Riviera Dunes Marina, Palmetto, FL

Palmetto, Florida’s Riviera Dunes Marina does what it can to make its guests feel right at home.

With two freshwater heated pools, four gas Webber grills, freshly brewed coffee each morning, a complementary newspaper, and free WiFi, it’s easy to see why Riviera Dunes Marina has been popular with cruisers since it opened in 2003.

Riviera Dunes has 219 wet slips, 20 transient slips, floating docks, it provides a station at the fuel dock or at your slip via pump-out boat, and there’s full electric individually metered at the slip.

Captain Doc Craig, Marina Manager for two years, says their 360-degree protected deep-water harbor sets them apart from other marinas. “We have a special reservation program that guarantees available, protected dockage during named storm events,” he explains.

Though there are two marinas within one mile of Riviera Dunes, Craig says cruisers prefer their facility. “Boaters, especially those looking for permanent dockage, prefer our 10-foot floating concrete docks, our ranking as the most protected marina on Florida’s west coast, and our consistently best fuel prices in the area,” Craig says. “We’re an exceptionally deep-water marina for this area due to the fact that it was built on the site of a former dolomite quarry.”

The marina offers short and long-term leases for boats from 30-120 feet and there’s a discount fuel program for all tenants and slip owners. It’s on the Manatee River, just past Red Marker #24A on the North side of the river.