Naples: Catamaran Day Sail & Shelling Excursion with Drinks

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/15

Duration2h 30m

GroupUp to 20

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Shells in your pocket sun on your skin sailing Naples Gulf

You’ll sail from Naples on a roomy catamaran with drinks included, swim to a quiet island for shelling (floaties & life jackets ready), and share laughs with locals and travelers alike. Expect salty air, sandy toes, and maybe even dolphins if luck’s on your side—it’s more than just another boat ride.

2h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Catamaran sailing and shelling excursion

Board the Cool Beans catamaran
Set sail into the Gulf of Mexico
Enjoy complimentary drinks onboard
Listen to island tunes while sailing
Stop near a private beach
Swim to shore for shelling
Return to catamaran and continue sailing
Capture photos of local wildlife
End 2.5 hour excursion back at dock

The Experience

Ever wondered what it’s like to just drift out from Naples, Florida and leave the city behind for a couple hours? That’s what we did—me, my friend Jamie, and a handful of strangers who ended up feeling like old neighbors by the end. The catamaran (they call her Cool Beans, which cracked me up) was waiting at the dock, all white deck and soft ropes underfoot. Our captain—Mike, I think—handed out cold sodas and beers right away. He had this way of talking that made you feel like you’d known him since high school. We set off into the Gulf of Mexico with some reggae humming in the background and sunlight flickering on the water. I kept thinking: this is what “Florida” smells like—salty air mixed with sunscreen and something sweet from someone’s bag.

About halfway through our 2.5-hour catamaran day sail shelling excursion, Mike pointed out a patch of untouched sand ahead—a private island just sitting there, looking almost too perfect. Here’s the thing: you don’t dock right up on shore. We anchored maybe 100 feet out in five feet of warm water (which felt deeper when I first jumped in). You have to swim for it—Jamie squealed when she hit the water but then started laughing so hard she nearly lost her floatie. They’ve got plenty of those if you need them, plus life jackets for anyone who isn’t sure about swimming. The beach itself? Quiet except for gulls arguing overhead and that crunchy sound when you dig your toes into the shells. I found a weirdly shaped one that still sits on my desk now.

I didn’t expect to enjoy just floating there as much as I did—beer in hand (yes, included), legs dangling over Cool Beans’ edge while everyone swapped stories about their worst sunburns or best shell finds. On the way back, someone spotted dolphins off port side; Mike slowed down so we could watch them arc through the wake. There was this moment where nobody said anything at all—just wind and waves and sunburned arms resting on railings—and I still think about that view sometimes when I’m stuck in traffic back home.

What’s included

Your day includes complimentary soda, bottled water, beer and white wine (for adults), use of floaties and life jackets for swimming ashore during shelling stops, plus access to onboard bathrooms—all handled by a friendly local crew before returning to Naples after around 2.5 hours at sea.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Cool Beans Cruises Catamaran Sailing Charters