Cookie Policy

Effective Date: July 2, 2026 — Version 1.1

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that websites place on your device (computer, phone, or tablet) when you visit them. They help the website remember your preferences, keep you logged in, and understand how you use the site. This policy explains which cookies chicago.theplaypen.com (the “Platform”) uses and why.

Essential Cookies

These cookies are required for the Platform to function. They cannot be disabled without breaking core features.

  • Session management: keeps you logged in as you navigate between pages.
  • Authentication tokens: securely verify your identity after you sign in.
  • CSRF protection: prevents unauthorized actions on your behalf by validating that form submissions originate from the Platform.

Analytics Cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors use the Platform so we can improve it.

  • Google Analytics (GA4)— collects anonymized data including page views, session duration, and user interactions. Data is retained for 26 months. Google’s privacy practices are described in the Google Privacy Policy.
  • Microsoft Clarity— records anonymized session replays, heatmaps, and scroll depth to help us understand how users navigate the Platform. Session recordings are retained for 30 days. Microsoft’s privacy practices are described in the Microsoft Privacy Statement.

Functional Cookies

These cookies enhance your experience by remembering choices you make on the Platform.

  • User preferences (e.g., language, display settings).
  • Recently viewed boats.

Advertising & Retargeting Cookies

Playpen uses advertising and retargeting cookies and similar technologies to measure marketing performance and show relevant ads. These are managed through Google Tag Manager and include the Meta (Facebook) Pixel and Google Ads / remarketing tags. They help us build audiences, measure conversions (such as completed bookings), and show retargeting ads to people who have visited the site. You can limit these through your browser settings and the ad-platform controls described below.

Third-Party Services That Set Cookies

The following third-party services may set cookies on your device when you use the Platform:

  • Stripe— sets cookies during payment processing to prevent fraud and manage payment sessions.
  • Google Analytics— sets cookies to distinguish unique users and track session information.
  • Microsoft Clarity— sets cookies to support session replay and heatmap functionality.
  • Google Tag Manager— loads and manages our analytics and advertising tags.
  • Meta (Facebook) Pixel— sets cookies to measure ad performance and build retargeting and lookalike audiences.

How to Manage Cookies

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can typically find these options under “Privacy” or “Security” in your browser’s preferences.

Please note that disabling essential cookies will prevent you from logging in and using core Platform features such as booking a charter or signing waivers.

To opt out of Google Analytics across all websites, you can install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

To control advertising and retargeting, adjust your Google ad settings and your Meta (Facebook) ad preferences, and use the industry opt-out tools at optout.aboutads.info (Digital Advertising Alliance) and networkadvertising.org/choices (Network Advertising Initiative).

Contact

For questions about our use of cookies, please contact us at support@theplaypen.com.

For our full data practices, please see our Privacy Policy.