narrow boat dinner cruises

Erie Canal Daily Cruises

The Colonial Belle offers the best day trip value for your New York travel budget. Many of our departing passengers tell us "The Colonial Belle is one of the most enjoyable outings in New York State." We are located on the northern edge of the Finger Lakes region, famous for its wine tours as well as its scenic beauty. The Rochester area is a favorite New York tourism destination and provides many leisure activities and events.

Office Hours

May - October 10:00am–2:00pm daily (excluding holidays) November - April Phone calls are answered as frequently as possible. Please leave us a voicemail message if we cannot answer. We have limited staff during our non-operating season. Our business email is checked multiple times a day year round as well.

Gift Certificates

To purchase a Gift Certificate please call us at (585) 223-9470 or buy online with paypal here.

NOTE: Purchasing a Gift Certificate is NOT a reservation. Your gift certificate will be mailed via US mail. Please have the recipient of the Gift Certificate contact us at  (585) 223-9470  to make a reservation for one of our cruises. We look forward to serving you!

CANCELLATIONS Terms and conditions are subject to change without prior notice. A cruise may be cancelled due to inclement weather, mechanical problems or insufficient number of passengers. Notification will be made when possible.  See our Policies page »

Boarding is 15 min. before departure

• Schedule Subject to Change (Call for Reservations) • Reservations Suggested • Gift Certificates Available • Handicapped Accessible (1st Deck) • Free Parking • Discounts are available to Seniors ages 60+, children, veterans/active military & groups of 25+ on public tours.

Canal restaurant boats & canalside dining

Skippered floating dining & restaurant boats, canalside cafes and restaurants

Canal restaurant boats & canalside dining

Canal restaurant boats usually combine good dining with a canal cruise. Some offer evening only dinner cruises, others operate during the day as well, sometimes at a fixed location.

• Most require bookings to be made. It may be necessary to choose your meal in advance.
• Most restaurant boats will have an onboard bar and restroom facilities. Some may also provide a small dance floor area.
• Full boat charters may also be possible for functions and private parties.
• Restaurant Boat operations may be affected by the Coronavirus Social Distancing restrictions. Check with the operators before booking.

Kennet and Avon Canal

Leeds and liverpool canal, macclesfield canal, rochdale canal, shropshire union canal, union canal, worcester & birmingham canal.

All materials and images © Canal Junction Ltd. Dalton House, 35 Chester St, Wrexham LL13 8AH. No unauthorised reproduction.

Facebook | Twitter

About | Terms | Privacy | Refunds & Returns | Sitemap | Contact Us

With over 800 pages , this website uses cookies to record visitor behaviour using Google Analytics. More information on Privacy Page . Page last updated: 24/04/2024.

Lehigh Drive closed from 25th Street

Lehigh Drive is closed from 25th street so everyone must approach from Glendon Hill Road or Lehigh Drive from downtown (and keep an eye on our website for flooding updates – it’s been a wet start to the month!)

Ride the Canal Boat

Travel Back In Time

The 48-ton Josiah White II canal boat plies the waters of old Section 8 of the Lehigh Canal in Hugh Moore Park. Our trained and authentically-dressed crew interprets  the story of the anthracite canals  and the people who worked and lived on them. Our two mules –  Hank and George  – tow the boat on a leisurely trip from the National Canal Museum to the Locktender’s House and back.

Canal boat tours are 45 minutes long and leave the dock at 12, 1:30, and 3PM.  Tours run rain or shine, except during thunderstorms, high winds, hazardous air quality conditions or extreme heat.  The canal boat is wheelchair accessible.  RESERVATIONS ARE NOT  REQUIRED.

Canal Boat Rides will be offered in 2023 from June 7 through October 29.

Museum + Boat Admission

• Adults: $15.00
• Seniors: $14.00
• Children (3-15): $11.00
• Children under 3: Free
• Family Pack (2 Adults & up to 3 Children): $49.00
• Members: Free

Special Discounts

Group Rate (15 people or more) :  $2 off per person

Blue Star Museums : Free admission for active military families (with ID)

Museums for All : Free admission for SNAP benefit recipients (with EBT card)

Canal Boat Charter (Rental) Rates

The Josiah White II is a great venue for weddings, family parties, and celebrations of all kinds!  Details here .

Dinner Cruises

Take a one of a kind dinner cruise aboard the Josiah White II.  2023 dinner cruise schedule here.

Did you know that D&L Members can ride the boat and visit the  National Canal Museum for free?

Click here to become a d&l member today, hours & prices.

2024 Hours & Rates

Museum Hours 11:30am – 4:30pm April 6 to May 26 Saturdays & Sundays

Museum Admission Adult: $8 Senior (65+): $7 Child (3-15): $6 Under 3: Free Members: Free

Museum & Canal Boat Rides   Canal Boat Rides: 12, 1:30 & 3 PM Saturday & Sunday:  June 1 & 2 Wednesdays thru Sundays:  June 8 to October 6

Museum & Canal Boat Admission   Adult: $15 Senior (65+): $14 Child (3-15): $11 Under 3: Free Family Pack (2 Adults & up to 3 Children):  $49 Members: Free (up to 2 guests are 50% off)

Groups of 15+:  $2 off per person Blue Star Museums (active military families): Free with military ID Museums for All (low-income families): Free with EBT card

D&L and National Canal Museum Info and Events Sign Up

Stay up to date on what's going on along the Corridor and at the museum.

• First Name *
• Last Name *
• Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign Up for D&L and National Canal Museum Info & Events!

• Share with Friends
• Follow Us On Twitter
• Like Us On Facebook
• Watch Our Videos

National Canal Museum 2750 Hugh Moore Park Road, Easton, PA 18042, 610-923-3548 · Contact us

Copyright © 2009-2024. All rights reserved. The National Canal Museum is an affiliate of the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor .

Share the Canal with Friends

A unique experience awaits you....

Our boat & river avon cruise, about stratford upon avon.

The birthplace of William Shakespeare, steeped in culture and history. Set in the beautiful rural Warwickshire countryside, on the banks of the River Avon, it is one of the most important tourist destinations in the UK. With easy road, rail and airport access, Stratford upon Avon is the perfect place for a vacation or short break.

Corporate Events

Cream tea cruises, we have a fully stocked bar on board, including draft bitter, lager, cider, spirits, liqueurs, soft drinks and fruit juices..

Straw-yellow with light golden hue in colour. Sweet spices and jasmine jump from the glass with a defined and harmonious perfume. It has gracefully refined dry notes on the palate and a fresh finish.

A medium sweet wine, offering ripe honeydew melon, nectarine and pineapple fruit with an attractive sweetness.

Offers good concentration and depth of fruit, with a soft and plummy texture and hints of vanilla.

Fresh and crisp with very subtle strawberry fruit and a dash of sweet spice. This is a structured and vibrant wine.

With a subtle floral scent on the nose this white has flavours of melon, citrus fruits and a touch of fennel.

Raspberry and black cherry fruits on the hose that also emerge on the palate complemented by a touch of spice.

Bookings & Enquiries

ERROR: Javascript is required to submit this form, please enable it and reload this page before continuing.

• News & Articles
• Meet Heidi Sarna
• Awards, Press, Podcasts & Videos
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Destinations
• Expert Small Cruise Line Reviews
• Submit a Reader Review

Select Page

• River & Canal Cruises
• Coastal Cruises
• Sailing Cruises
• Expedition Cruises
• Oceangoing Cruises
• Micro Cruises

A Narrowboat Cruise on the Scenic Oxfordshire Canal – Review

Nov 25, 2019 | 7

Narrowboat Cruise: An Unbias River Boat Cruise Review

By Robin Andersen.

It is hard to beat river cruise along a canal.

Guy uses the long wooden pole to push the narrowboat away from the grassy bank where we moored overnight. I am at the tiller and I push the throttle forward into gear, pointing the boat toward the center of the canal, as our big diesel engine kicks in. We head south on the glassy water toward the next stop we see on the map.

Subscribe to our monthly small ship cruise email

Subscribe to QuirkyCruise.com for monthly curated newsletters highlighting our top small cruise ship reviews , round-ups & offers!

Photo: Robin Andersen

We boarded our 47-foot boat “Windsor” in Heyford, where we signed up for a 4-day excursion down to Oxford. There we will turn the boat around, and head back up. How we are to accomplish this feat remains a mystery to me.

We are on the Oxfordshire canal, said to be the most scenic of them all. Though this is our first narrowboat adventure, I’m inclined to agree.

