Gulf Island Tours
Gulf Island Tours
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Book a Yacht Charter for a day cruise to Cayo Costa, Boca Grande, Cabbage Key, Manasota Key & Don Pedro St. Park. Yacht charters from Englewood FL or from Boca Grande, FL which includes roundtrip Limousine service in Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, North Port, Cape Coral, Saraasota, Fort Myers and Venice Florida. Check out our Boat Rentals in Englewood & Boca Grande which can be delivered to Port Charlotte, Cape Coral, North Port, Boca Grande and Venice Florida.
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1happycamper99999
Raleigh, NC14 contributions
Dec 2013 • Family
This past December, our family decided to "not do a traditional Christmas" and take a much needed family vacation instead. We looked at several places in South West Florida such as Fort Myers, Captiva & Sanibel Islands but then decided on a secluded beach cottage located on Don Pedro Island which is close to Manasota Key and Gasparilla Island. The neat thing about it was the island could only be accessed by boat so we began searching the web for boat rentals and private boat charters and fortunately found Gulf Island Tours. It seemed the business was kind of a "one stop shop" for the adventurous trip we were planning. We were flying into Fort Myers from Raleigh Durham and had discussed renting a car until my son noticed Gulf Island Tours offered limousine service also. I called and spoke with Angie and she helped us plan our entire trip from that point on.
We were treated like royalty from the moment we landed in Fort Myers! Upon arrival, it was easy to spot Gulf Island Tours gorgeous white stretch limousine. Our beach house came with a dock and Gulf Island Tours had all of our needs handled. On the way, we stopped at the grocery store to stock our beach cottage. We had my two sons, their girlfriends, my husband and I so we really loaded the limousine up with supplies for the week. We were definitely glad we hadn't tried to rent a car! The limo took us to Chadwick Cove in Englewood Florida where we boarded the double decker H2O Limo for our ride over Don Pedro Island. At that point, we also selected which of their rental boats we wanted to use for the week and my husband and son followed behind the pontoon boat to the dock right in front of the rental house. The beach house was great (rented through VRBO) and we loved the seclusion of Don Pedro Island. We also rented a golf cart and explored the tropical paradise but the boat rental was the most fun we have had on a vacation in a long, long time!. The mangroves were full of birds and we also got to see plenty of manatees and dolphins. My husband and Captain Stuart were instant buddies and the very next day, he took my husband and two sons out to show them around the area for no extra charge! We got the same great service on our return back to the "real world" (though we were all definitely sad we had to leave!)
We would definitely recommend Gulf Island Tours to our family and friends or to anyone looking for an extra special vacation in South West Florida. This was truly a "worry free" vacation and we can't wait to do it again!
We were treated like royalty from the moment we landed in Fort Myers! Upon arrival, it was easy to spot Gulf Island Tours gorgeous white stretch limousine. Our beach house came with a dock and Gulf Island Tours had all of our needs handled. On the way, we stopped at the grocery store to stock our beach cottage. We had my two sons, their girlfriends, my husband and I so we really loaded the limousine up with supplies for the week. We were definitely glad we hadn't tried to rent a car! The limo took us to Chadwick Cove in Englewood Florida where we boarded the double decker H2O Limo for our ride over Don Pedro Island. At that point, we also selected which of their rental boats we wanted to use for the week and my husband and son followed behind the pontoon boat to the dock right in front of the rental house. The beach house was great (rented through VRBO) and we loved the seclusion of Don Pedro Island. We also rented a golf cart and explored the tropical paradise but the boat rental was the most fun we have had on a vacation in a long, long time!. The mangroves were full of birds and we also got to see plenty of manatees and dolphins. My husband and Captain Stuart were instant buddies and the very next day, he took my husband and two sons out to show them around the area for no extra charge! We got the same great service on our return back to the "real world" (though we were all definitely sad we had to leave!)
We would definitely recommend Gulf Island Tours to our family and friends or to anyone looking for an extra special vacation in South West Florida. This was truly a "worry free" vacation and we can't wait to do it again!
Written January 18, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It was our pleasure to have helped make your stay in Southwest Florida a memorable one. The limo indeed comes in handy for people flying into the area and with the island accommodation you selected (awesome find by the way!) a rental car would have been a waste of money. The best way to see this area is by boat and in our opinion, it is the only way to truly appreciate this area. Florida has many, many hidden unpoiled islands. Be sure to come back as there is no way to see them all in a week!
