12 Boat Tours and Cruises You Have to Take This Summer in New York State

Jul 10, 2025

Sit back, relax, and soak up spectacular scenery on a boat cruise in New York State! Home to two Great Lakes, thousands of miles of rivers, the Atlantic Ocean, and historic Erie Canal (celebrating its 200th anniversary this year!), the opportunities to get out on the water are endless. Search for the gentle giants of the sea on a whale watching cruise in Montauk, navigate through locks on the tranquil waters of the Erie Canal, or explore the depths of the St. Lawrence River on a boat with a glass bottom. Put the wind in your sails and don’t miss the boat on these 12 summertime water tours and cruises in New York State. Photo credit: @unclesamboattours on Instagram.

Lock in summer fun in Lockport (Greater Niagara)

2025 marks the Erie Canal’s 200th anniversary and there’s no better time to get out on the historic waterway. Reserve a spot for the two-hour Lock Cruise at Lockport Locks & Erie Canal Cruises. Narrated by a Coast Guard Licensed Captain, you’ll get to admire five of the original 1800s locks and experience the sensation of the boat rising 50 feet as three million gallons of water fill Locks 34 and 35, the only double set on the Erie Canal! Lockport; Lock Cruises are offered May-October.

Go whale watching in Montauk (Long Island)

Get ready for a whaley great time on a Whale Watching Cruise with Viking Fleet! An unforgettable family adventure awaits as you spend a day out on the ocean searching for whales, dolphins, turtles, and seabirds in their natural environment. A qualified marine biologist from CRESLI (Coastal Research Education Society of Long Island) will narrate your journey, where you’ll also get to see the Montauk Lighthouse and other iconic sights along Long Island’s East End. Other Viking Fleet cruises include fishing trips, sunset cruises, and more. Montauk; Whale Watching Cruises are offered late June-early September.

Peek underwater in a glass bottom boat (Thousand Islands-Seaway)

There’s nothing like a day spent exploring the St. Lawrence River! Clayton Island Tours takes it to the next level with the Rock Island Lighthouse Glass Bottom Boat Tour, where you’ll get a glimpse of what life’s like beneath the river. Climb aboard the Night Heron, a unique boat fit with a glass bottom, and get ready to see the 19th Century shipwreck of General Hancock, fish, wildlife, and the topography of the river bottom, one of the region’s largest underwater shoals and dock cribs left over from the Gilded Age. Your tour also includes an hour-long stop at Rock Island Lighthouse, where you can climb to the top of the historic 1847 lighthouse. You may want to also check out Clayton Island Tours’ other offerings including the Ultimate Sightseeing Tour, Boldt Castle and Two Nation Tour, and more. Clayton; Rock Island Lighthouse Cruises are offered May-October.

Gaze up at fireworks over Lake George (Adirondacks)

Watch as vibrant bursts of color illuminate the night sky over Lake George from one of the best seats in the house! Lake George Steamboat Company’s Summer Fireworks Cruises are a summer staple, offered Thursdays throughout the season. Fireworks are shot off from a barge in the lake and there’s no better vantage point than from the historic Lac du Saint Sacrement. A snack and cocktail bar are also available on board. Other themed cruises include Pirate Parties, Hawaiian Luaus, brunch, lunch, and sightseeing cruises. Lake George; Summer Fireworks Cruises are offered July 10-August 28.

Set sail on a pirate adventure with Spirit of Buffalo (Greater Niagara)

Credit: @buffaloboattours on Instagram

Ahoy! Climb aboard Spirit of Buffalo’s iconic 73-foot red topsail schooner for a Children’s Pirate Adventure that promises unforgettable fun for the whole family. Set sail with the lively crew on Lake Erie for a high-seas expedition packed with pirate tales, a real treasure hunt, music, and endless interactive fun. Your little pirates are sure to have a blast! Spirit of Buffalo also hoists their sails for other journeys including hands-on day sails, wine and craft beer cruises, and more. Buffalo; Children’s Pirate Adventure is offered July-August.

Explore historic castle ruins on an island along the Hudson River (Hudson Valley)

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If you’ve ever taken the train to Beacon, you may have noticed castle ruins set on a tiny island on the Hudson River, but did you know that you can actually take a cruise to explore them for yourself? Reserve a spot for the Bannerman Island Cruise & Walking Tour, departing from Beacon, where you’ll take a 30-minute boat ride over to Pollepel Island for a 45-minute walking tour to explore the castle ruins and learn all about Bannerman. Bannerman Island Tours also offers kayaking tours, butterfly tours, and movie nights. Beacon; Bannerman Island Cruise & Walking Tour is offered May-October.

