OTTAWA YACHT
PRIVATE CHARTERS & PUBLIC TOURS
FAQ
OTTAWA YACHT
PRIVATE CHARTERS
& PUBLIC TOURS
FAQ
→ When do tours operate?
Tours start June 1, 2024.
Tours end October 13, 2024
→ What tours are offered?
PRIVATE CHARTERS FOR ANY EVENT
Our specialty. Rent the entire yacht or both yachts for your crew. 12 people /yacht, from 11 AM to 11 PM, for durations of 1.5 hrs, 2 hrs, or 2.5 hrs.
PUBLIC TOURS
Every Thursday & Friday
Afternoon tours (1.5 hours)
at 2 PM, and 4 PM.
Sunset tours (2 hours)
at 8 PM before July 17, and
at 7:30 PM on or after July 17
FIREWORKS TOURS
Canada Day Fireworks (3 hours)
at 8 PM, on Saturday, July 1.
France's Bastille Day Fireworks (3 hours)
at 8 PM, on Saturday, July 1.
Casino fireworks tours (3 hours)
at 7:30 PM on these 6 dates only:
- Wednesday, July 31
- Saturday, August 3
- Wednesday, August 7
- Saturday, August 10
- Wednesday, August 14
- Saturday, August 17
→ How many yachts are there?
Ottawa Yacht Tours has two yachts.
Each yacht is commercially registered and insured, licensed to sell alcohol, comes with a trained and Transport Canada certified crew (Captain, and First Mate for service), and all the comforts of a world-class yacht, including a phenomenal sound system.
Medium Yacht
38'L by 12'W, and can comfortably accommodate 12 passengers.
Recommended for groups of 6-10, and/or for those who want a more intimate, and chic ambiance.
Large Yacht
42'L by 14'W, and can easily accommodate 12 passengers.
Recommended or groups of 10-12, and for those who need more space, and/or want to dance and party.
→ Can I book both yachts?
Yes, absolutely! We offer Private Charters just for that. Click BOOK NOW, or call or text 343-550-0175, and discover the absolute joy of your guests sharing an experience like no other.
→ Where do tours start / end?
All tours start and end at the Pirate Marina, situated at 1067 Jacques Cartier Street, Gatineau, Quebec, which is about 7km or a 10-minute drive from the ByWard Market in downtown Ottawa.
→ Where do tours take place?
All tours take place on the Ottawa River (also called la rivière des Outaouais, pour les francophone).
→ How long is a tour?
Public Afternoon and Sunset Tours last 1.5 hours
Public Fireworks Tours last 3 hours
Private Charters last 1.5 or 2 or 2.5 hours (depending on the duration you choose)
→ How many passengers?
Each yacht can have a maximum 12 passengers.
If you chartered one (or both) yacht(s) for a private tour, only you and your guests will be onboard the yacht(s).
If you bought a ticket for our public afternoon tours or public sunset tours on Thursday or Friday, these are public tours, and we sell up to 12 tickets per yacht.
→ What is and is not included?
Drinks, food, taxes and gratuity are extra.
→ What about food?
We've partnered with the Le Pirate Rest-O-Bord restaurant, which is situated adjacent to our marina. Have a look at the menu.
The chef has designed 3 mouth-water gourmet sandwiches (come with home chips), which must be ordered at least 24 hours before your tour.
The chef has also designed well-curated charcuterie boxes for two and charcuterie platters for six, which must be ordered at least 24 hours before your tour.
We'll have the food ready on board, and ready to serve after the tour starts.
We reserve the right to charge a cleanup service fee.
→ What about drinks?
We have our alcohol permit.
We stock & sell a selection of sober drinks.
We also stock & sell a selection of 3 local craft beer, 3 pre-mixed top-shelf canned coolers, 2 white wines, and Prosecco.
We do not sell hard liquor. Ours is not a booze cruise.
We champion responsible drinking.
You may not bring any beverage on board, or consume your own beverage on board.
We do not sell red wine (impossible to clean if spilled).
→ Dietary needs?
Yes, of course.
Please advise when ordering food of any dietary need, of any food intolerance, or of any food allergy.
→ Kitchen?
