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What is your boarding time?Each cruise has their own departure time. You can check the time on our website or on your ticket.
- We start boarding for our cruises 20 minutes prior to departure. Simply present your ticket to staff at the departure point. For the enjoyment of all guests, we cannot delay our departure for any late arrivals. We therefore recommend you allow sufficient time for travel to our location.
- All tours operate on NSW time, all year long.
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What if I have specific dietary needs?We can accommodate you! If you have any dietary requirements please advise our booking office at least one week prior to your cruise . Food allergies must be advised on booking. Please note: we cannot be held responsible for consumption/cross contamination with regards to allergies or dietary requirements.
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Do you offer transfers?No, we don’t offer transfers. We encourage our guests to car pool and utilise public transport where possible.
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Are there car parking facilities?There is free all-day parking at our departure points.
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Is there public transport to the Tweed Heads Marina?Yes, Kinetic buses have a bus stop at the top of our street (River Terrace), both south and northbound buses stop here. From the bus stop, it’s a 150-meter walk to the marina.
- From the North: Catch Route 700 bus from Broadbeach, Miami, Burleigh Heads, Palm Beach, Tugun, Coolangatta. Get off at the Tweed Mall and catch Route 605 to reach River Terrace (2nd stop after departing the Mall).
- From the South: Catch Route 603 bus from Pottsville, Hastings Point, Cabarita, Kingscliff, Chindreah, Tweed city. You need to request to stop at our location which is River Terrace (the driver may know it as Terranora Terrace), it’s the Wharf St Medical Centre that you need to get off at – and walk carefully across the road to River Terrace).
If you're taking our Bush Tucker and Crab Catching Cruise, this departs from a different location at 230 Kennedy Drive.- Public transport to 230 Kennedy drive is NOT close to our departure point – we recommend catching the public bus to Tweed Mall and then catching a Taxi or an Uber.
For all timetables/stops http://www.surfside.com.au/ -
Do you offer Gift Cards?We sure do! These can be booked online via this link, or through our office during open hours. Redemption of a gift card can be done with an online booking or by providing crew at the office of the gift card number at the time of booking. If the gift card amount is greater than the total cost of the cruise, we are not able to return any unused funds to the purchaser or recipient of the gift card.
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How do I make changes to my booking?Within 7 Days
- Please note that no changes (change of date, reduction in passenger numbers, cancellations) can be made within 7 hours of your cruise departure as we spend considerable time and effort in our forward planning of our cruises. We appreciate your understanding in this regard.
Outside of 7 Days- Changes to your booking can be made. Please call the office should you wish to make any changes. Please note: this applies to independent bookings only, and not to charters or groups.
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What is your refund policy?Customers will receive a full refund or credit in case of operator cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.
- Cancellations by customers within 7 days of travel will not receive a refund but may receive a cruise credit, in extenuating circumstances only, to be discussed at the time of cancellation.
- Group or charter bookings ONLY (including the BBQ pontoon) will be able to receive a full refund if cancelled within 6 days of making the booking. A non-refundable deposit is required 7 days after making the booking and final balance is due 60 days prior to the event. Any group bookings and charters will forfeit deposits paid, and be non-refundable if cancelled any time after final payment has been made.
- No-shows will be charged the full price
Contact us by phone to cancel or inquire about a cancellation. -
Do you host 18th and 21st birthdays?Thank you for considering us for your 18th or 21st birthday. Whilst we appreciate that a 18th or 21st birthday is a wonderful milestone that should be celebrated, we do not host these birthdays on board.
We understand that your group might not be the rowdiest. However, our experience learns that it takes only one person to jeopardize the party and the safety of our guests & crew. Due to being a cruise boat, guests cannot easily leave the premises. For this reason we do not host these birthdays on board. -
Charters - minimum & maximum cruising duration | latest cruising timeMinimum cruising duration
The minimum duration is 2 hours. Our crew has to be present before your requested cruising time to set up the boat and conduct safety checks. For this reason, we require a minimum cruising time of 2 hours.
Maximim cruising duration
The maximum cruising time is 3 hours. Our experience learns that more than 3 hours on the boat can get too much for our guests.
Return time
Due to licencing, the latest that our cruises and charters return to the wharf is 9pm. -
What does the Golden Swan look like?The Golden Swan is our vintage river cruises, with two decks, two marine bathrooms and a fully licenced bar on board. She can accommodate up to 45 guests seated or 70 guests cocktail style. The downstairs deck is fully enclosed and sheltered from rain & wind. The upstairs deck is partially enclosed. She has ramp access and is accessible with a walker and manual wheelchair. The marine toilets are not wheelchair accessible.
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Do you operate when it's raining?Yes.
As we are based in a sub-tropical climate, rain is part of life in the Tweed. The rain is important to keep maintain the river and rainforest in this area. As such, our cruises still operate when it's raining.
We do not operate in case of unsafe weather or river conditions. This decision is up to the discretion of our experienced skippers. In the instance of unsafe weather or river conditions, we try to let our customers know at least 24 hours prior to travelling. -
Do you need minimum numbers to operate?Yes, our cruises need minimum numbers to operate. The minimum amount of guests depends on the cruise. In case we don't reach minimum numbers for a cruise, we will contact guests 24 hours in advance to reschedule.
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Are your boats accessible with a walker or wheelchair?The Golden Swan: The downstairs level is accessible with a walker and manual wheelchair. The boat has ramp access from the wharf. The bar is accessible but located at standing level. The toilets are marine bathrooms, which are accessible with a walker but not with a wheelchair. The upstairs deck is only accessible by stairs.
Captain Bills Explorer: The downstairs level is accessible with a walker, manual and electric wheelchair. The boat has ramp access from the wharf. The bar is accessible but located at standing level. The toilets are marine bathrooms, which are accessible with a walker but not with a wheelchair. The upstairs deck is only accessible by stairs.
VIP1: Not accessible.
BBQ Boat: Not accessible.
Office: Accessible via ramp.
Accessible parking: Located next to the wooden office building, at 4 River Terrace. -
Do you offer companion rates?Guests who produce a Companion Card or Carer's Card (or similar) are entitled to a discounted companion ticket, when travelling with their companion. Guests with a Concession Card can travel for the concession rate, which is bookable online.
To book in for the companion ticket, please contact us directly via phone 0755368800 or email info@tweedecocruises.com. You will be asked to produce your Companion/Carer's Card upon check-in. -
Decorating the boats + no balloon policyGuests are welcome to bring their own decoration on the boats (i.e. garlands, bunting, banners).
We encourage our guests to think of sustainable & reusable options such as fabric or paper items.
Please note, the following are not allowed on board:
- Balloons are NOT as per the Tweed Shire Council balloon ban. Since 1 January 2023, the Tweed Shire Council has banned balloons from all Council buildings, parks and outdoor areas, to help reduce their destructive impact on marine life.
- Confetti is not allowed on board as the small pieces get stuck in the carpet and are near impossible to remove. A cleaning fee might incur if guests do use confetti -
What is the departure location?Most of our cruises depart from our wharf at the Tweed Marina, 4 River Terrace, Tweed Heads.
The Bush Tucker & Crab cruise departs from Pioneer Park, 230 Kennedy Drive, Tweed Heads West.
Both locations have free all-day parking spaces.
