5 Steps For The Perfect Sydney Harbour Cruise

H aving run a charter             of alcohol policy. In the          company here in Sydney          confines of a charter boat,        Harbour since 1982, I have      heavily intoxicated people can     assisted thousands of people in       become a real problem.             that time bring in the New Year                                          watching fireworks on the             2. Are there any extra charges?    harbour.                                                                                                       In some cases, depending on the    In that time, I've seen every         wharf there may be an additional   type of situation imaginable and      charge for the use of the wharf.   after thinking long and hard          With the busy traffic on Sydney    about the most common mistakes,       Harbour, time slots are at a       here is my checklist of the top 5     premium, so at most, the vessel    things you should consider before     will have 15 minute to embark and  booking any Sydney Harbour Cruise     15 minutes to disembark            -- for New Years or any other         passengers.                        time.                                                                                                          3. Is the vessel safe and clean    1. What does the package include?     with a professional crew?          I.e food, drink, music, etc?                                                                                   The best way to ensure you are     This is very important to know        with a safe and reputable company  from the beginning. On some           is to ask for feedback from        boats, only beer and wine will be     previous companies. Are they       included, spirits will be an          positive/favourable? Is the        extra charge. If you are on a         company in good standing in the    cruise you believe to be fully        industry and experienced? Do they  inclusive, it should be just          have a functioning website and     that. It also pays to ask about       customer service team? Not all     the companies responsible service     cruise companies are created       equally and the best ones to work     there?                             with are the ones who pay close                                          attention to safety and customer      On NYE especially, this is very    service.                              important due to the congestion                                          on the roads. If you are on the    4. Which wharf will the boat be       City/Eastern Suburbs side and      picking you up from?                  need to get to North Sydney for                                          example, it will take a long time  This is important to know for         to get there.                      arranging transportation to the                                          wharf. With strict wharf time         Same also for after your cruise.   slots, it is imperative everyone      If possible, I'd recommend         arrives on time and knowing the       driving to the pickup point and    where and how of the pickup point     parking nearby as it is very hard  will help with this. If taking        to find a taxi after midnight.     taxis, they should be called well     Most companies will charge for     in advance or if driving checking     additional time spent at wharves   to ensure there is sufficient         and if someone misses the boat,    parking is advised. Some wharves      their only option will be to use   can have similar names or be in       a water taxi to transfer.          the same area. Making sure                                               everyone is 100% clear on the         Paying close attention to my top   exact place will save a lot of        5 tips will ensure a memorable     trouble later on.                     and stress free Sydney Harbour                                           Cruise. See you on the Harbour.    5. What time will you need to be       About the Author Michael Davies is Managing Director of Flagship Charters, a Sydney based cruise and charter company. His website is http://www.flagshipcruises.com.au Published At: www.Isnare.com