CHOOSE YOUR CRUISE
Sometimes it really is all about the journey! What kind of adventure will you choose? We know just where to take you to see dolphins and other wildlife. And our knowledgeable captains make it an interesting and educational experience for all ages. If it’s all about taking in the sunset for you, just pick your vessel for a serene and colorful evening on the water. Whatever your preferred adventure, we’ve got it covered.
Beach & Shelling Cruise
Adults & Seniors $45
Children (12 and under) $30
Visit one of Southwest Florida’s most beautiful beaches for sun, fun, shelling and more! Only accessible by boat, Out Island is home to some of the world’s best shelling! After departing from Captiva Island, guests will enjoy a narrated cruise about the area’s history and wildlife by our experienced, USCG-certified captains. Once on the island visitors may enjoy shelling, fishing, birdwatching and snorkeling on Out Island.
The half-day trip (3 hours) includes a 30-minute boat ride each way with approximately two hours on the beach. Once the boat arrives on the island, guests will depart and board the boat near the water’s edge via a 4-steep ladder. Guests should be prepared to be in knee-deep water while boarding and deboarding the boat.
Passengers are encouraged to bring along anything they would like to be comfortable at the beach, keeping in mind there are no amenities on the island itself. Food, drinks, small coolers, chairs, umbrellas, towels, sunscreen, snorkels, fishing rods (and a license too if applicable) are a few recommendations. The boat, which includes a bathroom, will stay at the island as there are no amenities on the island.
Cabbage Key Cruise
Adults & Seniors $45
Children (12 and under) $30
Believed to be the inspiration behind Jimmy Buffet’s song, “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” Cabbage Key is a classic “old Florida” hide-a-way. The island has an Inn and Restaurant, built in 1938 by American playwright Mary Roberts Rinehart. The restaurant, which sits on top of a Calusa Indian shell mound, offers panoramic views of the island and Pine Island Sound as well as delicious seafood, steaks, cheeseburgers and desserts. The walls are lined with signed dollar bills… Ask your captain how the tradition got started! There is also a short nature trail and water tower to climb. Lunch is an additional purchase at the island restaurant.
Beach & Lunch Cruise
Why choose between our top two cruises when you can have the best of both cruise experiences with this beach and lunch combo excursion! This cruise begins on the peaceful waters of Pine Island Sound with a 30 min. boat ride. Watch for dolphins and birds and learn the history the waterway while venturing to one of Southwest Florida’s most beautiful island beaches!
Once at the beach, guests will depart the boat and can spend the morning exploring the sandy shore, searching for shells, soaking up the sun or playing in the waves. After a fun morning at the beach, guests will re-board the boat and travel approximately 30 min. to another nearby island called Cabbage Key! Here, you can kick back Jimmy Buffet style with a “cheeseburger in paradise” at the historic and open-air Cabbage Key Restaurant and Inn and climb the water tower (first constructed in 1937) before cruising back to Captiva Island for the conclusion of your cruise.
Useppa Island Cruise
Adults & Seniors $45
Children (12 and under) $30
Useppa Island is an exclusive private island club community with picturesque white cottages, pink pathways and lush tropical vegetation. The only way to visit this exclusive destination is to be a member of the island club, the guest of a member of the club, or a passenger of Captiva Cruises. This “must-see” island paradise is filled with history and beauty! Enjoy lunch at the Tarpon Bar, visit the Barbara Sumwalt History Museum ($5 Admission Fee & Masks Required at Museum) and take a leisurely stroll through the island’s lush garden paths. Lunch is an additional purchase at the island restaurant.
Boca Grande on Gasparilla Island
Adults & Seniors $55
Children (12 and under) $40
Boca Grande known as the tarpon fishing capital of the world. Located on Gasparilla Island, it’s a quaint seaside village with a variety of restaurants serving fresh seafood caught by local fisherman, art galleries and unique shops. You’ll feel like you stepped back in time as you stroll down5th Street or Palm Avenue, where the famous 100-year-old Gasparilla Inn is located. Rent a golf cart or bikes to visit the southern tip of the island. There, you can explore Gasparilla Island State Park and the Boca Grande Lighthouse that was built in 1890. There is much to see and explore on this beautiful island.
Photo by Dick Fortune
Tarpon Lodge on Pine Island
Adults & Seniors $50
Children (12 and under) $35
Pine Island Sound is rich in fishing culture and history. As you cruise Pine Island Sound you will get an up-close look at the historic fish houses and learn about the Calusa and Spanish-Cuban Ranchos of the past, as well as Tarpon sport fishing, which has been popular for generations.
Once on Pine Island, enjoy lunch at the charming and historic Tarpon Lodge. Afterwards, passengers will enjoy a tour of the Randell Research Center, an archeological and historical site that is a program of the Florida Museum of Natural History. A guide will lead you through the Calusa Heritage Trail with its pre- Columbian Mounds of the ancient Calusa Indians.
Reservations are required. Donation to Randall Research Center is included in ticket price. Lunch at the island restaurant is additional.
Our Tarpon Lodge Cruise is typically offered one day a week, from mid-November through April. The Tarpon Lodge is open year-round, so if you have a group you would like to book, please call our office at 239-472-5300.
Children explore the Randell Research Center
Dolphin and Wildlife Cruises
Adults & Seniors $30 plus sales tax
Children (12 and under) $20 plus sales tax
There is nothing more exciting than to see these beautiful, playful, wild and free Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in their natural habitat. Southwest Florida is known for exceptional wildlife viewing. In addition to dolphins, one might see white pelicans (in season), ospreys, bald eagles, and a variety of migratory birds. This cruise is fun for all ages.
The Dolphin Cruise is typically narrated by volunteers from the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of coastal habitats and aquatic research.
What would you like to know about cruising with us?
Check out our frequently asked questions.
Reservations & Cancellation Policy
Reservations are required for all cruises. Group pricing may be available for groups of 25 or more adults depending on the time of year. All cancellations or changes must be received at least 24 hours prior to the cruise departure time and are subject to a $5 cancellation/change fee. If the reservation is cancelled within 24 hours of departure it is NON-REFUNDABLE and NON-TRANSFERRABLE.