So – you have a gift certificate that you received as a gift sometime before 2023 or 2024?

We’re surprised you didn’t use them over the last 2 seasons or more, depending on when you received them.

Unfortunately, some folks choose to put off things over and over again and then…they miss out.

We’re sorry if you chose to put off using your gift certificates for at least two seasons but, unfortunately, that’s on you, not on us.

This page is dedicated to the folks who call us fuming about not being able to get a refund for their non-refundable gift certificates because of the cancellation of cruises due to the high sand levels on the river. For those of you nice, reasonable people, we’re not addressing you.

2025 Cruising Season
So far this season, as many of you know, we’re not able to cruise because of high sand levels – a situation that is completely out of our control. We hope that in a few weeks or a month there will be water released from the Gardiner Dam so we can get back on the river. But that’s completely out of our control too.

Do you know what else is completely out of our control? When you would decide to use your gift certificates over the past two years and join us on a cruise.

We had (and still do) on our website how to redeem them, and we had hundreds of cruises you could have book over at least 8 months during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Please remember, booking your cruise was completely in your control and not doing so was your decision.

So, at the risk of accusations of being meanies by upholding our policies that were publicly available on our website and on each and every gift certificate produced:

Gift certificates cannot be refunded.

It’s our hope that there will be cruises this season, and that you will apply your gift certificates and join us for a cruise. Alternatively, you can apply your gift certificate to our Alongside Brunches and Dinner when we have them, so please consider this option.

We’ve had several calls about refunding our gift certificates.
See if you can find yourself in the scenarios below and read the corresponding response.

>>I know that gift certificates do not expire.
Yes – we do too. Your gift certificate has not expired. When we are able to cruise, please use it!

Further, as stated on our website, gift certificates don’t expire as long as the company exists. This means that when we retire and close the business, all gift certificates are forfeited. Having said that, if the cruising business sells at the end of this summer, gift certificates are expected to be part of the sale and honoured by the next owner. If the business does not sell, the certificates are forfeited.

>>I got my gift certificates because I paid for a sightseeing cruise that I wasn’t able to make.

That was so nice of us! We gave you gift certificates under no obligation in the value of your non-refundable sightseeing cruise that you cancelled. So instead of simply not refunding your purchase, as stated in our cancellation policy on website and on all tickets before and after purchase, we kindly gave you gift certificates in good faith so you could join us at a later date as a second chance. We’re sorry you didn’t take it. Just like your non-refundable sightseeing cruise, your second chance gift certificates are also non-refundable as is written on the certificates.

I got my gift certificate because I cancelled my dinner or brunch cruise and didn’t want to pay the 25% cancellation fee.

You mean instead of charging you a 25% cancellation fee and refunding 75% of your ticket price as stated in our cancellation policy we offered, and you accepted, 100% of the ticket price in gift certificates so you could join us at a later date? We really are nice!

In this case only, we will continue extending our generosity and, instead of upholding the “gift certificates cannot be refunded” policy that now applies, we will give you 75% back (if applicable) on the original ticket price that you purchased for a cruise – just like we should have done when you cancelled. Darn our niceness!

Please call our office at 306-955-5459, extension 3.  We will review your original booking with you and process partial refunds, if applicable, which would create the exact same cancellation fee/refund situation had you not chosen the gift certificate offer.

>>But I thought I had another season to use my gift certificate.

We understand, and it’s too bad that we are unable to cruise at this time. But you did have at least two full seasons to redeem your certificates and may have another chance this season depending on the river conditions. Keep an eye on our website or sign up for our newsletter if you haven’t already and we’ll let the public know when we’re able to cruise. And if this is the case, don’t put off joining us!

Think we’re sounding snarky about people not using their gift certificates and wanting them refunded?
Nope – we’re not. Not at all.

But some of the folks demanding that we alter our long-held and publicly stated policies just for them have been snarky, rude, and downright mean!

We made our policy clear since we started selling gift certificates 13 years ago. Someone was kind enough to give you a gift and we’ve been harping on about redeeming gift certificates for 2 years now. Two years!