Maps of the canal system form an intricate, interlacing set of threads that seem to tie the country together.

The most import points on the map, of course, are the pub icons with names like The Rock of Gibraltar, The Plough, and The Boat Inn. They are the constellations we use to find the best places to tie up and spend the night.

After leaving Heyford, our first stop is The Rock, and an evening filled with fish ‘n chips and beer, listening to canal buffs spinning the lore, and explaining the complex rules of etiquette for boating down the canal.

Slow & Steady

We are gliding effortlessly at four knots—about the same speed that it takes to walk the towpaths that run alongside of the canal.

Built in the 18th and 19th centuries, the canals were used as the most efficient way to transport just about everything from coal to beer, as Britain moved into the industrial age. In those days horses on the towpaths pulled the heavily laden boats up and down the canals.

Passing under the old stone bridges transports you to the bygone days of a slower time.

Photo: Guy Robinson

Four knots creates no wake, and the still, calm water, together with the sound of bird chatter and the near total absence of industrial noise creates an ambiance known only to the canal.

It puts a smile on Guy’s face.

Lots of Locks

But you inevitably must come to a lock. Did I mention this is an 18th-century mode of transport—with 18th-century technology—a time when we were all probably a little more hardy. But going through a lock is the only way to get down the canal.

First you pull your boat over to the mooring post, but only after you’ve jumped off a moving vessel, not quite close enough yet to the bank. And here’s a tip; don’t forget to take the line with you before you jump!

You need to approach the lock with determination, windlass in hand. Don’t drop it into the lock!

Use your windlass to crank up the “paddle-gear.”

As you crank up the “paddles,” the heavy steel plates on the gate, watch the water rush into the lock. Only after the lock reaches the same level as the canal do you open the gate and pull your boat into the slender passageway. Release the paddles back down slowly, don’t let them drop. Then close the gate.

It helps to use gloves.

Here, you propel your body with all your might, sometimes backwards, to open the lock gate.

After closing the gate behind, raise the paddles on the front gate and watch your boat drop hastily to the lower level of the water. Then open the front gate, and you are ready to motor out to the lower level of the canal as it descends in elevation with the land. Here’s a different technique to open the front gate.

I love the moss-lined stone walls and the view from inside the lowered lock just as we are about to make our escape through the slim stone arch and get back onto the calm waters of the canal.

Close the gate behind you and marvel at the stone steps and grassy slopes of Pigeon Lock, which are exceptionally beautiful.

It’s a real sense of accomplishment to succeed, and get on the other side of the lock. But don’t worry, you will repeat this process many times on your journey up and down the canal.

Lifting Bridges

Old wooden lifting bridges are easier to tilt up and go under.

But they can offer other challenges. Getting through this tight stone passage is tricky.

They offer another satisfying feeling of success!

Sleeping on a narrowboat in the Oxfordshire countryside is about as restful as it gets. Here we are moored for the night. It’s quiet and comfortable, and you wake up to birdsongs, though they do like to start the day at an early hour. Our boat comes fully equipped with bathroom, shower and running water, but the tank holds only so many gallons.

We fill the water tank using the boat maintenance stations along the way. This one is in the classic little English village of Thrupp.

Detective Inspector Morse

We moor at Thrupp to visit the Boat Inn, a favorite hangout of Colin Dexter, the novelist who created the fictional character, Detective Inspector Morse . Dexter roamed up and down the towpaths and frequented the pubs along the canal route. They say, write about what you know , and Dexter seems to have done just that.

Morse likes his pint of beer at any time of day, and in the BBC TV series Morse based on the novels, the detective is frequently seen sitting at one of the pubs along the canal enjoying a pint.

Narrowboats can be seen floating by on the water in episodes of Morse , and the spin-off series Lewis . An entire episode of Morse was devoted to a cold case from the 1800s when a woman was killed traveling on a narrowboat for hire. One Lewis episode had a suspect living on a moored narrowboat. And more than once, a body has been pulled out of the Oxfordshire canal.

As one of my fan-friends joked after we got back from our cruise, canals seem to be “dangerous places where people often end up murdered. You were lucky to have survived your jaunt.”

We left Thrupp in an early morning mist, just after the boat pictured here.

Traffic Jams

The canals are not wide, and at times they can narrow even further. If moored boats crowd both sides of the canal, it can test your nerves, and navigational skills. Just keep the tiller on a steady course and never go over four knots while passing moored boats.

Signs remind those at the helm, or in canal lingo, “elum,” or the “steerer,” to slow down when passing moored boats.

On our way down the canal we admire boats much longer than ours. This one is at least 72 feet, and is the permanent residence of an entire family. It is well looked after, and its glossy new coat of paint shows it’s also well-loved.

Sights Along the Way

Permanent mooring often results in canal-side gardens, this one complete with a chiminea for enjoying a cool spring evening beside your boat, on dry land.

Photo: Robin Anderson

This Tea Room is open for business and features a fancifully decorated narrowboat. It can be reached by boat, or on the other side, by car.

Muddy Waters is a children’s book series that tells the stories of fearless narrowboats as they embark on big adventures down the canals and waterways of Britain. You might call them the equivalent of Thomas the Tank Engine for narrowboats. This boat was once owned by the author herself, Sarah Clatcher.

Guy’s sister Kate jumped on board when we tied up just before Oxford. She lives in England, and has always wanted to ride down the canal on a narrowboat but never got around to it.

Kate and her husband Pete parked in the lot at The Plough and walked across the wide expanse of grass, and then a field to get to our mooring site.

In this shot we are actually moored, just having a little fun horsing around on the boat at the tiller.

As we cruise further south, getting closer to Oxford, the canal begins to pass behind houses, where some owners keep boats alongside the banks for easy escapes on to the waterway.

With the rural landscapes of Oxfordshire behind us, the setting gives way to the manicured gardens of the Oxford suburbs that back onto the canal. Fun statuary with an English twist are placed to hail boaters as they glide past.

And here we have finally arrived in Oxford, where we must turn the boat around. Guy and Kate try to back the boat in, making a complete hash of it to the amusement of many onlookers. Shouting from the bank of the canal, I yell repeatedly they are doing it wrong, but they are well into sibling shenanigans.

They head in bow-first only after two failed attempts backwards. They tell me later their only regret was being caught without earplugs, so they might better have ignored my shouting.

On our way back up the canal after finally, successfully reversing course in Oxford, we pass by once again, the beautiful countryside of the upper portion of the Oxforshire canal.

Where just over the next boat.. is a peaceful herd of cows!

Toward the end of our trip, just as we are feeling terribly accomplished about negotiating all the locks, navigating, and crewing the boat with just the two of us, this hardy fellow passes by all on his own. He single-crews his beloved narrowboat up and down the canal systems of Britain.

When we get back on the train at Heyford, we are in Oxford in 20 minutes. The same journey there and back just took us four days to complete. But here’s to our narrowboat canal cruise that seemed to us like a dance.

We dance to keep dancing, for the pleasure of it, not necessarily to get to the other side of the dance floor.

In the end we are most grateful to the Canal and River Trust for doing such a wonderful job keeping the British canals open and in great working order for recreational boating.

The words on this boat reflect the best sentiments of those who travel, not necessarily to arrive at a final destination.

Quick Facts

Finding & booking a narrowboat:

We booked through Oxfordshire Narrowboats online. I also called them to ask questions and they were very helpful.

Price range:

We paid 490 pound sterling for a 47-foot boat for four days and four nights on the narrowboat. Prices vary by excursion, length of the boat and season.

The interior. * Photo: Oxford Narrowboats

Boat capacity:

Our boat had one double-bed berth, and two big fold-out chairs, so it could sleep four.

The longest narrow boat can sleep up to 12 people comfortably.

Operating the boat, tiller, the locks etc:

Oxford Narrowboats provide a handy little well-organized booklet with terms and instructions. In addition, a staff member rides with you for about 15 minutes to the first lock, and shows you how to go through it. After you make your booking, they send you an information booklet and ask that you to read it before you arrive to take your boat out.

Narrowboating season:

We loved our March booking because it was not that cold, and we seemed to have the canal “all to ourselves.” The most popular time are the summer months, but you may have to wait behind several boats to get through the locks at the height of summer on a weekend.

There are permanently moored boats over the winter, and many people boat all year round.

There is a little fridge and a well-functioning stove on board. We ate at the pubs at night, but the first night we heated up some Indian take-out we brought with us. Al dishes and flatware are provided.

