We went on the Captain's Lunch Cruise on a sunny but chilly day in late April. It was really enjoyable and worth the price for sure. We sailed on the River Queen which is the smaller boat. The food buffet was very good and there was something for every taste. Very fresh salad with two dressing options, rolls, meltingly tender beef in a rich brown gravy, baked chicken, mashed potatoes, farfalle pasta in red sauce, scrumptious grilled vegetables. And decadent creamy cheesecake for dessert. Free coffee and tea, and reasonably priced bar drinks for purchase. Our server, Anna (Onna?) was most attentive and usually within sight if you wanted something. The whole crew were very professional, very polite and respectful and eager to please. Our entertainer was engaging with his ongoing narration of the sights and historical facts along the river interspersed with banjo music. The two hours went by quickly. I put on my hoodie and spent some time out on deck, where you can smoke 'em if you got 'em. I decided it was time for a cocktail so I ordered an Anchors Away which was delicious, nautically blue, and had a definite kick. I was really looking forward to getting the pictured souvenir glass, but the first of two wrinkles took place as I was advised they were out of them due to some recent large parties on the bigger boat. Boo. If you're going to advertise souvenir glasses, order more than enough to keep them in stock. Anna arranged to give me the drink in the larger souvenir vessel, which is pretty, but heavy ceramic and I don't see myself using it at home other than for a decoration. The second wrinkle was our bar tab printed out as though I ordered multiple drinks. My husband didn't look at it and just handed over the debit card...then I saw it and went up to tell them not to run it but it was too late. Somehow they had already realized it was wrong but it took such a long time for them to figure out how to void the transaction, which bothered me. The cruise director had to get involved to fix it. Her name was Tasha and she was very nice and so apologetic about the situation, she comped our drinks for the trouble and boxed up some cheesecake for us to take home. She seemed to agree with me that if the owners had not decided to "go cashless" last year this would never have happened. I asked her to pass on my comment that it is not good to refuse to accept payment in legal tender American money and I feel it was a bad move. For this reason I will never give five stars even if the cruise is flawless. Nonetheless I hope to have the chance to take a cruise on the River Queen later this year. read more

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My spouse and I attended the holiday cruise during extremely poor weather. While the weather itself isn't controllable, the lack of preparation was concerning. The storm had been widely forecast, yet the parking lot and walkways were slick and hazardous. We were nearly struck twice by other vehicles while trying to park, and the walk onto the boat was treacherous. I had emailed in advance asking about inclement weather plans and received only a response confirming the scheduled departure time, which was not reassuring given the known severity of the storm. Once onboard, the experience continued to disappoint. The buffet setup was confusing, with food split between two lines without access to all food selections, and the quality was noticeably below what I've experienced in the past. The turkey tasted more like a reheated frozen entrée than a freshly prepared dish. Beverage service was also lacking--iced tea was served in very small glasses, requiring repeated requests for refills. The entertainment was excessively loud, making conversation impossible. I've been a loyal BB Riverboats customer for over 30 years and have always recommended them, but this cruise fell far short of expectations and left me genuinely disappointed. read more

11/27/2025 We took the Thanksgiving dinner cruise. I'll give them a "B". The food quality was "B". They had a problem with a lack of plates and flatware. I suspect they do not have a kitchen nor a dishwasher onboard. If this suspicion is accurate, I don't understand why they did not get quality disposable. The views from the deck of the riverboat were great. read more

Pleasant experience. Easy to book online. We sat up top and enjoyed the musical stylings of the DJ and watching young and old dancing. Cool views of the river and city and beautiful sunset. Recommend read more

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We come from toledo just to take the bb river boat and have a great dinner and great music the staff was great helped my husband who is handicap our waitresses went and made my husbands plate so i can eat with him she was the best i will continue to come and take this trip just a great time read more

My wife and I were in Cincinnati for a long weekend and we love taking boat cruises on long weekend vacations. We boarded the old time riverboat and I ordered a can of IPA. The trip was the history one, so there was good narration for half of the 1 1/2 hour cruise along the Ohio river. It is a nice and serene boat ride that lets you see some cool riverbank houses. I would recommend this for a nice and relaxing boat ride on a beautiful day. read more

