A: We encourage you to plan for parasailing during the first of your vacation. That way, if the weather doesn’t cooperate you will have other opportunities to fly. Some folks who aren’t familiar with Florida’s unpredictable weather have made the mistake of trying to plan for parasailing on the last day of their vacation, only to have Mother Nature rain on their parade.
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A: After getting outfitted with a life vest and harness, you’re walked to the back flight deck of the boat. Once seated the mate clips your harness to the parachute. The captain then presses a button and up you go real nice and smooth, just like sitting on a swing set that slowly elevates you for the experience of a lifetime. And yes, all take offs and landings are done straight from the boat.
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A: After cruising out of the Port Canaveral inlet, your captain will take you southward for a breath taking view of Cocoa Beach’s beautiful sandy shore. Those aboard our vessel will catch views of the city’s historic landmarks including Jetty Park, The Cocoa Beach Pier, and the world's largest surf shop, Ron Jon’s. You’ll get to experience what just another day in paradise is like.
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A: Since the excursion is part parasailing and part boat ride, you should plan on being out on the pristine Atlantic waters for about an hour-and-a-half.
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A: Prior experience is not necessary. The captain and mate do ALL the work for you. You just have to come prepared to have a good time.
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A: No, you don’t have to get wet if you don’t want to. Our way of flying is called controlled parasailing, meaning you take off and land smoothly right from the back deck of the boat. But a real fun part of the ride comes towards the end of your flight. The captain slows the boat down and has you gently freefall, dipping your feet in the water for a refreshing splash. He then lands you back safely on the boat deck.
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A: Actually, it’s quite the opposite. Parasailing is very serene and peaceful. Because the take offs and landings are slow and gradual, you don’t have to worry about having a frightening experience.
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A: Parasailing is safe because we make it safe. Cocoa Beach Parasail is proud to say that we have had ZERO incidents to date as a result of our 12-year flying experience and operating procedures. Our formula is simple: we have the most sophisticated equipment the industry makes, we don’t fly in winds over 20 mph, we stay at least 1600’ from the shore in winds over 10 mph, and we do not fly in severe thunderstorms. Your safety is our priority!
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A: For your safety, pregnant women are not able to go parasailing or on the boat. But please come back and see us after the stork arrives.
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A: Because the boat ride can be a bit bumpy at times, we ask that if you have suffered from these types of injuries you refrain from going parasailing or even on the boat.
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A: There is no age requirement but guests younger than 18-years-old must have an adult sign them in. The youngest person we have flown was 2-years-old and the oldest person was 94-years-old. So no matter what generation you fall into, you’re encouraged to fly with us. Parasailing is great in that it truly is an activity that the entire family can do together!
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A: Yes, you are welcome to enjoy the ride sitting next to a loved one. These are called our tandem flights. The rule of thumb for this is that if the combined weight is over 350 lbs. then it’s up to the captain to make the call. His decision is based on weather conditions.
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A: To fly alone you must weigh at least 100 lbs. and for tandem flights weighing over 350 lbs., it will be up to the captain to determine. This all can vary according to weather conditions.
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A: Yes, if the minor weighs at least 100 lbs. then it should be okay, but an adult needs to be present to check in anyone under 18 years of age. If the minor weighs under 100 lbs. then they will have to fly with someone else to make up for the weight. Again, this can vary according to weather.
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A: Single flights are approximately 7 minutes and tandem flights are approximately 14 minutes.
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A: You can change your mind but you will not be refunded. That being said, this rarely happens. On the contrary, we’ve had folks who were coming along just for the boat ride, ask if they too could go parasailing after seeing how fun and gentle it was.
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A: Right before the boat departs, IF there is room on the boat we will welcome you on the boat as an observer. The cost for that is $10. If you change your mind while on the boat and decide to fly, the $10 charge is then applied to the cost of parasailing.
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A: Ladies can wear bathing suits under clothing and delayer accordingly. Gentlemen shorts/bathing suits and T’s are fine. In the Spring it could be a little chilly, at least for Florida’s standards, so you may want to bring a jacket. Flip-flops or sandals are the ideal footwear.
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A: You are allowed to take a camera up at your own discretion, and should take into consideration the height and water risks. Disposable cameras are best. We also offer a photo package as another option to capture your good times.
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A: The photo package includes 12 photos of your adventure for $15. The crew uses a Canon Rebel with a 300mm telephoto lens to document your entire flight and at the end of the trip you get the film to help with bragging rights.
