boat cruise tobermory

Tiny Footsteps Travel

Tobermory Boat Cruises: A 2023 Guide

Heading to Tobermory this summer , and want to take one of the famous boat cruises? You’re in the right place.

Tobermory is one of the most charming small towns in Ontario , and is surrounded by some of the most scenic beauty. The boat cruises are one of the best way to explore the rock formations of the Niagara Escarpment, and the crystal-clear blue water.

Having been to Tobermory multiple times, I can break down the different cruise options for you, as there are so many of them. From there, you’ll have a better idea of which of the cruises in Tobermory fit your schedule and preferences best.

Make the most of your trip to Tobermory by being well informed, and knowing where and how to make the best cruise choice for you or your party. Tobermory is famous for its glass bottom cruises, and we’re going to go over the two cruise lines that offer them, as well as other cruising options in town.

So, let’s dive in.

Glass Bottom Boat Cruises

Here’s everything you need to know about the stops that will be made on the glass bottom boat cruises

The glass bottom cruise options generally make three different stops:

Stop 1 is Big Tub Harbour , which is a small cove. In the cove, you’ll see a Big Tub Lighthouse, and the 1880s Sweepstakes Shipwreck (pictured above) which is only 5 ft below the water and very well in tact.

Stop 2 is Flowerpot Island , famous for its beautiful ‘flowerpot’ shaped rock formations.

These glass bottom boat cruises are offered by two different companies: Bruce Anchor , and Blue Heron. They both offer a ‘stay on’ cruise option, and a ‘drop off’ option.

The Stay-On Options (at Bruce Anchor and Blue Heron )

The stay on option means that you stay on the boat for the round trip. You will go from Tobermory to the Big Tub, and then flowerpot island, and straight back again. The entire trip will take just over an hour. If you choose the ‘drop off’ option, then you will get off the boat at Flowerpot Island, and picked up later.

Let’s go through what you need to know about each of these options.

Glass Bottom Boat Cruises (Stay-on option)

Tobermory is famous for its glass-bottom boat cruises. The water is crystal clear and the glass-bottoms allow you to see down to the floor of the lake.

The stay-on glass bottom boat cruises are perfect for anyone who doesn’t particularly want to hike Flowerpot Island, for whatever reason. If you just want just the cruise without the hike, then this is the perfect option. If you’re doing this cruise with small children, with elderly or mobility impaired, this is the option that I’d recommend.

Here are the similarities and differences between the two different stay-on glass bottom boat cruises offered by both Bruce Anchor and Blue Heron.

Stay-On Glass Bottom Boat Cruises

TIP: If you choose to sail with Bruce Anchor, they have two different ships. The Explorer and The Fusion. They both cost the same, and look fairly similar.

Glass Bottom Boat Cruises (Drop-Off option)

Both Bruce Anchor and Blue Heron offer the option for you to get off at Flower pot island and explore. Here’s a break down on how those work.

Bruce Anchor and Blue Heron both offer cruises that allow you to get off at Flowerpot Island, and stay there for a few hours before hopping on a cruise that takes you back to mainland. Here is the comparison between both of their drop-off options.

A few things to note:

• “Peak times” refer to anytime in the summer months – June, July and August. These are the busiest months for tourism in Tobermory
• The same details mentioned with regards to boarding area and cancellation policy applies to the stay on and drop off cruise options for Bruce Anchor and Blue Heron
• While 0-3 children are free of charge, they still require their own ticket , so don’t forget to include them in your booking

Should I Get Off at Flowerpot Island?

Flowerpot Island is a unique piece of natural landscape and famous for its ‘flowerpot’ shaped rock formations, which can’t be found anywhere else. Here’s everything you need to know about exploring Flowerpot Island.

Flowerpot Island is really something. Its a beautiful piece of natural landscape that is completely unique to this region and can’t be found anywhere else. You can go swimming, hiking or have a picnic. There are caves to explore, and of course, you’ll want to get photos of the gorgeous one-of-a-kind rock formations against the turquoise water. Its an experience that doesn’t do justice until you can see it in real life.

Things to Keep in Mind about Flowerpot Island:

• There are no amenities: no food, no electricity or garbage cans.  Bring full water bottles.
• There are compost washrooms only
• The terrain is quite uneven and its not the easiest hike. I wouldn’t recommend coming here with anyone very young (under 5) or anyone with any kind of mobility impairment. Be sure to wear good walking shoes!
• Flowerpot Island is a sensitive piece of nature that they are working hard to preserve, so please leave it better than you found it. Take all your garbage back with you.

I took a cruise with Bruce Anchor alone with my one year old while my husband was getting his scuba diving certification with Diver’s Den in town. I chose the stay-on option, because I knew it would be easier with a child of this age. My husband has hiked Flowerpot Island, and he loved it. But based on his experience hiking there, and my view of the island from the boat of my stay-on cruise – we would only advise you to get off at Flowerpot Island if you feel comfortable for the three hours outdoors , with minimal shade, amenities. Be sure to bring good hiking shoes, and lots of water!

Good news – there are other cruise options in Tobermory besides the glass bottom tours.

Sunset Cruises in Tobermory

One of the most popular activities in Tobermory are sunset cruises.

Sunset Cruises in Tobermory are offered through Blue Heron. They will take you to see the Grotto and the Indian Head Cove. Departure times vary to leave it well timed with the sunset, so the timing changes slightly throughout the summer months.

In spring, the sunset cruises leave on Saturday nights only. In the summer, they leave every night. All of these cruises are weather dependent.

Tobermory Wave

Another boat cruising company in Tobermory is Tobermory Wave . Like Blue Heron, Tobermory Wave leaves from Little Tub Harbour. They don’t have glass bottoms – these boats are smaller, more similar to a motorboat. Unlike with Blue Heron and Bruce Anchor daytime cruises, you get to see the grotto with Tobermory Wave.

