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Lady Atlantic Cruises It's like an Elegant River Boat Cruise of the South but on the Intracoastal Waterway in Florida

Daily sight-seeing cruises sunday brunch cruise, sunset cruise, friday night dinner cruise .

Lady Atlantic cruises operates year-around offering you a variety of cruises to choose from -- making sure to fit everyone's unique lifestyle.

You'll find Sunday Brunch Cruises , Friday Night Dinner Cruise, Daily Sight-Seeing Cruises, Live Entertainment Cruises and Holiday Cruises aboard this elegant yacht that is affectionately known to Delray Beach as Lady Atlantic.

Her lovely elegance is anchored at Veteran's Park, right near the Atlantic Bridge where all of her 105-feet can readily be seen by all who walk by.

Lady Atlantic Cruise Boat Anchored at Veteran's Park Photo Credit: Photographically Yours, Inc.

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Below is the Lady Atlantic Yacht -- and her sister vessel affectionately and appropriately named Lady Delray. A couple of elegant ladies here!

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Similar to River Boat Cruises, Delray Yacht Cruises the magnificent intracoastal waterway in Palm Beach County. The beauty captured on the intracoastal cruises is breathtakingly beautiful!  When cruising, you have the unique benefit of seeing the beauty on the intracoastal that can only be seen from the water. The sights you will see cannot be viewed via car or land. This beauty can only be seen from the luxury of a boat! I think you will be delightfully surprised on this cruise! Here's a few photos from the intracoastal...

Lady Atlantic and her sister Lady Delray to the left of her.

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Views like this (of the mega-mansions) can only be viewed from the water.

intracoastal waterway cruises delray beach fl

Intracoastal view near Highland Beach, Florida looking southward.

intracoastal waterway cruises delray beach fl

Two Hour Sunday Brunch Cruise to Manalapan

Take a Sunday Brunch Cruise headed north on the beautiful Intracoastal waterway to Manalapan Island. Manalapan Island is one of the wealthiest communities in our country located in prestigious Palm Beach County.

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An example of menus items for the Sunday Brunch Cruise include these yummy-delicious items: Vegetable & Cheese Frittata, Cinnamon French Toast with Maple Syrup, Oven Roasted Red Bliss Potatoes, Chef’s Pasta Selection, Meatballs Marinara, Honey Baked Ham, Seasonal Fruit, Coffee, Juice & Tea.

Two Hour Friday Night Dinner Cruise

Lady Atlantic's Friday Night Dinner Cruise heads south towards Manalapan Island located in prestigious Palm Beach County. Have your appetite ready to savor a Little Italy at Sea dinner buffet to include the likes of Caesar Salad, Garlic Bread, Chicken Parmesan, Baked Ziti, Meatballs Marinara, Chef’s Choice of Dessert, Coffee & Tea.

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In addition to the Sunday Brunch Cruise, Friday Night Dinner Cruise and Live Entertainment Cruises on Lady Atlantic, Delray Yacht Cruises also offers year-around daily Sight-Seeing Cruises twice a day! The Sight-Seeing Cruise heads south touring through Delray Beach, Highland Beach and Pompano Beach.

Lady Atlantic going under the Linton Avenue drawbridge.

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Lady Atlantic heading southward passing through Highland Beach. I just happened to be in a friend's condo at Highland Beach and captured this photo from the 11th floor.

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As your cruise tour begins, the Captain of the yacht narrates landmarks and historical points of interest. You will first notice the Atlantic Avenue drawbridge. This is a real authentic drawbridge that opens every 30 minutes for boats to pass through. You can watch it open and close as you cruise through it.

Cruising through the Atlantic Avenue Drawbridge

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The first bridge at this location was built in 1911. It was a hand-cranked drawbridge. Can you imagine that!   Hand-cranked! You will now notice that the bridge is operated by a Bridge Tender who sits comfortably in an air conditioned Bridge Tender House. The Bridge Tender House was constructed originally in 1952. It was later redesigned in 1991 by local architect Robert Currie.

Atlantic Avenue Drawbridge and Bridge Tender House on the Right Photo Credit: Photographically Yours, Inc

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Holiday Cruises

intracoastal waterway cruises delray beach fl

Delray Yacht Cruises also offers Holiday Cruises! You'll find holiday cruises for:

  • Thanksgiving
  • Holiday Boat Parades in December for Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, and Boca boat parades
  • Christmas Lights Holiday
  • New Year's Eve Dinner & Dancing
  • Valentine's Day
  • Easter Brunch Cruise
  • Mother's Day Brunch Cruise
  • Father's Day Brunch Cruise
  • 4th Of July Fireworks Cruise
  • Steel Drum Cruise
  • And lots more!

Check out Delray Yacht Cruises Holiday Cruise schedule for dates and times for all their cruises.

intracoastal waterway cruises delray beach fl

This is typical "winter" weather in November in South Florida. As you can see... it is a BEAUTIFUL DAY for a boat cruise on the intracoastal!

intracoastal waterway cruises delray beach fl

Entertainment Cruises

Come enjoy Lady Atlantic's Entertainment Cruises this summer with state-of-the-art entertainment system, a full cash bar and a pub-style menu. Enjoy entertainment like reggae music and classic rock.

intracoastal waterway cruises delray beach fl

Information & Hours of Operation

Cost: For current rates and schedules of all the Delray Yacht Cruises, please visit their website here.

Address: 801 E Atlantic Avenue (at Veteran's Park), Delray Beach, FL, 33483. Click here for map for parking and location. Hours: Please see their website as their hours vary according to cruise schedule.

Rates: View price & cruise schedule here. Phone 561-243-0686 Email: [email protected] Website: Delray Yacht Cruises

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Things to do in delray..., christmas in delray... it's the most magical time of year.

Christmas is a magical time of year in Delray Beach, Florida! The energy in the air is so magical it is literally palpable! We love the holidays here! If you've never been to Delray Beach, Florida, USA to see our magical 100-foot Christmas tree and the magic that surrounds our downtown, please check out my Christmas in Delray page.

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intracoastal waterway cruises delray beach fl

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Delray yacht cruises.

Delray Yacht Cruises

ABOUT THE Delray Yacht Cruises Experience the calm waters of the Intracoastal Waterway aboard the Lady Atlantic & Lady Delray while enjoying your favorite beverage or snack on a two-hour narrated tour past some of the area’s most beautiful mansions. See a variety of marine life in its natural habitat. Learn a little about the area’s history. Cruise from Veterans Park on East Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach south to Boca Raton. There are also occasional cruises north towards Manalapan Island. Delray Yacht Cruises also offers Holiday Lights Cruises during December and Evening Cruises on select weekend evenings.

Delray Yacht Cruises has been offering cruises in Delray Beach since 2003.

- 2-hour sightseeing cruises (Wednesday through Sunday at 1:30pm)

- 2-hour evening cruises (select Fridays and Saturdays at 5:30pm)

Call 561.243.0686 for reservations.

Thanks for cruising with us!

**Interested in a Private Charter? Palm Beach County’s only experienced charter yacht operation features the area’s newest and largest yacht, built in 2008, comfortably seating 120 people for dinner. Conveniently located in Delray Beach & also serving the Palm Beaches & Fort Lauderdale. Contact us at 561-243-0686 for more information.

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Nice Intracoastal Tour - Delray Yacht Cruises

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Best value for 32.00 a person in the Palm Beaches!( Senior prices) Staff is efficient..The boat is... read more

intracoastal waterway cruises delray beach fl

A great tour of Delray and Boca Raton. The guide was great as were the food and beverages. I would... read more

intracoastal waterway cruises delray beach fl

Nice Intracoastal Tour

Great way to see the intracoastal around the Delray Beach area. Light snacks/foods available for purchase and a full bar. The Delray Punch is awesome, the food is decent and the yacht is clean and the service is very good. Awesome activity to do with friends and family.

We reserved our cruise well in advance and when we went to check in we were told it was mandatory to wear a face mask. Did not see this anywhere on the website. We cancelled and did not go.

Nice large and well equipped and staffed boat with narration. Great way to see huge homes and boats etc. Inside seating or out (a bit warm inside tho 90 degrees out). Large bar service and food available also. 2 hour tour. Recommend.

Oh’ What to do on Valentines Day during a Pandemic. Barbie my girlfriend wanted to be on the water. I searched high and low on the internet and low and behold; I found a Valentine’s Brunch that goes up and down the intercoastal in Delray Beach, Florida. Delray Yacht Cruises was the answer. That had a Valentine’s Day brunch on Sunday February 14, 2021; that started at 10am till 1pm. For only $55 per person, you got a plentiful buffet that included’ eggs, sausage, fresh fruit, pasta, prime rib, stuffed blueberry pancakes. Coffee, tea and orange juice and cranberry juice included. Plus, a beautiful cruise on the intercoastal toward Manalapan and then the cruise turns around and comes back to Delray Beach. Two floors of dining. Tables socially distanced with tablecloths and comfortable chairs and large, picturesque windows. We had a beautiful table on the second level reserved just for us with our name on it. The staff on the cruise was pleasant and everybody wore masks. They made sure all people wore masks as you moved around the cruise. You could only take off your mask when eating or drinking. The cruise left on time at 1030am and the buffet started at 11am. Very orderly fashion. Also free parking for 4 hours is a definite plus in my book. Each table was called, and people served the different dishes on the 1st floor. Cake was on each table that was reserved for each paying Valentine participant. A photo was taken on the shore before the cruise left. The photographer went around and asked if you wanted to buy the photograph for only $10 plus tax. This was the best experience we have had in a long time. We miss our cruises, and this brightened both our day for this Valentine’s Day.

