8 Great Naples Boat Tours the Whole Family Will Love

Can’t wait to get out on the water when you visit Naples? That’s one of our favorite things to do!

Naples boat tours are a great way to soak in that coastal scenery and all the wildlife that call the waters around Naples home.

There are several local boat tours we’ve taken that are perfect for families, groups, or a romantic twosome.

There’s just something about the gentle rhythm of a being on a boat, cruising on a deep hull party boat or gliding on a pontoon boat on an eco tour.

Or maybe a sunset cruise on a luxury yacht is what you’re looking for!

At historic Tin City in Naples, Florida you'll find tourist shops and cafes selling everything from rubber alligators and resort wear to Monkey Bread and coconut candies.

You'll also find Naples fishing charters, sightseeing tours that offer lunch and dinner, eco tours, and shelling tours — any of which are a great way to see Naples from the water.

If you’re looking for a quieter sunset cruise on the wind, check out this post on Naples catamaran sunset cruises.

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About These Boat Tours

Taking a Naples boat tour is one of those fun things you have to do in Naples, at least once.

From nature, eco tours and sightseeing tours, to shelling cruises, dolphin tours and sunset dinner cruises, these 7 boat tours in Naples and Marco Island are all unique.

There’s literally a boat to fit every budget, style, and type of traveler.

Try one of these during the day, then hope onboard a Naples sunset cruise on one of the sailing catamarans you see heading out.

Two cruises in a day is even better than one!

Naples Boat Tours

1. PURE FLORIDA

Docked at Tin City, the company offers five daily tours on the M/V (Merchant Vessel) Double Sunshine and M/V Naples Explorer for sightseeing tours and dolphin watching, sunset cruises, and special events.  

Cruises operate on Naples Bay through the Port Royal area, and weather permitting, the Gulf of Mexico.

You’ll be treated to seeing the abundant wildlife that calls southwest Florida home including herons, ospreys, pelicans, and often manatees.

Nearly everyone who visits Naples wants to see dolphins, and they have you covered — they’ll practically leap out of the water all around the boat! 

Book a three hour Dolphin and Shelling Cruise to Keewaydin on the M/V Naples Explorer and be introduced to the dolphin families that live in Naples Bay and in the Gulf.

The trip will take you to pristine Keewaydin Island for a quiet stroll on the beach and some of the best shelling the area has to offer. 

Or book the one and a half hour Sightseeing Cruise or Gulf of Mexico Sunset Cruise on the M/V Double Sunshine that will take you along the Gordon River to view the different ecosystems that make-up this environment and the lavish waterfront estates in Port Royal.

The boat captain will narrate your trip along with some history so you know what you are seeing.

And don’t worry when you start to get a little hungry. You have the option of selecting a delicious meal to enjoy while you cruise.

If you’re not too famished, select something light from the appetizer menu.

The finish to the cruise is watching the sun light-up the sky with brilliant colors as it sinks below the horizon on the Gulf.

As always we recommend sunscreen, sunglasses, and a good sunhat if going to Keewaydin.

And be sure to bring along your camera and/or binoculars.

• Admission: $45 - $65 per person depending on tour. Check current pricing online.

Cruising on a Rookery Bay boat tour
Bald Eagles are common sightings

2. Rookery Bay Reserve Boat Tours

Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is a pristine natural environment nestled between Naples and Marco Island.

For nature lovers, this is a gem of an experience.

These 3 hour tours are captained by biologists who provide in-depth information about the Reserve.

Five different tours are offered that take you into areas of ecological, historical and cultural significance only accessible to their exclusive eco-tour partner, Rising Tide Explorers.

If you like quiet and pristine beaches, book a tour to explore a remote section of Keeywadin Island.

The island is only accessible by boat and because there are no crowds the beaches have incredible shelling.

Be sure to bring your shell bag!

If you love seeing wildlife, dolphins, manatees, shore birds, ospreys and an amazing number of nesting birds can all be seen here.

Your biologist captain will point out native species and explain the history and ecology of Rookery Bay.

Book a cruise that will take you through the back bays and mangroves to climb the highest natural point in the SWFL.

A favorite tour is their sunset to full moon cruise. From Keewaydin Island, you’ll relax in the glow of an amazing sunset.

As darkness settles in, the cruise will take you through back bays surrounded by the amazing night sounds. It’s an experience you’ll remember forever.

As always we recommend sunscreen, sunglasses, and a good sunhat and maybe something to hold those precious shells for the beach at Keewaydin.

We also recommend a camera and/or binoculars. You don’t want to miss a thing!

Registration is required for all tours and there is a minimum age of 3.

• Admission: Tours start around $100 for a 3-hour tour…a 3-hour tour ;-)

3. Naples Princess

Naples Princess Cruises got its start in 1991 with an 80-foot yacht and today, the company operates a state-of-the art 105-foot luxury yacht, the Naples Princess, docked at Tin City Naples.

The Princess features comfortable outside seating or relax in the fully enclosed air-conditioned salons.

The company offers both public cruises and private charters, including weddings, through Naples Bay and luxurious Port Royal with its multi-million dollar waterfront mansions.

The Christmas holidays are especially fun with lots of themed events and of course, the famous Naples Bay boat parade!

Passing through Naples Bay it’s possible to see herons, egrets, eagles, pelicans, ospreys nesting on channel markers, manatees, and everyone’s favorite, dolphins leaping out of the water.

Book your cruise for brunch, a lunch buffet, or dinner. Their food is very good.

Their most popular cruises go a bit offshore to view a fiery sunset over the Gulf of Mexico.

