will be reviewed during the safety briefing/orientation. Instructions on how to use the head will be prominently displayed. The ship’s first mate is happy to assist if needed. Under no circumstances will paper products or any products other than bio waste be permitted to flush through. Appropriately labeled waste receptacles will be available for all non-biological products.

Clogs to the main head which require extensive servicing and/or possible replacement of parts due to flushing of non-biological products will result in charges to cover maintenance/replacement cost.