Very disappointing -- I do not recommend this. As others note, you board and literally others running past, a little shoving, to grab tales and chairs. The staff should manage that better. The 'sunset cruise' was just the time, you can see the sun only through narrow spaces between large houses. The mansions were pretty, but it felt a little voyeuristic looking so closely at them. The narrative had some interesting bits. The waitstaff was very nice.

Rude people took all the chairs to the two high top tables on the boat instead of being considerate and sitting at one of the lower tables that had an abundance of chairs ....don't be like them.

intracoastal waterway cruises delray beach fl

Where life is full of adventures

intracoastal waterway cruises delray beach fl

Sightseeing the Intracoastal with Delray Yacht Cruises

On our recent trip to Delray Beach we were looking for unique things to do with kids. We found Delray Yacht Cruises and booked an afternoon sightseeing tour. The 2-hour narrated sightseeing tours cruise through South Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway. These cruise are open to the public and take place all year and allow you to experience the calm waters of the Intracoastal Waterway aboard the Lady Atlantic or Lady Delray.

We booked Saturday afternoon cruise on the Lady Atlantic that took us from Veteran’s Park on East Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach south to Boca Raton.  We had reservations for 1:30pm and arrived 30 minutes early as directed. Check-in is at the little ticket booth near the Yacht and was quick. Before boarding, they took a photo which they printed and found us later in the cruise to offer us to purchase. It was a reasonable price and a great way to remember the trip, so we bought it!

intracoastal waterway cruises delray beach fl

Once on board we walked around the entire vessel and then ordered drinks for a sail away toast! They offer a full cash bar (for Adults over 21 years of age with valid ID), non-alcoholic beverages, smoothies, and other drinks during the cruise. We enjoyed a couple of cocktails while the kids enjoyed some virgin daiquiris. We didn’t eat, but they did have a food menu with things from chips, candy and other snacks to sandwiches, hot dogs & salads. They do not allow any outside food or beverage to be brought aboard the yacht. 

intracoastal waterway cruises delray beach fl

On the South leg of the trip, the tour was narrated, pointing on some of the famous homes and area’s history. Our kids enjoyed seeing the beautiful mansions and picking out which ones we would live in. On the ride back to Veteran’s Park, they stopped narrating and we enjoyed a relaxing trip soaking up the calmness and great weather.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by M̳a̳n̳d̳y̳ ̳M̳i̳c̳h̳e̳l̳l̳e̳ (@mandymcarter)

The Yacht is as beautiful as their Story

Delray Yacht Cruises is owned and operated by Captain Joe and Kerry Reardon. Captain Joe has worked on passenger boats for over 30 years, getting his Captain’s License at age 18. He spent many years in the operations side of the industry and eventually, along with his wife Kerry, purchased their first Boat in 2002.

Kerry is a native of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and her background is in the Food and Beverage Industry where she has worked in all areas of the profession. She has managed private upscale restaurants at some of Cape Cod’s most exclusive clubs catering to celebrities and professional athletes. Her vast knowledge of the Food and Beverage Industry coupled with Captain Joe’s three decades in the marine industry give them a rare combination of experience that is unrivaled in their profession. After going south to operate their boat in Florida for winters and returning north for the summer for several years, the Reardon’s eventually settled year round in Florida, operating the 90-foot Lady Delray and 105-foot Lady Atlantic that they had built in 2008. Delray Yacht Cruises has been named the number one sightseeing and charter company in South Florida.

intracoastal waterway cruises delray beach fl

Business Information

Delray Yacht Cruises offers year-round cruises from Veterans Park which is right off the popular Atlantic Avenue. Days and times of the cruises vary per season. It is recommended to make reservations in advance and arrive 30 minutes prior to your departure time.

Ticket Prices: $32 Regular Admission $29 Seniors & Children + tax.

Delray Yacht Cruises 801 E Atlantic Ave, Delray Beach, FL 33483 phone:  (561) 243-0686 website

intracoastal waterway cruises delray beach fl

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Disclosure:   Our experience was complimentary but the opinions, fun and deliciousness expressed are all my own. This is not a sponsored post.

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intracoastal waterway cruises delray beach fl

Experience The Best Delray Beach Boat Tours

Explore the best with Delray Beach boat tours with one of our private boat tour packages. Book now chose date and time for your desired cruise and tours guide, provided on our website. Have a memorable family or variety of events and tourist attraction in Delray Beach beautiful waterways.

  • Ocean Cruises
  • Tour Guides
  • Sunset Cruise
  • Dinning tours
  • Waterway Tours
  • Intracoastal Guided Cruise
  • Delray Beach Sight Seeing
  • Delray Sandbar Party

Rated Top Boat Tours Of Delray Beach

Experience a tailor-made adventure on the water with Excursion’s private boat charter. Create unforgettable memories with your loved ones as you cruise through the clear blue ocean, witness breathtaking sunsets, dive into the refreshing waters of a sandbar, or explore the dreamy Intracoastal Waterway with its magnificent views such as Yachts and Mega Mansions Let Excursion customize your perfect day on the water, ensuring an exceptional experience for you and your family or friends.

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Intracoastal / Ocean Tour (3 to 8 HRS)

Freely explore dreamy water ways with one of our captions 

  • Private Boat
  • Boat Rdes Delray Beach

Sunrise/Sunset Tour (2 to 3 HRS)

Book a sunset cruise with one of our guided tours in Delray.

  • Delray Yacht Cruises Tours
  • Boat Cruise Delray Beach

Swim/Chill Sandbar Tour (3 to 8 HRS)

Have fun with our sandbar cruises, swim cool off in ocean with friends and family.

  • Sightseeing Cruise Delray Beach
  • Delray Beach Sightseeing Cruise

Dock and Dine Tour (2 to 4 HRS)

Dine in the nearest restaurants docking included in our boat tours.

  • Sightseeing Boat Delray Beach FL
  • Delray Cruise

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Luxury Boats

All boats are well kept and new.

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Charter Guide

Sit back and let us do all the work for you.

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Party & Events

We work with all events 

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Private Trips

All our boat tours are private.

Reserve one of cruise or tour packages and beautiful captaviting boats to sight see Delray and its beach areas.

Delray Beach, Floirda

(561) 978-6297.

Have any additional questions? Contact us today at 215-519-6566 via call or text!

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Intracoastal Cruise

$750 for 4 Hours ($125 per Person for Groups of 6)

Embark on an exclusive intercoastal adventure along the beautiful Lake Boca, tailored for groups of up to 6 people.

  Cruise Highlights:

  • Scenic Lake Boca: Traverse the picturesque waters of Lake Boca, offering stunning views and serene surroundings.
  • Restaurant Hopping: Cruise along the coast for a unique restaurant hopping experience, allowing you to indulge in diverse culinary delights.
  • Bluetooth Connectivity: Set the ambiance with your favorite tunes using Bluetooth connectivity onboard.
  • Personalized Pickup: Choose your preferred pickup location for added convenience and comfort.
  • Sandbar Excursion: Anchor at a stunning sandbar, providing an opportunity for relaxation amidst the calm waters and breathtaking scenery.
  • Lily Pad Float: Unwind on our comfortable lily pad float, soaking up the sun and enjoying a leisurely time on the water.
  • Bring Your Own: Pack your favorite lunch and beverages (including booze!) to relish during the cruise, ensuring a personalized and enjoyable dining experience.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Tailored for Groups: Perfect for intimate gatherings or small celebrations, our intercoastal cruises offer an exclusive and personalized experience to create lasting memories with your loved ones.

Indulge in a blend of relaxation, exploration, and culinary delights as you navigate the beautiful waters of Lake Boca during this captivating 4-hour excursion.

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TIDAL WATERSPORTS

1455 LAKE IDA PARK ROAD, DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA 33444

(215)-519-6566

Copyright © 2024 Tidal Watersports - All Rights Reserved.

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Delray Yacht Cruises

Rates and Schedules

Delray Yacht Cruises offers YEAR-ROUND cruises from Veterans Park on East Atlantic Avenue. We offer 2-hour narrated sightseeing tours that cruise through South Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway

2023 Cruise Schedule:

February-April: 2-Hour Sightseeing Cruises offered Tuesday through Sunday at 10:30am & 1:30pm. 2-Hour Evening Cruises offered select Friday & Saturdays at 5:30pm. $34 for regular admission, $31 for seniors & children + tax

May-January: 2-Hour Sightseeing Cruises offered Wednesday through Sunday at 1:30pm. 2-hour Evening Cruises offered select Friday & Saturday Evenings at 5:30pm. $34 for regular admission, $31 for seniors & children + tax

Our sightseeing schedules are as follows (cruise direction is subject to change without prior notice):

  • Sightseeing Cruise/ January-April – Tuesday-Sunday at 10:30AM & 1:30PM All Cruises head Southbound Towards Boca Raton EXCEPT Wednesday & Sunday 10:30AM Cruise: Cruise heads North towards Manalapan Island.
  • Sightseeing Cruise/May-December – Wednesday-Sunday at 1:30PM, Wednesday Cruise heads Northbound towards Manalapan Island.

(Call for availability and specific cruise time & cruise direction.)

Reservation Policy: Reservations are strongly recommended for our 2-hour sightseeing tours. Simply call our ticket office at 561-243-0686 and one of our Cruise Representatives will assist you. Sightseeing Cruise reservations will be held up until 30 minutes prior to cruise departure time & will then be forfeited if not purchased by 30 minutes prior to the cruise. Reservations are required for our Special Event Cruises.

Credit Card Hold: Reservations for groups of 5 passengers or more on our sightseeing tours & Special Event Cruises will be held with either a Visa or MasterCard.

For groups of 15 or more on the sightseeing cruises, payment in full is due 48 hours prior to cruise departure. At this time, one of our Cruise Representatives will give you the group’s boarding passes and parking vouchers.

Special policies are in place for Special Event Cruises – please contact one of our Cruise Representatives for more information. Once a cruise is paid in full, refunds are not issued.