You have to experience a sunset from the water!

Throughout the cruise the captain will tell you about what you are seeing — the history of the area and Port Royal estates, the natural beauty surrounding you, and of course, when dolphins make their appearance.

Don’t forget your sunglasses, camera or binoculars.

There are photo opportunities around every bend in the waterway.

Depending on the time of day that you choose, consider sunscreen. The daytime sun combined with the reflection off the water can put a stop to your fun-in-the-sun while visiting Naples.

• Admission: Afternoon/sunset cruises and lunch cruises — prices range from Adults: $40 - $50 and Child: $20 - $25. Dinner cruises — Adults: $65-$72 and Child: $27-$36.

4. Dolphin Explorer MArco Island Dolphin Cruise

If you’re a dolphin lover — and who doesn’t love dolphins! — you have to take this Naples boat tour when your visit.

The Dolphin Explorer isn’t just a Marco Island eco-tour, it’s actually a long-term Dolphin Study and boat cruise combined!

Launched in 2006, the 10,000 Islands Dolphin Project is a long-term study of the abundance, distribution, movement, association patterns, and behavior of bottlenose dolphins in Southwest Florida.

This is seriously one of the best tours and the most fun you can have on a Marco Island dolphin cruise – very educational as well!

The Project is the only on-going study of wild dolphins in SW Florida and the only one in the United States that engages and is supported by the general public.

Using ‘photo-identification,’ the dolphins are recognizable by their dorsal fins which act as a sort of ‘fingerprint.’

You can help locate, count, and confirm the individual dolphin sightings on your tour.

• Admission: Adults -$64, Senior (60+) -$59, Child (3-12) -$46, 2 and under - $12

5. Naples Cycle Boat Company

If you’d like to try something completely different, take a CycleBoat ride from Celebration Park Naples, the Naples food truck park.

It might be one of the most fun ways to enjoy the Naples restaurant scene and get out on the water, at the same time!

You don’t have to be a weekend long-distance cyclist or casual peddler to enjoy this.

Even if it’s been a long time since you straddled a bike, this is a very social team sport.

Onboard guests sit on comfortable bicycle seats at a long table and peddle to turn the paddlewheel that powers the pontoon boat.

But you really don’t even need to peddle. There’s no rule that says you have to keep peddling.

You can stand at the rails, or take a seat to just enjoy the ride!

Starting on Haldeman Creek the boat makes its way into Naples Bay.

This cruise is BYOB so you can sip your favorite beverage as the boat cruises around Naples Bay, if you’re 21.

And if peddling gets too slow, the captain can kick in the outboard engine.

This is so much fun for friends, couples, solos, families, and can even be booked for holiday parties and other special occasions.

The peddle boat departs every two hours and operates 7 days a week during the “season”.

Be sure and bring along sunscreen as the sun and reflection off the water can be pretty brutal.

Above all else this is a fun party boat, so party on!

• Admission: From $40 per person

6. CRUISIN’ TIKIS

The Naples Tiki launches from The Boathouse on Naples Bay.

Tiki Cruises might just be one of the most fun and unique things to do in Naples.

Rent your own floating tiki bar and cruise around Naples Bay tiki-style. BYOB, a cooler and snacks, and cozy up to the bar on a comfortable stool. 

You’ll need to arrive a bit early for the captain’s safety briefing, to bring your cooler onboard, and the arrival of other guests.

Be sure to call ahead to reserve a place for family and friends, or for your group.

Again, bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and your beverage of choice.

They offer a Single Tiki boat tour, a 90 minute tiki boat tour, a 2 hour tour, and a 3 hour tour.

If you have a group of friends, trust us and take the 3 hour tour!!

As they say, “Why go bar hopping when you can hop on a bar?!

• Admission: Rates for 2 people start at $90. Check their website for more details.

7. THE GOOD FORTUNE ii

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida operates a guided boat tour of Rookery Bay near Isle of Capri on its 35 passenger pontoon boat, the Good Fortune II.

There are Rookery bay lunch cruises and a wonderful sunset eco-cruise. 

Fulfilling its mission for education and ecological conservation and protection, the tour includes not only a Coast Guard certified captain but also a docent trained in the flora and fauna to describe the features and wildlife in this natural environment.

Dolphins, manatees, and sometimes alligators are spotted regularly along with an amazing diversity of birds especially during the nesting season.

Ospreys and bald eagles are the two most common raptors seen here along with pelicans, egrets, and various herons.

Make a reservation by calling the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, they’re required. 

Tours depart from Shell Island Road off of SR 951/Collier Blvd on the way to Marco Island.

• Admission: Conservancy members — Adults $37, Child $15. Non-members — Adults $47, Child $20.

8. DUFFY BOAT TOURS AT THE CONSERVANCY OF SWFL

From the Conservancy’s dock, you can take an informative 45 minute electric boat tour along the Gordon River and through natural mangroves. It’s included with the Nature Center admission.

The awning covered boats seating 10 to 12 passengers depart daily, weather permitting, from 10am to 3pm.

Manatees are often spotted in the lagoon surrounding the dock. Herons of all types, egrets, ospreys, bald eagles, and turtles are the usual residents of this estuary.

Rarely is an alligator seen in this brackish water.

But there is a special treat in the Spring. Yellow-crowned Night Herons migrate here to make their nests on a mangrove island.

• Admission: to the Nature Center is $14.95 for adults, and $9.95 for children ages 3-12. Children under 2 and Conservancy members are free.

These Naples boat tours are ones that we have personally been on and can recommend — we hope you enjoy them as much as we did!

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