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Further Afield Than Orlando - A Jungle Queen Cruise From Fort Lauderdale
If you would like to travel a bit further afield, then why not go to Fort Lauderdale and try out the Jungle Queen Riverboat Tour. The cruise takes you through the inter coastal waterways and down to Miami.
This beautifully styled classic boat is just like the ones you see in the movies, bringing back memories of Mark Twain, Huckleberry Finn and the famous musical “Showboat” by Oscar Hammerstein. With its traditional elaborate scroll work on the rails, this white, solid steel beauty will take you on elegant trips up the New River, leaving from Bahia Mar Docks, it’s hard to believe you are not back on the Mississippi.
The 560 passenger Jungle Queen has 3 traditional decks, including an open air top deck, atop which sits the Pilot House, where the master controls every aspect of her voyage. From the open top deck you have unrestricted views in all directions.
There is a sight seeing cruise which takes you up the New River, with its plush waterfront houses belonging to the rich and famous, into Downtown Fort Lauderdale, close to the everglades and stopping off at the Jungle Queen Indian Village. The village is a lovely tropical island where you can see macaws and other tropical birds from all over the world. There is alligator wrestling by the native Seminole Indians whose history goes back centuries. On the way, the captain gives an interesting and informative commentary on the ever changing vistas. This cruise takes about three hours.
A smaller vessel holding just 180 passengers offers the Miami Bayside Cruise. Located in Miami Bayside is an exciting, vibrant shopping centre with a market place as well as exotic restaurants, and daily live entertainments. This tour offers an 8 hour stop in Miami so plenty of time to shop till you drop and eat some wonderful delicacies.
The most famous cruise is the “All you can eat” bar-b-que ribs and shrimp dinner. At 7. 00pm each night, the two Jungle Queens slip their moorings and sail up the New River to a tropical island. There are amazing homes to see and many interesting sights along the way. Once at the island, passengers disembark and are directed to the dining room where dinner is provided and unlimited. This is followed by a variety revue which is put on especially for the guests of the Jungle Cruise.
Perhaps the best bit is the journey back with the twinkling lights on the shore and the starry sky to gaze up to. The whole trip lasts about four hours and is a charming way to spend an evening.
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