Best Glass Bottom Boat - Key Largo

Question

Family with 3 littles want to do a glass bottom boat tour near Key Largo. I found two -- Spirit of Pennekamp and Princess. Can anyone recommend one or the other?

Answer

Great question! Both the Spirit of Pennekamp and the Key Largo Princess are popular glass-bottom boat tours in Key Largo, but they each offer slightly different experiences, and which is “better” for your family depends on what you value (comfort, viewing, narration, size, etc.). Here’s a breakdown with pros, trade-offs, and some recommendations based on what people — especially those with kids — tend to prefer.

Comparison: Spirit of Pennekamp vs. Key Largo Princess

Spirit of Pennekamp (John Pennekamp State Park)
- This is the *state-park operated tour*. The boat (often referred to as the flagship) is about 65 feet, carries up to ~130 people, and the trip lasts around 2.5 hours.

- According to the State Park FAQ, the boat moors at the reef for 1–1.5 hours, giving you a good amount of time to look down through the viewing window.

- The viewing wells are lower to the water, so you look almost straight down 6–8 feet in some spots, which gives a more “authentic” glass-bottom feel.

- Some reviewers say sea conditions can make things a little choppy, and people sensitive to motion sickness may find it rough; there’s limited viewing if the boat is small.

- On the downside: no glass-bottom tours go to the famous “Christ of the Deep” statue, per park rules.
Key Largo Princess
- This is a 75-foot, 140-passenger luxury motor yacht.

- The tour is ~2 hours long, with departure times around 10am, 1pm, and 4pm daily.

- There’s a climate-controlled cabin with large glass viewing windows plus a spacious sun deck.

- On the way to the reef (Molasses Reef, part of the Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary), you get roughly 45 minutes of cruising before you reach the reef area.

- Many reviews praise the crew as friendly and knowledgeable, and people frequently report seeing sea turtles and reef fish through the viewing windows.

- That said, some people note the top deck has very limited seating, so for the cruise portions you may need to stand or hold on.

- There are occasional complaints that the reef portion is smaller than advertised, or that “bait and switch” of expectations for which part of Pennekamp the boat goes to.

- Price is listed at $58 for ages 12 and up, children 11 and under are $32.

What Might Be Better for a Family With Littles

If your kids are very young, the Princess might feel more comfortable: the enclosed cabin gives shade and protection, plus large viewing windows make it easy for little ones to peek without needing to lean dangerously over.
If being “close to the reef” and seeing actual coral and marine life is your top priority, Spirit of Pennekamp gives a more classic glass-bottom experience, though motion sickness could be a factor.
If seating and comfort during the ride (especially the transit out to the reef) matters, the Princess seems to offer more room and a more stable ride (per many recent reviews). But be ready that the top deck may require standing.
If you have someone in your group prone to seasickness, you might lean toward Princess (because of the cabin), but take motion-sickness meds for either trip — reviews for both mention some folks got queasy.

My Recommendation

For a family with 3 little kids, I lean toward recommending the Key Largo Princess — it feels like the “safest bet” in terms of comfort, space, and being able to enjoy the reef without worrying as much about balance, seasickness, or crowded viewing wells. The 2-hour duration is also quite manageable for young children.

If you’re really “game” for a more state-park-authentic experience, the Spirit of Pennekamp is great, but make sure:

You check sea conditions (calm days are ideal).
You’re okay with possibly limited viewing if the boat is full or if kids need to lean / peer into the wells.

Best Glass Bottom Boat - Key Largo

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