It's easy to find a cruise that floats your boat in southwest Florida. Diverse day cruises provide infinite ways to experience the clear, green waters of the Gulf of Mexico and its numerous inlets. If you're looking for a fun family outing or a romantic dinner under the stars, one of these cruises might be right for you —- usually at a price that won't take the wind out of your sails.

Captiva Cruises, Captiva Island

Passengers have yet to board the Lady Chadwick, but the fun has already begun.

The harbor at South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island is teeming with manatees, and everyone —- especially a couple of preschoolers —- is enjoying the show. As these 1,000-pound marine mammals emerge from the warm waters of Pine Island Sound, they exhale in a gurgling burst, then quickly submerge again with a flick of their paddle-shaped tails.

Once aboard, everyone settles in for a one-hour cruise to Cabbage Key. This secluded island is a true Old Florida hideaway and can be reached only by boat or helicopter. Brad, a knowledgeable guide, explains that the main house on Cabbage Key was built by mystery writer Mary Roberts Rinehart in 1938. Today it is the Cabbage Key Inn and Restaurant and the group's lunch destination.

Brad starts to tell more about the history of the area, but quickly loses his audience when bottlenose dolphins start playing in the wake of the boat. Everyone makes a beeline for the railing to get a view of the dolphins jumping in graceful, synchronized arcs.

At Cabbage Key Inn, many hungry passengers order seafood, while others go for a "Cheeseburger in Paradise." A group of 30-somethings attempts to give a lively, loud rendition of Jimmy Buffett's song that, if you believe local legend, was inspired by a burger at the Cabbage Key Inn. The wannabe singers can't agree on the lyrics and, in the end, they just eat their burgers and happily give up singing about them.

As plates are cleared away and guests are handed their checks, there's a sudden scramble to find crisp dollar bills in pockets and purses. No, that's not the tip. Every inch of the Cabbage Key Inn is wallpapered floor to ceiling with autographed dollar bills, some from celebrities like Kevin Costner and Julia Roberts. These visitors are determined to carry on a tradition that was supposedly started by a fisherman who once taped a dollar to the wall to make sure he had money for a beer the next time he was on the island.

Grande Tours, Placida

You know what they say about birds of a feather. On White Pelican Island about 2,000 white pelicans flock together from October to March. Grande Tours Watchable Wildlife Bay Tour takes passengers to this bird sanctuary in Gasparilla Sound, which boasts one of the largest concentrations of white pelicans in the Southeast.

Devoted bird enthusiasts armed with cameras and binoculars can observe the birds from the boat, a vantage point that allows an unobstructed view but does not disturb the pelicans. Bird-watchers can't get enough of seeing the birds fish with the scooplike pouch of their beak and swallow their catch with a single gulp.

The white pelican may be the star of the show, but there are many supporting cast members, like the brown pelican, the white pelican's less glamorous cousin, and the great egret, which get rave reviews from bird-watchers.

If you are lucky, you may even see an American oystercatcher or two along the sandbars. This bird, named for its appetite for live shells, has an unmistakable long, orange bill, making it easy to spot.

This tour operates year-round, so even when the white pelicans have migrated North, this wildlife-rich estuary has plenty to offer.

Sanibel Harbour Princess, Fort Myers

Think sailing off into the sunset with your sweetheart is just the stuff of trite romance novels? It's a reality on the Sanibel Harbour Princess. Come aboard this "love boat," the Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa's private, luxury yacht, for a two-hour sunset dinner cruise on the Caloosahatchee River.

Dine on pan-seared salmon, crab orecchiette or stuffed chicken roulade from the extensive dinner buffet.

Chocolate has been thought of as an aphrodisiac for centuries, so for dessert, indulge yourself in Double Chocolate Decadence. Layers of chocolate sponge cake are separated by chocolate ganache and the whole delightfully sinful thing is enveloped in chocolate chips.

Who needs pricey restaurants touting "ambience"? Just take a stroll along the observation deck and nature provides a perfect, but uncontrived, setting for romance. Balmy breezes blow your cares away as moonlight reflects off the water.

IF YOU GO

> Captiva Cruises, Captiva Island. Offers cruises to Cabbage Key, Cayo Costa State Park, Gasparilla Island, a dolphin and wildlife adventure, a sunset cruise, sailing and private expeditions. 239-472-5300, www.captivacruises.com.

> Grande Tours, Placida. Offers wildlife tours, fishing excursions (including a special one for kids), a sunset tour and kayaking. 941-697-8825, www.grandetours.com.

> Sanibel Harbour Princess, Fort Myers. In addition to a sunset dinner cruise, a Sunday brunch cruise is also available. 239-466-2128 or 1-800-767-7777, www.sanibel-resort.com.

More cruises in southwest Florida:

> King Fisher Fleet, Punta Gorda. Offers sightseeing cruises, eco-tours of Charlotte Harbor, sunset cruises and deep-sea fishing charters. 941-639-0969, www.kingfisherfleet.com.

> J.C. Cruises, Fort Myers. Offers eight different scenic cruises aboard a paddle-wheel boat; some include lunch or dinner. 239-334-7474, www.jccruises.com.

Information

> Fort Myers-Sanibel area: 1-800-237-6444, www.fortmyers-sanibel.com.

> Florida vacations: www.visitflorida.com.