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Ride in an Old
Fashioned Paddlewheel Boat Near Orlando, Florida
By Mark Whichard
Would you like to turn
the clock back and go for a cruise in a 19th
Century style paddlewheel boat on a river in Central
Florida? Well, you can do it if you catch a ride on the
Indian River Queen, a 99 foot triple deck paddle wheel steam
boat that plies the waters near Cocoa Beach, Florida.
There are several Old
South replica steamships vying for the attention of tourists
in Florida but one of the most famous is the India River
Queen. This is a triple deck riverboat that specializes in
chartered voyages for special events. If you enter this
spacious boat you will find yourself in the “Queens Room.”
On this deck you will be treated to a non-smoking air
conditioned room with a fully equipped bar, dance floor,
buffet dinner and comfortable seating.
The boat also has more
areas including a second deck where you will find a
welcoming space with a bar and music. Go up one deck higher,
to the upper deck and you will get a great view of the river
and the night sky.
The Queen was not made
up out of anyone’s imagination but is rather a true replica
of the boats that used to go up and down the rivers of the
U.S. during the 19th Century. The ship is so
“real” that it has been used in a Denzel Washington film,
“Out of Time,” as well is in a TV drama based on events
during the Civil War.
The success of the
Indian River Queen can be attributed to the entrepreneurial
skills of Penny Sheridan Flaherty. Penny is an ardent
promoter of Florida. She is a former Miss Florida USA and
founded Island Boat Tours and Water Taxi-Eco Tours. Through
these companies she offers daily tours in and around
Florida’s “Space Coast.” In Florida she is well know as “The
Boat Lady.”
The Indian River Queen
can be rented for special events ranging from weddings,
corporate gatherings, business luncheons, student tours,
theme cruises, cocktail parties and others.
Most of the package
tours feature live entertainment and you can choose from a
traditional Dixieland band, southern rock, jazz, blues,
country, disco, gospel, soul, reggae, steel drum, bluegrass,
rock and roll.
If you are not planning
your own event but would like to ride on the boat, you can
also take advantage of the special cruises that are held
throughout the year. There are special Mother’s Day and
Father’s Day cruises and also cruises that coincide with
spectacular launches at the space center at Cape Canaveral.
Tickets to these cruises range from $30 to $45 and this
includes dinner.
For more information
about the Indian River Queen call 321-454-7414 or visit
their website at
www.indianriverqueen.com
Mark and Susan Whichard are Orlando tourism experts and write frequently about attractions in and around Orlando.
Mark and his wife Susan are the proprietors of
Quality Villa Rentals Orlando. You can get great deals on
Orlando vacation homes and villa rentals at this website
http://www.qualityvillarentals.com
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