I booked a happy hour cruise for myself and a few friends because we had a guest coming into town and wanted to do something fun for a birthday. To our surprise, the cruise scheduled for September 19 was abruptly canceled with no explanation. This was supposed to be our first time on the Benjamin Franklin Yacht, and based on this experience, I don't think we'll be trying again. What made the situation worse was the lack of communication. We were never given a reason for the cancellation, and the email we received stated we wouldn't get a refund for 30 days--which is extremely unreasonable given that the cancellation was on the company's end, not ours. Refunds should be processed immediately in cases like this. To add to the confusion, when we called the office, we were told the yacht was still available to charter privately on the exact same date. That makes absolutely no sense. Why cancel the cruise but still offer the boat for private events? All in all, it was a frustrating and disappointing experience. We were left scrambling for plans with a guest in town, and the lack of transparency and poor customer service make it hard to recommend this company to anyone read more

Ben Franklin Yacht - Boating Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Absolutely phenomenal evening on the yacht this past summer! My amazing realtor does a client appreciation party every year, usually at a local bar. Last year, he was approached by the yacht about hosting the party on the boat for 2025. I legit have messages from my realtor a year ago being like OMG THE BEN FRANKLIN YACHT WANTS ME TO THROW MY PARTY THERE! Of course, he made it happen. Honestly one of the funnest best nights in recent memory. The owner and staff were absolutely fantastic through the event! The food was good - not amazing, but solid for a party on the water. We filled all 3 decks, there was a dj and dancing and nonstop fun! We had amazing skyline views during our stroll along the water. I definitely want to do one of the public cruises in the future because I had so much fun on this one! read more

Our bottomless mimosas were amazing loved the food the vibes were all there to enjoy the two hours. Time was steady no rush everything was smooth. Everyone had nothing but good memories this mothers day! read more

Ben Franklin Yacht - Boating Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Spent a Saturday morning on the Ben Franklin yacht for the bottomless mimosa brunch party. The experience itself was pretty fun, there's different decks to hang out on, and a DJ on the top deck. Some of the staff were super kind, so that's a plus. I'm not sure what the other types of cruises are like, but I'd recommend trying something other than the bottomless mimosa brunch cruise. The food was sub-par. They also advertised a pastry bar, but the only pastry was a loaf of brioche bread. Even if you refilled your mimosa (which were actually decent) every five minutes, it still wouldn't be worth the $65 (or the hangover the next day). Overall, it was fun, but not worth the price. read more

Went to a omega all white event on the Ben Franklin yacht. We entered the yacht on time. The food was okay. We had chicken, fried rice, string beans, salad , and fruit. The music was good. The DJ dedicated alot of the music to the 50 years of hip hop. It was a fun night. read more

Ben Franklin Yacht - Boating Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I recently chartered The Ben Franklin Yacht to host a memorial service for my dad. We consulted several area options, but this worked best in terms of cost and flexibility, and they were simply very responsive and attentive before and during our charter. The boat is spacious. It was more than enough room for our party. It's very clean and the staff was great. Everything about this not only satisfied our needs, but they handled themselves with professionalism and expediency. I can't say enough about that. Our guests were very impressed and all raved about the food. I would heartily recommend them and certainly use again. read more

If you buy the Groupon for this the price isn't too bad for what you get. Don't pay full price though...not worth it. This boat can be called a yacht if used lightly. It definitely needs some updates. The AC on the inside area barely works. Smells a little funky. The free food included is a little questionable, especially the fruits and veggies. But overall it's not a bad experience. The view is great for sure. It's a lot cheaper than the Spirit of Philly. Like I said, just do this using a Groupon!! read more

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Best night out in philly! The boat is very nice and spacious. Crew and captain are attentive and kind. Everything went perfectly. I loved the DJ and had a blast dancing and enjoying the open bar. The food was incredible and tasted so good. Very fortunate to have spend a night on the boat with a group of about 100. Book with the Ben Franklin yacht for sure. Couldn't have asked for a better experience. read more

My boyfriend and I used a $40 Groupon for a 120 minute harbor tour with complimentary appetizers. We arrived at about 3:15 as it was stated that boarding would begin at 3:30. We did not board until almost 4:00pm which was rather annoying. The staff was very friendly, the tour guide had some interesting facts and the yacht was older but in pretty good shape. The free appetizers were a bonus as well. Overall it was a good value and experience. read more

Ben Franklin Yacht - Boating Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Delicious brunch food with amazing views. Clean and overall great atmosphere. I would recommend.