Yes, each yacht is equipped with a full kitchen, and only accessible to our crew.
→ Washroom?
Our yachts are called cabin cruisers, meaning they have a complete inside cabin, which includes a clean, private and fully functional washroom. You're all good to go!
It's considered proper yachting etiquette to find and use a washroom on land before boarding, rather than using the washroom shortly after boarding. Our yachts are not equipped with large waste water holding tanks.
→ Life jackets?
Each yacht has 15 life jackets of varying sizes.
You will be shown where they are and how to put one on during the safety briefing before your tour starts.
Crew will hand you one immediately if an emergency arises.
→ Smoking?
Smoking is strictly prohibited on the marina docks, and anywhere near or on our yacht.
There are 1000's of liters of fuel on boats at a marina.
We are commercially registered with Transport Canada , and Transport Canada regulations prohibit smoking on our yachts.
→ Vaping?
We are commercially registered with Transport Canada , and Transport Canada regulations prohibit vaping on our yachts.
→ Parking?
There is a massive, free, public parking lot nearby.
Click here to see the map. This parking lot may be full during the Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival (Festivale des Montgolfières de Gatineau).
→ Bad weather?
Each day we have tours, all day long, especially before each tour, we regularly monitor 3 different weather apps on the lookout for rain, plus a 4th app on the lookout for strong winds. If it looks like weather won't cooperate, we'll notify you immediately and try to reschedule or offer you a credit for another date or provide you with a full refund.
→ Safety briefing?
Yes, we'll provide you and all passengers with a thorough safety briefing that covers such things as the boat's safety features, detection systems for smoke or fire or heat, alarm systems, what to do in case of emergency or for a person overboard, the location of fire extinguishers or life vests or the first aid kit or the defibrillator or epi-pens (child or adult).
→ Any restrictions?
Yes, for safety reasons, any of the following may prevent a person from being a passenger: expectant mothers, or intoxication.
Passengers must have full use of arms, legs and hands and be able to climb out onto and down from the deck without fatigue or assistance.
The right to restrict access to any person is at the discretion of the crew.
→ Babies or toddlers?
Ottawa Yacht Tours has a limited number of toddler life vests, but none for babies. Please call before booking.
→ Booking a tour?
- On our website — click the BOOK NOW button.
- By calling or texting 343-550-0175.
- By calling us via WhatsApp.
- By email to info@otttawayacht.ca.
- By sending a message on Facebook or Instagram.
- Directly in person at the Pirate Marina.
- Manawa
- Experience Outaoouais
- At these restaurants :
- Apothecary Lounge (ByWard market)
- Starlings (ByWard market)
- The Grande (ByWard market)
- Zak's Dinner (ByWard market)
- Metropolitain Brasserie (ByWard market)
- The Rooftop (ByWard market)
- À La Dérive (Gatineau)
- Le Pirate (Gatineau)
- At these attractions :
- Rogers Interzip
- Lady Dive Amphibus
→ Paying onboard?
Online: credit or debit card, eTransfer.
Yacht: credit or debit card (we use Square), cash, or eTransfer.
eTransfers to payment@ottawayacht.ca.
→ How to pay?
50% deposit is required to reserve your tour.
50% balance is due prior to departure.
If paying deposit or payment by eTransfer: payment@ottawayacht.ca.
If you booked directly through TripAdvisor, Expedia, GetYourGuide, Manawa, or Experience Outaouais, your payment should already be made on their platform — they pay us after your tour is completed.
→ Gratuities?
Gratuities are customary on yacht tours — a hospitality industry, and should be regarded as a thank you for a job well done, based on the satisfaction level of the entire experience.
→ How to pay gratuity?
At the end of the tour, with cash or when paying for your food and/or drinks with Square, or by eTransfer to gratuity@ottawayacht.ca, or click this icon in the email we send you after the tour — one click helps you give a gratuity using Apple Pay or a credit card.
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→ Fully booked?
Yes, our yachts can only hold 12 passengers each and we only have public tours on Thursday and Friday afternoons or for sunsets.
We send a text message to anyone who subscribers to our last-minute deals and seat sales. Text us at +1-343-550-0175 if you'd like to subscribe. You can opt out any time.