Payment:  We accept the following forms of payment:

All prices are exclusive of Florida sales taxes. Menu, Pricing, subject and availability may change without prior notice.

Our clients say

“We had a wonderful time, the weather was perfect and the young ladies on gentleman on board were excellent hosts. I’ve recommended you and your cruise line to three other tennis clubs in my area. I know at least two of them will contact you.  We’ll look into doing this again.”

“Just to let you know, we had such a great time on Thursday night.  All the members loved the trip — and can’t wait to do it again.  Again, many thanks.  “

“Thank you so much. You did a great job and I will 100% recommend you for another occasion. You made everything very nice.” 

“This is the first opportunity I have had to write about the wonderful evening our group had. Everyone at the hospital is still talking about the graciousness of the staff, music, being on the main salon and looking out on the beautiful intracoastal made it a night to remember.”

“Thank you so much for all your work on Tuesday. I had  wonderful time and so did everyone else. Perhaps next year we can do the trip going North. Thanks again to you and Sarah and your crew for a great job.”

“I just want to thank you for making our cruise so special. The food was delicious and the little area you gave us worked out great.  My friends really enjoyed the day.  Thanks again”

“On behalf of the British Women’s Club, I would like to express our sincere thanks for a fantastic sailing/brunch that was enjoyed by everyone in our group this past Sunday.  Your staff were so friendly, courteous and helpful, which always makes for a more enjoyable experience, and we will certainly keep you in mind for our future outings!”

“Everyone loved it, and had a great time. Thanks for all of your efforts, and for coordinating everything. Many thanks to the Captain as well for flying the Jolly Roger, that was really great. Thanks to all the rest of the crew too, it really was a lot of fun.”

“We all had a great time… My family had a great time, thanks to you and your staff!  We will definitely recommend Delray Yacht Cruises to our friends. Pleasure working with you, everything went so smoothly.”

Thank you for all your help. We had a great time!”

“We were so very pleased with every aspect of our brunch cruise aboard the Lady Atlantic.  Many thanks to each and every member of your team for making last Sunday so enjoyable and memorable”

“We had a wonderful time. Everything was perfect!”

We felt that the experience was first rate. The staff, service and food were all excellent. We have gotten wonderful feedback from our guests about it. Thank you so much. We’ll be back for a special occasion soon.

“We felt that the experience was first rate. The staff, service and food were all excellent. We have gotten wonderful feedback from our guests about it. Thank you so much. We’ll be back for a special occasion soon.” 

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Ocean Atlantic Charters

Intracoastal Cruises

Ready for a relaxing private intracoastal cruise, enjoy a fun day at sandbars and your favorite waterfront dining.

Are you looking for a perfect activity on the water in South Florida that is calm and relaxing? Our private intracoastal cruises are your perfect solution. For many, inshore fishing is not their “cup of tea.” But now, imagine viewing the majestic blue skies while cruising on a boat and enjoying your favorite drink. What a wonderful way to melt your frustrations! If this sounds good, you need to pick a day and get on the boat with Ocean Atlantic Charters !

Whether you prefer just slow cruising along the waterway, anchoring to swim at sandbars, or grabbing a bite to eat at amazing restaurants on the water, our intracoastal cruises will allow you to enjoy all the benefits of being on the water. There is no better way to enjoy this than by boat!

intracoastal cruises

Plenty of Activities When You Cruise the Intracoastal Waterways

There is so much you can see and do in South Florida while on the water. If you are looking for waterfront dining, we can recommend some of the best local places. These restaurants serve fresh seafood and the bars offer a fresh ocean breeze. Enjoy this scenery as you sip on a tropical cocktail while listening to live music. These are just some of the boating experiences you can expect on our intracoastal cruises.

Make new friends at a local sandbar. Enjoy the water by partying at the sandbar with other boaters or request a more secluded area away from a large gathering. Bring your snorkel gear to get a front row perspective to our local sea life underwater. We also have inflatable tubing activities as you are towed behind the boat at a fun speed.

Whether you’re on a vacation or a staycation, going out on a boat for the day will definitely provide the experience you’re looking for. At Ocean Atlantic Charters, there is something for everyone, with prices starting at $575.

We proudly offer day and night cruises, so whether you want to soak in the sun or watch the beautiful South Florida sunset you can choose!

Whether you are cruising for the first time or this is a regular indulgence, Ocean Atlantic Charters promises momentous adventures in the waters. Our captains are friendly and highly experienced. Intracoastal Cruise Charters start at $575. Contact us today for more information (561) 440-5565.

ONLINE BOOKING NOW!

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  • Digital Edition

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Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway: everything you need to know

Yachting World

  • May 30, 2022

Peter Nielsen brings you this guide to cruising the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), or as it is more widely known, 'The Ditch'

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Perhaps you’ve cruised the Caribbean and fancy heading up the east coast of the United States to sample the fine cruising grounds of the Chesapeake Bay or New England. Or perhaps you’re a Canadian sailor itching to escape the brutal northern winter. Either way, you will become acquainted with the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW).

The ICW – or ‘The Ditch’, as it is affectionately known by many – stretches 1,088 miles (statute, not nautical) from Mile Marker 1 in Norfolk, Virginia, to its end point in Key West. It is part of a 3,000-mile series of interconnected waterways that can take you all the way from Virginia to Texas.

On the east coast, the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway is a busy highway in the autumn and spring. The snowbirds flock south in the fall, gathering on the Chesapeake to head south after the Annapolis Boat Show in October and get to Florida as the hurricane season ends in late November. In the spring, there’s a procession of boats heading back to the Chesapeake or downeast to Maine.

American sailors have something of a love-hate relationship with the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. On the one hand they deplore the need to motor the best part of 1,000 miles when they could be sailing; on the other, they welcome the many opportunities to duck into shelter from threatening weather. The majority of cruisers taking the offshore option will, for instance, happily nip into the ICW to avoid rounding the notorious Cape Hatteras.

Before I actually went down the ICW for the first time, I did not think of it as a cruising destination in its own right. ‘The Ditch’ sounded far from appealing to this deepwater sailor. Yet over the course of three forays down various parts of the waterway, I began to enjoy it for its own sake. Yes, you will be plugging along under power for many miles, but you will also pass through some beautiful scenery and visit parts of the country that typical tourists would never get to see.

Sailing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway

You’ll also get to sail some, notably on the Albemarle and Pamlico sounds, though there are many other places where you can unroll the genoa to get a break from the engine. My favourite parts are the northern section, from Norfolk, Virginia, down to Beaufort, North Carolina, and farther south to Charleston, South Carolina.

On my first excursion I motored slowly down the historic, 22-mile-long Dismal Swamp Canal, dug by slave labour in the late 18th century as a trade route. Its inky black water, infused with tannin from the swamp vegetation, left a brown moustache on our bow. Our spreaders grazed overhanging branches and our 6ft 3in keel bounced over the shallows.

It was a unique experience, followed by a gorgeous cruise along a winding tree-lined river to a welcoming town called Belhaven, where we tied up to the free dock and a friendly local drove us to the supermarket. From there, we set sail at first light in a solid blow, bouncing across a choppy Albemarle Sound, and made 80 miles before dark. Such are the contrasts of the ICW.

There are some pretty towns and cities that warrant a few days’ exploration, for anyone not in delivery mode. Some are famous, some you’ve likely not heard of.

intracoastal waterway cruises delray beach fl

Lighthouse and pier at Manteo, North Carolina. Photo: Matt Claiborne/Alamy

In Norfolk, Virginia, you can marvel at the sight of a good chunk of the US Navy lined up almost gunwale to gunwale along the riverbank; deceptively sleepy Oriental, North Carolina, is home to two good boatyards; while the two Beauforts, ‘Bowfort’ in North Carolina and ‘Bewfort’ in South Carolina, are charming stopovers.

Charleston, also in South Carolina, is an almost mandatory stop, as is Savannah in Georgia. Many cruisers get as far as St Augustine and decide to stop there for a spell. To me, it’s the best town on Florida’s east coast.

As you motor farther south, things get busy. Above the Keys, the Florida coast lacks the charm of the Carolinas or Georgia, and so does the ICW. It’s here that, if there’s a northerly component to the wind, the temptation to hop outside (but stay west of the Gulf Stream) and make some fast miles away from bridges and currents becomes overpowering.

Sure, there are a couple of nice towns to stop at for a while – Vero Beach and Stuart, for example, and it would be a shame to steam past Cape Canaveral without a tour of the space centre – but generally speaking it’s a dull run, and the farther south you go, the more congested the waterway becomes.

Down around Fort Pierce, a good many sailing crews split off and head across to the Bahamas, while others head down as far as Fort Lauderdale. However, I’d recommend going outside well before you get too far south, or at least do not travel on a weekend; as it’s here that the boat traffic gets hellish.

intracoastal waterway cruises delray beach fl

The Intracoastal Waterway is spanned by 160 bridges. Photo: Peter Neilsen

The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway can become chockablock with all manner of overpowered and under-piloted watercraft, a celebration of horsepower and inebriation, all zooming around willy-nilly. I stayed in the waterway a little too long last year, and being trapped in tight quarters amid so many powerboats was downright frightening at times.

There’s a bridge with only 56ft clearance just before you get to Miami, so most sailing boats have to go into the Atlantic at Fort Lauderdale and back into Miami at Government Cut.

For many, Miami marks the end of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway; it’s an easy staging point for the Bahamas. The ICW continues down to the Florida Keys and then up and around the Gulf of Mexico, but most east coast cruisers, and most foreign vessels, either break off and head towards the western Caribbean, or go to the Bahamas and perhaps south to the Eastern Caribbean.

One of the first things the bluewater sailor will notice about the ICW is the sheer number of bridges. There are some 160 between Hampton and Miami. Most of them are fixed bridges, all built to a vertical clearance of 65ft (20m) above the high-water mark. Supposedly built to that height, anyway.