Eddie was helpful from the beginning of our planning to host a 60th Birthday Party! The yacht was clean! The captain, servers, and bartender were all nice and friendly. The Dj was excellent ! The food was Amazing we had vegetable fried rice, wings 2 ways and the Salomon . The bathrooms were clean but they are hot no AC And don't sleep on the Sangria and Chardonnay Wine OMG Both soooooo Yummy!!! read more

Ben Franklin Yacht - The birthday cake - Boating Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

After reading a lot of negative reviews on Yelp, I wasn't looking forward to a Friday evening on the Ben Franklin Yacht. My boyfriend and I had already purchased the Groupon deal a while ago, so we finally set a date and went. I was pleasantly surprised! We had no problem with them excepting our Groupon and the staff, captain included, were friendly and welcoming. The interior was a little warm but a few windows were open and there was plenty of seating. When on a boat like this I expect some level of tackiness in decor, but I thought the colorful candles were a nice touch, as was the little scarecrow/harvest setup in the front. The second floor was average in looks, and the third floor had a little dance floor with some "party lights" (the 50+ crowd seemed to enjoy it). They had a decent buffet that included such things as meatballs, stuffed mushrooms, mini chicken wings, carrot & raisin salad, chips & salsa, and some crackers with cheese. We were able to go up for seconds, and dessert was a yummy brownie (I'm a sucker for brownies). Drinks were available at the bar for about $4. Philly does have a pretty drab looking waterfront, I can't argue that, and towards the end you're mainly looking at the back end of businesses and noncommercial piers. Still, during the whole trip up they provide a decent narration for the sights, sometimes mixing in a little history, and on the way back they play music. Overall, it was an enjoyable evening and I'm glad we gave it a chance. With the Groupon deal, it was well worth it! read more

My sister and I got the living social deal for the Ben Franklin Yacht for my dad as a father's day gift this year and we all had a great time. We thought you could buy food on board and were pleasantly surprised that there was a compliantly free buffet. There was a good variety of food. However not knowing this some of us had eaten before hand. You did have to pay for beverages which were reasonably priced, soda, juice, bottle water and draft beer were all $2, bottled beer $4, mix drink $6. On your way down the Delaware they give a tour. The information was great but it was a little choppy. Than on your way back up it turned into a dance party. The DJ was excellent however a little push on the karaoke, if no one want to sing than just drop it. If you were celebrating a birthday or anniversary and let them know you got a shout out and they honored the armed forces. The staff over all was friendly and seemed laid back. They didn't mind if you moved the furniture around. It would of been nice if there was more outdoor seating but than there would be no dance floor. If your looking for a little midday party this is definitely the activity for you. read more

This is the WORST place ever. My group and I have been having our yearly party's here and when we got here the boat changed locations, they did not tell us, there was another party on our boat, and not enough food for both groups. We have been customers for over 10 years. this is unacceptable. I do not recommend. the captain was extremely rude to us. it was a terrible experience. read more

Came into town hoping to celebrate my sister's 40th birthday and the yacht did not disappoint. We had a party of 9 and used the Groupon package for an affordable adventure. We really enjoyed the atmosphere and we were able to bring on some of our own snacks which offset the cost a bit. The third floor was for dancing and the dj and mc up there were on point. They knew their crowd and kept everyone pumped and entertained. I recommend this trip if you want to try something different and experience some of the fun sights along the pier! read more