The sleeping arrangements. * Photo: Oxford Narrowboats

Sleeping compartments:

It was perfectly comfortable. We are both tall, and the berth was long enough.

Robin Andersen & Guy Robinson are an adventurous couple, who, when they’re not professing at Fordham University, are walking through woods, riding trains or seeking out farmer’s markets for edibles and artisanal treats of all descriptions. They live just a little north of New York City, where Robin writes her books and Guy is close to his field biology research sites.

© This article is protected by copyright, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the author. All Rights Reserved. QuirkyCruise.com.

About The Author

QuirkyCruise

Ted & Heidi are long-time travel writers with a penchant for small ship cruising. Between them they've traveled all over the world aboard hundreds and hundreds of small cruise ships of all kinds, from river boats to expedition vessels and sailing ships.

Related Posts

BARGE Lady Cruises Reviews

January 8, 2020

Americans (Yanks) Cruising Aboard European Ships

January 17, 2016

Small Ship News: Crystal to Build Even More New River Cruise Ships — 6!

June 1, 2016

Q&A With French Canal Barge Owner Edward Anderson

October 13, 2019

Turning the boat around was not aided by abuse shouted at us by some American woman ! Lovely account of your trip. Xxxx

Looks like a lovely adventure! I want to go on one too!

Narrowboating is very cool indeed! 🙂

Great photos and narrative…..very enjoyable account.

Thank you, we loved Robin’s story and photos too!!

4 knots is greater than the max speed allowed of4 mph. I am surprised you didn’t incur the wrath of the “slow down” trolls that moan continuously at anything over tick over.

Hi Maffi, You are right! 4 miles per hour is slower than 4 knots per hour. But the speed of narrowboats is calculated in knots, and some people talk about knots and miles interchangeably I noticed. So that’s probably where the confusion came in. But 4 knots are actually 4.6 miles per hour. Yikks! We could have been speeding. But there was a notch in our brilliant little boat that caught the throttle as you pushed it forward. So that’s where it landed and most of the time stayed. When we were putting along a wide empty stretch on the upper part of the Oxfordshire canal, I did push it forward just a little. But never where boats were moored, or when the wake would hit too hard along the embankment.

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Write A Review

Cruisecompete.

UnCruise BF Ad

2023 SATW Lowell Thomas QC Win

2023 SATW Lowell Thomas QC Win 2

SC & PK’s YT Channel

Sign Up box

Travel Without the Crowds

Satw proud member.

I'm up to 78 countries and 110+ cruises worldwide, and it's the small ship journeys that I love writing about most. And so QuirkyCruise.com was born, an excellent research tool for planning your own unforgettable small ship trip.

I have traveled between all continents by sea and cruised along three dozen rivers. Ships and travel are in my blood, and so is writing. My journeys have translated into many books and many hundreds of articles.

Our Small Ship Cruise Reviews & Articles

If you can imagine it, we’ve cruised it! With reviews, articles and destination overviews, we’ve got you covered.

Tiptoeing Through Tulips on an AmaSerena Tulip Time Cruise in Belgium and the Netherlands

Tulip Time Cruise By Katherine Rodeghier After a cold winter, I anxiously await welcoming signs of spring: the first robin, more daylight hours, flowers poking their heads from bulbs growing in slowly warming soil. I especially look for my favorite — tulips — and...

Seatrade Miami Convention 2024 Small Ship Cruise News

Seatrade Miami Convention 2024 News By Anne Kalosh From newbuilds to a new expedition brand, plenty of small-ship news emerged from cruising's biggest annual B2B event, Seatrade Cruise Global, this month. The Seatrade Miami Convention 2024, with a jam-packed...

Windstar Adding 2 Ships To Its Fleet In 2025 & 2026, One A New Build

Windstar Adding 2 Ships By Ted Scull, with reporting by Anne Kalosh Windstar broke the mold 40 years ago when in 1984 the new firm launched its first of what would be a trio of sleek combination motor sailers. Now, decades later, Windstar is adding a new build, the...

5 Reasons A Biking River Cruise With Backroads & AmaWaterways Is Perfect For Active Travelers Of Any Age

Biking River Cruise With Backroads & AmaWaterways By John Roberts You can have it all as a cycling enthusiast who wants to explore Europe on a highly curated, hassle-free vacation. In fact, I took a river cruise bike tour that combines the best elements of sailing...

7 Alaska Small Ship Cruises To Consider — Alaska Expert M.T. Schwartzman Shares Details

7 Alaska Small Ship Cruises By M.T. Schwartzman I took my first cruise to Alaska in 1988 aboard the old Noordam — an ocean-liner-type ship with over 1,200 passengers aboard, which was considered big back in those days. The next year, I boarded my first small-ship...

American Cruise Lines Buys American Queen & Her 3 Former Fleetmates From Defunct American Queen Voyages

American Cruise Lines Buys American Queen By Ted Scull. If you are old enough to recall the nightly newscaster Gabriel Heatter, he began his nightly news broadcast with “Good evening everyone, there’s good news tonight.” Indeed, there is great news for those cruisers...

New UnCruise Itineraries — Aleutian Islands Adventure

sponsored New UnCruise Itineraries As usual, UnCruise keeps things fresh and exciting! Check out this cool new UnCruise itinerary debuting in 2025, in the Aleutian Islands. New UnCruise Itineraries for 2025 — Aleutian Islands Adventure with Kodiak, Katmai & Kenai...

9 Packing Tips For Alaska Cruising With Uncruise Adventures

sponsored Packing Tips For Alaska Cruising With Uncruise Adventures By Heidi Sarna No one does small-ship cruising better than UnCruise Adventures. The leader in small-scale Alaska cruises, the Uncruise fleet carries from 22 to 86 passengers on wide-ranging...

Overnight River Boat Cruising In Canada On A Classic Small Ship — The Canadian Empress

sponsored Overnight River Boat Cruising In Canada This year, St. Lawrence Cruise Lines’ (SLCL) one-of-a-kind small passenger ship, the 64-passenger Canadian Empress, will sail the scenic waters of eastern Canada’s 1000 Islands and the St. Lawrence River for its 44th...

Bar Harbor To Limit Cruise Visitors, As It Reverts To A Small-Ship Destination

Bar Harbor To Limit Cruise Visitors By Anne Kalosh For many years Bar Harbor, with a year-round population of just 5,500, was Maine's busiest cruise port, handling hundreds of thousands of passengers a season. For some residents, that was too many. Even though the...

Do I Need Travel Insurance? Travel Advisor Kevin Flink Tells Us Why He Thinks Travel Insurance Is A Good Idea

Do I Need Travel Insurance? By Heidi Sarna I had a chat with travel advisor Kevin Flink about travel insurance. I met Kevin on a recent UnCruise in Alaska, where we had the opportunity to discuss the pros and cons of travel insurance. Kevin knows a lot about insurance...

Quirky Cruise Contributors

Heidi & Ted and their team of curious travel writers explore the far corners of the world to share their experiences & insights about small-ship cruising.

Heidi M. Sarna

So far, I’ve explored 78 countries around the world by boat, road, plane, foot, bicycle and camel. My first big journey was a six-month trip around the world back in the days when…

Theodore W. Scull

I am happiest near water, over water or better still on a conveyance moving through water. When my brother Sandy and I were deemed old enough, mother took us to Europe by ship.

Anne Kalosh

Peter knego, john roberts, robin mckelvie, dana freeman, judi cuervo, lynn and cele seldon, elysa leonard.

Sign up for our monthly newsletter to get insider reviews, tips & deals on unusual & small-ship cruises.

• Name * First Last
• Countries * Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos Islands Colombia Comoros Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czech Republic Côte d'Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini (Swaziland) Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Korea Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu US Minor Outlying Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands

* I would like to subscribe to the QuirkyCruise newsletters. QuirkyCruise.com will not sell your email. See  PRIVACY POLICY

quirkycruise

Never Miss A Post!

Sign up for our monthly newsletters for updates on our small-ship cruise reviews, news & exclusive offers!

