Island
Queen, Island Lady, and Pink Lady
401 Biscayne Boulevard
(Bayside Marketplace), Miami
(305) 379-5119
Cost: $12
These
150-passenger double-decker tour boats are docked at
Bayside Marketplace. They offer daily 90-minute narrated tours of
the lavish estates along Millionaire's Row, the Port
of Miami, Fisher Island, Star Island, Miami Beach,
Henry Flagler Monument, Palm Island, Hibiscus
Island, and Venetian Island.
Snacks and beverages are sold on board. Boats
leave daily on the hour 11 am to 4 pm and 5:30 pm to
9 pm. The
party cruise leaves Friday through Sunday at 11 pm. They
also offer disco cruises and private charters.
Heritage
of Miami II
401
Biscayne Boulevard
(Bayside Marketplace), Miami
(305) 442-9697
Cost: $10-15
This
sightseeing cruise tour takes place on a two-masted
85-foot topsail schooner. The tours loop through lower Biscayne Bay,
with views of the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, homes
of movie stars, Port of Miami, and Cape Florida
Lighthouse. One-hour sails are $10 per person and
2-hour sails are $15.
Biscayne
Bay Water Taxi
Locations along the Miami waterfront
(954) 467-6677
Cost: Varies
Water
Taxi offers waterborne shuttle service throughout
Greater Miami and the beaches.
Canopied boats, 28 feet and longer, can hold
between 27 and 74 passengers. They taxi visitors and
downtown workers to restaurants, shops, hotels,
attractions, marinas, parks, and beaches along the
city's waterfront and Biscayne Bay.
By
boat you can stop off at the Hard Rock Cafe, Bayside
Marketplace, Barnett Plaza, Brickell Key, the Hyatt
Regency, the Biscayne Marriott, and Watson Island. There is also a narrated sunset cruise. Boat service is
available continuously every 25-30 minutes from 10
am to 10pm, but you must make reservations in
advance. All-day
passes, weekly passes, group rates, charters, and
tours are available. There is on-call service from
the Miami Beach Marina.
A round-trip ticket to Miami Beach is $14.
An all-day pass from any location is $16.
Kids with an adult pay half-price.
Stiltsville/Key
Biscayne Boat Tour
Dr. Paul George
1345 S.W. 14th St., Miami
(305) 858-6021
Cost: $35 per person
For
a tour of a unique neighborhood on stilts in the
middle of Biscayne Bay, try this one. You can only get to the homes by boat! These tours have very limited dates and reservations must be
made. Dr. George conducts several other tours in
Miami, including the Miami River Tour.
Scuba,
Snorkeling and Glass-Bottom Boat Tours
Biscayne
National Park
9700 SW 328 Street, Homestead
(305) 230-7275
Cost: Glass
bottom boat tour:
$19.95 Adults ; $9.95 Children (under
13).
Scuba
diving: $35
Snorkeling:
$27.95
A
53-foot glass-bottom boat and a 45-foot diving and
snorkeling catamaran take adventurers across
southern Biscayne Bay, through wilderness, mangrove
creeks, islands, and out to tropical reefs teeming
with sea life. You can snorkel
and scuba dive from the boat. There are walking tours and canoe and kayak
rentals here. The
waterfront visitors center offers exhibits and
information on South Florida's ecology.
Scuba
diving departs at 8:30 am, the glass bottom boat
departs at 10 am, and snorkeling departs at 1:30
pm.
