Boston Harbor Cruises

Great night for a senior cruise and Meeto had the best dance moves and kept it 100 along with his ability to help guide the entire boat from getting on to selection on foods.

Great time taking the Boston Harbor Cruise Water Taxi from our hotel in Tudor Wharf to the South Train Station. Our captain, Mike Sullivan, was absolutely fantastic. He was kind, helpful, and extremely friendly. Honestly, it was better seeing the city from the water and getting a little tour from the water taxi for only $ 12 then it was spending almost $ 40 on the Duck Boat. One of the best parts of this trip to Boston! Thank you!

Took a 12 pm cruise to Georges Island, paid $ 17 for round trip. Lost a star because the boarding time said 11:30 and our boat was late. Boat came a little after 12 but an employee did let everyone know it was delayed a little. The tour was good, we sat on the top of the boat. Our tour guide was Ethan and he was funny. I wasn’t expecting for him to talk the entire way to the island because it was a long trip but he kept everyone entertained. On the way there, the weather was nice so sitting on the top was great. Coming back, it had just rained so it was windy and the downstairs was packed as expected. We ended up sitting on the second level and boy was it windy, some chairs flipped. But overall great experience.

Conveniently located next to the Aquarium on the Blue line, Boston Harbor Cruises are a fun/​touristy activity that can accommodate a wide range of ages. In fact I vaguely remember going with my parents on this with my parents many moons ago for a whale watch. Most recently my SO and enjoyed the Brunch/​Lunch Lighthouse tour which is about $ 60/​person + Tax. The schedule online says it runs from 12 – 2:30PM but I’d say it’s more like a 3+ hour excursion since they ask you to arrive by 11:30AM to board the ship. (If it’s a nice day it’s probably more important to get there early to secure a good spot next to a window.)
The day we embarked was a bit gloomy and proceeded to rain halfway through the cruise but we were inside the dining area anyway. I’m glad they had some muffins, donuts and croissants ready to appease the hungry passengers as soon as we got on. The poor woman who stationed the Belgian Waffle station was overcome with a long line of passengers waiting for the mere 2 waffle irons. Even though there were 2 or 3 people in front of me, I waited probably 15 minutes for another half of a waffle. I can’t complain about any of the food as we enjoyed all of it given that our expectations weren’t too high to begin with. All of the staff were friendly and attentive, but we didn’t have a very full ship so they weren’t understaffed. One of the waitstaff, Kevin definitely made sure that whenever my glass was running low on water that he would be quick to refill.
My only minor gripe was the timeline of the cruise. Although we did see the lighthouses as mentioned in the itinerary it felt like we were moving at a glacial pace behind all of the other boats swiftly passing by us. Most of the information if you’ve explored any tourist venue you will already have heard at some point. Our narrator was funny in a cheesy way, overall entertaining. He even had us join him at the top level outside to view one of the lighthouses that has the only female light keeper and wave to her with our white napkins! Unfortunately I don’t think she was on duty or saw us and it began to rain. We didn’t end up docking and getting off the ship until about 2:45PM. I suppose if you aren’t in a rush and making plans afterwards this isn’t as big of an issue.

We went on the whale watching tour. Beware, this can last up to FOUR HOURS! If you are not used to being on a boat in somewhat choppy waters and/​or you don’t have sea legs… DO NOT TAKE THIS TOUR. Almost half the boat was sick. Couldn’t wait to get back. While I was completely miserable, the tour guide was extremely knowledgable! We did see a few whales, but we were more concerned with our own well being.

I was very disappointed by the Sunset Cruise. They allow far too many people on board, and people move chairs from inside the boat onto the deck. It’s a safety hazard! There was no room to walk on the deck with the way people crowded the chairs. We shared our concerns with a crew member who did not show any concern or apologize. The cruise also left almost fifteen minutes late, despite the fact that people are expected to arrive thirty minutes before the «departure» time. I would not recommend the Sunset Cruise.

