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The Ship Island Fleet

The Skrmetta Family Fleet Over the years: In the early 1920s, Pete Skrmetta had his own boat built by the Fountain Shipyard in Biloxi. The vessel was a 56-foot, diesel-powered schooner lugger he named the Pan American. The excursion business eventually became so popular that Pete extended the Pan American to a 76-foot total length,…

  Native Birds Ship Island and its surrounding barrier islands are home to endless numbers of unique wildlife. Specifically, its sandy beaches, marshy wetlands, and saltwater coast have attracted hundreds of species of birds alone. Some stop on the shores in different seasons, and some make this island their home all year round. Here are…

Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin Facts

      5 Things to Know about Dolphins before adventuring on a Dolphin Watching Cruise   One of the BEST experiences you can have on the Mississippi Gulf Coast is a Dolphin Watching Excursion! There is nothing like seeing your family giddy from watching a Dolphin emerge from the water! Kids giggle and even…

How to Pack

Ship Island Excursions Written by: Gulf Coast Gal One of the most frequently asked questions we get is what to pack for a trip to Ship Island? There are a lot of options depending on what type of activities you are interested in while you are out at the Island but our most recommended are…

Over the Years

Ship Island Excursions Written by: Gulf Coast Gal Capt Pete and Sons Louis, Mathew, Ken, Steven Ship Island Excursions has had a deep connection to Ship Island over the years. (If you missed the earlier blog, you can catch up here!) For a significant amount of time in the 20th century, the Skrmetta family were…

The Early Years

Capt. Pete’s first “Excursion Boat”, circa 1926 Ship Island Excursions  Written by: Gulf Coast Gal “How it All Started”   Ship Island Excursions has been an institution on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for almost 100 years. With a legacy like that, it’s easy to wonder how it all started. That takes us back to Biloxi…

Best Kept Secret in MS

THE GULF COAST’S BEST KEPT SECRET: SHIP ISLAND, MISSISSIPPI Spread the love Mississippi is one of the most underrated states in the USA. I’ll admit, in the ten years I’ve lived in Louisiana, I’ve driven through it countless times on my way east, but I’ve never really taken the time to explore it.  This summer, I…