From June 2000 Houseboat Magazine Article

If any one thing can define Holiday Cruise's business philosophy it is the service it provides and the condition of its product. Most companies all have good boats to rent in beautiful locations, but not as many provide the service Dave Manno and crew does. They allow at least 24 hours between rentals to make sure the boat is in perfect condition before it goes back out.

Sanibel is known as the shelling capital of the world. It provides miles of the most pristine white sandy beaches filled with shells washed onto its shores with each incoming tide.

The Ding Darling Wildlife Preserve is world renowned for it's wildlife. Anchoring out in the secluded cove of Tarpon Bay provides kayaking access to this preserve which is a major migratory highway stop off point for every known species of North American migrating bird. Researchers from all over the world come here because of the likelihood of being able to study so many of the world’s most rare birds due to the large variety found in this one location as they migrate.

Captiva Island is where one gets the true feeling of a South Florida Tropical Island. The many dockside restaurants (The Green Flash--fresh seafood, and the world famous Bubble Room), fun marina's (including Tween Waters' with their Monday night crab races), and well-protected anchorage's, this is one of the most popular areas for Holiday Cruise guests. Roosevelt Channel seems to also be a favorite for impromptu dolphin shows, manatee and the ever-begging sea otter.

North Captiva is a minimally developed island with a few private residences, a couple of unique restaurants (Mango Island Cafe, Barnacle Phils) and no cars. The restaurants in Safety Harbor are only accessible by boat, often you can hear people making reservations on their VHF radios from their boats.

Golf carts are the only form of transportation on the island, many of the island locals like to express themselves by decorating their golf carts with elaborate hub caps, and canopies.

Cabbage Key is an old (former) Indian burial ground that now has a few cottages, a restaurant, a nature trail, and a water tower to climb that gives one a spectacular panoramic view of all of Pine Island Sound. Terry, the dock master lives on a houseboat moored in the mangroves of the island and is there to greet most every boater with his assistance and colorful stories. Cabbage Key has a web site at cabbage-key.com.

The fishing here is exceptional and includes snook, tarpon, flounder, sea trout and snapper among many others.

This area truly offers a little of everything. From overnight stays at the local marina's to secluded anchorage's in your own private cove among the islands or even going up the Caloosahatchee River through the locks, one can find most any type of houseboating they desire.