Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Ian Spinella.
Hi Ryan Ian, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
It all started on a sailing trip. As a live-aboard sailor and licensed captain, I was on my way to the Caribbean to run charters. An engine failure in the Florida Keys led me to an extended stay in Key West. While I was visiting Mallory Square for an epic sunset, I saw the Cruisin Tiki boats for the first time. They really peeked my interest.
Upon further investigation, I found that the Cruisin Tikis brand was fairly new on the tour boat scene and was being franchised all across the country. This got my wheels turning and I realized that St. Augustine hadn’t yet been tapped as a location for this exciting new opportunity. In that moment I realized that the time to act was now because someone was going to snap up the location. With all of my recent experience in tourism and the marine industry in St. Augustine, it had to be me.
Started making calls and it just so happened that some good friends of mine had recently started a location up in Ocean City, MD. They were doing really well with it and through their encouragement and support, we sealed the deal. I fixed my boat, turned right back around to return home and set out to make this thing a reality.
It took six months of preparation and searching but I finally managed to secure a commercial slip in a marina and got my first Cruisin Tikis boat in the water in March 2020. The business took off and I had a second boat in a little over a year. Within a couple of years people were taking notice and Amelia Island came up as another opportunity. So with the help of some long time college friends we gathered our resources and opened that location in July 2022.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As with any small business, there are always lessons to be learned. Going from just wanting to be a captain to figuring out how to run all of the facets of a functioning company is a steep climb. Also any boat owner will tell you, maintenance can be daunting. I wouldn’t say that it was a struggle but it took some time to smooth out the kinks and assemble a team of reliable captains to keep these boats moving.
At this point, with all of the hats that I’ve had to wear, I find the marketing piece to be the most challenging. No matter what you’re selling, marketing well is the key to success. I believe it to be the only limiting factor for the growth of Cruisin Tikis. Despite all of the competition in the tour boat market, we offer an experience that is truly unique and authentic. It is the most photographed boat on the water and once you see it, you want to be on it. The island vibes are unmatched!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What Cruisin’ Tikis Does & What It Specializes In
– Cruisin’ Tikis operates floating tiki bar cruises — that is, small motorized boats styled like tiki huts (grass roofs, bamboo, tropical bar vibes) that carry up to 6 passengers (plus a licensed captain).
– Our cruises are typically BYOB (bring your own beverages & snacks/food). We supply ice, coolers, cups, and a jammin’ Bluetooth sound system so guests can play their own music.
– The boats are U.S. Coast Guard–compliant, hand-crafted in the U.S., and built to meet safety and marine standards (ABYC compliance).
– We offer a variety of cruise formats, depending on location, including:
– Bay tours or harbor cruises
– Sunset cruises
– Sandbar or beach stops (where guests can swim or hang out)
– Custom/private charters for events (birthdays, bachelor/bachelorette, corporate, etc.)
In short: Cruisin’ Tikis specializes in intimate, fun, tropical-style boat cruises where the “tour” is more about mood, relaxation, and socializing than heavy narration or large crowds.
What sets us apart is our “vibe” and authentic island style. No other boat out there has the look and feel of being at an actual tiki bar while cruising the waters in such a beautiful location.
What’s next?
Now with three boats in northeast Florida, I have intentions of expanding the fleet in St. Augustine and Amelia Island. I also have ambitions to support all of the growth in Downtown Jacksonville and hope to secure a larger vessel along the St. Johns River in the near future.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cruisintikis.com/st-augustine www.cruisintikis.com/amelia-island
- Instagram: instagram.com/cruisintikisstaugustine instagram.com/cruisintikisameliaisland
- Facebook: facebook.com/cruisintikisstaugustine facebook.com/cruisintikisameliaisland
