Picton Mail Boat Cruise Questions And Answers
Short answers to the questions that come up when comparing cruises on the Marlborough Sounds, from how booking works to which day the mail runs leave.
Booking And Payment
How Do I Book A Cruise?
Every cruise card has a Check availability link. It opens the listing on the booking platform, where dates, the current price and the checkout all live. This site never takes a booking itself.
Can This Site Change Or Cancel My Booking?
No. The site is a comparison only. Changes, cancellations and refunds are handled by the booking platform where you paid, using the confirmation email or your account page there.
Are The Cruises Run By This Site?
No. Picton Mail Boat Cruises compares cruises operated by companies working out of Picton and Havelock. The site runs none of them and owns no boats.
Who Do I Contact On The Day?
The operator. Their contact details sit on your booking confirmation. This site cannot confirm start times, meeting points or whether a run is going ahead on any given day.
Prices And Cancellation
Are The Prices Per Person?
On 18 of the 19 cruises, yes. The exception is the Private Full-Day Yacht Charter at $5,464.30, which is priced per group of up to 15 people for the whole private boat.
Can I Cancel For Free?
Free cancellation is offered on 18 of the 19 cruises, usually with a cut-off such as 24 hours before departure. The Small-Group Wild Dolphin Swim is the exception, with only a weather and minimum-number policy applying. The live page shows the exact cut-off at the time you book.
What Do The From-Prices Mean?
They are the starting prices shown on each listing, before choices like date or extras. The 18 per-person cruises run from $24.73 for the Budget Water Taxi, Kaipupu (1 review) to $211.67 for the Ultimate Day Walk, Kupes Trail (11 reviews). Among tours with 15 or more reviews, the cheapest is the 2-Hour Shore Excursion Cruise at $59 (71 reviews) and the dearest is the Blumine Bird Watching Eco Tour at $128.84 (56 reviews).
Do Prices Change?
Yes. The prices here are the from-prices on the listings. Booking platforms reprice by season and demand, so the page you click through to is the authority on the day.
Choosing A Cruise
What Kinds Of Cruise Are Compared?
Six categories. Mail Boat Runs, 2 cruises from $83.40 to $91. Scenic And Delivery Cruises, 4 cruises from $69.02 to $91. Wildlife And Dolphin Cruises, 3 cruises from $100.08 to $128.84. Ship Cove And Motuara, 3 cruises from $69.02 to $100.08. Walk And Cruise, 3 cruises from $67 to $211.67. Private Charters And Shore Excursions, 3 cruises from $24.73 to $152.43 per person, plus one private yacht priced per group.
How Long Are The Cruises?
It varies by category. The Picton mail run lists 4 hours and the Pelorus run 5 hours. Scenic and delivery cruises run 3 to 7.5 hours, with a median of 3.5. Wildlife and dolphin cruises run 2 to 4.5 hours. Ship Cove and Motuara cruises run 3 to 4.5 hours. Walk and cruise days run 8.5 to 9.5 hours. Private and shore excursions run 2 to 9 hours.
When Does The Picton Mail Run Leave?
The Mail Run Cruise, 4 Hours departs London Quay, Picton at 1.30pm after a 1pm check-in, Monday to Saturday from 1 October to 30 April, and Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1 May to 30 September. It does not land at Ship Cove or Motuara Island. Sunday has a separate afternoon cruise that is not the mail run.
Where Does The Pelorus Mail Boat Start?
In Havelock, on Pelorus Sound, not in Picton. The Full-Day Mail Boat, Pelorus meets at Pier B, Havelock Marina and leaves Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10am. A Sunday cruise starts from 10 January 2027.
Will I See Dolphins?
No cruise can promise that. The listings and operators say dolphins, fur seals and penguins may be seen in the Sounds. The Sanctuary Visit, Dolphin Cruise lends free binoculars and species ID cards, but sightings stay a matter of luck and season.