Guest policies.

01 — Every Trip Is Captained

• A Travis Wake Charters captain operates the boat on every trip, start to finish. You and your guests come aboard as passengers.
• Guests never drive. No one in your party operates the helm, throttle, engine, or wake-shaping controls at any time — this applies to every service we sell, including the one with the word “Rental” in its name. That word describes what’s included, not who steers.
• The captain sets the route, the speed, the stops and the duration, based on conditions and what your group wants to do. Tell him what you’re hoping for and he’ll build the day around it.

02 — The Captain’s Authority

• The captain is in command at all times. Please follow crew instructions immediately — where to sit, when to get in and out of the water, and when to put a vest on.
• The captain can shorten, change or end a trip early — with no refund — if a guest is unsafe, unruly, dangerously intoxicated, or won’t follow instructions. See the cancellation policy for exactly how that works.
• Our captain doesn’t drink while on duty. Ever.

03 — Safety First

• Life jackets are provided for everyone and are required for all children and non-swimmers. Anyone can ask for one at any time, and the captain may require one.
• Stay seated while the boat is underway. No riding on the bow, the swim step, or the gunwales during travel.
• Nobody enters the water until the captain says the engine is off and it’s clear to swim.
• Boating and watersports carry real risk. The full risk disclosure is in the liability waiver every guest signs.

04 — Waivers Before Boarding

• Every participant signs a waiver before boarding — not just the person who booked. We’ll send a link so your group can sign in advance, which is the difference between shoving off on time and standing on the dock with phones out.
• Guests under 18 need a parent or legal guardian to sign for them, and that adult stays responsible for them on board.
• No signature, no boarding. There’s no exception to this one, and an unsigned guest doesn’t change the price of your charter. Sign at /waiver.

05 — Alcohol & Substances

• Guests 21 and over may bring alcohol and drink responsibly. Nobody under 21 drinks aboard, and adults in the party are responsible for making sure that holds.
• No glass containers anywhere on board — cans and plastic only. Broken glass on a wet deck ends a day fast.
• Illegal drugs are strictly prohibited and will end the charter immediately with no refund.
• Intoxication that puts someone at risk ends the trip. The captain makes that call and it isn’t up for debate on the water.

06 — Kids Aboard

• Children are genuinely welcome — plenty of our best days out are family days. They must be supervised by an adult in the party at all times.
• Life vests are required for all children and any non-swimmer, on deck and in the water. We carry a range of sizes; tell us ages and weights when you book so we bring the right ones.
• A parent or legal guardian signs the waiver for anyone under 18 and stays responsible for their conduct.

07 — Pets

• Ask first — the honest answer is that it depends on the trip. Which boat, what you’re doing on the water, how many guests are aboard, and the day’s conditions all factor in. Some trips are great for a dog and some really aren’t.
• Ask when you book, not at the dock, so the captain can plan for it. Dogs that come aboard need their own life jacket.
• Service animals are welcome. Let us know in advance so we can set the boat up for you.
• Whoever brings the animal is responsible for it — including any cleaning or damage it causes.

08 — No Smoking

• Our boats are 100% smoke-free. No smoking or vaping anywhere on board, at any time.

09 — Food, Drinks & Shoes

• Bring whatever food and drinks you like — it’s your charter. Coolers are welcome. Cans and plastic only, no glass.
• No shoes with dark or hard soles that mark the deck. Barefoot or soft, non-marking soles only. Most guests go barefoot.
• Nothing goes over the side but people. Keep the lake clean and leave your trash with us at the dock.

10 — What We Provide

• Your captain, fuel, and all required safety gear — that’s all included in the price, not added at the end.
• Boards, ropes, life vests, towels, ice, bottled water, and Bluetooth sound so you can run your own music.
• A Nautique or a pontoon, depending on what you booked. Both carry up to 12 guests.

11 — What to Bring

• Swimsuit, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat. Lake Travis sun is not a suggestion.
• Any food or drinks you want, plus cups if you’re bringing something to share.
• A dry bag or a small towel for phones and keys. Things get wet.

12 — Timing & Your Group Size

• Please arrive 15 minutes early. Your charter time starts at your scheduled departure, the boat leaves on time, and a late arrival shortens the trip without changing the price — the full rule is in the cancellation policy.
• Every trip is off the water by 8:00 PM, so an evening charter can’t run late to make up lost time.
• Your group can’t exceed the boat’s 12-guest capacity, for any reason. Bringing fewer guests than you booked for doesn’t reduce the price — you’re chartering the whole boat privately, not buying seats.
• The calendar stops offering start times inside 24 hours of departure. Inside that window, call us and we’ll tell you what we can do.

13 — Damage & Cleaning

• Normal wear is expected and we don’t nickel-and-dime anyone for it. Guests are responsible for damage caused by negligence, and for a cleaning fee if the boat is left in an unsanitary state — ground-in food, sickness, or heavy spills.
• The card on file is authorized for those charges. The full terms are in the waiver and the Terms of Service.

14 — Weather

• Safety comes first. We decide on the day of your trip, based on actual conditions, not a forecast — and only genuinely unsafe weather cancels a charter.
• Light rain, clouds, chop or a cool day don’t qualify. What does, and what happens to your money either way, is set out in full in the cancellation policy.