Explore Cumberland Island & Estuary Wildlife with Amelia River Cruises

Amelia River Cruises — Fernandina Beach Boat Tours

Discover Cumberland Island, Tiger Basin, and Northeast Florida waterways with Amelia River Cruises. Based in Fernandina Beach, Amelia River Cruises offers a suite of guided boat tours focused on wildlife viewing, coastal ecology, and regional history. For travelers searching "Cumberland Island tours," "Fernandina Beach cruises," or "shrimping eco tour," these experiences provide direct access to the National Seashore and estuary habitats.

Popular Tours and What to Expect

• Shrimping Eco Tour (Tiger Basin) — A hands-on educational trip where guests learn to operate an Otter Trawl shrimp net, deploy and retrieve the net, view catch in an on-board aquarium, and explore estuary life. Keywords: shrimping tour, Tiger Basin, estuary ecology.
• Cumberland Sound Sunset — A one-hour family-friendly sunset cruise featuring relaxed scenic views and local history highlights. Keywords: sunset cruise, family cruise, Cumberland Sound.
• Adult Twilight BYOB Cruise — An adults-only evening cruise with live local music. Guests may bring beverages and enjoy a tranquil twilight atmosphere. Keywords: BYOB cruise, adult cruise, live music.
• Cumberland Coastal Tour — A 1.5-hour tour focused on Cumberland Island’s natural and human history, with views of salt marshes, wading birds, and coastal wildlife. Keywords: Cumberland Coastal Tour, salt marshes, wildlife viewing.
• Cumberland Island Tour — A 2.5-hour exploration combining island history and wildlife sightings, including cruise-pasts of shrimp boats and historic sites tied to the Carnegie family. Keywords: Cumberland Island history, Dungeoness Mansion, Rockefeller history.
• Right Whale Festival Fundraiser — A special sunset river cruise event on November 2, 2025, supporting awareness and conservation for the endangered right whale. Keywords: right whale fundraiser, whale conservation, November 2025.

Why Book These Cruises from Fernandina Beach

• Scenic departures from a coastal town with direct access to Cumberland Island and surrounding waterways.
• Multiple durations and themes: quick one-hour family outings, mid-length coastal tours, extended historical cruises, and adults-only evening events.
• Opportunities for wildlife sightings: dolphins, manatees, nesting sea turtles, wading birds, and the island’s wild horses.

Practical Details & Booking Tips

• Choose tours by duration and audience: family-friendly, educational, or adults-only.
• Expect interactive elements on the Shrimping Eco Tour, including net handling and on-board aquarium identification.
• The Cumberland Island Tour and Coastal Tour highlight National Seashore landscapes and historic sites tied to the Carnegie and Rockefeller families.

Local History & Conservation Focus

Amelia River Cruises emphasizes regional history and estuary ecology while promoting wildlife awareness. The Right Whale Festival Fundraiser connects guests to conservation efforts, and island tours provide context on human and natural stories along the coast.

Book a tour from Fernandina Beach to experience Cumberland Island’s salt marshes, shrimping heritage, and evening sunsets. Search terms to remember: Amelia River Cruises, Fernandina Beach cruises, Cumberland Island tours, shrimping eco tour, sunset cruise, BYOB twilight cruise, right whale fundraiser.