FAQ

To board the Boomerang Boats, passengers should make their way to the Georgetown Waterfront, specifically in front of Nick’s Riverside Grill. If you’re taking an Uber, the nearest address is 3050 K St NW, Washington, DC 20007. After your arrival at this location, simply take a short stroll to the river’s edge. Our boarding area is towards the end of the dock on the right. Please be aware that this is not a marina; it’s a shared dock. If you arrive early, you will probably not see our boat, but rest assured, it will arrive at your scheduled ticketed time.

There are several parking garages, along with street parking, within 2 blocks of the waterfront area.  The Colonial parking garage is also located at the waterfront complex itself.

When you check-in at the start of the cruise, you’ll be assisted by a Boomerang deckhand on the dock. You don’t need to bring a printed ticket, as we will have your name on our guest list. If you are boarding a 21+ cruise, be sure to have your government-issued ID on hand, as the deckhand will require it before providing you with a Boomerang boarding token. It’s essential to arrive a few minutes before your cruise’s scheduled time and join the line for check-in with your fellow passengers on the dock.

We do not have a specific dress code as our cruises are laid back and fun. However, we recommend that you dress comfortably and consider the weather conditions for the day of your cruise. Here are some tips to help you prepare:

Weather Check: Before your cruise, it’s a good idea to check the weather forecast for the day. This will help you decide whether to bring sunscreen, a raincoat, or a light sweater to ensure you’re well-prepared for any weather conditions.

Footwear: All our vessels have stairs on board for you to explore and move around. For your safety and comfort, we recommend wearing sensible shoes.

While we love seeing our spirited guests come adorned in pirate attire, please know that dressing like a pirate is not a requirement. Your presence and enthusiasm are all that’s needed to make our journey unforgettable.

Our cruise offerings vary in terms of age restrictions, and here’s what you need to know:

21+ Cruises: Our signature party yacht and pirate ship cruises are exclusively for guests who are 21 years of age or older. This age requirement is indicated on the event pages for these cruises. You will be asked to present a valid government-issued ID to verify your age before boarding the boat.

All Ages Cruises: We offer sightseeing cruises, family treasure hunt pirate ship cruises, and private charters that are suitable for guests of all ages. Children and families are welcome to enjoy these cruises. If you choose to order an alcoholic beverage at the bar during a cruise that allows all ages, you will still be required to show a government-issued valid ID at the bar.

Cruises do sell out, and this often occurs well in advance. To secure your spot, we recommend purchasing your tickets as early as possible. However, if you find that your first-choice cruise is sold out, don’t worry. We have a variety of cruise times and vessels available, and there are often alternative options for you to choose from once you explore the offerings on our website.

We understand that sometimes situations arise where not everyone in a group can secure tickets for the same cruise.

Here are some options to consider:

Contact Us: If you are the only one in your group without a ticket, please email us at [email protected]. We will do our best to accommodate your request and check if there is any availability or a chance to open up an additional spot for you on the sold-out cruise.

On-Site Availability: You can also try arriving at the dock at the scheduled cruise time. In the event of no-shows, we may have last-minute openings. If a spot becomes available, you can purchase a ticket directly at the dock through our website or our company Venmo account.

Group Bookings: If there are several people in your group who still need to purchase tickets, we recommend considering an alternative cruise time or vessel. We can help reschedule those who are currently signed up to the new time or vessel to ensure your group can enjoy the experience together.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out, and we’ll do our best to assist you.

Unfortunately, we leave right on time and cannot go back to the dock to pick up any latecomers. Please be aware that we share the dock with other commercial vessels and there are time restrictions on how long we can remain at the dock. For this reason, it is VERY IMPORTANT for you to arrive before the start time to check-in and board.

Although rare, sometimes we have an insufficient number of passengers to execute a scheduled cruise.

In the event that we do not have enough passengers to proceed with a cruise, we will notify you in a timely manner of the cruise cancellation, ensuring that you have ample notice.  We will then offer to reschedule your ticket(s) to the closest alternative date or time with hopes that it accommodates your schedule.  If rescheduling is not feasible or does not meet your preferences, we will gladly offer you a refund or gift certificate for your purchased tickets.  Please know that the decision to cancel a cruise due to low passenger numbers is not taken lightly, and it is very rare.

All sales are final, and we do not offer refunds for missed cruises. However, we understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise. If you happen to miss your scheduled cruise, we encourage you to check our online calendar to see if there is another Boomerang cruise later in the day that has available space. If a later cruise is available and has open spots, you would be welcome to use your ticket for that cruise instead.  Please note that we do not offer refunds as your ticket reservation secures your space on the cruise, and we make preparations accordingly.

