This year, Scott and I were able to attend the 2023 Palm Beach International Boat Show together. Last year, he was still in Seattle and for the past year, I’m always working a show. In March I left OneWater Yacht Group to join 26 North Yachts as their CMO, so I had time off to attend the show with Scott.
Just like last year, the weather was hot and unforgiving. We arrived to the show when they opened and walked the super yachts first.
This is a very upscale show and here you can find not only your next yacht, but your Bentley too.
Vendor Tents at 2023 Palm Beach International Boat Show
As you can see by the map below, there are a few vendor tents at the 2023 Palm Beach International Boat Show, but not nearly the size as the ones at the Fort Lauderdale or Miami International Boat Shows.
Check out this cool “bar set” from Docktails. Next boat we get, we are installing this!
So many cool things at the 2023 Palm Beach International Boat Show
From vintage yachts, to slick cruisers to fast boats; you will find everything at the Palm Beach Show. Since the layout is not nearly the size (Thank God) as Fort Lauderdale, you can cover the entire show in one day easily.
Since the layout is not nearly the size (Thank God) as Fort Lauderdale, you can cover the entire show in one day easily. That was especially nice, since it was so hot the day we attended.
2017 Hatteras 75′ Tour
Scott and I were able to tour so many awesome yachts and we were thrilled to get a tour of this 2017 Hatteras M75 yacht featured by 26 North Yachts. As you know, we’ve toured two other Hatteras yachts – one was a hoarder home and the other was an older 52′ Hatteras. This yacht at the show, was absolutely stunning and we could definitely live on this boat. For a full tour, be sure to check out our YouTube episode posted this week (see video at the end of this blog).
The 2017 Hatteras M75 Yacht offers a sleek and contemporary design, spacious living areas, and exquisite finishes. With its four beautifully appointed staterooms, expansive flybridge, and advanced navigation systems, the M75 delivers an unforgettable yachting experience. Discover the epitome of elegance and comfort on the water with the 2017 Hatteras M75 Yacht.
After leaving OneWater Yacht Group, I took some time off before joining 26 North Yachts. Scott and I took a last minute vacation to Barbados, so be sure to tune in to follow us on that adventure.
As always, thank you for following our blog! Be sure to subscribe to our blog and YouTube channel for future tours and adventures. You can also follow us on social @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney.
Back in March, Scott and I attendedTrawlerfestin Stuart, FL. Trawlerfest is a big event in the PNW and we have never been before, so we thought this would give us a great opportunity to tour some trawlers. Recreational trawler boats are typically designed for long-distance cruising at a slower pace, with a focus on fuel efficiency, comfort, and safety. They are often equipped with a displacement hull, which allows them to travel at low speeds while using less fuel. As a result, they are very slow and their cruising speed is less than 10 knots, which is why we haven’t been interested in buying one.
We decided to head to Stuart, FL to check out the town and see what Trawlerfest had to offer. Stuart is less than 2 hours north of Fort Lauderdale. Trawlerfest was held on Hutchison Island, west of the city at a very small marina. Scott and I stayed at the Marriott Hutchison Island Golf Resort, so we could walk to the boat show.
Trawlerfest in Florida
When we arrived to the show, it was not what we were expecting. Remember, for the past year we have been attending major large shows likeFort Lauderdale, Miami and West Palm Beach.
They had a simple check-in tent with a few surrounding vendors in the hotel’s parking lot. (not sure why the first few photos have a strange filter on them, making them look like they are from the 1960’s?)
The actual boat show, was only on the first dock (this photo is actually pretty old, as the other dock was ruined by a storm).
Touring the boats
Overall, there were about twelve boats to tour at the show. There were a couple of Nordic Tugs (see our most viewed video here, where Jeff lives on a 32′ tug). In addition, there was an old Californian, a new Fleming, Greenline and a Ranger Tug.
The first boat we toured was a Ranger Tug. Having never been on one, we were actually pleasantly surprised by its features. The galley offered plenty of space, a large fridge and freezer and lots of daylight.
