PT Boat Ride

[Mark]

RCCL offers an optional authentic PT Boat ride in Key West. Has anyone taken this ride and was it worth the cost?

[487]

I went for this ride, and did not book through the ship. The PT pulled up and tied-up right at the ship shortly after we docked. There is a small hut on the pier where the PT crew was selling tickets. I believe it was $40 per person.

 

The ride lasts about 90 min. and cruises slowly down past the USCG station and USN training center. It then returns back up the shoreline past the cruise ship on a "torpedo run" and demonstrates some "z" turns, in the waters off the ship, to simulate how PT's avoided dive bombers . It then contines on up the coast for another view. The crew gives a history of the town and PT boat operation. If you are a history buff or want to know mechanical things about the (PT's)/boat, the crew is knowledable, friendly, and laid back.

 

The boat has safety railings around the outside (so they can carry up to 40? people on each trip), and is powered by 2 detroit diesels (no triple Packards), and was reconfigured from original to appear in several movies.

 

I enjoyed the ride. I think they have a web site, try google search.