The Maritime Aquarium requires that one adult (21 years or older) accompany every seven children in your group. Chaperones must remain with students at all times, including during programs. Chaperones are admitted free to the Aquarium & programs and pay just $6.00 for an IMAX movie. Additional chaperones above the 7:1 ratio pay a discounted fee as extra adults.

Your group should arrive 30 minutes before the start of your first scheduled event (program, IMAX movie, etc.). Please factor for rush-hour traffic.

Allow at least an hour to explore all exhibits. Seal Shows are at 11:45 a.m. and 1:45 & 3:45 p.m. daily.

IMAX movies play on the hour beginning at 11 a.m. and are 45 minutes long. Special screenings of any film in our IMAX library (Details ...) are available at 10 a.m. for groups of 50 or more.

The Gift Shop
We feature a broad book selection and interactive audio/ video stations. Teachers receive a 10 percent teacher discount on resource materials.

Download your group reservation form here.

Download a Financial Aid form here.

All programs must be reserved and prepaid at least four weeks in advance. Reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Call (203) 852-0700, ext. 2206, between 9:30 a.m. & 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday or e-mail at reservations@maritimeaquarium.org

Please Have Ready ...

• Name, phone number and cell phone number of the teacher or group leader coming on the day of your group’s visit.
• Name, address & two phone numbers of your school or organization.
• Grade level(s) of the group.
• Numbers of students, chaperones and extra adults.
• First, second and third choices for the date of your visit.
• Times you expect to arrive and depart.
• Program(s) you want and the time(s) you prefer.
• IMAX movie you want to see and the time.
• Preferred 30-minute Oyster Hall lunch period.
• E-mail address & evening phone number.
• Payment method (if reserving a program). Have a P.O. or credit card number handy. All programs must be prepaid at the time of reservation.

Payment may be made with a single check, purchase order, Visa, MasterCard, American Express or cash (large bills, please).

• Aquarium and/or IMAX visits: Payment is due upon arrival. Advance reservations are required to receive group rates.
• If you are reserving any program from this brochure, full payment or purchase order for the program is due at the time of reservation. (Aquarium admission is due upon arrival.)
• After student dropoff at the Aquarium, bus parking is in Veterans Park, a city park just across the Norwalk River from the Aquarium. Please note that from May – October, the City of Norwalk charges a $5 bus parking fee. This fee will be included in your confirmation letter.
• Box lunches must be prepaid. Contact the Aquarium’s food service operator, CulinArt, at (203) 852-0700, ext. 2217.

Within one week of making your reservation, you’ll receive a confirmation packet containing everything to bring on the day of your visit. They are:

• Your confirmation letter
• A bus map
• Entrance procedures
• Your admission wristbands that must be worn by everyone during your visit.

If you have not received written confirmation of your reservation within five working days, call (203) 852-0700, ext. 2206.

If you must cancel a prepaid Aquarium/IMAX visit, refunds are available. However, all IMAX cancellations (prepaid or not) must be made at least two business days before your visit. IMAX cancellations made within 24 hours of your visit and “no shows” are billed for the price of the tickets.
If you have reserved an educational program and must cancel, notify our Reservations Department at least four weeks in advance, or your payment will be forfeited.
If you arrive late for a program, it may be abbreviated or cancelled without refund.

If your school is closed or delayed because of the weather, please call (203) 852-0700, ext. 2206 (ext. 1101 before or after hours) as soon as possible. Leave a phone number so we can follow up and help to reschedule your visit. If that’s not possible, refunds are issued if your school or the Aquarium is closed or has a delayed opening because of bad weather.

Most schools utilize buses. However, the Aquarium is within walking distance of the South Norwalk train station, so consider riding MetroNorth Railroad, which makes the field trip even more exciting and environmentally friendly, as well as less expensive. For details on the MetroNorth option, call (212) 499-4398.

Lunch is not included with your visit. Pack lunches and eat at adjacent Oyster Shell Park or:

• Store and eat your bag lunches in our Oyster Hall (reservation required). Lunch times are assigned in 30-minute blocks (which includes your clean-up time) on a first-come, first-served basis when you make a reservation. (Maximum 150 people per 30 minutes.)
• Purchase lunches in the 160-seat Cascade Cafe cafeteria on the second floor. (Upon arrival, please let our staff know if more than 10 in your group will be buying lunch.)
• Order in advance prepackaged box lunches to eat in the cafeteria. Box lunches must be prepaid. Lunch order forms are available by calling (203) 852-0700, ext. 2217, or by e-mailing maritimecatering@culinartinc.com">maritimecatering@culinartinc.com.