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Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises

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Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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1000 Islands Cruises Kingston

Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises offers daily sightseeing and dining cruises with the greatest variety of cruise options in the 1000 Islands region. Explore Kingston’s historic waterfront or cruise through the 1000 Islands on board one of 3 vessels.

1 Brock Street

(613) 549-5544

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Hidden treasures of downtown kingston: the elm café, allergy-friendly dining in kingston, rest, relax & retreat in kingston.

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209 Ontario Street Kingston, Ontario K7L 2Z1

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Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises

Toll Free Phone: 800-848-0011 Email: [email protected]

The ” Food, Fun and Entertainment Ships of the 1000 Islands” We are committed to fine food services, interactive entertainment and first-rate service aboard all of our vessels. We offer daily sightseeing cruises, private charters and a complete dining experience departing from Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

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Available May 17 – October 14, 2024. Visit kpass.ca for included attractions and pricing.

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Bellevue house, the pumphouse, 1000 islands cruises, kingston trolley tours, discovery cruise.

• Sightseeing Cruises

See historic Kingston! The Discovery Cruise provides an informative introduction to the unique sights and heritage of the 1000 Islands region, with a main focus on the historic waterfront of Kingston. The cruise passes close to National Historic Sites such as Fort Henry, Canada’s Royal Military College, and the imposing Kingston Penitentiary.

Discover History and Heritage

A lively narration highlights the history and waterfront of the city of Kingston, and its place at the beginning of the St. Lawrence River and the 1000 Islands region. Kingston is a UNESCO World Heritage Destination well-known for its remarkable and well-preserved 19th-century defense fortifications, abundant shipwrecks, and classical architecture.

See Frequently Asked Questions for information on parking, boarding, reservations and cancellations.

All tickets are non-refundable. Changes to your reservation can be made with 24h advanced notice.

Schedule: Early Spring (April 20-May 10) and Late Fall (October 15-27) departs at 4pm. Spring (May 11-June 27) , Summer (June 28-Sept 2) and Fall (Sept 3-Oct 14) departs at 11:30am, 1pm, 3pm, 4:30pm.

The River Awaits!

Discover Kingston’s historic waterfront on this 1 hour sightseeing cruise.

Live-hosted commentary provides an overview of Kingston’s history and setting.

A full-service bar, serving wine, cocktails and beer is available on board for purchase.

Our on board canteen has assorted snack items and drinks available for purchase. 

Add a Trolley Tour

Hop on the Kingston Trolley to explore more of Kingston. Enjoy a live-guided tour through downtown highlighting National Historic Sites and visitor attractions like Fort Henry, Queen's University and Kingston Penitentiary.

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Thousand Islands Cruise From Kingston (Our Boat Tour Experience)

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Choosing A Thousand Islands Cruise From Kingston Can Be Tough!

Want to explore the famous Thousand Islands region in the Saint Lawrence River? Great idea!

This beautiful region is a piece of classic “Canadiana” and – as a simple day trip from Kingston – there’s no better way to explore it than by water on an island cruise!

As a refresher, the 1000 Islands are a geographically and historically significant area of the St. Lawrence shared between Ontario (Canada) and New York State (United States).

That said, there are a few cruises to choose from and it can be confusing to find the best island cruise for you. Some cruises offer breakfast or dinner while others vary by tour boat prices and lengths.

Being Kingston locals for several years, we did the 3 Hour Thousand Islands Riverboat Cruise from Kingston . Eric had already done the Kingston sunset cruise, but Lisa hadn’t been out on the water yet.

So, in this guide, you’ll see what we experienced and get an overview of different 1000 Island boat tours available that leave from Kingston. If you want to leave from Gananoque, you can check here for Gananoque Boat Line . You can even tour from the USA with Uncle Sam Boat Tours.

* Friendly Disclosure: We paid for the boat tour we did ourselves – this is not a sponsored post .

Table of Contents

Thousand Islands Cruise – Boat Tour Options

If you know the kind of boat tour you’re looking for, feel free to jump ahead and click through to learn more below.

Be sure to make note of the specific details, the reviews, addresses, how to book, etc. All you have to do is book the one you like and show up to the waterfront!

