Thank you for choosing the Smooth C’s for your occasion! Your safety, comfort and enjoyment are important to us.
Please take a few minutes to review this important information. We're looking forward to welcoming you aboard!
Directions to the Marina: We depart from the Harborage Marina, 1110 3rd Street South, St Petersburg, FL 33701. Free guest parking is offered in the paved lot across the street from the marina. Parking in the dirt lot is for marina residents only. You may also use free on street parking on 3rd Street or 11th Avenue South.
Boarding: Please wait under the white tent at the marina entrance until your boarding time; a uniformed crew member will meet you there 15 minutes prior to your scheduled departure. Early boarding may be arranged ahead of your cruise date for an additional fee.
Drugs: ZERO TOLERANCE Under NO circumstances are illegal substances permitted on board. Any passenger bringing illegal substances on board will be held responsible for all damages that may be caused by such action, including but not limited to: entire cost of vessel due to confiscation by authorities, loss of income due to vessel down time, liability for injuries, legal fees incurred by all parties, etc. Our captains are bound by USCG rules to immediately report all possession of illegal substances to authorities, who will meet us at the nearest dock or board us on the water to take further action.
Medical Marijuana: Please note that while marijuana is medically legal in Florida, is not legal on the federal level and Marijauna is not permitted on board in any form (even with a medical prescription). As a Federally Documented and licensed vessel we are bound by Federal law (not state law). DO NOT BRING IT WITH YOU!
First Aid: There is a First Aid kit on board, however, we are not able to dispense medications such as Tylenol, Dramamine, etc.
Fishing: We do not offer fishing aboard the Smooth C's, however, we'd be happy to recommend fishing charter vessels to you.
Food: If bringing your own food, please bring everything ready-to-serve as cooking/warming is not available on the yacht. Sterno fuel cans are NOT permitted. If using a caterer, please let us know so that we can coordinate delivery with them. Bottled water and ice will be provided at no charge, as well as plates, cups and plastic cutlery. Our crew is happy to assist with set up and clean up, but we are unable to serve food or beverages. You are welcome to serve yourselves.
Alcohol Policy: You may bring alcoholic beverages aboard, including red wine and punch drinks. Glass is prohibited except for wine or liquor bottles which must remain on the bar inside the cabin. Any passenger consuming alcohol must be at least 21, and passengers assume legal consequences due to drinking of alcohol. When alcohol is on board the yacht all guests will need to have ID with them. Any guest under 21 will need to be accompanied by their own parent or legal guardian. Any instance of underage drinking will result in immediate termination of the charter for all guests with no refunds issued.
We provide plastic cups and disposable dining ware. Bottled water and ice are complementary. Our crew is happy to help you load, set up your bar, and help keep the area clean, but we are unable to otherwise provide or handle alcohol. You are welcome to bring your own beverages and serve yourselves.
Intoxication: Should a guest become intoxicated, or show up intoxicated, the captain reserves the right to deny service or return the offending individual or entire group to the nearest dock which may not be our departure location. We welcome your responsible enjoyment of alcoholic beverages, however for safety reasons we do not cruise with intoxicated passengers. If your event plan involves heavy drinking or intentional intoxication we suggest you consider another venue. No rescheduling will be available and no refunds will be issued for charters shortened or cancelled due to intoxicated guests. It’s nice to enjoy a few drinks while out for your cruise, but intoxicated individuals create unsafe and uncomfortable conditions for all. We want everyone to have a fun, enjoyable, and memorable cruise.
Inappropriate Behavior: Should passenger actions or behavior make the crew feel that safety is compromised, other guests are made to feel uncomfortable, or that they are unable to focus on cruising the boat and maintaining safe conditions, the captain reserves the right to deny service and/or return the offending individual/group to the dock. No refunds will be issued.
Life Jackets: As a USCG certificated vessel, we have enough life jackets on board for all passengers and crew. If you’re cruising with children and are more comfortable bringing their own life jackets, you are welcome to do so. The Captain will do a short safety briefing prior to your cruise.
Marina Etiquette: We are all guests of the marina, and as such, we ask that you respect the other boaters’ privacy and keep noise to a minimum while inside the marina. Guests are NOT permitted to use the marina pool. While there is no dress code on board our yacht, please wear cover-ups when in the marina.
Music: You are welcome to connect to our Bluetooth enabled stereo system on board with speakers throughout the vessel.
Passenger Limit: Per USCG Regulations, we are limited to 20 passengers maximum, including children and infants. The 20 passenger limit does not include the captain and mate, but does include outside vendors such as photographers, servers, wedding officiants, etc. Special accommodations may be required for larger guests; please discuss this with us ahead of time.
