About Riverboat Cruises in Pennsylvania
Riverboats harken back to a kinder time, evoking great memories of Huck Finn or Tom Sawyer sitting near the river watching the wonderful paddle-wheelers flow by. Pennsylvania riverboat cruises operate some of the most historic waterways of the nation, which will include Susquehanna or Delaware rivers. Cruises will mostly range from short sightseeing cruises to longer ones that include lunch or dinner.
Hiawatha Paddlewheel Riverboat
The Hiawatha Paddlewheel Riverboat operates on the Susquehanna River with a few public trips every year from May through October. Sightseeing tours will last for about one hour and leave the Hiawatha docks in Susquehanna State Park, Pennsylvania. Travelers are able to enjoy the lush green river banks which are in fact unchanged from those days when boats ruled the waterways of this country. Longer Sunday brunch, karaoke or concert cruises that will last from ninety minutes to over 3 hours are available as well. Sunday brunch cruises will feature a lavish buffet which will consist of a large selection of meats (bacon, ham and sausages), egg dishes as well as a lot of sorts of sweets, such as muffins or pastries. Hiawatha Paddlewheel also provides private charter cruise trips.
Pride of the Susquehanna
The Harrisburg Area Riverboat Society will provide public river cruises on the Susquehanna River on a daily basis from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Cruises will take place on board The Pride of the Susquehanna, a genuine stern paddle-wheel ship. Sightseeing cruise trips will last only forty five minutes and provide panoramic views of the Harrisburg skyline as a recorded program will talk about the history of the area. Specialty cruises will be available as well, like dinner, fall foliage, Italian festival or fireworks cruises. On board the murder mystery cruise, passengers will take part in an interactive theater production and will try to decipher various clues to find out who is the murderer; it may even be one of the guests. The Italian festival cruise will feature a sumptuous buffet of ravioli or lasagna, but also wine and music. The Pride of the Susquehanna will be available for private charter reservations as well.
Riverboat Queen Fleet
The Riverboat Queen Fleet, a replica of the nineteenth century paddle-wheeler, is only available for private charter cruise trips on the Delaware River. The itinerary length or duration of this tour is mostly of to the customer, as will be the menu for extended dinner cruise tours. The Riverboat Queen Fleet has two decks, which will include a dance floor on the top deck. The lower deck will be air-conditioned and also heated. Guests will be able to enjoy panoramic view of downtown Philadelphia. The river is steeped in history; it has the sight of Washington`s hasty riverboat crossing on Christmas Day to stage a surprise attack close to Trenton on German troops.
About Riverboat Cruises in Georgia
As one of the 3 states which compose the Deep South, Georgia will still include quite a lot from the charm which defined Southern living at the plantation area`s height, with large magnolia trees, elegant luncheons and steam-powered river ships sailing the rivers of the state. Riverboat cruises might still be enjoyed throughout the entire state, providing travelers with simple sightseeing tours and longer dinner and wedding trips.
Savannah Riverboat Cruises
Savannah Riverboat Cruises will provide hour-long sightseeing trips on a daily basis around Savannah Harbor as well as the Savannah River. Cruises will take place on board a pair of riverboat replicas, the Georgia Queen as well as Savannah River Queen. The captain of the ship will double as guide and will share historical trivia or anecdotes throughout the entire cruise. Sightseeing tours will be provided during the entire year and take in the scenic riverbanks, with historic buildings and the town`s “Waving Girl” statue erected to honor a woman who waved at passing vessels over forty years at the ending of 1800s and beginning of 1900s. The company will provide dinner, brunch, gospel or murder-mystery cruise trips on certain days during the entire year.
Stone Mountain Park
Travelers to Stone Mountain Park from Atlanta may sail the Stone Mountain Lake on board the Scarlett O`Hara, a side-wheeler which is able to host one hundred and fifty passengers. The twenty-minute cruise will leave every 30 minute from the Riverboat Marina Complex. Guests crisscross the whole lake and are offered with views of the towering rock formations and lush green countryside. Another ship, the 300-guest paddle- ship Henry W. Grady, will be available only for private charters. Stone Mountain Park will occupy more than 3.200 acres of wilderness fifteen minutes from downtown Atlanta, and is home to the largest piece of exposed granite in the world, according to its site. The park will provide hiking, cable car rides, golf, a laser show and camping.
