Robert Harrington

Review of Sebago Water Sports

Perfection for Key West sunset viewing; strongly c...

Perfection for Key West sunset viewing; strongly consider this tour as a must-do for your Key West visit. This is one of three reviews I m posting for the three Sebago trips we enjoyed on our Key West family vacation; overall, I m extremely impressed with Sebago staff, quality, and prices I give the company my highest recommendation for Key West fun. There are plenty of sunset viewing options in Key West including land-based restaurant seating, Mallory Square seaside viewing, and sunset cruises; each choice for sunset viewing has tradeoffs of cost, crowds, fun factor, and best viewing for Key West sunsets, which are uniquely stunning. I think Sebago s Captains Choice is the best value for the best Key West sunset viewing experience. When choosing a sunset viewing cruise, you ll find less expensive options which probably tradeoff for larger crowds, more packed boats, different drink/food options, and different kinds of boat experiences. Big Hint: watch the crowd size when choosing tours, especially if you re like me and really don t like to be packed tight on boat tour. Sebago Captains Choice IS NOT a packed boat experience. Sebago limits the guest population on the large, luxury sailing catamaran, the Pelican, to 20 guests maximum for an intimate, relaxed vibe that includes very personalized service from an experienced and energetic crew overwhelmingly worth the extra cost for our family. The vibe was perfect for families with kids, couples, friends, and singles. We checked in at the Sebago office; the office staff quickly and efficiently checked our payment and waivers and issued boarding cards for our boat. After a short wait with other guests, staff escorted us to our boat just a short walk from the office. Our Captain, Joe, and his First Mate, Jess, were simply incredible: friendly, efficient, attentive, and knowledgeable. From the moment we stepped on board, Jess kept a drink in our hands and continually made rounds for refills and to offer delicious hors d oeuvres. Jess also supported the Captain in running the operation of the boat. Captain Joe expertly commanded and piloted the boat, engaged with the guests, and monitored the safety of the busy waters. Sebago places a lot of focus on safety, and you can see that focus in the attention the crew gives to passenger orientation, the outfit of the boat, the state of the equipment on the boat, and the crew s conduct of operations, including interaction with the other watercraft off Key West. At one point in our journey, Captain Joe spied a swimmer in the boating lanes and jumped quickly to warn off other watercraft boating toward the swimmer and warn the swimmer out of the boating lanes Joe may have saved that swimmer. This was our second voyage on the Pelican, and I can say I ve come to love the sleek luxury catamaran; the boat is clean, modern, and includes plenty of deck space, shaded spaces, seating/laying options, below desk storage, and a private head (bathroom). Sebago does a great job with food they cater from their shore kitchen to the boat: fresh, good quality, and plenty to feed everyone. Jess served us delicious cheeseburger sliders on pretzel buns, pita and hummus squares with vegetable slivers, shrimp, and key lime and chocolate tarts. The bar offering was diverse including several beers, a few wines, sangria, liquors, sodas, juices, and a large jug of cold water to keep everyone well-hydrated. We sailed along the Key West Mallory Square area and eventually out beyond Fort Zachary Taylor to an area offering incredible views of the distant sea line and setting sun. Captain Joe made sure we had great views for pictures at every stage of the sunset, and the pictures were staggeringly beautiful through each stage. Joe and Jess powered us back into the harbor after dark, let us know that we re all part of the Sebago family (including discounts for all future tours), and wished us well, everyone with smiles on their faces. My highest recommendation for watching the sunset in Key West.