I love lunch and dinner cruises. I have been to several around country, but never in Cincinnati. I love a good buffet and history. The cruise encompassed both. The buffet had a lot of I would never put together. They had ground beef and baked chicken for the meat. The buffet starts an hour before for the cruise and last 30 minutes after the cruise starts. I definitely did not want seconds. The brownies were the best part of the meal. I would recommend the Belle of Louisville. The entertainment was very knowledgeable of area and the banjo was a nice touch. read more

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My BB riverboat cruise was a wonderful experience! 5 stars! What a great date to have with your significant other! My husband and I enjoyed the whole dinner cruise. The food was good, the scenery was great, the entertainment was nice and the staff was so professional and courteous! I don't really like buffets anymore but the buffet on the cruise was very clean and the staff was there to monitor, clean up and restock everything as needed. Our waitress was very sweet. Once the cruise set sail we sat out on the decks and the view was absolutely beautiful! A couple was even getting married on the top deck! There was so much to see but it was also very relaxing. I really enjoyed it and I do recommend BB Riverboats for a great river cruise! read more

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I had a lovely ride down the Ohio River. We started out in Newport Kentucky and went down the river I think it was about an hour and came back. So you could see both sides of the river which included Cincinnati, Newport Kentucky, and nearing to New Richmond Ohio. We also had lunch on board which was pulled pork and other picnic kind of items. They also serve cocktails on board and I got one that came with a commemorative glass. Pretty nice little trip and it would be fun to do again. read more

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My wife and I had the experience of a lifetime celebrating our 40th anniversary and our 50th high school graduation. BB Riverboats couldn't have been more accommodating and hospitable. It started with Ms. Wendy at the counter with reservations and ended with Captain Mike and Natasha our attendant providing for our every need. We have sailed with BBR several times over the years. We have never left disappointed just the opposite. BBR owners, crew, and staff we are so appreciative for all you do to make cruising our Queen City so enjoyable. All of it, Food, drinks, entertainment and all the crew, "Par Excellence"!!! Sincerely, Fred Sticklen, CPO USN(ret) Sherry Sticklen, SGT USMC read more

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This was a really fun experience! The views were amazing! We went past the Reds stadium and there was a game going on so every time they scored there were fireworks. There were many decks and on the top one was a live band. The food is buffet style and was good. Nothing amazing but not bad. 7/10. A lot of the other reviews said the boat was outdated, but I didn't think so. It's not modern but I think that is part of the appeal. It is cute. read more

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Taking a lunch cruise was very enjoyable. The people at B&B are professional and went out of their way to please people. The lunch buffet was ok in taste and variety. I wasn't wowed, but I was full and nothing tasted bad. The 2 hour trip was fun and I learned a few things about the river and the surrounding areas. read more

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It was my first time on a B B Riverboats cruise and it was a blast. I got to see the Cincinnati skyline and Newport in the Northern Kentucky side. The buffet was good with pasta and salad and other things. I paid $5 for a souvenir cup that gave free refills on any fountain Pepsi product while on the ride. The staff was great in taking of the guests in my group. I enjoyed Banjo Bob who entertaining with the banjo and giving a tour of Cincinnati and Newport. The boat ride was breath taking and worth paying $15 for the special photo of my group coming from Columbus, Ohio. I want to do it again, but at night with a buffet dinner of Steak and Seafood and I would stay the night in Newport or Cincinnati. Thank you, B B Riverboats for the wonderful experience and would love to experience the Cincinnati skyline at night. read more

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Easy boarding, delicious food, great service, clean, and beautiful scenery. I am a woman of few words. Try the B&B Riverboat experience!!!

BB riverboats are so fun. Enjoyed the Admirals dinner. A great buffet. The live music on the top deck was nice. Got to dance. Fantastic view of both states. read more

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The food was a lot better than I thought a buffet would be. The salad was delicious. The peel and eat shrimp was flavorful even w/o cocktail sauce. The chicken, fish and roast weren't dried out. The veggies had some crunch and flavor. The part that needs to be worked on is the bartenders I asked for a cosmo and I'm pretty sure I received a basic vodka cranberry... and it had an orange slice in it ‍ My boyfriend asked for an old fashioned... it wasn't good either. I figured maybe they didn't have limes but then we ordered margaritas and lo and behold! The lime that should have been in my cosmo/ vodka cranberry The views were awesome. We managed to get under cover seconds before the skies opened up and started pouring They had a dj on the top deck as well as a bar that only served beer and wine. Overall, we had fun and would do it again. I'd recommend this to anyone. read more