• Full Name * First Last
• Country * Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos Islands Colombia Comoros Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czech Republic Côte d'Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini (Swaziland) Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Korea Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu US Minor Outlying Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands

~ SUNSET DINNER CRUISES ~

105-Minute Sunset Cruise   (90-Min ute s for Thanksgiving Cruises)

Delicious, Buffet-Style Dinner by Local  Caterers

Relaxing 70's, 80's and 90's Music

Full-Service Bar with Drinks & Snacks Available for Purchase

All Ages Welcome   (18+ Only for Valentine's Day Cruises)

Reservations Required (24+ Hours in Advance)

Child  (4-12) $55

Toddler (1-3) $25

Infant (Under 1) $10

CAPTAIN'S CHOICE DINNER

FAJITA FIESTA DINNER

HOLIDAY DINNER

ISLAND FLAVORS  DINNER

ITALIAN DINNER

SMOKED TURKEY & HAM STEAK DINNER

P lease call Kate at 602 -456-9955 ext.2 for all group reservations of 15+ adults.

Boat crew gratuity is NOT included in your meal cruise ticket price. All  gratuities received throughout the cruise are split evenly  amongst  captain and boat crew, and are greatly appreciated.

UPCOMING DATES

Saturday, April 27th  @ 6:0 0pm

Sunday, April 28th  @ 6:0 0pm

Menu: Captain's Choice

Thursday, May 2nd  @ 6:0 0pm

Menu: Island Flavors

  CINCO DE MAYO DINNER CRUISE

Sunday, May  5th  @ 6:0 0pm

Menu: Fajita Fiesta

Saturday, May  11th  @ 6:0 0pm

MOTHER'S DAY DINNER CRUISE

Sunday, May  12th  @ 6:0 0pm

Menu: Holiday

Thursday, May  16th  @ 6:0 0pm

Sunday, May  19th  @ 6:0 0pm

Saturday, May  25th  @ 6:3 0pm

Saturday, June 1st  @ 6:3 0pm

Menu: Captain's

Sunday, June 2nd  @ 6:3 0pm

Saturday, June 15th  @ 6:3 0pm

FATHER'S DAY DINNER CRUISE

Sunday, June 16th  @ 6:3 0pm

**Closed in July & August**

SEPTEMBER DATES COMIN G SOON...

All dates and times are subject to change at any tim e.

IMPORTANT INFO

Purchasin g Tickets

Reservations are strongly recommended and are required on meal cruises. Tickets can be purchased online, over the phone or by visiting our ticket office at Pleasant Harbor Marina.

Arriving at Pleasant Harbor

Please plan to arrive at least 45 minutes before cruise departure, to allow for sufficient travel time from the parking lot to the marina. Pleasant Harbor charges a $9.00 per vehicle ($2.00 per person on chartered buses) entry fee. Active-Duty  Militar y, Veterans, Firefighters, and Police Officers receive FREE gate entry with ID. Shuttle golf carts will pick you up in the parking lot at the blue canopy and bring you dow n to the floating marina. The shuttle ride is FREE, but tips are appreciated and encouraged .

Boarding ‘The Phoenix’

Boarding begins 30 minutes prior to scheduled cruise departure. We will check you in by your last name. Seating is first come, first served. No outside food or beverages allowed on board. No hydro flasks, water bottles or coolers allowed. Bottled water in clear, factory-sealed bottles is okay. Cash only on board for snacks and beverages. All children 12 and under are required to wear a life jacket (provided).

Cruise Cancellations & Rescheduling

No refunds. A minimum of 24 hours notice is required to reschedule any pre-paid cruise. Coupons and discounts cannot be applied after booking your reservation. Our cruises may be cancelled by the Captain if extreme weather conditions (strong winds/thunder/

lightning) are present. We do not cancel for rain. In the extremely rare case that we have to cancel a cruise due to weather, we will contact you at the phone number you provided.

~ by Dillon's Catering ~

BBQ Beef Brisket, Tender Pulled Pork, Smoked Turkey, Homestyle Macaroni and Cheese, Smokey BBQ Bake d Beans, Creamy Potato Salad, and Jalapeño Corn Bread with Butter. Freshly Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies and Fudge Brownies with De caf Coffee for Dessert.

CAPTAIN'S CHOICE

~ by Fat Freddy's Catering ~

White Burgundy Chicken Breast (with  Sautéed Mushrooms, Garlic, Shallots and a White Wine Cream Sauce), Slow Smoked Beef Brisket (with Creamy Horseradish and Au Jus), Roasted Garlic Red Skin Mashed Potatoes,  Sautéed   Green Beans (with Brown Butter and Sliced Almonds), Mixed Greens Salad (with Cucumber, Tomato, Carrots and Buttermilk Ranch Dressing), Crusty French Rolls with Butter. Chef's Choice for Dessert.

FAJITA FIESTA

(Cinco De Mayo Only)

Achoite Grilled Chicken Slices (with Grilled Onions and Peppers), Grilled Flank Steak Slices (with Grilled Onions and Peppers), Pico De Gallo, Cilantro Cream, Shredded Cheese, Flour Tortillas, Refried Beans, Spanish Rice, Southwest Salad (with Crisp Romaine, Charred Corn, Sweet Peppers, Shredded Cheese, Tortilla Frizzles, and Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette), Homemade Flour and Corn Tortilla Chips with Freddy's Fresh Salsa. Bavarian Cream Cheese Filled Churros for Dessert.

(Valentine's Day, Mother's Day & Father's Day Only)

Rosemary Crusted Prime Rib of Beef (with Creamy Horseradish and Au Jus), White Burgundy Chicken Breast (with Sautéed Mushrooms, Garlic, Shallots and a White Wine Cream Sauce), Individual Layered Potato Au Gratin, Marinated Grilled Vegetables, Iceberg Wedge Salad (with Bacon, Blue Cheese Crumbles, Slivered Onions, Cured Tomatoes, and Creamy Blue Cheese Dressing), and Crusty French Rolls with Butter. New York Style Cheesecake for Dessert. ​

ISLAND FLAVORS

Huli Huli Chicken (Marinated with Aji Mirin, Pineapple Juice and Ginger), Bahama Mama Grilled Sirloin (Marinated with Rum, Dark Molasses and Brown Sugar, Served with Pica Peppa Aioli), Caribbean Rice and Peas, Tri-Color Carrots and Broccolini Bundles, Mixed Greens  Salad  (with Corn, Bush Pea, Hearts of Palm, and a Mango Sea Grape  Vinaigrette ), and Hawaiian Rolls with Butter. Key Lime Pie for Dessert.

SMOKED TURKEY & HAM STEAK

(Easter & Thanksgiving Only)

~ by  Dillon's Catering ~

Slow-Smoked Sliced Turkey with Stuffing, Ham Steak with Cherry Sauce, Creamy Mashed Potatoes with Turkey Gravy, Green Beans with Sautéed Bacon and Onions, Homemade Sweet Potato Casserole, Cranberry Sauce, and Dinner Rolls with Butter. Blueberry Peach Cobbler (Easter)  OR  Pumpkin Pie and Apple Walnut Cobbler (Thanksgiving) with Decaf Coffee for Dessert.

VEGETARIAN OPTIONS

Dillon's Catering:  Cheesy Spinach Enchiladas with Chips & Salsa

Fat Freddy's Catering: Chef's C hoice

ATTENTION: We do our best to accommodate allergies and dietary restrictions. However, we do have limitations, as the food is prepared offsite and served buffet style. Please call 602-456-9955 ext.1 before booking to check if we can accommodate your specific dietary needs.

Cruises Depart Daily!

Take a trip through Lock 18 on the Erie Canal

RESERVE YOUR CRUISE TICKETS TODAY!

Sightseeing cruises.

Cruise through a Lock!

GROUP SIGHTSEEING CRUISES

Groups of 25 or more

THE ERIE CANAL EXPERIENCE

Cruise The Historic Erie Canal!

• Departs Daily!

ERIE CANAL SIGHTSEEING CRUISE

Our sight seeing cruises depart daily! Enjoy the scenery of the Mohawk Valley as you cruise the calm waters of the Erie Canal, learning about the history of the area and locks.

• Tags Daily Cruise

CONNECT WITH US

Erie Canal Cruises, Inc

We welcome you to beautiful Mohawk Valley and Erie Canal Cruises. Erie Canal Cruises tour boat Lil’ Diamond II is docked at Gems Along the Mohawk, the Official Mohawk Valley Visitor Center. Located at 800 Mohawk Street in Herkimer, NY, we are directly across from the New York State Thruway Exit 30.

We invite you to join us on our USGC Certified vessel for a fun and historically fascinating cruise, back to a time when the canal was just a vision and the barges were pulled by mules and horses. Travel thru a hundred-year-old lock, relax and enjoy – you’ll be glad you did.

NEWS & EVENTS

Special Events

Make your plans now to get on board the most popular cruise on the Erie Canal.

Give the gift of cruising!

