Policies
Departure and return times are set during initial charter arrangements and will be complied with unless prior agreement by Utopian Cruises.
Charter passengers will board at the designated start time and must disembark at the designated end time to avoid additional charges.
Departures delayed by customer will not extend return time.
If a customer would like to extend their time during the charter, we can do so on a cash basis if Utopia is not scheduled for a subsequent charter.
Utopian Cruises will neither tie to shore nor anchor for less than a 4 hour charter.
Sufficient time should be allowed for cleanup and/or removal of any decorations to be completed by the time Utopia returns to dock.
Early termination during a charter does not result in a refund.
Holiday weekends are often scheduled a year in advance so please plan ahead to make reservations as early as possible in order to ensure the desired date. A deposit is required to hold the reservation. A 15% surcharge will be applied to basic rates for Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day.
Please supply a list of expected guests as far in advance of boarding as possible.
Boarding by the general public is not allowed. No additional guests will be allowed on board during a charter unless prior arrangements have been made with Utopian Cruises.
Anyone aged 10 yrs or older are welcome aboard.
No guests under 10 yrs old are allowed without prior arrangement at the time of contracting the charter. If approved, children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult at all times while on the boat.
Approved passengers under 10 years old must wear an appropriate life jacket any time the child is outside of the cabin. Customers must provide their own life jackets for this purpose.
If any guests arrive with children under 10 yrs old without prior arrangement, they will not be allowed to board and no refunds given.
No pets are allowed on Utopian Cruises.
No smoking is allowed on the houseboat or inside the quarters. Vaping is okay on decks, but not inside cabins.
Utopian Cruises will provide USCG approved life jackets for all adult passengers to be used only in case of emergency. Any passengers needing or wanting to wear a USCG approved personal flotation device while swimming must bring their own.
Approved passengers under 10 years old must wear an appropriate life jacket any time the child is outside of the cabin. Customers must provide their own life jackets for this purpose.
Utopia has a variety of recreational floating devices for swimmers including noodles, inflatables, and pads. You are also welcome to bring your own. An inflator is available for use.
Please bring whatever soft drinks and adult beverages you want to enjoy during your charter.
Ice, snacks, beer, wine and soft drinks are also available at the North Shore Marina ship store.
We have 1 very large and 2 medium-size ice chests available to our customers.
No margarita machines or kegs are allowed.
We invite our guests to bring whatever items will increase the satisfaction of their charter.
Bring whatever you may need to serve food, such as paper plates, eating utensils, towels, napkins, foil, etc.
Here are some additional recommendations for items to bring with you:
Ice chests & Ice
Drinks
Suntan lotions (no oils)
Sandals or water shoes
Inflatables
First aid kit
Beach towels – we do not provide towels for swimming
Fishing equipment
Binoculars
Phone chargers
The hot tub will not be heated from June 1 to September 15 unless outside temperature falls below 75 degrees. There will be a $25.00 service charge for hot tub use whether heated or not.
Bedrooms are not available for charters except for one room that may be used for changing clothes only.
Customers may bring their own prepared food to serve their guests.
Customers must provide all eating and serving utensils, bowls, platters, baskets, paper towels, napkins, etc.
Due to safety issues, logistical difficulties and legal restrictions, it is our policy not to secure the Utopia in Devil’s Cove or Hippie Hollow. If this is a requirement for your outing, we may not be the proper venue for your outing.
Sufficient time should be allowed for cleanup and/or removal of any decorations to be completed by the time Utopia returns to dock. No adhesives should be used to attach decorations.
All Trash must be contained and boat must be left in a reasonably clean condition or $100 cleaning fee will be taken from damage deposit.
There is a $25.00 service charge for hot tub use whether heated or not.
$100 cleaning fee is applied if decorations, trash, and the boat amenities are not left in the condition as when the charter started.
Payments may be made with cash (not mailed), direct deposit, money order, cashier’s check, traveler’s checks, personal or corporate checks, and direct deposit. Utopian Cruises does not accept credit cards for deposits or payments.
50% of the estimated basic charter fee is required to reserve the vessel. Reservation deposits are due no later than seven (7) days after the reservation is made. Failure to make deposits on time could result in cancellation and loss of requested charter date.
The final balance, along with the damage deposit and any other charges, is due 21 days prior to departure unless other arrangements are approved in writing by Utopian Cruises.
Failure to make payments on time could result in cancellation and loss of requested charter date. If the requested date is chartered by another party, previous payments less a $500 cancellation fee will be refunded. If no subsequent charter is scheduled for the date of your event, the amount of the charge for the hourly rate of the charter will be forfeited.
A damage deposit of $250-$350 (depending on the nature of the charter) is required with the final payment, and credit card information will be required in case of damages in excess of the cash deposit.
Damage deposit will be refunded within a week following the date of the charter once a thorough check for damages has been completed. Should the customer become aware of any preexisting damage, please point them out to the crew. If any damages should occur during the charter, please notify the crew immediately to mitigate potential severity.
Yes, but if the booking is within two weeks of the requested date, we accept cash only. The reservation is not confirmed until full payment has been made. No refunds will be offered if you make a partial payment for a late booking and then opt to cancel your reservation.
If there are damages caused by the customer or their guests in excess of the damage deposit, the cost of repair or replacement will be charged directly to the customer’s credit card. A service charge will be deducted from the damage deposit for time involved by Utopian Cruises staff for replacing or repairing damaged items and the amount of charge will be determined on an individual basis depending on the extent of time required.
You may cancel under the following scenarios:
- With 30-days written notice you can reschedule for any time within the following 6 months with a $250 reschedule fee. Rescheduled charters will be at the current or original rate, whichever is higher.
- With 30-days written notice you may completely cancel your charter with a $500 cancellation fee.
- With 60 day or greater written notice a charter may be canceled and deposit refunded less a $100 cancellation fee.
No refund of hourly charter fee will be made in the event of cancellation within 30 days of charter. Early termination during a charter does not result in a refund.
Charters canceled due to weather conditions considered by the captain to be unsafe may be rescheduled or refunded.
Charters canceled by Utopian Cruises due to equipment failure will be refunded or rescheduled per customer’s instruction.
Charters canceled by customer due to weather unsuitable for event, from December through March may be rescheduled at the rate in effect for the rescheduled time.
Cancellations that are not rescheduled within 12 months will result in the forfeiture of the base charter fee. All other fees and charges will be refunded.