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Q. How far in advance do I need to make reservations?  Chez Toot is fast becoming a “hot ticket” here in Santa Barbara. The sooner you book, the better the chance of getting the time that you desire.  Also, waiting until the last minute limits the dinner catering selections.

Q.  When are the Chez Toot cruises available? Chez Toot Dinner Cruises are available by advance reservation on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

Q. How do I make reservations?  Call Captain Fred at 805-896-6900 to make your reservation. You will be asked for a Visa or MasterCard in order to guarantee your reservation.

Q. What if I need to cancel my reservation?  Our cancellation policy is 24-hours prior to departure date and time.  For weather related cancellations, there are, of course, no penalties. If you do not cancel with 24-hours notice or if you are a no-show, a 25% cancellation fee will be charged to your credit card.

Q. When do I pay for dinner? You can pay for dinner and gratuity with cash, MasterCard or Visa at the end of your dinner cruise.

Q. What is the appropriate attire for the dinner cruise?  Santa Barbara is a very low-key destination. As with most of the food establishments here, there is no dress code. The evenings can be cool so one should bring a light coat or sweater with them. We are able to control the temperature onboard by raising and lowering the clear windows. We will make every effort to make everyone as comfortable as possible. We also have lap blankets available.

Q. What is the departure time?  The dinner cruises are planned after our regular daily water-taxi schedule when we have plenty of time to transform the taxi into Chez Toot.  We like to depart as close to on-time as possible but we understand that parking can be an issue sometimes and that people are coming to the harbor from different areas. The dinner cruise is tied to the sunset so we like to leave the dock about ½ hour prior to the actual sun setting. Presently (July 2008), the sunset is about 8:10 pm in Santa Barbara so we would leave at approximately 7:30 pm and return to the dock approximately one-hour later.  Guest are welcome aboard as soon as Chez Toot is ready so if you arrive early, you will be invited aboard and can use the time to people-watch and enjoy your glass of wine. Private cruises are governed by the leader of the group. We wait at the dock until the leader indicates that they are ready to leave always trying to be as flexible as possible but the departure time is the time that the charter is scheduled to start even though there may be late arrivals.  This is due to the fact that there may be several charters booked the same evening.

Q.  What are some of the dinner menus to choose from?  Our menus are updated on a regular basis and we offer something for everyone! Please ask the Captain for the current menu selections when you make your reservation. 

Q. How many glasses of wine come with dinner?  One generous glass of wine is offered with the standard dinner cruise. Additional glasses of wine may be purchased for between $5 - $9 depending on the wine selections offered for the evening.

Q. Do you offer corkage?  Yes. Our corkage fee is $5 per bottle.

Q. Do you offer other beverages? Yes. We always have a variety of soft drinks, bottled water and juices available.

Q. Where do we cruise?  We start the cruise inside the harbor while everyone is eating. If the ocean is calm we will venture out along the coast. Per Coast Guard regulations, we are permitted to go only ½ mile from shore, so we are always near land. If the sea is not calm, we will remain inside the harbor where it is very calm.

Q. Do I sit the whole time? Guests are permitted to stand and walk around the boat while we are inside the harbor or sit and relax on the padded seating.

Q. Does the Captain offer a narration during the dinner cruise?  If the guest(s) or host request information regarding areas of the harbor or specific information on boats within the harbor, the Captain will certainly furnish that information. If the dinner guests prefer time to visit uninterrupted, the only time they will hear the Captain speaking is for the required safety talk.

Q. Does the boat have bathroom facilities? The boat does not have a restroom but we are never more than a few minutes from the marina restrooms.

Q. Do you offer music during the dinner cruise? Yes. We have a selection of music featuring light jazz. Private dinner party hosts may also bring their own music CD.

Phone: 805/896-6900 - E-mail: captfred@sbwatertaxi.com
Operating Hours:
Winter 12:00 pm to Sunset
Summer 12:00 pm to 6;00 pm
*Trips are weather permitting

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