* 30 guests maximum on each sail
$62.00 (Ticket) +
$3.75 (Booking Fee) +
$6.20 (A&A Tax)
$65.00 (Ticket) +
$3.75 (Booking Fee) +
$6.50 (A&A Tax)
$69.00 (Ticket) +
$3.75 (Booking Fee) +
$6.90 (A&A Tax)
* Everyone has loved having more room, so we are staying at just 30 people per cruise (instead of 48).
Online tickets go on sale at midnight 6 days before you want to sail.
Tickets may also be purchased, during office hours, in person or by phone (410-263-8994) beginning 6 days before the date you want to sail.
For groups buying individual tickets, that would like to sail on the same boat, please use the comment section ONLINE to alert us of the group name so we can try to keep your group together.
All policies listed in link below including parking, smoking, check in, footwear and more.
I have a mobility issue, or i am traveling with someone who has a mobility issue, is this cruise suitable.
Please consider all of these factors before deciding to purchase a ticket for a cruise on the Schooner Woodwind. The captain has the right to determine if a specific person with limited mobility will be a danger to other guests aboard due to the current conditions. In such cases that a person is not able to sail, a refund will be provided to this person and one caregiver that stays behind.
I see that only 30 people is the capacity on public cruises, but i see that the boat is uscg certified for 48 which one will it be.
The company has decided that the experience aboard with just 30 people (who may not know each other) is a better experience than the USCG capacity of 48 people. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, we would sell out the boat with 48 people aboard. We reduced how many tickets we sold and our crew and customers have loved it. We will be operating this way all season.
Unless there’s a tropical storm heading our way, the decision is typically made just prior to departure time.
Yes. When you check-in at the dock office, let us know that you have an infant and we will hand you a special infant life jacket.
Soft-soled shoes are required and the dress is very casual and comfortable. Depending on the season, layered clothes work best. We supply complimentary ponchos should there be rain during the cruise.
Since we sail in relatively protected waters and we have a heavy ballasted keel, it is very rare for people to get seasick (less than 1%). We recommend getting “sea bands” for your wrists if you are concerned about this. You can purchase these wristbands from our ticket office prior to your cruise. Motion Sickness pills will work too, however, the side effect is they may make you drowsy. We do not sell medication to help with motion sickness; please bring anything you may need with you.
During the summertime, lightning storm forecasts are a common occurrence. Most of these do not materialize, but if one does “pop up” while sailing and when possible, we will head for the dock as soon as we can. Our captains are excellent at reading these storms; where the storms are and where they are going.
All cruises are dependent on weather factors. Minimally, all cruises will sail past the Naval Academy, Annapolis Harbor area, and the “Scenic Severn River”. Most trips leave the harbor and head out to the Bay, passing by osprey nests and other sailboats & powerboats. While sailing you may get to see the 4.5 miles long, Chesapeake Bay Bridge and as the Woodwind sails back into the harbor, the historic, Annapolis skyline stands out quite prominently. If the wind is light, we often sail up the Severn River where the magnificent waterfront estates meet the shoreline. Some trips are just right for a cruise under the Bay Bridge, and on less frequent occasions, we can sail to Thomas Point Lighthouse. It’s very easy for us to say “each trip is unique”, which keeps frequent sailors coming back for a new adventure!
We do encourage you to stay out on the deck where you can truly experience sailing, however, there is space below decks if you need to get out of the elements for a while.
We do sell a variety of beer, wines, and bubbly. We have a liquor license, and it does not allow for any type of alcohol to be brought on board.
What if i need to cancel.
Our cruises do not allow for cancellations. You can sell or give your ticket to someone else. In the event that we need to cancel the cruise, all ticket monies will be refunded.
Yes, they count as a passenger, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Yes, you can. By purchasing a flat-fee Group Sail package (1-16 guests), you will be guaranteed the sail time that you want. An added bonus, if you are checked in at the Dock Office 15 minutes prior to the sail, your group will board first to select the seating you like. Click here for Group Sail information.
We begin boarding 10 minutes prior to departure time. Allow plenty of time for traffic, parking, and time to check-in at our Dock Office. We cannot hold the boat if you will be late.
There is no smoking of any kind or vaping permitted on any public or private cruises.
If you wish to bring food on board, it must be individually packaged for each person. No spreads, buffets, and no cakes.
Do you do team-building.
We have wonderful team-building programs for groups of 7-70 people, including our popular “Ultimate Team Challenge: Match Racing Program” with our two, identical schooners. Visit our Teambuilding page here to learn more.
We have a wide variety of merchandise, from t-shirts to hooded sweatshirts, postcards to patches, we have it all. Check out our Ship’s Store for what we sell. All this merchandise can be purchased at the dock office or online in advance of the cruise. For large quantity orders, please let your sales agent know ahead of your visit, so we can make sure we have everything in stock.
We work with our exclusive caterer to provide your group with the best menu for your sailing event. All food is served chilled or at room temperature. Our menus include great appetizers, brunch, breakfast items, and gourmet lunch and dinner options. All food is pre-packaged for each guest and delivered to the boat and served by the extraordinary crew aboard. See our menus here.
All gratuities and taxes are included in your private cruise contract under Service Fees.
Small weddings are ideal aboard the Woodwind. Rehearsal dinners while sailing or a cruise to entertain and show off Annapolis to your guests is also a treat aboard. A true taste of Maryland!