Written January 26, 2014
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
graddox
33 contributions
It was just too cold so we decided to take a quick trip from Gerogia to Florida this past December, the week before Christmas. Fort Myers was great fun but since we own a house on the water and my husband is a boat captain, it wasn't long before the family wanted to go on a water adventure. I went online and found Gulf Island Tours and upon seeing the website, everyone in the group was excited about going on a yacht charter so I booked immediately for the following Friday. Our group of six was picked up in a really nice limousine and taken to Manasota Key (about an hour from Ft. Myers.) Once there, we all hopped aboard the yacht and soon, we were riding in the beautiful Gulf of Mexico watching the dolphins jumping in our boat wake. The men wanted to fish so Captain Stuart got everyone situated with their fishing rigs while me, my sister and my mom went to the bow to lay on the enormous sun pad and catch some rays. Within a few minutes, the front hatch on the bow popped open and First Mate Angie was asking us if we wanted one of beers we had packed in our cooler. Moments later, Angie was handing us our beers, complete with several Gulf Island Tours beer cuzzis to keep them cold! Now, this was great service! After that, she pops her head up again hands us a book of music CD's and we made our selections. We were then about four miles off shore and with concert like quality, we heard mom's first choice, Freddy Mercury singing "Bohemian Rhapsody." Now - this was living!
My brother, husband, and four year old son fished on the way to Gasparilla Island and Boca Grande. Between Boca Grande and the uninhabited island of Cayo Costa, there was a private un-named island and we stopped there for a swim and to make some sandwiches. After making our way down the side of the boat back inside, Angie had already laid everything out for us on the table in the huge flybridge (the upstairs part) of the boat. The bread, condiments, cheese, etc. were opened and paper plates were out along with the fruit bowl we had brought. We had also brought some stuff to make margaritas with and as soon as we mentioned it, here comes Angie upstairs with the Tervis tumblers, ice and the blender! The rest of the day was wonderful and the guys had caught some huge Tarpon fish so we were all extremely happy. As the sunset approached, Capt. Stuart asked if we want to have a big dinner in Boca Grande and since we had never been there, we decided that sounded fun! We headed back towards Gasparilla as the sun was setting and docked at a marina there called Uncle Henry's. Captain Stuart recommended that we walk up to the little store in the marina and rent a golf cart so we did. We got to tour the town of Boca Grande that night on the cart and had dinner in a very nice Italian restaurant called "Sisters." We also did a little bit of Christmas shopping and got some neat jewelry etc. A few hours later, we were back on the yacht headed for the home port in Chadwick Cove in Englewood. As we pulled back in to the home port, we noticed a lively pub with live music next door called The White Elephant. The Captian & First Mate told us "Go! No cover charge!" So we went and hung out there for another hour or so. Afterwards, we were all pretty exhausted on the limousine ride back to Fort Myers! All in all, this experience with Gulf Island Tours was the hightlight of our vacation. We will definitely be booking another trip on the "Reel Keel" and perhapds, see Venice and Siesta Key, Florida on their northern itinerary cruise! Do not hesitate to spend your money with these people. They definitely know how to have fun and this experience was unlike any other tour we had ever been on. My husband was very happy as well.....since he got to spend time on a yacht for pleasure and didn't have to be at the helm! I highly recommend Gulf Island Tours!
My brother, husband, and four year old son fished on the way to Gasparilla Island and Boca Grande. Between Boca Grande and the uninhabited island of Cayo Costa, there was a private un-named island and we stopped there for a swim and to make some sandwiches. After making our way down the side of the boat back inside, Angie had already laid everything out for us on the table in the huge flybridge (the upstairs part) of the boat. The bread, condiments, cheese, etc. were opened and paper plates were out along with the fruit bowl we had brought. We had also brought some stuff to make margaritas with and as soon as we mentioned it, here comes Angie upstairs with the Tervis tumblers, ice and the blender! The rest of the day was wonderful and the guys had caught some huge Tarpon fish so we were all extremely happy. As the sunset approached, Capt. Stuart asked if we want to have a big dinner in Boca Grande and since we had never been there, we decided that sounded fun! We headed back towards Gasparilla as the sun was setting and docked at a marina there called Uncle Henry's. Captain Stuart recommended that we walk up to the little store in the marina and rent a golf cart so we did. We got to tour the town of Boca Grande that night on the cart and had dinner in a very nice Italian restaurant called "Sisters." We also did a little bit of Christmas shopping and got some neat jewelry etc. A few hours later, we were back on the yacht headed for the home port in Chadwick Cove in Englewood. As we pulled back in to the home port, we noticed a lively pub with live music next door called The White Elephant. The Captian & First Mate told us "Go! No cover charge!" So we went and hung out there for another hour or so. Afterwards, we were all pretty exhausted on the limousine ride back to Fort Myers! All in all, this experience with Gulf Island Tours was the hightlight of our vacation. We will definitely be booking another trip on the "Reel Keel" and perhapds, see Venice and Siesta Key, Florida on their northern itinerary cruise! Do not hesitate to spend your money with these people. They definitely know how to have fun and this experience was unlike any other tour we had ever been on. My husband was very happy as well.....since he got to spend time on a yacht for pleasure and didn't have to be at the helm! I highly recommend Gulf Island Tours!