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First time here! Came with a Large group of over 270 People! It was amazing! The staff was amazing! The fact we stayed at our hotel that was so close to the boat! MY experience was great! The food was good! The drinks had me OUT! Such a beautiful scenery on the boat! It was A LOT of FUN!!! read more

B B Riverboats - That Drink! Watch out - Boating Near Me - Newport, Kentucky

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The décor was dated but clean. The staff were friendly but had trouble getting our drink orders and other request fulfilled. The dinner buffet was what one would expect - just ok. The "sweets table" consisted of what tasted like store bought cookies and brownies. After a quick dinner we spent the rest of the trip on the upper deck. The DJ was good and the views were decent as well. Overall, a little pricey for the value we received. read more

We missed the 3rd of July dinner cruise. Even though I didn't buy insurance they let me go on the 4th. They didn't have to do that .

Views were great but the food was terrible. Not allot of choices and only 1 out of 6 offerings is horrible. What they did have was not great. At least the salad was fair. And both of my glasses were dirty! read more

I was on the Christmas Holiday luncheon cruise today!! the buffet was ok, nothing special. Not a sightseeing cruise. the entertainment was a guy giving information about the Ky and Ohio sides of the river which is fine for sightseeing, but again a Christmas cruise!! He played about 3 Christmas songs!! Not a Xmas atmosphere! read more

My family and I took a riverboat tour up and down the Ohio River, and while it was a cool experience overall, it was not as great as expected. The staff was friendly and the environment/atmosphere was what one would expect - however, the whole experience felt like it left some things to be desired. The food served at the buffet was just fine - ground beef, baked chicken, a simple green salad, and everything tasted like the way I make it at home. The drinks were fairly expensive, but the bartender was nice and friendly, so that was a plus. The boat itself was fairly dirty, but, given it is on the water 24/7, it is hard to get around that too much. I can't say I would come back and do it again, but I did enjoy myself - so, it was worth it I suppose! read more

1. The staff were very good, professional and polite. 2. The food on the luncheon cruise was just meh: simple green salad; a rather tasteless ground beef concoction; sides of veggies with no seasoning; baked chicken thighs were actually quite tasty; cookies were good. 3. The inside restaurant seating area with tables and chairs was far too air conditioned and was HORRIBLY cold despite the fact that the outside temp was below 80 degrees. I spoke to the cruise manager about the cold and he said it would warm up once all the customers were in there but it never did. We ended up on the deck of the ship for most of the cruise because everyone in my party of four said they were freezing. Thank goodness it didn't rain so we could stay outside. If you do go, make sure to take a heavy sweater or jacket, even on a warm summer day unless you like an indoor temp of 60 degrees. 4. The actual cruise was interesting but nothing spectacular. For a single trip, it's ok. I doubt they have many returning customers. read more

I went on a lunch tour with a group of women. We had a buffet lunch in a private room. The food was good. The chicken was a little spicy for me. We had one server who was doing her best to take care of everyone's drinks. Staff was very personable and helpful. The tour guide did a great job and even played and sang for us. It was a very relaxing tour. The boat is big enough that we never felt crowded. Parking is free. The building before the tour was large, clean and comfortable. read more

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Very outdated. It's good if you come once every 3 years maybe or four, but the river boats are very outdated. The carpet's bad however the food's good but everything in it is outdated read more

B B Riverboats - Boating Near Me - Newport, Kentucky

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Such a great experience!!+ Staff was super nice, courteous and friendly! Cant wait to go again!

I came here one night with some of my coworkers when we were visiting Cincinnati for a work training. We rode the riverboat queen and had a nice time! There is parking available right off the dock. There are plastic seats available on the viewing decks. You can also sit inside, even if you don't purchase dinner. The inside of the boat is really dated. It was reasonably priced, I think around $20-$25 per person. It was a cool way to see the city! read more

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Cruise is great. Do Not do the lunch cruise. Unless, you want to pay for sloppy joes and cheap store bought cookies?!?

