Our family of 5 had an absolutely wonderful experience with Captain Jessica and the Island Time…read moreDolphin & Shelling Cruise! Our four-hour trip was the perfect mix of relaxation, wildlife, and adventure. Captain Jessica and her crew went above and beyond, providing iced drinks, snacks, and buckets for collecting shells. They took us to Old Hickory Island, where we found some amazing shells, a Pygmy octopus, conch, and a sand dollar. Throughout the trip, Captain Jessica shared her knowledge about the local ecosystem, answering all of our questions about the dolphins, manatees, mangroves, and the area. One of the highlights was when she spotted a pod of dolphins. She carefully brought the boat alongside them, and we got to watch them swim and jump in our boat's wake--it was unforgettable! Communication was outstanding from start to finish. We had to reschedule twice due to weather. Captain Jessica made the process incredibly easy and stress-free. She is friendly, welcoming, and shared lots of great local recommendations for places to visit and things to do. If you're looking to support a fantastic local business while having an unforgettable day on the water, I can't recommend Captain Jessica and Island Time Dolphin & Shelling Cruise enough. It was truly one of the highlights of our trip!

Had an amazing private dolphin and shelling tour this week with Jessica & Rob. Jessica was…read morefantastic to work with throughout the booking process and was communicative, prompt, and helpful! Our day on the water was wonderful - we saw 4 dolphins (including one baby!), white pelicans, and enjoyed shelling at the end of Lover's Key State park! Jessica and Rob made the experience memorable, fun, and safe. Highly recommend for your charter needs!

Great boat ride, very friendly staff. The food at the restaurant is just okay. Needs seasoning…read more But wait staff is friendly.

A few hours on the water with Captain Brian made for a perfect day. I love working with locals…read morebecause you know the money is taking care of families, and you learn so much more than from corporate charters. Capt. Brian has been doing his thing for over 30 years and it shows. I learned a lot and felt like I made a friend. I will definitely return next time I'm on vacation. Thanks Brian.

Exceptional way to tour the refuge. Mo was a fantastic guide pointing out the various birds,…read morewildlife, and different forms of vegetation and their roles in the habitat. Very fun although a chilly the January morning we were there.

I went with my mom for the tram tour in the afternoon. We booked online through their site, which…read moreabout 20 dollars per person after taxes and fees. We checked in at the Ding Darling visitor center. The friendly attendant at the counter informed us the guide/driver is ready for us and to meet her at the tram. We were also given binoculars that were free to borrow with a credit card on hold (we would get charged if we lose them). We boarded the tram about 15 minutes before the tour. The whole tram was full, and every seat was taken, including the front seat in the truck pulling the tram. Kathy, our guide/driver introduced us to the tour and informed potential animals we would see. We were all informed to let her know if we see any potential animals so she can slow down the tram when needed. When we went to the park, we saw various animals including many types of birds, fishes, manatees, and even iguanas. The whole tour lasted about 90 minutes, with a small 10 break to walk and view the observation tower. Kathy did an excellent job explaining about the park, the types of plants and animals, and how the park was affected by the hurricane and other things. She also answered any questions that the guests had. She drove very safely, being cautious of the other vehicles and pedestrians at the park. We were also informed that we could walk around the park after the tour. However, we decided it was too hot to walk a couple miles and left after the tour. The visitor center looked to be undergoing renovations, but the gift shop was open. We bought a shirt that was on sale. The bathrooms were clean and even had information about the various animals we could see. We were also given a brochure as well before the tour. For the price paid, this was a great value. We did get to see various types of animals, plants, and birds. Our guide/driver was friendly, informative, and cautious. Even though the hurricane did some damage to the park, the repairs looked nice and great to see the various wildlife coming back to the park. This was a wonderful tour and a must do when visiting Sanibel Island.

I got this as a gift for my mom and her boyfriend for Mother's Day. We stayed at the Marriott in…read moreSanibel Harbour so it was super convenient - right in the back dock! The boat wasn't too crowed, maybe 30 people or so, but the boat can hold up to 80. They both had a great time and said the food was good, especially for buffet style.

The view was beautiful, the ride was smooth and the food was very good. There were several items…read morefor a salad bar, but no salad plates. For $60 a person, I didn't want to fill my plate with salad- although salad is my favorite part. They didn't label the buffet dishes so we couldn't tell the difference between the chicken and the fish! The scallop potatoes had some kind of fish (crab maybe) in them but since they weren't labeled- it was an unpleasant surprise. It was a fun night with friends, but doubt if we would do it again. Oh, and did I mention they tack on 23% gratuity!

A really unique and fun experience! We saw a pod of manatees and dolphins. Our captain and first…read moremate were awesome!

3/9/25: We went on the Adventures in Paradise Dolphin & Wildlife Cruise in Fort Myers, Fl…read more These cruises are usually a crapshoot. We did see some dolphins and birds after a while. The narrator of the cruise was friendly and informative about the wildlife. The cruise was a nice way to spend a couple of hours. Parking is available along the dock area. 3.5 Stars.

