Frequently Asked questions
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Are dolphins guaranteed?Dolphin & wildlife sightings are not guaranteed. As they are wild animals in their natural habitat, and as we adhere to the marine code of conduct, we do not actively follow or chase them.
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When is the best time to spot dolphins?There isn't really a best time, as obviously the dolphins are wild animals living in their natural habitat. However, we always recommend chatting to our friendly team when you book about how the weather has been and how recent sightings have gone, just so you know the latest information.
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Can I bring my dog?We LOVE your furry friends joining us on our boats- and they get to ride for free! We do ask that you let us know in advance if you are bringing more than one dog, and if you are bringing a dog with behavioural issues, just so we can make adjustments or check other passengers.
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Are you in Cornwall or Wales?We are the New Quay in Wales.
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How do I book?Click here to book your next trip with us!
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Do you have life jackets on board?Yes, one for every passenger and extra ones for children - on all our boats
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Do you have toilets on board?Our newest boat, the Suncatcher, has a toilet on board. Toilets are found at the top of the pier in New Quay, so we recommend if you are going on one of our boats without a WC, to use them first.
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Do you provide wheelchair access?We have two boats called the Dreamcatcher & The Suncatcher running boat trips, these boat are wheelchair accessible. The wheelchair must be a maximum width of 25 inches. Please call the office on 01545 560 800 to book, as these bookings are only available through high tide times.
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Can I bring a pram/pushchair on board?If you are bringing a pushchair there are two options for you, you can either fold it down and take it onboard or drop it off at our booking office on the way down the pier. It is probably best for you to choose based on the size of the chair and how early you arrive. FYI, the pier is an old flagstone pier which has suffered with time from movement and is very bumpy so you won’t be able rush across it with a child in a pushchair it would be best to carry the child.
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What should I wear?A light coat which will keep you dry and keep the wind off you is very sensible and in colder times something warm, in hotter times, suncream, and bring water. We do have a snack bar with hot and cold drinks on board the Suncatcher.
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Are the trips suitable for pregnant ladies?Yes, all of our boats are safe for pregnant riders. If you have any questions or concerns please give us a call to discuss further.
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Is it worth booking the trip in advance?We always recommend booking your trip in advance with us, especially during peak times (school holidays and the summer months) due to the trips booking up very quickly.
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What is your cancellation policy?We require 24 hours notice if a customer wishes to cancel and receive a full refund or reschedule. When a customer wishes to cancel a trip after 24 hours in advance or misses their trip we will do our best to arrange an alternative trip on the same day but this depends on availability. We are not obliged to refund your ticket if your boat leaves without you. If you inform us before the trip is imminent that you cannot make your trip we will try to re-sell your seats and refund your ticket. We reserve the right to impose a 25% admin fee. If we must cancel a trip for any reason, we will offer you a rescheduled trip if convenient for you or we will provide a full refund, whichever the customer wishes (no cancellation charge will be made in this case). Rain does not stop our boat trips, please bring suitable clothes i.e. a warm layer and waterproofs in case. Some of our boats are half covered in case of rain. We reserve the right to cancel a trip if it does not meet the minimum requirements for passenger numbers. Minimum of 6 people needed for the trip to run. If the trip can't run we will rebook you to the next available time. If the time is not convenient we will give you a full refund.
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Where do I park?The parking in New Quay, especially during the peak times, is very limited so we always advise arriving with plenty of time to find somewhere to park. There are a number of carparks in the town - at the top and bottom of the hill, but please allow yourself time to find a space and walk to the bottom of the pier and arrive with at least 10 minutes to spare before your trip disembarks. Paragon Car Park – SA45 9NR. Church Road Car Park – SA45 9PB. Central Car Park – SA45 9QH
booking information
New Quay Boat Trips are aware that safety is of utmost importance and would like to stress that each vessel is fully licensed by the Maritime and Coast Guard Agency.
Conforming with the MCA regulations, each vessel is equipped with liferafts and a lifejacket for every person on board.
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​Both Dreamcatcher and Suncatcher provide wheelchair access. All we ask is for customers to notify us in advance of booking. This is to ensure that customers don’t book a trip that will be more difficult than necessary to board.
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All passengers are fully insured.
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All skippers are fully qualified and hold a Boatmasters Licence.
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Dolphins and Porpoise are wild and as such cannot be guaranteed on every trip however, when encountered, the skipper of your boat will slow down (or stop) to allow the best possible view without causing disturbance to the animals in line with the Marine Heritage Coast’s guidelines and the boat operators code of conduct.
NB – When dolphins are encountered any stop time will result in the boats not traveling as far down the coast as advertised.
New Quay Boat Trips are ALL weather permitting
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If you have purchased a ticket and we have had to cancel the trip, you may either re-book your ticket for an alternative time or be fully reimbursed for your ticket.
Please accept that we cannot be held responsible for any bad British weather conditions.
On this note, it may be advisable to take some warm suitable clothing with you as it can be nippier out at sea.
our booking office is at the start of new quay pier.
click the image for directions!
