Dinner cruises let people experience the thrill of floating while eating, a trick previously only mastered by otters and predatory dirigibles. Savor a buoyant meal with today’s Groupon: for $49, you get a dinner cruise for two from Alabama Cruises at Bellingrath Gardens and Home in Theodore (a $98 value). All cruises board at 6:30 p.m., depart at 7 p.m., and return at 9 p.m.

Alabama Cruises provides patrons with a memorable dining experience amid the wildlife and peaceful scenery of the Fowl River. Aboard the 150-passenger Southern Belle, guests take a break from earthbound troubles to float through a delectable dinner buffet of entrees such as carved roast, chicken, and jambalaya simmering beside green beans, corn medleys, and bread pudding. Guests have access to panoramic views of estuary denizens performing their evening rituals, with scenes of ospreys, pelicans, and blue herons folding the week's laundry. Live entertainment incites spells of dancing, and a full cash bar lubricates conversation and adds a sparkle to the night sky.

Each two-hour cruise is heated or cooled for optimal comfort, operating through rain, shine, or killer-tomato invasion. For rescheduling, customers must notify the Alabama Cruises prior to noon the day before their cruise.