Under the settee, you will find a pantry and the washer/dryer!
1989 48′ Californian
Next we decided to tour a 1989 Californian. This boat really reminded us of the Ponderosa we stayed on in Gig Harbor, WA back in December 2021. For 48′ this yacht had the space and feel of a 60′ yacht.
Though this was a 1989, she was in very good condition. In fact, the owners actually live aboard this yacht and it shows the love they have given her.
The salon was nice and roomy, the galley had tons of space and the master stateroom had a full walk around bed.
2016 Fleming 65′
When Scott and I first moved into our slip at Elliott Bay Marina, we became friends with our neighbors Doug and Jules who owned a 75′ Custom Delta. Jules was an avid yachter and always told us to buy a Fleming (she doesn’t know our budget! LOL). This yacht is for sale for $3,800,00. Finally, we had the opportunity to tour one and it did not disappoint.
The galley was bigger than our kitchen in our apartment! Imagine the spread you could put on this counter?
This yacht had an 11′ center console tender on the flybridge, yet there was still plenty of room up top.
2003 Nordic Tug 42/44
I have a friend who lives near Jupiter, so I texted her to see if she would be at the show (because she is in the marine business) and she replied that she was not going, but that her dad had his 42′ Nordic Tug in the show. Scott and I were talking as we walked towards the dock and I said “we need to find Sea Gypsy, that’s Katie’s dad’s boat”. Suddenly, the man in front of us, turned around and said “I’m Katie’s dad”. LOL! He and his wife are from the PNW and recently finished cruising the Great Loop. Now they are heading home and selling their tug.
For only 32′ this tug has tons of big boat space! It’s perfect for just two people.
If it had been closer to Fort Lauderdale and had a slip, we would definitely consider buying her!
That’s a wrap!
The entire show took us about an hour to tour. Since it was a smaller show, the boats tended to get pretty crowded and we didn’t feel like fighting the crowds on all of them.
Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center
After the boat show, we walked about a mile to the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center. This is a 57-acre marine life nature center. When we arrived, they were feeding sting rays and we got to feed them by hand!
We then walked the nature trail to the ocean. The walk took about 15 minutes and was pretty cool. However, be sure to wear your bug spray!
There is lots of information when you reach the beach and you can continue to walk down the beach. We chose to turn around and go back.
Back at the nature center, you can walk all around the turtle sanctuary.
If you haven’t been to Stuart Florida, I will tell you it’s a very sleepy town. There’s not much to do, especially on Hutchison Island. Your only option for dining on the island is the restaurant at the Marriott or another cafe’ which was only open for lunch. It did look like a great place to play golf and just unwind. I don’t think we’ll be heading to Stuart anytime soon.
As always, thank you for following our journey! Please subscribe to our blog and our YouTube Channel (link below). Follow us on social @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney. Soon, we’ll be heading to the Palm Beach Boat Show and then Barbados! So tune in.
Before I left my job at OneWater Yacht Group, I was on location for a sea trial and photo shoot in Miami for a Sunseeker Predator 65. Having never been on either (of this scale) I wasn’t sure what to expect. The first day, we hosted sea trials with Boat TV, Power & Motoryacht and Boat International. I left Fort Lauderdale at dawn and arrived by 7:30am. As I approached our yacht, (which was at the Miami Beach Marina), I realized I would need some help getting on the boat. Remember, they have fixed docks here in Florida. It’s hard to see in the photo below, but the swim platform is actually about 3′ below the dock, so my best bet was to swing my leg around to the steps.
Fisher Island
Our first stop was in front of Fisher Island where the film crew could get some great angles with a gorgeous backdrop. Fisher Island is a luxury country club and is only accessible by boat or ferry.
The weather forecast was calling for 20kn winds, so we headed out to sea to start our sea trials.
Channel Markers
Heading out to sea, you will follow the channel markers for quite a ways. You do need to be aware of other marine traffic around you as well.
Before you knew it, we were pretty far off shore.