Mind the gap

During my foray down part of the Florida ICW on a catamaran with a 63ft (19.2m) air draught, we lost the masthead wind transducer on one bridge and nervously watched the VHF antenna scraping the underneath of several more. This is nerve-wracking if you have some current with you and are effectively committed, watching the height boards at the centre span and hoping they aren’t lying.

intracoastal waterway cruises delray beach fl

Entrance to the ICW at Fort Pierce, Florida. Photo: Stephen Wood/Alamy

Then there are the opening bridges, which relieve you of height concerns but offer some challenges of their own. Some are bascule bridges, others have a span swinging sideways to open the path for water traffic, others have lifting spans. The latter are usually found in populated areas, or where topography precludes a fixed bridge.

Some will open on demand, the etiquette for which involves a call on Ch13 or Ch9 and a usually pleasant interaction with the bridgekeeper. Others open to a timetable, usually on the half hour. This leads to plenty of strategising, as you either hurry to get to the next bridge in time to avoid milling around with a bunch of other boats waiting for the next opening, or slow down so you don’t get there too soon. What’s more, many of the metropolitan bridges don’t open at all during morning and evening rush hours. Diligent study of bridge locations and timetables will ease your passage along the ICW.

The further south you get, the more bridges you will encounter, peaking in heavily populated southern Florida. The only three locks you’ll encounter are all in Virginia, and they’re easy enough to negotiate.

Overnighting

Depending on your draught, there are plenty of places to anchor for the night along the ICW, and no shortage of town docks and marinas, though these often fill up quickly from mid-October to December and April through May.

intracoastal waterway cruises delray beach fl

ICW at Fort Lauderdale. Photo: Patrick Lynch/Alamy

I’ve stayed for free, or nearly so, at docks in small but welcoming towns along the waterway, and enjoyed hot showers and restaurant meals in marinas, but most of all I have enjoyed the many lovely anchorages I’ve discovered.

Often, an overnight stop is as easy as pulling a few boat lengths off the channel, depth permitting, and dropping the hook. The various guides to the ICW will point out the best spots. One October we pulled over to a tiny dock on the Dismal Swamp Canal and shivered in our blankets as the temperature dropped close to freezing on the stillest of nights; next day we were in shorts and T-shirts again.

Another time, just north of St Augustine in Florida, we sat on deck with gin and tonics and watched an hours-long lightning show play out in the clouds, happy not to be underneath it. And on one occasion, anchored in a cut leading out into the Atlantic, I paced the deck nervously as the wind pushed the boat one way and the current another, the anchor chain stretching bar-taut astern. In some places you may want to double up on your anchors, or drop a kellett from the bow to make sure your anchor chain doesn’t foul your keel or running gear.

I also recall sitting out a late November north-easterly in Beaufort, North Carolina, where the boat heeled in her berth to 50-knot gusts while we sat in a bar eating boiled oysters, feeling relieved to be in a marina.

intracoastal waterway cruises delray beach fl

Beaufort, South Carolina. Among the best parts of the ICW are the 200 miles north of here. Photo: John Wollwerth/Alamy

Luckily, such blows are well forecast and there’s really no excuse for being caught out in one. They also remind you why you’re in the ICW instead of out at sea at that time of year. During that same passage south, we left Morehead City, North Carolina, bound for Charleston, only to catch a forecast that made us duck back into the ICW at Wrightsville Beach. That night, snug at anchor, we listened to the wind howling in the rigging while 20 miles offshore, about where we’d have been, a new Beneteau 50 was dismasted and its crew rescued by helicopter.

Navigating the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway

Make no mistake, the ICW is shallow. The US Army Corps of Engineers tries to maintain the depth to 9ft (2.7m), but given the nature of the waterway, with its often strong currents, things aren’t always the way they’re supposed to be. I’ve run aground several times, but only once with any damage. On the other hand, some friends went the length of the waterway without a functioning depth sounder and never once touched bottom.

I used Navionics charts on my iPad on each of my ICW trips and never had any issues. Although some commercial traffic does run at night, it would be foolhardy for us sailors to do the same. It would be all too easy to misjudge a turn and end up with your keel stuck in the mud.

intracoastal waterway cruises delray beach fl

Draw bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway at Great Bridge, Chesapeake, Virginia. Photo: Cindy Hopkins/Alamy

The navigation marks are all well kept, and follow American red-right-returning protocol, return being southbound on the east coast.

Channel markers can become confusing where channels from seaward intersect with the ICW, so there’s a simple system of reflective yellow squares and triangles superimposed on the nav aids; leave the triangles to starboard, the squares to port. If the nav aids don’t have the yellow marks, you’ve left the ICW.

Dealing with traffic

At least until you get to the chaos of south Florida, boat traffic on the waterway is easy enough to deal with. Faster boats wanting to pass should hail you via VHF. If you’re feeling generous you can slow down to let them pass faster, which is sensible, for you don’t know what’s coming your way around the next bend.

We sailors are slower than most other traffic, so we get passed often. Most powerboaters will slow down as they pass so as not to ‘wake’ you. There are some exceptions, notably big sport fishing boats with professional crews who delight in steaming past at full speed.

It can get crowded at bridges, so my advice is to hang back and let the nimbler powerboats go first.

Planning an Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway passage

There is lots of literature about the ICW, most of it hard pilotage advice, which is as it should be. If you want some entertaining reading, try The Boy, Me and the Cat , by Henry Plummer, a fun tale of a cruise up the ICW in a small catboat in 1912.

Otherwise, here are some useful books and websites:

The Intracoastal Waterway, Norfolk to Miami – The Complete Cockpit Cruising Guide , by Bill Moeller/John Kettlewell. Waterway Guide Atlantic ICW , by Waterway Guide Media (updated annually). 2021 ICW Cruising Guide , by Bob423.

Many cruisers swear by Bob423’s frequently updated online guides and paperback books. Bob has travelled the ICW for many years and few know it better. His blog is at bobicw.blogspot.com

You’ll spend a lot of time obsessing about bridges and their opening times; the Waterway Guide website and Bob423’s blog are good sources of up-to-date info.

On my ICW excursions, I have exclusively used Navionics charts on iPad and phone, with C-Map charts on the plotter as a backup. I have been happy with the accuracy and functionality of the Navionics charts. Many cruisers also swear by Aquamaps.

Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

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Delray Intracoastal Cruises And Boat Tours in Florida

Destinations.

If you are coming to this part of the country, you have to explore the Intracoastal waterways of Florida ! There is just no excuse for it. There are tons of amazing cruise services being offered that fit most likes, needs, and budgets. There is one for you out there!

Table of Contents

3 different Things to Do Intracoastal Waterway Tours of Florida:

intracoastal waterway tours in florida

Photo By: Delray Yatch Cruises

This is a modest yet great option for exploring the Intracoastal waterways of Florida. They have roofed boats where they take you on a 90-minute ride with three different options to choose from. Whichever option you choose, you are almost guaranteed to see the marine life and many beautiful, local birds.

If you don’t feel like exploring the area with a lot of strangers, you can ask for a private sailing charter , moonlight cruise or a package for small parties.

Visit Palm Beach

For a slightly different option, you can decide to go on a tour in their 50ft. Catamaran that can carry up to 43 passengers. On this boat, you get to enjoy an onboard bar area and a dressing room.

The catamaran is called ‘Hakuna Matata’ (no worries). That is exactly what they try to achieve, especially on their private boat tours , snorkeling, kayaking , jet ski rentals, wine tastings, and pizza evening tours .

They accept passengers of all ages, that is why their most popular tour is a: three-hour family package that includes sailing, kayaking, swimming, and a thrilling ride on a ‘banana’ pulled by jet skis, along with lunch and drinks.

Related Read: Palm Beach Florida: What to Do, What to See and Where to Go

DelRay Yacht Cruises

This is for those looking for an extremely luxurious ride along the waterways of South Florida! They offer a narrated  luxury Yacht cruise . You get to see the beautiful surroundings, get a drink in their bar and get some food from their menu.

This is a glimpse into the Lifestyle of Delray beach.

As you can see, you can have a lot of fun no matter what you choose. The waterways of Florida will be waiting for you.

Last Updated on August 22, 2023

intracoastal waterway cruises delray beach fl

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Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway - Florida

Cruising/navigating - florida’s aicw, st. marys river to key west.

Florida’s segment of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) has its beginning in the north at St. Marys River at (MM "713.7"), the Georgia/Florida State Line. Your general course will trend in a near south-southeasterly direction to the vicinity of the Port of Palm Beach (Lake Worth Inlet) where it takes up a nearly southerly heading leading to Miami (Government Cut). From there it is southwesterly to Cross Bank (MM "1153.4") near Plantation Key and the official end of the AICW. Continuing on in a generally southwesterly direction will lead you to Key West.

In the interest of saving time and distance, a better option is to depart the AICW at Government Cut and make use of Hawk Channel. While the distance savings is small (≈10.8 NM), the deeper and more open waters will allow much higher speeds with significant time savings.

Aids to Navigation

Buoys and marks.

Intracoastal Waterway buoys and navigational markers are like most other lateral marks in the U.S. the difference is that yellow triangles or yellow squares are added to the mark to indicate they are ICW markers. The rule is: When proceeding southbound on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (Norfolk, VA to Cross Bank in the Florida Keys) or northbound / westbound on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (Ft. Meyers, FL to Brownsville, TX); markers with yellow triangles are kept to starboard and yellow squares are kept to port at all times.

While Yellow Squares are typically found on green buoys or beacons and yellow triangles are typically found on red buoys or beacons, this is not always the case. Use Caution!