• For the Classic 3 Hour Thousand Islands Cruise (We Did This) – Check Out This Boat Tour
• For the 1.5-Hour Discovery Cruise – Check Out This Boat Tour
• For a Sunset Dinner Cruise – Check Out This Site

Below, you’ll find more details about the above boat cruise tours so keep reading to make the right decision for you and your group!

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Classic 3 Hour Thousand Island Riverboat Tour (Our Tour)

If you want to experience the 1000 Islands, the cruise that we did is probably the best bet.

This cruise explored an area called The Admiralty Islands (which was beautiful) and is entirely sightseeing so you don’t get off the boat. Tour times for this longer tour are 10:30 am and 2:00 pm. We did the 10:30 am.

There is also no meal included – but you get live entertainment and amazing views of the historic waterway.

This tour also comes with audio commentary (which is really interesting) in English and there are audio guides available for Spanish, Chinese, English, French, German, and Japanese!

Overall, we really liked our tour – it was well organized and enjoyable. There’s a shop on-board where you can buy alcoholic drinks, non-alcoholic drinks, and even snacks/food like popcorn.

This tour can actually be done with a breakfast or brunch add-on but this is a different ticket altogether.

You can read about our sightseeing tour in more detail below – we’ve included LOTS of photos so you can get see what we saw on tour!

⇒ Check out the exact sightseeing cruise we went on here

Kingston & 1000 Islands: 1.5-Hour Discovery Cruise

If you’re short on time but want to get out on the Kingston waterfront, you can always do a 1.5 Hour Kingston Discovery Cruise. This cruise is on a smaller boat than the Island Queen (what we took) called the Island Belle.

To compare, this cruise focuses much more heavily on Kingston and not so much on seeing the Islands. The tour covers the rich history of Canada’s first capital city and the waterways that shaped our nation – which is admittedly very interesting!

Since the cruise is shorter, they offer more times throughout the day. You can book to leave at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm, or 5:00 pm. The 5:00 pm wouldn’t be quite at sunset but close enough and certainly not as hot as midday!

This tour also comes with audio commentary in English and audio guides for Spanish, Chinese, English, French, German, and Japanese!

⇒ Check the times to book your 1.5 Hour Island Discovery Cruise

Sunset Dinner Cruise

If you’re keen to have a meal and experience the sunset on the water, you can book a sunset dinner cruise. These cruises make use of the long, flat, glass-domed roof boat called the Island Star.

Cruises are 3 hours long and tables by the windows book up in advance so be sure to lock in your cruise if you know you want this option!

⇒ Check the prices and times here

Our Thousand Islands Cruise Experience

Since there are quite a few options, we went on a boat tour to show you exactly what it’s like.

The tour itself is run through Kingston Destination Group – the same group that runs the Tourist Information Centre downtown in Confederation Park and handles lots of Kingston tourism tours/activities like the famous Kingston Trolley Tour .

Overall, we really liked our tour. We knew it was sightseeing which meant 3 hours of sailing around in the sunshine and learning about stuff. That worked perfectly for us – and many others on the boat also enjoyed the tour!

We booked the boat cruise through GetYourGuide (a really good travel company) because the official tour booking website used to be very outdated.

That said, you can also book in person when you get to Kingston. However, the summer months are VERY busy in Kingston so some of these tours might sell out if you wait.

Personal advice: If you know the day you want to cruise, we’d suggest booking in advance.

After having booked online, we just walked up to the Kingston ticket pavilion before the cruise, showed the email voucher we got and received our paper tour tickets. Simple.

If you want to learn more about the tour and/or booking process, you can check out our boat tour here .

What You’ll Need For This Boat Tour

If you do end up on this sightseeing cruise, here’s a shortlist of the things you might want to have with you for a great day on the water. Some of these items are weather dependent, but in general:

• A hat – with a string to stay around the neck in wind
• A windbreaker jacket (in the spring or fall)
• A water bottle
• Hair tie (if you have longer hair)
• Seasickness pills (it’s not too rough, though)

Thousand Islands Cruise Itinerary

So, to give you a better idea of exactly what we experienced on our island cruise, here’s a detailed breakdown of the day.

The boat tour was advertised as 3 hours long and it ended up being a little longer (by about 10 minutes) because the boat had to slow down in the high water around the islands.

Pick-up/Drop-off

We started our day at the Kingston waterfront. If you are unfamiliar with Kingston, head for the massive building called Kingston City Hall.

