Families
Taking a Toddler on a Boat Tour From Side
The fare for a baby or toddler is zero, which settles the least interesting question. Whether a boat day will work for a small child depends on many things that do not appear on a price list.
Short answer
Children aged 0 to 3 are free on all nine tours, and you should still enter them in the booking form. They stay in your care throughout the day. Before you book, consider the length of the day, the noise of any foam party, and the things our records do not cover, such as baby life jackets and car seats, and ask us about those first.
What free means here
The form has a row for infants aged 0 to 3, and those guests pay nothing. Add them anyway. The crew and the driver work from the guest list, and a child who appears out of nowhere on the morning is one that nobody prepared for.
Whether your child gets a place of their own in the vehicle or sits on your lap is something that is not on our records, so ask us when you book. The same goes for anything to do with a car seat, because we have no record of one being fitted. If you have your own and want to bring it, ask us about that too.
Choosing the shortest suitable day
Six hours is the shortest listed length, with Little Pirates described as five to six hours, and those are long days for someone who still naps. Long tours such as the Manavgat and bazaar day, listed at about ten hours, are unlikely to be a kindness. Some lengths exclude transfers, so check before you decide.
Of the short days, Little Pirates was built for families and has a programme for children, and the Pirate tour offers a child-friendly menu. A toddler may be a little young for treasure hunts, but older siblings will not be. The comparison of those two covers them in detail.
Things to think about
- Sleep. A nap on a busy deck is possible for some children and impossible for others. Only you know yours.
- Sun. Hats, high-factor cream and an idea of where you will sit. Our records do not describe the shade on any boat, so ask.
- Water. Children remain under parental supervision at every swim stop, and our records hold no information on life jackets in the smallest sizes.
- Noise. Foam parties involve loud music. On Caretta Bay and Dolphin Island the foam comes on the way home. The foam guide lists the rest.
- Food. The lunches on record are aimed at adults or older children. Bring what your child will definitely eat, unless you have booked the Island tour, where outside food is not permitted; ask us in that case.
- Changing and feeding. We have no record of changing facilities, so ask before booking if it is a deal-breaker.
Tours we would think twice about
Relax is priced the same for adults and children aged 4 and over and is built around silence, so an infant's presence may not be the best fit, even if the infant goes free. Ask us if it is the only date you have. Whether the deep-sea Fishing trip works with a toddler is your decision: the record says all ages are suitable, but hooks, bait and an early start are worth weighing up. Parents who want to know about accessibility, including pushchairs on board, should contact us before booking, as it differs from boat to boat.
Reasons to go anyway
There is no rule that a holiday with a small child must be spent entirely beside the pool. Some toddlers are happy on deck all day, and a boat with a family theme can be a good change of scene. Reserve the date, because there is no payment until the day, and if your child wakes up unwell, remember that free cancellation runs out 48 hours before the start. Anything inside that window is a matter to raise with us as soon as you can.
