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Where Do I Sit?

By Marie • June 1, 2023

What is the princess seat? What is the splash zone? Is it comfortable? These are some great questions that you may have now or when you first arrive at the Grand Canyon. In this blog, we will talk about the seating arrangement on our 35 foot S-Rig rafts, the advantages of our rafts and where to sit.

First of all, it is important to point out that you are booking spots on a trip and not specific seats on a raft; there is no assigned seating. In fact, we recommend that you move around not only from seat to seat, but from boat to boat to get to know your fellow passengers and various guides.

From the video and images, you’ll notice that passengers sit upright with their hips and knees bent at a nearly 90-degree angle; the duffel behind them supports their backs. This is one of the most important aspects of our rafts. In this position, passengers are in the most supported and comfortable state. Many other Grand Canyon river companies have rafts with different set-ups that may not offer the same amount of support.

Secondly, there is the question of where to sit. “The Princess Seat,” which I mentioned in the beginning, is located at the back of the boat between the roller tube (some call it the weenie tube) and the boatman’s box. If you’re looking to dry off but still want to get a good view, this is the seat for you. It sits a little higher but is protected (by your fellow guests) from the majority of the smaller splashes.

If you’re looking for the most thrilling spot on the boat, feel free to enter “The Splash Zone.” This is obviously the first one or two seats on either side of the raft. Even smaller riffles will be sure to get you wet.

Lastly, we hear a lot from groups making sure they’ll be able to sit together. The quick answer is yes, of course, but please try to be flexible in how you do it. For instance, if your group is taking up an entire side of a raft, switch it up partway through the day and try the other side. Or the next day, take that side on the other boat. It all goes back to making sure all guests get to experience the ride from all the different perspectives that they want. And, honestly, after a few days into the trip, you start to see everyone as part of your group!

Insider tip: If you notice someone sitting up front for a long time and they seem a bit cold, offer up your seat near the back so they can dry out and warm up. Likewise, if you’re up front, be sure to ask others if they’d like a turn going through some of the “big ones”. Share the fun!

No question too small!

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