jacksonville river boat dinner cruise

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talk to our event plannERS  +1.3213054753

LIMITED AVAILABILITY ...Don’t miss the boat! To book a PRIVATE CHARTER call (321) 302-0544 to speak directly to Penny,  the Queen’s Event & Wedding Planner.  PLEASE NOTE OUR REFUND & CANCELLATION POLICY:  24 hours notice is required for all cancellations in order to receive a full refund.  

PUBLIC CRUISES

MAGICAL CRUISES - PERFECT FOR ALL ~ public cruises ~ dinner boat cruises ~ daily riverboat day cruises

DINNER SHOW CRUISE

The Indian River Queen cruises on Florida's gentle intracoastal waterway, which is also part of the Indian River Lagoon, one of the world’s most diverse ecosystems and estuaries. Meet new friends with our cruise ship style dining in the Queen's room or find a private table on the outside decks. This is a wonderful opportunity for small celebrations and gatherings. The Queen's party and event planners will be happy to reserve seating for groups or parties of 6 or more. These public cruises are only available once a month due to the Queen's busy private charter service -  available for corporate events, weddings and reunions. These special public dinner boat cruises are limited to 85 passengers. Advance reservations are required.

BOARDING   6:30pm UNDERWAY  7:00pm CONCLUDES 9:30pm

ADULT: $60 pp+ CHILD:  $40 pp+ (3-12 yrs)

THIS 2 HOUR CRUISE INCLUDES: Souvenir Boarding Photo Full Service Cash Bar Live Music & Entertainment

DINNER MENU Chips & Homemade Salsa Fresh Fruit Platter House Salad with Cherry Tomatoes & Cucumbers Seasonal Vegetables ~ Fish of the Day with Fresh Fruit Salsa Braised Ribs with Peppers & Onions

in a Burgundy Wine Sauce ~ Roasted Red Potatoes Garlic Rolls & Herb Butter ~

Delightful Chocolate Cake &

The Tulip’s Famous Bread Pudding Coffee, Tea & Water

(321) 454-7414

HOP ABOARD & ENJOY

Magical cruises along the beautiful indian river., perfect for all...married or single...  young or old...night owl or early bird, sunday scenic music cruise.

Gather with your friends and family on a relaxing scenic cruise aboard the Indian River Queen. Passengers will enjoy Live Music, beautiful scenery and wonderful views as they cruise majestically along the Indian River Lagoon. A great excursion for all ages!

The Indian River Lagoon is one of the world's most diverse Eco-systems and home to herds of manatees, playful bottle-nosed dolphin as well as a variety of coastal birds. Our knowledgeable crew will be delighted to answer any of your questions.

BOARDING   2:00pm UNDERWAY  2:30pm CONCLUDES 4:30pm ADULT: $30 pp+ CHILD:  $25 pp+ (3-12 yrs)

THIS 2 HOUR CRUISE INCLUDES: Live Music

Full Service Cash Bar*

Snacks & Riverboat Hot Dogs available for purchase

*PLEASE NOTE: Due to our liquor license, passengers are NOT permitted to bring alcohol on board or off the vessel.

PRIVATE PARTIES

This is the perfect opportunity to celebrate birthday parties, anniversaries, small weddings and other special occasions. Book a private party in the Queen’s Room during this public event. The Queen’s Room is an enclosed air-conditioned dining room with large windows to enjoy the views, a full service bar, catering, restrooms and room to dance. Catered food service and entertainment can be provided for your private party. This is the perfect opportunity for groups of 20-100 guests to party on the Queen without having to charter the entire boat. The Queen’s Room will be restricted to passengers in the private party during public scenic cruises.

Copyright © Indian River Queen. All rights reserved

 +1.3213054753

ST JOHNS RIVER

Taxi & tours ​​​, 904-860-taxi (8294), extended hours & additional boats running for jags games at tiaa bank field $15 round trip/all day pass. get tix now - select the from the calendar.

Learn all about Ortega History on this one hour river cruise. BOOK NOW

Tour three different downtown breweries - Intuition, River City and Bold City! Cheers!

Learn all about the St. Johns on this one hour tour geared for students in grades 2-5.

