Cruise to outer islands, go shelling, and stop for lunch at Cabbage Key
6 Hours
Captain/naturalist, beach gear
Spend 6 hours cruising from Sanibel to outer islands only accessible by boat, with time to shell and enjoy lunch at Cabbage Key Restaurant. A captain and naturalist guide the day and share local insights along the way.
Lunch at Cabbage Key Restaurant is not included in your ticket price. Children age 3 and under are free but still need a ticket.
Cancel at least 24 hours in advance (48 hours for parties of 6+, 14 days for holiday cruises); a 3% processing fee applies. Changes/cancellations within 24 hours of departure are charged 100%. No-shows are charged. Email/voicemail cancellations not accepted.
Pack like you’re going to the beach. Bring swimsuits, beach shoes, and a shelling bag. You can also bring a small cooler if you’d like.
Wear shoes or sandals you don’t mind getting wet. You’ll access the beach using a front ladder from the boat; if it’s very windy, you may enter on the bay side and walk a short way through the water and across the island to the beach.
You’ll have access to a limited number of beach chairs, umbrellas, masks, water toys, and bottled water.
634 N. Yachtsman Drive Sanibel Fl, 33957
The crew here clearly knows how to create memorable experiences on the water. Captain Steve, Tom, Evan, and the rest of the team get consistent praise for being friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic about the local wildlife. Families especially appreciate how engaging they are with kids. The dolphin sightings seem to be a major highlight, with multiple reviews mentioning pods coming right up to the boat, plus bonus encounters with manatees and other marine life. The sunset cruises get particularly glowing feedback. A couple of guests found the shelling excursions less impressive than expected, noting the beaches were fairly basic and the shells no better than what you'd find elsewhere locally. One reviewer mentioned the long day felt static when weather conditions weren't ideal. That said, most visitors seem thrilled with their experiences, and the company earned loyalty from repeat customers who return year after year. The variety of tours means there's something for different interests, though the dolphin-focused trips appear to be the standout option.
I took the sunset dolphin cruise and it was so wonderful! We got to see a matriarchal pod of Atlantic bottle nose dolphin who were very active around the boat. Our captain, Steve and the first mate, Tom were first class. Steve is a very experienced boat captain and the ride was as smooth as silk. First Mate Tom was so friendly, approachable and was extremely knowledgeable about marine life, dolphins in particular. The boat was clean, comfortable and included passengers as young as below 10 to my 81 years young Mom! I highly recommend AIP! Ask for Captain Steve and First Mate Tom, and tell them Jenny sent you!
Jennifer Ross
May 25, 2026
I took the sunset dolphin cruise and it was so wonderful! We got to see a matriarchal pod of Atlantic bottle nose dolphin who were very active around the boat. Our captain, Steve and the first mate, Tom were first class. Steve is a very experienced boat captain and the ride was as smooth as silk. First Mate Tom was so friendly, approachable and was extremely knowledgeable about marine life, dolphins in particular. The boat was clean, comfortable and included passengers as young as below 10 to my 81 years young Mom! I highly recommend AIP! Ask for Captain Steve and First Mate Tom, and tell them Jenny sent you!
Jennifer Ross
May 25, 2026