Sunseeker Predator 65 Sea Trial
Time to put this bad boy to the test. The Predator 65 is known for its’ agile hull and IPS drives that allow just the right amount of lean to feel the thrill – I on the other hand was terrified. LOL!
Using the joystick, the yacht turns on a dime at about 30 degrees, side to side. I didn’t enjoy this part of the trip, but for those that love adrenaline, this is the yacht for you. To get a feel of how it was, be sure to watch our YouTube episode.
Photo Shoot
We spent the following two days (dawn to dusk) doing a photo shoot complete with models and a full crew. First we needed to find a great spot for a back drop and headed towards downtown Miami.
Miami does have a very impressive skyline, but it was too choppy for us to find the right scene.
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
Hoping that the Vizcaya Museum would be a great backdrop, we headed towards the Key Biscayne bridge towards Deering Channel.
It was extremely shallow and our draft was only 5’3″ and soon we were in 4′ waters.
Unfortunately, the museum didn’t work out as it had some kind of tent structure in front of it. Our crew decided to head south in search of another spot. Make sure you stay in the channel or have outboard engines as you will end up on the sandbar.
In search of the perfect photo shoot spot
Our crew headed south to Hurricane Harbor in hopes we would find a gorgeous estate for our photo shoot backdrop.
There were plenty of boats anchored nearby and we entered the harbor. Soon we were in very shallow waters again and we did not find that amazing estate.
Heading south towards No Name Harbor, we hoped to find the perfect spot. But it was not to be. Instead, we headed to Cape Florida to use the lighthouse as our backdrop. Going south to Cape Florida, you’ll pass “Stilt City”. These are homes people have built and stay in for weekends and vacations. Many were destroyed after the last few hurricanes. It is extremely shallow, so you can only access during high tide.
Photo Shoot Sunset in Miami
Soon the sun was setting and we only had time to capture some amazing shots of the sunset and the city. Because many of the shots were drone shots, I actually had to stay below in one of the cabins, so I wasn’t in the shot. It was definitely an interesting experience.
This “office view” certainly beat my regular desk, so I was not complaining.
As always, thank you for following our journey. Be sure to subscribe to our channel (link below) and blog to stay updated. You can also follow us on social @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney.
Since our last post, a lot has happened and we wanted to give you a quick update. Right after the Miami Boat Show, I (Ally) spent three days in Miami on a photo shoot for Sunseeker. Then in March, Scott and I attended Trawlerfest in Stuart, FL and the Palm Beach International Boat Show. In the upcoming episodes and blogs, we’ll go into details and take you on some great tours.
In addition, I accepted a new position as Chief Marketing Officer with 26 North Yachts here in Fort Lauderdale. Since it will be a while before I can take any vacations, we took a week off and headed to Barbados (more on that later).
Boat Tours and Trips
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be bringing you lots of great boat tours, including a Sunreef 68 Catamaran, Riviera 64 Sports Motor Yacht, Fontaine Pajot 67, Leopard 53 Catamaran and much more. We’ll also take you on a quick tour of both boat shows and bring you along on trip to Barbados.
As always, thank you for following our journey. Be sure to subscribe to our channel (link below) and blog to stay updated. You can also follow us on social @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney.
Last month, we attended the 2023 Miami Boat Show. This is a great show to see every kind of boat or yacht in the industry. As we mentioned in our last blog, they have a number of different displays at the show, so it a show to put on your bucket list.
You can find all of our yacht tours on our YouTube channel. Thank you to all of you who have subscribed and are following us! Wow, has our channel grown and we are truly grateful.
2023 Lekker 44
Our first yacht tour was a 2023 Lekker 44 from the Netherlands. Per their website “When LEKKER’s founder (Meindert Wolfraad) travelled the world, he discovered that the Amsterdam way of living appealed to people everywhere. Moving around on your own terms, taking control – whether it’s on the road, the canals or open sea. The freedom to move your own way. So that even the most free-spirited people don’t get caught up in everyday life.” This was a pretty cool boat that is not only comfortable, but very fast with a top speed of 57 mph.