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A: There are two flights for you to choose from:
500 ft. Flight… $60 per person
800 ft. Flight…$65 per person
You can decide how high you want to go when you check-in.
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A: Yes, because of parasailing’s popularity and the limited space we encourage reservations. There have been times when guests have shown up without a reservation only to have to wait for a couple of hours until there was a space open for them. We take phone reservations from 8am-9pm. HOWEVER, if there is room on the boat walk-up guests are welcome.
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A: You have three options when making reservations:
1) During Spring and Summer Seasons, we take phone reservations up to three days ahead of time and will need either a MasterCard or Visa to secure your spots. In the Fall, we only fly based on reservations, and you call at any time.
2) Purchase V.I.P. Parasail Ticketing. Guests who opt for this are given the courtesy of making their reservations whenever they want. This is a great option for those pre-planners who are coming to the area during peak seasons, which are Spring and Summer. (Please read our cancellation policies below.)
3) Group Reservations (20 or more flyers): You can make your reservations as soon as you want to. Call us for more information.
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A: You have until 7p.m. the day prior to your reservation to cancel without any penalty. A cancellation after that point or a no-show will be charged $25 per person. Same day reservations that are cancelled will also be charged a $25 per person cancellation fee.
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A: A little sprinkle and we stay out. Thunderstorms around, and we come in. The captain then decides if we are going on stand-by or if we close down for the day. If you weren’t able to fly then you will either get a refund or we can reschedule you for a day when we think the sun will come out to play again.
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A: As an online customer you have the freedom to book ahead of everyone else. This is an especially nice advantage during peak times in Spring and Summer.
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A: We accept Cash, Debit Cards, MasterCard, Visa, or Travelers Check.
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A: Spring & Summer: We are open 7 days a week, weather permitted with boats going out at 9:30am, 11am, 12:30pm, and then every hour-and-a-half after that. Check-in is at least 20 minutes prior to your reservations. Try and get there promptly because the boats do leave on time.
Fall: We’re open by reservation only. Call us in advance to find out what boats we have scheduled for the week.
IMPORTANT: Keep in mind that in Florida, parasailing and any other outdoor activity is best planned for the first part of the day since the chances of rain and winds increase throughout the afternoon.
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A: Just like others in the service industry, the crew works very hard to make sure all your needs aboard the boat are taken care of. If they give you first class treatment, it’s customary to show them your appreciation by tipping 20%.
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A: Parasailing Gift Certificates are a great unique idea for special occasions like the December holidays, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, anniversaries and birthdays. If you would like to give someone special the gift of parasailing, just let us know. We can get the gift certificates ready for pick-up or mail them out for you. You can also visit the SHOP section of our website to purchase them online.
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A: Absolutely. Groups of 6 or more get a discount if you book directly from us. Call us for more information.
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A: There are some folks who like the idea of a private charter so they can parasail for as long as they want or make their outing more intimate. We aim to please and would love the opportunity to give your group the one-on-one attention. Just contact us for details if you’re interested in having Y-Knot, the official Cocoa Beach Parasail vessel, all to yourselves.
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A: Because of our great location, folks love chartering our vessel on Shuttle Launch Days. You get to see the Shuttle go off up close and personal, plus you get to enjoy a beautiful boat ride in between. Contact us for more information.
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A: Y-Knot, Cocoa Beach Parasail’s official vessel, is an Ocean Pro 31 – “the heavy-weight champion of parasail vessels” specially designed for this water sport. It’s also a U.S. Coast Guard inspected vessel, which means that annually the USCG inspects the vessel’s hull, engine, and safety gear, in addition to requiring up to date First Aid and CPR certification for the crew.
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A: Since operating, Cocoa Beach Parasail has been a proud member of PAPO (Professional Association of Parasail Operators). Members of PAPO must adhere to strict operating guidelines and annual inspections by PAPO itself. To have legitimate parasailing insurance in the United States you must be a member of PAPO. For more information visit www.teampapo.org.
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A: First Flight is the only company that offers legitimate parasailing liability insurance in the United States. For more information visit www.firstflightinsurance.com.
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A: We run out of the local hot spot, Rusty’s Seafood and Oyster Bar in Port Canaveral, (628 Glen Cheek Drive, Port Canaveral, FL 32920), exactly two buildings to the west of Sun Cruz Casino. Just look for Rusty’s and come to the front of the restaurant. Our booth is right at the entrance and there’s plenty of free parking all around.
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