Colonial Belle Erie Canal Cruises

The Colonial Belle offers narrated, round-trip Erie Canal cruises from Packett’s Landing in Fairport, passing through Bushnell’s Basin on the way to Pittsford. The family-owned business has offered canal cruises since 1989, giving passengers a water-level view of canal villages, wooded shorelines, lift bridges, trails, and the engineering that keeps the canal moving.

What to Expect on the Cruise

The Colonial Belle is a two-level vessel certified to carry as many as 149 passengers. The enclosed lower deck has wraparound windows, seating, a full-service bar, and two restrooms. The open-air upper deck offers a broader view of the canal corridor and the low bridges along the route, but it is reached only by stairs.

Food and beverages are available on board, including packaged snacks and a full-service bar. Outside items are not permitted. Meal packages are available on select cruises and must be ordered in advance. Vegetarian, gluten-free, and other dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice.

The captain’s narration introduces the canal’s history, engineering, and influence on the communities that developed beside it. Along the way, you may see cyclists and walkers on the Erie Canalway Trail, recreational boats on the water, and bridges lifting to allow vessels to pass. Many people on shore wave to the Colial Belle as they shout, “Hello, Captain Tammee!”

Choose a Cruise

Three-Hour Lock Cruise

The three-hour cruise covers 16 miles round trip and includes passage through Lock E-32, where you can watch the water level change around the boat. Afternoon and evening versions are available on select days, and some departures offer lunch, dinner, or live music.

For a shorter alternative, select two-hour cruises travel between Fairport and Pittsford without passing through the lock.

Themed and Seasonal Cruises

The schedule also includes select brunch, sunset, live-music, dinner, murder-mystery, festival, and fall-foliage cruises. These experiences have their own schedules, prices, menus, and reservation requirements. Review the individual listing before booking, particularly if a meal or entertainment is an important part of your plans.

Prices and schedules can change, so confirm the details on the Colonial Belle daily cruise schedule before making plans.

Reservations are highly recommended for regular cruises and required for meal and specialty cruises. Online reservations may close within 24 hours of departure; call the office at (585) 223-9470 for the most current availability. Because the lower deck is enclosed, cruises operate rain or shine, though severe weather can lead to cancellation, so check for updates before leaving home.

Accessibility

The enclosed lower deck is accessible to passengers using wheelchairs and walkers. A ramp connects the parking area to the dock, and another provides access from the dock to the boat. The open-air upper deck is accessible only by stairs.

The two onboard restrooms are on the lower level, but each has a small step and cannot accommodate a wheelchair. Wheelchair-accessible restrooms are available in the Harbor House building near the office before and after the cruise. Contact the Colonial Belle in advance if you would like to discuss a specific mobility need or service animal.

Parking and Boarding

Cruises depart from the southeast side of the canal at Packett’s Landing unless the event description says otherwise. The ticket office and gift shop are behind Fairport Village Hall.

Free public parking is available at Packett’s Landing. Most spaces connect to the dock by stairs. Accessible spaces are at the east end of the lot near the ramp to the dock. You do not need to collect a paper ticket; staff members check passengers in at the dock. Boarding begins 15 minutes before departure.

Colonial Belle Erie Canal Tour
400 Packett’s Landing
Fairport, NY 14450
(585) 223-9470
colonialbelle.com

A Family Story on the Erie Canal

Captain Lee Poinan and his family began offering Erie Canal cruises in 1989. In 1995, they purchased the Colonial Belle in California and brought the vessel east on a seven-week journey through the Panama Canal, the Caribbean, and the Atlantic Ocean, arriving in New York. The Colonial Belle has departed from Fairport since then, continuing his commitment to sharing the Erie Canal’s history with passengers.

Captain Lee’s daughter, Tammee, grew up on the boat and now serves as its captain and general manager. After her father died in 2016, she attended captain’s school, earned her license, and relearned how to operate the vessel.

Captain Tammee Poinan Grimes’s work spans New York’s canal community. She serves as president of the New York State Tour Boat Association and the Canal Society of New York State and as chair of the Canal NY Marketing & Business Alliance. In these roles, she advocates for tour-boat safety, canal tourism, historic preservation, and the continued use of New York’s waterways. Her work aboard the Colonial Belle is part of a broader commitment to keeping the canal’s history relevant and its communities connected.

Make a Day of It in Fairport

Packett’s Landing is within walking distance of Fairport’s Main Street, the Erie Canalway Trail, restaurants, shops, and canal-side parks. Leave time before or after the cruise for a walk through the village, but keep your cruise check-in time in mind. The Explore Fairport guide offers ideas for combining the boat tour and special events with breakfast, shopping, dinner, or an evening along the canal.

Have you taken a ride on the Colonial Belle?

I’d love to hear from you—please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.