2023 Privilege Signature 580 Catamaran
You might remember that we chartered a 43′ power catamaran last year during our trip to the British Virgin Islands. While it was a nice cat, the “guest sleeping quarters” were extremely tight and uncomfortable. Our next yacht tour was the Privilege Signature 580 and you have plenty of space on this yacht! (of course this would be a lot more expensive to charter too). This yacht we could live on and cruise the world.
2022 Azimut 72 Fly
If 58′ isn’t big enough for you, check out our next yacht tour on the 72′ Azimut Fly. This yacht has four staterooms, four heads PLUS crew quarters! Powered by twin MAN V12 1400hp diesels, her top cruising speed is 32 knots! Her exterior has been designed for luxury and comfort, as you relax on under the canopy on the bow’s sun pad. Cruising on this yacht through the Bahamas would make a dream vacation.
Cool surprise!
During the show, I passed by Captain Sandy Yawn a number of times. We’ve tweeted back and forth here and there. I had just finished reading her book, “Be the Calm or Be the Storm”. This is a fantastic read and I highly recommend it. Here’s a quick link to the book. When I saw her in the lobby of my hotel, I had to stop and tell her how much I enjoyed her book. She then said, “let’s get a photo”. What a fun surprise!
What’s next for us?
We’re excited for what 2023 has on our plates. This week we’re headed to the Palm Beach International Boat Show and since Ally isn’t working the show, we will be doing the tours together. Why isn’t she working? Tune in and find out what her next adventure is. Next week we leave for Barbados and it’s our first visit there. Barbados is known for their amazing snorkeling and beautiful beaches, so this is a much anticipated trip.
As always, thank you for following our journey. Please be sure to subscribe to our blog and our YouTube Channel (link below) and follow us on social @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney.
Earlier this month, Scott and I attended the Miami International Boat Show for the first time. We did come down here in 2015, but that year we could only find the display on Collins Avenue. That was the last year the show had a display on Collins. I was working the show, so I arrived on Sunday, February 12th to help set up the show. It really is amazing how the show actually comes together. I had a great view from my room at the Marriott of One Herald Plaza and the Venetian Marina.
At the Venetian Marina, we found a Sunreef Power Catamaran. Scott took a tour of it, which you can see on our YouTube channel next week. Apparently, the interior was very interesting, so tune in.
Big Yachts & Huge Displays
I was working in the Sunseeker display and this was the largest display they have had in over 30 years. In addition, we had on display a Sunseeker 90 Ocean and 95 Yacht. Now a days, seeing a large yacht doesn’t seem to phase me.
One thing that is different about Florida boat shows compared to others, like Seattle is the displays include luxury buildings and VIP lounges.
Beyond Yachts
Comparing the Miami Show to the Fort Lauderdale show, I would say the on-the-water show was smaller and more intimidate. They had a large tent with vendors and places to dine (where Fort Lauderdale didn’t have the food court per se). To access the Windward VIP lounge, you had to purchase a VIP ticket.
Scott did a great job showcasing all of the different vendors in our latest episode, to so be sure to watch it.
Miami Beach Convention Center
I had a breakfast later in the week at the Miami Beach Convention Center and then I walked the show. Even though I’m used to an indoor show, everything in this display seemed bigger.
Yachts After Dark
On Friday night, IYBA hosted a “Yachts After Dark” event. Here displays who participated hosted guests with cool lighting, cocktails and appetizers.
If you haven’t been to the Miami Boat Show, I definitely recommend it. In fact, Scott was able to meet up with the new owners of our Bayliner 4087, who were attending the show from Seattle. There’s so much to see and the venues are great.
One highlight for me, was meeting Captain Sandy in my hotel. I’m currently reading her book “Be the Calm, or Be the Storm” and it’s a fantastic read.
As always, thank you for following our journey. Next week, Scott will take you on some great yacht tours and we have some cool trips coming up including Trawlerfest in Stuart, FL. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel (video below) and follow us on social media @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney.
