I was a little nervous about this one, as I'm the weakest swimmer in our family, but this turned out to be the highlight of our Florida trip and probably the coolest family activity we have ever done. Everyone involved in this was amazingly warm and courteous, and went out of their way at every opportunity to make sure that this was a fantastic experience for us. They made sure at each step that we had what we needed to be safe and fun, as well as ensuring that we were keeping it safe and fun for the manatees themselves. Our captain, Mike, and our tour guide, Lindsey, were both amazingly fun and friendly, and they made sure that we had an experience that we will never forget. We were calling Lindsey the manatee whisperer by the end of our trip, because they seemed to sense her and flock to her the second she got in the water! My kids (1 early teens, 1 preteen) had the time of their lives, and loved this tour far more than the time we spent in Disneyworld. Hooray for Lindsey and Captain Mike!
Pro tip: It is definitely worth it to go for the VIP tour in the winter months. The tour is an hour longer, and the boat is enclosed and heated. We went in January, and I was surprised how cold it could get in Florida! The water was quite cold, and although the wetsuits helped a lot, being able to warm up in the boat occasionally made the tour much more enjoyable.