THE 5 BEST Jacksonville Boat Tours

Boat tours in jacksonville.

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• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Now and Zen Sailing Charters

2. Tannic Water Adventures Inc.

3. Inshore Outdoors Fishing

4. Jax Boat Rentals

5. PureWave Rentals

6. NepentheCharterSailing

7. North Florida Outfitter's

8. River City Charters

9. Capt. Jack Feeney

What travelers are saying.

• PureWave Rentals
• Tannic Water Adventures Inc.
• Inshore Outdoors Fishing
• North Florida Outfitter's
• River City Charters

• 321.441.3030
• [email protected]
• 433 N. Palmetto Ave. Sanford, Florida 32771

St. Johns Rivership Co.

THE BARBARA-LEE MENU

LUNCH AND DINNER

Tropical chicken, chicken marsala, chicken parmesan, salmon fillet, meatless spaghetti meatballs, entrée caesar salad, first mates meal.

SIGNATURE COCKTAILS

World famous bloody mary, paddle wheel, captain’s punch, blue mermaid, st. johns sunrise.

Bud | Bud Light

Miller lite, michelob ultra.

— HOUSE WINES —

Chardonnay / merlot / cabernet, white zinfandel, — white wines —, pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc, — red wines —.

Mionetto Prosecco

Non-alcoholic.

Charters available starting May 24 for Summer of 2024

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• Cruise Details
• Sailing Vacations
• Vacation Destinations
• Bahama's Locations
• Ragged Islands

Available dates are shown on the booking calendar - Click the button ->

About the boat - now & zen.

Now & Zen is a modern 2003 42-foot Manta catamaran. It is designed to take its passengers and crew anywhere in the world. Safe, secure, and spacious her 21 foot beam ensures a stable and smooth ride. 

• Stretch out on the trampolines for a snooze
• Commune with the wind on the bow seats
• Snuggle up in the salon
• Have a private conversation on the stern sling seat
• Learn more about sailing at the helm

Outside, a large bimini covers the cockpit and protects you from the sun and passing showers. 

Sunset Cruises and Day Sails in Jacksonville - More Info

Let us serve you a catered dinner.

We are proud to offer catered Gourmet Picnics from local restaurants. Picnic Baskets for a minimum of two people: #1 Salmon and Shrimp Salad Picnic($50 per person)

• VEGETARIAN MEZZE TRIO – whipped feta with roasted red peppers, classic hummus + vegetable tabbouleh with pitas for dipping
• GRILLED SALMON SALAD – crispy shiitake, red onion, tomatoes, warm lentils with bacon + balsamic vinaigrette  
• GRILLED LOCAL SHRIMP SALAD – citrus, avocado, feta, grape tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, sherry vinaigrette + green goddess dressing
• Chocolate Chip Cookies 

#2 Gryo and Chicken Combo Picnic($50 per person)

• HOMEMADE HUMMUS PLATE  with Cucumber, Radishes, Carrots,  Pita wedges, Olives
• GREEK GYRO PITA –  Seasoned Lamb, Artisan Mix, Tomato, Onion, Feta Cheese and Tzatziki Sauce served on a Warm Pita
• ROTISSERIE CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICH – Croissant, Rotisserie Chicken, Finely Chopped Chives, Celery and Rosemary served with Chips
• Homestyle Chocolate Chip Cookies  

#3 Roast Beef and Smoked Turkey Picnic  ($50 per person) 

• VEGETARIAN MEZZE TRIO whipped feta with roasted red peppers, classic hummus + vegetable tabbouleh with pitas for dipping
• ROAST BEEF SANDWICH - smoked cheddar, field greens, tomatoes, garlic aioli, on ciabatta 
• SMOKED TURKEY SANDWICH - tomatoes, provolone, dijonaise and sprouts, on ciabatta  
• Both with sides of Penne Pasta Salad with Spinach, Broccoli, Feta and Red Onion in a Pesto Sauce
•  Homestyle Chocolate Chip Cookies 

Also as a reminder we provide bottled water and we carry small and ever changing assortment of soft drinks. So if anyone in you party has a drink preference beyond that, it would be best for them to bring their favorite drinks along or make arrangements with us in advance. Alcoholic beverages are BYOB.  You can specify your dinner selection at check out.  

