Reservations are non-refundable except in cases of trip cancellation by Yankee Freedom. If you miss your trip for any reason you will be given a 3-year period to use your fares for standby space-available travel only. Standby order will be determined the morning of the desired trip based on your order in the standby queue at the Ferry Terminal and paying status. Paying standbys will have priority over missed-trip standbys. There is no pre-trip standby list.
Reservations will be held until ten minutes (7:50 am) before departure and then released for standby use.
Day trip reservations are for the same-day round trip only. If you do not return on the same day as your outbound leg you will be charged the one-way fare to return. You may not split outbound and inbound legs of a day trip reservation among multiple parties.
If you wish to split payment for a reservation among multiple parties you must do so by 6:00 pm Eastern time the day before your trip by calling the reservation line at 305-294-7009.
We reserve the right to deny boarding to anyone whose apparent condition may present a danger to themselves or others while onboard the vessel.
We do not guarantee specific weather, sea, wildlife, or visibility conditions on any trip.
Prices, policies and restrictions are subject to change.
Rescheduling
To reschedule Day Trip reservations you must phone the Yankee Freedom ticket office (305-294-7009) by 6:00 pm Eastern time one week before your scheduled departure. To reschedule Camping reservations you must phone the Yankee Freedom ticket office (305-294-7009) by 6:00 pm Eastern time two weeks before your scheduled departure. Rescheduling will be accommodated only if space is available for the requested dates.
If you do not reschedule by these deadlines and do not take your reserved trip you will have a 3 year period for standby use as noted above. Camping reservations will be good for Day Trip standby only and will be refunded the original fare difference when the trip is taken. There is no standby for Camping.
Weather
Yankee Freedom is contractually obligated to the National Park Service to operate daily in all weather unless sea conditions may compromise safety. Rain, lightning, or any weather conditions ashore are often localized and do not indicate conditions at sea or in the Dry Tortugas. NO refunds will be issued for weather conditions unless the trip is cancelled by Yankee Freedom.
If you are susceptible to motion sickness we recommend taking Dramamine or other motion sickness remedies prior to departure. Dramamine or the equivalent will be available for sale on board the vessel.
Camping
Campers are responsible for reading all information here and observing the Camping Rules listed here. If you cannot comply with the rules set forth, you are responsible for cancelling your camping reservation at least two weeks before your departure date. The Dry Tortugas are a remote destination and many factors may interfere with access to and from the islands. Make sure your travel plans and lodging arrangements are flexible before and after your camping reservation dates. You may NOT bring compressed gas canisters, flammable accelerants, nor firearms of any type on board the vessel. Security will inspect all camping gear before it is loaded on board the ferry so please do not bring any of the aforementioned items with you.
Other Information
Operating Times: Daily. Day trip check-in is at 7:00 am. Campers must arrive by 6:00 am to load gear. Ferry boards at 7:30 am, departs at 8 am and returns at 5:30 pm.
Check-In/Vessel Location: The Key West Ferry Terminal, 100 Grinnell Street, at the Historic Seaport. The nearest intersection is Grinnell & Caroline Street. We are paperless so there are NO tickets. We will ask for the last name of the lead traveler at check in on the morning of your trip to issue boarding passes for all passengers on the entire reservation. However, we strongly recommend that you know the confirmation number #{CONFIRMATION_NUMBER} for your reservation.
Parking: There is a Key West City parking garage, 300 Grinnell Street, across the corner from the Ferry Terminal, at the corner of Caroline St. and Grinnell St. (day rate of $32, shaded, payment by credit card only). Over height and/or over length vehicles and RV’s are prohibited by law from parking on the City of Key West’s streets and parking lots. Please make alternate arrangements well before your trip. Yankee Freedom is not responsible for securing alternate parking arrangements for these types of vehicles.
National Park Pass: Adult fare includes $15 Park Entrance Fee. Park Pass holders please present them at Check-In for refund. Each pass is good for up to four (4) adults. Per NPS Regulations, NO Park Pass refunds can be issued after vessel departs from Key West.
Personal Possessions: Please remember to gather all of your personal belongings before disembarking at the end of the day. Although we endeavor to collect and store any items left aboard for your retrieval, we are not responsible for ensuring their return. You may NOT bring compressed gas canisters, flammable accelerants, nor firearms of any type on board the vessel.