Personal Belongings: We are not responsible for your personal belongings. Please consider leaving valuable items at home.
Seasickness: Waves and strong wind are sometimes a part of cruising. The captain will take into consideration current conditions, trends, and forecasts in order to decide if it is safe and reasonable to cruise. If you are prone to or are worried about motion sickness or sea sickness, please consult your physician or pharmacist for recommendations. It's usually best to take medication before the cruise rather than waiting until you feel ill.
Shoes: Heels, Wedges, Platforms, or any shoe that raises your foot more than one inch are not able to be worn on board for safety reasons. Any guest wearing raised shoes will be asked to remove them upon boarding. As the deck can get hot during the summer months, it's not recommended to go barefoot, so please plan accordingly.
Smoking: Due to fire regulations, Smoking, Vaping, and/or Medical Marijuana is NOT permitted. Sorry we will not be able to make any exceptions to this safety requirement. We cannot allow any flame - No Candles, Sparklers, Fireworks etc.
Special Assistance/ADA/Accessibility - Please let us know if any of your guests require assistance. Due to the design of the vessel we are unable to be ADA compliant. We regularly cruise with guests of all abilities. Wheelchairs and walkers can be used on the walk to the vessel on the dock but cannot be used on board. Guests need to climb seven standard steps with a handrail and step across a 12inch gap to get onto the yacht. Once on board there are a few steps as you move around the yacht, some without handrails.
NO Pets/NO SERVICE ANIMALS - For their safety, the Coast Guard does not permit us to allow any animals, including service animals, on board as we do not have a USCG approved method of rescuing animals in an emergency.
Swimming: USCG regulations prohibit swimming or jumping from the vessel.
The act of intentionally jumping into the water from a passenger vessel is considered interfering with the safe operation of the vessel, a violation of 46 United States Code, Section 2302. By law rail jumpers must be reported to the USCG and subject to federal prosecution and fines up to $33,333 per person.
We understand there are vessels in our area that can accommodate swimming, however very few can carry more than 12 passengers. These vessels are not inspected by the coast guard and most do not follow any safety regulations or complete any crew safety training.
As we are a USCG Inspected Passenger Vessel we are held to very high safety standards, and cannot allow swimming, but because we follow these stricter safety regulations, including regularly training with the USCG we are able to carry more passengers than anyone else.
We do not recommend swimming in the bay anyway. It is not nearly as nice as the beach. If you can even stand to touch the bottom, it is usually covered in seaweed and oysters, not sand like the beach, and the Tampa Bay area is known for strong currents and riptides which unfortunately claim too many lives each year. If swimming is necessary, I would suggest just visiting a local beach or pool instead of swimming from a vessel. No matter what vessel you choose, the vessel will not be able to approach the swimming areas of the beaches as these are areas that are off limits to powerboats.
We do about 250 cruises per year without swimming, and we think you will have a great time on board with us while we sightsee around the St Petersburg area of Tampa Bay, looking for dolphins and enjoying the scenery and cool breezes on the water.
Toilet: The vessel is equipped with an electric flush toilet. Sanitary products, diapers, paper towels or wet wipes are not to be flushed. Disposal bags and a trash can are in the bathroom. Charterer is responsible for all costs associated with damaged or clogged toilets, including lost revenue due to downtime while toilet is repaired.
Termination of Charter: Failure to abide by our required safety regulations will result in immediate termination of the charter. Guests will be removed from the vessel at the nearest dock and earliest opportunity, which may not be the same dock we departed from. If your charter is terminated, you will not receive a refund, and you will be responsible for your own transportation from the port of disembarkation.
Weather: There is always a risk that weather may affect any outdoor event, even more so for boating. While we always hope that we can show you one of "The Sunshine City's" beautiful sunny days, we do occasionally have weather that may not be as we hoped for when booking your event. We still cruise with cloudy skies, cold temperatures and sometimes rainy or windy conditions as long as we believe it is still safe to do so. We know you have been looking forward to your cruise, and we will do our best to offer you a safe and enjoyable day on the water. While we are not able to simply cancel cruises because the weather was not up to your expectations, your safety is our top priority!
Tampa Bay Yacht Charter (TBYC) will decide if your charter will be cancelled or delayed due to current conditions and approaching systems using the current and predictive radar, as well as the marine forecast and actual observations for the intended/probable area of charter. We do cruise in some scattered showers (feel free to take cover during showers or bring a rain jacket), however, we will not begin a charter during an electrical storm or if we believe that such approaching conditions will be unavoidable during a charter by altering course. We ask you to think of it like a ballgame: a little rain during a couple innings, or a delay of the game, doesn’t ruin the whole game.