Sailing on the St Johns River - A hidden treasure

When the St Johns River turns south from downtown Jacksonville it opens up into the perfect sailing location being wide enough to adjust the sail in accordance to the wind direction and narrow enough to provide protection for a smooth sail. It is fabulous!

The shores are lined with manicured estates and ancient trees stretching from San Marco south on the eastern shore and Ortega south on the western shore. The Florida Yacht Club,  Timuquana Country Club, Epping Forest, and Bolles School also grace the shores. If you are lucky, it is fun to be close enough to feel the vibration and to and watch the planes take off and land from the Naval Air Station (NAS) just north of Interstate 295 (the Buckman Bridge).

Sunset Cruise on the St Johns River 

We recommend leaving the dock about 3 hours before sunset and head south toward the Buckman Bridge.  The direction and speed of the wind determine exactly where we go.

As we turn around and head north to ready ourselves for the sunset, it is the perfect time to stretch out on the comfortable bow trampolines as the colors of the sunset flood the sky. As the sun disappears below the horizon the sky fills with pinks, purples, and oranges of the after glow. The sun disappears, but downtown Jacksonville lights of the city now create their own “light show”. You see the city lights as only one can from the water.  One hour later you will be back at the dock as the last light of dusk fads from the sky. The perfect four hour excursion!

Cancellation Policies

Once you have received a booking confirmation, cancellations and rebooking are allowed up to 14 days prior to the charter. Failure to appear on your booked date or to cancel and rebook at least 14 days prior to your booked date will result in a $200 cancellation fee plus any online booking fees.  

Weather Related Cancellations

Now & Zen is safe, stable, and provides amble protection from the weather. It can be sailed comfortably under normal conditions which include a chance of an afternoon thunderstorm, occasional showers, cloudy, or windy weather.

There is  no weather related refund of the cancellation fee  except for the issuance of a named storm (hurricane) warning that coincides with the charter time.

Cancellation fees can be applied to reschedule a charter (one time, with an additional $200 deposit) within the calendar year, plus any online booking fees. There are no refunds or reschedules for no shows/cancellations within 24 hrs of the time of the cruise.

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Departing from:

4238 Lakeside Drive, Jacksonville, Florida 32210, United States

Now and Zen Sailing Charters

904 803-8843

Copyright © 2019 Now and Zen Sailing Charters - All Rights Reserved.

Email: [email protected]

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Florida River Cruises

American Cruise Line offers "Great Rivers of Florida" cruises in the winter and spring months. The 7-night small ship cruises are round-trip from Jacksonville to Green Cove Springs (Florida), Palatka (Florida), Amelia Island (Florida), the Tolomato River and St Augustine (Florida). See the list of departures below.

The St Johns River is the longest in Florida (310 miles long) and is an important part of the natural history of Florida. It's a very slow moving "lazy" river. Ocala National Forest is located between the St Johns and Ocklawaha rivers. It protects the world's largest sand pine scrub forest. Water resources include more than 600 lakes, rivers and springs. Visitors can swim, snorkel and dive in the clear springs year-round.

St Augustine is the nation's oldest city. Established by the Spanish 42 years before the English colonized Jamestown, Virginia. The Castillo de San Marcos survives from the late 1600s. Narrow streets and balconied houses are vestiges of the colonial period.

Wildlife on the rivers includes wading birds (like herons and egrets), bald eagles, manatee, bottlenose dolphin, river otter, turtles and alligators.

Schedule of Departures

American Cruise Line 7-night Great Rivers of Florida cruises . • 2024 departures: February 5, February 8, February 12, February 15, February 19, February 22, February 26, February 29, March 4, March 7, November 18, November 24, December 1. • 2025 departures: February 3, February 10, February 17, February 24, March 3, November 21, November 28.

  Covid-19 Travel Information

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River Cruise Experiences

River cruises are a much different experience compared to traditional ocean cruises. The ships are smaller and more intimate. The pace is slower as the ships glide you up and down the most popular rivers of the world.

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Uniworld boutique river cruises.

Luxury river cruises with a fleet of 21 ships that said the rivers of Europe, Egypt, South America, and China.