We will be back over and over love it! 1st time we was there it was wonderful they took great care for us. My wife is in a wheelchair and they did such a wonderful job helping her!! 2nd time was even better!! We are going again soon!!! read more

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The food was good and plentiful, but tge seating was horrible. They put our tour group of 26 people at 2 tables so close together that getting in and out of our chairs was very difficult. Ask every person sitting at table to shift in was annoying for all. When I arrived at the buffet I noticed that there were plenty of empty tables. Spreading us out would have made the dining experience much better. read more

My first cruise on the Ohio River was not what I expected it would be. I really wanted to love it ... but there were just a few things that took away from the experience. Let me preface the full review by saying that my fiancé proposed to me right before we got on the boat. He booked and paid extra for the "celebration package" ... but we didn't really get much special treatment. Boarding the ship was quick and easy ... we got a complimentary photo with our package, which they print for you and give it back at the end of the night. I've kept the photo for the memory ... but it's not something I would hang up or post on social media, because the coloring is just completely off. (I'm not a camera person, so I won't even try to throw around words like white balance or exposure.) We found our seats pretty quickly ... our waiter was nice but not attentive. Our celebration package included drinks and dessert ... but it was kind of a hassle to give him the coupons and have him bring it out, while he was running around serving half of the dining room. The dinner buffet itself was good -- but not memorable. My biggest issue was the amount of people on the boat. They really packed people in ... and it was difficult to find a seat on the outer decks after we ate our dinner. Not to mention, this was during the pandemic. Even if you're not a social distancer, there was barely room to stand at the edge of the boat without bumping elbows with another group. I will say the views made *some* of the other issues worth it. I would give BB Riverboats another chance, but I wouldn't waste my money on the celebration package. read more

B B Riverboats - Dan C Beard Bridge - Boating Near Me - Newport, Kentucky

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Paid $700 to go on the BELLE and when we went to board they sent us to the other boat which was filthy and the bathroom floors were falling apart, the food was absolutely horrible with no type of seasoning and the workers couldn't be found because they kept going on break, there's no way in hell I would spend that type of money on a run down filthy boat with rude employees, they should have notified us that we were going to be sent to a different boat because I damn sure would have never wasted my money and time on that garbage read more

My friend and I attended a Murder Mystery Cruise. The bathrooms in the main office were filthy. The cruise itself was very disorganized. Brochures stated that boarding was at 6:00pm, sail time 6:30pm. Boarding didn't begin until 6:35. There was only one bartender serving drinks. Dinner seemed rushed. This gave little time to read the rules for the murder mystery game and discover clues. Once the game began it was quite enjoyable and the actors playing the characters were quite entertaining. It was a good time, but could have been a great time had it started on time without all of the rushing. read more

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What a complete waste of money. There was a reason why I couldn't find any information on this cruise. And now I know. We did the high noon cruise on a Saturday afternoon. Parking was easy when we came. But when we left it was completely full. Looks like they combine all the different cruises on one boat because they barely have enough customers to fill up one ship. If you do the lunch buffet one you just board the boat earlier and eat while the boat is docked not even when the boat is moving. The chairs were plastic chairs that looked like they've been out there for years. The color is starting to come off of them from sun damage. The boat is old, and released so much pollutants into the air and water. The black smoke coming from the exhaust was literally in your face as you boarded. The guy did his best to give his tour of the not very exciting Ohio river. He actually played the banjo which was cool. At the end they played bingo indoors as they were docking. The ride was 2 hours long and I could not wait to get off the boat because I was bored out of my mind. I had chosen to do this boat cruise because it was a few dollars cheaper than going to Newport aquarium and I regret not going to the aquarium. This boat tour is definitely better suited for older people who love bingo. read more

Had a blast on the sunset cruise with my friends. Would definitely do again. Got some really good pictures. Tasha and Captain Mike were very personable and made the experience nice. Xavier was great taking pics and I did end up buying the prints read more