Last weekend Scott and I took the Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi down to Hollywood, FL. It was a pretty cool trip down the ICW (Intracoastal Waterway).
The entire trip took about 45 minutes. We picked up our first water taxi in DT Fort Lauderdale, at Los Olas (about 2 blocks from our home). Then we transferred to the Hollywood water taxi at the 17th Street stop.
Sight seeing tour
The Fort Lauderdale water taxi is a great way to see the famous sites in Fort Lauderdale. In fact, my college roommate was just here and she took it for the first time. It is a great mode of transportation, but remember that it is also a sight seeing tour, so they announce the sites along the way.
After we transferred to the Hollywood water taxi, we passed by Port Everglades. This is the largest container port in Florida and the 3rd largest cruise terminal in the world.
The super-sized cranes at the Port are the largest of their kind in the world at 175′ and valued at $13.8 million each.
Along the route, you’ll pass by mangroves and marinas. We were hoping to see some manatees, but no luck.
What to see and do in Hollywood, FL.
Once you arrive in Hollywood, you’ll walk across the street and head towards the beach. Here you will find Margaritaville Beach Resort with plenty of dining, shopping and activities.
Finally, we arrived at the Hollywood Broadwalk (yes, broadwalk, not boardwalk). This is lined with shopping, restaurants and rental stores. You could spend all day here, laying by the beach, renting a bike or shopping.
We were shocked to find this artifact! Watch the video (link below) to find out what we think it is.
So if you are looking for a fun way to explore Fort Lauderdale, the ICW and Hollywood Beach, I highly recommend the Water Taxi!
Since moving to Fort Lauderdale last year, Scott and I have enjoyed so many cool experiences. The warm weather allows us to be outside almost every weekend. Let’s look back on everything we did in our own back yard!
Our first month here
One thing you will learn about living in Fort Lauderdale, is that there is something to do every single weekend. You will not be bored. In May, we took the water taxi to the Los Olas Beach for an airshow over the beach!
We found a 9-hole golf course just a few miles from our home. While we didn’t see any gators, we did stumble upon some tortoises.
There is also no shortage of walking routes or restaurants!
Summer in Fort Lauderdale
June, July and August are definitely the hottest months here in Florida. In fact, twice we ventured out and I ended up getting very sick from heat stroke. I have learned my lesson and now we take better precautions.
We do miss hiking in the PNW, but we have found a number of parks with some pretty cool walking trails.
Our first venture of the summer was to the National Everglades Park to ride on jet boat and see some gators. That was a must do!
Being so close to the Florida Keys, we hopped in the car at the end of June and headed to Key Largo for a long weekend.
Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi
It is easy to get on the water, as Fort Lauderdale has a water taxi that cruises up and down the new river. We’ve taken this water taxi a number of times, including Christmas in July, Christmas Light Cruise and our trip to Hollywood.
Summer is only just starting
Hurricane season begins July 1st, but that didn’t stop us from enjoying the outdoors. We had heard about a cool farmer’s market called the “Yellow Green Market“, so we had to check it out. It’s a site to see if you are in Fort Lauderdale.
Scott and I have seen some videos about Boca Inlet, so we headed north to check it out. The walk to the inlet was very long and hot. This is one of the days I got heat stroke. It was still a fun day! Here’s the video link of that day.Click here.
We’ve walked a number of times to the Los Olas Beach, which is about a 5 mile round trip from our home. Making this journey in July was brutal!
One morning, Scott and I decided to get up at dawn and watch the sunrise. That was pretty cool!
Summer went by fast for us. For two weekends in August, I was on an epic work trip traveling on a 76 yacht in the Exumas, Bahamas. After that trip, we spent most weekends, laying by the pool.
Fall in Florida
There’s a joke on the internet that Fall in most places is full of beautiful leaves and Florida is simply one palm leaf on the ground. We do miss the changes in seasons, but on the other hand, we love that we did so much this past Fall.
We started September, with another trip to the Florida Keys, this time to Duck Key.
