Side Boat Tours: Your Questions, Answered by the People Who Run Them
These are the questions our office actually gets, by WhatsApp, at hotel lobbies, and on the gangway. Answers apply to all four of our Side boats unless we say otherwise; you can compare them side by side on our boat tours page.
How does booking and payment work?
You reserve for free — no deposit, no card details — and pay on the tour day itself. We're the operator, not a middleman, so the price you see is the price you pay, in full, to us.
Can I cancel if our plans change?
Yes. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the tour, on every boat. Combined with pay-on-the-day, there's no financial risk in booking early, which matters for the pirate boat, because it fills fast in peak season.
Is hotel pickup included, and what time will you collect us?
Round-trip hotel pickup in air-conditioned vehicles is included on all four tours. We don't publish a pickup timetable because it varies with where your hotel sits on the route, instead, your exact pickup is confirmed personally the evening before, so you're never guessing in the lobby.
What time do the boats leave the harbour?
The pirate ship sails mid-morning, and its hotel transfers are timed around the departure. For the other boats, your confirmed pickup the evening before tells you everything you need, just be ready at your hotel entrance and the timing takes care of itself.
How long is a boat tour?
It depends on the boat: the pirate tour runs 6 hours, the classic boat and the relax boat around 7 hours (the relax figure includes transfers), and the island tour is the longest day at 8 hours.
Are children welcome? Do infants pay?
Children are welcome on every boat, and infants sail free on all four. Each tour has separate adult and child ticket prices, see the exact figures in our price guide. Tell us your children's ages when booking and we'll apply the right tickets. One house rule from our crews: children remain under parental supervision throughout the day.
Which boat is best for kids: and which one isn't?
The pirate ship is built for them: free face painting, a treasure hunt, pirate games, a foam party and a kid-friendly lunch of spaghetti, chicken fingers and fish fingers. The relax boat is the opposite by design: a silent, no-party concept aimed at couples and solo travellers wanting a quiet day. Our first-timer and family guide matches each boat to each kind of traveller.
I can't swim. Can I still enjoy the swim stops?
Yes. Life jackets are available on board, so non-swimmers can join in at their own pace, and staying on deck with a drink while the boat sits in a turquoise bay is nobody's idea of missing out.
What happens if the weather turns?
Our captains adjust the route based on sea and weather conditions, swimming stops on any given day depend on what the sea is doing. Safety calls are made by officially licensed maritime crew, not by the sales desk. If conditions rule the day out, your free-cancellation booking means you're not trapped in a ticket.
Are drinks included?
This is where our boats differ most. On the classic and pirate boats, bar drinks are paid extras. The island boat includes unlimited soft drinks. The relax boat includes both soft and alcoholic drinks in its ticket.
What about lunch: and dietary needs?
Lunch on board is included on every tour. The island boat serves a hot lunch with a vegetarian option, and the relax boat lays out a fresh open buffet, on any boat, tell us about dietary needs or special requests when you book and we'll pass it straight to the galley. Note that on the island boat, outside food and drink aren't permitted on board for hygiene reasons.
Is there anything I'll be asked to pay on board?
Only optional extras, and only if you want them: bar drinks (where not included), the professional photo and video service, sunbeds on the classic boat, and tips, which are always at your discretion. There are no compulsory fees. The full breakdown is in our price guide, and if you're weighing boats against Side's land excursions too, start with our complete local guide.