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Shearwater is a classic Newport-style schooner yacht, only recently recognized as a national landmark in 2009.  The vessel was built by Rice Brother Corporation in East Boothbay, Maine, back in a time when yachting was a rare combination of elegance and adventure; Rice Bros. were well known for building luxury pleasure yachts and produced some 4,000 hulls over a period of 64 years. The keel was laid down on January 4, 1929 and a news clip from the Boothbay Register reflects alongside a photograph "Tyler Hodgon at the old Tide Mill is getting out timbers for the schooner to be built at Rice’s. Vessel to be built of native white oak." Traditionally built from hand-hewn native white oak, she was the last boat to be constructed at that yard - likely due to the ensuing Great Depression brought on by the Stock Market Crash that occurred later that autumn.  East Boothbay was a small coastal town with shipbuilding being its only industry. About 40 workmen were employed for the construction of SHEARWATER. Her designer Theodore Donald Wells was born in Hudson Falls, N Y on October 22, 1875. He was a naval architect and marine engineer, a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers and also the Institute of Naval Architects London. His education included post-graduate work at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. He began his career as a member of the firm Herreshoff and Wells, N. Y. City in 1902. Working with Herreshoff no doubt had an influence on his designs, which bear similarities to many of the famous Herreshoff designed yachts of that time. From 1903 to 1907 he worked for Wintringham and Wells and then began practicing his profession under his own name. Mr. Wells joined the Navy Department in March 1917 and became Superintending Constructor of the Baltimore District U. S. N. Notable yachts designed and constructed under his supervision are "Viking" a 272 foot steel motor yacht built for George F. Baker in 1929 by Newport News and "Karina" a three masted schooner built for Robert E. Tod in 1932 by Staten Island Shipbuilding. Mr. Tod was a well-known offshore yachtsman as was his former yacht ‘Thistle", which competed in the Emperors Cup ocean race. SHEARWATER was launched on May 4, 1929 and photographs in the Boothbay Register reflect her graceful and elegant lines. Her first Captain, Leon Esterbrook of Edgarton, MA, arrived to take charge of the fitting out. Her owner Charles E Dunlap was a member of the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, Oyster Bay, NY and this became SHEARWATER’s first homeport after her completion in late September 1929. It was there in Oyster Bay that she first started to thrill those who sailed in luxury aboard her and those who were privileged to crew her on race day. Since her launching and documentation in Lloyd’s Register of American Yachts in 1929, she has had a colorful history and has been carefully maintained and restored to standards that few contemporary vessels are able to match and is truly a piece of American Maritime History. On November 7, 1942 SHEARWATER was requisitioned by the War Shipping Administration and became a member of The United States Coast Guard’s Coastal Picket Patrol during World War Two. She was painted gray and bore the numbers CG67004. Based at Little Creek, Virginia she patrolled the waters east of the Chesapeake Bay entrance and south towards Cape Hatteras. Her skipper during that period reflected on how they used their free time while out on submarine patrol to race against other yachts and in his own words "sailed in tandem with the schooner Lord Jim, racing in and out of port, up and down the east coast and winning." She was designed and built as a gaff rigged schooner but during this period was changed to a Marconi rig. She carries over 2,550 square feet while under full sail. A true veteran world cruiser, she first transited the Panama Canal in July 1946 and in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s completed a two and a half-year global circumnavigation. In December 1971 Mrs. John B. Thayer of Rosemont, wife of a former trustee and treasurer, donated SHEARWATER to the University of Pennsylvania’s Institute of Environmental Medicine. She was used by the university as a laboratory for research on physiological responses to the stresses of living and working underwater. Captained by James Shearson, she was fitted with compressors, generators, monitoring instruments and a small decompression chamber. She has participated in many Ancient Mariner and Classic yacht races in U S waters as well as racing in the Bay of Islands in New Zealand while on her circumnavigation in the early 1980’s. It is rumored she was once dismasted in the famous Newport to Bermuda race. She was last raced by the current owners in San Diego in May 1995 in the American Schooner Cup and finished second overall. She entered the yacht charter industry in 1966 whilst on the West Coast sailing to the Channel Islands and was again used to generate income to keep her shipshape while owned by the University of Pennsylvania. During the chartering industry’s infancy in the Caribbean, SHEARWATER was known as the " Queen of the Fleet". Today she continues this tradition offering the most unique sailing experience and has passed rigid Coast Guard inspections and can carry up to 49 passengers. We welcome you to join us for an excellent opportunity to experience the ambiance of a vintage sailing vessel while delighting in the splendors of The Manhattan sky-line, the Statue of Liberty or the beauty of the oceans beyond.