Each exquisitely appointed Uniworld river cruise ship is a work of art designed to be as unique as their guests and as inspiring as the destinations they visit.

American Queen Voyages

American Queen Voyages offers both river cruises as well as cruises on lakes, oceans, and even expedition cruising.

The American Queen has every amenity to help you completely unwind — including spa services, a fitness center, a lovely library and numerous spaces conducive to just relaxing.

Ama Waterways consists of a fleet of over 26 ships that sail in Europe, Southern Africa, Southeast Asia, South America, and Egypt.

Their innovative itineraries are just one aspect that sets them apart. Known for exquisite cuisine and excellent service, a voyage on Ama Waterways will not disappoint.

Viking River Cruises has been voted the #1 River Cruise Line in the world numerous times.

Their ships sail the rivers of the world. The also have ocean cruises and expedition cruises as well.

• Life & Culture

What’s it like to dine on Tampa’s new riverboat cruise Craft? We took a ride.

• Helen Freund Times staff

TAMPA — We almost didn’t make the boat.

Traffic snarled through downtown Tampa and stretched onto the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, delaying what would have been a 45-minute drive from St. Petersburg to nearly an hour and a half in stop-and-go congestion.

We had reservations for Craft, Tampa’s brand-new riverboat dinner cruise set to depart at 7:30 p.m. — and a friendly confirmation email reminding us that our purchase was nonrefundable. We’d been encouraged to arrive 45 minutes early, when we would have presumably been able to commence a leisurely boarding, river breeze in our hair, Champagne flute in hand.

Life had other plans. At 7:25 p.m., my dinner date and I swung our car into the Garrison Street parking lot, narrowly avoiding getting struck by an oncoming streetcar.

Following a quick security wand-down (the boat adheres to U.S. Coast Guard rules) and a $30 event-fueled parking fee (Tim McGraw was playing a show at nearby Amalie Arena), crew members greeted us with a quick photograph and a glass of bubbly before sending us on our way.

“Welcome to our maiden voyage!” they exclaimed as we rushed aboard.

Shortly after 7:30 p.m., we were off, out of the Ybor Turning Basin and into the sunset.

Described as a “culinary and cocktail river journey,” Craft debuted its inaugural dinner cruise on March 15. The multimillion-dollar project is the latest endeavor from Jill and Troy Manthey, who also run several other entertainment-on-the-water concepts, including Yacht StarShip, Pirate Water Taxi and the Bay Rocket.

Designed with European riverboats in mind, the 130-foot-long vessel boasts a sleek, white silhouette with less than 11 feet of vertical clearance — meaning it can comfortably drift beneath many of Tampa’s low-lying bridges. But this ship’s real appeal lies in the coupling of an elevated culinary program, contemporary aesthetic and craft cocktails.

A trip aboard Craft includes a two-hour cruise up and down the Hillsborough River and a three-course prix-fixe meal. To start, there are lunch, brunch and dinner trips on deck, but a happy hour option may soon be in the works.

Running any kind of marine operation comes with steep operating costs — including fuel, dock rental fees and staffing — and the experience here is priced accordingly. But it still comes with a good deal of sticker shock. For two people on a Friday evening, we paid $392.59 for the boat ride and the three-course dinner — not including gratuity or drinks.

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I love a fancy boat ride as much as the next person, but the pricing gave me pause.

Would the experience be worth it?

Things were a lot smoother once we got on board.

We entered through the front of the boat, or bow, and were shown to our seats inside a narrow dining room, flanked by windows overlooking the water. Wood paneling combined with slight nautical touches lent the space a warm, industrial-chic vibe.

Servers clad in white collared shirts and gray aprons whisked back and forth between the tables, balancing martini coupes and taking orders. In an attempt to let the crew develop their sea legs, the boat wasn’t fully booked that evening, but the dining room still felt abuzz with excitement and curiosity.

Clutching our Champagne, we glided through Sparkman Channel at dusk, glitzy Harbour Island homes glowing in the evening light as a Maggie Rogers track played softly in the background. We let out a collective exhale as the chaos of the day faded away.

Over the course of the roughly two-hour cruise, the boat steered up the Hillsborough River, passing Riverwalk landmarks including the Tampa Convention Center, Armature Works and Rick’s on the River, before turning around and heading back.

