The Betsy Ann Riverboat – Dinner Cruises and More

Gliding gracefully across the protected St. Andrews Bay, Captain Rick Ackerman pilots  the Betsy Ann Riverboat through the calm intercoastal waterway that weaves through Bay County, Florida.  With just over 40 people on board, its Murder Mystery Dinner Cruise night, and one unsuspecting victim will suffer a pretend fate none so desirable.

The cruise leaves the dock just before sunset and weaves its way past the Port Panama City towards the St. Andrews Marina.  Providing the weather’s good, which it almost always is, the sunset is guaranteed to be nearly perfect.  With a smooth gradient from orange to deep blue, if you’re lucky, the clouds will put on a remarkable show of color changes.  First dinner, then the mystery begins.

On the menu is sweet barbeque to include soft dinner rolls, creamy cole slaw, baked beans and tender and juicy pulled pork with the perfect amount of sweet sauce.  There’s usually enough for seconds.  The lovely Tara serves drinks at the bar, which is not included in the dinner cruise price, so bring your cash.

Reservations are made ahead of time, but you pay at the door when you board the boat.  Upon check in, if you’ve elected to participate, you’ll receive two envelopes, Instructions A and Instructions B.  These are to be held in the strictest confidence, not to be shared with anyone.  Captain Nancy is a ‘professional’ at pairing you with the correct character whose names range from Harry High-Stakes to Mitch Maverick to Montgomery Money; there are 20 characters in all.  When you make your reservation, the theme is announced and you are encouraged to dress the part.  For this cruise, the theme was western as was apparent with participants adorned in cowboy hats, boots and big belt buckles.

The first set of instructions given, Instructions A, include details as to the history of your character and what you are to do as your character in order to ‘play’ your role.  These instructions include specific types of interactions with other characters that – behind the scenes – all work together to slowly unfold and build up to the murder.  When the shots ring off, the ‘victim’ falls to the ground and his body taped to remind the others where the crime took place.  Then a series of narratives are read that have clues hidden in them, so pay attention, this is how you solve the mystery.

Instructions B include a second set of instructions that again detail specific interactions with other characters that will ultimately lead to someone solving the murder mystery.  The whole production ends in filling out a “Who Dunnit?” tally card that is counted by the director of the whole operation, Captain Nancy.  In addition to voting on who you think committed the murder, participants are given the chance to vote on who was the best dressed, who put on the best performance, and who was able to swindle the best play money.  At the end, those that received the most votes in each category won prizes that range from a free trip on the Betsy Ann, free SwampVette Rides or tickets to the Comedy Zone, which is also held on the Betsy Ann.

The Betsy Ann is also home to other events too.  The Captain and his crew offer services for weddings, corporate meetings, private parties of all sorts, birthday parties and can even be rented out for just $800 depending on the season and current event schedule.  Most Friday nights there is a dinner cruise leaving the dock on the Betsy Ann.

Prices: $34.95 for adults and $24.95 for children (3-11)

Website: www.betsyannriverboat.net

Phone: 850-233-7487