I cannot believe I am the first to review this to be honest. This is the new boat which replaced the Captain Lucky, which enjoyed a pretty loyal following and hosted the Philly Pirate Cruise. The BF Yacht is a much larger version of Captain Lucky. It's a three deck yacht (2 air conditioned and enclosed, 1 top deck). All three decks have bars. The bottom deck hosts the buffet. The BF Yacht is docked on the pier directly across from Callowhill Ave, and right next to Cavannaugh's Riverdeck. I threw a birthday party on this boat for my husband, who really wanted to "be on a boat." For $65 per person, we got an expansive buffet (including appetizers, 3 entrees, salad, rolls, fruit), an open bar with wine, beer, and liquor, the 3 hour cruise, and a DJ. We booked our cruise from 6-9 pm. Because we were a small group (around 30), we shared the cruise with another group. Curiously, with a class of '65 reunion. Seems an odd combination (the music choices became hilariously different). But after a while, it was an incredibly fun time. The bartenders were fantastic and fun. Captain Ed was great, and the whole staff does a wonderful job. They even did a great setup for the cupcakes I brought. Our guests had a phenomenal time. This is a great option for people who want to book a booze cruise or other event on a boat. Definitely check them out! read more

My experience may have been different from others due to the fact that my school rented out the yacht for my graduating class. It was pretty cramped as we had over 100 people on the boat. The downstairs was the buffet and eating area and the upstairs was a dance floor equipped with a DJ. The food was simple and consisted of a variety of finger foods rather than a meal. It was okay, nothing special, but we were more there for the party than the food. We were not offered an open bar, but as I heard from the graduating class prior to mine that the "open bar" is one keg that runs out very quickly. The drinks were average price, I believe the beers were $5 and they offered jello shots 3 for $5. As for the experience, it was great! We really enjoyed ourselves and had a lot of dancing the night away. It was perfect for a last hoorah before graduating! read more

Just not worth it. Dinner cruises and whatnot are cool experiences. But this was overpriced ($45) and bland. The food was very lacking. I arrived around 6. The time that we were supposed to leave. We didn't depart until 6:30 (and not because we were waiting for people). By the time I got there, half the items on the menu were no longer being served because there was no more. Shortly after departing, the food was put away. They advertise as all-you-can-eat. Drinks were also not great. The speakers for the music were blaring and place right at the buffet line. So if you wanted to get food, you had to risk having your ear drums blown out. Loud. Threshold of pain loud. After going around the delaware (a sight to behold), we returned about 30 mins early. This review is based purely on the yacht, facilities, and services. I still had a good time being with good company. read more

My boyfriend and I used a $30 Groupon for lunch and a 90 minute harbor tour. I was very satisfied with the experience despite a few annoyances. It was a very different way to spend a Sunday afternoon and the weather was beautiful. One thing I did not love was that it was very crowded. The reason for that is the Groupon was expiring the following weekend and all of the procrastinators (myself included!) waited to make reservations. They said it was a larger crowd than usual. Also, the second level was closed for a private party, so that took away a lot of seating for the rest of us. The first floor was enclosed and had the buffet set-up, so it was very congested most of the time. The third floor was open, but covered by a canopy. I'm assuming the enclosed second floor is very similar to the first. I believe there is a bar on each level and I could not believe how cheap the drinks were! $2 draft beer, $4 bottles and wine. I was expecting much higher prices! There was not nearly enough seating for everyone and the buffet line took FOREVER! Seriously, the slowest moving people on earth must have all been on this ship with us because I didn't more for about the first 10 minutes I was in line. When I did finally arrive at the food, I was very pleased the the spread. The description said "appetizers" would be served, so I was expecting some cheese, crackers and maybe some fruit. They had all of that and more. They had stuffed shells, pork tenderloin, mixed veggies, spinach dip, nacho dip, chicken salad wraps and more. I was very surprised that there was actually food left when the line died down. We actually went up for a second round before everything was cleared away. One bummer was that they did not have nearly enough dessert for everyone. By the time I reached the front, they had some lemon water ice left. In their defense, as I walked away with my water ice, I did see a room full of people with plates piled high with brownies, cupcakes and cannoli. If people had taken 1-2 each, there probably would have been enough for everyone. The actual tour was neat. The boat was docked just above the Ben Franklin Bridge and went south past the Walt Whitman Bridge. On the way down, they narrated the tour with information about the PA and NJ harbors. I learned some interesting facts and really enjoyed that part. On the way back, they played music which was a little too loud and a little too Top-40 for my liking, but they were taking requests, so what can you do? I see this as a very cool venue for a party. It would be very cool to have the whole boat to yourself and your guests. I'd definitely give it another try and hope that it wouldn't be quite as crowded. read more

