Cruisin' to Dinner

Set the mood by enjoying a meal aboard a sailboat or yacht. Or sailing to your dinner might be just the pre-dinner entertainment you're craving.

By Chelle Koster Walton

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Cabbage Key

Why just go out to dinner when you can hop on a boat and cruise to dinner? What could be more romantic in a rakish, look-how-out-of-the-mold-we-are sense than lunch or dinner island-style at the end of a boat hop? The best part? You can sit, relax and sip as much as you want and let your captain do the driving.

Easy and Affordable

Excursions and charters make it totally painless to be whisked off in style to dine in an exotic island or waterfront setting. Captiva Cruises does daily luncheon excursions to Cabbage Key and Useppa Island aboard the classic yacht Lady Chadwick. Historic inns on both islands boast restaurants not-to-be-missed: Cabbage Key Inn has a funky sailor’s vibe, while the Collier Inn beckons back to the 1920s with an air of island elegance.

From Pine Island, board a Tropic Star excursion for lunch and a narrated boat trip to learn the history of Cabbage Key and Cayo Costa.

Something Special for Two

When it’s time to pull out all the impress-your-date stops, plan ahead for an over-the-top occasion. For example, how does a romantic sunset sail on a classic 40-foot sloop to Captiva Pass sound? New Moon Sailing on Captiva Island will let you follow your fantasy, no matter where it takes you.

If sailing appeals to your sense of romance (or, more importantly, your date’s), book a cruise with Magic Wind out of Fort Myers Beach. Go a step further for maximum impression value and plan an overnight cruise with meals at sea.

Gala by Sea

So, you’ve already won your partner’s love. Now it’s time to plan the big event – be it a wedding, an anniversary celebration or a renewal of vows. Think out-of-the-church, and plan your affair aboard the Fort Myers Princess. The 75-foot boat, which can fit up to 149 passengers, features a climate-controlled lower level and open-air upper deck. Plan everything from a formal dinner to a casual buffet to a playful cocktail party. There's a full catering menu, a full bar and room for entertainment (think DJ or island musicians). Plus, there's a sunset view that can't be beat.

Looking for something more over-the-top? Captiva Cruises will transport your party of up to 148 to Cayo Costa’s sweep of deserted island and set up a beach feast no one will ever forget. Least of all you and your dearly beloved.

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Something Special for Two

Gala by Sea

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POINTS OF INTEREST (mentioned in this article)

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1. Cabbage Key Inn

2. Captiva Cruises

3. Fort Myers Princess

4. J.C. Cruises, Dinner & Sightseeing

5. Jensen's Twin Palm Resort & Marina

6. New Moon Sailing

7. Sanibel Harbour Princess

8. Tropic Star of Pine Island

9. Collier Inn & Cottages

10. Sail Magic Wind

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