The Super Moon August 29, 2015

Unwinding on one of our sunset cruises is a perfect end to a busy day.  As we return from the Gulf on a clear evening, the night sky dotted with stars is certainly a sight to behold.  A Full Moon on such a night is an added treat!

On Saturday, August 29 the Full Moon is referred to as a Super Moon.  If conditions allow, it will be visible in its location on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be fully illuminated.  Because the moon will be at its closest approach to the Earth, it will appear to be slightly larger and brighter than usual.  Make sure to step outside and take a look.

All About Dolphins

All About Dolphins


One of the most exciting things about our tours is spotting Dolphins in the crystal blue waters we cruise on. We thought it would be fun to share some Dolphin facts with our Facebook followers. Compared to other animals, Dolphins are believed to be very intelligent. They have excellent sight and hearing and they have the ability to use echolocation to find exact location of objects. 
Bottlenose Dolphin is the most common and well known type of Dolphin, these are the ones you see on our cruises. Dolphins travel in pods. The females are called Cows and the males are called Bulls. Young Dolphin or calves stay with their mothers’ for about 2 years before going out on their own.
The popularity of Dolphins rose in the 1960’s after the movie ‘Flipper’ was made. Subsequently, it was made into a TV series. The series was filmed in Miami at Greenwich studios, and at Key Biscayne, Florida. Flipper was first portrayed by a female Dolphin named Susie. Kathy, Patty, Scotty, and Squirt followed. Females were chosen because their skin was smooth and free of scaring because unlike male dolphins, they are less aggressive and not prone to fighting. The only male dolphin used in the series was Clown. The females could not master the famous ‘tail walk’, so he was brought in to execute that now famous movement!
Book your next cruise and make sure to keep all these facts in mind when keeping an eye

out for them on board.

#loveFl , #cruising, #dolphin, #gulf

The Elusive Florida Manatee....

The Elusive Florida Manatee…

Manatees are an intriguing figure of Florida’s coast!  These fully aquatic mammals belong to 3 species.  They are:  West African, West Indian, and the Amazonian. 

Our Florida dwellers weigh about 60 pounds at birth!  They have a large flexible upper lip which they use to gather and eat food.  The Manatee will usually breed every 1 to 2 years, to a single calf.  The calf will stay with his mother between 12-18 months until they have been weaned.  Apart from that time, the Manatee is a solitary species. 

When fully grown, they weigh up to 1500 pounds!  They can reach up to 12 feet in length.  Sometimes referred to as ‘Sea Cows’ the Manatee must breath air at the surface.  They can however, stay submerged for up to 15 minutes.  When they are actively swimming, they will surface for air every 3 or 4 minutes.

Like Dolphin, they show qualities of associative learning.  This means they appear to have long term memory and task learning abilities.

Join us on our Cruise and maybe you will be lucky enough to see one! #cruise #manatee #cruise #naples #loveflorida

Meet the Florida brown Pelican

If you have been on one of our cruises or visited any of our beautiful beaches you have seen our brown Pelicans, flying or diving for fish.  The Pelican, also called the American or common pelican inhabits the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf Coast of both North and South America.  The brown pelican, while measuring up to 54 inches long, with a wing span between 6 ½ and 7 ½ long are the smallest of the seven species of Pelicans.  Brown pelicans are completely at home in the water.  Even young pelicans barely able to fly, can swim 3 m.p.h.! 

Pelicans are primarily fish eaters.  They enjoy herring, sheepshead, mullet, and menhaden.  They consume about 4 pounds a day.  They have keen eye sight and can spot fish from heights as much as 70 feet in the air.  Once they locate their prey, they will dive into the water and come up with a mouthful of fish.  The air sacs beneath their skin not only soften the impact of the dive but also help the Pelican to surface.  

The Pelican is a social member of flocks which is made up of males, females and juveniles.  They will breed between ages 3 and 5 years.  They will nest in tree tops, bushes or shallow ground.   The male will deliver nesting materials to the female who will build the nest.  She will typically lay 2 to 3 eggs, chalky in color which will hatch in about 30 days.  Both parents will share in the incubating process. 

The Pelican has a long life span.  In fact, there is a record of one that was banded 31 years earlier!

Just come to our marina when our fisherman docks after their charters.  The Pelicans wait just in hopes to get a little leftovers! #swflorida #pelican #loveflorida #swflattractions #nature #boating #sightseeing #gulfofmexico #cruisingnaples #naplesbay

Getting Familiar with the Gulf of Mexico

The Gulf of Mexico is the 9^th largest body of water in the world.  The Gulf is a partially landlocked basin.  There is only a narrow connection to the Atlantic as the Gulf is surrounded by North America and Cuba.

The coast line of the Gulf measures approximately 3500 miles starting from the tip of Florida, to the Yucatan, and about 230 miles along Cuba. 

Although much of the Gulf basin is shallow water over Continental shelves, it does have a trough that measures about 14,000 feet!

The population of people who live along the Gulf is projected to reach 61.4 million by 2025!

The Gulf is home to many species including 5 types of endangered sea turtles.  49 different types of sharks are known to inhabit these waters as well.  Also calling the Gulf their home is the bottlenose Dolphin, the West Indian manatee and humpback,, minke, and sperm whales.  

60% of brown pelicans breed along the Gulf coast.  Fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico include red snapper, shrimp, grouper, amberjack and oyster.  The Gulf also can also boast about having 8 of the top 20 fishing ports in the nation, by dollar value.

Exploring the the water ways leading up to the Gulf by Jet ski, Hurricane Deck Boat, or Pontoon is always fun!   Port of Naples Marina has great summer rates!  (239) 774-0479.

Join us on the Naples Princess for Wine Tasting with Decanted

Check Your Wine IQ

Do you know how Red wine gets its color?

ans.  Grapes of Red wine are fermented with the skins-extracting it's color.

What is the ideal temperature wine should be stored at?

ans.  The ideal temperature for wine is about 55 degrees.  Keep wine in a darkened area.  Storing the wine on its side will prevent air from entering the bottle via a dry cork. Enjoy white wine at a drinking temp of 45 to 55 degrees, and red wine at 65 degrees.

Test your wine knowledge and learn about popular wines when you join The Naples Princess and Decanted for our More than Hors D'ouevres and Wine Tasting Cruise.  The next 'wine cruise' will be held on Thursday, March 26 at 6:30pm.  See our flyer for future dates and times!

Easter Sunday Aboard The Naples Princess

Come relax and enjoy your Easter aboard the Naples Princess.  Don’t worry about cooking or cleaning we will do it all for you.  Come aboard and enjoy time with family and friends.  Have a cocktail and enjoy the amazing views of Naples.

We offer two full Easter dinner cruises.  An early dinner at 1:00 p.m. and our sunset dinner cruise at 6:30 p.m.  Each cruise is 2 hours long served with roasted turkey, baked ham, salad and dinner rolls, vegetable medley, mashed potatoes and of course dessert!