Written January 12, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are so glad you and your family had a great time. We strive to make every yacht charter a memory of a lifetime. We were delighted to have met you all and hope you will book a trip with us again in the near future. We are expanding our itinerary options as well so will email you our updated itineraries.....we definitely will have something for all ages to enjoy. Also, we were in awe of your four year old son's knowledge of fishing lures! He'll be ready to throw a cast net next year! Again, thank you for your business!
Written January 23, 2014
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Enjoying-These-Trips
Toronto, Canada19 contributions
Jan 2014 • Family
On a recent vacation to Florida's southwest coast we decided to charter Gulf Island Tours' large yacht for our family. We had a marvellous time out on the water. Stuart and Angela had prepared well for the trip. All we needed to do was step outside in the morning and we were picked up in a white stretch limo that the five kids went crazy over, especially since we had kept it a surprise for them. The yacht was ready to go when we arrived and we spent a leisurely day out on the water, with stops for the kids to swim and explore beaches. Stuart took us to a restaurant on Cabbage Key that everyone loved - a hidden gem on a tiny island. It was one of those days where everyone just went "Aaaaah....." The charter was fabulous and well worth the money - thank you Stuart and Angela. We hope to return next year.
Written January 24, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It was indeed our pleasure to take you and your family out on the yacht charter. We are glad to know the limo ride was a thrill for the children and that everyone enjoyed the islands on the charter itinerary. We will also be cruising north of Manasota Key to Venice & Siesta Key so we look forward to having you as our guests for the new itinerary! Thank you so much for your business.
Written February 13, 2014
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stan P
1 contribution
Jun 2022
Placed a $500 deposit on April 12,2022 for rental of a boat to be used in the middle of June. The morning that we were going to take delivery, Captain Stu sends a text picture of the one we were supposed to get. It had been sunk, and unfortunately they did not have another one for us. I asked for my deposit back, but so far, after multiple attempts, have not received my deposit refund. I am very surprised because on the phone with him, he seemed like a very nice guy.
At 69 YO this is my first review of any company, ever. Sad it was for something like this.
At 69 YO this is my first review of any company, ever. Sad it was for something like this.
Written July 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anabel T
Punta Gorda, FL1 contribution
Dec 2013 • Family
First of all, I don't usually take the time to write reviews but I had such a great time on this boat tour so I felt I had to share this with others. We had family visiting from Cuba and had been in Miami for several weeks during the month of December. My boyfriend Raul wanted to go on a fishing trip and my sister wanted to visit friends in Englewood Florida. As we drove from Miami up to Manasota Key, I Google yacht charters around Englewood and Punta Gorda and found Gulf Island Tours. We called on a Thursday afternoon and they had availability for the following Saturday. The weather looked perfect for the weekend so we booked the charter. We were all pleasantly surprised with the comfortable yacht and all the amenities! We were greeted very warmly by the owners, Captain Stuart and his wife Angie and we instantly felt like family. We spent the whole day trolling for fish around the beautiful islands and caught Trout, Spanish Mackeral, and Red Snapper. Our host were so gracious! We prepared the fresh fish right on the back of the boat while Angie prepared American coleslaw and baked beans for our side dishes! The kitchen onboard the boat had so many great spices so the grilled fish turned out fantastic! The food and the company was perfect and made a very memorable trip for our family! We will be booking another trip with Gulf Island Tours again!!!
Nosotros tenemos una familia cubana que nos han estado visitando,eran antiguos residentes de Miami por varios anos,por varias semanas en el mes de Diciembre.Mi novio Raul queria ir a un crucero ,pero yo le sugeri a ir a dar un paseo en un barco y pescar .Ademas mi hermana queria ir a visitar a unas amistades en Englewood Florida.
