Can you dock a rental boat at a restaurant?
Ask first. Before you plan to tie up a rental boat anywhere other than our dock, ask at check-in. Restaurants and marinas handle guest docking in their own ways, and space depends on how busy the water is and on the size of the boat, so a spot you saw from the water may not be free when you arrive. The simplest plan is to eat on land before or after your trip, or to bring the food aboard.
Where can you eat near the dock?
Alamitos Bay Landing has restaurants along the water, a few steps from our boats. Across the street, the 2nd & PCH shopping center, by the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and 2nd Street, has more. Three there that we have checked:
- Telefèric Barcelona. Spanish food, from tapas to paella, at 6420 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 160.
- Ola Mexican Kitchen. Mexican food at 6420 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 230.
- Noble Rotisserie. Rotisserie cooking at 6460 East Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 125.
Restaurants change hours and menus, so check with each one before you plan around it. We are not affiliated with any of them.
What about Belmont Shore and Naples?
A short drive west along 2nd Street takes you through Naples and into Belmont Shore, whose business district along 2nd Street is full of shops and restaurants. It makes an easy before-or-after: park once at the landing for your cruise, then drive over for dinner.
How do you eat well on the boat?
The boat has a table in the middle of the cabin, and food is welcome aboard. A few things work especially well:
- A board. Cheese, cured meats, fruit and crackers travel well and need no plates. Local vendors deliver boards for rentals; call (562) 598-2628 and we will point you to them.
- Tacos or sandwiches. Packed ahead, easy to hand around, no cutlery.
- A cake, for a birthday. Keep it in its box until you are out on the water.
- Snacks for kids, and something warm in a thermos in winter.
Bring a cooler; ice is $7 a bag in the boat shop. Adults can bring their own beer and wine, and the driver stays sober. The popcorn in our office is free.
How do you plan the timing around a meal?
Two patterns work well:
- Cruise, then dinner. Book a late-afternoon start so you are back near sunset, then walk or drive to dinner. Our sunset times by month help you choose a start time.
- Lunch, then cruise. Eat first, then take a two-hour cruise with dessert and drinks on board. The Naples Canals are close to the dock; check the tides if you want to go through them.
Whichever you choose, arrive 30 minutes before your boat’s start time, with your whole party. A long lunch is an easy way to eat into your time on the water.
What should you pack for a picnic aboard?
- Napkins and a bag for trash: leave the boat as you found it.
- A small cutting board and a knife, if you are slicing anything.
- Cups with lids, which survive the ride better than open glasses.
- Water, especially on warm days.
- A blanket for winter evenings; the boats are enclosed, and the windows stay down to keep the cabin warm.
Which occasions suit a food plan?
- Birthdays: a cake and a spread on the table. See birthday cruises.
- Date nights: a picnic for two, then dinner on land. See date night on a Duffy.
- Team outings: delivered boards for several boats. See team outings.
What should you leave at home?
- Glass, where you can: plastic and cups with lids are safer on a moving boat.
- Big grills and anything that needs a flame. Bring food that is ready to eat.
- More food than the table holds. A cooler and one or two platters are plenty for a full boat.
- Anything that can blow away. Napkins, paper plates and wrappers have a way of ending up in the bay; keep them weighed down or packed away.
How do you order from local vendors?
Call (562) 598-2628 when you book and tell us what you have in mind: a board, catering or décor. We will point you to the vendors who deliver for rentals, and you arrange the order with them directly. Give yourself a few days’ notice, especially for weekends.
Eating with kids aboard?
Keep it simple and close at hand: snacks in small bags, drinks with lids, and wipes. Feed small children before boarding if you can, so the first half hour on the water is about the view. Every child under 12 wears a life vest for the whole trip, which the front office provides.
Can you bring takeout aboard?
Yes. Food is welcome aboard, so you can pick up takeout on the way and eat it on the water. Keep it in containers that close.
What does a cruise cost?
$125 for one hour or $250 for two, per boat of up to 12. See prices and the complete guide to renting a Duffy in Long Beach.
