FAQ's - Ask Salty, Our Resident Dolphin!

The USCG counts every human as a passenger, regardless of age.Therefore, every passenger, one day to 100+ years old, requires a ticket.

Mother Nature’s in charge, not us! Here’s how it works:

• The Captain makes the final call at departure time – NO EXCEPTIONS!
• Weather cancellations happen right at the marina gate at boarding time, not before
• If we know earlier that weather’s going to be a problem, you’ll get a text and/or email from the crew
• No need to call and ask – if conditions are unsafe, we’ll let you know!
• You’ll get rescheduled or refunded if we can’t sail

Safety first, friends! I want you to enjoy watching me, not worrying about rough seas.

FRISKY MERMAID – Maximum is 49 passengers and is also available for private rental.

SALTY DOLPHIN – Maximum of 41 passengers and is also available for private rental.

Every passenger requires a ticket.

Life jackets are available per USCG guidelines. Infants under 12 months old are required to wear a life jacket at ALL times while on the vessel.

• Give yourself at least 30 MINUTES to park and walk to the dock

I perform my best tail slaps right at departure, and you don’t want to miss that! Be early, be ready, be excited! 🐬

THIS IS THE BIG ONE, FOLKS! Read this twice:

The boat leaves ON TIME, EVERY TIME!

• Give yourself at least 30 MINUTES to park and walk to the dock
• Don’t call to say you’re running late – if you’re late, you’ve missed the boat
• ZERO REFUNDS if you miss departure
• Seriously, don’t be that person who watches us sail away from the parking lot!

Pets are not allowed on the dolphin cruises.  Sorry Fido!

Not on an USCG inspected vessel.  We do require infants under 12 months wear a life jacket at all times.

You may bring beverages in a YETI or in a to-go cup on the boat with you.  Please NO glass.

Our Snack Shack has non-alcoholic beverages and nautical snacks for purchase.  😋

Coolers are NOT allowed.

Shell yeah!  The Frisky Crew has an awesome playlist to enjoy during your cruise.  🎶

Okay humans, parking is serious business on Pensacola Beach! Here’s the deal:

You will receive a confirmation email after booking that will provide every detail you need for your tour.

✅ WHERE TO PARK:

• Free paved public parking across the street from Shaggy’s (sound side) USE THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK – oncoming vehicles are alerted by lights to stop!
• Casino Beach parking (that’s at The Beach Ball)

❌ WHERE NOT TO PARK:

• NO parking on our premises
• DO NOT park at Shaggy’s
• DO NOT park at marina parking lots
• You WILL be towed at your own expense! (And then you’ll miss seeing me… 😢)

You may bring an alcoholic beverage in a YETI or to-go cup.  No glass please!  🍹

Yes!  There is shade at the stern and aft-deck, the mid-deck is completely covered and there is an interior cabin with A/C when the weather is hot.

Yes!  We have a restroom inside the cabin.

Our system charges the entire amount when making a reservation.  If we have to cancel for bad weather you will be rescheduled or refunded.

OK land lubbers, we stay in the calmer waters of the bay and the sound, and we do not go into the Gulf.  You will be able to see land the entire trip.  It is very uncommon for humans to get sea sick on our cruises!

We love our little ones!  However, strollers are not allowed on the vessel and there is no dock space or secure storage area to park while on the boat.

Here’s the honest truth: passengers need to be able to climb up, over, and down stairs at the stern (that’s the back of the boat for you landlubbers) to board and get off the vessel.

The boat is NOT wheelchair accessible.

If you have mobility concerns, please call ahead and chat with the crew about whether this tour will work for you.

Gratuity is never required, but it’s always graciously accepted and super appreciated by our amazing Mermaid Crew! These humans work hard to make sure you have the best dolphin-watching experience ever. If they made your day special, a little extra love goes a long way! 💙

Of course!  The Snack Shack has awesome Frisky Mermaid merchandise – shirts, hats, and more! Take home a little piece of our mermazing adventure. Plus, we’ve got beach essentials in case you forgot something important like sunscreen!

Florida Law requires any person born after 12/31/87 to complete a boater’s safety course. This course can be online by clicking here and a copy of the certificate must be provided at the time of rental.

