How should I prepare for my cruise?
For all online bookings/payments:
You do not have to print your “order form” when making an online booking. You can simply write down the name under which the booking was made, along with the 5-figure order number, on a scrap of paper… Why not help save the planet ;-)!
Accepted methods of payment:
- Credit card (in ticketing and online)
- PayPal (online only)
- Cash
What should I bring?
Bring sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen, as well as a windcheater.
Remember to bring a camera and/or video camera (with fully charged batteries!) so you can bring back wonderful memories of your trip. For offshore trips (seabird, whale & dolphin-watching), binoculars are not essential as the animals are close to the boat, but they come in handy for scanning the horizon.
Health advice:
Stay hydrated all day long. Bear in mind that sodas, water and coffee are on sale on board. Take care to protect yourself from the sun’s rays (cap, sunscreen, sunglasses)
Access for people with disabilities:
All the sea cruises are accessible to people suffering from the following disabilities: visual, auditory or mental and accompanied by a carer. For people with reduced mobility, the boat can accommodate two conventional wheelchairs (no motorised wheelchairs for accessibility reasons). Those people are strongly advised to avoid embarking on the “Barbecue and swimming” cruises as well as the “Whale and dolphin-watching” and “Sing with the dolphins” cruises, due to the toilets being too narrow to allow wheelchair access.
Regarding the Port Vendres/Collioure cruise, please note that the little train is not equipped to carry passengers with disabilities. No type of wheelchair can be brought onto the train. Transport to Collioure will need to be arranged (at your expense).
Seasickness:
Although the catamaran is considered the most comfortable type of ship to travel in, we strongly advise anyone prone to seasickness, or travel sickness in general, to take anti-nausea medication before boarding, such as Mercalm (available at French chemists – take one 30 minutes before departure) or Cocculine (homeopathic – take one on the eve of your trip). We feel this recommendation is essential in order to avoid “spoiling” your sea trip. Please also remember to eat a wholesome breakfast and cover yourself up. Avoid eating fatty foods or simply eating too much. It’s always better to spend your time out on deck rather than inside the nacelle.
Meeting-up :
Boarding is always 20 minutes before departure. Meet us at the relevant boarding location (see “Contact/access“).
Car parks in Canet en Roussillon:
Out of season (April and October), in Canet en Roussillon, the Ajaccio and Bastia car parks are free.
Attention, from 1 June to 30 September, in Canet en Roussillon, the Ajaccio and Bastia car parks are charged and regulated by time stamps from 9am to 8pm – see “Parking rates 2024” – for example day parking (9am to 7pm): 17.30€.
NEW – The city of Canet has just set up a new mobile parking payment service thanks to the flowbird application.
Economic tip between June 1 and September 30:
Park your vehicle in the streets around the port or if you have a little more time along the avenue Captain Delestrain, before reaching the parking lot of the “Mole Nord”, left bank (paid parking). In this second case you will be able to use the Shuttle Pass’Port Canet-en-Roussillon (the port shuttle service is charged at the rate of € 0.50 per passage – schedules and fares may have to undergo modifications and are given as an indication, without contractual value). But first, remember to drop your family off at the Bastia car park (car park closest to the dock of the Navivoile catamaran – Bastia car park located near the ONIRIA canet aquarium and 50m from the fuel station for ships). Then drive around the port (take the camping direction “Le Brasilia”) to park along the avenue Capitaine Delestrain, then take the shuttle “Pass’Port” which stops in the parking lot of the “Mole Nord”. Shuttle service operational only from 1 June to 30 September from 7.30am to 10.30pm rotation from one shore to the other of the port.
ATTENTION the parking lot of the “Mole Nord” is paying. This is why we advise you to park your vehicle along Avenue Captain Delestrain.
If you don’t have time, park in the Bastia parking lot!
Second tip, park your car park “Santorin” – free – located at 1200m from the Navivoile dock or 15 on foot!
Car parks in Port Vendres:
The official car parks in Port Vendres is located less than 5 minutes from the NAVIVOILE pier.
- Place De l’Obélisque car park (in front of NAVIVOILE, 100m away ). Metered car park.
Parking is also allowed along the Quai du Fanal (head towards the fishing harbour, “port de pêche”). Free spaces but often full !
Safety intructions.
On board safety rules:
No smoking is allowed on board EXCEPT in the smoking area at the back on the port side. Thank you !
Interdiction de courir, sauter sur les filets et de se bousculer.
Shoes must be removed before going on the nets located at the front between the two floats (maximum of 6 people per net).
Always hold on with one hand when moving along (“one hand for you and one hand for the boat”!).
The life jackets are located in the nacelle, stored inside the benches.
Two lifeboats are located at the back of the ship (2 x 50 seats).
On the “Barbecue and swimming” and “Sing with the dolphins” cruises, we would like to remind you that swimming is unsupervised and is entirely your responsibility. Parents, please do not leave your children unsupervised on the deck or during swimming.
Parents:
Children under 2 years old are welcome on board. However, we recommend choosing short to medium-length cruises (under 5 hours) rather than long cruises (over 5 hours). If you have young children (under 2 years) then prefer very short cruises (less than 2 hours). For whale and dolphin cruises and singing with dolphins it is not recommended for parents to register children under 8 years. Regarding the Port Vendres/Collioure cruise, with a free stopover at Collioure and the little train ride included, we would like to remind you that pushchairs are not allowed on the little train (including buggies). Consequently, we recommend wearing a baby carrier on your front or back so you can relax and enjoy your stopover in Collioure. If necessary you can hire “ultra-compact” pushchairs when you booking your cruise tickets. Parents, please do not leave your children unsupervised on deck or during swimming (“barbecue and swimming” cruise).
Aboard the little tourist train for Port Vendres and Collioure:
For safety reasons in the event of emergency braking, children under 4 years old must sit on a parent’s lap.
Large items of luggage are not allowed on the little train (cool boxes, suitcases, etc.). Only rucksacks and handbags are allowed.
Pushchairs are not allowed on the little train (including buggies). However, passengers can hire “ultra-compact” pushchairs when booking their cruise tickets, subject to available stock.
Dogs over 3 kgs are prohibited on the small train – only “small” dogs that can be carried in an appropriate bag will be tolerated.
