For many years, the Island Princess would take sightseers on cruises on the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers around the Stuart, Florida area, as well the Intercoastal Waterway as far as Jupiter (the city, not the planet). After the Island Princess was purchased by new owners, it went up north to Annapolis for the summer, intending to return to Florida during the fall and winter months. That was well over a year ago, and it hasn't been back, since. Their website says it is looking for a marina to sail out of before they can return to the Stuart area, but that message hasn't changed since the previous summer. And so, you do have to wonder what the deal is. I did take several cruises on this boat years ago. It is 72 feet long, with a lower, enclosed, air-conditioned deck and an upper weather deck (one that is open to the elements). Good for most weather conditions. In the meantime, a company called Treasure Coast River Cruises has started running cruises on a 12-person pontoon boat, as seen in the photograph above docked at Hutchinson Island Marriot Marina. Which is all well and good, but that pontoon boat is open on the sides, and during the summer months here in Florida that can be problematic. It often rains every day during the summer down here, but you never really know when or where. And if you buy your tickets in advance, that means you might have great weather or be caught in a tropical downpour in the middle of the river. The boat does have a canvas roof, but with those open sides the wind and rain from one of those downpours would definitely get you soaked. They will cancel the cruise if bad weather is forecast, but you just never know down here. Probably best to just wait until the dry season, November thru April, when the chances of leaving the boat not looking like a drowned rat are much higher. Although that can be a popular look down here. Just sayin'.
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