A fishing license is required if you plan on fishing. We do not sell fishing licenses however you can obtain one at Gulf Breeze Bait & Tackle.

It is your responsibility to know the local fishing laws and regulations, as well as come prepared. The boats do not carry any fishing license, nor do we sell them. We also do not sell bait or tackle. But don’t worry! You may do so at Gulf Breeze Bait & Tackle.

Minimum of 25 years of age.

Yes, we suggest that you pinpoint your location before leaving the dock so you don’t get lost.

Nope! If you have a multi-day rental with us and your own private dock, you are more than welcome to keep the boat at your dock for the night provided location is approved. Please keep in mind that the rental-agreement you will sign expressly forbids the use of our boats for night operation. We ask that you follow that rule and only run the boat during daylight hours.  We have GPS on all of the boats.

No.  You may bring your own.

Life jackets are provided and approximate weights are required on the waiver that must be completed after the renter receives the confirmation email.

By Law, children 6 years old or younger and anyone operating or riding a vessel must wear a life jacket at all times. Frisky Mermaid Dolphin Cruises & Boat Rentals requires any guest who is mentally or physically impaired, elderly, medicated, intoxicated or those who are not strong swimmers wear a life jacket at all times.

You may bring your own flotation devices; however, no towing allowed.

No, towing is NOT permitted behind any of our boats for your safety and our insurance regulations.

Yes! Well behaved, non-aggressive pets are permitted on any private pontoon boat rental.

Yes!  There are no age restrictions.

Yes, but no glass containers. If we find evidence of glass on a boat, you will be charged a minimum $50 fee.

A captain is not provided to drive pontoon boats. The customer is responsible obtaining or captaining (driving) the boat and driver must demonstrate that they are an experienced boater in order to operate the vessel. Failure to request a Captain in advance and/or lack of experience will result in a non-refundable cancellation upon safety instruction and is solely at the discretion of The Mermaid Crew.  If requested, we are happy to provide you with a list of recommended captains.

No, you may not rotate people on and off the boat. You must not exceed the legal capacity or weight limit at any time.

Yes, all boats have a radio with Bluetooth.

If there is inclement weather (storms with high winds, lightening and thunder) at the time of your reservation and we cancel your outing, you will be contacted and provided the option of a reschedule or credit. If there is inclement weather during your outing and we call you back to the dock cancelling the outing, you will be provided a partial credit for the time unused. Weather decisions are not made until the day of the rental at the marina and are solely at the discretion of The Mermaid Crew.

If you are more than 30 minutes late for your scheduled reservation and our office has not heard from you, your reservation will be cancelled without a credit. If you are running late and we are aware of it, no problem, we will hold your reservation for one hour. However, you will not be allotted additional time to your reservation and the boat must be returned at the original end time. If you are more than one hour late, your reservation will be cancelled without refund.

If you are late returning the boat, you will be charged $50 for every 15 minutes the at the dock, NO EXCEPTIONS! No shows without notification will be charged the full rental price.

The boat is provided to you clean and you are required to return it as such, picked -up and all trash removed. If you return the boat dirty and it requires additional cleaning, you will be charged a minimum $50 cleaning fee. If the boat is returned “trashed”, you will be charged a minimum $100 cleaning fee.

All boats are housed at a marina, in a slip, does not require or allow trailering.

We always recommend you bring a fully charged cell phone in case of emergencies.  Don’t forget a waterproof bag, sunscreen, snacks/food, water, Beach towels, sunglasses and a hat.

You MUST arrive 45 minutes prior to your rental scheduled departure time to ensure the entire rental time is allotted. This will allow time for check-in, loading onto the boat and going over the operation & safety presentation.  Failure to arrive on time  (45 min. prior to scheduled time) will result in a delay in departure. Our boats are scheduled on a strict 30 min. tutorial schedule and if you miss your time slot, you will be moved to the next available time slot, not to interfere with on-time scheduled guests and your original scheduled end time will not be extended, nor will your rental be credited for tardiness.

You must be an experienced boater to rent and drive our vessels.  If instruction is needed, please contact us in advance of booking and we will do our best to accommodate you.  Riding a jet ski or having ridden on a boat…doesn’t count, sorry.

