The Gordon River and Naples Bay from
the U.S. 41 bridge on 5th Avenue South
to the gulf are prime territory
for sightseeing, dolphin watching, and sunset cruises.
The
double-decked Double Sunshine (tel. 239/263-4949) sallies forth
onto the river
and bay daily from Tin City, where it has a ticket
office. The 1 1/2 -hour cruises usually leave at 10am, noon, 2pm, and
an hour before sunset. They cost $20 for adults, $10 for children
under 12. A sister boat, the Captain Paul, goes on afternoon
shelling and beachcombing excursions to Keewaydin Island, a private
wildlife sanctuary south of Olde Naples. Its cruises cost $30 per
adult, $20 for children under 12.
The Sweet Liberty (tel.
239/793-3525), a 53-foot sailing catamaran, makes morning shelling
cruises to Keewaydin Island. The vessel then spends the afternoon
sightseeing and the evening on sunset cruises on Naples Bay before
docking at Boat Haven Marina on the east side of the Gordon River
Bridge. Shelling cruises cost $25 for adults, $10 for children;
sightseeing and sunset cruises cost $22 for adults, $15 for children.
For a good deal more luxury, the
83-foot Naples Princess (tel. 800/728-2970 or 239/649-2275) has
narrated breakfast, lunch, and sunset dinner cruises from Port O'Call
Marina, on the eastern shore of the Gordon River. With extensive
buffets, the sightseeing, lunch, sunset, and dinner cruises are good
values at $22, $27, $27.50, and $40 per person, respectively. Once a
week there's a nature cruise sponsored and narrated by The Conservancy
of Naples; it costs $24 and includes continental breakfast. Call for
schedules and reservations.
