Palm Beach Charters

Rating

• 

  Laura Shanley

  

  New York, US

  •

  Member since 2025

  5.0

  Verified

  Boating with Jonathan

  4 Hr Mar-A-Lago on December 29, 2025 • 12 adults • 3 children

  

  Response from Charter operator

  December 31, 2025

  It was my great pleasure to attend to your family looking forward to future excursions!

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  Theresa Scalone

  

  New York, US

  •

  Member since 2026

  4.0

  Verified

  Captain was great

  4 Hr Cruise on March 21, 2026 • 11 adults • 5 children

  Captain that we had for our trip was exceptional, very patient with all my five grand children under the age of 6. We were a very diverse crowd, from the ages of 2.5 years to 90 year old. Mom loved her 90th Birthday Celebration!

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  Harper Cherry

  

  Tennessee, US

  •

  Member since 2026

  2.7

  Verified

  Safety Concerns

  4 hr– Peanut Island on April 11, 2026 • 2 adults

  Our experience could have ended very differently, and we feel it’s important to share what happened. Within the first 30 minutes of our boat day, we experienced a serious incident. Our captain was operating the boat at a fairly high speed while we were all seated at the front, enjoying the start of a celebration for our bride. However, after hitting a wave, the captain lost control of the boat and was thrown to the side. As a result, all of us were slammed down forcefully. One passenger passenger was thrown into a glass door, which broke on impact and caused a cut along the inside of her arm. A second passenger, who was nearly ejected from the boat, hit her face on the side and suffered a cut to her chin. Thankfully, the captain was able to regain control before the situation became even more dangerous. However, this was a frightening and unacceptable experience, and not at all how we intended to spend our day. Additionally, we were under the impression that we had booked this experience through Jonathan and that he would be our captain. Based on the positive reviews, we felt comfortable and confident in our choice. Instead, upon arrival, we were introduced to a different captain, Hailey, without prior notice. We were not informed of her level of experience ahead of time, and only learned from her that she had done “a couple of rides.” While we understand that accidents can happen, this situation raises serious concerns regarding safety, communication, and overall professionalism. Based on this experience, we cannot recommend this service.

  

  Response from Charter operator

  April 24, 2026

  Harper, first and foremost, we are sincerely sorry for the frightening experience you and your group had during your charter. Safety is always our top priority, and we understand how upsetting that moment must have been—especially during what was meant to be a special celebration for the bride. We would like to provide some additional context regarding the incident. The captain assigned that day, Hailey, holds all required U.S. Coast Guard qualifications and has several years of experience on the water, including public charters throughout the area. She was selected based on her professionalism and trusted reputation in the local charter community. At the time of the incident, Captain Hailey stated she believed the vessel may have struck a manatee that could not be seen or anticipated, which caused the sudden impact and loss of balance. While unfortunate, this was not due to reckless operation, but rather an unexpected and uncontrollable situation on the water. Captain Jonathan met your group on the water shortly after the incident to personally assess everyone and ensure no one had sustained serious injuries. At that time, everyone was checked, and no severe injuries were observed. Your group was immediately offered the option to end the charter early if that was your preference. After discussing it together, your group shared that you did not want to end the trip and mentioned that everyone was okay aside from minor scratches. You also expressed that boating incidents can happen and shared that some members of the group had recently experienced a boating accident as well. To make sure your celebration could continue on a positive note, we offered compensation options, and your group chose to receive an additional two complimentary hours on the water, which was happily accepted. We also provided a complimentary bottle of champagne for the bride, which we were glad to offer as part of helping salvage the special occasion. We truly believed at the time that all concerns had been addressed on the spot and that your group was able to continue enjoying the day. That said, we fully understand that the experience left you shaken, and for that, we are genuinely sorry. We take every incident seriously and are continuously reviewing our operations to ensure the highest level of safety and professionalism for every guest. While boating does carry inherent risks that cannot always be predicted, our commitment is always to provide the safest and best possible experience for our clients. We appreciate your feedback, and we sincerely wish you and your group all the best.

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  Kate Carroll

  

  Florida, US

  •

  Member since 2026

  3.0

  Verified

  March boating trip

  4 Hr – Peanut Island on March 16, 2026 • 8 adults