We go over an instructional presentation educating our customers on the detailed operating procedures, the local boating laws and regulations, Navigational markers, as well as Boater’s safety and etiquette. Also remember that, By Law, the renter and anyone operating a rental boat must take a boater safety course if born after 12/31/87.

Yes. There is no open container law, but remember the DUI laws are even more strict for boat drivers than they are on the road. Anyone consuming alcohol must be of legal age and you must have a designated driver.

NO…never

Yes, all of our boats are equipped with bimini tops covering part of the boat.

No

We offer morning or afternoon, full day, overnight & multi-day rental packages. Each package has a specific departure & return time that must be followed when making a reservation.

We require 100% of the rental fees to be paid when making a reservation.

Each rental boat leaves the dock with a full tank of fuel. Upon return we will refill the fuel tank and the renter is responsible for the amount consumed which will be refilled by a Mermaid Crew Member and the difference will be charged to the credit card on file.

It is nearly impossible to quote an average fuel consumption because there are so many variables to consider (Usage, weight, water conditions, driving speed etc.).  The faster you go, the more you will consume.  On average most of our guests use between 10 and 15 gallons.  Your speed will dictate that number.

It depends on your individual insurance provider. Most insurance providers will cover rental cars but not necessarily rental boats. Contact your provider for specific details.

Please refer to the “where can I go on my rental blog” on the website.  No boats are allowed to go into the Pass to the Gulf of America.  Any guests who attempts to do so will be on their own for safety and liability and would need to contact the USCG for assistance.  Any rental not returned on time and/or driving after hours will also need to contact the USCG for assistance. 

As long as they are at least 25 years old, an experienced boater, have a valid driver’s license on file and has taken a boater safety course if born after December 31, 1987.  It is recommended that any guests who want to drive watch a boating safety video prior to your arrival.

The USCG counts every human as a passenger.  Therefore, every passenger, one day to 100+ years old, requires a ticket.

FRISKY1 & 2FRISKY – Maximum is 6 passengers and is also available for private rental.  Every passenger requires a ticket.  Not adhering to the capacity requirement will result in a cancellation of your tour without refund.

We can accommodate semi-private/private groups up to 24 (requires multiple vessels)

Life jackets are available per USCG guidelines. Infants under 12 months old are required to wear a life jacket at ALL times while on the vessel.

By Law, children 6 years old or younger and anyone operating or riding a vessel must wear a life jacket at all times. Frisky Mermaid Dolphin Cruises & Pontoon Boat Rentals requires any guest who is mentally or physically impaired, elderly, medicated, intoxicated or those who are not strong swimmers wear a life jacket at all times.

YES – but only on PRIVATE tours…non-aggressive & must be leashed in the marina.

You may bring your own food & beverage on the vessel.  No glass allowed.

Yes, you can find our eclectic Spotify playlist @ Frisky Mermaid 1.

If there is inclement weather (storms with high winds, lightening and thunder) at the time of your reservation and we cancel your outing, you will be contacted and provided the option of a reschedule or credit. If there is inclement weather during your outing and we call you back to the dock cancelling the outing, you will be provided a partial credit for the time unused. Weather decisions are not made until the day of the rental at the marina and are solely at the discretion of The Mermaid Crew.  If we know ahead of time, you will know ahead of time. More often than not our Captains are able to maneuver around pop up weather or push the time back a few minutes and have an incredible cruise.

If you are late, you miss the boat.  There are no refunds for late arrivals or for customers who do not show up at all.  The boat leaves on time every time.

We suggest you arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time to ensure you don’t miss the boat as it leaves on time, EVERY time.  You will find all the information you need in your confirmation email you will receive after booking.

You will receive a confirmation email after booking that will provide every detail you need for your tour.  DO NOT PARK in Shaggy’s parking lot, you will be towed at your own expense.

One car per vessel is allowed to park on premise 715 Pensacola Beach Blvd. There is free public parking across the street from Shaggy’s or at Casino Beach parking lot (where the beach ball water tower is) for additional cars.

Yes, no glass allowed.

Yes, there is full shade on FRISKY1, 2FRISKY and additional vessels (3) are tritoons with Bimini shade (partial).

YES – FRISKY1 & 2FRISKY

Our system charges the entire amount when making a reservation.  If we have to cancel for bad weather you will be rescheduled or refunded.