Was my second time doing the cruises and the first time we went was awesome ! This time it wasn’t really in season so we had to wait a long time to get on the boat back to Boston but everything was still great.

Very nice. Guide was very informative. Clean. Table seats are inside. Bathrooms. Was part of our City Trolly ticket. About an hour. Nice.

As part of Project Graduation they chartered a boat for a few hours. The staff was very friendly and the food was great and offered buffet style. We cruised out of the harbor as the fog slowly dissipated and got a clear view of the city as we sailed out into the harbor. We anchored under the route the planes took and everyone found it fun to look up and watch as the loud planes soared over us to land. They had a DJ onboard the boat and he played a great mixture of tunes. I would definitely invest in renting the boat wether it be for a party or wedding in the future. Definitely would also look into other tours they offer! I’ve heard they have great whale watching tours!

My first harbor cruise was July 13^th, 2007 on the Frederick L Nolan Jr. boat for a show that was part of the Rock & Blues concert series.
First impression was that it was small, very cramped, way too many people, the concert was held inside the boat, even though the weather was perfect outside, so I think that’s why it felt so small. Seeing the beautiful sunset while heading out after leaving the dock was worth the tight quarters.
My second harbor cruise was August 8^th, 2012. We were on the same boat for the same concert series, but this time the show was outside and what a world of difference it made!
99% of the staff were great both times, the last time, there was one guy, I don’t remember his name, but he was one of the rudest people I’ve ever encountered.
The Frederick Nolan and Boston hold a special place in my heart because I met my (now) wife on that boat back in 2007.

No complaints just some suggestions for other passengers. If you want to hear the narration sit downstairs. When you sit on top the views are gorgeous but you can’t hear anything. Also pack a small lunch you can eat and drink on the boat. Clean bathrooms.. I didn’t mind the fact I could not hear because I was just enjoying the boat ride. It was a lovely day and I would go back. Crew was friendly. If you go on a hot day wear a hat!

The website is pretty shoddy considering how big a company this is and gives the impression of a more unprofessional operation that it really is.
We took the Charles River cruise yesterday and it would highly recommend it.
Things were a little chaotic by Long Wharf yesterday, with multiple boats leaving and big crowds, considering the fine weather and holiday weekend. It could have been more organised down there. Despite having lots of staff floating about, nobody was organising things and it was not immediately clear which lines were for which ferry (since multiple sailings would leave from the same gate).
The cruise itself was excellent. The Charles River cruise is much preferable to the standard cruise around the harbour. It is less crowded, with a more personal touch and more interesting route. At slightly over an hour and a half, it was also the ideal length.
Grace, our guide, did a fantastic job, and was both personable and knowledgeable, and clearly had a great rapport with the captain, Nancy. It was a pleasure to have been able to gone on their last tour of the season.

No complaints from us after spending a day riding with Boston Harbor Cruises.
We took the 9am boat to Georges Island and the trip was great. The ride was smooth, the tour guide was informative and we thought that the boats were well maintained.
The ride back was just as great but much quicker since we were making our trip back to Boston.
The reason we dropped one star is because our family member took the 10am boat and said that the tour guide wasn’t as informative and spent the better part of the trip talking with friends.

This was a beat the heat option on a recent trip to Boston. The cruise itself was included in our hop on/​hop off trolley ticket and was an excellent excuse to sit and relax while the boat puttered along
An unfortunate component of this cruise is how difficult it was to actually hear what the guide was saying. The drone of the motor, the barely audible guide, and the nice breeze meant I lapsed into a semi awake state while my cellphone charged.
What I could hear was so informative and interesting history of Boston so I appreciated it for what it was. I attributed some of it to being seated inside no where near where the guy was speaking. So overall, not a bad tour.

Take a cruise of Boston Harbour! This is well worth the price of admission. Tickets can be purchased in Harbour District near the New England Aquarium, via phone or online. Leaving from Long Harbour, there are several ships to accommodate the high demand. Take the sunset cruise with your family or loved one, very romantic! Views are great no matter where you are on the boat. The cruise lasts about and hour and a half.