On the side that faces the water, you will see a large green park called Confederation Basin/Park. This is the park full of attractions and the Kingston Tourist Information Centre.

In the water, (that’s Lake Ontario), you’ll see many small boats at the Kingston waterfront docks. Looking at the water, look left and you will see the large tour boats (you physically cannot miss them) and the round ticket pavilion that says “BOAT TOURS” on the side.

The address for this ticket office and island cruise boat pier is: 1 Brock St, Kingston, ON K7L 2Z1, Canada

The tour boats leave from this above address and NOT where you catch the ferry to Wolfe Island – which is located at Barrack St, Kingston, ON K7K 2X9, Canada.

As expected, we went into the office, exchanged our online voucher for paper tickets, and walked to the nearby pier where a line was forming to get on the boat.

We were 30 minutes early and it’s wise to be early so you get good seats on the boat and so you aren’t running down the dock as it sails away!

We got our tickets checked, got a souvenir photo taken, and climbed aboard. We immediately went to the top deck where it’s open to the sun and the air but you can sit on the first deck (shown above) or the second deck for some shade and still have amazing views.

At the end of the day, the boat returned to this exact spot on the pier. We got off, thanked the crew, had a look at our souvenir photo (didn’t buy it but honestly ALMOST did), and walked downtown for dinner and a drink!

Heading For The Thousand Islands From Kingston

Once we pushed off from the pier, they went over safety procedures thoroughly which was really good. With that many people aboard it was good to know there was a plan in place if things went bad out on the water.

The entertainer introduced himself – he was an older gentleman who played classic tunes on both a banjo and a guitar.

He was hooked up to the loudspeaker so he could wander the decks and take requests from people. He was really good – and provided some comedic commentary.

Heading out of the Kingston waterfront, the entertainer shared time with the audio guide which was a narration over the loudspeakers.

The guide was actually really interesting and shared historical dates, locations of events, shipwrecks, famous battles, you name it! We learned a ton in the first leg of the trip.

We passed Wolfe Island and left Kingston behind as we headed up the Saint Lawrence. The cottages/homes on the shore were lovely and the whole area, in general, is just really, really pretty.

It was the perfect day weather-wise, too. We actually went inside for a bit because we didn’t want to get TOO much sun!

If you want, you can grab a snack or a drink at either “shop” they have on both the first and second interior decks. Families with kids were snacking on popcorn and some people even cracked a bottle of wine or a beer.

We didn’t buy anything so we don’t know about prices – but many people took advantage of the food and drinks for purchase.

Arriving At The Thousand Islands

After about an hour we arrived at the edge of the Thousand Islands. It does take a bit to actually get there but the ride was lovely (and lively) so we didn’t mind.

On this cruise, you learn all about the island chain – and explore a region of islands called the Admiralty Islands.

We learned that different parts of the islands were named by different people or groups and so that’s why there are different naming conventions all through the region! In any case, the Admiralty Islands were lovely.

Touring The Thousand Islands

Once “in” the islands, the boat started weaving between big ones, small ones, etc. The audio commentary started up and provided the names of the important islands and the history of it.

Usually, there was a historic cottage or building on it built by someone from “back in the day” – each with a small story attached.

The fact that basically every island had a short story attached made the experience so much richer. If they said “here’s a bunch of islands” it would have been pretty but boring.

However, learning the names and getting a sense of the history of the area was very worth the trip… and we just scratched the surface!

It was also easy to see the islands and snap photos from any of the decks so don’t feel like you have to stand at the top the whole time.

The large port windows make for excellent photo-taking spots – and these seats are closer to the bar and the snacks!

At one point, we could even see the waterfront of Gananoque in the distance. The small town – being even closer to the actual islands – is also rich with history.

We’ll write about Gananoque on this site soon because even Eric hasn’t explored the town in-depth yet!

Returning To Kingston

Once we zigzagged around the islands for a while, we left the grouping of islands to enter the big river again. And back to Kingston we went.

The entertainer started up again to play a few songs and take requests – and we enjoyed the sunshine and snapped as many photos as we could.

Eventually, you start to recognize the Martello Towers (the stone towers with red tops built by the British) and know that you are back in the waters near Kingston.

