FAQs

1. There are no restrictions in place for our tour boats for the 2022 season however…
2. COVID-19 is still around. It hasn’t gone away. Different countries have different rules, so please observe whatever local rules might be in place when you come on board.
3. We meet all standards and best practice for preventing the spread of COVID-19.
   1. BlueWild certified as ‘Good to Go’ in 2020 and was re-certified in 2022 by Visit Scotland and Visit Britain.
   2. We hold the ‘Safe Travels’ badge from The World Travel & Tourism Council
4. We’re continuing to be cautious. We’re following Scottish Government advice on COVID-19 to ensure safety for our passengers and crew.
5. Advanced booking and passenger registration is required. Please see how do I book.
6. Irrespective of COVID-19, our normal practice is to wash our boats every day and often between tours.
7. Prior to boarding, we ask that passengers declare themselves free from any known COVID-19 symptoms. Passenger who have COVID will not be allowed on board.
8. Disposable face masks, gloves and hand sanitizer continune to be available for anyone who wishes to use them.
9. We observe all public health notices and will constantly review the situation.

Puffins

For the best possible sighting and experience up close, book our Isle of May Landing tour between April and mid July. Alternatively, our Bass Rock tours visit Craigleith where puffins nest.
Puffins leave in mid July – so book early!

Gannets

All our tours go to the Bass Rock.

Seals

You will probably see seals on most of our tours. The best time is in late summer and early Autumn as seals start to gather for breeding season. Our Isle of May Landing tour in September or private charter in October are best.

Dolphins and Whales

Sightings are regular but not everyday. Dolphins often pass by and whales can bespotted on some occasions. They decide when to appear so we can’t promise sightings.

Our tours have individually ticketed seats OR every tour is available as a private charter.
Choose your tour, book, LET’S GO!

If you are trying to book close to a tour departure time or looking to ‘ walk-on’, please CALL US on +44 (0)7311 007001

We’ll be happy to help.

Our Cabin boat is licenced to carry 10 passengers during daytime and 6 passengers during darkness hours.

Our larger boat is licensed to carry 12 passengers from dawn until dusk.

We switch the boats around depending on demand for each tour.

On a Private Charter it’s just one person! You can sail alone or up to the maximum allowed at the time of your tour. Our Charter prices are for exclusive hire of our boat for you and your group for your selected tour.

On tours where individual tickets are for sale, then we sail only when at least 6 people have booked.

Yes of course. For charters, you hire the boat and decide how many people you bring with you. We’ve taken couples, single photographers and groups up to our maximum capacity.

There are different tours at different prices and most have adult, junior and student concessions. Private Charters are priced at a set rate for exclusive booking for you or your group and represent superb value – please contact us.

We offer student concessions and child rates. Some tours have promotional rates at different times throughout the season – look out for these!

Please drop us a note on the Contact form or call us on 07311 007 001. We’ll be happy to help you plan a fantastic Private Charter.

Yes of course. If there are no passengers already booked on this tour then we will offer you a Private Charter. This guarantees you exclusive use of our boat with Skipper and Guide . This offers more flexibility or longer time on the water than a scheduled tour.

Please try to arrive at least 20-30 minutes before the advertised departure time. We’ll talk you through safety procedures and make sure that everyone is ‘good to go’ before we leave on time.

Please use public car parks nearest to the harbour. Bikes can be locked up at racks or near the boat in most harbours where we visit.

If you’re delayed, then please call us in advance. On some scheduled tours we can’t wait because we need to arrive at harbours at agreed schedules with other boats. In some cases, we’ll happily wait for you and cheer as you run along the harbour when you arrive.

Yes. Children of any age are welcome. We have small life jackets for children. Babies and infants up to the age of 1 do not count in your passenger numbers and are not charged – however please let us know when booking (add a note in your booking).

No. We sail too close to marine wildlife which throughout the season will be nesting, breeding, fledging or giving birth. We do allow guide dogs.

Sorry, at the moment we don’t. We’re working to try to find solutions to this. One of our boats can take wheelchairs but harbour access is an issue.

It’s always a good idea to have a warm jumper and a rain jacket, even on hot days. On all but really hot days you will feel colder soon as you go offshore due to the sea air and boat speed.

We have some storage space on board so you can throw a small bag or backpack on board and not have to carry it while on the tour.

On some days – No. On some days – Yes.

Depending on the weather, you will probably get splashed. On some days the spray and waves will mean that you get wet if you sit outside.

We issue BlueWild cover-alls on Private tours. We sell eco-friendly bio-degradable rain ponchos on scheduled tours.

We have some storage space on board so you can throw a small rain jacket, bag or backpack on board and not have to carry it while on the tour.

Our boats have cabins so you can sit in the cabin where its warmer and protected from the wind. Thalassa also has a heater.

It’s always best to carry an extra layer of clothing with you on a boat.

We have a little storage space on board so you can throw a small bag or backpack into our hold and not have to carry it while on the tour.

No. There are public toilets at Dunbar and North Berwick near the harbour and the Isle of May has public toilets for those on the Island landing tour.

Firstly, don’t worry. Humans aren’t made to be on water so this feeling is entirely natural for everyone – even experienced sailors.

Secondly, the best thing to do is to take a suitable travel sickness tablet about 2 hours before your tour.

Also, don’t sit on board staring at your mobile phone – this is guaranteed to make you feel unwell.

Yes. Our life-jackets are individually certified annually to meet legislation. We also inspect and check each life jacket after every tour. We have smaller jackets with the correct buoyancy for children.

A big Yes! Take photos, share on social media – enjoy yourself! Our crew will take pics of you too if you like.

We’ll try to make sure you get the photo you want.

We’d love you to share posts, photos and videos on social.

However, there are some circumstances when the skipper will forbid any information or images to be taken or publicly shared. For example, when a passenger may be unwell or in distress.

Also in emergencies, it is more important to concentrate on following safety instructions than taking pictures.

We do not allow any taking or sharing of material taken on board at these times.

Your enjoyment, comfort and safety are our primary concern.

Whilst our tough sea-going boat can handle pretty rough weather, sometimes, the skipper may decide that conditions simply aren’t suitable for your tour. It could be the wind or the sea-swell, large waves or overall bad weather. If the forecast is poor then we will cancel and contact you in advance.

If we need to cancel, then we will reschedule your tour or offer you a full refund.

Nope. Safety of passengers and crew always dictate when a boat will sail. The skipper will make this decision.

Occasionally, tours may need to be altered, shortened or lengthened if weather changes.

Yes, but please be considerate. Slippy decks are a safety issue so please don’t come aboard with take-away food that if spilled leaves greasy marks.

Waves and fizz don’t usually mix – so fizzy drinks before or on the tour are best avoided.

We discourage alchohol on board, however a small celebration drink on a special occasion is permissable. The Skipper has absolute authority on the matter.

Yes, but we ask you to be considerate please. Please don’t come aboard with take-away food (chips, pizzas, Chinese, Indian etc) that if spilled leaves greasy marks. Slippy decks are a safety issue.

Fizzy drinks before or on the tour are best avoided – waves and fizz don’t usually mix!

If you’re unwell then sometimes the fresh air is just what you need. Sometimes it’s not, so it’s your personal decision.

Medication might affect your balance – so you need to think about whether bobbing about on a boat is best for you and your fellow passengers.

On a more social note, the mantra is ‘party hard before, better stay ashore’. A little party excess followed by wind, waves and the aroma of gannet guano has one predictable outcome.

Please CONTACT US about tours for educational groups to ensure that current public health guidance is observed at the time of your tour.