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In the past every cruise I've had has been great until yesterday and here's what happened. When you want to do something your whole life....... AND YOU READ THE FINE PRINT...and you understand that B&B Riverboats is going to pick which boat they put you on. That was fine with me because what I didn't realize was this...one of the boats HAD A ROOF! (that specific information was left out of the fine print) that's the one we were lucky enough to be put on. Tell me folks Where are fireworks at?? Can you see them through your ceiling? ME NEITHER!!!... talk about feeling more than a little duped. 2 days before the event. August 30. I got the first email saying how awesome everything was...no mention of the roof....so I felt like everything was confirmed. Later THAT SAME DAY. I got a second email. Everything's awesome we have your reservation and oh by the way.... the boat your on has a roof...wow...quite the timing trick.. you can reschedule within 48 Hours of a cruise and they'll apply your money to another Cruise I don't even know if I had 48 Hours of notice because I don't know what time I got the second email. We got another email the next day which was the day of the fireworks that didn't mention the roof because you know why you couldn't cancel then. What a scam. Do you honestly think I thought I wanted to be on a boat with a roof to watch fireworks? If you don't mention it when I'm spending my money to buy the tickets why the hell do you feel like you need to tell me before I get on the boat? I know why, people might complain.... heck they might not even buy the tickets if they know that. I would NEVER have bought two tickets for a cruise on a boat with a roof to see FIREWORKS....EVER!!! I guess someone is smart enough to realize that on the ticket selling end of things. I can't believe I was the only person that felt this way yesterday.. By then it's too late to back out. Awesome. I will never do it again. NEVER. I thought that the boats they put people on for a firework show wouldn't have a roof and one didn't... that one was cruising for the show... they had an empty one that didn't have a roof sitting at the dock... I certainly understand it could have been broke down or the 220 people on the boat I was on may not have filled that bigger boat up. So screw us... the railing on two levels of the boat we were on allowed Maybe 70 to 80 people to sit there and watch the show...really.. did I say the boat held 220 people. To each level had 35 or 40 people along the railing that got to see perhaps the whole show. I wouldn't know We got lucky enough to get put on the boat with a roof.... If you want to see a some of the show but not all of it... go for it. That's not what I wanted and I took someone who had never seen it before and you know what they still haven't. I'd rather have been sitting on the Serpentine Wall or pretty much anywhere else than where we were. The View anywhere else is better You know why? I know what I'm getting. And it's a way better view... You get to see the whole show I talked it all up to my partner and told him how awesome I was going to be. Just so disappointing. Next year we'll take our $500 and get a hotel room or go out to a couple of really nice dinners or something. Did I say don't do it....don't do it. Okay, I'll be nice and simply say this, I don't recommend it I can think of all kinds of other ways to spend that money. Now I know B&B Riverboats staff is awesome, they worked hard and did a great job. read more

My girlfriend and I attended a luncheon tour. The check in process was awesome and quickly. The staff was polite and very attentive. The food was even good (although a little cold). The bad, they entertainment was a guy playing a banjo while also being a tour guide. There was no activities or a band once the buffet closed. Soo the rest of the time your sitting around waiting for the tour to be over. The price point I think is fair for what you get. If the entertainment factor was better I would give this five stars. read more

If you're doing the Admiral dinner, be sure to get there early! Boarding starts at 6pm, the food is already set out, get some before it's gone. The salad goes fast and then you have to wait until they stock it. And they only stock it twice. I liked my chicken, but my friends said it was too dry. I like dry chicken lol The mac&cheese was good, so was the mashed potatoes. Drinks were huge and made very well. Awesome glasses you can keep. Gorgeous views, very nice decor. Super friendly service. It was a very nice experience. read more

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My wife & I had a really fun experience on (7/4)!! The boat was very clean, and the staff were kind and pleasant! I'd like to compliment the Captain (man), and I guess, co-Captain (lady), who were so very sweet to my wife, as I purchased the "Captain" package for her, so she was issued a cap, certificate and they brought her up to the bridge, so she could put her hands on the wheel!! read more

Disappointing "Captain's lunch cruise"- consisted of very small buffet (& dirty plates, had to go through 3 or 4 to get to a clean one) - food options very slim..., potato chips was one (not expected when description says delicious dining from chef prepared buffet). Sloppy Joe on plain bag bun.... Only one hot side (green beans) that was over-salted. Salad was good (no croutons or crackers if that matters to you). Cookies (no different than store bought) for dessert. Lunch is done before you leave port. Overall, food was disappointing in quality & taste (& options). Atmosphere- my favorite part was the entertainment. Tables, carpet, restrooms all tired & outdated & need attention. Vessel itself could stand a good cleaning (including windows). The view of the paddle wheel revealed broken paddle & really chipped off paint. Sad & tired. I wish them well, but I think they'll need to make some changes. I wouldn't pay to do this again unfortunately. read more