Daily Boat Tour

Q) What do I need to bring on the day?

A) You should bring your swim-wear and a towel if you plan to swim or sunbathe. It is also advisable to bring and use sun protection cream. If you have your own snorkels and masks then feel free to bring them also, although we do keep a supply on board which you are welcome to use free of charge. Snorkeling in the Bays is a great experience you will be sure to see fish, cephalopods, starfish, sea urchins, mollusks, flatfish, various forms of seaweed, jellyfish, shrimp and possibly sea turtles.

Q) Where do you go?

A) We Sail either West or East of Kyrenia depending on the wind direction and weather conditions on the day. In total we will sail for approx 10 miles in either direction making several stops for swimming, lunch and other activities. But please take note that we do not sail East to Alagadi during the turtle breeding season so as not to affect the natural breeding patterns of the turtles that come there every year.

Q) What Sites will we see during the trip?

A) The first site we see as we leave the Harbour is the Kyrenia Castle. As we sail west you will have views of The Dome Hotel, the “Snake Island” military base, Kervanseray Beach and the Mercure Hotel, St Hillarion Castle, Escape Beach Club, the landing place of the Turkish troops in 1974 with the monument of 11 pillars symbolising the 11 years of struggle on the Island. Also many other Hotels and beautiful beach coves.

Q) Do you go East to Turtle Beach?

A) Not during the Turtle Nesting Season. The Alagadi / Turtle Beach area East of Kyrenia is the nesting site for the Green and Loggerhead Turtles and is a specially protected area. There is an ongoing project to study the Turtles where over 200 students and staff from British universities have taken part in annual monitoring and conservation of the Turtles. This project is carried out in conjunction with the Society for the Protection of Turtles and the Department of Environmental Protection. Sail Cyprus Ltd sponsors an annual Fund Raising Boat Trip for the project and we do not sail East during the nesting season as we do not want to affect the natural activities of the Turtles.

Q) Should I bring my camera?

A) DEFINITELY ! The sites will be seen from the sea which has a completely unique perspective. These are photo opportunities that you will not want to miss. If you take some particularly nice photos you can email them to us and we will be happy to feature them in one of our web galleries so all your friends can access them from the internet. You can also join our Facebook Group and/or Page and upload photos and comments there too.

Q) Is your boat suitable for children?

A) Yes, children love the trips and are most welcome onboard. We believe the African Queen is one of the most suitable boats that you will find for children, and because of the flat deck area you and they will not feel restricted to move around.

Q) What kind of Watersports can I do during the trip?

A) For the more adventurous, water sports can be enjoyed at some of the beachclubs where we will stop during the trip. You can hire a jet-ski, banana ride, ringo, take a speedboat ride or even try para-sailing. These can be done individually or in groups. This year (2008) we have our own brand new Yamaha XL700 Jetski which is available for hire either from the boat during the tour or from the harbour.

Q) What if I am not interested in doing any Watersports?

A) For those of you who prefer to relax and have a lazy day, you can stay on board, sunbathe, read or talk and get to know the crew and other passengers. Whatever your preference, there is something for everyone.

Q) What happens if the weather is bad or the sea is very choppy?

A) In extreme conditions (which are quite rare during the hot Cyprus Summer) we will simply cancel the trip and offer you the next alternative day for sailing. Your comfort and safety are our priority.

If the weather is borderline, and we are still prepared to sail, then we will offer you a choice. We appreciate that some people are sensitive to travel sickness so we will fully understand if you prefer to change to another day if you feel that you will not be comfortable.

Please note, we cannot control the weather conditions. If you book your trip early during your stay then there is always time to reschedule a day or two if the weather is not favourable on the first day of your choice. If you make your booking for your last day, and the weather does not permit us to sail, then you may miss your chance to enjoy what will hopefully be one of the best days of your holiday.

Q) How much does the trip cost?