You actually learn more on the way back but not as much from the audio commentary as heading out for the day.

Once we got back – as we mentioned above – it was great to see Kingston from the water for a change and snapped lots of photos.

We docked, waited not too long to get off, had a look at our souvenir photo, and went downtown for a drink! The captain and crew were there to see us off and it was a great way to end the day.

Related Articles

If you are hanging around Kingston (or travelling to Kingston from Toronto ), check out these other posts for trip planning – we know LOTS about the historic city!

• Things to Do and See in Kingston
• Great Restaurants + Bars & Pubs in Kingston
• Awesome Kingston Breweries to Visit
• Coffee Shops in Kingston You Should Try
• Where to Stay in Kingston

And there you have it – our experience on a Thousand Islands cruise from Kingston. What do you think? Have you been on any of these boat tours before?

We honestly really liked the boat tour we went on . That said, let us know how your island cruise goes – we’re always interested in hearing about the best experiences Ontario has to offer!

As always, Keep exploring, eh? -E&L

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Eric Wychopen

Hi, we're Eric and Lisa - an Ontario-born Canadian and a German! After settling in Ontario together, we realized that there is lots more to explore in this beautiful Canadian province! On Ontario Away, we as well as local contributors cover everything from cities and hikes to wineries, attractions, accommodations, and more.

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Kingston, Ontario

At the gateway of the 1000 Islands and the UNESCO-designated Rideau Canal, Kingston is a city rich in history and culture and home to a vibrant arts, food and maker community. Kingston is a city built on a grand heritage and defined by our ability to blend the beauty of yesterday with the passion and sophistication of today.

Popular shore excursions

• Visit the oldest continuously run farmers’ market in North America.
• Enjoy the city’s famous festivals, including the Kick + Push Festival, Limestone City Blues Festival, Busker Rendezvous, Fort Fright, and FebFest.
• Shop authentic boutiques and shops along Princess Street.
• Explore 24 museums, historic sites, and galleries.

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Toll-free: 1-800-267-7868, international: +1-613-549-8091, email: [email protected], calm-water cruising on a classic canadian riverboat., with each nautical mile, nature's northern masterpiece unfolds., choose a cruise or view cruise rates, kingston & 1000 islands, quebec city, explore intricate river channels, gorgeous scenery & historic attractions., discover the experience or order a brochure, the st. lawrence river - your journey begins, the st. lawrence river has its source from the largest collection of fresh water lakes on the globe, and among all of the big rivers of the world, it is the only one whose volume is not greatly affected by the elements. this river, which sir j.m. lemoine called "the noblest, the purest, most enchanting river on all god's beautiful earth," for miles upon miles acts as a natural boundary between the good friends of canada and the united states., relax and enjoy the st. lawrence seaway, spectacular locks and man-made canals., find a cruise & on-shore excursions, cruise choices, celebration of spring, join us as we kick off the 2024 cruise season with 7 nights and 8 days of fresh spring air on the st. lawrence river and watch the flora and fauna of the river spring to life. this cruise features a unique itinerary and travels from kingston to montreal and return for 7 nights at a special 6 night rate. starting at $3144 cad per person., explore cruise, seaway discovery cruise, cruise with us in the heart of the summer for 7 nights and 8 days of relaxation on the st. lawrence river. this cruise travels from kingston to montreal and return, and features a unique itinerary that highlights the history of the international seaway. during this time of year the river bustles with lake freighters and pleasure boats. starting at $4076 per person., heritage summer cruise, cruise with us for 7 nights and 8 days of warm summer weather on the beautiful and historic st. lawrence river. this cruise will explore the thousand islands region and retrace the routes of early upper canada explorers. learn about the history of the early trade route between kingston and montreal. starting at $4076 per person., discovery cruise series, these 4 night, 5 day cruises were created for those that want to deepen their knowledge of the history, geography, and culture of the 1000 islands and st. lawrence river. discovery cruise itineraries are enhanced with unique attractions, step-on speakers, and an educational focus. starting at $2096 per person., canada's capital cruise, start or end your cruise vacation in canada's capital of ottawa. the historic significance of the lower ottawa river coupled with the amazing 1000 islands and st. lawrence seaway makes this 5 night, 6 day cruise an unforgettable voyage. starting at $2910 per person., upper river expedition, come and explore the beauty and the history of the st. lawrence river and the 1000 islands for 4 nights and 5 days. marvel at the intricate passages and channels of this amazing archipelago of 1870 islands known as the 1000 islands. starting at $2096 per person., fall harvest & colour cruise, as autumn unfolds, the shore and islands ignite with a blaze of colour and travellers come from far and wide to take part in this parade of colour for 7 nights and 8 days. the comibination of fall colours and the invigorating river climate makes this our most popular cruise vacation. starting at $4076 cad per person., canadian connection cruise, experience the beauty of quebec and the richness of french canadian culture on this cruise as your ship passes through all 7 of the st. lawrence seaway locks. this cruise vacation includes 6 nights 7 days on canada's showpiece, the st. lawrence river, between quebec city and kingston, ontario. starting at $3144 cad per person., additional savings, save on your next adventure — discover additional packages & savings on all available cruises., explore savings, talk to an expert & book your vacation 1 800 267 7868, employment • faq • cancellation policy • privacy policy, ©2022 - 2023 st. lawrence cruise lines, website designed & maintained by aliado marketing group..