This was my first time riding on the Sanibel Thriller, after having watched several YouTube videos…read more Overall, it was a great experience. We had good weather, and we were fortunate to have come upon several pods of dolphins along the way. I sat on the left-hand side of the boat near the front, and I did get unexpectedly soaked for the first 10 minutes or so, which subsided after that. One thing I'll mention for the benefit of other first-timers: I was under the false assumption that this boat would be going so fast that we would break the space-time continuum, based on the videos I've seen. However, when you're actually on the boat, it's not really going all that fast. You'll still want to remove or secure your hat, but you needn't worry about entering a wormhole or returning before you started.

I went for a ride on the Sanibel Thriller with some family on a recent visit to the island. The…read moreskies were blue, the water calm, and the sun was shining... a perfect day for boating. The Thriller offers a little something for everyone. Interested in a bit of history about Sanibel? This has it. Looking for a reprieve from the heat on land? Feel the breeze in your hair as you zoom about in water. Love dolphins? You're likely to catch a pod or two swimming along with the boat. Excited most about the possibility of dolphins, my group and I opted to arrive to the dock approximately 1 hour ahead of time to ensure a seat towards the back of the boat. The very last row has the best views but also requires you get up and down out of your seats from time to time to balance out the boat to get up to speed. Though the back has the best views, you're also likely to get wet with spray and won't be able to hear the guide as easily. If you are more interested in the history and views of the island, sit towards the front and find out which way they'll circle the island. We were gifted with several pods of dolphins that stuck with the boat for great periods of time. I had plenty of time to capture some nice shots. We sped by the Hobie World Championships and caught views of some expensive homes on Captiva as we made our way around the island. The ride lasted approximately 2 hours. With its catamaran hull, the ride was smooth and enjoyable. Comfortable seating! Bring sunscreen, a hat you can secure tightly to your head, and some water.

We had such an amazing experience with Banana Bay tour and highly recommend it to anyone visiting…read morewith kids! We did the dolphin ecological tour with our two toddlers and the team truly went above and beyond to make it special for them. They had little sand baskets ready, let the kids drive the boat, and made them feel so included and excited the entire time. We were lucky enough to see dolphins AND manatees, which was such a cool experience for all of us. Beyond that, everyone was so welcoming, kind, and knowledgeable. You can tell they genuinely care about creating a memorable experience while teaching about the local environment and wildlife. Special shout out to Annie, JR and Dennis for being so amazing! Thanks again!

What a great dolphin cruise! The captain and first mate are awesome! They were extremely…read moreinformative, kind and funny! Highly recommend! Lots of cool dolphin facts! We saw birds, dolphins and a shark.

George & Carlos were fantastic hosts We had a wonderful…read moretime Found lots of sea shells even saw a few dolphins

Captiva Cruises was a unique experience. The front desk initially felt a bit dismissive when we…read morewere trying to decide which cruise to book, and it almost made us pass--but we're so glad we didn't. We ended up booking the dolphin cruise, and it was absolutely worth it. Carlos was knowledgeable, funny, and clearly knew exactly where to find the dolphins. We got an amazing show, learned a lot of local history, and truly loved the experience. In the end, we were so glad we went on the cruise!

From the ease of booking to the clear communication, New Wave ecotours exceeded our expectations…read more Captain Keith was a wealth of local, natural, and historical information throughout of whole day tour. The boat was comfortable and clean and stocked with ice in a large cooler for our drinks. We saw dolphins and a group of 5 manatees. We swam and went shelling on an island accessible only by boat. We stopped on Cabbage Key for lunch at Jimmy Buffet's restaurant. Our family consisted of 2 50 year old and our 21 and 23 year old children and their significant others. Everyone had a great time. I highly recommend New Wave Eco Charters for a terrific experience !

We have used New Wave Eco Charters twice. They are the best boat charter you can get by far!!! We…read moreused New Wave 4 years ago and used 2 other charters and were no comparison. Went back to New Wave this year. Captain Steve is amazing!!! He's the best--from his wealth of knowledge, personality, and his navigation through the waters around Captiva and area. He is like family. We saw so many dolphins, manatees, birds, and went shelling on secluded beaches!!! It's just an amazing experience. So beautiful!!! Something we all look forward to--best part of vacation!!! Memories for a lifetime!!! Highly recommend!!!

Big Tiki Tours was an awesome experience! Love that we (Two…read moreCouples) could have the boat all to ourselves and that Captain Craig was happy to do whatever we wanted! We did a simple 90minute tour, would do longer in the future! From booking to docking, everything was easy and as advertised! Well done Big Tiki - well done!

Absolutely wonderful tour and we Highly recommend Captain Craig! We had a wonderful sunset cruise…read moreto "Slipaway" which is a lot of fun, great food trucks and bar! We HIGHLY recommend doing a tour and make sure you ask about the "All Day, Take You Anywhere You Want To Go" full day cruising! You can rent the entire boat with captain Craig for $1,300.00! GREAT TIME to be had by all! BYOB, Great sound system, great time!