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Not Your Common Naples Dinner Cruise
By Lilliam Larsen
A
 nother Florida yacht cruise on the Gulf of Mexico? Why not, I thought expecting one similar to many such cruises that I have taken off the coast of Florida.
Yacht cruising is a popular activity in many waterfront communities, and when I was invited to join a cruise on the Naples Princess recently, I
shrugged my shoulders and went along. Boy, how my thoughts were wrong! The Naples Princess experience exceeded my expectations of comfort, quality of food and entertainment, and I could
see why thousands of visitors and residents of Southwest Florida raved about this beautiful yacht.
The custom-designed 105-foot yacht was certainly more spacious than it looked. It is
modern and sleek, with darkly-tined windows, a streamlined silhouette, a bow area that allows for great viewing and several additional observation areas. Once on board, the yacht
feels very luxurious. Shining brass, beautiful cherry wood, plush carpeting and spacious public areas immediately create an ambiance of comfort and class.
The upstairs lounge features an unobstructed view through the large windows, and very
comfortable, rich leather chairs welcome you to sit down and take it all in. There is a great sound system throughout the yacht which allows you to listen to the music, narration, and
presentations no matter where you are. In addition, two flat screen televisions show the cruise route.
I had the choice of relaxing indoors, in the fully enclosed interior salons, or sit in the
covered deck at the back. But despite some rain, I chose the top part of the yacht - an open air deck with a 360-degree view of the spectacular multi-million-dollar homes, the
wildlife and natural beauty of Naples Bay and Port Royal. With drink in hand, it was a great way to unwind and enjoy the peaceful scenery.
 The drinks were certainly not weak, and the food was certainly outstanding. There is a fully-equipped kitchen that prepares the food on board. This is a huge
difference from other cruises that have the food brought aboard to serve. The menu included salad, shrimp, steak, two vegetables and great entertainment by the wait staff.
The Naples Princess cruise, which includes a narrated tour of Naples Bay, Port Royal and Royal Harbor, is
certainly worth the time and money. The yacht schedules a variety of cruises but the most popular is the Naples Sunset Dinner Cruise. The yacht cruises out through Gordon's Pass
and into the beautiful Gulf of Mexico just in time to watch the sun descend slowly into the distant horizon.
If you're into something different, the Naples Princess also offers Theme Cruises every
month. These cruises may include live entertainers crooning the Sounds of Sinatra or leading Live Tropical Entertainment that will get you chilling island-style! Don't miss The
Best of 50's, 60's, and 70's, the Murder Mystery Dinner, wine tasting with legendary Haskell's or Afternoon Tea on the Bay with Brambles Tea Room. Holiday cruises are also
extremely popular.
The Naples Princess sails from her dock at the Port-O-Call Marina near downtown Naples.
For additional information, call 239-649-2275; e mail: info@naplesprincesscruises.com or visit their website at www.naplesprincesscruises.com.
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