DAY 1 Burlington, VT to Jackson, FL

Meet your Tour Manager at the Burlington Airport. Arrive in Jacksonville on the day before our scheduled cruise. The package includes a premium hotel stay, where you can enjoy the city at your leisure.

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DAY 2 St. Petersburg, FL

On the morning of the cruise, meet in the hotel lobby after breakfast and we will transport to the ship to begin our cruise in St. Petersburg, Florida. St. Petersburg is known for having the “most consecutive days of sunshine”. Explore this city which has a reverence for the past, while embracing the future. Discover the history Ole Northeast neighborhoods adorned with cozy bungalows, contracting perfectly with the bustling business center along the marina. Enjoy a Welcome Reception on board as you begin your journey.  

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DAY 3 Fort Myers Beach, FL

Immerse yourself in the beauty of Fort Myers Beach, a town on Estero Island, known for its sugary white sanded beaches. This small town has a fascinating story to tell, with the leading charters being pirates who buried treasure here, Spanish conquistadors who build forts, and the native Caloosa who hunted the beach.

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Let by our local guide, explore the highlights of this scenic island, from the beautiful nature preserves to the archaeological exhibits of the earliest inhabitants. Enjoy a sunset cruise, charter a fishing boat, or brave a salty pirate cruise.

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Excursions*:

 

Fort Myers City Exploration with Edison & Ford Winter Estates

Enjoy a guided city exploration of downtown Fort Myers, which boasts the most historic buildings still standing in all of Southwest Florida. Stop at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates which date from 1885, when Thomas Edison first visited Southwest Florida and purchased the property to build a vacation home, which would eventually become known as Seminole Lodge. Automobile magnate, Henry Ford, developed a deep friendship with Thomas Edison and in 1916, Ford purchased the property next door to Seminole Lodge, a craftsman bungalow estate, which was named The Mangos. Explore these two historic homes which have been restored to their 1929 appearance, providing a unique opportunity to step back in time and experience the lives and legacies of two American icons.

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Everglades Airboat Adventure

Aboard an airboat, explore some of the most unique habitats and ecosystems in the world as you literally glide on top of grass. Your knowledgeable naturalist will provide commentary about the amazing plants and animals that call the Everglades home, including turtles, alligators, and more.

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Bunche Beach Guided Kayak Eco Tour

Led by an expert naturalist, depart from our Bunche Beach for a guided kayaking excursion through mangrove tunnels, shallow bays, pristine beaches, and more. Keep an eye out for dolphins, manatees, bald eagles, rays, and a wide variety of birds.

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DAY 4 Day of Cruising 

Enjoy your time sailing from Fort Myers Beach to Key West on board one of our brand new Coastal Cats. Admire the natural beauty that stretches out before you as you relax on your private balcony. Meet fellow travelers for lunch and attend an afternoon enrichment program presented by our onboard expert.

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There are a variety of activities scheduled on board when the ship is underway, which vary depending on the itinerary and scheduled date. Enjoy destination-focused enrichment programs with special guest speakers who present topics related to the region and ports of call, including Art Classes, App-titude Classes (Tech Made Easy), Cooking Demonstrations, Mixology (practice of making great cocktails,) Trivia, Game Shows, and more.

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DAY 5 Key West, FL

Experience a taste of Caribbean culture in this southern most town in the continental U.S. In addition to its stunning natural beauty, Key West has a rich history which is celebrated in the many museums of the island. Visit the Earnest Hemmingway House, the residence of this renowned writer in the 1930s and the place the authored many of his most famous novels. Explore the Audubon Gallery, which offers antique, hand colored original Audubon engravings and lithographs, as well as fine modern limited editions of J.J. Audubon’s timeless masterpieces. Nature lovers can enjoy kayaking or getting on board a glass bottom boat for an eco-tour. In the evening, venture to the world-famous Duval street, to enjoy a meal, listen to live music, or pick up a souvenir to take home.

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Excursions*:

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The Key West Experience

Led by a local guide, discover the best of Key West. Stop at the famous Duval Street, the heartbeat of the city with a diverse array of restaurants, shops, world famous pubs, and attractions. Visit Mallory Square, location of the "Sunset Celebration," where hundreds come each night to view the sunset and enjoy arts and crafts exhibitors, street performers, and food carts.

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A Day in Dry Tortugas National Park

Travel by ferry and enjoy a full day island excursion to Dry Tortugas National Park, comprised of seven islands and a variety of protected coral reefs. Venture to Garden Key, the second largest of the islands, home the 19th-century Fort Jefferson, one of the nation’s largest 19th-century forts. Explore this national historic landmark, or enjoy snorkeling in the beautiful turquoise waters.