Captain Lucky uses his boat, the Captain Lucky, for party tours of the Delaware. We got the boat for a nighttime 'party' cruise and had a fantastic time. You supply the music, people and $40 bucks a head, they provide the boat, beer and nautical know-how. Apparently, they let you bring any kinda of music. As we brought a DJ and two bands. That's right, we were rocking the river that night. Wow, we had a lot of fun. We ran out of beer on the way back, of course, but they had a bar we could buy booze from. Very smart Captain Lucky. So smart, the Captain is lined up to buy a new (bigger) boat. Don't worry, he isn't replacing the golden goose. Wish him the best. read more

Like many of the other reviewers - we took a dinner cruise trip here on a Friday and felt for $25 it was a good value, at $50 we would have been disappointed. I have taken dinner cruises in Baltimore and New York, and have to say out of the three Philly's waterfront is probably the least attractive. That said, it was an interesting short cruise. As others said, this boat is a little tired. That combined with tacky decor (fake flowers everywhere) gave a meh ambiance. The food was adequate, nothing to write home about. Veggie and meat and cheese tray, mini burgers, fried fish, some ziti and chips topped it off. Brownie bites for dessert were tasty (though had completely unnecessary sprinkles and chocolate syrup all of over them - perhaps to dress them up??) All in all I think I would skip this unless you have a good discount. They do have themed public parties on this ship that with a bunch of friends could be fun. read more

The staff was ok, one of servers seemed high, not organized at all. Food ok , boat was not plush like spirit of phila. Bathrooms very clean. We had fun because we had great company. Wouldn't go back. read more

Just got back from the PA Mothers of Multiples Convention and one of our excursions was a "Booze Cruise" on this boat. We had a really great time. The food was pretty good -not gourmet or anything, but veggies, cheese and dip, salad, cheese steaks, hoagies. All was pretty good and attractively presented. Our cruise included wine and beer and they didn't run out. There were tablecloths and seat covers making for an attractive presentation. The DJ was great - lots of great new and old dance music. I'm not a dancer but all my friends were having fun. There was dancing on both floors once the food was cleared. I was happy to note that the bathrooms were clean even 5 min before getting off the boat. The workers were all friendly and seemed to be having a great time as well. I think this kind of cruise is great for an excursion like this where you have the entire boat booked for your party. Makes it so much more fun. I'm not sure it would have been as fun with just my husband and I. As others have noted, the Philly waterfront is not that spectacular, so you need to just be having fun being with your group. read more

We celebrated my cousins 35th birthday/ surprise engagement on the Ben Franklin Yacht, it was a private party so only our people on the yacht it was a fun nite. The music, food and atmosphere was great. We really enjoyed the cruise, would def do it again!!! The staff and Captain were all very friendly and social as well. Perfect way to throw a birthday bash! read more

9/13/10 On September 11, 2010, I had the misfortune of having my 50th BIrhtday celebration on this boat. It was the biggest mistake of my 50 years of life. Captain Ed aka Captain Lucky and staff are the true epitome of "unprofessionalism". I entered into an agreement both verbal and written with this man and he delivered nothing but a filthy boat and some liquor. He did not honor more than half of the items on our agreement/ contract, Two of his staff members ( whom he had helping out) reeked of alcohol. He kept trying to pacify my complaints with "lets forget about the mistakes and move forward" but try as I might I cannot wipe the memories from my mind. On several occasions he have lied or went back on his words. My guest were sitting around in darkness and no sound on the 2nd floor. He was responsible for appetizers (simple) fresh fruits, and crackers and cheese, he did not deliver. I had all the food catered (as agreed on - as I did not like their menu choices) and he was only responsible for the appetisers - he did nothing. I was promised 4 servers, my guest had to do the serving. I was promised an head table and a table for cake and placement cards - never happened. The speakers and mike were terrible, they kept going out - you could only hear every other word when you spoke in the mike. My entertainer could not perform. The downstairs bartender was charging my guest for water and juice which was supposed to be included, as per our contract. As the guest of honor I had to walk around all night as I had no table to sit at. My husband and children (who were suppose to be at the head table with me had to do the same. Time does not allow for me to continue to write the atrocities of this nightmare. Needless to say, the reason I am doing this is to warn the next unsuspecting consumer that the Ben Franklin Yatch aka Captain Lucky is a total fraud. Do not take a single word that he utters from his drunken mouth as a bond. He is incapable of retaining anything. I would pray that unlike me someone will take the time out to read the reviews and comments from patrons who have gone on this disater and take heed. read more

