Community celebrates 15 years of inspiring tours with Amelia River Cruises

Kevin and Cecilia McCarthy

Submitted by Karen Thompson

Features Reporter

July 3, 2015 11:20 a.m.

It was a beautiful day for a boat ride Wednesday as Amelia River Cruises celebrated 15 years in the business of showing locals and visitors alike, a great time on the water. Kevin and Cecilia McCarthy, Amelia River Cruises owners welcomed aboard family and friends to commemorate the company’s birthday with champagne and cupcakes.

Pajamadave (L) and Dan Voll and Michele

There was some of the usual cast of characters that provide a variety of unpredictable moments on the river cruises ….Pajamadave and Bob Chase (his straight man), Dan Voll and Michele (with one l) and many McCarthys.

“When we first started out 15 years ago Cecilia and I were the captain and crew. Today we have two boats and so many eager cruisers we have sadly had to, at times, turn people away, said Kevin McCarthy. He thanked his “amazing ” long-time crew and the local community for their support.

The McCarthy family has been around Fernandina Beach for a long time, Kevin and Cecilia were high school sweethearts so this celebratory cruise was like a night at Cheers “where everybody knows your name.” The crew was in perfect sync with each other and the passengers…….when Kevin speaks, they finish his sentences, when the Cumberland Island horses are spotted Dan and Michele que the music to “Wild Horses,” with the dolphins comes “Fins to the Left, Fins to the Right.”

It was a special night on the water. A mother and baby dolphin danced in the surf and two bands of horses were feeding on Cumberland Island. Speaking of horses, Kevin said about 150 horses currently live on the island. “We’ve seen a couple of generations come and go in the past 15 years. They’re born on the beach, live on the island and die on the beach,” he said.

Amelia River Cruises has offered cruises and charters since 2000. All sightseeing tours are narrated with fascinating stories of historic Fernandina Beach, Cumberland Island and the natural environment that surrounds the area. A variety of tours are offered including Eco-Shrimping, Cumberland Island, Beech Creek, Cumberland Sound, Family-Friendly Sunset Cruises and of course the always popular Twilight BYOB Cruise. Congratulations to the McCarthys for 15 years of Amelia River Cruises.

Editor's Note: Karen moved to Fernandina Beach four years ago after working in Chicago as a senior public relations specialist for the Midwestern regional office of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. Prior to that, she was an editor, columnist and writer for a chain of Chicago newspapers , an account executive for several Chicago public relations agencies and proprietor of her own pr/marketing business. She grew up and earned her journalism degree in Wisconsin.