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Kingston ON (Ontario Canada, Lake Ontario)

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Local Time 2024-04-30 02:38

Port Kingston ON cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Kingston ON, Ontario Canada, Lake Ontario. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

Kingston is a Lake Ontario/St Lawrence River cruise port and city in Canada's Ontario Province (Frontenac County) with population around 125,000. The city is located at Cataraqui River's mouth (Rideau Canal/Lake Ontario's eastern end/Saint Lawrence River's entrance in the lake). Kingston ON is approx 160 mi (260 km/road distance) from Toronto (province's capital and Canada's largest city/to the west along the lake) and approx 170 mi (270 km) from Montreal (Quebec's capital and Canada's second-largest city/to the northeast).

St Lawrence Seaway is a Canada-USA system of rivers, locks, artificial canals and channels that allows ocean ships to navigate inland from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes (terminus at Duluth MN , Lake Superior). The Seaway interconnects large industrial regions located between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie and includes Welland Canal .

As one of the Great Lakes , Lake Ontario has surface area (7340 mi2/19000 km2), water volume (393 mi3/1640 km3) max depth (804 ft/245 m), largest cities in New York USA ( Rochester NY ) and Ontario Canada (Hamilton, Kingston, Mississauga, Oshawa, Toronto).

The settlement (as Fort Cataraqui) was founded by the French in the late-17th-century as a trading post and military base (later renamed Fort Frontenac) and was incorporated (as town) in 1838 and (as city) in 1846. The current name (Kingston) was given by the British in 1787. In 1841, the town became the capital of the United Canadas (British colony between 1841-67) during which time it was heavily fortified. Because of its rich history, the city has listed 1211 properties, including UNESCO World Heritage, National Historic- and Provincially Significant sites.

King's Highway 401 runs across the city's northern part. King's Highway 15 links to Ottawa. Interstate 81 (via Highway 401) connects to the St Lawrence River's Thousand Islands/Mille-Iles (a popular travel tourism region consisting of 1864 islands on the Canada-USA border).

Regularly scheduled ferries (including ships specializing in tours during summer) connect Kingston's downtown with Wolfe Island (the largest in the Thousand Islands archipelago, with land area 48 mi2 / 124 km2). Seasonal ferryboats link (via Wolfe Island) with Cape Vincent (NY USA). Trains interlink Kingston with Windsor ON and Quebec City , as well as with Ottawa (Canada's capital) via the Toronto-Montreal railway.

Before the Coronavirus crisis, Kingston Airport (aka Norman Rogers Airport) served regular domestic flights (by Air Canada) linking to Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal.

The current-day city's economy is heavily based on tourism and public institutions/services. The largest industries are health care, higher education, government institutions/services), research and manufacturing, logistics/transportation. The city's largest employers are Canadian Forces Base Kingston, Queen's University, Kingston General Hospital, Limestone District School Board, Correctional Service of Canada. The most visited tourist attractions are Canada's Penitentiary Museum, the National Historic Sites (mainly Fort Henry and Bellevue House), Wolfe Island (accessed via ferries), downtown's waterfront, the Thousand Islands. Domestic tourists are also attracted via several annual festivals, including WritersFest, Feb Fest, Wolfe Island Music Festival, Blues Festival, Jazz Festival, Canadian Film Festival, Reelout Queer Film Festival, Artfest, Buskers Rendezvous, Skeleton Park Arts Festival, Dia de los Muertos Festival, as well as annual sailing events (like the Canadian Olympic-training Regatta, lake cruisetours) and sports activities like wreck diving, lawn bowling, golfing, rugby, football, volleyball.

