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Your experience begins as you approach the beautiful
112-foot Carrie B, tied up at her moorings along the New
River in downtown Fort Lauderdale, Florida. You see the
large red paddlewheel turning lazily in the waters of the
New River. This is going to be a great cruise!
You spot a friendly crew member under the blue covered canopy and he waves you over, checks you in, and tells you to proceed right on board. You make your way to the boarding ramp at the bow of the boat and the photographer snaps a commemorative souvenir photo of you and your party. You board and find yourself in the enclosed, spacious, air-conditioned cabin with its ample seating and full-service bar. The large picture windows are perfect for viewing the gorgeous Ft Lauderdale waterway scenery
- they are quite inviting, as is the crisp, cool air, but
the lure of the Florida sunshine is too much and you decide to head upstairs.
Once on the open-air upper deck, you are faced with a wonderful choice - seating in the relaxing warmth of the Florida sun or a spot under the expansive canopy providing copious amounts of shaded seating. There' s also choice seating around the pilot house that has you thinking of reliving a king-of-the-world Titanic moment. You choose your seat, send your companion for refreshments and the boat tour gets underway in no time at all.
The Captain greets you over the PA system and you realize is the Carrie B has really invested in their sound system - you can actually understand every word he's saying - how refreshing! The Carrie B smoothly pulls away from the dock, executes a flawless turn and gently gets underway. Your Fort Lauderdale tour then begins with narration about the luxurious homes (indeed, mansions) and magnificent yachts that saturate the many canals of the New River. You then find yourself entering the Intracoastal Waterway, past the Bahia Mar Marina & Resort, under the 17th Street Causeway, and into Port Everglades, home of the world's
busiest cruise ship port. You are definitely enjoying
the calm, smooth, protected waters as you glide along your
tour.
It's amazing just how large these cruise ships are - there will be anywhere from
a few to many, from all parts of the world. These floating,
self-contained, fully-functioning mini-cities boggle your
mind. Perhaps you're one of the many cruise ship passengers who enjoy a boat ride on the Carrie B
on either your arrival or departure day - the Fort Lauderdale airport
and the cruise ship terminals are so close and the Carrie B
offers the convenience of storing your luggage on board the Carrie B while you enjoy the sights & attractions.
On the return trip, you'll hear more great stories about the famous and infamous celebrities and citizens of the
"Venice of America". While there's no guarantee, from time to time you'll be fortunate enough to spot some manatees
that your captain will point out for you as he gingerly navigates around them to ensure the safety of these gentle giants. Before you know it, you've returned to the dock, having been wonderfully entertained, feeling very relaxed, and looking forward to your next trip on the Carrie B! (And yes, we've had people buy tickets to go right back out
- you're welcome to cruise with us all 3 times a day if you want!).
Would you like to know more about the specific sights - the homes, the yachts, and the cruise ships - we see on Carrie B's
"Venice of America" Sightseeing Cruise? Then make your way over to our
Fort Lauderdale, FL Virtual Boat Tour page. We look forward to seeing you soon on our next trip!
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