Negative stars for their website.
Their website is not securely encrypted enough and soon after I purchased tickets there were hundreds of dollars worth of fraudulent purchases on my account. I am positive it was their website as my bf also bought tickets on his own card and his card had fraudulent purchases too at the same places.
Boats and services and everything else were nice and fine but in no way will I ever use their website again.

So nice, relaxing, historically correct. The staff was generous, caring, helpful, kind, & funny. I had just recovered from surgery & they offered me a chair & umbrella in line while we waited to board. They have comfortable seating with cushions, beverages, & snacks. The entire experience was amazing & we had a wonderful time!!!

Every year my brother and I take our father and my nephew deep sea fishing. The past few years we’ve basically sat in a boat for four hours with no fish. We used to take home beautiful stripers — not anymore.
This year I suggested a whale watch as my nephew has never been on one. Being in New Hampshire, my brother suggested Hampton Beach or Cape Ann. I insisted on booking a watch through BHC /​NEA.
Well it didn’t take long for my family to find out why. An hour after leaving dock we were surrounded by a dozen gorgeous humpback whales and my nephew was absolutely blown away.
The boat was clean, quiet, and comfortable. The staff was exceptionally professional and courteous. We all had a picture perfect day. I can’t recommend any other whale watch in Massachusetts. These folks have it down to a fine art.

Views of the Boston skyline from harbor, ferry, whale watching or island cruises are spectacular at sunset. There is a ticket booth at the start of the harbor with a large whale hovering over it with tons of options and cruise tours you can take.
We were with a large group from a local week long conference and were on Thompson Island having Lobster Clambake cruising out of Boston Harbor in the early evening and were on the island at sunset. Oh my goodness, what a fantastic sunset we experienced !!! This will be imbedded into our hearts for a long time to come — can’t get any better than this. And oh yea, the Lobsters were large and fantastic also with all the trimmings — I finished off all the extra pieces at our table then washed my juicy hands before enjoying the music, libations and of course the sunset.

Go for the views on the Sunset Cruise!
Boarding was a breeze and they take pictures of you before boarding to sell to you for $ 25.00 after the trip. Our sunset cruise was about 90 minutes around the harbor. The sunset view over Charlestown and the Boston Skyline was breathtaking.
Drinks on board were reasonably priced and I loved that there were bathrooms to use as well.
I didn’t give it a 5 star rating because the narration wasn’t great. The young man was unenthusiastic and was very monotone.
Grab a drink at the Landing outdoor bar pre boarding the boat.
Price is a bit steep, close to $ 30.00 per person after tax.
Tip: Sit in the FRONT of the boat as it turns around once it gets out of the harbor, it also aproaches the dock through the front again so you will have great opportunities for photos. Also, it can get really windy so bring a light jacket or hoodie.

«Arnaque». Pour moi ce mot résume très bien mon expérience avec les baleines. Je m’explique. La compagnie garantie que l’on va voir des baleines, et si ce n’est pas le cas ils vous redonne des tickets pour revenir une prochaine fois. Le principe est plutôt honnête, sauf que non pas vraiment.
Notre bateau part avec 30 min de retard car le bateau précédent c’est tellement bien amusé avec les baleines qu’ils n’ont pas vu l’heure passer. Cool ça veut dire qu’on va en voir plein !
On embarque finalement, puis 2h30 plus tard les baleines arrivent, le bateau ralenti, on voit une queue, puis plus rien. Le bateau cherche, deux petites queues apparaissent au loin, puis plein gaz.
Là je né comprends pas au début mais en fait on repart !
Nous sommes restés grand maximum 5 minutes, histoire de dire qu’on avait vu deux queues de baleines. Ils les ont cherché beaucoup trop longtemps et pour né pas avoir à redonner des tickets à tous ces gens ils nous les ont montrés 5min. Pour moi c’est pas honnête de leur part. L’ayant fait en Australie, on en prenait plein les yeux et le bateau était resté plus d’une heure a les observer.
Bref, 75 € à deux pour ça…