By Nanette Wiser
SON OF A SON OF A SAILOR
A perfect present! Book now for the sure-to-be-sold out experience for Jimmy Buffett fans, especially after the CMA tribute to his music. Margaritaville at Sea now offers three-night weekend sails, including new “Saturdays at Sea” experiences sailing Aug.-Dec. 2024. Departing Friday and returning Monday, the three-night itinerary includes a full Saturday at sea, which will feature new dining, entertainment, and other experiences, such as a “Bottoms Up Party Brunch” with live music, special menus, and drinks. Other Saturday programming will include “Tropic Like It’s Hot” island night with suggested themed attire for passengers; new, complimentary dinner menu at the Fins main dining room; a “Sail Yeah” deck party; pickleball competitions; spa specials; casino promotions; and more. Among the 10 passenger decks, guests will enjoy endless entertainment, including two Stars on the Water shows – Caribbean Heat, and Radio Margaritaville: LIVE! At Sea. The ship also features a regulation-sized pickleball court, renovated kid’s clubs, an action-packed casino, pools, hot tubs, a rejuvenating spa and salon, and plenty of quiet spaces to soak up the Caribbean sun. www.margaritavilleatsea.com
FLORIDA FESTIVALS
Nature lovers, bring your out of town guests to Florida Manatee Festival Crystal River 1/13-14 or Orange City Blue Spring Manatee Festival 1/27-28 where hundreds of manatees winter. At Crystal River, enjoy live entertainment, discounted guided manatee boat tours and kayak tours in Kings Bay, children’s activities, delicious food, and hundreds of vendors. The Homestead Rodeo is one of the longest lasting traditional rodeos (70 years) 1/26-29 and the annual Kumquat Festival 1/27 turns historic downtown Dade City into a fruit-loving festival. Tampa pirates arrive in January with the Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza 1/20 for a child’s parade, family friendly and alcohol-free activities, followed by the Gasparilla Pirate Fest 1/27.
The rich and famous flock to Art Basel Miami Beach 12/8-10, one of the most prestigious cultural events in the world. Emerging and famous artists, fabulous after-dark events and galleries from five continents show significant works by masters of modern and contemporary art. At Kabinett, a concisely curated exhibitions by 29 galleries within the fair this year, aficionados can peruse Jimmy DeSana’s photographs of 1970s downtown New York, Hedda Sterne’s intricate drawings from the 1960s, and new immersive work by David Hockney. For regular folks, Miami Art Week is a parallel arts celebration. www.artbasel.com
