The Jungle Queen is an old time paddle wheel riverboat located opposite South Beach Park in Port Everglades, Florida. The boat has two large decks with open sides and bench seating. The 550-seat Jungle Queen offers daytime sightseeing cruises and evening barbecue and entertainment cruises daily. Daytime cruises depart at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and include informative captain's commentary on the local sites. Evening cruises depart at 6:00 p.m. and travel down the New River to the Jungle Queen's private Tropic Island where food and drink is served and live comedy and music acts perform. Rates for daytime cruises are $18 per adult and $13 for kids 12 and under. Rates for evening dinner cruises are $40 per adult and $22 for kids 12 and under, as of February 2011.
Discover Island Cruises offers a one-day Bahama cruise from Port Everglades. The ship is a scaled-down version of the mega cruisers that chug around the Caribbean and Bahamas on multi-day journeys. The Discover Island ship features unlimited brunch buffet on the way to Grand Bahama Island, two on-board casinos, house brand alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and unlimited dinner buffet on the evening trip back to Port Everglades. While docked at Grand Bahama Island you can choose to explore duty-free shopping, local crafts, fine dining or try swimming with dolphins. Each guest has a double-occupancy cabin with two twin beds and porthole for their stay on-board. Rates start around $65 per person, as of February 2011.
Discover Island Cruises also offers a two-day package with cruise transportation to and from Grand Bahama Island plus one night hotel stay in between. On the way to Grand Bahama passengers enjoy all-you-can-eat buffet brunch, unlimited soft drinks and stock alcoholic drinks, and two casinos. On the island you will stay at one of the cruise line's nine accommodation options which range in price and service/amenity level. The standard package is based on a one-night hotel stay but travelers are free to stay as long as they wish for an additional cost. The return journey to Port Everglades includes all-you-can-eat buffet dinner and drinks. Rates start around $135 per person, as of February 2011.
The Regal Bahama Cruise ship sails each week on two-night sailings to the Bahamas from Palm Beach, which is located about 50 miles north of Port Everglades. The ship has the lines of a classic ocean liner and although smaller in size it does have a selection of big ship amenities including four restaurants -- American, Brazilian, Italian and formal -- Kid's Club, veranda suites, a full-service spa, pool and hot tubs, and an enclosed promenade. Included in the price of a ticket you can expect three meals a day plus midnight buffet in any restaurant you choose, nightly entertainment in the two-floor disco, live performances in the theater, drinks and socializing in The View Club, gambling at the Wynmore Casino, or relaxing in the ships lounges. Ocean view cabins, suites and deluxe suites are available.