Mientras ibamos en camino hacia Manasota Key,I google buscando informaccion sobre yates para ir a pasear,y encontramos una compania llamada Gulf Island Tours.Hicimos una llamada el jueves y tenian un espacio disponible para el Sabado.Nosotros chequeamos el estado del tiempo para el Sabado y se veia prometedor ,asi que decidimos rentar el yate
Nos llevaron en el yate por todo el area de Punta Gorda y Englewood.Nosotros as quedamos muy sorprendidos y encantados con lo confortable que es el yate y con el servicio que nos ofrecieron.
El capitan Stuart y esposa Angie, fueron unos increibles anfitriones,y enseguida nos sentimos como familia ,hicimos una visita por una hermosa isla. Angie preparo pescado fresco ,ensaladas en el barco,the tiene una cocina donde prepararon comida fresca.
Como clientes quedamos muy satisfechos.
http://www.GulfIslandTours.com
Nosotros tenemos una familia cubana que nos han estado visitando,eran antiguos residentes de Miami por varios anos,por varias semanas en el mes de Diciembre.Mi novio Raul queria ir a un crucero ,pero yo le sugeri a ir a dar un paseo en un barco y pescar .Ademas mi hermana queria ir a visitar a unas amistades en Englewood Florida.
Mientras ibamos en camino hacia Manasota Key,I google buscando informaccion sobre yates para ir a pasear,y encontramos una compania llamada Gulf Island Tours.Hicimos una llamada el jueves y tenian un espacio disponible para el Sabado.Nosotros chequeamos el estado del tiempo para el Sabado y se veia prometedor ,asi que decidimos rentar el yate
Nos llevaron en el yate por todo el area de Punta Gorda y Englewood.Nosotros as quedamos muy sorprendidos y encantados con lo confortable que es el yate y con el servicio que nos ofrecieron.
El capitan Stuart y esposa Angie, fueron unos increibles anfitriones,y enseguida nos sentimos como familia ,hicimos una visita por una hermosa isla. Angie preparo pescado fresco ,ensaladas en el barco,the tiene una cocina donde prepararon comida fresca.
Como clientes quedamos muy satisfechos.
http://www.GulfIslandTours.com
Written January 13, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much Anabel for your great review. That day with your family was one of the best times we have had in Florida since relocating our business from North Carolina. We are practicing our Spanish now, daily hoping you and your family will return soon. Learning all about Cuba was so fascinating! It was indeed our pleasure to have been able to offer your family a wonderful experience on the Reel Keel.
Written January 22, 2014
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kelly F
1 contribution
Jun 2018 • Couples
I am a wedding professional and deal with vendors of all sorts every day. I have never encountered a more unprofessional, rude, careless group in all my years.
The mother of the groom purchased the 5 hour package (3:00-8:00pm) that included the “complimentary” LIMO ride to the boat for the wedding party & bride.
The day before the wedding, we were told they didn’t know anything about a limo to pick us up.
The day of the wedding: The “PARTY BUS” arrived 15 minutes late (2:45).
The party bus had ZERO air conditioning. The driver tried to tell us it was on, but it’s just “Florida heat”. No, there was no air conditioning. There were 7 adults (20-70) and inculding one in a wedding gown....with NO air conditioning. In less than 5 minutes Each of us were starting to get a little nervous, it was THAT hot.
10 minutes into our steaming hot ride, the driver pulled over and got out of the bus. The bus broke down!!! We were thrilled to be out in the Florida heat, and off the much hotter bus (mind you it had no functioning windows either).
So there the wedding party sat, on the side of the road in the sun....waiting.
In the mean time, some of the other guests were at the boat, waiting on the dock because the captain and first mate were not there yet. It is already past 3pm...the time we were supposed to leave.
When the captain was contacted, he was rude and said, “Oh, you guys still want to go out?”
Fast forward to 3:45, we all arrive at the boat via other transportation.
When one of the guest said something to the first mate about the service, he, are you ready for this.....chucked her the bird!!!!
The Captain FINALLY arrives and we leave over an hour late.
The boat’s air conditioning also didn’t work, so they had 4 fans going.
We could not even open, let alone use the refrigerator on the boat, as it smelled like something died in it and hadn’t been cleaned in a year. If it was opened for a quick second...the entire boat smelled rancid and people were literally gagging.