If we are delayed by conditions (1 hour maximum before cancelling), we ask you to come aboard and start the party, while we watch conditions and radar to see when/if it will clear. This decision will be made by TBYC as early as we are certain, and you will be notified immediately if we determine that the charter should be delayed or cancelled. If the weather does not clear after that first hour, you will receive a refund minus a $250 dockside fee.
In general, charters are not cancelled in advance of cruise time unless we are certain that we will not charter based on the above criteria. While the weather forecast (advance or even hourly) may say there is a high chance of rain, this is very broad and may not affect the time of your charter or the area where your captain may cruise, or could only result in a delay of your charter. If you do not show and conditions do allow for a cruise, this will be considered a no-show and there will be no refunds or rescheduling (sorry, we just don’t want to be left standing on the dock with an empty boat that could be out on the water for a good time).
Partial charters are charters which are shortened due to current or expected inclement conditions, or circumstances beyond our control. Our goal is for every charter to be a perfect cruise, but sometimes safety and comfort force us to shorten a charter. Partial charters are charged a prorated fee UNLESS the charterer decides to continue the event dockside for the duration of the cruise. In this instance, there will be no prorated refunds and TBYC will be deemed to perform its obligations per the charter contract.
If you’ve booked a Destination Dining cruise but the route is impacted by weather/winds, the captain will offer you the choice of an alternate location if available or the option to shorten your cruise (minimum of two hours cruising) in lieu of the Destination Dining experience.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
What else to know: The interior space is enclosed and climate-controlled. There is seating for 12 inside the cabin; the galley has a full-size refrigerator/freezer that you may use, and on the outside deck we have a large cooler with ice. You are also welcome to bring your own cooler. The aft deck has seating for 8 with a covered top, the bridge has seating for 3 (plus the Captain), the bow can accommodate all 20 guests.
The vessel is very comfortable and maintained to a high standard. There are 36 inch high rails around the entire perimeter of the boat which make it easy and safe to walk around; there are multiple hand-rails both inside and out. That said, there is going to be movement and guests are asked to use caution when moving about.
Download a PDF version of this document
Please take a few minutes to review this important information. We're looking forward to welcoming you aboard!
Directions to the Marina: We depart from the Harborage Marina, 1110 3rd Street South, St Petersburg, FL 33701. Free guest parking is offered in the paved lot across the street from the marina. Parking in the dirt lot is for marina residents only. You may also use free on street parking on 3rd Street or 11th Avenue South.
Boarding: Please wait under the white tent at the marina entrance until your boarding time; a uniformed crew member will meet you there 15 minutes prior to your scheduled departure. Early boarding may be arranged ahead of your cruise date for an additional fee.
Drugs: ZERO TOLERANCE Under NO circumstances are illegal substances permitted on board. Any passenger bringing illegal substances on board will be held responsible for all damages that may be caused by such action, including but not limited to: entire cost of vessel due to confiscation by authorities, loss of income due to vessel down time, liability for injuries, legal fees incurred by all parties, etc. Our captains are bound by USCG rules to immediately report all possession of illegal substances to authorities, who will meet us at the nearest dock or board us on the water to take further action.
Medical Marijuana: Please note that while marijuana is medically legal in Florida, is not legal on the federal level and Marijauna is not permitted on board in any form (even with a medical prescription). As a Federally Documented and licensed vessel we are bound by Federal law (not state law). DO NOT BRING IT WITH YOU!
First Aid: There is a First Aid kit on board, however, we are not able to dispense medications such as Tylenol, Dramamine, etc.
Fishing: We do not offer fishing aboard the Smooth C's, however, we'd be happy to recommend fishing charter vessels to you.
Food: If bringing your own food, please bring everything ready-to-serve as cooking/warming is not available on the yacht. Sterno fuel cans are NOT permitted. If using a caterer, please let us know so that we can coordinate delivery with them. Bottled water and ice will be provided at no charge, as well as plates, cups and plastic cutlery. Our crew is happy to assist with set up and clean up, but we are unable to serve food or beverages. You are welcome to serve yourselves.