Chattahoochee Outfitters
Chattahoochee Outfitters will provide cruise trips on the Chattahoochee River on board the Spirit of Roswell, a sixty-three-foot stern-wheeler with 2 decks. Public sightseeing trips will depart from the Azalea Park ship launch in Roswell, about twenty minutes outside Atlanta. Cruise tours will last for 1 1/2 hour and will provide guests a close look at the surrounding countryside and three-studded riverbanks. The Spirit of Roswell is available for private charters for groups of up to sixty five people. Charters trips will range in length from 2 1/2 to 3 hours, and go to Morgan Falls and then get back to Azalea Park. Charter tours will be available from 10.00 until sunset.
About Riverboat Dinner Cruises in Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery was since 1846 the capital of the Alabama state, and the historic downtown region lies on the shores of the Alabama River. The Harriott II, the only operating ship of the city, is owned by the Montgomery city. It`s docked beside the Riverwalk Park`s amphitheater, a modern development of riverside entertainment. The Harriott II will offer sightseeing excursions, dinner cruises, sunset trips as well as themed evening cruises like Disco Cruises or Blues Cruises.
The Harriott II
Take a small trip back in time on board this genuine replica of a nineteenth-century paddle-wheeler, which has been launched in 1981 and refurbished completely in 2009. The vessel has been named in honor of the Harriott, the first ship to function between Montgomery and Mobile, carrying cotton in the `20s. The vessel is almost 100 feet long and may host almost four hundred guests. The lower deck will contain the dining area, and the ship will be climate-controlled, featuring two open-air decks. The Harriott II is decked in white, blue and red with beautiful interior decorations along with table dressings. The vessel is United States Coastguard approved. Passengers may find free evening parking available near the Harriott II ship dock at Wells Fargo, in the Coosa Street`s parking deck, or any other metered parking spot.
Dinner Cruises
Dinner cruises on board the Harriott II are to be considered a family business. Besides dancing and live entertainment, the cruise will provide organized activities for kids. The buffet meals will include a wide variety of entrees, potatoes, bread rolls and salads. Drinks will be available to be purchased from the cash bar.
Dinner Cruise Schedule
Dinner cruises are provided on board the Harriott II each and every Friday evening. Embarkation will start at 19.00 for departure at 19.30, and cruise trip will last for about 2 hours. The itinerary is a scenic round-trip cruise on the Alabama River.
Cruise tickets have to be bought at least two days in advance. As of 2011, tickets for adult dinner cruise will cost $40 and kids` tickets will cost around $20. Less expensive patio tickets for the cruise without dinner will be available as well. The Alabama City has a no-refund policy. Cruise tours will not function with less than thirty five guests; in this case, those who already have a ticket will be provided a substitute cruise. You will be able to buy cruise tickets over the internet, by phone call or at their physical address at 200 Coosa Street, Montgomery. A 10% discount will be available for guests who hold valid military ID.
Basics About Riverboat Cruises on the Ohio River
The Ohio River will flow for almost one thousand miles all the way from Pittsburgh to its mouth on the Mississippi. Boat cruises will leave from a few major cities close to the river and provide daily and nightly sightseeing or dinner tours. Story telling along with live entertainment will be provided along the way.
BB Riverboats
BB Riverboats will provide dining cruise trips, which will include dinner, sightseeing or brunch cruises, as well as private charters or specialty cruises. The Belle of Cincinnati offers an open upper deck along with three climate-controlled decks. A bit smaller, the River Queen includes two different enclosed decks as well as a 3rd deck. BB Riverboats will invite guests who want to reserve a spot on either one of the lunch or dinner trips for a cruise on the river. Advance bookings are highly recommended.
