Terms and Conditions / Registration / Payment / Survey

I have tried to simplify the sign-up process by putting everything you need to do on one page. It seems a lot of participants just mail me a check, with nothing else. I do need to have the registration form indicating you’ve read the ‘T & C” so there will be no misunderstanding later on about cancellations and refunds. And, especially if this is your first Texas Pelagic, that you’ve reviewed the ‘Preparations Page’ because there is important safety information; info about what you can and can’t bring onboard; and how you should prepare to enhance your Texas Pelagics experience. 

Please follow these 4 steps:

1. TERMS and CONDITIONS:

Reservations are accepted on a FIRST-PAID, FIRST-RESERVED basis only. Spaces will not be held without payment in full. The website SCHEDULE is usually kept up-to-date so you can check on the status of remaining open spaces on any trip.  It is important to register well in advance of the trip for 2 reasons. Due to the limited number of trips it is possible they could sell out far in advance of the trip date. Or if under-subscribed by the ‘REGISTRATION DEADLINE DATE’ the trip may have to be cancelled because the cost of the charter cannot be covered. The ‘REGISTRATION DEADLINE DATE’ is posted on the Trip Schedule.

NEW STANDBY LIST: If a trip is already full when we receive your payment you will have the option to be added to the STANDBY LIST. The STANDBY LIST will be prioritized over the WAITING LIST. To be added to the STANDBY LIST you must make a deposit for the full fare amount. Participants on the STANDBY LIST are COMMITTED TO GOING if a space opens up.  Your deposit will be subject to the same cancellation policy as those who are confirmed to go,  EXCEPT a full refund will be issued (after the trip sails) if there is no space available for you when the trip sails. There are ALWAYS a number of cancellations in the last weeks (sometimes days) prior to the trip, so your odds of getting on a trip are decent. 

WAITING LIST: To be added to a waiting list for any trip that is already full we will need to have at a minimum your completed registration forms in hand.  Waiting list people will be second to the standby list and prioritized in the order they signed up.

CANCELLATIONS: Cancellations will be accepted and refunded immediately (minus the upcharge fee for PayPal Payments only) up to the registration deadline. After the registration deadline, trip refunds will be issued only if your space is resold and the trip is full when we sail. No refunds will be returned to the participant until after the trip sails. With less than one week prior to the trip date no refunds will be issued. You are free to give your paid spot to someone else as long as they aren’t already signed up for the same trip. Or you can donate your spot to a student birder in need of pelagic birds. If you need help we can always find field biology students who can fill spots for free. 

WEATHER: Infrequently during the summer the weather prevents a trip from going. Spring and fall weather can be more problematic. We carefully monitor the weather forecasts beginning the Monday before a trip date and we will send out an email notifying all participants of the forecast. However, no calls on GO vs No GO are made any sooner than 24 hours before sailing.  We will email all participants late in the morning of the day before the trip to inform everyone that trip is called as GO or NO GO. Even if it is called as a “GO” the day before, the final judgment on the weather is made at the dock the morning before we sail, as it is always possible the forecasts and conditions have changed overnight. Please keep this in mind when making travel plans and hotel reservations. Our experience has been that with seas any greater the 5 ft for the Gulf it is not possible to have a viable pelagic trip as it would prevent us from reaching the deep waters greater than 50 miles offshore. With this forecast or conditions the trip will be cancelled.  If the trip is weathered out you will receive a full refund of the fare, (except for PayPal users who will incur a $30.00 fee). We cannot be held responsible for other incidental costs you may incur should a trip be cancelled due to the weather.

WAIVER OF LIABILITY:  Texas Pelagics and its leaders act only as an agent for the boat operator of these trips and cannot be held responsible for any injuries, accidents, lost, stolen or damaged articles, seasickness, or any other misfortunes resulting from participation on these trips. Each participant acknowledges and accepts that offshore Pelagic Birding carries inherent risks and dangers and agrees to hold Texas Pelagics and its leaders harmless from any liability. Passengers are responsible for any damages they may cause to the boat or equipment other then what results from normal wear-and-tear.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS:  Due to unstable footing, balance and other hazards these trips are not recommended for people with certain physical limitations, certain health problems, expectant mothers or young children and they should not sign up. Please inquire if you have any questions. No Pets are permitted aboard the boat. No smoking on-board!