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Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum

Explore the estate where the Hemingways’ personal touches still abound throughout the home they lived in during the early 20th century. View many unique furnishings which are European antiques collected during their stay on the continent. Feel the author’s presence in his studio where he produced some of his most well-known works. An additional link to the past are the descendants of Hemingway’s cats which still inhabit the house. Stroll the grounds around the gardens and lovely pool, where gardenias blooming at the water’s edge.

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DAY 6 Marco Island, FL

Flanked by nearly 100 miles of islands, bays and estuaries that will never be developed, Marco Island is the largest of Ten Thousand Islands, located at southern tip of Florida’s Paradise Coast. The island is home to stunning beaches and world-class golf courses, as well as beautiful parks too that are a paradise to those who relish the outdoors. Led by a guide, explore Everglades National Park, a World Heritage Site that protects the southern twenty percent of the original Everglades in Florida. After a day of adventure, dine at one of the elegant warfront restaurants or peruse the artsy boutiques and designer outlets, before heading back to the ship.

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Excursions*:

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Mangrove Tunnels Adventure

Join a local biologist for a guided kayaking or paddle board adventure into the largest contiguous mangrove forest in North America. Paddle to beautiful mangrove tunnels, teeming mudflats, and intricate oyster reefs, while searching for amazing wildlife like sea stars, large snails, birds, dolphins and manatee.

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Marco Island Dolphin, Birding, and Shelling Excursion

Explore the Ten Thousand Islands led by a Florida Master Naturalist Guide. Enjoy a wild dolphin show, before visiting an uninhabited barrier island beach, where you can collect shells and other treasures. Depending on the season, view manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, bald eagles, ospreys, herons, egrets, pelicans, alligators, rosette spoonbills, and numerous species of fish and shorebirds. Along the way, learn about the Everglades eco-systems, floras and fauna, rich heritage, and long history.

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DAY 7 Punta Gorda, FL

Punta Gorda celebrates its roots with a thriving historic district, ornamented with Queen Anne-style wood frame homes of the mid 1880’s to the late 1910’s, Victorian architecture of the early 20th century, and structures reflecting the Neo-Classical revival of 1920’s Florida Land Boom.

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Home to the a thriving artis community, enjoy open-air art shows and explore innovative galleries tucked throughout the city. Stroll along the palm-lined, harbor-front park for the chance to hear the spontaneous jam of local musicians who have been known to serenade the sunset. Punta Gorda is also rich in ecological treasures. Surrounding the city are maritime and costal habitats, which support over 600 species of birds, fish, and marine wildlife.

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Excursions*:

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Peace River Wildlife Center Exploration

Explore the Peace River Wildlife Center, a non-profit wildlife rehabilitation and education center, overlooking Charlotte Harbor at Ponce de Leon Park. Since its founding, the center has treated over 50,000 birds and small mammals, offering a high-level of skilled care by trained wildlife rehabilitation specialists.

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Alligator Bay Distillers Tour & Tasting

Enjoy a tour and tasting at Alligator Bay Distillers, a family owned and operated small batch craft distillery. Founded in 2015, the distillery produces traditional handcrafted, award-winning rum and whiskey, using locally sourced ingredients.

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DAY 8 St. Petersburg, FL

End your voyage where it began, in the lovely town of St. Petersburg. Stroll along the St. Pete Pier and admire the peaceful blue water of Tampa Bay and botanical wonderland, called the Sunken Gardens, which hides right in the middle of downtown. Art aficionados will love the Salvador Dali Museum which holds the largest collection of Dali’s work outside of Spain, as well as the Chihuly collection on Central Avenue, a building designed specifically to house the work of this internationally renowned glass sculpture artiest.

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Excursions*:

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Alligator Bay Distillers Tour & Tasting

Enjoy a tour and tasting at Alligator Bay Distillers, a family owned and operated small batch craft distillery. Founded in 2015, the distillery produces traditional handcrafted, award-winning rum and whiskey, using locally sourced ingredients.

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DAY 9 St. Petersburg, FL - Home

After breakfast on board, begin your journey home, reflecting upon the incredible experience you’ve had and the wonderful new friends made.

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*Not all excursions are included in the price of the tour. These are called optional “Premium”, and have an additional cost. Many excursions are included. All ports will have an included excursion as part of the paid cruise package.