So if you want to see the grotto in addition to  Flowerpot Island, and the Sweepstakes shipwreck from a boat in one tour – then Tobermory Wave might be what you’re looking for.

With Tobermory Wave, an adult ticket is $70 and children’s are $62. The tour is 2h 20 mins. They do have a 3-day cancellation policy, so keep this in mind when you book.

Tobermory Cruises: Where to Stay Nearby

There are a few accommodation options in Tobermory, but its always nice to be close to the harbour and the cruise boarding areas, to minimize the stress of commuting to the town and looking for parking.

If you’re sailing with Bruce Anchor, there’s nowhere more convenient to stay than their hotel , which is located just a stone’s throw from their dock. This is what I chose to do. It was convenient being so close by. The nice thing about The Bruce Anchor Hotel is that its also only a 5-minute walk to the Tobermory Harbour and restaurants . So the location was great all around.

If you’re planning to sail with Blue Heron, the Bruce Anchor motel is still close – about a 10 minute walk from the Little Tub Harbour where you’ll board.

Heading to Tobermory with kids? Click here to read about family-friendly accommodations in town.

Tobermory Cruises: Final Thoughts

We hope this covered the information you need to select the best Tobermory cruise for your stay. I sincerely hope that this was helpful to you. The cruises are a must, whether you’re in Tobermory with kids , or a group of adults.

THE 5 BEST Tobermory Boat Rides & Cruises

Boat rides & cruises in tobermory.

• Fishing Charters & Tours
• Kayaking & Canoeing
• Speed Boats Tours
• Scuba & Snorkeling
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• Good for Couples
• Good for Big Groups
• Good for Kids
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• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Divers Den

2. Tobermory Wave Adventures

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4. Blue Heron Cruises

5. Bruce Anchor Cruises

6. Tobermory Cruise Line

7. Cedar Grove Boat Rentals

8. Thorncrest Outfitters

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Our History

The Bruce Anchor company started in 1989 with the Bruce Anchor Motel, which initially only had 16 rooms. We have proudly served the community for thirty-four rooms and watched our company grow with the local community. In the years that have passed, we have expanded to three motel locations with 65 rooms, 2 suites and 8 cottages. In 2011, we embarked on a new journey and expanded our business to Bruce Anchor Cruises. We wanted to provide our guests a new way to experience the Fathom Five National Park and all it offers. Our first vessel, the Crusader, was a glass-bottomed zodiac with a capacity of 38 passengers. We have grown to a fleet with 5 vessels, 2 being over 145 passengers, and all Featuring glass bottoms. Over the years, we have brought business, service, and charity to our community, which we love and look forward to doing for many years. 

Bruce Anchor Cruises is proud to operate in a pristine national park. We are fortunate to live and work in a preserved environment that attracts so many people from around the globe each year. We diligently work to protect the lands and waters we operate in by making green decisions and minimizing our impact on the local environment.

We kept these values of environmental stewardship in mind when designing our newest vessel, the Tobermory Eclipse. The Eclipse was the first vessel in Canada approved for the IMO-3 designation, producing four times less emissions than the current standard. All Bruce Anchor boats are designed to be efficient, have a shallow draft, and cause a minimal wake.

On shore, we are committed to using sustainable products and reducing our consumption wherever possible. For example, when designing our ticket booths, we focused on maximizing natural light to minimize our need for heat and artificial light. Our commitment to preserving the area’s natural beauty will ensure it can be enjoyed for future generations.

Our Acknowledgement

I want to acknowledge the Territory of the Anishinabek Nation: The People of the Three Fires, known as Ojibway, Odawa, and Pottawatomie Nations. And further give thanks to the Chippewas of Saugeen, and the Chippewas of Nawash, known collectively as the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, as the traditional keepers of this land.

The region that is now the Fathom Five National Marine Park was once home to the Saugeen Ojibway nation peoples, thousands of years ago. The abundance of wildlife and plant life on their traditional land supported their communities and people. Fathom Five contains several important archaeological sites dating back thousands of years and continues to be an important place for local indigenous communities today. Members of the SON contribute their local expertise on Lake Huron’s biological importance to the reserve, park and their entire way of life.

Our Cruises

Bruce Anchor Cruises operates boat cruises within Fathom Five National Marine Park which occupies some of the most pristine waters in the Great Lakes. Fathom Five is home to numerous historic light stations, over twenty known shipwrecks, and Flowerpot Island.

Our extremely unique and modern glass bottom vessels depart Tobermory on a regular schedule.  Our boat cruises operate during the spring, summer, and fall! Within 5 minutes of departing our dock passengers are given an opportunity to view two 19th century shipwrecks, The Sweepstakes  and  The City of Grand Rapids , resting just a few feet below the surface. Following the shipwreck viewing, we pass by Big Tub Light House (1885).  From there we continue on our way to Flowerpot Island. As we cruise around Flowerpot Island passengers will view magical scenery.  This scenery includes the historic Flowerpot Light station, the light keeper’s homes, the Flowerpot rock formations and more. If you are planning to hike the island, we dock at Beachy Cove to allow passengers to disembark and explore the island on foot for a couple of hours. The return trip from Flowerpot Island to our dock in Tobermory is about 15 minutes.

Getting your day trip or vacation started can be really exciting!  We totally  understand because we can’t wait to host you on your glass bottom boat tour to Flowerpot Island!

Here on the Bruce Peninsula our roads are very busy.  Please be aware that during the summer season there is an increased presence of vacation traffic, slow moving vehicles and construction, with no passing lanes.

Please allow lots of extra travel time and please drive safely!

Bruce Anchor Cruises