FAQs & Policies
All Tours, Lodging, Dinning, and Vacation Packages are open from the Middle of May through the End of September and sometimes into the first week of October.
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Vacation Packages
Frequently Asked Questions
Cancellation Policy
In that Vacation Packages involve coordination of multiple activities and outfitters, and with a limited number of lodging options available for these packages the below listed refund policies will apply.
Currently there is a processing delay for cancellations. The refunds may take up to 60 days to process.
Vacation Packages cancelled:
- 60 days prior to check in: 100% refund of purchase price less $25 fee
- 31-59 days prior to check in: 50% refund of purchase price
- 30-7 days prior to check in: 20% refund of purchase price
- 6 days or less prior to check in: No refund
Any activities that we cancel during your stay will receive a full refund.
Any Activities not used during your stay are non-refundable.
Paddling Michigan: Kayaking Tours
Frequently Asked Questions
Cancellation Policy
Please understand that cancellations affect many things; namely, our guides schedules, food and meal purchase on overnight trips, number of kayaks we have to transport, and our overall planning to make our trips efficient and enjoyable for our customers. We do not accept voice mails, messages, and unconfirmed emails as a cancellation.
- You may cancel your reservation either by email or by telephone only.
- No shows: No refund
- Day of trip”Group Size Reduction”: Treated as No Show-No refund
- Beach refusal or turn backs:$25 refund per person
- Cancellation time line
- Multi Day trips: 30 days notice
- Day Trips: 7 days notice for a full refund. Administrative fee of $25 will be deducted from a refund. (Will be credited to any further booking. Credit: If a reservation using an existing cancellation fee credit is canceled again another cancellation fee of $25 will be issued. The previously used credit will become void.)
- Less than 7 days: Refund 75% of trip value less$25 administrative fee
- Less than 3 days : Refund 50% of trip value less $25 administrative fee.
- Less than 24 hours (All Reservations) No Refund
- Day of Trip: No refund
- Rescheduling Fee: If you are rescheduling within 48 hours of the scheduled tour time, there is a $20 per person rescheduling fee (unless the tour is cancelled due to weather the fee is waived).
- Cancellation due to weather: See weather cancellation policy.
- Raincheck: If you accept a raincheck due to a weather cancellation that raincheck is not refundable after the date of your originally scheduled kayak tour. ( 2 years to be rescheduled)
- Special Purchases- 2 for 1, 50% off, 30% off or Early Bird Specials – No Refunds unless trip cancels due to weather. Valid for 5 years from date of purchase.
Special Purchase Not Used in Specified Year– If you do not schedule or attempt to use your Special Purchase in the specified year you purchased the voucher you still have a credit that will be valid for the value you paid at the time of purchase. This credit can be used towards the purchase of any future kayak tour.
Beach Refusals
In the event you reach the launch access and make the decision not to go on your own accord you will receive a $25 refund per person.
Turn Backs
In the event you start your trip and decide that you can’t complete it while on the water prior to the halfway point of your trip you will receive a $25 refund per person. After the halfway point of your trip there will be no refund.
Paddle and Hike
If your trip itinerary is changed by Uncle Ducky Outdoors/Paddling Michigan due to unforeseen circumstances you will have the opportunity to join a trip of lesser value and be refunded the difference or be issued a rain check.
In the event that you decide that you are unable to complete of the trip on your own accord and turn back you will not receive a refund.
Participant Changes
All parties on day trip have until 24 hours prior to the trip date to notify Uncle Ducky Outdoors/Paddling Michigan of a change in the group number; standard cancellation policies will apply. Any changes made to the group reservation the day of the trip will not receive a refund.
Gift Vouchers / Certificates
Gift vouchers/certificates, which are purchased for any promo offer (such as 2 for 1 50% off or early bird discounts), are required to be redeemed within 5 years of initial purchase. Any gift vouchers/certificates purchased for a promo offer and not redeemed in the allotted time period of 5 years will simply be converted to a face value gift voucher/credit redeemable for any trip at full price with Paddling Michigan. Ie. A 2 for one voucher if not used in the allotted year will only be good for 1 person or face value. You cannot use credits to repurchase special offers again. All credits are valid for 5 years from the date of purchase. Gift vouchers are only good for the amount of people it is purchase for. Vouchers can not be split up into different times for different amounts of people. If you plan on going at different time you must purchase different vouchers and have different voucher codes.
Redeem a gift voucher/certificate here.
Trip scheduling occurs during gift voucher/certificate redemption process and not during the initial gift voucher/certificate process.
Weather Cancellation
Weather Statement
Sea Kayaking in the Pictured Rocks and Lake Superior should be considered as a Soft Adventure Sport. It is not an adventure that we wait for perfect weather or a sunny day to go. We still go in rain, fog, and temps above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Large waves, winds over 20 kts. and lightning keep us on the beach. Thunderstorms usually move by, and with careful planning and observation by radar, we are normally able to complete our trips. This may involve slight delays prior to embarking on the tour or at a designated stopping location while on the tour.
Weather
Pictured Rocks is located along the northern shores of the Upper Peninsula and the southern shore of Lake Superior. During the summer months we generally experience southerly winds and a protected shoreline from wind and waves. Historically, we have been able to kayak most days and generally have very few cancellations. Strong winds over 15 knots from the northwest, north, and northeast can make the water too rough to kayak the Pictured Rocks. We do paddle in light rain and fog conditions which generally result in calmer water conditions.
Weather Cancellation Policy
Neither our customers nor our company are responsible for or can control the weather, our weather cancellation policy is as follows:
Please Note:
We normally do not make weather decisions until the day of the scheduled trips due to the timelines and changes involved with forecasting. Weather sometimes changes which can result in an updated weather decision during the day. Typically, lightning, wind direction, velocity, and wave heights guide our weather decisions.