Then there is the issue of the first mate, who filled up 3 solo cups and a 36 ounce Yeti mug with OUR alcohol (straight vodka), without being invited to it, or asking if he may partake.
Neither the captain, nor the first mate EVER apologized for the ordeal, offered to make it up in some way, or even seemed to care that this was someone’s WEDDING.
When our 4 hour ride (remember we lost an hour) was over, the groom approached the Captain Stu and asked him if he was going to do anything to makeup for the mishaps, he was extremely rude and angry.
He told us the bus was fixed and A/C cranking, so we boarded the bus. There was no air conditioning and in less than 3 minutes (we hadn’t left the lot yet) the bus broke down again. There we were AGAIN scrambling to try to find rides for everyone to get back home.
Does this captain know how to drive a boat (while drinking) yes. Was the ocean beautiful? Yes. Would I recommend this vendor to anyone at all? absolutely not.
Horrific service.
The mother of the groom purchased the 5 hour package (3:00-8:00pm) that included the “complimentary” LIMO ride to the boat for the wedding party & bride.
The day before the wedding, we were told they didn’t know anything about a limo to pick us up.
The day of the wedding: The “PARTY BUS” arrived 15 minutes late (2:45).
The party bus had ZERO air conditioning. The driver tried to tell us it was on, but it’s just “Florida heat”. No, there was no air conditioning. There were 7 adults (20-70) and inculding one in a wedding gown....with NO air conditioning. In less than 5 minutes Each of us were starting to get a little nervous, it was THAT hot.
10 minutes into our steaming hot ride, the driver pulled over and got out of the bus. The bus broke down!!! We were thrilled to be out in the Florida heat, and off the much hotter bus (mind you it had no functioning windows either).
So there the wedding party sat, on the side of the road in the sun....waiting.
In the mean time, some of the other guests were at the boat, waiting on the dock because the captain and first mate were not there yet. It is already past 3pm...the time we were supposed to leave.
When the captain was contacted, he was rude and said, “Oh, you guys still want to go out?”
Fast forward to 3:45, we all arrive at the boat via other transportation.
When one of the guest said something to the first mate about the service, he, are you ready for this.....chucked her the bird!!!!
The Captain FINALLY arrives and we leave over an hour late.
The boat’s air conditioning also didn’t work, so they had 4 fans going.
We could not even open, let alone use the refrigerator on the boat, as it smelled like something died in it and hadn’t been cleaned in a year. If it was opened for a quick second...the entire boat smelled rancid and people were literally gagging.
Then there is the issue of the first mate, who filled up 3 solo cups and a 36 ounce Yeti mug with OUR alcohol (straight vodka), without being invited to it, or asking if he may partake.
Neither the captain, nor the first mate EVER apologized for the ordeal, offered to make it up in some way, or even seemed to care that this was someone’s WEDDING.
When our 4 hour ride (remember we lost an hour) was over, the groom approached the Captain Stu and asked him if he was going to do anything to makeup for the mishaps, he was extremely rude and angry.
He told us the bus was fixed and A/C cranking, so we boarded the bus. There was no air conditioning and in less than 3 minutes (we hadn’t left the lot yet) the bus broke down again. There we were AGAIN scrambling to try to find rides for everyone to get back home.
Does this captain know how to drive a boat (while drinking) yes. Was the ocean beautiful? Yes. Would I recommend this vendor to anyone at all? absolutely not.
Horrific service.