Our cruise gift cards are a perfect gift for everyone on the list.

OVER 1,000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON TRIPADVISOR!

A WONDERFUL PLACE FOR ALL AGES

This cruise was very informative and narrated well by the captain as well as a recording. The price was very reasonable and my husband and I really enjoyed how the lifts worked. A very enjoyable day!

WHAT A GEM!

We thoroughly enjoyed this hidden gem of a cruise! Everyone was friendly and the captain was incredibly knowledgeable. Kids should take this cruise to learn about the rich history of our canal system.

INTERESTING AND BEAUTIFUL

Cruising the Erie Canal was a beautiful adventure. It was exciting to actually enter the lock and see how the water is controlled for boats along the Mohawk River. The historical and geographical information was very interesting, as well. A very worthwhile experience.

FUN AND EDUCATIONAL

The captain had a wonderful personality, and great knowledge. The mate was very helpful as well. Great cruise, lots of history and wonderful views.

ERIE CANAL CRUISE

Great cruise. Very informational. Had a great time. Very comfortable ride. The Locks were exciting. Captain was very entertaining. Had dinner after the cruise in the Waterfront Grille and it was excellent. Great service and great food.

CANAL CRUISE

Very nice cruise. The captain was very informative narrating the cruise. The scenery was very peaceful and we even saw a bald eagle! The locks were interesting and fun to be in while we went to different levels of the river. Great trip. Really enjoyed it.

Book Our Delicious Evening Fish And Chip Cruise!

Skipton Boat Trips

Canal cruises on the leeds & liverpool canal, 🎁gift cards are the perfect gift. click here to purchase one 🎁.

Featured Cruises

• Calendar Mar - Dec
• Clock 12pm , 2:45pm
• Hour Glass 2 Hours

Afternoon Tea Cruises

This 2-hour cruise on the Leeds and Liverpool canal is ideal for couples, small groups, and large groups. During the voyage, delicious sandwiches, scones, and cakes will be served at your table, along with tea or coffee. It’s a perfect activity for all kinds of occasions.

• Calendar Mar - Nov

Evening Fish and Chip Cruise – March to November

Skipton Boat Trips has teamed up with Bizzie Lizzie’s, known as local Fish and Chips Kings, to offer an unforgettable experience on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.

• Clock 11am , 3pm
• Hour Glass 3 Hours

Sunday Roast Dinner / Christmas Dinner Cruise

Take a leisurely cruise down the Canal while enjoying a traditional roast dinner served to you on board. This makes for a great gift voucher or surprise for someone special.

Browse All Trips

Dining & drinks.

Learn More »

Sightseeing

Search boat trips by date & type.

results result

No Trips found.

Searching available trips for . . .

Showing Trips for -

About Skipton Boat Trips

What makes our boat trips the best? Some people say it’s how peaceful they feel as we drift by the lush green Yorkshire Dales on our gentle canal cruises . But everyone agrees it’s the efforts of our thoughtful crew that bring them back.

With over 30 years of running boat trips, we’ve helped put the fun back into planning the perfect day out. We would love to help you plan your perfect day in Skipton aboard one of our comfortable canal boats, whether it’s a chartered cruise or you want to be your own skipper on one of our day boats.

We take extra care before, during, and after your booking to make your experience more enjoyable!

2023 TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Award Winners

2021 tripadvisor travellers' choice award winners.

"This is our 3rd time going on the santa cruise and it never fails. Each year has been fantastic. My daughter absolutely loves it and the present she receives, she's always so happy with. They take there time to read about your child and make it so believable to them by knowing there likes, achievements and even bad points 🤣.very welcoming and will definitely be booking again next year."

"Booked the for myself and 44 guests to have a fish and chip lunch for my birthday. The staff on board were great and looked after my guests extremely well and Jen and James were a pleasure to work with whilst making all the arrangements. A great experience - would highly recommend"

"absolutely brilliant evening on the fish and chips cruise the food was delicious this was the second trip for us both times the staff are fantastic very friendly and helpful helping to get my disabled wife on and off the boat where ready for our next trip I would highly recommend the cruises thank you guys"

"Excellent turned a miserable rainy day into a pleasurable experience. Tea and biscuits on board. Bar available for something stronger. Seating comfortable. Small toilet near the bar. Staff pleasant."

The Leeds & Liverpool Canal

The canal itself is Britain’s longest, at 127 miles, and was originally used for transporting coal, stone, cloth, and other cargo after its completion in 1816.

Of course, the canal’s busy industrial heyday has now passed, but the Leeds and Liverpool Canal is still enjoyed by thousands as a brilliant way of exploring the area, reliving the past, and relaxing as the world passes by.

About Skipton, England

Skipton is the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales National Park and was voted the best place to live in the U.K. in 2014. It’s a wonderful historic market town situated in North Yorkshire, right in the heart of beautiful scenery.

It’s not hard to see why Skipton is such a popular tourist destination, with the superbly preserved 900-year old medieval Skipton Castle, famous open-air Skipton market, spectacular limestone cliffs at Malham to the west, celebrated beauty of Bolton Abbey to the east, and of course the Leeds and Liverpool Canal passing right through the centre.

• Travel Trade
• Hotel Rates
• Experience Passes
• Site Search
• THINGS TO DO
• EAT & DRINK
• PLACES TO STAY

• Neighborhoods

Things to Do

• Arts & Culture
• Outdoors & Adventure
• Attractions
• Multicultural CLT
• Family Friendly
• Nightlife & Entertainment
• Tours & Experiences

Eat & Drink

• Restaurants
• Bars & Pubs
• Wine & Vineyards
• Distilleries

Places to Stay

• Temporary Housing
• Bed & Breakfast

Queen's Landing Sightseeing & Dinner Cruises

• (704) 663-2628

Mooresville

Visit Website

Since 1992, Queens Landing has offered a variety of boat tours, sightseeing, and dinner cruises. Our very own Catawba Queen and Lady of the Lake are the only boats of their kind on Lake Norman that are Coast Guard certified, making them sturdy enough to charter even the coastline. And, we’ve expanded over the years to provide a full range of wedding planning and venue packages for both upscale and casual events. Whether you’re hoping for an extravagant wedding or a down-home casual event, we’ll help everything come together perfectly from start to finish. If you can dream it, we can make it happen. Let us show you Lake Norman like no one else.

Google Reviews

Write a Review

I attended the brunch cruise on Easter Sunday aboard the Lady of the Lake yacht on Lake Norman in Mooresville, NC. It was such an amazing experience! The brunch food was excellent! The cocktails were amazing! I ate indoors on the yacht with amazing views of the lake and lots of boats in the water...sail boats, speed boats, catamarans, etc. The Captain of the yacht, the servers, the cooks and bartenders were extremely nice and accommodating! I will be doing this again! I'll likely try the dinner cruise with live entertainment.

Colton Gray

We took the sunset cruise and let me just say the service from the workers was absolutely wonderful. The drinks were great and affordable. Views as you can see in the pictures were great. Would definitely recommend everyone try this at least once while in Hawaii

Trecia Ball

Lady of The Lake. This experience was everything! Well worth the money. Beautiful place. The food was well seasoned and delicious. The staff was nice and professional. Especially our bartender Thomas he rocks and make awesome drinks. The only bad thing I can say is the music was only geared towards the really older crowd and I'm 51. But there was not a good mix of music for everyone. And alot of real slow music no upbeat music.But the ride was stunning. We will do again.

A great place for a day out on the lake. I did the Easter brunch ride on lady of the lake and it was amazing. Food was delicious, drinks were wonderful and the whole atmosphere was fantastic. Great customer service as well. We had the perfect weather too so it worked out completely. Highly recommend doing one of their tours.

Lucy Beattie

Highly recommend going here for an exhilarating yet affordable cruise. The morning sightseeing cruise was a breeze and the captain was even more wonderful. Loved hearing about Lake Norman and all of the famous people that reside here.

Also Check Out

Locally owned and operated for 23 years

Set sail on StarShip in Clearwater, featuring an open bar that’s Free at Sea* . It’s the ultimate dining adventure on the waterways of Clearwater Beach. Take in spectacular views of Clearwater on our open-air top deck while enjoying a complimentary open bar. It’s time to escape and relax! Enjoy a 2-hour cruise, dining aboard America’s first 3-Diamond-rated dining yacht, refreshing beverages, and beautiful coastal views.

