Frequently Asked Questions

What does the tour consist of?

Did you ever envision planning your next vacation and dreaming of that perfect moment on the beach, admiring crystal-clear water and indulging in a refreshing drink? Look no further, because we’re here to make your dream a reality. We understand your desires and that’s why we’re the best choice for your vacation needs.

Explain to me what happens on the tour?

We will start our adventure at the Fonatur Marina, conveniently located just 10 minutes away from Downtown. Upon your arrival, our team will warmly welcome you and assist you with the rest of your reservation details. Depending on the weather, we will plan the perfect day trip for you, heading either north or south of Cozumel Island to the barrier reefs. Our goal is to provide you with an exceptional snorkeling experience away from the crowds.

Snorkeling in Cozumel is a truly rewarding experience that you will cherish forever. So, relax and enjoy the crystal-clear waters, while one of our experienced guides takes you on an unforgettable journey to explore the vibrant marine life. We kindly ask you to respect the marine life and refrain from touching it. Please keep a minimum distance of three feet from the reef, allowing us to preserve its beauty and diversity for generations to come.

After your snorkeling adventure, we will take you to a private beach or sandbar where you can unwind and enjoy the tranquility of your surroundings. Our crew will prepare a high-quality lunch for you to savor, featuring the catch of the day ceviche, guacamole, shrimp, fresh tuna, quesadillas, and other delicious dishes.

Overall, we are committed to providing you with an exceptional experience that combines adventure, relaxation, and appreciation for the natural beauty of Cozumel. We look forward to hosting you soon!

How far ahead do we need to book?

Whether you prefer to plan ahead or make spur-of-the-moment decisions, we have options to accommodate you. However, we do recommend booking at least one month in advance to secure your preferred boat and date. As the date gets closer, availability may become more limited. To ensure you have the best experience, we suggest booking your trip as early as possible.

If you are arriving in Cozumel on a cruise ship or have a hotel reservation, please contact us, and we would be happy to take a deposit. You can pay the remaining balance on the day of your trip before we depart. Our team is dedicated to helping you plan the highlight of your trip, and we will do whatever we can to make it an unforgettable experience.

Are children allowed on the trips?

We assure you that our crew members are more than happy and capable of taking care of the little ones on board. With sea turtles, thousands of fish, stunning reefs, safety equipment, and an overall enjoyable atmosphere, your children will have a blast. Our staff is dedicated to ensuring that your kids have a safe and fun time on this trip. We’re confident that your kids will have such a great time that they won’t want to leave!

Is this the right tour for me and my group? Yes!

This trip is perfect for anyone, whether you’re with family or friends, regardless of age. We customize the trip to meet your specific needs and preferences.

Our goal is to provide you with a relaxing experience where you can swim, explore, have fun, or simply admire the stunning views of the Caribbean. Cozumel is full of exciting opportunities, and sailing through the crystal-clear waters is a highlight for many. We take you to the best locations, away from the crowds, and always strive to surprise you with exceptional service, food, and drinks.

With a private boat exclusively for you, we guarantee the perfect ambiance for your day. We ensure that everything is flawless, so you can enjoy the experience to the fullest.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept all credit and debit cards. We are happy to help you to make your reservation by telephone or WhatsApp. For your convenience, you can pay in advance directly on our website.

We require a 40% deposit to reserve your boat and date, with the balance to be paid in cash on arrival (in Mexican pesos or US dollars). There is a 4% bank commission if you choose to pay your balance by credit card.

What is the starting point?

We will always start from the marina for your safety and the safety of the boats. This is the location of the office and the Marina Fonatur, Taxis are reasonably priced and available all over the island. By law, only taxis are allowed to pick up tourists in Cozumel.

If your hotel has a pier, we would be happy to pick you up from there, but there is a fee that has to be paid to the hotel.

What should we bring?

We already have practically everything you may need for a perfect day on board. However, we recommend you pack as though you were going to spend the day on the beach.

  1. Towels
  2. Snorkel equipment for children – we only have medium and large sizes
  3. SPF 50 t-shirt. PLEASE NOTE, that eco-friendly sunscreen is also on sale at our office (normal sunscreen harms the reef and kills the coral)
  4. Yes, you can bring your own snorkel gear. We do provide full snorkel gear for adults in perfect conditions.
  5. Don’t forget to bring your favorite music.

Why a long-sleeve 50 SPF t-shirt? How does sunscreen damage the marine ecosystem?