Float through history on the Erie Canal (Central New York)

Photo Courtesy of Erie Canal Cruises

Celebrate the Erie Canal Bicentennial and set out on a waterside adventure with Erie Canal Cruises in Herkimer. The Sightseeing Cruise is the perfect way to experience this engineering marvel first hand. As you float through calm canal waters with a US Coast Guard-licensed captain as your guide, you’ll get to admire the spectacular scenery of the Mohawk Valley, learn the history of the canal, and experience being raised and lowered through Lock 18. It’s one of the last remaining locks operating with all of its original 100+-year-old equipment! Herkimer; sightseeing cruises are offered May-October.

Island hop along the St. Lawrence River Uncle Sam Boat Tours (Thousand Islands-Seaway)

Credit: @unclesamboattours on Instagram

Summer in the Thousand Islands means spending sun-filled days cruising on the St. Lawrence River! Uncle Sam Boat Tours in Alexandria Bay offers a variety of fun and unique cruises including their Millionaire’s Row Tour, where you’ll get to navigate through a group of islands once owned by some of the wealthiest families in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Admire lavish mansions like Casa Blanca, Hopewell Hall, Win Lee Lodge, and of course Boldt Castle, where you can actually get out and tour the grounds and mansion. You may want to also check out other cruises like the Singer Castle Tour, Sunset Dinner Cruise, Two Nation Tour, and more. Alexandria Bay; Millionaire’s Row Tour is offered May-October.

Solve a murder mystery aboard the Colonial Belle (Finger Lakes)

Credit: @monroecountyny on Instagram

Since 1989, the Colonial Belle has been the place to go for fun and informative cruises along the canal in Fairport, NY, just 20 minutes outside of Rochester. Put on your thinking cap and get ready to do some serious sleuthing aboard one of the Belle’s Murder Mystery Dinner Cruises. Immerse yourself in an evening on the historic Erie Canal filled with intrigue, suspense, and thrills as you get the chance to uncover who done it! Your ticket also includes a delicious chicken or pulled pork dinner, sides, and dessert. Celebrating the Canal’s Bicentennial? The Colonial Belle offers a variety of other cruises including historic tours through Lock 32, Taylor Swift music cruises, family pirate nights, and more. Fairport; Murder Mystery Cruises are offered May-October.

Watch the sunset over the Hudson River in Albany (Capital-Saratoga)

Credit: @dutchapplecruises on Instagram

Feel the cool breeze off the Hudson River as you admire scenic sights aboard a Dutch Apple Cruise. If you’re searching for an evening that blends relaxation and fun, the Sunset Live Music Cruise is the tour for you. This 90-minute tour sets out at sunset, where your night is painted in golden hour hues and includes fascinating narration, iconic landmarks, live acoustic music, and a full bar with food options. Other popular Dutch Apple Cruises include the Hudson River Sightseeing Cruise, Twilight Cruise, and the 4th of July Fireworks Cruise. Albany; Sunset Live Music Cruises are offered July-August.

Dive into Chautauqua’s storied past aboard the Chautauqua Belle (Chautauqua-Allegheny)

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Whether you’re a history buff or casual cruiser, the Chautauqua Belle’s Historical Tour is sure to please everyone! Departing from Mayville or the renowned Chautauqua Institution, this one hour and 45-minute narrated tour tells the story of Chautauqua in the late 1800s when Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, Lewis Miller, and other industrialists vacationed here in the summer. Your cruise also includes a trip down the shoreline, where you can admire million dollar mansions in Chautauqua’s most exclusive neighborhoods. Chautauqua; Historical Tours are offered May-October.

Dance the night away on a NYC party cruise (New York City)

Credit: @themikexpression on Instagram

Get ready for a memorable night on the water aboard Circle Line’s Sip ‘N Groove DJ Cruise! Departing from Pier 83 in Midtown at sunset, dance the night away to a live DJ as you cruise along the Hudson River, soaking up the sights of more than 150 iconic landmarks like the Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge, and Statue of Liberty. Snap a selfie with the city skyline as your backdrop, sip on a refreshing cocktail, and toast to summer nights on this amazing cruise. Other notable Circle Line cruises include Statue of Liberty at Sunset, the Best of NYC full-island cruise, and more. Manhattan; Sip ‘N Groove Cruises are offered June-August.