Guests were encouraged to explore the boat. The Bow and Stern bar, beautifully designed and fashioned out of a vintage 1914 cruiser, provided additional seating in the rear for those looking for more of an al fresco experience.

Throughout the evening, the crew moved back and forth between the dining room, the bar and the kitchen, sometimes stepping out on the deck to alert passengers when their meals had been delivered. Guests roamed the boat taking photographs, while patrons inside chatted up their neighbors, much of the voyage illuminated by the lights of downtown Tampa.

Craft’s strongest selling point is its culinary program, and the menu here is a far cry from the goblets of white wine and dry chicken associated with most dinner cruises.

Designed by chef Allison Beasman (formerly of Edison: Food + Drink Lab), the list of contemporary New American dishes runs the gamut from a black grouper served with Little Neck clams and Pernod cream to a Wagyu coulotte with kabocha caramel and a Korean barbecue octopus. As part of the prix-fixe deal, guests are able to pick an appetizer, entree and dessert from a menu of roughly 13 different dishes.

Part of what makes the vessel stand out is the addition of an open kitchen with gas stoves, and the concept’s design allows guests to get a peek of the action if they’re on their way to the bathroom or the bar.

When it came time to order dinner, our server patiently guided us through the menu, pointing out the additional dishes we could choose if we wished to add a little something extra onto our prepaid meal. We opted for the olive oil-marinated sheep and goat’s milk cheese ($18), which was just as tasty as our server touted. It arrived in a rich red pepper-packed pisto, drizzled with a healthy glug of olive oil and served with crusty bread for dipping.

Dishes are made to order and don’t necessarily arrive at the same time as other passengers’ meals. Our appetizers showed up roughly 45 minutes into the trip, a delightful baby kale salad lightly dressed in a white balsamic vinaigrette that was toothsome with chicory and shaved carrots and plumped up with fried baby potatoes and a healthy shaving of ricotta salata. Also good was the hearty tomato bisque with roasted bone marrow and blackened cipollini onions.

For our entrees, a seared duck breast arrived fanned out over silky whipped potatoes and a creamy goat cheese fondue, framed by Brussels sprouts and fat wedges of roasted golden beets. Though the duck was cooked a little past the requested temperature, it was still delicious. A plate of sweet and sour braised short ribs packed powerhouse flavors that paired beautifully together, all served over a sweet and sticky coconut rice sidling bok choy and juicy tangerine segments.

For dessert, we paired a perfect few scoops of pistachio ice cream with a chocolate espresso dacquoise, an intensely rich and sweet layer cake featuring a tart blackberry curd and creamy dark chocolate ganache.

The fine print

The water was calm that night and the entire service appeared well-rehearsed — absent of any major hiccups and even graceful at moments. As far as I could tell, there were no seasick passengers or man-overboard scenarios, which felt like some kind of success, though I did wonder what type of balance or physical dexterity would be required to maneuver trays of wobbling martini glasses over stormier seas.

Though tiered pricing exists for Craft — for different seats, times of day or days of the week — there’s no overlooking that a trip aboard the vessel isn’t cheap.

With neither drinks nor gratuity included in the booking price, if you’re looking to enjoy the evening with a couple of libations, it’s going to cost you. The add-ons can feel excessive, from a $50 king crab leg tray to the preboarding photograph crew members try to sell you at the end of the night. A suggested gratuity is presented on your bill, based on the total sales tallied for the table that evening, including the cost of the original reservation.

Some changes are bound to be expected as the company assesses guest interest and feedback. Even after the first week, it appears some prices have been slightly adjusted. Dinner for two people seated in the dining room with window seats now comes to $369.89 after taxes and marine fees, while weekend brunches for the same seats start at $89.95 per person.

It’s hard to imagine making dining here a regular occurrence, but for a special occasion, an evening aboard Craft can be a real delight.

Next time, though, I’ll remember to leave myself plenty of time to get there.

For Craft reservations and information, go to crafttampa.com/ . The riverboat departs from the dock at 603 Channelside Drive, Tampa.

Helen Freund is the food and dining critic, reporting on and reviewing restaurants throughout Tampa Bay. Reach her at [email protected].

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