Written June 25, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
First of all, let's talk about the fact that we contacted you a week before this charter and told you the generator onboard the vessel had broken, that we wanted to completely cancel this plan and advised you guys to make other arrangements. However, you all insisted (begged!) for us to proceed with the charter knowing full well the generator was broken. So, I question why someone opened the refrigerator when we had told you beforehand it was not working. We had also told you we had no power for a crock pot you planned to bring, no microwave, that absolutely nothing inside of the vessel was operational as far as electrical power. However, you insisted on still proceeding with this wedding plan so we did everything we could to make the inside of the vessel cooler. We spent over $700 buying fans, batteries and inverters and I was working furiously on the yacht prior to your arrival. It's true the bus was having electrical problems that day but we were not aware of the problems prior to picking part of your group up. Some of the confusion came because half of the group drove themselves to the yacht and waited at the restaurant on the premises while the other half apparently needed the fifteen minute bus ride from Englewood to Cape Haze, which is one island down. We had just gotten the bus back from a mechanic's shop and were told by them the electrical issues were all fixed and that everything was good to go. Having addressed now the things that were not operating correctly, the rest of your accusations here are completely false 100%! Neither my first mate nor I drink alcohol, nor would we ever steal from anyone. That's just outrageous. I was definitely not trying to be rude when I asked if you guys wanted to cancel after the bus ride and prior to leaving the dock because I had already been called a bunch of horrible, nasty names before ever even getting the chance to introduce myself in person. My first mate told me all the horrible names you had called me so my gut instinct was to not do this charter. Once I learned the bus had broken down, I left the yacht to come and try and assist and that is why I wasn't onboard when your part of the group arrived. So, let's talk about the bride for a minute. She was very appreciative that I had gone out of my way to make sure she had fans going in the master suite and master bathroom where she applied her make up and she thanked me profusely for doing that. Let's talk about too, the customer service my first mate provided that day. From my vantage point, Vic was waiting on your group hand and foot, bringing you all drinks and even going as far as to light one patron's cigarette several times. No one during the charter complained and from all appearances, a good time was had by all.
Obviously, some of the things that happened on this trip were totally out of our control but I am beyond shocked that you felt the need to throw in a bunch of false accusations such as my first mate shot someone the bird, that we were drinking while driving (which is very, very serious!) that we were thieves, or that we had somehow done something that was in any way dishonest. Everyone onboard was amazed at the way I maneuvered the yacht and commented on that also. Claiming that I didn't apologize and do anything to make up for these inconveniences is also untrue. I agreed to a $250 discount because the free shuttle bus experienced problems, even though I do not charge for that service. I can't believe you thought leaving a lying, and extremely nasty review was appropriate when all during the trip, everyone onboard was happy overall and kept saying, "Captain Stu is THE MAN!" I honestly tried everything humanly possible to accommodate everyone in every way I could. We took some great pictures of the wedding ceremony from the bridge and posted them on our social media pages. Therefore, anyone that wants to take a look can see these wedding photos and can clearly see everyone was having a good time in spite of the problems we had encountered that day. This seems more like an attempt at slander than an honest Tripadvisor review. But, life goes on and it was inevitable I suppose I would get a negative review at some point in my life but I must say the outright lies have totally blown us all away. Going forward, I will always continue to give 110% to all my future clients and thankfully, you will not be among them. All the money in the world would not be worth it if I had to do business with someone capable of writing such vicious lies and for whatever "other reasons" is intentionally trying to destroy my reputation. I wish now I had not told anyone my political affiliation when asked because I have a very strong feeling that has a huge part to play here. Anyone reading this hopefully can see there's a lot more going on here with this wedding planner than a broken down party bus.
Written June 26, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Theresa W
Clearwater, FL4 contributions
Dec 2016 • Family
My husband and I were looking for something to do with our 13 year old daughter on her Christmas break...trying to get her away from the computer and computer games. It had to be fun and it had to be adventurous...well we found it! I spoke with Angie, Captain Stuart's wife of the beautiful yacht that we rented for an overnight adventure...and told her my troubles with my teenager...When we got there, she made us all feel like family...there were so many things we were going to do over the next 24 hours that there was no way that my teenager would be bored! We were all very impressed with the state rooms which were so comfortable to sleep in, we went on an eco tour and saw plenty of dolphins and at one of our stops they even gave my daughter a fishing pole to try her luck. Capt. Stuart showed her how to cast and bait her hook. To her surprise she even caught a couple of grunts! The music was playing, we were all dancing and there was a lot of story telling and laughing! That is exactly what we all needed. To end the evening was the spectacular sunset! Thanks Capt. Stuart and Angie for making our time GREAT!!
Written January 3, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ed B
Prospect, CT2 contributions
Nov 2014 • Family
Just returned back to New England after spending Thanksgiving at our winter home in Southwest Florida.My wife,son and daughter and I met up with my brother and nephew to take a yacht tour on Capt Stu's 45' Carver.Very nice vessell Capt Stu owner of Gulf Island Tours is a true professional and very safe!Suggestions were right on point,Cabbage Key for Lunch,Captiva Island for Dinner.Dolphins behind the yacht(My 9 year old's favorite part) you could almost reach out and touch them.Do yourself a favor call this family owned company to experience the time of your life.From my wife to my son (20 yrs old) and daughter (9 yrs old)and myself, there is something for all.I will most definatley return with family and friends in the very near future. Great job crew and thanks again for a awesome time.