→ Reservations required?
In most cases yes, especially for Canada Day or Casino Fireworks tours. These tours are very popular and sell out early.
We welcome last-minute walk-ons, when space is still available.
We post last-minute seat availability on our Instagram profile, @OttawaYacht — follow us to receive notifications.
We also send texts to subscribers about last-minute seat sales and availability. If you'd like to be added as a subscriber, send a text to 1-343-550-0175.
→ When to reserve?
As early as possible.
The perfect-weather season is only about 2 months (July and August), factoring in the cooler June and September.
Fireworks tours sell out early.
→ Showing up randomly?
Yes, but call or text first to confirm the tour is happening and that there is still space on the yacht. Call or text 1-343-550-0175.
→ When to arrive?
15-20 minutes. Please wait on the sidewalk next to the marina. Our Tours Coordinator will great you and confirm that you checked in. The First Mate will open the marina gate when the yacht is ready to be boarded, escort you along the docks, and help you board the yacht.
→ Late?
When a tour is booked by a combination of different guests, to respect those guests who arrive on time, and because other time-related factors often apply (e.g. the time of sunset, start of fireworks, or a subsequent tour), the yacht will depart on time according to schedule, unless the tour is booked exclusively by your group and the group is late.
→ Canceling or no-show?
It depends when you tell us?
- If more than 3 days before your tour: a full refund will be provided.
- If within 48 to 72 hours before your tour: we will issue a 100 percent credit towards another tour.
- If less than 48 hours before your tour: a refund or credit will not be provided.
- If you are late or don't show up and the boat had to leave without you: no refund or credit will be provided.
If we cancel due to weather or some other matter beyond our control, a full refund will be provided.
→ Builder?
Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., Sea Ray is the world’s leading creator of superior quality pleasure boats. For more than 60 years, Sea Ray has pushed the limits of performance and craftsmanship to elevate the boating experience. Each Sea Ray is designed to make every moment exceptional, supporting boaters’ unique lifestyles with a customized balance of unparalleled comfort and performance and world-class technology throughout. Learn more about the Sea Ray Experience at SeaRay.com.
→ Type?
The yachts fall in the class of cabin cruiser, a type of power boat that is equipped with a head (toilet), a galley (kitchen), and at least one berth (sleeping area), all inside the structure of the vessel. Our cruisers are equipped with heating, air conditioning, water heaters, and shore power electric systems. The 390 Sundancer is also equipped with a gasoline-run power generator.
Cabin cruisers are able to handle the water well because of their size and they give a stable ride. They are generally spacious in the cockpit (open seating area towards aft or centre).
→ Model?
Dolce Far Niente is a SeaRay Sundancer 310 Cabin Cruiser; it is 38' long x 12' wide, and has a dry weight of 10,000 lbs..
The Everly is a SeaRay Sundancer 390 Cabin Cruiser; 42' long x 14' wide, and has a dry weight of 18,400 lbs.
→ Age?
Dolce far niente was built in 1990.
The Everly was built in 1988.
→ Speed?
Our yachts are cabin cruisers, which means we cruise. In the boating world, this means we go slow, like 5km / hr slow.
Dolce far niente, with a dry weight of 10,000 lbs., and only when crew is on board, has enough power to can get out of the water (plane — see below) and reach a speed of about 70 km/hr.
The Everly, with a dry weight of 18,600 lbs., and only when crew is on board, is too big and heavy to get out of the water (plane — see below) so speed at about about 45 km/hr.
Planing is the mode of operation for a boat in which the boat is lifted out of the water as it speeds along; its weight is predominantly supported by hydrodynamic lift, created by the speed, so it skims along the top of water, rather than hydrostatic lift (buoyancy), where at standstill or low speed it floats deeper in the water rather than on the surface.
→ Fuel?
Each yacht runs on regular unleaded fuel.
Dolce far niente has a fuel capacity of 681 litres.
The Everly has a fuel capacity of 1,514 litres.
→ Drinking water?
Each yacht has a clean water holding tank.
Dolce far niente has a water capacity of 151.4 litres.
The Everly has a water capacity of 378.5 litres.
Water is city water, but not ideally drinkable.
We sell bottled water.
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