Green ICW Marker

  • “ Yellow Squares are ALWAYS kept to port”
  • “ Yellow Triangles are ALWAYS kept to starboard”

Regardless of the Color of the Mark!

Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Page Menu

  • Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway - An Introduction
  • Virginia Intracoastal Waterway
  • North Carolina Intracoastal Waterway
  • South Carolina Intracoastal Waterway
  • Georgia Intracoastal Waterway
  • Florida Intracoastal Waterway

NOAA Charts #11489, #11485, #11472, #11467, #11451, #11445, and #11446 provide coverage of the Florida portion of the AICW.

Chart #11489 covers the AICW from (MM "675.7") at St. Simons Sound, GA to the Tolomato River at Shell Bluff Landing, FL (MM "768.7").

Chart #11485 covers the AICW from (MM "768.7"), Tolomato River to (MM "910.2") at Palm Shores, FL.

Chart #11472 covers the AICW from (MM "910.2"), Palm Shores to (MM "1024.9") at West Palm Beach.

Chart #11467 covers the AICW from Mile (MM "1024.9"), West Palm Beach to (MM "1099.7") in Biscayne Bay.

Chart #11451 covers the AICW from (MM "1099.7") in Biscayne Bay to Plantation Key at (MM "1153.4") and then on to Bahia Honda Key.

Chart #11445 covers the Florida Keys from Bahia Honda Key to Sugarloaf Key via the Hawk Channel.

Chart #11446 covers the Florida Keys from Sugarloaf Key to Key West via the Hawk Channel.

Chart #11489 - St. Simons Sound, GA to Tolomato River, FL Chart #11485 - Tolomato River, FL to Palm Shores, FL Chart #11485 - Palm Shores, FL to West Palm Beach, FL Chart #11467 - West Palm Beach, FL to Miami, FL Chart #11451 - Miami, FL to Vacca Key, FL and on to Bahia Honda Key, FL Chart #11445 - Bahia Honda Key, FL to Sugarloaf Key, FL Chart #11446 - Sugarloaf Key, FL to Key West, FL

Distances and Mileages

All distances along the Florida Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway are given in statute miles unless otherwise noted. Statute miles are used in order to conform to the distances shown on the small craft charts typically used along this route.

The Florida portion of the AICW (southbound) is measured based on increasing mileage between St. Marys River (MM "713.7") and Plantation Key (MM "1153.4") which marks the official end the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.

The Federal project depth for the Florida segment of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway provides for the following depths:

  • St. Marys River to Ft. Pierce – 12 feet.
  • Ft Pierce to Miami – 10 feet.
  • Miami to Cross Bank – 7 feet.

The actual controlling depths in the channels may vary due to shoaling. This reduces the available water depths to less than the Federal project depth until maintenance dredging can be accomplished.

Communications

Bridges – VHF Channel 09.

Found along the shores of the

Bridges, locks, and overhead power lines, atlantic intracoastal waterway - florida bridge schedule.

The following table lists the bridges; their schedules, and restrictions along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) in Florida.

The minimum overhead clearance of fixed bridges over the Florida portion of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway is the Julia Tuttle Causeway Bridge in Miami (mile marker 1087.1) at 56 feet.

Open Down Arrow

The above tables can be downloaded for your personal and private use. The Florida Intracoastal Waterway Bridge List contains the tables in Statute Miles, Nautical Miles, and Kilometers. The files are Zipped Adobe (.pdf) format.

The entire AICW Bridge List (Norfolk to Miami) can be downloaded for your personal and private use below. The ZIP files contain the schedules in Adobe (.pdf) file format:

AICW Florida Bridge Schedule - Download

AICW Bridge and Lock Schedule (Norfolk to Miami) - Download

Temporary Long Term Bridge Restrictions

Aicw - florida locks, aicw - florida overhead cables and power lines.

Quite a few overhead cables cross Florida’s Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. A few cable crossings, (3), are noted with a minimum authorized clearance of 80’. These are located between (MM "720..8") and (MM "746.9"). All other clearances for overhead cables and power lines along the Florida AICW are higher.

Caution - Many of the overhead cables over the waterway carry high voltage, and an extra margin of safety should be allowed during threatening weather.

The tides along the east coast of Florida are semi-diurnal from St. Marys River south to Plantation Key exhibiting (2) equal high and low tides every ≈24 hours 50 minutes. South of Plantation Key, the tides are Mixed-Semi-Diurnal exhibiting (2) unequal high and low tides every ≈24 hours 50 minutes.

Beginning at St. Marys River with tides of 5.8 feet, the tidal range decreases southbound. St. Johns River is 4.9 feet, Port Canaveral 3.6 feet, Ft. Pierce 2.6 feet, Port Everglades 2.5 feet, Miami 2,4 feet, Bahia Hionda Key 1.2 feet, and Key West is 1.3 feet.

Entrances, Inlets, and Passes

There are numerous Entrances, Inlets, or Passes between the deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the East Coast of Florida. From St. Marys Entrance in the north to Miami in the south.

While many of these are only suitable for shallow draft vessels with local knowledge, some can be considered navigable for most vessels. We have listed them on the next page along with useful information on each to aid you in deciding if you wish to use a particular inlet.

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how to navigate the intracoastal

How to Navigate the Florida Intracoastal Waterway (ICW)

intracoastal waterway cruises delray beach fl

Table of Contents

Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) is a monumental feat of engineering achievement that runs from Boston, Massachusetts , around Florida , and over past Corpus Christi, Texas . This 3,000-mile inland waterway is made up of natural inlets, saltwater rivers, bays, sounds, and man-made canals. If you were so inclined, you could travel the entire length, with a few necessary detours, without ever having to venture out into the open ocean. That’s how incredible this system is!

Want to boat along the coastlines of Florida ? Here are a few things you need to know first, this is How to Navigate the Florida Intracoastal Waterway: 

Intracoastal basics

  • Navigating the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW)
  • Navigating the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GICW)

Discover available boat rentals in Florida 

The current route of the Intracoastal is technically made up of three non-continuous sections that run along the whole length of the route. The first major section, the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW), runs from Portsmouth, Virginia, to Key West, Florida .

The Florida section of this begins around St. Mary’s River near the Georgia/Florida state line . Things can begin to get tricky while navigating the Intracoastal in Florida . The next section of the Intracoastal is a section of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GICW), and it picks up on the west coast in Punta Rassa, Florida, extending all the way to Tarpon Springs, Florida.

okeechobee waterway

To connect these two sections, you will have to navigate other waterways outside of the Intracoastal. The Okeechobee Waterway is the only true cross Florida canal, and it connects Stuart, FL on the east coast with Fort Myers, FL on the west coast. This allows you to come down the eastern AIWW, cut across the state, and pick up the Gulf Intracoastal at Punta Rassa near Fort Myers.

The alternative to this is a trip down through the Keys, around the tip of Florida, and up towards Punta Rassa. From Punta Rassa, you can follow the Gulf Intracoastal to the Anclote River near Tarpon Springs, FL. The route cuts off here again and leaves you to navigate 140 nautical miles of open water passage before rejoining the Gulf Intracoastal near Carrabelle, FL.

To successfully navigate each section of the Intracoastal, there are certain things you need to know. You need to understand the aids to navigation, such as buoys and markers . Knowing what to look for will keep you on track, it is very easy to take a wrong turn. You’ll also need to know other navigational information like charts to use and major communication channels.

For recreational boaters with larger vessels, like sailboats, you’ll need to know about bridges and powerlines ahead of time. Similarly, it is very helpful to know about the tides . We’ll cover this information in the next sections for the Atlantic and Gulf Intracoastal sections, respectively.

Explore available boat rentals in Fort Myers, FL

Navigating the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway in Florida

The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) begins in Florida near St. Mary’s River at the Florida/Georgia state line. You travel in a south-south easterly direction from there and transition to a southwesterly course as you pass through the Government Cut of Miami .

You’ll eventually reach Cross Bank near Plantation Key, and this marks the official terminus of the AICW. If you need to travel faster and save time on the journey, you should deviate from the AICW at Government Cut and use Hawk Channel instead.

AICW: Buoys & markers

The buoys and navigational markers for the Intracoastal Waterway are almost identical to any other in the United States. The key difference is that ICW passages have reflective yellow squares and yellow triangles added to the markers. Pay close attention to these!

Because the ICW follows the shoreline and intersects several major waterways, the rule “red, right, returning from seaward” can quickly become confusing. The colored navigation aids may switch sides in some places, so, to keep track of your direction, have good pair of binoculars nearby to spot the small reflective yellow squares and triangles along the ICW.

While the yellow squares are usually found on green buoys and beacons and the yellow triangles are typically found on the red ones, this isn’t always the case. The rule to follow when navigating the ICW is as follows:

  • Always keep the yellow squares to port .
  • Always keep the yellow triangles to starboard .

As long as you follow those basic rules along the Intracoastal, you’ll manage navigation. You will notice several other types of signs and markers, though. The ICW uses mile markers, for example, measured in statute miles (= 5,280 ft) instead of nautical miles (= 6,076 ft).

These little white signs with black numbers can become confusing since boats measure their speed in knots. Conversion tables are available, though, to help make things easier.

You can also expect to see range boards along some sections of the ICW. These large rectangular dayboards are painted with three vertical stripes, and they are put in place where cross currents and shallow waters are a problem. These range boards come in pairs, and your goal is to keep the front one lined up just below the back one.

While navigating the ICW stay on the lookout for any navigational aids that are lit up. Illuminated aids are there for a reason. These lights are usually there to call attention to a hazard or the need for a quick turn. Some will be blinking quickly, and that usually means you need to make a quick turn there.

READ MORE: Top 5 Florida East Coast Beaches  

AICW: Charts, channels, & communications

aicw charts

Although the Intracoastal is well-marked, you will still need the right charts and methods of communication to keep you on the appropriate heading. You will also need to know channel depths depending on the size of your vessel.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides excellent navigational charts to search by location name or chart number. You can buy the same charts through Amazon printed on water-resistant paper or print them out yourself and laminate them.