Since September is the peak of hurricane season, we didn’t venture far after Duck Key. Instead, we took advantage of the great weather and enjoyed the scenery in Fort Lauderdale.
During September, when Hurricane Ian hit the west coast, Fort Lauderdale experienced a King Tide that flooded many docks and roadways in downtown.
Staying close to home in September, we drove up to Lauderdale by the Sea. This town is just 15 minutes north of us. It is a very cute town with a beautiful beach and plenty of great restaurants. Sadly, the Angler’s Pier was badly damaged when Hurricane Nicole hit the east coast just a week later.
The year is not over
With three months left in the year, we still had plenty of weekends to explore. October was taken up by FLIBS – Fort Lauderdale Int’l Boat Show. We did walk to the show the weekend before it opened, to check out the super yacht docks.
It seemed like every weekend in November had a festival. The month kicked off with the Day of the Dead festival. Downtown Fort Lauderdale closed off the streets, brought in food trucks, mobile bars and hosted a parade.
The following weekend we headed up to Palm Beach for the Luke Bryan concert. It was so nice, being at an outdoor concert in November! Plus, there was no shortage of bars!
The next weekend, Downtown Fort Lauderdale hosted their first Mutts and Martinis festival. We met some great vendors and Scott was selected to be a judge for the cutest dog contest.
As Thanksgiving was approaching, we decided to enjoy our long holiday weekend aboard Royal Caribbean. It was our first ever cruise on a large cruise ship and since it was just a 3-day trip to the Bahamas, we decided to check it out.
Christmas in Florida
Our close friends Ben and Maria flew in from Seattle to join us in Key West at the start of December. Key West knows how to do Christmas. We highly recommend heading that way.
Downtown Fort Lauderdale didn’t disappoint either. As we mentioned earlier in the blog, we took a water taxi cruise to see the holiday lights, plus we enjoyed Winterfest. Winterfest is Fort Lauderdale’s Holiday Boat Parade and it is a big deal here!
Scott and I were supposed to fly back to Seattle on December 23rd, but due to weather our flight was cancelled. Ironically, Christmas Eve was brutally cold here at about 38 degrees with the windchill factor. So we decided to walk to the Los Olas Beach and check it out. While it was nice that it wasn’t 90 degrees, it was brutally cold!
So much to see and do in South Florida
This has certainly been a year filled with experiences and amazing memories. Since moving here, we have yet to see a manatee, whale or a dolphin. But we have seen plenty of other critters and wildlife.
Whether you are visiting or moving to Fort Lauderdale, know that there is plenty to see and do. Scott and I are looking forward to 2023 and we’re excited to see where our adventures take us this year.
As always, thank you for following our blog. Be sure to subscribe and also follow our YouTube Channel (link below). You can follow us on social @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney. Cheers, Scott and Ally
Last month we headed back down to Key West with our friends Ben and Maria. Our first stop was Robbie’s of Islamorada of course. It never disappoints and is a must see. This time the pelicans were in full force when we were trying to feed the tarpon.
We stayed three nights at the Opal Resort in downtown Key West which was walking distance to most restaurants and shops. Our room was fantastic and as you can see our ocean view was blocked by a cruise ship. Luckily, it left that evening.
Our first night in Key West
Since this was the first time Ben and Maria have been to Key West we had to hit all of the famous restaurants and bars. We grabbed dinner at Sloppy Joe’s and had drinks at Dirty Harry’s and Captain Tony’s Saloon. What we didn’t know, was the history behind Captain Tony’s which we learned the following night on our haunted pub crawl.
Be sure to look for our Boating Journey sticker!
We were there December 1st and the entire town was decked out for the holidays!
Southern Most Point
The next morning the four of us headed towards the southernmost point, an attraction none of us have been to before. If you recall, the four of us have been to the easternmost point on Saint Croix, so this was cool that we got to do this together. Word of caution though, there will typically be a line for photo opportunities.
The Cable Hut
The walk there was fun and entertaining.