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Island Queen Cruise Island Queen Cruise

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The Original Two-Hour Morning Cruise

Come join us as we cruise through the inner islands of the Big Sound, an area many locals consider to be home to some of the most beautiful islands and channels on the Bay, including the famous Hole in the Wall!

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Georgian Bay's famous 30,000 Islands offer adventure at every turn! Experience it for yourself with tours that meander through the scenery on our spacious and comfortable Island Queen. Each excursion offers an unforgettable island adventure!

Must-Do Islander Adventure Tours

Venture off the beaten path aboard the 40’ Islander! We'll be offering 4 tours in 2024 - our Huckleberry Island Tour for a guided hike and swim; our Henry's Island Restaurant tour for a shore lunch; our Outer Islands Tour around Wasauksing First Nation and new this year, our Snug Harbour Lighthouse Tour! Each tour will create lasting memories for your family and friends.

“Georgian Bay is breathtakingly beautiful and the view from the Island Queen is absolutely stunning. Overall a fantastic Canadian adventure that I’m so happy we did on our vacation.”

“We have taken the Island Queen tour at least three times before today, but still marvel at both the windswept Georgian Bay island scenery and the skill of the crew in navigating ridiculously narrow passages with such a large vessel. This tour is a must for people visiting this part of Ontario for the first time.”

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The Island Queen was designed and constructed to provide an exceptional sightseeing experience among Georgian Bay’s 30,000 Islands.

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Georgian Bay

The 30,000 Islands of Georgian Bay are the largest concentration of freshwater islands in the world and the area has been given World Biosphere Reserve status from the United Nations.

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SS Keewatin

The Great Lakes Museum is pleased to announce the S.S. Keewatin arrived safely in Kingston ON Thursday October 26th, 2023! The Keewatin is available to see from the exterior, but will not open for tours until May 2024. Sign-up for email or follow us on social media @marinemuseumkingston for the latest information.

This historic ship, which is among the last of its kind, will be integrated into our extensive transportation collection covering the history of the Great Lakes. We’re thankful to our many supportive donors, volunteers, staff, and board members in helping us save this important artifact, and we look forward to introducing the ship to Kingston soon!

Facts About The Kee

• The Keewatin is an Edwardian-era (Titanic-era) steamliner formerly owned by CP Rail and built in 1907 by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Co Ltd. of Glasgow, Scotland.
• CP Rail steamships such as SS Keewatin ferried tourists, settlers, and cargo throughout the Great Lakes until their retirement in the 1960s. This ship is one of the last of its kind, with its sister ship having been scrapped in 1970 following a fire.
• The ship appeared on CBC’s Murdoch Mysteries , episode 701, and was featured on a 2020 Royal Canadian Mint coin. 
• There have been multiple books written about The Keewatin with additional information on its technical specifications and history. We look forward to sharing this information and our own research once the ship arrives in Kingston. Join our mailing list for the latest information on our planning and preparation for the Keewatin’s arrival or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
• The Keewatin will be undergoing repairs this spring and summer before arriving at its new home in the Museum’s drydock this fall.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why has the museum acquired the keewatin.

The story of the S.S. Keewatin and its sister ships is a story of Canada’s creation as a country and how the Great Lakes were used for transportation in the 20th century. It is vital that the ship, which is the last of its kind, be preserved for current and future generations. The Marine Museum of the Great Lakes has both the expertise and funding to be able to do this. In fact, we’ve raised several million dollars from our generous supporters to fund refurbishments, renovations, and towing of the Keewatin.

The ship will be integrated into our extensive transportation collection covering the past two hundred years of Great Lakes history and we look forward to sharing the story of the Kee and the people who worked aboard, who took trips, and the many other facets of its important history.

Who donated The Keewatin to the Marine Museum?