Please know that we will not tolerate mean, abusive, or derogatory phone calls, texts, emails or any other communication from individuals who chose not to redeem their gift certificates for at least 2 years. We will not let you speak to our crew this way. We have instructed our crew to hang up on anyone yelling at them or being rude, make a note on their file and advise us, the owners, of any incidents. Please, be polite.

Final note
While we’re retiring at the end of this season, we may sell the operation. We may not.  We don’t know yet.

What we do know is that just like any other business (i.e. The Bay), regardless if they’re actively operating or closing, gift certificates are not refundable and there is no cash back.

We hope to be back on the river sometime this summer. And, if we are, we hope you will choose to use your gift so we can welcome you aboard.

Gift Certificates are no longer being sold

Many have made great memories thanks to their friends who generously shared our gift certificates!

If you have gift certificates, we welcome you to use them this summer. Just follow the directions on your certificate(s) to redeem.

We are no longer selling gift certificates.

IMPORTANT

We really, really, really want to stress to anyone who has or who has generously given gift certificates to please make sure to that they are used this summer.

To reiterate – and we don’t want to be blunt or sound mean, but we need to be clear: If gift certificates are not redeemed this season, they will be forfeited if the business closes at the end of the summer. Just like any other business, regardless if they’re actively operating or closing, certificates are not refundable and there is no cash back. Also, if someone gave you a gift certificate and you don’t remember where you put it, please do an all-out search for it as lost gift certificates will not be replaced. (Gift certificates were not shipped or mailed. Your certificate(s) and your receipt were emailed to the purchaser. The Gift Certificate is a pdf file that you need to open and print.)

So, please – redeem any gift certificates in your possession or remind anyone you know who does and join us this summer. We really do want to welcome you aboard!

Thanks for you understanding!

Many have made great memories thanks to their friends who generously shared our gift certificates!

If you have gift certificates, we welcome you to use them this summer. Just follow the directions on your certificate(s) to redeem.

We are no longer selling gift certificates.

IMPORTANT

We really, really, really want to stress to anyone who has or who has generously given gift certificates to please make sure to that they are used this summer.

Now, here’s the really important part: If this is the company and The Prairie Lily’s last summer in operation and the business closes, this summer will be the last opportunity to use any and all gift certificates. Since we do not know what the future holds for the business at this time, we highly recommend that anyone holding gift certificates redeem them this summer.

To reiterate – and we don’t want to be blunt or sound mean, but we need to be clear: If gift certificates are not redeemed this season, they will be forfeited if the business closes at the end of the summer. Just like any other business, regardless if they’re actively operating or closing, certificates are not refundable and there is no cash back. Also, if someone gave you a gift certificate and you don’t remember where you put it, please do an all-out search for it as lost gift certificates will not be replaced. (Gift certificates were not shipped or mailed. Your certificate(s) and your receipt were emailed to the purchaser. The Gift Certificate is a pdf file that you need to open and print.)

So, please – redeem any gift certificates in your possession or remind anyone you know who does and join us this summer. We really do want to welcome you aboard!

Thanks for you understanding!

Have questions? we have answers!

*Q: What happens if there is a balance left on the gift certificate?
When a gift certificate redeemed for less than its full value, the certificate holder is automatically issued a new gift certificate for the balance. This can be applied to another cruise or drinks (non-alcoholic or alcoholic) or snacks when on board.

Q: Is there anything else holders of gift certificates should know?
Yes! Gift certificates:

1. do not expire as long as our company exists
2. cannot be refunded, even it if it lost or stolen (so be sure to use it!)
3. have a unique code to use for redemption. Gift certificates are redeemable by anyone who has access to the gift certificate code, so the purchaser and recipient are responsible for keeping the gift certificate code secure.
4. the recipient must accept the policies associated with the cruise at the time they redeem the gift certificate.
5. are not available for persons under two years old. They board free!

In addition, please know that:

1. *Cruise prices are subject to change without notice.
2. A Gift Certificate is not a ticket for a cruise.  You must make a booking and redeem the Gift Certificate for a ticket.
3. GST and PST are applied to ALL cruises.
4. No cash back.
5. All prices are in Canadian dollars.