We had to stop at the Green Parrot for a cocktail and then had a wonderful lunch at the First Flight Brewery, located in original Pan Am Office.
Shipwreck Museum
Later that day, Scott and I decided to check out the Shipwreck Museum. The museum offers a rich history of the shipwrecks and the wreckers that would salvage the goods off of the boats. There were hundreds of shipwrecks outside of Key West, due to the shallow reefs. The story goes, that “wreckers” would flash lights to deceive captains and then the ships would run aground. The wreckers would then steal the goods off of the ships.
The view from the very top lookout was amazing and I had no idea there were that many boats in the Harbor.
Haunted Pub Crawl in Key West
That evening we watched another amazing sunset and enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Bruschetta Francesca. All of the pasta was handmaid and it was amazing.
After dinner we were pleasantly surprised by a bicycle parade. The bikes were all lit up and people had on costumes.
From there we headed to our haunted pub crawl. Key West is also known as bone island if you want to know the story there you have to do the pub crawl. Our tour guide was fantastic he wouldn’t allow us to film but I did get some cool pictures of each of the houses he took us to.
The story behind Captain Tony was he had a wife and a lover and the wife ended up killing the lover. Her tombstone is actually in the bar itself. The wife was then hung by the town hanging tree and that tree is still growing inside Captain Tony’s Saloon. During the building’s construction, while removing old flooring, workers discovered the skeletal remains of several people. They kept one of the skeleton’s and it sits behind the bar.
Our guide walked us to more haunted houses and shared each of their stories. Let’s just say, Key West is one of the most haunted cities in the US!
Snorkeling in Key West
The following day we had a snorkel trip scheduled with Fury Water Adventures and we headed out to Archer Key. Unfortunately it was extremely choppy and the current didn’t make for pleasant snorkeling so we cut that portion of the trip short.
The boat was loaded with paddle boards, noodles and kayaks. In addition, this was the first excursion, that put out breakfast bites of fruit and pastries.
Next we headed to a sandbar called Woman Key and while we had a good time, it wasn’t nearly as warm as it was in Duck Key. On top of that we did see sea urchins and we were barefoot so that made us a little uneasy walking through the sand and rocks. They did provide beer and sparkling wine for us at the sand bar.
Our captain and first mate of the boat were fantastic and lunch was the best we have ever had on an excursion. They offered salad, fried chicken, pasta and a veggie platter! Amazing.
Fort Zachary in Key West
We got back early in the day and so Scott and I decided to walk to Fort Zachary just about a mile and a 1/2 from the hotel. Along the way, we walked through the Truman Annex, a gorgeous neighborhood. The first weather bureau is located here too.
This Fort was fully surrounded by Confederate territory yet it was maintained by the Union during the Civil War. In 1971 it became a National State Park.
Key West Holiday Parade
Once again we enjoyed a beautiful sunset at the hotel and then headed off to another amazing dinner this time at the A and B Marina.
Being in key Western the holidays we have no idea what to expect but they had decorated the whole town beautifully. That evening we got another surprise with the town parade for the holidays. It was the perfect ending of a fantastic weekend in Key West.
We are glad we finally stayed in Key West. This allowed us to learn about its’ history and enjoy live music and libations. The nightly parades were a bonus and it helped to kick off the holiday season.
As always, thank you for following our journey! Be sure to subscribe to our blog and vlog (see video below), as we have more boating adventures to come. Follow us on social media @BoatingJourney #boatingjourney.
In our last blog, Scott and I decided to hop on a Royal Caribbean Cruise for the weekend and head to the Bahamas. The cruise left on Friday and arrived in Nassau, Bahamas the following morning. We booked two shore excursions before we left.
Originally, we had booked an excursion to Pearl Island, but sadly it was cancelled at the last minute. We were able to book a snorkeling trip via the Royal Caribbean excursion app. Our ticket instructed us to meet at the dock at 8:30am for a 9am departure. We ended up waiting on the dock with about 75 people until 9:15am, when our guide finally guided us to the catamaran. This snorkeling trip cost $69/pp and it included an open bar, but no food. You ad the option to pay $64/pp and pay for your drinks on the boat – but why would anyone do that? The trip was scheduled for a 9am departure with a 1:30pm return. (Already we are late).
