Explore Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, the Genesee River, the Erie Canal, and the Finger Lakes by water. Most tours operate seasonally and offer a range of amenities, from basic onboard comforts to dinner service, cash bars, and live entertainment. Contact operators directly for current schedules, ticket availability, and accommodations.
City of Rochester
Riverie
Riverie, operated by Rochester By Water, launches from the Waterfront Center at Corn Hill Landing. Cruises include a 90-minute trip along the Genesee River, a 2.5-hour cruise to Lock E-33 in Henrietta, and specialty voyages, including live music and sunset cruises.
Monroe County
Colonial Belle
Colonial Belle, the largest tour boat operating on the Erie Canal, accommodates up to 149 passengers. On the three-hour lock tour, passengers experience firsthand the meaning of “Low bridge, everybody down!” The nine-mile round trip travels west through Bushnell’s Basin and Pittsford to Lock E-32, then returns to Packett’s Landing in Fairport.
Sam Patch
Sam Patch, Rochester By Water’s 1800s packet boat replica, offers leisurely 90-minute cruises from Schoen Place in Pittsford along the Erie Canal through Lock E-32. Guides share stories about the canal’s commercial history, engineering innovations, and continued recreational use.
Greater Rochester
Canandaigua Lady
Canandaigua Lady, a steamboat replica, offers a 90-minute narrated cruise along the north shore of Canandaigua Lake.
Rose Lummis
Rose Lummis, operated by Save Our Sodus, offers 90-minute and two-hour cruises on Sodus Bay from Oak Park Marina in North Rose. Options include narrated ecology, wildlife, and history tours, along with sunset cruises featuring music, food, and wine.
Surrounding Counties
Mid-Lakes Navigation
Mid-Lakes Navigation offers narrated cruises on Skaneateles Lake aboard the Judge Ben Wiles. Sightseeing, lunch, dinner, and specialty cruises provide views of the lake’s shoreline, stately homes, and surrounding hillsides.
Bianconi Tours
Bianconi Tours in Aurora offers one-hour guided history cruises on Cayuga Lake, as well as winery and sunset tours.
Discover Cayuga Lake
Discover Cayuga Lake in Ithaca offers daytime, sunset, night sky, and eco-cruises, as well as trips to the Ithaca Farmers Market and Taughannock Falls.
Ithaca Boat Tours
Ithaca Boat Tours offers narrated tours of Cayuga Lake aboard the 49-passenger Patrick T. Kennedy.
Captain Bill’s Cruises
Captain Bill’s Cruises in Watkins Glen offers a 50-minute narrated sightseeing cruise aboard the Seneca Spirit past the 165-foot Hector Falls, as well as 2.5-hour dinner cruises aboard the Seneca Legacy.
True Love
True Love in Watkins Glen offers two-hour tours of Seneca Lake with multiple daily departures, including a sunset cruise.
Finger Lakes Boating Museum
Finger Lakes Boating Museum in Hammondsport offers narrated boat tours of Keuka Lake aboard the Pat II. Tours depart daily from Depot Park from June to mid-October. The vessel has bench seating and accommodates up to 16 passengers. Visit the museum before or after your boat tour.
Maid of the Mist
Maid of the Mist in Niagara Falls State Park takes passengers past American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls and into the mist near Horseshoe Falls.
Whirlpool Jet Boat
Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours in Lewiston offers 45-minute wet or dry jet boat rides through the Niagara Gorge, including Devil’s Hole Rapids and the Niagara Whirlpool.
Buffalo Harbor Cruises
Buffalo Harbor Cruises offers narrated sightseeing tours on Lake Erie and the Buffalo River. Cruise themes, departure times, and durations vary.
Buffalo River History Tours
Buffalo River History Tours offers narrated 90-minute cruises along the Buffalo River, exploring the city’s industrial waterfront and Erie Canal history.
moondanceCat
moondanceCat in Buffalo offers one-hour-and-45-minute sails on Lake Erie aboard a 75-passenger catamaran.
Spirit of Buffalo
Spirit of Buffalo offers sailing excursions on Lake Erie aboard a red-sailed, 73-foot topsail schooner. Themed sails typically last two hours.
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Explore More
Explore the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
Enjoy each canal town along the 115-mile stretch between the Cayuga-Seneca Canal and the Niagara River, with Rochester at the heart.
Explore New York’s Finger Lakes Region
The Finger Lakes region is a popular tourist destination, featuring 11 lakes, charming cities and villages, and scenic farmland.
Explore The Lake Ontario Seaway Trail
Explore the Lake Ontario Seaway Trail along the southern shoreline, from Fort Niagara in Youngstown to Fort Ontario in Oswego.
Explore Buffalo’s Waterfront
From Canalside to Outer Harbor and RiverWorks to Silo City, there are a dozen excellent day trips from Rochester along Buffalo's waterfront.
Do you have a favorite Rochester-area boat tour?
I’d love to hear from you—please reach out and share your thoughts and experiences.
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See you out there!
Debi
Enjoy the Journey Together!
Chautauqua Belle https://269belle.com/
Mayville or Jamestown, NY
I went on this a couple of years ago on a bus tour. I really enjoyed it. Out of Jamestown, we spent a bunch of time on a river before going out on the lake but it was very enjoyable. Narrated. One of the few paddle-wheelers in service in the US.
Lockport Locks & Erie Canal Cruise https://lockportlocks.com/
This is NOT the same as the Lockport Cave & Underground Boat Ride. Lockport Locks & Erie Canal Cruise is all above ground, and on the Erie Canal. Narrated, relaxing. Goes through the locks & on the Erie Canal. Nice gift shop with lots of Erie Canal souvenirs & memorabilia.
Captain Sam’s Boat Tours, Thousand Islands https://www.usboattours.com/
Alexandria Bay, NY
My favorite boat tour in the whole wide world. I’ve been on Uncle Sam’s more times than I can count. Very enjoyable.
Hello Mike! I recommend contacting each boat operator directly because they are intimately knowledgable about their vessel, the dock, and the parking area. They’ll be able to provide you with specifics, as each boat presents unique challenges. In Monroe County, the new Riverie boat at Corn Hill Landing in Rochester is accessible. And the Colonial Belle in Fairport is accessible, though the restroom onboard is not. Next year, I plan to expand on the information I present here in this guide to include more details. If you’d like to share with me what you discover, I’d be thrilled to include your experiences.
Which of these cruises are handicap accessible for someone in a power wheelchair?