I recently attended a party as a guest and also a vendor. When I arrived to the dock the boat was just returning to shore with a party in full swing. My party was to board at 5 and begin decorating. A half hour might have been enough time to get this accomplished if the staff had ushered the first party off in a timely manner. By the time the previous party realized that people were trying to decorate around them it was 5:15. Guest were to arrive at 5:30 to board. Flipping the boat for our party was made eve harder by the staff neglecting to change dirty table clothes and not being that helpful. The boat's policy is to change only dirty table clothes after a party. The boat is out dated, it needs serious work. The carpeting and fixtures are great if you are having an late 70's themed party. The frozen meatballs and watery pasta were not good. I ate fruit and cheese. The music provided was good. The bathrooms were tiny and not very well kept. Nothing on this floating vessel made me feel like I was on a yacht. read more

I've been on the Ben Franklin multiple times, most recently for my birthday party and my younger brother's graduation party. I always have a good time. The staff is very kind and fun, the captain is very easygoing, and the food is good, as is the music. The DJ has a wide variety of songs, and you can always request something if you'd like. And not only is it a good time but it's a good price as well. I always recommend the Ben Franklin for any of my friends that need a venue for their party. I doubt you'll be disappointed. :) read more

Went out on the Ben Franklin for a wine tasting cruise courtesy of yelp. It was a fun way to spend an afternoon. All of the wine and food was on the bottom floor which led to a lot of congestion. The tables and chairs were also way too close together. We ended up staying on the upper deck outside and buying a few margaritas. Eventually, a carafe of wine was brought up, so then we also drank from that. The staff was friendly, and they didn't kick us off the boat when we docked. It was a fun and different afternoon especially with the nice weather we had, but I'm glad I didn't pay for it. read more

This place is AMAZING! We had our rehearsal dinner there last night. Food was great, staff was great, and of course the views were great!

I got this deal on Groupon, and took my wife for our 1 year anniversary. Afterwards, she described our experience as the "Groupon" special. I wonder if they skimped on a lot of things because this was the Groupon special. We had small plates and there were three main entrees to choose from. It was buffet style, but basically, if you ask for more than one. You get the "evil" eye. It didn't feel luxurious at all. If I had to compare this to the Spirit of Philadelphia. I would save you're money and go on the Spirit. It's a bigger boat, it's cleaner, and the buffet selection is more orderly. It's was a fun (putting it mildly) experience. But, we will not be coming back. Nothing wrong per se, but there are much better options for the same Groupon cost. I feel kind of sorry, for those that had to pay full price. read more

I attended a birthday celebration and the boat was disappointing. Boat wasn't updated, and the crew didn't look very clean. In fact for the price that we paid, the food was horrible. The turkey was a foreign mystery meat, pasta was dry, pepperoni and cheese looked like it had sat out for 3 days and the servers looked frightful and unclean. Although the crew was nice, I don't think that the boat is fit for celebrations. water was coming up through the floor in the men's 2nd floor bathroom. I will never attend anything on this ship again. Let me reiterate that the food was so nasty that everyone, that attended, went out and ate afterwards. I paid $65 for a horrible experience. the only good thing was that I got to share a birthday with a very good friend. Outside of that, I suggest that you rent another boat. read more

I have been on the Ben Franklin Yacht a few times. In college, my group of friends would always rent it out for a night. I always had so much fun on this yacht! I recently planned a reunion for my group and Caption Lucky was great with setting it up. Every time I called everyone was so nice and helpful. Sadly, a lot of people bailed last minute due to post grad life, and I had to cancel my trip. Caption Lucky was understanding! I will definitely be scheduling another visit on the Ben Franklin yacht read more