The essential charts for the AICW are #11489, #11485, #11472, #11467, #11451, #11445, and #11446. These charts, in this order, map your entire route along the Atlantic Intracoastal. Remember, mileages on the AICW are marked in statute miles which increase from St. Marys River in the north (MM “713.7”) to Plantation Key in the south (MM “1153.4”).

Pro tip : The channel depths along the AICW can change due to shoaling.

From St. Marys River to Ft. Pierce, the federal project depth calls for 12 feet; from Ft. Pierce to Miami, it should be 10 feet, and from Miami to Cross Bank expect 7 feet. Still, keep an eye out for drop aids left by the Coast Guard . These temporary navigational aids are dropped in shoaling areas and will indicate where you need to give a wide berth .

Pro tip : For bridges and other potential hazards, you can use VHF Channel 09.

AICW: Bridges, locks, & power lines

Because the Intracoastal follows the shoreline so closely and uses rivers, inlets, and other channels, the numerous bridges, locks, and power lines along the Florida coast can become a problem for some vessels. For the entirety of the Intracoastal Waterway, the official overhead clearance is 65 feet above the mean water height. However, for the Florida section of the Atlantic Intracoastal, there is an exception.

The Julia Tuttle Bridge in Miami has a fixed clearance of 56 feet. Southbound vessels that exceed that height have to exit the AICW around Port Everglades and reenter after Government Cut, Miami.

aicw bridges

Overall the Intracoastal features six distinct bridge types. You will see fixed, lift, single-bascule, double-bascule, single-pivot swing, and double-pivot swing bridges. Fixed bridges are, as the name implies, fixed. You don’t have to worry about these as long as your vessel isn’t too tall. The other bridges, however, can pause your progress if you come at the wrong time. These bridges need to be lifted or swung open to allow passage for most vessels. There are hours when a bridge will not open; but, as a rule of thumb, use the local bridge channel to hail the bridge.

In Florida, the VHF for bridges is channel 09. Whether you intend to pass through the bridge or not, always hail them to indicate your intention. There is nothing more annoying for a bridge tender than trying to guess if the boat speeding towards them is planning to stop and turn or not. Along the AICW bridges will be one of your biggest navigational concerns. There are no locks you need to worry about, and all the overhead power lines have a minimum clearance of 80 feet or more.

Pro tip: If you are ever unsure about clearance or certain aspects of navigation, a commercial vessel is usually not far off that knows how to navigate the area. You can watch them.

AICW: A Note on the tides

The east coast of Florida has semidiurnal tides from St. Mary’s River down to Plantation Key. Once you pass Plantation Key, the tides become mixed-semidiurnal with unequal high and low tides every 24 hours and 50 minutes. The further south you travel from St. Marys, the more the tidal range decreases. You’ll have tides of 5.8 feet near St. Mary’s River and only 1.3 feet near Key West .

Pro tip : Expect equal low and high tides every 24 hours and 50 minutes!

Navigating the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway in Florida

On the western coast of Florida, you have the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GICW). It begins at San Carlos Bay near Punta Rassa (MM “0.0”) and runs in a northerly direction. After an initial 150 miles, the first section of the GICW cuts off near Anclote Key near Tarpon Springs (MM “150.0”). From there, you have to navigate 140 NM of open passage before you can rejoin the GICW near Carrabelle, FL (MM “376.0” EHL). The Intracoastal continues along the Florida panhandle and onwards to its terminus at the Port of Brownsville, TX.

GICW: buoys & markers

Navigational aids along the GICW are the same as they are along the AICW. This means that as you head northbound and ultimately westbound, you should follow the same navigational rules as before with the yellow stickers: Always keep the yellow squares to port, and always keep the yellow triangles to starboard . As long as you follow this rule and pay attention to the other navigation aids mentioned for the AICW, cruisin’ should be easy breezy.

GICW: Charts, channels, & communications

The Gulf Coast portion of the Intracoastal is well mapped along its entire length. For the Florida portion of the GICW, you will need to know these NOAA charts:

This chart range covers the entire Gulf Coast of Florida and can be used to navigate the 140 NM stretch between the two sections of the GICW. One important difference from the AICW occurs when you reach the second section of the GICW. The section is still measured in statute miles, but it is done relative to Harvey Lock near New Orleans , LA (MM “0.0”). This section of the GICW is measured east (EHL) and west (WHL) of Harvey Lock.

The channel’s federal project depth throughout this second section of the GICW is set at 12 feet, while the first section is set at 9 feet. Actual depths can be very different, though, so keep an eye out for drop aids and other indicators. Communications along the GICW still rely on VHF channel 09 for bridges when you are in Florida. As you pass Tampa , things can be a little hectic, so the USCG Vessel Traffic Service there is 156.600 MHz (Ch. 12).

GICW: Bridges, locks, & power lines

Along the entirety of the GICW, there are around 80 bridges. Several fixed bridges offer a clearance of 65 feet or greater, but Florida offers some exceptions. There are three bridges with fixed clearances of 50 feet. These are the DuPont Bridge near Panama City, FL (MM “295.4 EHL”), the Brooks Bridge near Ft. Walton Beach, FL (MM “223.0 EHL”), and the Navarre Causeway Bridge near Navarre, FL (MM “206.7 EHL”).

Most private vessels won’t have to worry about crossing under these bridges.

The Gulf Coast section of the Intracoastal also has seven locks, but they are all located outside of Florida. There are five in Louisiana and two in Texas. Power Lines are also not a problem along the Florida waterways. All the overhead power lines along the GICW have an overhead clearance of at least 80 feet. For the most part, cruising along the Gulf Coast is pretty straightforward.

GICW: A Note on the Tides

Tides along the Gulf Coast are deceptively annoying. The tidal range only varies from around 1 to 3 feet along the length of Florida and doesn’t exceed 2 feet past there. The annoyance comes with the variability of the tides themselves. There are large sections of mixed tides along the Florida Gulf Coast with two unequal high tides and two unequal low tides each day.

As you approach the panhandle, these mixed tides become more semidiurnal with two highs and two lows. Further, along the panhandle, those semidiurnal tides then transition into diurnal tides.

Scoping Out the Intracoastal

If you are considering a long journey along the Intracoastal waterway, you might want to explore the route by land first. The ICW tracks the shoreline pretty closely, so some people have driven and even walked along the length of it. Because of the commercial significance of the route, it is usually well maintained, and there is plenty of information online about bridge schedules or other navigational issues.

As is usually the case, it is best if you can talk to an experienced captain who has recently navigated the ICW. The bigger your boat is, the more important this becomes. Minimum clearance heights, bridge names, and channel depths can seemingly change overnight. This is especially true around Florida, where urban development never ceases.

The Intracoastal offers the kind of adventure that every boater dreams of. There are convenient refueling points, long stretches of uninterrupted nature, waterfront properties, fine cruising speeds, and well-maintained routes. With a decent boat and some prior experience on the water, you can take to the Intracoastal and see for yourself just what it has to offer.

Explore water-travel destinations! Find your next trip at Destination guides and other boating resources here . 

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Intracoastal Cruises

Cruise the scenic intracoastal in world class style.

Intracoastal Waterway Cruise, Dinner Cruises & Corporate Cruise Specialists offering the Ultimate Experience in World Class Private Intercoastal Cruising, Dinner & Corporate Cruises on our 51' Yacht. Proudly Serving South Florida since 1961 from Boynton Beach, FL, Palm Beach County.

Geno Charters sunset cruise

Let Captain Geno take the wheel and show you Palm Beach County from the water. On your cruising of the Intracoastal Waterway, you can take in the astounding architecture of the beautiful mansions and the natural beauty of South Florida.

Cruise in style, safety and comfort. Lounge on the deck of the Geno V and enjoy the passing show. The waters are calm, the breezes refreshing – it’s a cruise for all ages.

“Thank you for making our vacation so relaxing and intimate. The Geno V is the perfect boat for viewing Palm Beach's lovely waterways. You made everything just the way we wanted it and we can’t thank you enough! We wish you much success in the future as you continue to charter the Geno V.”  -- - P. Lamont

A private, intimate, sunset dinner cruise down south florida’s spectacular intracoastal waterway.

Come aboard our luxurious 57’ custom Carolina yacht and voyage from our port of Boynton Beach Florida south to Delray Beach and Boca Raton! ...or go north to prestigious Palm Beach, taking in the beautiful Estates on the way.

Capt. Karen is also a licensed REALTOR,and lifetime local resident if you are interested in a relaxing Real Estate tour...AND..of coarse, Captain’s Geno & Karen will stop dockside at your favorite waterfront restaurant.

• Wine/Cheese • Hors d’oeuvres • Soda/Coffee/Expresso • Deserts

All inclusive for up to 6 guests.

561-588-5892 • 561-374-2274 Call Captain Karen for more details ... Geno IV will cater to the most discriminating taste! The cruise will take you on the Intracoastal Waterway passing the beautiful mansions on the Island of Palm Beach.

intracoastal waterway cruises delray beach fl

  Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway

Navigating the atlantic intracoastal waterway (aicw), a few pointed when cruising and sailing the aicw.

The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway

The Waterway was a rough ride in 1912 when Henry Plummer took his catboat along the Eastern Seaboard’s inland route, told in his story The Boy, Me, and the Cat: Life Aboard a Small Boat from Massachusetts to Florida and Back in 1912. Back then, notched boards nailed to posts marked the channels. If the top corner of the board was cut off, the deeper water was closer to the post (whatever “closer” meant). If the bottom corner was cut off, deep water was “farther off.” The channel marking was rough—and the dredging was worse—so Plummer’s three-foot draft catboat was constantly touching bottom.