Cruise Information:

Location: 25 Causeway Boulevard Slip #55, Clearwater, FL 33767 Vessel: Yacht StarShip IV – View Details Boards: Sunset Cruises generally depart around 30 minutes before sunset Cruises: Departure times depend on the date selected. Please refer to the Clearwater Cruise Calendar for times

Sunset Dinner Cruise:

Price range: .

Prices are subject to change based on timing and availability. Price does not include tax, administrative & processing fees, and marine fees. For dinner cruises, $10 per adult and $5 per child gratuity are to be paid on the yacht to the server. Adult: Starts at $69.95 Child (ages 2-12): Starts at $49.95 Infants (under 2): Free, but please include them in your reservation. Groups of 25+ Passengers: Please call 813-223-7999 or email [email protected] to book.

Sunset Dinner Cruise Ticket Includes:

• 2-Hour Cruise
• Buffet Dinner – View Menu
• Free Bar at Sea – Complimentary Open Bar  – View Bar Menu
• Complimentary Water, Tea, and Coffee
• DJ Entertainment

If you would like to upgrade your experience, please  click here  to view our available upgrades.

Sunset Cruise (No Dinner):

The Cruise-Only ticket does not include dinner and is limited to four drinks per person.

Prices are subject to change based on timing and availability. Price does not include tax, administrative & processing fees, and marine fees. A $5 gratuity per guest will automatically be applied to your booking at the time of reservation.

Adult: Starts at $39.95 Child (ages 2-12): Starts at $29.95 Infants (under 2): Free, but please include them in your reservation. Groups of 25+ Passengers: Please call 813-223-7999 or email [email protected] to book.

Sunset Cruise (No Dinner) Ticket Includes:

• 2-hour Cruise
• Free Bar at Sea – Complimentary Open Bar with a Limit to Four Drinks Per Person – View Bar Menu

Cash Policy:  We will only accept card and contactless payments for reservations, group events, and onboard purchases; cash gratuity onboard will still be accepted.

Refund Policy: This cruise is non-refundable. All menus are subject to change without notice. For the return policy, please refer to our FAQ page .

Yacht StarShip crew members and management reserve the right to limit the consumption of alcohol to any guest who is disruptive or appears intoxicated.

Dress Code: At Yacht StarShip we strive to create a sea of memories for everyone on board. We expect our guests to help support our inviting and family-friendly atmosphere by arriving in the appropriate dressy casual attire. We ask guests NOT to wear the following: excessively revealing clothing or exposed undergarments, see-through attire, mesh outfits, clothing with offensive language or graphics, ball caps, or torn pants. It is the responsibility of the purchaser to inform their party of the dress code. Admittance to Yacht StarShip is at the discretion of management who reserves the right to refuse service to patrons who arrive in attire not fitting our dress code, regardless of the reservation status. Patrons and guests who arrive and do not meet dress code requirements will not be permitted to cruise and tickets will be moved to store credit that is good for up to one year.

For any other questions, please refer to our  FAQ page .

Pricing & Information

Accessibility Toolbar

• Powered with favorite Love by Codenroll

Enjoy Dinner With A Difference At This Quirky Canal-Cruising Restaurant • London Shell Co

Indulge in a slap-up meal at London Shell Co, the London restaurant that’ll really float your boat.

London Shell Co offers a meal that will truly transport you… from Paddington to Camden and back again! Climb aboard the Prince Regent, the bright blue barge dishing up lunch and dinner to up to 40 guests at a time.

Featured Image: London Shell Co .

Other boat-based hijinks:

? Brunch In Style On Daisy Green’s Beautiful New Boats ? I Am Already Jealous Of Whoever Buys This London Houseboat ? You Can Now Float Down Regent’s Canal In A Hot Tub Tug Boat

TYPE IN YOUR SEARCH AND PRESS ENTER

Experiences make excellent gifts! Grab an E-Gift Card here for an upcoming Cruise!

Dinner Cruises

In chattanooga, tn, dinner on the tennessee river.

Since 1985, the Southern Belle Riverboat has had a simple mission: to provide a unique and spectacular experience of the beautiful city of Chattanooga. Our dining cruises show off the beauty of both the river and the city, giving you gorgeous views of Chattanooga that you can only experience from the Southern Belle, all while enjoying a fantastic meal! Book your dinner cruise below!

There are a lot of great dining options in Chattanooga, but only one allows you to cruise down the Tennessee River, taking in all the wonderful sights and sounds of our great city!

Please Note:

• Consuming raw or undercooked meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish, eggs or unpasteurized milk may increase your risk of foodborne illness, especially if you have certain medical conditions.
• Our Caesar dressing contains raw eggs. FYI, consumption of raw eggs may increase your risk of food-borne illness.
• All our hamburgers are cooked to the required minimum temperatures. Upon request, we will cook to your specifications. However, consuming raw or undercooked hamburgers may increase your risk of foodborne illness.
• Most Popular
• Users Groups of 75+
• Clock 2 hours

Admiral’s Dinner Cruise

Enjoy a dinner cruise with live entertainment, pilot house tours, and a buffet-style dinner featuring dishes like prime rib, Cajun chicken, cheesecake, and more!

Valentine’s Dinner Cruise

Enjoy hors d’oeuvres on Pier 2 before boarding the Southern Belle for your two-hour cruise with a DJ, pilot house tours, and a toast of Champagne!

Captain’s Dinner Cruise

Enjoy a Captain’s Dinner Cruise on The Southern Belle Riverboat. Cruise on the Tennessee River while you enjoy live entertainment and a buffet-style dinner.

Skipper’s Dinner Cruise

Take a two-hour cruise with pilot house tours, background music, and a one-time-through buffet-style dinner with roast beef, lemon basil chicken, and more!

• Users Groups of 40+

Chef’s Special Dinner Cruise

Join us to see what the chef has created for dinner on the Tennessee River! Call in advance if you must know, or wait for the scrumptious surprise!

Grand Chandelier Dinner and Sunset Cruise

Enjoy a scenic cruise on the Tennessee River and watch the sunset after a buffet-style dinner featuring prime rib, shrimp, and more!

• Clock 2.5 hours

Christmas Carol Dinner Cruise

Enjoy a Christmas Carol cruise with a special appearance from Santa! Live music, pilothouse tours, and a buffet-style dinner make this the perfect night for celebrating the holiday season.

Holiday Dinner Cruise

Relax and enjoy a two-hour cruise on the scenic Tennessee River with music, pilothouse tours, and our buffet-style dinner that features flat iron steak, lemon basil chicken, and more!

• Clock 1 hour

Easter Dinner on the Grand Chandelier Deck

Enjoy live music and dinner on the deck, followed by a one-hour cruise on the scenic Tennessee River aboard the Southern Belle Riverboat with narration by the captain!

Early Bird New Year’s Eve Dinner Cruise

A two-hour cruise on the scenic Tennessee River for those with other evening plans or who don’t wish to be out ’til midnight.

Bridgewater Cruises

Cruises on the Historic Bridgewater Canal

Our award winning, family run company offers cruises along the Bridgewater Canal in Boothstown, Worsley, Manchester. 

We have two boats the first is our restaurant boat 'Francis Egerton'. This is a luxury wide beam passenger vessel, fully licensed with onboard bar to provide a variety of private hire cruises for up to 30 people as well as public Afternoon Tea, Sunday Lunch, two Course Lunch and Festive Cruises for individuals, couples and smaller family groups.

Our second boat is our trip boat 'Lady Harriet' which is a luxury wide beam passenger vessel built with disabled access. Capable of accommodating up to 12 passengers she is available to hire exclusively for a variety of cruises. 

Our Experiences 

Afternoon Tea Cruises

Our afternoon tea is an excellent

way to enjoy a relaxing cruise

on the Historic Bridgewa ter Canal.

2 Hour Cruise

3 tired  Afternoon Tea

Unlimited tea or filter coffee 

Licenced bar onboard

Fully central heated

Two Course Lunch Cruises

Enjoy a beautiful two course

lunch, whilst we cruise the

 Bridgewater canal.

Two course lunch

Tea and coffee to finish

Sunday Lunch Cruises

Cruise the historic Bridgewater Canal whilst enjoying a fabulous

3 course lunch, freshly prepared onboard by our chef.

3 Hour Cruise

3 course Sunday Lunch 

Lady Harriet ​

Private Charter

Lady Harriet' is a luxury widebeam boat that can be booked for a 1.5, 2 or 3 hour cruise. She is perfect for a day out, family get together or celebrating that special occasion. The boat comes with a driver so you can sit back and relax or why not have a go at steering the boat with the guidance of your onboard skipper.

