2025 marks the 25th Anniversary of Amelia River Cruises. This is our story; a story about a family-owned business whose heart and soul belongs to the waterways of Amelia and Cumberland Islands.
Kevin and Cecilia McCarthy
Our story begins with Kevin McCarthy. He was born and raised in the seafaring city of Gloucester, Massachusetts. In 1968, as a young man, he moved with his family to Fernandina Beach, Florida. After graduating from Fernandina Beach High School, Kevin married Cecilia Bennett and they raised five children. For almost thirty years, Kevin worked as a building contractor. He built many fine homes on Amelia Island. In the summer of 2000, Kevin along with his wife, Cecilia, created Amelia River Cruises & Charters in Fernandina.
Time spent on the water has been part of this family for generations. Cecilia Bennett McCarthy’s family arrived on these shores nine generations ago. They would include British Officers, lighthouse keepers on both sides of her family, harbor pilots, oystermen, and most recently, pioneering in the Shrimp Industry. Kevin is descended from those Gloucester Fisherman who for generations have sailed the North Atlantic harvesting seafood. Amelia River Cruises today has become a fixture on the waterfront offering narrated History/Nature Sightseeing tours that feature Amelia Island, Florida, and Cumberland Island, Georgia.
Captain Kevin is a renowned tour narrator, entertaining passengers with his endless accounts of history and nature, mixed in with colorful tales about local people and personal connections to the island.
Upon the success and excellent reputation of their business, the McCarthy’s added a second boat in 2007, a third catamaran in 2017. In 2023 they brought on board the Princess Amelia, a double-decker, 120 passenger vessel. With a complimentary team of knowledgeable, Coast Guard certified crew members – and a friendly staff – our story continues with an offering of a variety of tours on the waterways between NE Florida and SE Georgia to our guests year-round.