Written December 4, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write us a review. We are going to have a brand new KVH Marine Satellite antenna installed before your next visit so everyone can enjoy Direct TV at sea. I am very happy that you all enjoyed Captiva Island and Cabbage Key. So much unspoiled old Florida paradise to be explored here in SW Florida. We hope to see you all again very soon.
Written December 6, 2014
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
George I
Asheville, NC32 contributions
Aug 2014 • Couples
My wife and I were visiting Fort Myers beach this year and were quite disappointed in the water color and clarity. Having visited the area previously, we decided to look for an adventure north or south and ended up hearing about Gulf Island Tours which is located in Englewood, Florida. We called and talked to Captain Stuart and his wife Angela and made a booking for a full day yacht charter. The great thing about this company that makes them different in our opinion is they provide free limousine transfers to and from the yacht as part of their charter packages. We also liked that they wanted to be flexible with the dates in the height of rainy season so we could have the best weather possible for our charter. We were whisked away at 9:00 am from Ft. Myers to Englewood in the limousine and boarded the yacht less than an hour later. We went to Stump Pass Beach State Park and then down to Gasparilla Island and Boca Grande. They had reserved a golf cart there for us and we toured the island for a few hours and hung out at a wonderful private beach by ourselves. The water was clear and calm in the Gulf of Mexico that day! Afterwards, we went to dinner at a beach front restaurant before turning in the cart and getting back on the yacht. We cruised back up north from Gasparilla Island for a phenomenal sunset tour out in the Gulf this time and saw many dolphins jumping in the wake behind the boat. We will definitely do this tour again and plan to bring our adult children for an overnight tour with Captain Stuart & Angela. Great experience.......no complaints what so ever!
Written September 13, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much Doc for taking time to write this review....we know you are very busy! We plan on coming to Asheville sometime for a visit and my wife definitely want to come and see you! Let us know next time you are dwon and we will plan a scuba diving trip for you guys! There is much to see here so hurry back!
Written January 17, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ann M
Boxford, MA4 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
We just got home from spending 2 days celebrating our 25th and we are so thankful that we spent it on the "Reel Keel". Stuart and Vic made everything so special for us and we had a blast! Perfect weather and being with awesome people, can't wait to do it again soon. Love you guys!
Ann and Mike
Ann and Mike
Written October 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were honored to be a part of your 25th wedding anniversary. Thank you so much for your kind words. We hope you two will book another charter with us very soon! Thanks again for your business.
Written January 17, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hi, my husband and I are retired- our son & his wife and 2 granddaughters 5& 7 are coming to Florida for the first time in July for a week. They are staying by Flounders in Englewood. We -6 of us are interested in a full day (if we afford it) to take the kids on the water to see - dolphins- manatees - whatever and my son wanted to fish. Is that something that can be done at a reasonable price???? It is the week of July 16-20th.
Written June 11, 2017
Hi there - so sorry I'm just seeing this question. I think my trip cost about $800-$1000 and I thought it was worth every penny. We saw dolphins come right up to the boat, which isn't guaranteed, but I thought it was such a great trip. Hope you're able to do it!
Written July 17, 2017
We are curious about the price for a tour and how many people for a tour? Do you do tours with groups who aren't together?
Written February 20, 2015
At Gulf Island Tours, we offer a 45 foot Carver Yacht (The Reel Keel) at $180 per hour. This includes limousine service if you are staying within a 30 mile radius of Chadwick Cove Marina in Englewood, FL. We only do private tours. We do have a sister company here in the same marina (owned by my brother, ironically!) - We could possibly combine services for larger groups but would need 60 days or more notice to coordinate schedules, depending on whether it is high or low season. Twelve is the max for the limousine. Feel free to call or email us directly by clicking on our website here on TA so we can plan further. Thanks! Capt. Stu
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Written February 20, 2015
Hi,
We have a group of 21 (combination of adults and children) and are looking for 3-4 hour boat tour. Can you steer us in the right direction, thanks.
Written February 12, 2015
Captain stu is awesome his h20 limo boat would work great for a group of that size please give him a call to see what he can do to accommodate you let me know if you enjoy his service im jealous
Written February 13, 2015
Hi,
We have a group of 21 (combination of adults and children) and are looking for 3-4 hour boat tour. Can you steer us in the right direction, thanks.
Written February 12, 2015
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