I and my family have hectic and erratic schedules which makes it difficult to schedule a conventional vacation. Cruising for a couple of days to say, Captiva from the St. Petersburg, Florida area, in which we live, is doable, but more importantly, doable on short notice. Many times you can book a yacht just a few days in advance, although it is recommended to try to do so at least 30 days in advance. The 44 foot Gulfstar motor yacht Antares will take a single couple or up to six couples on a two, three or more night cruise down the coast of Western Florida. You may stay on board at night or stay on land at one of the many dockside lodges, hotels, or B&B’s. We are particularly fond of staying over at either Cabbage Key or the Tarpon Lodge at Pineland, on Pine Island, FL, near Captiva in the Pine Island Sound. It is just a short day trip from either to Captiva, Sannibel, Ft. Meyers, and the surrounding beaches. You can even book a half day fishing trip with one of the local guides and it is all arranged by the booking agent prior to leaving.

There are so many barrier islands, marinas, waterfront eateries, on the West coast of Florida, that day cruising on an intimate and cozy yacht in the Gulf of Mexico toward the keys always provides new opportunities to visit and learn about the rich history of Florida and visit unique attractions. On the return trip there is plenty to do. If all you do is cruise, drink, eat, relax and never get off the vessel it can be wonderfully rejuvenating. We are lucky to have such a vessel, the Antares, moored near our home at John’s Pass and would recommend booking for a day, or more.

Captain Allen Stoneback offers numerous custom charters.  The Antares can pick you and your guests up at most of the local Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg, or nearby marinas. For online access to see if Captain Stoneback and the Antares is available for your next weekend or week off go to the “Guide Directory.”You can request a quote online or email fishprocharters@gmail.com .

I was impressed by the extent to which Paul and his wife had gone to restore the yacht. The attention to detail is impressive. The seating, colors, and textures of the walls, ceiling upholstery, and general décor made for an enjoyable and festive experience for my eyes. The Warrens are interesting people as well; adept at conversation, cooking, and general all around good old hospitality. Everyone that attended the marina gathering, quite a turnout at the marina, seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves. I thought at one point during the evening, “Well, if I had to sit in a room for a board meeting, presentation, document signing, closing, or other type of meeting, (that I generally avoid as if it were the swine flu), I’d rather do it on board this boat as opposed to an over dressed and under furnish lawyer or bankers office.” No offense to bankers, lawyers, or other folks ingrained with the need to meet, but a floating meeting is way more fun and less stuffy, in my opinion.

Should you be a local business concern or a visiting executive looking for a unique venue for offsite meetings, Meetings Afloat provides the well appointed motor yacht, Dolce Vita. She has been renovated and customized to provide professional, yet comfortable surroundings for small group business meetings and hospitality events.
The 45-foot motor yacht “Dolce Vita” accommodates up to 12 and is equipped with the latest in high tech business presentation equipment.  It also has a full galley for food and beverage service, supplied by a preferred catering service.  “Dolce Vita” normally will cruise on Tampa Bay, the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, and nearby rivers to such destinations as Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Sarasota, and Bradenton/Palmetto. 

“Dolce Vita” features a spacious, Hollywood-themed interior saloon meeting space equipped with the latest audio-visual resources.  The A/V setup includes a large screen “high-def” LCD television/computer display, a notebook PC with high speed Internet connection, and a HDTV-compliant 1080p DVD/CD disk player.  There’s also an iPod/MP3-ready theatre audio system with surround-sound audio for pre-recorded presentations.  The designer-selected sofa, lounge chairs and stools in the saloon combine for a comfortable, sophisticated meeting environment.

The yacht is also designed with a large entertainment/outdoor meeting area on the top-deck fly bridge.  From this vantage point, guests can enjoy the local landscape along the Tampa or St. Petersburg skylines, other yachts passing by and the luxurious homes and natural vegetation that exist along the shoreline.  Parts of the fly bridge, as well as the aft cockpit behind the saloon, can be enclosed in case of inclement weather.

Captain Warren offers numerous custom charters.  The Dolce Vita can pick you and your guests up at most of the local Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg, or nearby marinas. For online access to see if Captain Warren and the Dolce Vita is available for your next meeting or presentation go to the “Central West Sunset Guide Directory” Link in the table of contents at www.fishprocharters.com. You can request a quote online.