The question is out there: Is the new boat better than the old boat?

It is.

The original Pelican Breeze was more or less a glorified pontoon. The Pelican Breeze II is an actual tour boat, the kind a visitor to the area might expect.

The foundation behind Pelican Breeze bought the boat for $52,500, and it entered Albert Lea in April. It formerly was the Gun Lake Princess, running on a lake in Michigan.

The new boat — which has the capability of holding more than 60 people — has a deck of 55 feet by 14 feet with an enclosed pilot house and three glass-bottom viewing ports. Its new name is Pelican Breeze II.

It features a public address system, a background music system, a generator, a wet bar, and two bathrooms with sinks and flushable toilets. It runs off of twin Honda engines and can even be enclosed in times of inclement weather.

The boat replaces the original Pelican Breeze pontoon, which had been cruising Albert Lea Lake for 10 years prior.

On Sunday, I rode on the Pelican Breeze II. In fact, I went with my wife, son and several of our friends.

Word was there had been quite a party on the boat the night before. In fact, Pelican Breeze II crew have mentioned what fun they have witnessed so far this summer on the new boat.

Dates in July

11: Pizza cruise, 6-7:30 p.m., $20 adults, $5 children, reservations by 4 p.m.

12: Public cruise: 4-6 p.m., $15 adults, $5 children, no reservations.

13: Sunday brunch, 11-12:30 p.m., $25 adults, $5 children, reservations by 4 p.m. July 12

13: Public cruise, 1:30-3 pm, $15 adults, $5 children, no reservations

13: Humorist Al Batt, 3 p.m., $20 adults, reservations by 4 p.m. July 12

15: Business After Hours for Chamber members, 5-6 p.m.

18: Pizza cruise: 6-7:30 p.m., $20 adults, $5 children. Reservations by 4 p.m.

19: Public cruise, 4-6 p.m. $15 adults, $5 children, no reservations needed

— PelicanBreeze.org

Liquor sales are up. The number of special events are up. There are more young people riding the tour boat now. There is a noticeable difference this year compared to previous years.

In fact, there was a beer cruise Thursday night. I wish I could have been there, but I was camping at Clear Lake in Iowa.