Today the Waterway is maintained by a fleet of dredges and is well marked with dayboards, buoys, and range markers. Piloting the ICW is now straightforward if you work with the navigation system that has evolved over the years. It doesn’t mean you won’t touch bottom, but you can enjoy a much more relaxing trip than Plummer’s back in 1912. The ICW runs parallel to the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Manasquan Inlet, New Jersey to the Mexican border.

AIDS TO NAVIGATION (ATONs)

There are two important facts to remember about aids along the Intracoastal Waterway: they run clockwise around the coast and they are uniquely marked.

The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway

Occasionally, given the ICW's frequent crossing and joining of established waterways, you often experience a sudden change in lateral buoyage. For example, colored aids to navigation “swap sides” three times near the Savannah River intersection.

To prevent confusion, the aids of the Intracoastal Waterway are uniquely marked. Every dayboard or buoy—in addition to its regular numbering, shape, and color characteristics—shows a yellow reflective symbol. When traveling southbound, a yellow reflective square indicates a port-side mark. A yellow reflective triangle indicates a starboard-side mark.

The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway

Always verify each upcoming aid’s yellow square or triangle, and flashing light sequence, especially around inlets and river junctions. The simple habit of verifying each Waterway mark (which becomes second nature after a few days) saves a lot of grief. If you take a wrong turn, you may still be in deep water because you’ve wandered into a non-ICW channel. You now need to re-locate the ICW channel, which will likely put you on the wrong side of an aid, in shallow water.

Dayboards are the most common navigational aid along the Waterway. Look for dayboards in three forms: mounted on a single piling, on a dolphin (a collection of strapped, teepee-like pilings), or on a larger piling structure. The type of mounting has no navigational significance.

The dayboards are conventional, with triangular red dayboards marked with even numbers, and square green dayboards marked with odd numbers. The numbers are large and very visible, unless the sun is low on the horizon and the board is silhouetted.

Along the Intracoastal Waterway, a lit aid calls attention to an important junction, turn, or hazard. In addition, the light's characteristics (color and rhythm) have significance. A colored light has lateral significance. For example, a flashing green light of a certain pattern calls your attention to keeping the aid on the appropriate side of your vessel. A quick flashing light typically identifies a turn requiring an abrupt, rather than a gradual, course change.

Because of the shifting and shoaling nature of the Waterway, the Coast Guard often places small temporary drop aids, or floaters, to supplement larger permanent aids.

These aids are typically small nuns or cans designated with an additional letter. For example, a red drop aid between R2 and R4 would be labeled R2 "A". As with all Intracoastal Waterway aids, drop aids also show the ICW yellow square or triangle. Since drop aids are placed in areas of shoaling they should be given a wide berth.

Mile Markers

The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway

The statute mile convention is firmly entrenched, with stm markers shown on NOAA charts every five miles. Along much of the Waterway, the statute miles are marked with ICW mile marker boards. These small signs, when available, are white with black lettering. They may be attached to a dayboard, piling, tree, or even painted on a rock!

The important task is to stay on a front range by looking ahead and keeping the forward (lower) and rear (higher) range markers directly in line. With a back range, this involves occasionally glancing back over your stern. Keeping the range markers aligned will assure you stay mid-channel. To correct your course, follow this simple rule: steer to the lower range marker.

Don’t become so fixated on the range you continue past its intended departure. The channel typically ends and turns before the range aids are reached or out of sight. Be on the lookout for the buoy or dayboard marking the end of the range line. Every season several boaters, pleased with their precision range running, forget to depart the line before they’ve hit shallow water.

The official overhead clearance along the Intracoastal Waterway is 65 feet above mean high water. However, the Julia Tuttle Bridge in Miami (stm 1087.2), with a fixed clearance of 56 feet, is an exception. Southbound vessels taller than 56 feet must exit the Waterway by Port Everglades and re-enter no closer than Government Cut, Miami.

In addition, some of the 65-foot bridges have been reported short, so vessels with heights over 62 feet should use caution or watch the tides. For example, the Wilkerson Bridge in North Carolina (stm 125.9) has a reported fixed clearance of 64 feet.

As boating and land traffic increases, the old low-clearance opening bridges continue to be removed, replaced by fixed 65-foot spans. But there are still more than eighty opening bridges between Hampton Roads and Biscayne Bay. Nearly two-thirds of these are in Florida.

Types of Bridges

Fixed bridges are 65 feet at mean high water with two exceptions: the 56-foot height of the Julia Tuttle Causeway Bridge in Miami and the reported 64-foot height of the Wilkerson Highway Bridge in North Carolina.

Lift bridges rise horizontally and are typically railroad bridges. Most railroad bridges along the Waterway are unmanned and left in the open position unless a train is approaching. If the bridge is closing for an approaching train, light and sound signals will warn you as a precursor to lowering. Some bridges sound warnings well in advance (such as five minutes and one minute prior). Bridges that are more frequently raised and lowered have more aggressive signaling procedures.

Swing bridges pivot or rotate to open. Never crowd a swing bridge: it may need the area in front of the spans in order to rotate open. Stay further back and wait until the spans have fully opened. In the case of single-pivot swing bridges, the entire structure will rotate on the center support. Pass through on the side showing large fenders on both the bridge support and bank side.

Bridge Restrictions

Restricted openings are times a bridge does not open on request. For example, during restricted hours, a bridge may open on the hour and half-hour only. Holidays refer to federal holidays, in which case the usual rush-hour restrictions do not apply.

Restricted hours may also refer to a block of time when the bridge does not open for recreational traffic, such as during the morning and evening rush hours. If you accidentally arrive at a bridge during its restricted hours, the bridge will not open for you as a pleasure craft.

Caution: Bridge schedules change! For example, Broward County recently completed a three-month trial of simplified openings. Temporary and permanent bridge restrictions are published in the Local Notice to Mariners.

Even during restricted hours, bridges open for commercial traffic. During a blackout period, you may be able to “sneak through” with a commercial vessel. Clear this with the bridge tender before proceeding.

If it is not during restricted hours, begin by hailing the bridge on the VHF, using that state’s bridge channel (VHF 13 or 09). Only call the bridge tender if you are unable to hail them by VHF.

Caution: A bridge will typically not open unless you officially request an opening. Circling in front of the bridge is not considered a bridge opening request and, if you are a lone vessel, will often result in you missing the opening.

Remember, it is equally important to state a non-intention. As a courtesy, if you are approaching a bridge and do not intend to pass through, hail the bridge tender and advise him. For example, many boaters stop at Alligator River Marina for inexpensive diesel or an overnight stay. This marina is approached southbound by coming right up to the Alligator River Swing Bridge, turning hard to starboard, and following the bridge into the basin. You will have a very agitated bridge tender if you approach the bridge for three miles at flank speed without making radio contact!

Bridge tenders have other duties, so they may not respond to you immediately. Wait a reasonable amount of time before hailing again. Additionally, re-naming bridges seems to have become a modern-day government sporting activity. We have endeavored to list all bridge name alternatives that may be in favor this season. If one doesn't work, try another.

According to Coast Guard regulations (technically not part of the Inland Rules), you may also hail a drawbridge by sounding one prolonged blast, followed within three seconds by one short blast, “repeated until acknowledged by the bridge tender.” Unfortunately, this strategy usually backfires. No one likes being honked at and you’ll usually end up waiting until another boat requests an opening. Forget the horn.

The inland rules of the road dictate who has the right of way in passing situations. Vessels with a following current have right-of-way over vessels motoring up current. If you are heading against the current, stand off until the other vessels clear the bridge opening. With the possibility of a strong current setting them onto the bridge, the boat with the current needs your courtesy and room to pass through safely.

Rather than assume a “first-come, first-served” lineup for the bridge opening, hail your fellow cruisers and suggest queueing up in order of hull speed. This will make everyone's life easier, avoiding the post-opening jockeying, passing, and rock-and-roll.

Because the ICW runs along the shore, the conventional adage of “red, right, returning from seaward” becomes unclear. So the Coast Guard adopted the following clockwise convention: moving in a southerly direction along the Atlantic Coast, then in a northerly, then westerly direction along the Gulf Coast, is considered returning from seaward. You can remember this rule as “red, right, returning to Texas.”

Navigating your way along the ICW is really easier than you may think. Just remember that the channel "Day Markers" with the small reflective yellow triangles and squares are the ones that mark your way on the ICW.

The Intracoastal Waterway is a chain of local channels linked together to provide an inland passage along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts. Channels of the ICW are identified by yellow symbols on channel buoys and markers. They are aids for both the U.S. Aids to Navigation System and the Intracoastal Waterway. If following the ICW from New Jersey to Brownsville, Texas in a clockwise direction:

  • Any marker displaying a yellow triangle should be passed by keeping it on the right side of the vessel.
  • Any marker displaying a yellow square should be passed by keeping it on the left side of the vessel.

intracoastal waterway cruises delray beach fl

The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway runs most of the length of the entire Eastern Seaboard. It is toll-free for pleasure boats and it is a significant portion of America's Great Loop. The Atlantic ICW (for cruising purposes) serves ports from Atlantic City, NJ to Key West, FL. This route is linked by man-made canals including the Chesapeake and Delaware or C&D canal, and Chesapeake-Albemarle Canal, and the lowest "controlled" depth is 6 feet in the Dismal Swamp Canal. The heaviest commercial traffic (oceangoing vessels and barges) are concentrated around the industrial areas of Norfolk, Va;

The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway is a 3,000 mile inland waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts of the United States. This Waterway features a series of rivers, inlets, canals and bays. Most of them are easy to navigate which brings eager boaters and navigators to their waters year round. If your next travel plans feature navigating the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, here are a few tips to help you out during your travels. Plan How Long It Will Take You can travel all the way from Florida to Canada along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway in your boat as your only means of transportation. It’s a great idea to map out your route and double check with the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association so you can stay in the loop and plan ahead if any sections have been deemed hazardous. Plan Your Equipment Once you have mapped out your route and you have calculated how long your journey will take, you will be able to determine what size of boat you will need and what type of equipment and supplies will suit your travels best. Plan Your Stay There are some amazing marinas you can use to dock your boat along the waters. You should plan to stay a few nights or even weeks at a few marinas along the waterway to set your feet on some land and explore the area. Finding a nice place to stay isn’t always easy so you should do a little research ahead of time. One of the best marinas in Georgia is the Brunswick Landing Marina. It comes highly recommended and is full of activities and wonderful amenities, you might not want to leave! There are many beautiful sights and wondrous opportunities that you will come across while navigating the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Hopefully these tips will help you out!