​Private hire for up to 12 people

Self catering

Have a go at steering the boat

Full kitchen facilities 

Indoor and outdoor seating

Toilet onboard

Disabled Access 

Restaurant Boat 

Francis Egerton 

Why not hire our luxury wide beam restaurant boat exclusively for up to

 30 passengers and experience a day to remember. Whether it is a birthday, anniversary, wedding reception, baby shower, retirement, hen party, coach/ group tour or any other special occasion.

Private Hire for up to 30 people

2-3 hour hire

Additional hours can be added

Various catering options: buffets, formal 2-3 course dinners or Afternoon Tea 

Fully licenced bar onboard

Mark one of life's special events onboard

3 hour hire

Choose from a three course wedding breakfast or afternoon tea

Full decoration of the interior and exterior

Gift Vouchers

Our Gift Vouch ers make the perfect gift!

Valid for 1 year from purchase date

Choose to gift an Afternoon Tea, Two course Lunch or Sunday Lunch cruise onboard our restaurant boat

Choose to gift a 1.5, 2 or 3 hour cruise onboard our trip boat Lady Harriet  

To redeem your gift voucher either book online by selecting your chosen date and entering your gift certificate code or contact us and book over the phone. 

Halloween Craft Cruises ​

(Ideal for the little ones)

Join us this October and book your very own private ghost ship exclusively for your group.

1 hour private Halloween cruise

Halloween Craft Activities for each child

Tea and coffee onboard

Drink for each child

Trick or treat bag goodie bag for each child

 Up to 12 people

Fully central heated 

Dates to be released July 2024

Festive Afternoon Tea

Our Festive Afternoon Tea is the perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit with family and friends whilst enjoying a two hour cruise

Festive Afternoon Tea served with tea, filter coffee or a mulled wine

Four Course Festive Lunch Cruises 

What better way to enjoy the Christmas celebrations than tucking into a four course Festive Lunch cruise freshly prepared by our onboard chef

4 course festive Meal 

Licensed bar onboard

Christmas Craft Cruises ​

Join us this Christmas and book your very own private Christmas themed boat trip exclusively for your group.

1 hour private Christmas cruise

Christmas Craft Activities for each child

Christmas Selection Box for each child

Easter Craft Cruises ​

Join us this Easter and book your very own private Easter themed boa t trip exclusively for your group.

1 hour private Easter cruise

Easter Craft Activities for each child

Easter Egg for each child

Up to 12 people

  Dates to be released January 2025

Trip Boat Lady Harriet

Private Charter / Self Catering

Restaurant Boat  Francis Egerton

Public Cruises / Private Charter 

Winner Best Canal Cruise Operator Northern England 2023

TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Award Winners 2023

Winner Most Unique Family-Run Restaurant Northwest 2022

TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Award Winners 2022

Winner Best Family Day Out Northwest England 2022

TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Award Winners 2021

Winner of Best Canal Cruise Operator North 2021

Winner Leading Restaurant of the Year (Specialist) This is MCR Awards 201 9

Welcome To Georgie’s Canal Cruises

About Georgie’s

JOIN US THIS FATHERS DAY

Check out our links below by sliding to find out more about us.

Georgie Kate from Penkridge

Elsie Elizabeth from Gailey

Celebration cakes

Grazing Boxes and Buffets

Private Functions

Cruise schedule.

" * " indicates required fields

Latest Posts

GIFT VOUCHERS

Fish & chip cruises 2024.

AFTERNOON TEA CRUISES 2024

What our customers are saying.

• Relaxed Sunday lunch barge experience Just enjoyed a lovely Sunday lunch experience on this barge. The food was excellent, delivered piping hot with lots of fresh veg and jugs of gravy. The customer service is faultless, all staff are pleasant and helpful serving the food and drinks efficiently with a smile. Thank you everyone.
• Wonderful afternoon tea cruise We had a wonderful afternoon tea today on the canal cruises. Everyone was extremely friendly and friendly. Fabulous. Afternoon tea was delicious and constant filling of tea and coffee. Very enjoyable will definitely return.
• Special Birthday Treat My sister took me for an afternoon tea cruise, for my 70th birthday. Thoroughly enjoyed it – two hours of gentle cruising going through two locks whilst enjoying some lovely food along with unlimited tea and coffee. The star were lovely and ensured that we had a great time ……..it was a brilliant experience
• BOATiful! A really delightful, relaxing experience with a lovely afternoon tea in superb countryside. Pleasant, helpful staff and very highly recommended Check their website as they do other food-based experiences as well Don’t miss it!
• Fantastic. Lovely afternoon tea. Lovely boat. Young ladies serving us were so pleasant and polite. Really was a pleasurable experience. Wel done.

“We had the Jubilee Afternoon tea on Friday 3rd June for a surprise 70th birthday treat for our mom ,absolutely faultless from start to finish lovely food and great staff who couldn’t do enough for the customers on board so a massive thank you from us all ..”

“Great couple of hours on the canal.. couldnt fault it… lunch was fab and the eton mess pud to die for.. staff were lovely.. 100% recommend georgies canal cruises”

• “Amazing day on the canal with the family on the day boat. booked last minute Thursday for today great service from start to finish Boat is fully equipped with everything you need for a day on the water. would definitely recommend for up to 8 people kids loved it especially the locks we started from Gailey Wharf and 9am this morning and went down to the moat house at Acton Trussell and back to Gailey, 20 locks in total there and back. we took a picnic and stopped half way but there are pubs to stop at along the way. Thanks to the Georgie’s canal boat team for the fabulous opportunity and service you will definitely be seeing us again soon”

Awesome, you're subscribed!

Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!

The best of New York for free.

Sign up for our email to enjoy New York without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush).

Déjà vu! We already have this email. Try another?

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

Love the mag?

Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions.

• Things to Do
• Food & Drink
• Time Out Market
• Coca-Cola Foodmarks
• Attractions
• Los Angeles

Get us in your inbox

🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed!

11 best dinner cruises in NYC for spectacular views of the Big Apple

All aboard! These elegant skyline dinner cruises in NYC turn yachts and steamboats into floating restaurants.

There can’t be many better ways to enjoy dinner with a view than to hop aboard a dinner cruise in NYC. And you know what? That’s why we’ve rounded up the best of the dinner cruise bunch in New York to make that experience even easier. The city sparkles the brightest in the summer (it’s still here, right?) so it’s time to take advantage of the many floating restaurants that sail up and down our two rivers. Rooftop bars  and  beaches  are musts, but a dinner cruise is something special to do with your loved ones. Even the best restaurants in NYC can’t compare to the experience of eating out on the water, and most of these dinner cruises offer prix-fixe menus or buffet meals on enormous three-level ships, sailing taverns and ritzy yachts. Whichever you choose, the ambience just can’t be beaten. Bon voyage – and bon appetit, too!

RECOMMENDED: 🗽Full guide to things to do in the summer in NYC 💵See the best cheap hotels for your NYC trip 🥯Stay in one of the coolest Airbnbs in NYC

This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click  here .

An email you’ll actually love

Best dinner cruises in NYC

1.  New York Dinner Cruise

Patrons flock to Hornblower’s climate-controlled sun deck for the decadent three-course meal and artisan cocktails. With entrée options like honey sesame chicken, oven-roasted flounder and braised beef short ribs, we can’t blame them. It’s hard to not want to get up and dance as you cruise past iconic New York City landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the Brooklyn Bridge to complimentary live jazz.

Where is it? 111, 11th Avenue, New York.    Budget range? A pricy one, but well spent for an evening cruise through New York's harbour accompanied by some keys.   Time Out Tip: There aren't many seats on the top deck, so it's worth getting there a little earlier to skip the queue. 

2.  Alive After Five

Gather your clocked-out coworkers and friends and board the Alive After Five cruise, which makes the most of happy hour—it actually lasts  two hours —along the Hudson River in City Cruises’ Sensation yacht. You’ll have two climate-controlled decks to choose from, plus a covered roof deck, multiple dance floors if and a DJ to get the party moving. This isn't just a cocktail cruise, there's pasta, Tex-Mex and other food options depending on the admission level you choose.

Where is it? The yacht departs from Pier 15 at 78 South st.  Budget range? Live it up on this classic yatcht without needing to break the bank.   Time Out Tip: Drinks aboard this vessel are a little dearer than usual (even for New York), so you might have to sweet talk the bartender a little.