One of the biggest threats to marine life is the use of sunscreen, suntan lotion, and bronzers. We don’t really give it much thought but, while we are in the water, the oils in them break down and are deposited on coral reefs and other living marine species. The reefs are suffocating, and sunscreen runoff is one of the main causes of coral bleaching.

Please help us to save the world.

Do you have snorkel equipment? What if we bring our own?

We have high quality snorkel equipment and the latest lifejackets, which are a lot less restrictive and lighter than traditional ones.

We disinfect all our equipment before each trip. Take a walk around the boat when you get here and you’ll see just how organized we are!

If you have your own snorkel equipment, feel free to bring it with you. We can store it safely while we are sailing and give it to you when you are ready to jump in.

Do you have lifejackets for everyone?

Rest assured that we have enough life jackets for all passengers, including small children. It’s not compulsory that you wear one while navigating, so it’s completely up to you if you want to or not. For small children, it is better to bring their own because of their size and comfort.

Can I bring my own alcohol?

You will be offered a selection of drinks as part of your trip and we are ready and willing to serve you.

If you have a special bottle of your favorite wine or spirits, the answer is “YES”, you may bring whatever you like on board. Inquire about our Premium Menu, and check our collection of top-shelf drinks before you book, so you don’t have to worry about buying them, and let us do it for you! See https://deluxeprivateboats.com/premium-add-ons.

What kind of music will you play?

We recommend that you bring your own tunes, so we can play them for you and make you feel at home. All our boats have Bluetooth, and all have a superb sound system, so bring your mp3.

Do we tip the Captain?

We do not ask for tips, but we feel our service speaks for itself, and your contributions are greatly appreciated by the Captain and crew, who work hard and deserve their tips. We pay them well, but a tip is nice, to thank them for their dedication and all the effort they put into your trip. Tip like if you were in the states, life in Cozumel is expensive.

How do I get back after the trip?

Taxis will be available. If necessary, we can have a taxi waiting for you if you need to be back to your cruise ship for a certain time.

Towards the end of the trip, we will check if anyone needs to have a taxi waiting, so we can call ahead.

Should I leave comments or a review?

We survive on our reputation and the more people know about us, the better. Word of mouth is what matters most, so please tell everyone about us. Our main aim is to provide our guests with a unique experience and for people to know what we do.

Many of our guests find us on TripAdvisor, so that would be a great place to review Deluxe Private Boat Tours.

If you see where there is room for improvement, please let us know.

What happens if the trip is cancelled due to bad weather?

COMPANY CANCELLATIONS

The only causes of cancellation of the trip by the company are:

• If there is a breakdown, or if the boat requires maintenance prior to the trip. Should any of these situations occur, the company will aim to change the date, or the vessel. If this is not possible, 100% of the cost of the experience will be refunded.

• If the company detects risks derived from COVID-19 and related factors in the area.

We will try our best to re-schedule your trip. However, cruise passengers don’t have the luxury of rescheduling. If your trip is cancelled due to bad weather, we will refund your deposit the same way you paid. We don’t usually cancel if it is raining, unless it’s going to rain all day. In this part of the world, heavy rain showers are normal.

Cancelations

CLIENT CANCELLATION FEES

We understand that things can happen and we can’t always go and enjoy ourselves on a yacht in the Caribbean.

The client allows Deluxe Private Boats to apply the booking deposit as the cancellation fee and/or to charge such fee directly to the registered credit card.

If the cancellation is made within

  • 15 days prior to the experience a full refund will apply.
  • 14 and 8 days prior to the experience, a 30% fee will apply.
  • 7 and 3 days prior to the experience, a 50% fee will apply.
  • 2 days or 24 hrs. prior to the experience, a 70% cancellation fee will apply.
  • 24 hours prior to the experience, a full charge will be made. The client allows Deluxe Private Boats to apply the booking deposit as the cancellation fee and/or to charge such fee directly to the registered credit card.
  • No shows: if the client doesn’t arrive at the marina on the scheduled day and time of the activity, a full charge will be made.

For the most part, our trips are booked two, five, or even 12 months in advance. So, cancellations at short notice make it next to impossible for us to find someone else to take the place we had reserved for you.

The client will always have the option to reschedule the Experience to avoid any Cancellation Fee, we can provide a voucher valid for 2 years.

The great news is that if trips are canceled due to inclement weather, we automatically give you a full refund. If conditions are poor, or it would be dangerous to go out to sea for the day, we offer a full refund, no questions asked.

Reimbursement

We are happy to give you a full refund if you cancel at least 14 days before your scheduled trip. If the port is closed or if it rains the entire day, we will cancel the trip and do our best to reschedule for the following day so that you do not miss out.

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