2. PREPARING FOR A TEXAS PELAGIC:  Required reading for your first Texas Pelagic

Please click the link above and thoroughly read and follow the advice and directions in the “Preparing for a Texas Pelagic”. This document should answer all of your questions about What to Bring, What to Wear, Where to Stay, etc. and will help you have a better time when you’re prepared for a long day at sea. Please arrive at the dock no later than 30 minutes prior to departure time. The boat leaves right on time and we are not responsible if you miss the boat for any reason.

3. TRIP ONLINE REGISTRATION:  This form must be completed.

A Note on Fares

The REGULAR FARE, shown in the Payment Form below, does NOT include tips to the Crew. It is customary for the crew to receive a TIP of between 15 – 20 % of the cost of the trip. 

Any reservation CANCELLATIONS beyond the “Registration Deadline” will not be refunded unless your seat is resold and the trip is full when we sail. Your fares are transferrable to anyone you choose as long as they are not already a signed up and paid participant.

I have priced the Freeport trips so they can sail with less than a full boat. A FARE CREDIT or REBATE will be offered for the Freeport 48 hour trips if these boats are full when we sail. The amount of the rebates depends on the final number of participants.

4. ONLINE PAYMENT: Your registration isn’t complete or held until we receive your payment! Please always make payment in full, partial payments will not hold your space.

A) CALCULATE PAYMENT AMOUNT:

B) MAKE PAYMENT:  There are now 3 ways to pay.

1. Click here to pay with ZELLE . Highly recommended over PayPal as there is no fee. Many banks offer this service directly or there is a simple app. Please direct payments to my phone number 281-684-5425.

2.  Click here to pay with PayPal . Note that the PayPal fare is $30.00 higher.

3.  Or mail your check promptly to: 

Garett Hodne – Texas Pelagics 

30 Dakota Ridge Place

The Woodlands, TX 77381

5. ONLINE PARTICIPANT SURVEY: The survey is required  for first time Texas Pelagic Participants.

Especially if this is your first trip with Texas Pelagics please take a minute to fill out our simple survey. If it’s been awhile since you took our survey please consider submitting one. Thank you for your feedback, I read them all and try to implement all good suggestions.

Texas Pelagics Online Participant Survey

Name:*

First

Last

Email so you will receive a copy of this survey:*

1. If you're relatively new to Texas Pelagics how did you first find out about Texas Pelagics Trips?

2. How many previous Texas Pelagics have you been on from 2000 to 2018*

0

1-5

6-10

11-20

20+

3. How many previous Texas Pelagics have you been on prior to 2000?*

0

1-5

6-10

11-20

20+

4. Please select which states you've been on pelagic trips in.

California

Oregon

Washington

British Columbia

Alaska

Louisiana

Florida

North Carolina

Delaware

New Jersey

New York

Massachusetts

Maine

Atlantic Canada

Other

5. What other countries have you been on pelagic trips in?

6. Do you use Facebook? *

Yes

No

7. If so, are you a member of any of these FaceBook Groups? (check all that apply)

Texas Pelagics

TEXBIRDS

REAL TEXBIRDS

Texas Chase Birds

Birding the Upper Texas Coast

Rio Grande Valley Birding

Coastal Bend Birding

Birds of Texas

8. Do you belong to Texbirds listserv? *

Yes

No

9. Which source do you rely on the most for getting information about upcoming Texas Pelagics? (check all that apply)*

The TexasPelagics.com website?

The Texbirds listserv?

Posts to the Texas Pelagics group on Facebook?

Posts to the Texas Pelagics page on Facebook?

Posts to the Texbirds group on Facebook?

Newsletter emails from Texas Pelagics?

Word of mouth?

Other

10. How do you prefer to get information about Texas Pelagic trips?

11. The Following questions (A, B & C) all refer to the TexasPelagics.com website:

A) How frequently do you check it for regular updates on upcoming pelagic trips?*

Never

1

2

3

4

5

Frequently

B) Do you ever browse past Trip Reports? *

Never

1

2

3

4

5

Frequently

C) Have you visited the Seabirds Pages? *

Never

1

2

3

4

5

Frequently

12. Do you have any suggestions for what would you like to see added to or changed on the website?

13. What is your means of transportation and how far is the distance travelled from your home to the boat/port? *

14. Would you like to carpool if you could arrange it? *

Yes

Maybe

No

16. Do you combine birding in other locations with your trip to boat/port for the Texas Pelagic? *

Yes

Sometimes

No

18. Any other comments or suggestions do you have for improving Texas Pelagics? Please only address things within our control.

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