Frequently Asked
Questions
Everything we can answer honestly about a cruise on the Sweet Melissa. Anything not here, call and ask.
Booking & Your Group
Is the boat really private?
Yes. Every cruise we run is private — the entire boat is yours for the trip, and your party is never combined with strangers.
How many guests can come?
Up to 6 guests. Because the whole boat is yours, that is the limit for your party rather than a capacity you share with anyone else.
Do you combine parties?
No. Your party is never combined with another one. Book a departure and the boat is yours for it, whether there are two of you or six.
How do I book?
Book online — the booking page shows live availability for all three cruises — or call (239) 259-3388 and talk to us directly.
More on how a private trip works, and who books one, on the private charter page.
The Cruises
What cruises do you offer?
Three, all aboard the Sweet Melissa and all private: the Dolphin & Wildlife Cruise, the Sunset Dolphin Cruise, and the Keewaydin Island 8-Hour Adventure.
How long is each one?
The Dolphin & Wildlife Cruise runs about 3 hours. The Sunset Dolphin Cruise runs about 2 hours. The Keewaydin Island trip runs about 8 hours.
Is shelling included?
Yes. Shelling is included on all three cruises — the Dolphin & Wildlife Cruise, the Sunset Dolphin Cruise, and the Keewaydin Island day trip. There is no separate fee for it and nothing to add on when you book.
Do I need a separate shelling trip?
No — there is no separate shelling trip to book. Shelling is part of every cruise we run, so you get it whichever of the three you choose. Pick the trip whose length and time of day suit you.
Each trip in full: the dolphin cruise, the sunset cruise, the Keewaydin Island day, and shelling, which comes with all three.
Dolphins & Wildlife
Are dolphin sightings guaranteed?
No — dolphins are wild animals, and no honest captain will promise a sighting. Captain Mark has decades of experience on the water and will keep looking for as long as the trip allows.
Do you see dolphins on sunset cruises?
It is what the cruise is built around. But dolphins are wild animals, and no honest captain will promise a sighting.
The Boat
Is there a restroom on board?
Yes. The Sweet Melissa has an enclosed restroom below deck, so you never have to cut a trip short. The cabin below also has comfortable seating, a refrigerator, and a kitchen area.
Is there shade?
Yes — a partial shade canopy over the seating, so you can get out of the sun without going below deck.
What's on board?
Below deck there is an enclosed restroom, a cabin with comfortable seating, a refrigerator, and a kitchen area. Up top there is seating for up to 6 guests under a partial shade canopy, and a sound system.
Photographs, the cabin, and the full specification are on the yacht page.
Your Captain
Who is Captain Mark?
Captain Mark Barrett, known to most people as Captain Gramps. He is USCG licensed, has spent more than 45 years on the water, and has run the Sweet Melissa for over 20 of them.
Is he licensed?
Yes. He is licensed by the United States Coast Guard — the federal credential a captain has to hold to carry paying passengers for hire. It is the line between a charter and a man with a boat.
Will he be our captain?
Yes. Mark runs every charter himself. There is no rotating crew and no substitute captain, so the person you booked with is the person at the helm.
More about him on Captain Mark's page.
Still Have a Question?
Ask Mark. He answers the phone himself, and there is a fair amount about a day on the water that is quicker to say than to write down.
Answered? Come out with us.
Check live availability for all three cruises.