While the Shark Dive at Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead is exhilarating, the Booze Cruise/Sunset Adventure inspires relaxation along the Peconic River in August and September—with event proceeds benefitting the aquarium and funding its upkeep.
For tequila enthusiasts, the dates to remember are Friday, Aug. 23 and Saturday, Aug. 24, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m, while oenophiles might want to imbibe harvest wine offerings on Sept. 13 and Sept. 14 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
“We have a tour boat, and it’s like a pontoon boat, a little bit larger than that. It accommodates about 70 people. We take it out on daily adventures like environmental tours, but we do offer the booze cruise a couple of times throughout the summer,” Marketing Director Darlene Puntillo said.
Typically, the event is scheduled around the full moon to maximize the effect of its light upon the water, Puntillo said.
“The boat travels along the beautiful Peconic River at sunset so you can check out all the flora and fauna in the area as you’re traveling up the river,” she said. “It really looks beautiful, and it’s very peaceful and serene but also a party boat at the same time.”
Besides libations, revelers can expect snacks and steel drum music, which Puntillo describes as a tropical-leaning Jimmy Buffett beat.
When the event was launched years ago, party-boat-goers dined on lobster, which Puntillo said required too much time, so it morphed into a booze cruise three years ago.
“It is popular,” she said of the event, adding that tickets are limited due to U.S. Coast Guard regulations.
The cost is $80 per person 21-and up, and includes snacks and cocktails. On booze cruise night, it's recommended to check in 15 minutes early at the Seaside Grill behind the Hyatt Place hotel.
The proceeds of these and other programs help to defray the expense of caring for the aquarium’s abundant marine and animal life.
“We’re a privately owned aquarium so every dollar that our guest spends here goes to helping us care for our animals and their habitat,” Puntillo said.
For reservations, which are required, reach out to the Long Island Aquarium at 631-208-9200, ext. 426.
According to the aquarium’s website, construction began at the downtown Riverhead site in 1999 with the opening not long after on June 15, 2000. At the time, Long Island became the first full-scale aquarium to open its doors in New York in 35 years.
Since opening day, new experiences and encounters have engaged fans, with the Shark Dive promising an unforgettable experience of getting into a cage in shark-infested waters with a trained instructor. The 120,000-gallon tank is called the Lost City of Atlantis Shark Exhibit and features a variety of sharks and marine life.
For the less adventurous, take a selfie with a sea lion, check out seal training or perhaps join in a bug encounter with the site’s entomologist.