Reservations aboard the Karma are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Excluding official Texas A&M University holidays, the Floating Classroom Program operates year-round Monday through Saturday. Programs for student groups are offered September through May, and teacher development programs are usually offered in June and July. On the first Saturday of each month, the public is invited to participate in one of two discovery cruises. You can check the calendar for open dates. Call (979/863-2940) or email Nancy Vasek at to schedule a trip aboard the Karma.
Registration Fee
In order to operate, the Floating Classroom Program must recover the cost of captain and naturalist pay, instructional materials, fuel, and maintenance of the boat and equipment. This cost is calculated at $1,000 per day, and can be covered by a combination of a fee payment and a scholarship.
'Early Bird' Discount
For all student group bookings made before September 20, 2007, tuition will be reduced by at least $100/day. This discount will apply to any date(s) reserved between August 27, 2007 through June 4, 2008.
Deposit
A $300 deposit is required for each day a cruise is booked by your group. The deposit must accompany the enrollment form in order to confirm your reservation aboard the Karma.
Payment
Unless other arrangements are made, the group must be paid in full before boarding the Karma. Your group leader can hand over a check or money order for the balance upon your arrival.
Your balance is calculated as follows: Balance = $1,000 cost recovery fee — $300 deposit — scholarship credit
Please provide billing information for Purchase Orders to the Floating Classroom Program at least 15 working days prior to your cruise. Incomplete or inaccurate P.O. information may jeopardize your group's reservation.
Mail enrollment form and $300 deposit to: Texas A&M University P.O. Box 18 Matagorda, Texas 77457
Cancellations
The captain is responsible for keeping your group safe. Therefore, cruises may be cancelled during high-risk situations such as lightening, high winds, floods, flood tides, freezing temperatures, or mechanical breakdown. Moderate rain, cool or hot weather, and brisk breezes will not hamper the cruise or the shoreside activities.
Cancellations due to bad weather and mechanical breakdown are the sole discretion of the captain who is responsible for all passengers. Should the captain decide to cancel a cruise, your group leader will be notified early on the morning of the scheduled cruise. If your group leader is unsure about weather conditions in Matagorda, he/she can call 979/240-4872 on the morning of the trip. If the captain cancels a cruise, the group has a choice of rescheduling the cruise for another date or a full refund.
Refunds
A full refund will be made if written notice of a cancellation is provided to the Floating Classroom Program at least 15 working days prior to the scheduled cruise. The $300 deposit will be retained to cover planning and preparation expenses if written notification is not provided to the Floating Classroom Program. Refunds will not be given to no-shows.
Full refunds will also be provided if the cruise is cancelled due to bad weather or mechanical breakdown.
Group Size
A group can consist of students, teachers, teacher aides, or adult chaperones. The Floating Classroom Program can accommodate an educational group of up to 54 participants in grades 4-16.
Small groups can reduce the per person expense by finding another group to share the cost. The Floating Classroom Program can add your group's name to a list of other groups wishing to "coop" and notify you when we find a match. However, searching for a cooperating group on your own is strongly recommended. If two groups are combined, we may mix students from the different groups during the activities. However, we will try to avoid blending groups during the learning activities.
Mobility
We have the ability to move the Karma to other coastal locations. Call (979/863-2940) or email Nancy Vasek at to schedule a trip aboard the Karma in your coastal community.