Coming off the recent Duck boat accident this Ben Franklin Yacht I think is next to sink be careful it's is the worse smelling and dirty, the food was awful. The generator went out at least 5 times while we were on the water. No Air Condition, half the speakers on the sound system don't work. The boat ran so bad the day I was on it they couldn't take it back on the water for the night event those people had to have their party dockside. The captain is a ripoff artist . I wouldn't wish this piece of shit boat on my worse enemy. THIS BOAT WILL BE THE NEXT BOAT TO SINK TO THE BOTTOM THE DELAWARE RIVER BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE read more

This experience was such a let down! The boat is GHETTO, the staff have no idea what they're doing, the little bit of food was GOD AWFUL (I felt sick from the rubbery junk), the music put me to sleep, the boat was dirty & bland in ambiance, and the parking and drinks were insanely expensive. The boat left 30 minutes late & we nearly lost our dinner reservations after. A total waste of 50 bucks a pop! Never again. read more

Simply put..this was one of the worst experiences...it was small, overbooked, the rug was smelly, the food took forever and they kept running out. SMH read more

If I could give half stars, this would be 3.5. Like many on here, my experience was due to a Groupon deal that I bought several months ago. (Was originally going to use it w/ my mom when she came out for a visit in May, but that weekend they had booked a wedding--that had been planned two years in advance! Womp womp.) I ended up using it w/ a friend of mine. We had a good time. We were impressed w/ the food spread, and the drink menu was fairly reasonable in terms of prices. There were lots of places to sit and enjoy the view. I found the beginning "narration" to be somewhat informative, but a little cheesy, and ended up tuning it out after a few minutes. I also didn't care for the loud music. I didn't know that this was a "party boat" atmosphere...not really my thing, but if this is how folks want to spend a Sunday afternoon, by all means! :) I was thankful that there was good weather, so that made the trip very pleasurable. I do wish the ride had been longer. Also, they advertised it to be a 2 hour tour, but we left the dock at around 1:05 (after boarding at 12:20), and returned by 2:45-ish. So...not quite what they advertised. I would have been more disappointed if I had paid full price. Overall, I'd consider going again, but only if there was some kind of special deal. Otherwise, I'd encourage folks to save their money. read more

I belong to a group who has worked with Ed for eight years. We hold an annual party with over 100 people. The Ben Franklin is a fantastic new ship. He really lets the customer cater the experience for your group. He is very flexible and responsive. His staff are always fun and the new menu is good. We have always had a great time at our annual party and wouldn't dream of having it on any other ship. read more

Captain Lucky runs a top notch organization and is a super good guy. He'll shuttle you around the Delaware with a fully stocked bar. Not that the Delaware is that beautiful but it's nice to escape Philly for a little while and enjoy the water while drinking with friends. read more

I am very upset with the way Captain Lucky handle his customers. I spoke to him on the phone and he seemed friendly and accomadating. We made arrangements to go out on Sun of Labor Day 9/4/2011 with another couple who also made reservations and spoke to him directly.too. We arrived to find no one there, We called him from the pier and he told us they weren't sailing..a miscommunication on our part....WRONG. He asked us to call back and we did. IT"S BEEN 2 WEEKS and NO REFUND AS PROMISED..GROUPON buyers beware as all customers. Captain Lucky needs to be honest and fair. Honesty is the best policy. Update::: we have yet to get the refund as was promised.... Sad because we wanted to go once ourselves and then depending on experience we were planing for having an event on this this ship. VERY disappointed..It is now long overdo. read more

I cruised on the Ben Franklin Yacht for the Oktoberfest cruise. I totally agree with other Yelpers that they definitely cram way too many people on this boat. The line for the food was ridiculous and there wasn't a lot of spots for people to sit and eat (we ended up standing outside to eat). The food was average or slightly below but plentiful at least. Unfortunately the bar experience was different depending on what floor you were on though which caused some confusion. I did think that the dancing was fun though and overall the cruise was a good time but doubt I will return. read more