The Keewatin was previously owned by Skyline Investments. They sought to donate it to a charity approved by Canadian Heritage that had the resources to care for the ship and was qualified to ensure the long-term preservation of Canadian cultural property such as the Kee.

Prior to Skyline’s purchase, it was owned by RJ and Diane Peterson of Douglas, Michigan, who purchased it from CP Rail upon the ship’s retirement. We’re grateful to all of the Kee’s past owners, as well as dedicated volunteers such as the Friends of Keewatin, for their efforts to preserve the ship. The story of the Keewatin and those who played a role in its creation and care will be documented and shared in the Museum once the Keewatin exhibits are completed.

We are also grateful to our many supportive members, donors, volunteers, staff, and Board Members in helping us preserve this important artifact.

What about the artifacts aboard the Keewatin?

We appreciate all those who have donated artifacts to the RJ and Diane Peterson Keewatin Foundation for display aboard the Keewatin. Those who are content to keep the artifact with the ship do not need to take any action. The artifacts will continue to be used and preserved as part of the ship’s museum programming. As part of our programming, we will broadly recognize that artifacts on-board the Keewatin have been donated by families, supporters, and fans of the Keewatin.

If you wish to request return of a family heirloom aboard the Keewatin, please contact us prior to Dec. 30, 2023, and include any proof of ownership you may possess. Note that, due to rules governing charities in Canada, we cannot return artifacts in situations where the donor has received a charitable tax receipt.

How can I help prepare the Keewatin for tour next spring?

If you’re interested in volunteering with our Museum, please email us, phone us, or stop by during business hours. Thank you for your interest!

In addition, if you or family members have stories or artifacts from the Keewatin or its sister ship, S.S. Assiniboia, we’d love to know! It was not uncommon for people to get married, celebrate honeymoons, or take other special or memorable trips aboard these ships, and the ships were also homes to several meaningful careers. We would love to include your family story in our future exhibits.

Please complete our Volunteer Application Form here .

Why won't the ship open for tours until May 2024?

There are two answers; first, the ship isn't heated so will not be open in the winter months; and second, restoration work, cleaning and staging will be taking place over the winter to prepare the ship for visitors. The ship has not welcomed visitors since 2019, so there is much to be done before it's ready to welcome visitors.

What sorts of activities and services will the Museum offer aboard the Keewatin?

What happened to the museum's previous ship.

Our Museum left its current location in 2016 when the building was sold by the Federal Government of Canada (who had leased the building to us). Note that the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston is an independent not-for-profit that is primarily funded through donations and cultural programs.

When the building was sold, we were without a location to park the CCGS Alexander Henry and were forced to part ways with it. It is now in Thunder Bay, where it was originally constructed, and being cared for by the Lakehead Transportation Museum Society. Funding to relocate and preserve the Alexander Henry was provided by the City of Kingston, the City of Thunder Bay, and private donors. Relocating the ship was the most affordable option at the time and was preferable to sinking it or scrapping it.

In 2019, we were able to acquire the funds to purchase our original building when the developer who had purchased the property sold it. We have been seeking a museum ship for our dry dock since that time. The Kee is a unique, highly desirable, and valuable artifact and, since the Museum now owns its current building with its historic dry dock, we do not foresee a similar situation occurring again.

What was the cost to relocate the Keewatin and who is paying?

Who may i contact with further questions.

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Closure of LaSalle Causeway in Kingston, Ont. blocking cruise ships

The closure of the LaSalle Causeway in Kingston, Ont. is causing concern for cruise ship companies, ahead of May 1, when all of their ships are scheduled to launch.

1000 Islands Cruises has three ships. The Island Queen is already taking passengers for tours out of the Kingston harbour, which the company says is normal for this time of year.

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But the Island Belle and the Island Star, the company's other ships, are both docked on the north end of the Causeway, and the clock is ticking to get them to the other side.

"We have two boats that are trapped on the wrong side of the bridge," explained Eric Ferguson, the general manager of the Kingston 1000 Islands Cruise. "We need those boats out. It's not an option to leave hundreds of tons of marine tourism assets in Kingston on the wrong side of a bridge."

The bridge, which is owned and operated by the federal government, was damaged during routine construction  on March 30.

It connects drivers and pedestrians in the east end of Kingston to downtown. Last week, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) said the bridge would not be open by May 1, and offered no definitive timeline to reopen.

