Terrible boat company in harties

Don’t waste your money try other boat cruise options in Harties because we received such bad experience from the staff including a bad boat ride and when I complained management defended their behaviour and ignored me. We booked the champagne boat cruise for 8 people and this was our experience:

1. Safety Was Non‑Existent

• There were no railings to hold onto when boarding which is a serious hazard for children and elderly passengers. • Only one life jacket provided for three children aged 6–8. • One overwhelmed staff member trying to assist everyone, unable to manage the crowd safely.

2. We Waited 45 Minutes in the Sun and received No Apology

We stood in the sun with an elderly person for 45 minutes because the captain was late. No apology on the day. No apology in their response. But if we were late, they would have left without us and kept our money.

3. Staff Were Rude and Aggressive Phineas shouted at us multiple times including when I requested an alternative to a mimosa due to a medical condition. His behaviour was completely unprovoked, and management is now protecting him instead of addressing it.

4. The Food Was Not Fresh as We Got Sick The food was stale and poorly handled. Several family members had diarrhoea afterwards. Staff hovered over the buffet, policing portions and shouting at guests.

5. The Cruise Was a **** We never reached clear waters as the dam was full of hyacinth plant which they didn’t bother telling us about before booking as we don’t stay in the area. So the boat idled near the departure point the entire time. Meanwhile, the Alba and Toro Ya Me boats sailed past us with no issues proving the conditions were navigable. The captain actually hit the platform when trying to dock and he was the only one who struggled navigating through the plants and who took forever to dock the boat.

6. Forced to Board Under Unsafe Conditions After seeing the dam was full of hyacinth we asked to postpone due to heavy hyacinth.We were told postponing would be treated as a cancellation with no refund. So we were forced to board under unsafe conditions.

7. Management **** and Then Ignored Me A staff member named Jessica requested my banking details and confirmed a refund would be issued. The next day, management reversed this decision. When I disputed their false “findings,” they ignored me completely with no response, no accountability, nothing. The dismissive attitude and lack of accountability make it feel like certain customers are treated differently based on who they are. That is deeply concerning. Harties Boat Company has shown that they do not care about safety, honesty, or customer service only about keeping your money. I hope this review helps others avoid the same experience.