FAQS and Policies On Our Tours

FAQS and Policies On Our Tours

The FAQs

We strongly recommend purchasing your tickets in advance as tours very often sell out. This way you can be sure to get the day and time booked for the tour you want. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here or call (239)-728-8687 if you have any questions about our cruises.

Tours depart from the canals of Cape Coral. Depending on the specific tour, we can travel down the Caloosahatchee River and out in the San Carlos Bay. The location of the dolphins and other natural circumstances may cause the route to vary slightly from tour to tour

Each tour is a unique experience and no two tours are exactly alike. While dolphins are the main attraction for most tours, we will be seeing a variety of wildlife including nesting ospreyheronsegrets, and sometimes endangered species like the manatees. Our Homes and Harbour Tour will focus on the gorgeous estates that line the beautiful canals of Cape Coral.

Tours usually run in light rain and minimally poor weather conditions. If we decide the weather conditions are not safe for you and your family, we will cancel the tour. Weather conditions are monitored right up to the departure time and cancellations can be made by Banana Bay Tour Company up to one hour prior to departure. If we cancel the tour, we would love the opportunity to reschedule you based on availability or receive a refund. All of our boats are equipped with a roof that runs the length of the boat. Don’t be too disappointed if your tour departs in less than ideal weather conditions. Our tours taken in light rain often experience the best wildlife and dolphin shows.

Because we are guaranteeing your space on the boat, tickets cannot be refunded or rescheduled once purchased.

Unless it is raining, you will probably not get wet on your tour. Our boats are fully covered on top but the sides are open. If you experience light rain or wind on your tour you may get some sea spray or rain through the sides. Please note: If you’re taking a tour that disembarks at an island, your feet may get wet when getting off the boat.

We currently are not offering a lunch option on our tours. You are more than welcome to bring your own food and drinks with you. Our goal is for you to have a good time, so please bring whatever kind of food and beverages you enjoy, there are two exceptions: NO red wine or hard liquor are allowed.

Yes, we have restrooms on all of our boats.

Our tour boats are a dual-hull design, which provides a very smooth ride. We also stay in the back bays, in an attempt to avoid the big rolling waves of the open ocean. We have not yet had anyone get seasick on one of our tours.

Yes, children are allowed on all of Banana Bay’s tours. Our tours are appropriate for explorers of all ages. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. We offer a reduced price ticket for children ages 3-11 and children under 3 years old can tour for $10. Please note that, due to Coast Guard rules, all children are required to have a ticket.

Please feel free to bring a cooler. We do recommend small coolers because they are generally easy to store on the boat. Large coolers may have to be placed in areas away from your seats.

Unfortunately, due to dock heights and fluctuations caused by tidal changes, access from the dock to the boat maybe difficult or un-accessible at all via wheelchair. The boats themselves are wheelchair friendly.

We recommend you consult your doctor to be sure. Our tours are safe, calm and comfortable, and we have no restrictions for pregnant women.

Dolphin sightings are guaranteed on all tours, except the Homes and Harbour Tour. If you don’t see a dolphin on our other trips, you will receive a free ticket for your next adventure. We do not give too many free trips simply because we have so many resident dolphins in Southwest Florida, it’s unusual not to see them.

Banana Bay Tour Company is a “Dolphin SMART” tour approved operator that strives to protect wild dolphins. Dolphins are protected by the national marine mammal act; Therefore we do not touch, chase, pursue, harass or feed wild dolphins because it is considered illegal and inhumane.

A gratuity for your Banana Bay Crew is not included in the ticket price. If you had a great time and wish to recognize your crew for a job well done, you are welcome to give a gratuity. All gratuities are shared and appreciated. We are sometimes asked what is appropriate, and while it is entirely up to you, 15% is most common in the industry.

For parking questions see your email confirmations.

Per Coast Guard regulations, all tours have life jackets for every guest on board. This includes life jackets for both adults and children. If you have an infant in your group, we recommend you bring a life jacket that fits your small child.

No smoking or vaping is permitted anywhere on the boat.

We strongly encourage guests to bring a camera or binoculars, you never know what surprises each tour will bring!

We recommend that you consider the weather conditions while preparing for your tour with Banana Bay. If you are taking an evening tour, you should consider wearing an extra layer or bringing a light jacket, since temperatures drop once the sun goes down. It is also recommended to bring beach attire and water shoes if your tour disembarks on an island.

All of our boats are fully covered on top, but you can expect the sun to shine in from the open sides.Sunscreen is available at the Cape Harbour shops for those of you departing from the Cape Coral, Rumrunners location.

During all our cruises, your Captain and crew will be having fun talking and educating you on our Bottlenose Dolphins, nature and the importance of Southwest Florida’s Eco Systems. No outside music is allowed because:
  1. the style of music may not be enjoyed by all
  2. it’s a nature tour and we wish for all to enjoy the sounds of nature
  3. safety concerns. The Captain and Crew need to be aware of their surroundings. But for those of you chartering the boat for a special event, we are currently working on making this option available.

Gift certificates are available for purchase directly through Banana Bay Tour Company. If you wish to purchase a gift certificate, please call 239-728-8687 or email us and we will be happy to assist you.

Yes, if you would like to book a private group tour for one of our many unique ecological-friendly tours, or have one custom tailored for your needs, please click here and we will be happy to assist you. Whether you are planning a wedding or a private party, Banana Bay Tour Company will work with you to create the tour you have in mind.

There are plenty of activities and places to visit before or after your tour with Banana Bay. Here are some things to do in Cape CoralFt. Myers, and Cape Coral Historical Museum.

All nature tour companies offer you a chance to witness “the beauty of a natural environment”. Banana Bay Tour Company offers you the beauty of nature and an in-depth look at the fascinating and beautiful Southwest Florida but that’s not all. We don’t offer just a tour, we offer the chance at an adventure. Take Brett from Texas, he started his tour with Banana Bay Tour Company as just another sightseer but ended the tour as a hero. Not all tours will have the excitement and importance that Brett’s had, but we can guarantee that you will have a fun time! And who knows? Maybe the spirit of adventure will present an opportunity for you to be a hero too.

Before booking, please read our COVID-19 Safety Guidelines and what will be required on all cruises.