If we cannot paddle in the Pictured Rocks many times, we can make the small crossing from Sand Point and kayak the east shoreline of Grand Island which will constitute the same as a Pictured Rocks tour. Grand Island is geologically much like the Pictured Rocks and a great place to paddle. Uncle Ducky Outdoors reserves the right to make changes to trip itineraries for the reason of safety for our guests. If your trip itinerary is changed by Uncle Ducky Outdoors/Paddling Michigan due to unforeseen circumstances you will have the opportunity to join a trip of lesser value and be refunded the difference between the trips. Uncle Ducky Outdoors will explain to you at check-in the changes made to the itinerary and the reasons for the changes. You will also be given an option to join the adjusted trip itinerary, cancel your reservation for a full refund, receive a rain check or reschedule. You are responsible for the decisions you make; no one is forcing you to participate in any of our tours. Uncle Ducky Outdoors only changes the location when they deem the safety risk of kayaking in unprotected water is too great.
If we cancel the trip due to weather or other reasons you will be issued a refund or an opportunity to reschedule. If you choose to reschedule your tour you have until the close of business on the day of your originally scheduled tour to make any changes to your reservation. After the close of business of the originally scheduled day you will not be eligible for a refund.
If you are on a trip that is called back early because of weather or unforeseen circumstances and you have not reached the 1/2-way point of the tour you will be given the opportunity to reschedule or given a partial refund.
Tours that complete half the tour or more before being called back will not be given a refund.
If you choose not to go to Grand Island you will be issued a refund or an opportunity to reschedule. If you choose to make the Grand Island paddle and we determine at the beach that it is not safe, a refund will be issued or you may reschedule.
In the event of thunderstorms in the immediate area we can often delay a tour until they pass. If we cannot delay you will be issued a refund or an opportunity to reschedule. Refunds can take up to 14 days for processing.
If this trip is part of a package that includes lodging and other adventures and meals, adjustments can normally be made to reschedule to another day, however, if you do not choose that option, you will only be refunded that portion of the package that applies to the cancelled kayaking trip.
In order to receive a refund you must show up for the trip unless we call you with the cancellation notice.
Recommendation
Obviously neither of us can change the weather. And, keeping in mind that we are able to kayak at the Pictured Rocks over 90% of the days in the summer, probably the best way to make sure that you can kayak the Pictured Rocks is to plan your stay up here for at least 2-3 days. In most cases if waves keep us from going to the Pictured Rocks on a given day we can then go there the following day or so. Weather systems move from west to east and the lake does calm down quickly especially early in the summer. As fall approaches it can take a couple of days. There are many other activities that you can do while waiting for calmer seas at the Rocks. Namely, Our Dinner Cruise around Grand Island, a shipwreck tour, canoeing on the Au Train River, and waterfall touring. Our package deals are set up for this purpose to allow rescheduling of activities if weather interferes with the original plan.
Paddler's Village & Au Train Beach Campground and Paddlers Inn: Lodging & Campgrounds
We are so excited to have you stay with us! As you soak in the great outdoors, you can rest easy. Not only do the fresh air and Vitamin D work magic, we’re doing everything we can to keep you safe and healthy as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Campground Policies
Payment: Full payment is required at the time of reservation.
Pets: Small dogs Ok on leash. May not be left unattended in units.
Smoking: Not allowed in any units or anywhere on the property.
Alcohol: Allowed if kept to a minimum.
Trash: Please use designated trash bins and dumpsters for ALL trash. DO NOT LITTER.
Noise: Must be kept to a minimum. Respect your fellow campers.
Campfires: Allowed within fire rings. Must be extinguished if unattended.
Cancellation and early check-out policy: There is a standard $25 cancellation fee for all reservations.
All reservations have until 14 day prior to your date of arrival to cancel without additional penalties.
Reservations canceled within 14 days of the arrival date will be charge the standard cancellation fee plus the cost of 1 full night stay.
All reservations canceled within 72 hours of check-in will not receive a refund.
Early Check Out: Early check Outs will not be issued a refund.
Grand Island Cruises
Boat Tour
Dining
We wanted to let you in on the new safety precautions we’ve added since you were here last.
Please understand that cancellations affect many things; namely, our Captains schedules, food and meal purchase and our overall planning to make our trips efficient and enjoyable for all our customers. We do not accept voicemails, messages, and unconfirmed emails as a cancellation.
- You must have a cancellation # issued by Uncle Ducky Outdoors.
- You may cancel your reservation either by email or by telephone only.
- No shows: No refund
- Day of trip”Group Size Reduction”: Treated as No Show-No refund
- Cancellation time line
- More than 7 days notice for a full refund. Administrative fee of $25 will be deducted from a refund. Will be credited to any future booking.
- Less than 7 days: Refund 75% of trip value less$25 administrative fee
- Less than 3 days : Refund 50% of trip value less $25 administrative fee.
- Less than 24 hours (All Reservations) No Refund
- Day of Trip: No refund
- Rescheduling Fee: If you are rescheduling within 48 hours of the scheduled tour time, there is a $20 per person rescheduling fee (unless the tour is cancelled due to weather the fee is waived).
- Cancellation due to weather: See weather cancellation policy.
- Gift Vouchers or Special Purchases- 2 for 1, 50% off, 30% off or Early Bird Specials – No Refunds unless trip cancels due to weather. Valid for 5 years from date of purchase. (Gift Vouchers)
Special Purchase Not Used in Specified Year– If you do not schedule or attempt to use your Special Purchase in the specified year you purchased the voucher you still have a credit that will be valid for the value you paid at the time of purchase. This credit can be used towards the purchase of any future kayak tour.