We typically sail rain or shine unless the captain cancels the cruise due to unsafe conditions. We do offer “Rain Protection” at an additional cost on some of our private charters. See below.
Schooner Woodwind offers “Rain Protection” at an additional cost. This insurance gives the charterer a time period of 24 hours prior to the charter until 2 hours before the scheduled departure to cancel if there is a greater than 30% chance of rain forecasted for the time of the charter.
Is a private cruise the only option for a scout or student trip aboard the woodwind.
Yes. In order for our crew and captains to be able to offer interactive programming for the Scouts, we do need it to be a private event.
Go to our Educational page where they can learn terms, names of the sails, and other great information.
We have great Participation Patches that say “Annapolis Sailing Cruises”. Each participating scout and student will receive a patch as part of the Private Cruise Pricing. Additional patches are $4.25. Click here to see patches
What is the life jacket policy.
According to the Girl Scout USA and BSA safety procedures, they want all Scouts, adults, and other children aboard a cruise must be outfitted in life jackets. We have additional Type III life jackets that are more comfortable for non-emergency use.
The USCG limits us to 48 passengers, however, we are limiting the boat to 40 passengers. We do have two Woodwinds, so if you have an extremely large group (40 to 80), we can fit them aboard both boats.
Soft-soled shoes are required, and the dress is very casual and comfortable. Depending on the season, layered clothes work best. We supply complimentary ponchos should there be rain during the cruise.
Bring a smartphone to purchase bar items or an extra soda or water. Bring a real raincoat, if it is forecasted to rain, yours will far surpass the complimentary rain ponchos that we have aboard.
No. We have a liquor license, and it does not allow any type of alcohol to be brought on board. We do sell a variety of beer, wine, and sparkling wine.
Check-in at our ticket office when you arrive at the dock for boarding instructions. Our ticket office staff will direct you to the boarding line for your cruise. If both Woodwind and Woodwind II are sailing, there will be two lines.
If you have not already purchased tickets, you can do so at our ticket office on the dock.
If you bought your tickets online, you should bring the printout of your ticket confirmation page. If you have a smartphone, you can bring up the confirmation email on your phone. If you bought your tickets over the phone, please have your confirmation number and a photo ID with you when you pick up your tickets. You will be told where to stand for which boat you are on.
Please arrive at the dock no later than 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time of the cruise. If you arrive early you can check in at any time, there is a great bar and restaurant located on the water at the Annapolis Waterfront Hotel. No alcohol may be brought aboard.
Click on the picture above to get a 360 degree view of the boat and where the Schooner Woodwind is docked.
For Weekday Sunset Sails:
If the scheduled entertainment cannot perform for any reason, we will continue to sail the scheduled public cruise. No adjustments will be made to the price since our crew will do our very best to make the cruise enjoyable without the scheduled entertainment.
For Wednesday Night Races (5:30 Departure Time):
Schooner Woodwind will depart promptly at 5:30 PM, however our starting time for the race is 6:45. We will be racing a fairly short course and there is a strong possibility that we will get back to the dock after 7:30 PM. This is bonus time so that we can finish the race. We will return to the dock no later than 8:00 PM. Schooner Woodwind will still depart even if the races have been cancelled by the yacht club, but the Captain has deemed the conditions safe to sail.
For Wednesday Night Races (6:25 Departure Time):
Schooner Woodwind will depart promptly at 6:25 PM, because our starting time for the race is 6:45. We must get to the starting line on time. Schooner Woodwind will still depart even if the races have been cancelled by the yacht club, but the Captain has deemed the conditions safe to sail.
For Public Special Event Cruises with catering:
The captain will wait up to one hour past the scheduled departure time to resolve any weather or mechanical issues before deciding if the event needs to be canceled. If the event is cancelled or shortened and food is able to be served or individually distributed, the food costs will not be refunded.
For Public Lighthouse Cruises:
We will make every attempt to see three lighthouses on this cruise, however, weather conditions, wind speed, and direction may impede our ability to do so. This is not a motor cruise to see the lighthouses. We hope it is breezy enough to sail the majority of the time. If the guest speaker is unable to perform for any reason, we will still sail the scheduled cruise. If the cruise is cancelled due to unsafe conditions, a refund will be issued for the cost of the sail but not the catering, the bagged lunch will be available for pick up.
For Public Wine in the Wind Cruises:
If the wine representative is unable to attend for any reason, we will still sail the scheduled cruise. Also, the captain will wait up to one hour past the scheduled departure time to resolve any weather or mechanical issues before deciding if the event needs to be cancelled. If the event is cancelled or shortened, a refund will be issued for the cost of the sail but not the catering, the food will be available for pick up.
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Our schedule may vary due to weather, special events and group charters. Tickets go on sale six days prior to the date you want to sail. Advanced ticket sales are available if you have a group of up to 16 people as a "Group Sail". Please call our business office at 410-263-1981. Up-to-date schedule information is available by clicking here ...
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Online tickets go on sale at midnight 6 days before you want to sail. Tickets may also be purchased, during office hours, in person or by phone (410-263-8994) beginning 6 days before the date you want to sail. Buy Tickets Now. We sail rain or shine. There are no refunds or exchanges unless the captain cancels the cruise due to unsafe conditions ...