Alcohol Policy: You may bring alcoholic beverages aboard, including red wine and punch drinks. Glass is prohibited except for wine or liquor bottles which must remain on the bar inside the cabin. Any passenger consuming alcohol must be at least 21, and passengers assume legal consequences due to drinking of alcohol. When alcohol is on board the yacht all guests will need to have ID with them. Any guest under 21 will need to be accompanied by their own parent or legal guardian. Any instance of underage drinking will result in immediate termination of the charter for all guests with no refunds issued.
We provide plastic cups and disposable dining ware. Bottled water and ice are complementary. Our crew is happy to help you load, set up your bar, and help keep the area clean, but we are unable to otherwise provide or handle alcohol. You are welcome to bring your own beverages and serve yourselves.
Intoxication: Should a guest become intoxicated, or show up intoxicated, the captain reserves the right to deny service or return the offending individual or entire group to the nearest dock which may not be our departure location. We welcome your responsible enjoyment of alcoholic beverages, however for safety reasons we do not cruise with intoxicated passengers. If your event plan involves heavy drinking or intentional intoxication we suggest you consider another venue. No rescheduling will be available and no refunds will be issued for charters shortened or cancelled due to intoxicated guests. It’s nice to enjoy a few drinks while out for your cruise, but intoxicated individuals create unsafe and uncomfortable conditions for all. We want everyone to have a fun, enjoyable, and memorable cruise.
Inappropriate Behavior: Should passenger actions or behavior make the crew feel that safety is compromised, other guests are made to feel uncomfortable, or that they are unable to focus on cruising the boat and maintaining safe conditions, the captain reserves the right to deny service and/or return the offending individual/group to the dock. No refunds will be issued.
Life Jackets: As a USCG certificated vessel, we have enough life jackets on board for all passengers and crew. If you’re cruising with children and are more comfortable bringing their own life jackets, you are welcome to do so. The Captain will do a short safety briefing prior to your cruise.
Marina Etiquette: We are all guests of the marina, and as such, we ask that you respect the other boaters’ privacy and keep noise to a minimum while inside the marina. Guests are NOT permitted to use the marina pool. While there is no dress code on board our yacht, please wear cover-ups when in the marina.
Music: You are welcome to connect to our Bluetooth enabled stereo system on board with speakers throughout the vessel.
Passenger Limit: Per USCG Regulations, we are limited to 20 passengers maximum, including children and infants. The 20 passenger limit does not include the captain and mate, but does include outside vendors such as photographers, servers, wedding officiants, etc. Special accommodations may be required for larger guests; please discuss this with us ahead of time.
Personal Belongings: We are not responsible for your personal belongings. Please consider leaving valuable items at home.
Seasickness: Waves and strong wind are sometimes a part of cruising. The captain will take into consideration current conditions, trends, and forecasts in order to decide if it is safe and reasonable to cruise. If you are prone to or are worried about motion sickness or sea sickness, please consult your physician or pharmacist for recommendations. It's usually best to take medication before the cruise rather than waiting until you feel ill.
Shoes: Heels, Wedges, Platforms, or any shoe that raises your foot more than one inch are not able to be worn on board for safety reasons. Any guest wearing raised shoes will be asked to remove them upon boarding. As the deck can get hot during the summer months, it's not recommended to go barefoot, so please plan accordingly.
Smoking: Due to fire regulations, Smoking, Vaping, and/or Medical Marijuana is NOT permitted. Sorry we will not be able to make any exceptions to this safety requirement. We cannot allow any flame - No Candles, Sparklers, Fireworks etc.
Special Assistance/ADA/Accessibility - Please let us know if any of your guests require assistance. Due to the design of the vessel we are unable to be ADA compliant. We regularly cruise with guests of all abilities. Wheelchairs and walkers can be used on the walk to the vessel on the dock but cannot be used on board. Guests need to climb seven standard steps with a handrail and step across a 12inch gap to get onto the yacht. Once on board there are a few steps as you move around the yacht, some without handrails.
NO Pets/NO SERVICE ANIMALS - For their safety, the Coast Guard does not permit us to allow any animals, including service animals, on board as we do not have a USCG approved method of rescuing animals in an emergency.
Swimming: USCG regulations prohibit swimming or jumping from the vessel.
The act of intentionally jumping into the water from a passenger vessel is considered interfering with the safe operation of the vessel, a violation of 46 United States Code, Section 2302. By law rail jumpers must be reported to the USCG and subject to federal prosecution and fines up to $33,333 per person.
We understand there are vessels in our area that can accommodate swimming, however very few can carry more than 12 passengers. These vessels are not inspected by the coast guard and most do not follow any safety regulations or complete any crew safety training.