Snorkeling Excursion
Our catamaran cruised down Nassau Harbor for about fifteen minutes. At one point, their sister catamaran pulled up next to us to toss some snorkeling gear. That vessel looked a bit sketchy!
Soon, we had arrived at our snorkeling spot. We were surprised that we didn’t really leave mainland or the area.
Scott and I didn’t use our fins and it was a good thing. It was so incredible crowded on this excursion, that we would have kicked everyone in the face. The water was a bit cooler, but that is expected. We saw lots of fish, but after 30 minutes we were done. There were just too many people.
At one point a local pulled up in a sketchy skiff and was selling fresh coconuts. For $5 he would cut the top off and give you a straw!
Overall, we were disappointed in this excursion (which is rare for us to say). They had only one bartender and most of the guests were paying for their drinks and to ring someone up took time. We barely got two drinks in. Next thing you know, they were returning back to the ship after an hour.
Since the excursion was supposed to last until 1:30pm, they cruised past the ships and then back around to waste time. We were still back before 1pm.
Our Last Night in Nassau
Scott and I still had a half a day to spend on the ship when we got back. We tried laying out, but the music was blaring and kids were screaming. We then decided to go hang out at the pool bar, but it was closed. So we ended the day playing putt putt golf and walking the ship.
All four ships were leaving at sunset and we were the third one out. The ship would sail to Coco Cay (very slowly) over night for our third day of excursions.
For dinner, we at the the Chop House steak restaurant and enjoyed a fantastic bottle of Northstar wine from Washington.
Good Morning Coco Cay
We woke up around 6:30am to enjoy the sunrise at Coco Cay. This is Royal Caribbean’s private island that offers all kinds of activities.
While Coco Cay is included as part of your cruise, not everything on the island is free. In fact that water park, beach club, cabanas are all extra. We decided to book the beach club at $79/pp. This would give us an open bar (with our beverage package) and complimentary lunch and beach chairs. We were told we could disembark at 7:30am, but we ended up waiting until 8:15am before they let us off the ship. Once off, you walk the dock and follow the signs to the Beach Club.
After a fifteen minute walk, we found the beach club!
Scott and I grabbed a couple of beach chairs (there are not many chairs by the pool) and spent the day relaxing in the sun.
There were so many birds on our beach and they were trying to find the shade.
Lunch on Coco Cay
They recommend that you make lunch reservations as soon as you arrive to the club. This turned out to be a smart move. Lunch is included with the beach club and as we were looking over the menu, deciding if we wanted a starter, a bento box showed up! Turns out, they bring you EACH starter in the bento box! If you look at the menu, you’ll see that steak and lobster was an option. Unfortunately, we didn’t want that much food while playing in the sea.
Our day on Coco Cay was the best part of the trip. We spent the day relaxing, unwinding and not having a worry in the world.
The Third and Final Night of the Cruise
For our final night, we made reservations at Giovanni’s, the Italian Restaurant. We love Italian food and Italy was where we celebrated our first wedding anniversary. Unfortunately, the food was just okay. It was cold when it arrived and we were too tired to send it back. The wine, however, was fantastic! Always one of our favorites. Keep in mind, if you order a bottle of wine, that is NOT part of the beverage package.
The cruise ship left Coco Cay in the evening and we awoke at 5:30am in Fort Lauderdale. Scott and I carried our own bags, so we were able to disembark at 6:15am and be to work by 8am. We are glad we tried cruising and this was a nice quick weekend. After this trip, we don’t think we would do another cruise, as it is just not our style of travel that we prefer.
As always, thank you for following our journey! Be sure to subscribe to our blog and vlog (see video below), as we have more boating adventures to come. Follow us on social media @BoatingJourney #boatingjourney.
Cheers, Scott and Ally
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