A) The Daily Boat Tour is priced at £20 per Adult, £10 for Children aged 6-12yrs and we do not charge for children under 6 years of age. You can pay in Sterling Pounds, Turkish Lira, Cyprus Pounds, Euros or Dollars. We will convert the amount according to the relevant exchange rate on the day of payment.

Q) Can I pay by Credit Card?

A) Sorry, but we do not have a facility for Credit Card payments in the Harbour.

NOTE> For Summer 2010 we hope to have a GPS credit card facilty in place in the Harbour.

Q) Does the price include food? What is extra?

A) The Mediterranean Buffet is included in the price. Your drinks and snacks from the Boat Bar are charged as extra at the end of the trip, as are any souvenirs.

Q) I don’t eat fish.

A) No problem, when booking your trip please specify this and our crew can prepare Chicken for you instead.

Q) I am a vegetarian.

A) Again, no problem. Please let us know when you make your booking and we will arrange a vegetarian dish for you instead of the fish/chicken. You can still enjoy the rest of the buffet items which are vegetarian.

Q) Do you have snorkels and masks which we can hire?

A) We do have some snorkels and masks which you can borrow, but from our experience many people prefer to use their own. They are available from the dive shops around the Harbour and from the large supermarkets. We will not charge you if you with to use ours.

Q) Can I book a trip in advance?

A) Yes, please get in touch with us and make a reservation. You can do this by eMail, Telephone or by visiting us in the Harbour. Public trips are subject to minimum passenger numbers. Private bookings should be made well in advance to make sure your planned date is secured for you. A deposit is required to secure a private booking but you can make a reservation at any time. Of course the trip itself will depend on the weather on the day.

Q) We are a large group and want to have a private boat trip just by ourselves, is this possible?

A) Yes, of course, we get many private bookings. Please contact us with your requirements and we will help to create your special day.

Q) Do you offer special discounts or incentives for larger groups?

A) For very large numbers we can offer discounts on individual ticket prices or offer an incentive to have a private day just for your group. You will need to contact us with some information about when in the season you wish to join us and how many people are in your group.

Q) Do you have any kind of memorabilia or souvenirs that we can purchase during the trip?

A) You can buy Sail Cyprus and the African Queen postcards and T-Shirts. There is also a DVD of The African Queen film starring Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn. Please ask our crew during your trip.

Q) What about safety?

A) The African Queen complies to all the required safety standards. You can easily see all our Life Jackets which are kept in the roof section under the top deck. Fire Extinguishers, First Aid Kit, Rescue Boat, VHF, life buoys, flares etc are all inspected regularly and we hold a valid Tourist License issued by the North Cyprus Ports Authority.

Q) Is there parking in the Harbour?

A) The Harbour becomes a Pedestrian Zone after 11am. We advise customers to arrive early and find parking either at the large Municipality car park at the top of the town or on the road leading down beside the Castle. There are also 2 Municipality car parks by the Rocks Hotel. Then take a short walk down to the Harbour and have a coffee before the trip.

Q) One of us uses a wheelchair. Is it possible to get it onboard?

A) We are able to get wheel chairs across our ramp to the boat, and if you are able to take a few steps it is even easier to get onboard. A lot of people have already done it. Collapsable wheelchairs can be carried onboard.

Q) Will I be seasick?

A) We sincerely hope you won’t ... If you feel you may be sensitive to sea-sickness then it is a good idea to take a travel sickness tablet before your trip. The African Queen is a large boat and much newer than most of the other Gullets you will see in the Harbour. For this reason the balance is very good and you are less likely to feel sick on our boat than on a smaller one.

Q) We heard that we can see Dolphins on the trip, is this true?

A) Yes, it is possible, although it is quite rare. We did actually see two dolphins during a trip in June 2006 which accompanied us by swimming alongside the boat. The other sighting was during a sun-set trip in July 2008. It was a fantastic site, one of our passengers took pictures which you can see in our Daily Boat Tour Webgallery.

Apart from the possibility of seeing Dolphins you will be able to see many kinds of smaller fish.

<FAQ> Frequently Asked Questions <FAQ>