Belle of Louisville
Considered a National Historic Landmark, the Belle of Louisville will cruise all the way from the downtown Riverfront Park of Louisville. Dance, dinner and sightseeing trips will be provided from early may through late October on board this river ship; the trips will include story telling and live entertainment. The sister boat of the Belle, the Spirit of Jefferson, will provide lunch or dinner cruises along the entire year. The meals will be served in buffet style, and aboard both riverboats guests will find cafes from where to enjoy snacks if they don`t want a meal. Lunch or dinner bookings may be required.
Queen City Riverboats
Queen City Riverboats` lunch and dinner cruise tours, which will include story telling from the captain, will sail along the Cincinnati harbor. On board, guests will enjoy various meals served in buffet style along with coffee or tea, as well as a cash bar. Outings will not be scheduled on a regular basis. Tourists who want to cruise with Queen City will be able to join an already scheduled tour or simply request a cruise. The cruise line will provide shuttle service between downtown Cincinnati and Kentucky when Reds & Bengals are playing, and will also provide a front seat for the 4th of July Fireworks. Early bookings may be required.
Valley Gem Sternwheeler
Valley Gem Sternwheeler will run buffet dinner tours which will feature entertainment on Saturday nights and occasional special trips, like a continental breakfast cruise trip which features various museums, or an excursion on board a paddle-wheeler to Buckley`s Island for a quick nature bike. A lock cruise trip will be provided in October; the cruise will include a boxed lunch along with a quick excursion through a lock along the Muskingum River. Lunch or dinner cruise tours will sail around Buckley Island or Muskingum Island along the Ohio River. Advance bookings may be required.
What Riverboats Are Available on the Mississippi
The great Mississippi River will flow all the way from Minnesota and will empty in the Gulf of Mexico. A riverboat cruise will provide a great opportunity to step bank in time two centuries ago and enjoy a peaceful sightseeing tour of picturesque riverfront cities, historic battlefields and plantation houses. There are only a few boats which are not sailing on the Mississippi. These are genuine replicas of the nineteenth century ships, but most of them have modern conveniences, and they also are handicap-accessible.
Spirit of Peoria
Being based in Peoria, the Spirit of Peoria will operate tours on the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. Various routes will usually include 2 or 3-day trips to Starved Rock State Park, 5-day St. Louis trips and 3-day Grizzly Jack`s Getaway cruise. Passengers may also take a 1-day sightseeing trip on the Mississippi river, with wildlife story telling and live music. A lavish buffet along with unlimited drinks will be included in the cruise fare. The line will provide various theme cruises, like Fall Foliage or Murder Mystery.
Celebration River Cruises
The Celebration Belle will specialize in music-themed cruise trips on the Mississippi River, which will include Classic Oldies, Dixieland or Big Band. You may take an entire day sightseeing cruise which will depart from Le Claire to Dubuque, featuring hot breakfast lunch as well as dinner. The trip can be taken in reverse as well, or as a 2-day round-trip voyage taking advantage of the overnight accommodation. There will also be a Dinner & Dance Cruise which will include a dinner buffet along with live music. Most cruises will be available during the entire year.
The comfortable Twilight cruise ship will provide a 2-day cruise departing from Le Claire and Dubuque, having an overnight stay included at the Grand Harbor Resort, with the option of returning back the next day. The cruise fare will include breakfast, lunch dinner, unlimited coffee, lemonade or snacks.
The Creole Queen
The Creole Queen is based at the Riverwalk dock and is owned by New Orleans Paddlewheels Inc., being able to host almost one thousand guests. The cruise line will provide a 2 1/2 hour Chalmette Battlefield cruise, which will include a detailed narration and some time spent on shore, visiting the Malus-Beauregard House. You may take a dinner jazz cruise trip as well; such a cruise will last 3 hours and will include a Creole buffet along with live music.
The La Crosse Queen
The La Crosse Queen, based in La Crosse, will provide 1 1/2 hour narrated tours on the upper Mississippi River, which may be taken as a lunch cruise trip as well. Tours during the evening will usually include a cocktail cruise along with pizza and soft drinks. Various tours will usually operate from May through October; dinner cruise tours will have to be pre-reserved.
