Cruise along the Caloosahatchee with Fort Myers’ oldest cruise ship

FORT MYERS, Fla.- For over 44 years, the Pledger family has been offering river boat cruises along the Caloosahatchee River, keeping downtown Fort Myers’ oldest and largest cruise ship rolling on the water.

Captain Joe Pledger is a second generation Captain. His dad, Captain Jim Pledger, started the business back in the 1970s, with a Jungle Cruise Touring boat.

The decision to switch to a 600 passenger paddle boat, was to follow along with the area’s history, during the time Thomas Edison lived here, and paddle boats were very popular.

Today, sons Matthew and Blake are both captains, while Joe’s wife, Janeen, and sister, Cynthia, operate the ticket office at the Fort Myers Marina.

Not much has changed for the passengers. Once on board, they learn about the river’s history.

While cruising along the river, passenger Mike Carey was busy comparing the Caloosahatchee River to the Mississippi, where he grew up.

“The water’s a little softer, here. In Northern Wisconsin, we tend to get hard water this time of year,” said Carey. “They call it ice!”

Some parts of the Caloosahatchee River, remain very much, the same.

“People often ask me if it gets monotonous, but, you know, I’m born and raised on the water, so I guess that’s what I’ll do, until I retire,” said Capt. Joe Pledger.

To check the rates and times of the River Cruises along the Caloosahatchee, and other ways to get out on the water, log on to www.jccruises.com.