Ready for an enchanting adventure? Step aboard the Bay Hopper and set course for Assateague Island — where wild ponies roam, majestic herons soar, and happy hour is always in full swing.
As we cruise toward this magical island, keep your eyes peeled for the famous wild ponies. Do they secretly moonlight as lifeguards? Your captain will unravel the mysteries and share fascinating facts about the island and its incredible wildlife. Spoiler: you can't pet or feed them, but they absolutely love posing for photos!
And here's the best part — our cruise features a selection of delightful alcoholic drinks for sale, and your first drink is on us! Grab a cocktail, relax, and let the magic of Assateague wash over you. Sip your drink while herons glide gracefully overhead, and maybe even spot a dolphin or two playing in the waves.
Departure Location, Parking & Boarding — This trip leaves from our Downtown Marina location at 307 Dorchester Street, Ocean City, MD. Look for the blue and orange covered shed. There is a free parking lot near the OC Bay Hopper Shed; if that is full, there is usually some street parking available. Look for OC Bay Hopper flags! You will board from a floating dock, which tends to make it easier to get on the boat.
Departure Time — Please plan to arrive about 5–10 minutes before your trip. If you do not see the boat, please don't worry — we are probably off making memories with another group! Uptown and Downtown locations are staffed by OC Bay Hopper. We typically do not have staff at Ocean Pines Yacht Club or Mid-Town 53rd Street. Our captains are trained to leave ON TIME. If you are running late, you can attempt to contact us but if there are other parties on your trip it is unlikely that we will hold up a trip for you!!!
Bathrooms — Our Bay Hoppers do not have bathrooms onboard. There are available restrooms near all of our locations for use before the trip but we share these facilities with other businesses except Uptown, where the bathroom is inside our Kiosk.
What to Bring — Sunscreen and a camera, snacks and/or drinks for longer trips, and always take into account weather conditions on the water. (Dress in layers if you are not sure!)
Weather — Unless the weather poses a threat to passenger safety (e.g., lightning, high winds) or would make the trip extremely uncomfortable (e.g., heavy rain), the trip will proceed as scheduled. If the captain cancels due to weather, you will be notified and your money refunded. If the conditions are unpleasant but remain safe, we will run the trip. Sometimes if this situation arises we will offer to cancel/reschedule/refund but as long as the trip is safe then our Captains generally want to make this happen!
Trip Minimum — Please be aware that we cannot run this trip if fewer than 4 people book. We will notify you at least one hour (usually earlier the morning of) before departure if the minimum has not been reached and offer a full refund or try to rebook you onto another cruise if you prefer.
Additional Details — This cruise features a selection of alcoholic drinks for sale, and your first drink is on us!