As we are a USCG Inspected Passenger Vessel we are held to very high safety standards, and cannot allow swimming, but because we follow these stricter safety regulations, including regularly training with the USCG we are able to carry more passengers than anyone else.
We do not recommend swimming in the bay anyway. It is not nearly as nice as the beach. If you can even stand to touch the bottom, it is usually covered in seaweed and oysters, not sand like the beach, and the Tampa Bay area is known for strong currents and riptides which unfortunately claim too many lives each year. If swimming is necessary, I would suggest just visiting a local beach or pool instead of swimming from a vessel. No matter what vessel you choose, the vessel will not be able to approach the swimming areas of the beaches as these are areas that are off limits to powerboats.
We do about 250 cruises per year without swimming, and we think you will have a great time on board with us while we sightsee around the St Petersburg area of Tampa Bay, looking for dolphins and enjoying the scenery and cool breezes on the water.
Toilet: The vessel is equipped with an electric flush toilet. Sanitary products, diapers, paper towels or wet wipes are not to be flushed. Disposal bags and a trash can are in the bathroom. Charterer is responsible for all costs associated with damaged or clogged toilets, including lost revenue due to downtime while toilet is repaired.
Termination of Charter: Failure to abide by our required safety regulations will result in immediate termination of the charter. Guests will be removed from the vessel at the nearest dock and earliest opportunity, which may not be the same dock we departed from. If your charter is terminated, you will not receive a refund, and you will be responsible for your own transportation from the port of disembarkation.
Weather: There is always a risk that weather may affect any outdoor event, even more so for boating. While we always hope that we can show you one of "The Sunshine City's" beautiful sunny days, we do occasionally have weather that may not be as we hoped for when booking your event. We still cruise with cloudy skies, cold temperatures and sometimes rainy or windy conditions as long as we believe it is still safe to do so. We know you have been looking forward to your cruise, and we will do our best to offer you a safe and enjoyable day on the water. While we are not able to simply cancel cruises because the weather was not up to your expectations, your safety is our top priority!
Tampa Bay Yacht Charter (TBYC) will decide if your charter will be cancelled or delayed due to current conditions and approaching systems using the current and predictive radar, as well as the marine forecast and actual observations for the intended/probable area of charter. We do cruise in some scattered showers (feel free to take cover during showers or bring a rain jacket), however, we will not begin a charter during an electrical storm or if we believe that such approaching conditions will be unavoidable during a charter by altering course. We ask you to think of it like a ballgame: a little rain during a couple innings, or a delay of the game, doesn’t ruin the whole game.
If we are delayed by conditions (1 hour maximum before cancelling), we ask you to come aboard and start the party, while we watch conditions and radar to see when/if it will clear. This decision will be made by TBYC as early as we are certain, and you will be notified immediately if we determine that the charter should be delayed or cancelled. If the weather does not clear after that first hour, you will receive a refund minus a $250 dockside fee.
In general, charters are not cancelled in advance of cruise time unless we are certain that we will not charter based on the above criteria. While the weather forecast (advance or even hourly) may say there is a high chance of rain, this is very broad and may not affect the time of your charter or the area where your captain may cruise, or could only result in a delay of your charter. If you do not show and conditions do allow for a cruise, this will be considered a no-show and there will be no refunds or rescheduling (sorry, we just don’t want to be left standing on the dock with an empty boat that could be out on the water for a good time).
Partial charters are charters which are shortened due to current or expected inclement conditions, or circumstances beyond our control. Our goal is for every charter to be a perfect cruise, but sometimes safety and comfort force us to shorten a charter. Partial charters are charged a prorated fee UNLESS the charterer decides to continue the event dockside for the duration of the cruise. In this instance, there will be no prorated refunds and TBYC will be deemed to perform its obligations per the charter contract.
If you’ve booked a Destination Dining cruise but the route is impacted by weather/winds, the captain will offer you the choice of an alternate location if available or the option to shorten your cruise (minimum of two hours cruising) in lieu of the Destination Dining experience.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
What else to know: The interior space is enclosed and climate-controlled. There is seating for 12 inside the cabin; the galley has a full-size refrigerator/freezer that you may use, and on the outside deck we have a large cooler with ice. You are also welcome to bring your own cooler. The aft deck has seating for 8 with a covered top, the bridge has seating for 3 (plus the Captain), the bow can accommodate all 20 guests.
The vessel is very comfortable and maintained to a high standard. There are 36 inch high rails around the entire perimeter of the boat which make it easy and safe to walk around; there are multiple hand-rails both inside and out. That said, there is going to be movement and guests are asked to use caution when moving about.
Download a PDF version of this document