Ferguson, along with representatives from St. Lawrence Cruises and Ontario Waterways Cruises, proposed a contingency plan to the PSPC. They are seeking a temporary removal of a concrete section of the bridge to allow the ships to pass through once.

"That's the preferred option on the table right now," Ferguson continued. "That's the ability Public Services and Procurement Canada has to reopen navigation on this navigable waterway. That's what they should do and they should do it next week."

CTV News Ottawa requested comment from PSPC on Monday, but it did not comment directly on the proposal.

"Although timelines to complete repairs remain unknown," PSPC said in a release, "our teams continue to work diligently to re-open the bridge as soon as possible."

The release says the bridge is being repaired with a phased approach.

Ferguson and the 1000 Islands Cruises, meanwhile, remain frustrated.

"As of right now, we don't have any engagement on timeline at all and that is really impactful," he explained. "It means that we have to make decisions for these vessels, for visitors to Kingston, for the huge amount of economic impact that comes from that based on really very little information." 

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Stay Connected

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Cruise boat operators in Kingston, Ont., say they're desperately seeking to free vessels marooned on the wrong side of the LaSalle Causeway as the damaged bridge remains closed and the beginning of the busy marine season nears.

With time running out, the companies have proposed opening up another section of the span or hoisting their ships over it.

The unexpected and total shutdown of the causeway has left the Canadian Empress, Island Belle and Island Star all high and dry — blocked from the St. Lawrence River and the wharf where they pick up passengers.

They're trapped, said Eric Ferguson, general manager for Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises, which operates the Island Belle and the Island Star.

"May is very busy in Kingston," he said. "Mother's Day weekend is on the way. The Victoria Day weekend is on the way. We would expect to see thousands of passengers. It is not an option to leave those vessels in the Inner Harbour."

No timeline for repairs

The causeway opened more than a century ago and is a key crossing between downtown Kingston and the city's eastern suburbs. Part of it is a  Bascule bridge , which uses a counterweight to let boats through.

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) said crews were carrying out scheduled repair work on March 30 when a steel truss supporting that counterweight was damaged.

The bridge has been closed to all users ever since.

In an update on April 12, PSPC announced the bridge would remain closed for "several weeks." While it's working to open it as soon as possible, it has said the problem would not be fixed in time for the beginning of the marine season on May 1.

• Kingston's LaSalle Causeway expected to remain closed for 'several weeks'

That's left dozens of recreational and personal crafts stranded in the Inner Harbour, just a short distance away, along with several cruise boats undergoing maintenance there during the off-season.

Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises and St. Lawrence Cruise Lines said the impact of a closure this spring could result in more than a million dollars in lost tourism and economic revenues.

Cruise tickets range from around $40 to $140, depending on the type of excursion. The prices swell upwards of $2,000 for overnight trips, according to prices listed on the cruise companies' websites.

PSPC says 1-time opening not possible

While the priority is getting the bridge open to regular traffic, the companies said they want a solution to their problem.

They say their preferred solution for retrieving their boats would be to have several temporary lifts of the bridge, either using its own mechanism or a crane.

In a statement, a PSPC spokesperson said they're aware the closure has "impacts on marine-based businesses."

However, "a one-time opening of the causeway to allow cruise ships through is not feasible," because the damage to the span prevents it from lifting, their statement said.

Over, under or through

Still, the cruise operators say they're determined to see their vessels somehow get through, under or over the causeway.

They've proposed removing a section of the concrete span from the causeway using a crane or barge, which would allow boats through.

Ferguson has another suggestion.

"Some of those tour boats could be lifted over the causeway," he said. They would use "big cranes," he explained, though acknowledged that would be a more "challenging" option.

His company is fortunate in one sense: one of their boats, the triple-decked Island Queen, is already moored on the correct side of the bridge after being put to work earlier this year during a sold-out eclipse day cruise.

Ferguson said despite the difficulties, he's had encouraging conversations with PSPC and is confident a solution can be found so the boats will be on the right side of the bridge by May.

"We are frustrated, but we're hopeful."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dan Taekema is CBC’s reporter covering Kingston, Ont. and the surrounding area. He’s worked in newsrooms in Chatham, Windsor, Hamilton, Toronto and Ottawa. You can reach him by emailing [email protected].

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