Now in its third year of operation, the Gulf Islands Ferry has added a third vessel, the Manatee Belle, to meet the growing demand for multi-modal transportation between downtown Bradenton and Anna Maria Island. The new vessel adds 91 seats to the existing fleet and its increased size and enclosed, climate-controlled cabin design will improve dependability, delivering a comfortable and safe passenger experience. This debut further affirms Manatee County’s commitment to its residents and visitors with reliable, scenic and convenient alternate travel options. The addition of the Manatee Belle will help maintain consistent scheduling, enhance service reliability due to weather concerns and reduce the need for personal vehicles while travelling between the mainland and the seven miles of coastline on Anna Maria Island. For more information and the full schedule, visit www.gulfislandsferry.com or the Bradenton Area Tourism Bureau website.

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