ORLANDO, Fla. — There’s no denying Florida is a cruise destination. Most of the world’s largest cruise lines offer multiple-day or weeklong excursions that depart from the Sunshine State. Florida is also home to the cruise capital of the world: PortMiami.
But for those who can’t commit to an extended amount of time at sea, there are also shorter, more unique offerings throughout the state. From swashbuckling adventures to educational, nature-based tours, here are a few options.
Pirate cruises
Don your eye patch and set sail on a high seas adventure with several pirate cruises that last up to two hours.
—Bluefoot Pirate Adventures instructs its crew how to talk and battle like a pirate — water cannons included. Starting at $28; 801 Seabreeze Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale; 954-530-8302; bluefootpirates.com
—Buccaneer Pirate Cruise takes travelers on a high seas journey, complete with pirate training, sword fighting, water gun battles, a treasure hunt and authentic cannon fire. $39.99; 100 Harbor Blvd. in Destin; 850-269-0896; buccaneerpiratecruise.com
—Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise features pirate antics, a treasure hunt, face painting, water games, stories and more as all aboard enjoy scenic views and search for dolphins. $11-$37 for daytime cruises and $11-$40 for sunset cruises; 25 Causeway Blvd. in Clearwater Beach; 727-446-2587; captainmemo.com
—Pirate Adventures of Cortez invites guests to set sail on a cruise featuring mermaid and pirate face paint and costumes for kids, a treasure hunt and more. $30; 4110 127th St. W. in Cortez; 941-226-5640; pirateadventuresofcortez.com
—Salty Sam’s Pirate Cruises offers a comedy adventure complete with treasure chests, pirate games, dancing and more. There’s also an adults-only version, complete with dancing and alcoholic beverages. Starting at $25-$34.95; 2500 Main St. in Fort Myers Beach; 239-765-7272; floridapiratecruise.com
—Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise takes guests back in time to the age of pirates. Enjoy dolphin sightings, music, pirate activities, refreshments and more. $13-$27; 5325 N. Lagoon Drive in Panama City; 850-234-7400; piratecruise.net
Casino cruises
Set sail during the day or evening aboard a casino cruise to place bets at sea.
—Victory Casino Cruises features a variety of gambling options, from slot machines to card tables and bingo. When you need a break, grab a bite to eat below deck with an à la carte menu that includes salads, sandwiches and more. Pro tip: Try the shrimp po’ boy. If the ship’s rocking and swaying become too much, head to the upper deck to take in beautiful ocean views — and grab a drink while you’re at it. In the evening, get your groove on with a dance floor and music. Cruises last about two hours. Ages 18 and older; $13; 180 Christopher Columbus Drive in Cape Canaveral; 321-684-5350; victorycasinocruises.com
—Tropical Breeze Casino visitors can gamble with a variety of offerings including blackjack, craps, poker, roulette and more. Cruises last about six hours. Ages 18 and older; $8; 7917 Bayview St. in Port Richey; 727-848-3423; portricheycasino.com
Wine tasting cruise
Release your inner wino as you sip and sightsee during the 90-minute, early evening Wine Tasting Cruise in St. Augustine. Guides offer a tour of the local nature, wildlife and historic landmarks (Castillo de San Marcos, Mission Nombre de Dios, St. Augustine Lighthouse and more) while guests savor six wines. Ages 21 and older; $39; 107 Yacht Club Drive in St. Augustine; 904-827-7728; floridawatertour.com/cruises/wine-tasting-cruise
Tiki cruises
Take a tiki bar out on the open water with a rental from Cruisin’ Tikis. Each handcrafted boat features Bluetooth speakers, seating for up to six, shade, lights, a cooler with ice, a freshwater sink, a swimming ladder and more. In Florida, there are Cruisin’ Tikis franchises in Pensacola, Destin, St. Augustine, Daytona Beach, Clearwater, Tampa, Sarasota, West Palm Beach, Bonita Springs, Naples, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon and Key West. cruisintikis.com
Ecotourism cruises
Ecotourism cruises educate guests about Florida’s bountiful wildlife and gorgeous landscapes.
—Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s one-hour Dolphin and Wildlife Tour offers a scenic jaunt through Clearwater Bay, where participants are on the lookout for Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (note: they are wild animals so a sighting is not guaranteed), birds (such as osprey, double-crested cormorant and eastern brown pelicans) and more. The aquarium’s staff narrates the journey, providing facts about the creatures spotted and the local scenery with some seaside humor: “These are wild animals. I can’t call them up on my shellphone.” Visitors are free to roam about the boat to get better views, but hold on tight during the boat’s brief and choppy jaunt into the Gulf of Mexico. $19.99; 249 Windward Passage in Clearwater; 727-441-1790; cmaquarium.org/experience/boat-rides-guided-tours
—Island Adventure’s dolphin cruises move along the Anclote River and into the Gulf of Mexico in the hopes of sighting dolphins, manatees and birds. Visitors will also view the Anclote Key Lighthouse and other historic landmarks. As a bonus, enjoy the sponge diving movie and museum free of charge after the two-hour cruise. Options include a daytime adventure with a beach excursion, sunset tour and dining cruise. Starting at $18.95; 510 Dodecanese Blvd. in Tarpon Springs; 727-943-2164; islandadventuredolphincruise.com
—Sarasota Bay Explorers’ Sea Life Encounter Cruise teams up with Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium to offer visitors an educational, hour-and-45-minute boat ride where they’ll learn more — and hopefully see — marine wildlife from dolphins to manatees, ospreys and eagles. $27-$31; 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway in Sarasota; 941-388-4441; mote.org/experiences/details/eco-boat-tours
—Southern Star’s dolphin cruises offer the chance to see bottlenose dolphins in their natural habitat during narrated tours. Visitors can choose from daytime or sunset cruises that last 90 minutes. $32.99; 100 Harbor Blvd. in Destin; 850-837-7741; southernstardolphincruise.com
—Sunshine Wildlife Tours guides guests aboard a pontoon boat along the Indian River Lagoon. During the 2.5-hour tour, participants will have the chance to see and learn more about bottlenose dolphins, manatees, sea turtles and a variety of endangered and threatened bird species. $50; 4307 S.E. Bayview St. in Stuart; 772-219-0148; sunshinewildlifetours.com
—The Florida Aquarium’s Wild Dolphin Cruise is a 75-minute experience led by one of the aquarium’s naturalists. Explore Tampa Bay’s ecosystem and catch glimpses of a variety of wildlife. Starting at $47.95 (also includes aquarium admission); 701 Channelside Drive in Tampa; 813-273-4000; flaquarium.org/combo-tickets
History cruise
History buffs can soak up the history of Tampa with the Tampa Harbor and History Tour. Discover how the city started as a Spanish outpost and has transformed into one of the fastest-growing cities in Florida during this 1.5-hour excursion. $29; 801 Old Water St. in Tampa; tampawatertaxico.com/tampa-bay-boat-tours/tampa-harbor-history-tour
Celebrity tours
For those with stars in their sights, there are a few tours that offer glimpses of the places celebrities call home.
—Miami Tour Company’s 90-minute tours pass celebrity homes on Star Island as well as high-rise condos in South Beach. $19-$28; 401 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami; 305-260-6855; miamitourcompany.com/celebrity-homes-boat-tour
—Fiesta Cruises highlights the past and present homes of the wealthy and famous, from Shaquille O’Neil to Gloria Estefan and Al Capone. Also spot the filming locations of movies such as “Bad Boys,” “Scarface” and “Miami Vice.” Tours last 90 minutes. $23-$28; 401 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami; 305-371-3033; fiestacruises.com/miami-celebrity-homes-cruise
—Miami Boat Tour includes views of Biscayne Bay, Flagler Monument, the Miami skyline, Port of Miami, Star Island, Fisher Island, celebrity homes, Miami Beach and Millionaire’s Row. Tours last 90 minutes. $20-$27; 401 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami; 305-639-8395; miamionthewater.com/tours/miami-boat-tour
—Tampa Water Taxi Co.’s Celebrity Home Tour takes visitors past the residences of the rich and famous, including baseball, hockey and football stars. Tours last about 90 minutes. $29; 801 Old Water St. in Tampa; tampawatertaxico.com/tampa-bay-boat-tours/celebrity-home-tour
—Celebrity Boat Cruise, led by Honu, guides guests by the current or previous homes of celebrities — including Tiger Woods, Perry Como, Burt Reynolds, Ricky Fowler, Joe Namath, Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick and Olivia Newton-John. Call 844-386-4668 for prices; 4726 S.E. Capstan Ave. in Stuart or 3394 Bermuda Road in Palm Beach Gardens; honucharters.com/celebrity-home-boat-tour.
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Note: All of the cruises mentioned in this story currently have coronavirus precautions in place amid the pandemic. Please call or check the website in advance for further details from each company.
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Want to reach out? Email me at kchristiansen@orlandosentinel.com . For more fun things, follow @fun.things.orlando on Instagram , Facebook and Twitter .