Shared limousine transportation. Collection time confirmed at least 24 hours in advance. ​Breakfast consists of a breakfast buffet at the wonderful Contemporary Resort;
Breakfast Favorites: Scrambled eggs, egg whites scrambled, lobster eggs benedict, Mickey waffles, pancakes, Smoked Salmon, hash brown casserole, bacon, sausage, oatmeal, grits, French toast.  Plus many other great options.
Clients may return to their original hotel or be returned to Universal Orlando or Sea World. Walt Disney Transportation may be used from the Contemporary Resort to reach Walt Disney World. Our limousine excursions offer the convenience of door to door service. As all limousine excursions use SHARED limousine transportation this requires us to wait until the day prior to the excursion to formulate the most efficient route and provide exact collection times. We ask clients to contact us no later than 72 hours prior to their excursion date to verify we have their correct accommodation details (full address including zip code, contact number, gate code etc.). We will then contact them at least the day prior to provide exact collection time. In order to operate these limousine excursions efficiently we reserve the right to ask a client to make their way to a centralized pickup in the event their accommodation exceeds an acceptable distance from the standard Orlando tourism area. Limousine may be either stretch limousine or top of the line Mercedes Sprinter Limo.

Must be booked 24 hours in advance. For ages 12 and up. Maximum 4 people per party. As a keeper for a day you will help with everything from preparing diets, feeding our animals, as well as training and enrichment with our exotic animals. If you were ever interested in a career working with animals this is your chance to experience it!

Thrill seekers only! Take in the sights of the surrounding land, trees, and caves from a different perspective with Xplor Activity Park. It takes you above, below, and even through the earth. Set sail on a raft over crystal clear waters, navigating through caves, and amongst vintage rock formations. Experience the adventure of conquering all different terrains in a 5 mile journey through the exotic Caribbean jungle. Explore eight caverns in a mighty two-seater amphibious vehicle. Swim through the most mysterious routes, surrounded by breathtaking stalactites and stalagmites. And if that isn't enough, soar above it all on a multi-platform zip line circuit with a few water landings thrown in to refresh your senses.This action packed day will leave you anything but bored! Remember to stop at some point and enjoy your buffet lunch and refreshments.

Tour Highlights Numerous stops for photos The five mile (8 km) tour route explores the eastern section of the 1017 acre (411 ha) park on winding trails and bike routes. The transformation starting in the 1870's of a bleak sand dune area in into the lush park you see today. The Music Concourse and Temple of Music The California Academy of Sciences and the deYoung Museum The California Academy of Sciences and the deYoung Museum William Hammond Hill and John McLaren's vision for the park The Conservatory of Flowers San Francisco Botanical Gardens Stow Lake and Strawberry Hill The Dahlia Gardens Pioneer log cabin and many other hidden gems!   Rider Requirements: Rider must be 12 years or older and weigh 100lbs – 250lbs (45-113 KG) No pregnant guests. Not recommended for some guests over age 70 or with mobility, motor control or recent surgeries. Under 18 with parents or guardian. No backpacks or bags can be worn on the tour.      Enjoy riding an eco-friendly Segway, see more sights than you could cover on foot, and have lots of fun! Help keep the park less congested with bus traffic!

City Sightseeing Melbourne With so much to do in Melbourne, you can tailor the tour to suit your preferences so you can cuddle a Koala at Melbourne Zoo in the morning, enjoy an Italian feast on Lygon Street at lunchtime, then enjoy the sunset at St Kilda Beach before heading to a concert at the Arts Centre Precinct.  This tour of Melbourne operates all year round so you can be guaranteed of a great time whenever you visit.