3.  New York Dinner Cruise

Cruise both the Hudson and East Rivers on this two-and-a-half-hour venture set to music from a quality pianist playing classic jazz, blues and Broadway hits. While aboard you'll be served a lavish three-course dinner as you marvel at Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, Freedom Tower and the Empire State Building. You'll set a course from Pier 61 and be able to dance and eat the night away with some of the best views of the city going.

Where is it?  Board at Pier 61 Chelsea Piers, West 23rd St . Budget range? Unobstructed panoramic views of New York's most iconic landmarks for less than 100 bucks. Steal.  Time Out Tip: Think smart casual when it comes to the vibe of this cruise ship - the perfect excuse to grab the buds and set sail. Just be sure to book together to avoid a seating mishap. 

4.  Bateaux New York Dinner Cruises

Departing from Chelsea Piers, Bateaux offers frazzled New Yorkers a relaxing three-hour, three-course getaway cruise along the Hudson. Pair a romantic view of the Manhattan skyline from a glass-enclosed deck with a veritable feast: Entrées include dishes like miso-glazed cod with oyster mushrooms and sugar snap peas and jumbo lump crab cakes with corn succotash. Sip on cocktails, wine and beer from a fully loaded cash bar while live jazz musicians provide the soundtrack for a twinkly evening aboard this dinner cruise.

Where is it?   Head to   Pier 61 Chelsea Piers. Budget range?   A pretty decent price to see this dazzling city lit up as you float along it, especially when you cash in on the unlimited mimosa brunchtime special. Time Out Tip:   There's a semi-formal dress code for this floating shindig, so skip the sandals and bring a tie. 

5.  Gourmet Dinner Cruise

This 3-hour cruise down the Hudson River combines delicious food with dazzling sights. Sail past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island while sipping on premium drinks and snacking on a decadent  charcuterie board packed with cheese, meat delicacies, nuts, jam and olives. Once you‘ve admired the view and the plush boat interior, which features  rare wood finishes and collectables, it’s time to sit down to dinner and tuck into gourmet salads and special desserts, while you’re serenaded by a live jazz band. 

Where is it?   Head to   Pier 76 Hudson River Park. Budget range?   A good price for top-notch food, views and live music.  Time Out Tip:   Gratuities aren’t included, so make sure you bring cash. 

6.  Luxury VIP Cruise

Waterfront dining is elevated to a whole new level of luxury on this three-hour dinner cruise with refined decor, beautiful views of  Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge at night and an evening of live music performances. Among all this, guests will also get the chance to sit down to a carefully curated six-course dinner prepared by accomplished chefs and sip on fine wines and premium spirits.

Where is it?   Head to   Pier 76 Hudson River Park. Budget range?   At the higher end of the scale.  Time Out Tip:   The boat will only wait 10 minutes for latecomers, so get there on time. 

7.  Skyline Cruises

Spend four hours sailing the NYC harbor, gazing out over landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Building. In the height of comfort, no less, as the decks are climate controlled. There's also a DJ onboard, a dancefloor and an American buffet offering three courses, from short ribs and grilled bruschetta chicken to lemon sole stuffed with crabmeat–stuffed lemon and pasta. It's worth knowing that Skyline caters for brunch and lunch too.

Where is it? Board at World's Fair Marina. Budget range? A spot aboard this stellar cruise is a little pricier, but who could resist twirling around a rooftop dancefloor? Time Out Tip: Planning on popping the question? Skyline can customize your booking to make it a night to remember.   

8.  North River Lobster Company

• Restaurants
• Hell's Kitchen

Seriously. What could beat tucking into a buttery lobster roll while enjoying peaking sunsets over the Hudson? If this sounds like your vibe, then get ready to kick back at this floating three-deck lobster shack, spanning 9,000 square feet between the outdoor top deck and bi-level interior dining space and lounge. Set off on a two-hour cruise headed to the Statue of Liberty, while enjoying a menu featuring a raw bar and fresh New England seafood like Maine lobster, fish tacos and clam chowder. Pair your meal with red and white wine selections, bottled beers and summery signature cocktails served by the glass or pitcher.

Where is it? Over at Pier 81. Budget range? A cheap and cheerful option ft cold buckets of beer  Time Out Tip:  Happy hour is 4-7 pm (Monday - Wednesday), so if you want to keep em' coming, head to the boat before then. 

9.  La Barca

Not into lobster? Head next door to get your hands on the banging street tacos aboard this one-of-a-kind three-level floating Mexican restaurant made for good times. Situated on a luxury yacht, La Barca boasts a large outdoor deck area, and two temperature-controlled indoor decks, accompanied by three bars that serve a selection of agave-based spirits, tequila and more. The boat takes several cruise trips a day, meaning you and the gang can enjoy swaying to a mix of Latin pop, salsa and dance hits — taking in the city's skyline as you float along the Hudson River. 

Where is it? La fiesta begins at Pier 81 .  Budget range? An affordable dining experience for those who like to party.  Time Out Tip: After Darka on Sunday night is where the real fun is  -  Free tequila and mezcal tastings and a live DJ guaranteed to make you 'get off your ass' and onto the dancefloor. 

10.  World Yacht

Okay, we're heading back into lobster territory to tell you about this fun New England spin on a Manhattan cruise. Select the Rollin' Down the River package and you'll be in seafood heaven aboard this original Lobster Boat that sets sail from Pier 81, offering fantastic views of Manhattan's Skyline  –  iconic spots like Hudson Yards, One World Observatory and SOL  – as  you bite into one of Connecticut's famous Lobster rolls. Wash it down with a signature cocktail or frozen drink of your choice. The cruise lasts approximately two hours and sets sail at 7 pm. 

Where is it? Meet by Pier 81.  Budget range? A decently-prized casual cruise. Time Out Tip:  Want to catch the Sunset? Set off at 5 pm for an hour-long cruise for views of Manhattan's Upper West Side. Whatever floats your boat. 

Looking for more of a party atmosphere?

The best boat parties in NYC

• Things to do

The best place to get trashed this summer in NYC is obvious: On a booze cruise!

[image] [title]

Discover Time Out original video

• Press office
• Investor relations
• Work for Time Out
• Editorial guidelines
• Privacy notice
• Do not sell my information
• Cookie policy
• Accessibility statement
• Terms of use
• Copyright agent
• Modern slavery statement
• Manage cookies
• Claim your listing
• Local Marketing Solutions
• Advertising

Time Out products

• Time Out Worldwide

• Guided tour

River Cruise on Luxurious Radisson Boat

• Description
• Choose date

Equipped with ice-breaking technology, these huge fancy yachts are the only river cruisers running all year around. The round trip journey takes two and a half hours and floats past all the big sights like the White House, Novodevichy monastery and the Kremlin. There’s a large open air observation deck up top, while the main body of the ship houses a restaurant with a dance floor for a romantic post dinner dance. For a particularly romantic experience take one of the evening boats and admire the bright lights of the city skyline at night.

The most relaxing and picturesque tour that Moscow can offer: a great way to see the city center and its main attractions. This is a perfect alternative to exploring the city by car, if you only have time to do sightseeing during weekday rush hours.

Your English-speaking guide is eager to share every bit of their knowledge about the surrounding landscape, the architecture and historical details.

We conduct Moscow river tour on Radisson Flotilla boats all year around!  It’s warm inside during winter months, while there’s air conditioning during hot summer days. You may also treat yourself to drinks, lunch or dinner on board (drinks and food are not included in tour price).

The cost of an excursion with a personal guide for 1 person

Quay at Radisson Collection Hotel

Government Headquarters ("the White House")

Kievsky Railway Central

Novodevichy Convent

Luzhniki Stadium

Academy of Sciences

Monument to Peter I

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

Moscow Kremlin

St.Basil's Cathedral

Novospassky Monastery

U-turn and back to Quay at Radisson Royal Hotel

Choose your dates

Who's going.

• Excursion River Cruise on Luxurious Radisson Boat
• Date and time:
• Who's going:

See photo of the meeting point

Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

If using any of Russia Beyond's content, partly or in full, always provide an active hyperlink to the original material.

to our newsletter!

Get the week's best stories straight to your inbox

• What to do in Moscow City, if you’re not mega-rich
• Moscow after dusk: 10 places to drink, dance, and groove
• 5 things you must do in Moscow in 2018 between football matches (or without them)
• Sandwiched between Moscow and St. Petersburg: How to spend a perfect weekend in Tver 
• 24 or 48 hours in Moscow: Where to go and what to do in 2019

This website uses cookies. Click here to find out more.