Here’s a description of the drink menu for all three of our vessels:

Vodka: Tito’s, Ciroc Peach, Smirnoff orange, Smirnoff raspberry, Smirnoff regular, and a house vodka.

Rum: Captain Morgan Spiced, & Coconut, and a house silver rum.

Tequila: Milagro, and a house silver tequila.

Gin: Tanqueray, and a house gin.

Bourbon/Whisky: Jack Daniels, Bulliet, Crown Royal Apple, and a house bourbon.

Beer: Stella, Michelob Ultra.

Wine: Rose, Sauvignon Blanc.

Canned Cocktails: High Noon Peach, High Noon Pineapple.

Blue Curacao: Available as a mixer.

Juices: Orange, pineapple, cranberry, lime.

Sodas: Club soda, tonic, Sprite, Ginger Ale, Coke.

Sour Mix: Available as a mixer.

Snacks:  Our snacks typically include a variety of popular options such as Doritos, Fritos, Pretzels, Cheetos, Ruffles & Lays Potato Chips, and Funyuns.

Please note that all three of our vessels have identical drink menus, inventory, and filtered water coolers to ensure a consistent and enjoyable experience for our guests.

Your thoughtfulness in wanting to tip our bartenders is truly appreciated! If you’d like to show your gratitude for their service, you can do so using the following methods:

Venmo and Cash App: Our bartenders accept tips through Venmo and Cash App, making it convenient for you to express your appreciation electronically.

Cash: Cash tips are also welcomed and can be given directly to the bartenders if you prefer this method.

For private charters, please note that gratuity is already included in the charter price. This gratuity is distributed among the bartender(s), crew, and captain as a token of your appreciation for their exceptional service.

Outside alcohol is not permitted as we operate a full bar within the main cabin of all three vessels. However, if you have reserved a private charter, you are free to bring your own snacks or catering. For additional details regarding private charters, please refer to our charter page. Sadly, we do not allow outside food, cake, or cupcakes on our ticketed cruises since it is a shared space.

We do provide a sightseeing cruise with a narrated tour, but our cruises do not make stops. All of our cruises start and end at the Georgetown Waterfront. Unless you specifically sign up for our sightseeing cruise, we focus on playing music and creating a lively atmosphere, rather than discussing history. However, we will still cruise by and enjoy the historic sights along the way!

All the good ones! You will be able to see the Georgetown waterfront, boathouse, and University, the Watergate, Kennedy Center, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, the Pentagon, Hains Point, Reagan National Airport, the Custis Lee Memorial, Key Bridge, & the Memorial Bridge.

No.  We do not allow smoking of any kind on the cruise. This includes, but is not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes or vapor pens.

We want everyone to have a great time while cruising responsibly and considerately. While it’s uncommon, if someone on board becomes unruly we would take immediate action to address the situation and this might include returning to the dock to remove the individual causing the disturbance. If applicable, we would also deny boarding to anyone acting unruly on the dock before the start of the trip.  While these situations are rare, we are committed to maintaining a positive and pleasant environment for all passengers.

Our boats are designed to operate in a variety of weather conditions, and we are committed to providing an exceptional experience for our guests. Here’s how we handle different weather scenarios:

Rain or Shine: We operate our cruises regardless of the weather, whether it’s rain or shine. It’s rare for us to cancel a cruise due to a weather forecast, as forecasts can change rapidly or be inaccurate.

Weather Watch: In the event of extreme winds or other adverse weather conditions, a cruise might be slightly delayed to wait out passing weather, while other times, canceling the cruise may be the safest option.

Cruise Cancellation: If a cruise is canceled due to weather or other exceptional circumstances, you will have several options available to you. These include the opportunity to reschedule your cruise for a different date and time, receiving a gift certificate for a future cruise, or receiving a refund for your purchased ticket.

The Potomac River is very narrow and it is usually a very calm waterway.

Yes. Our vessels, captains, and crew are all Coast Guard certified.

We value open communication with our guests, and the quickest and most efficient way to reach our team is via email. Please feel free to contact us at [email protected] for any inquiries, questions, or assistance you may need. Once we have connected through email, we are happy to hop on a phone call to further discuss any questions that you may have.

Email Response Policy: We are committed to providing timely responses to all emails we receive, with the exception of those we identify as spam. If you have contacted us and don’t receive a response, please consider the following steps:

Check Your Junk Folder: Sometimes our emails may be directed to your email provider’s junk or spam folder. Please make sure to check these folders for our response.

Verify the Email Address: Ensure that you have entered the correct email address, which is [email protected], when reaching out to us.

Your questions, feedback, and requests are important to us, and we look forward to assisting you. Please don’t hesitate to contact us via email, and we’ll make every effort to provide the information and support you need.