MUST SEE PLACES

  • Brunswick Landing Marina
  • Herrington Harbour
  • Joyner Marina
  • Morehead City Yacht Basin
  • New Bern Grand Marina
  • Larry's Lighthouse Marina

intracoastal waterway cruises delray beach fl

Best restaurant, foodie news: A fresh batch of places to eat and locally made treats

intracoastal waterway cruises delray beach fl

In terms of tasty news to know, the local food and dining scene is the gift that keeps on giving these days. There are new restaurant openings to report, new menu items and locally made treats to explore. For Passover, which arrives Monday evening, there are family meals, dine-in or takeout, to plan.

First, let’s talk about what’s new.

Jupiter gets a Pura Vida café

One of the healthy-minded cafés at The Square plaza in West Palm Beach has welcomed a sister restaurant in Jupiter. More than four years after opening at The Square , Pura Vida debuted its Jupiter location at Harbourside Place on April 10. 

The natural foods spot brought a fresh, chic look to the 3,000-square-foot former BurgerFi space, which sits across from Jupiter’s Intracoastal Waterway. 

On the menu: all-day breakfast items, organic acai bowls, smoothies, salads, bowls, wraps, empanadas, large main plates (featuring free-range chicken, wild tuna, oven-roasted salmon and fixings), specialty coffees, teas, lattes and frappes.  

The café brand with 2012 Miami Beach roots has grown to include nearly two dozen South Florida locations. In Palm Beach County, Pura Vida has cafés in downtown West Palm Beach (at The Square), West Boca and Royal Palm Beach (identified as Wellington on the restaurant’s website). 

Which brings us to another bit of Pura Vida news. The chain plans to open a Delray Beach oceanfront location in early June, says a restaurant rep. The Delray Pura Vida café will slip into the prime space most recently occupied by BurgerFi, at 6 S. Ocean Blvd., across the street from the beach.  

“These openings are a testament to our commitment to making wholesome, nutritious food accessible to more communities,” said Omer Horev, Pura Vida co-founder and CEO, via news release. “Our aim has always been to foster spaces where individuals can come together to enjoy not just great food, but a lifestyle centered around health and wellness.”

Hours: Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Pura Vida Jupiter: 147 Soundings Ave., at Harbourside Place, Jupiter, PuraVidaMiami.com

Delray Beach gets a Paris Baguette

An expansive, international French bakery chain just opened a Delray Beach café on Federal Highway (near Trader Joe’s). The Delray location of Paris Baguette will celebrate its official grand opening on Thursday, April 25.

The Paris Baguette concept seeks to bring a “neighborhood bakery café” feel to its many franchise locations (more than 4,000 across the planet), according to the company’s media releases. 

The concept’s local-gem dreams were born a world away from any Parisian corner. Paris Baguette was founded nearly four decades ago in Seoul, South Korea. In 2015, it made its first foray into the United States, where it continues to expand.

On the menu: French breads and pastries, sandwiches and wraps, salads and specialty coffees and teas.

Hours: Open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Paris Baguette: 1911 S. Federal Hwy, Delray Beach, 561-303-1748, ParisBaguette.com

Serena Pastificio has a new menu

This stylishly set Mizner Park restaurant has rolled out spring dishes worth noting. 

Highlights on Serena Pastificio’s new menu: Crispy, truffle-scented Brussels with Parmesan and prosciutto ($17). Bucatini carbonara with shaved asparagus, kale gremolata, pea tendril and egg yolk bottarga ($23). 

New drinks include Serena’s Stop & Smell The Roses cocktail, which combines Meyer lemon vodka, hibiscus, rose liqueur, elderflower and orange blossom foam.

Serena Pastificio is located on the first floor of the iPic theaters.

Hours: Monday through Thursday from 3 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 3 to 10 p.m., Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Serena Pastificio: 301 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, 561-922-6699, Serena-Pastificio.com

La Gringuita gets into Whole Foods Market

La Gringuita, the West Palm Beach-based cookie brand inspired by an English teacher’s travels and childhood memories , recently expanded its local market footprint by leaps. 

You can now find the fat, overstuffed, bake-at-home cookies at 17 Whole Foods Market stores in South Florida, Naples and Fort Myers.

Whole Foods locations in Palm Beach County include Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, Wellington, Delray Beach and Boca Raton.

The stores carry La Gringuita’s core flavors: Brown Buttah, El Churro, The Jammy and Chocolate Soufflé. 

The inspired mind behind the cookie brand is Caroline McGinley, who would make the cookies for her dorm friends some years ago in Montevideo, where she taught English. You may have seen her and La Gringuita cookies at the West Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens green markets.

I love her story and entrepreneurial spirit, and I’m not surprised at all that she hit the Whole Foods big time.

Here’s the first story I wrote about Caroline and her cookie-making dreams. 

La Gringuita Cookies: Gringuita-Cookies.com

Quick Bites

Looking for Passover dining inspiration?

Here are some good restaurant options for dining out or taking out.  

Have you heard about the new rooftop bar located on the West Palm Beach waterfront?  

I found it to be a lovely spot with nice water views. Here’s my story on the new Bar Capri!

Speaking of bars: Did you know The Blind Monk moved?

My colleague Eddie Ritz recently wrote about the wine bar’s new downtown digs. Here’s his story!

Do you love empanadas as much as I do?

Here’s my most recent list of places for authentic empanadas!

Read recent columns by Liz Balmaseda

◾ What's cooking for Passover? Here are some options!

◾ New West Palm steakhouse restaurant kicks off Sunday brunch

◾ A favorite seafood restaurant gets a glow-up in the Gardens

◾ New oceanfront bar opens, 2 others named ‘best’ in The South

◾ 3 new pizzerias to put on your radar

◾ Where to find the best meatballs in town? Some favorites!

◾ 5 new restaurants to get excited about in Palm Beach County

◾ Mexican restaurant gets new look, Food Network contestant chef

Liz Balmaseda is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist for  The Palm Beach Post , part of the USA Today Network. She covers the local food and dining beat. Follow her on  Instagram and  Post on Food Facebook . She can be reached by email at  [email protected]

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    On the east coast, the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway is a busy highway in the autumn and spring. The snowbirds flock south in the fall, gathering on the Chesapeake to head south after the ...

  15. Delray Intracoastal Cruises And Boat Tours in Florida

    Visit Palm Beach ; DelRay Yacht Cruises; 3 different Things to Do Intracoastal Waterway Tours of Florida: Photo By: Delray Yatch Cruises. Water Taxi . This is a modest yet great option for exploring the Intracoastal waterways of Florida. They have roofed boats where they take you on a 90-minute ride with three different options to choose from.

  16. Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Florida-Cruising & Navigation

    Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway - Florida Fort Pierce to Palm Beach; Mile Marker Bridge Charted Vert. Clear. Schedule Restrictions VHF; 966.0: Peter B. Cobb Bridge: 65' Fixed Bridge 981.4: Jensen Beach Bridge: 65' Fixed Bridge 984.9: Ernest Lyons Bridge: 65' Fixed Bridge 995.9: Hobe Sound Bascule Bridge: 21' Opens on Demand 09: 1004.1 ...

  17. How to Navigate the Florida Intracoastal Waterway (ICW)

    Florida's Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) is a monumental feat of engineering achievement that runs from Boston, Massachusetts, around Florida, and over past Corpus Christi, Texas. This 3,000-mile inland waterway is made up of natural inlets, saltwater rivers, bays, sounds, and man-made canals. If you were so inclined, you could travel the entire ...

  18. Intracoastal Cruises

    All inclusive for up to 6 guests. 561-588-5892 • 561-374-2274. Call Captain Karen for more details ... Geno IV will cater to the most discriminating taste! The cruise will take you on the Intracoastal Waterway passing the beautiful mansions on the Island of Palm Beach.

  19. How to navigate the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway

    Navigating the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) A few pointed when cruising and sailing the AICW. The Waterway was a rough ride in 1912 when Henry Plummer took his catboat along the Eastern Seaboard's inland route, told in his story The Boy, Me, and the Cat: Life Aboard a Small Boat from Massachusetts to Florida and Back in 1912. Back then, notched boards nailed to posts marked the ...

  20. Intercoastal Waterway Tours in Florida

    Joanne Thomas, Leaf Group Updated May 30, 2018. (Photo: ) The 3,000-mile Intracoastal Waterway, and in particular its extensive stretches along Florida's Atlantic and Gulf coasts, is a remarkable ...

  21. Top 10 things to do while in Boynton Beach

    Banana Boat. Established in Fort Lauderdale 1971 before moving up to Boynton Beach in 1978, this family-owned establishment is another great waterfront drink and dining destination that's perfect ...

  22. New restaurants, menus, treats in Jupiter, West Palm, Boca, Delray

    On the menu: French breads and pastries, sandwiches and wraps, salads and specialty coffees and teas. Hours: Open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Paris Baguette: 1911 S. Federal Hwy, Delray Beach, 561 ...