I so wanted to give this a big thumbs up, but just can't. Hoping the feedback will allow them to get better. We went on 7/22/14. We arrived at 7:15, the check in process was easy enough. We set out around 8PM and returned a little after 9PM. All in all what I expected. However, our guide was an absolute bore. Guests had to repeatedly ask him to speak up, speak into the mic or stand in the middle so they could hear him. Eventually, folks just quit asking. If I did my job this way, I wouldn't have a job for very long, but he sure was all smiles at the end standing by his tip jar on the way out. He needs some training on how to use a mic and how to engage a large audience if he continues. The funny thing was, we could hear all the other energetic guides on the boats around us and when we arrived back, someone got on a mic and said welcome back, hope you had a great time and that was loud and clear. Thankfully, I could enjoy the company I was with and it was a lovely evening to be out on Town Lake. UPDATE: I am thoroughly impressed the owner reached out immediately to apologize for my experience and offer a free return trip (which I didn't accept). He did explain they are training some new staff and he appreciated feedback. Kuddos to CC for good follow up. read more

We used Capital Cruises for my daughter'w wedding reception 12/11/21 and cannot say enough wonderful things. The communication throughout the process was exceptional. Service, staff and food were wonderful. Everyone enjoyed the event! We also had the caricaturist on board and she was delightful. We were looking for a different wedding experience and this fit the bill. read more

Oh Captain, my captain... One of the highlights of my experience in Austin has been Capital Cruises on Town Lake. Slightly hard to find behind the Hyatt Regency on Barton Springs Rd., they are a boat rental outfit, but their service goes above and beyond handing you a life jacket and an anchor. I've used Capital for both business and pleasure and not once have I had any reason to complain. For starters, they can accommodate anyone. Their giant paddle wheeler, the "Pride and Joy", can accommodate up to 150, while their selection of kayaks, paddle boats, swan boats, and duffies offer space for 1, 2 or 8. They also offer nightly bat watching rides on their medium sized boats (think 20-40 people). Not only do they have a variety of water vehicles, but they offer full-service catering (through a partnership with Hyatt), and personal captains for charters trips. Give your kid the ultimate birthday bash with their "children's extravaganzas". Impress your employees with a riverboat gambling adventure on the giant P&J. However...their coolest service by far is the hour-long duffy boat ride at $45. Take this covered, battery-powered boat out with a partner, spouse or close friend for some seriously quality alone time (you can bring along a Cap. Cruises Captain or, for more privacy, be your own able seaman or woman). You can even have a private dinner prepared or be cheap like I was and bring along sandwiches, wine and cake. (They allow any kind of alcohol or food.) Bring your favorite music as well - most boats have cd players. Austin has some beautiful views, but you'll find that the one from the water is truly unique...completely worth your time and money. Reasonable prices, easy to reserve, friendly employees, some of the best times I've had in Austin. Future visits? I'd be a regular if I could afford it. :) read more

Capital Cruises - Capital Cruises Bat Watching - Boat Charters Near Me - Austin, Texas

We did the bat tour, and it was lovely! A nice, long, educational tour of the city and the buildings from the river during sunset...ya can't beat it! Another person on the tour said she thought it'd last around a half hour, but we were on the boat for nearly 2 hours! Watching the bats was incredible. We went in early November, so we weren't sure how many bats would be left, and there were TONS! It's truly an experience I'll never forget. Thank you to the employees and captain! read more

Its was just an amazing trip !! I enjoy a lots :). And if you maje check in u get 2 dollar off. Is 15 dollar a rent per hour. :) They are so cool the persons there and the show you to use the things if you not know to use. Enjoy u :) read more

Capital Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great tour, lots of fun, informative, and the water is the best place to view the bats!

We made reservations that afternoon; tickets were $10 per person. The parking attendant at the Hyatt suggested we park at the back lot of The Catherine apartments. There are signs directing you to parking, and it was $5 to park until 3 am. The attendant in this parking lot was able to direct us to the dock. We walked straight through the Hyatt to the back exit, and took the steps on the left side of the patio to get to the boats. We arrived about 15 minutes before the boats departed, and the boats were almost entirely full. We were able to get the last set of 2 seats next to one another. Our captain was hilarious and the boat ride was really enjoyable. She knew a lot about the history of the river and future plans for the area. After cruising the river for awhile, we stopped right before the bridge and waited for the bats. Seeing the bats fly out is something I'm glad I got to experience. I only have 2 complaints. The chairs were flimsy plastic patio chairs, which got uncomfortable after an hour. Also, our captain was awesome, but she had no microphone, so it was hard to hear her. I would definitely do this again! read more

Capital Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Austin, Texas

Went on the bat cruise for a company excursion. We had the entire boat to ourselves (~60 people). It was a little squished during dinner time but more space was made after eating due to everyone wandering out in different locations on the boat. We had catering which I'm not sure if it was provided by the boat company, Hyatt, or external business but it was fantastic. The boat allowed us to have alcohol/an open bar. The view was fantastic and the boat steered at a comfortable speed. The timing is perfect as it set sail in the late afternoon, turns around during beautiful sunset so the city skyline view is visible, and stops by the bridge for the bats to fly out, and nighttime city skyline is visible for enjoyment after the bats finish flying out. Overall a wonderful Austin experience I would re commend to everyone. read more

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Every tourist to Austin should be sure to see the bats! It was so cool to watch them come out and flood the sky. We booked our tickets online and paid for them ahead of time. Check in was quick and easy. I would recommend this type of booking to everyone. We didn't know however that we could bring our own drinks on board. I wish we had known in advance. We certainly would have taken advantage of that. They advise on their website that parking is available at the Hyatt, which it is but it is very expensive. I would suggest looking for other parking options. We did have to stop in the Hyatt and ask directions on how to get to their dock. Once they explained it, we were able to find it no problem. We arrived early but only had to wait a short while for them to begin check in - about a half hour prior to departure. The only big problem that we experienced which was with the sound system aboard. As noted, we arrived early and were able to grab some seats up front for really great viewing. They do provide a narrated tour up and down the river before the nightly bat extravaganza. Unfortunately we were unable to hear anything that was said by the guide because the sound system just wasn't strong enough to reach the front of our boat. I would think that would able to be remedied. read more

We arrived just as they opened and got the first set of kayaks... and what a deal! At $10 per hour you can't go wrong. We got a brief "how to" before we slid in to our personal Lake Tour and rowed off. An hour is a long time to go kayaking (especially on a windy day when the lake is not exactly calm) and more than enough to see the Congress bridge, turtles, snakes and bird poop galore! I rowed my heart out to get under the Congress bridge and I'm pretty sure I got pooped on my a few bats that missed me the night before- you can actually hear them at 10 a.m.! I definitely recommend doing a quick one hour kayak trip for two reasons: 1. Its fun and 2. Great exercise to start your morning in Austin! read more

Capital Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We had a great time on Lady Bird Lake in Austin aboard one of their big boats. One thing that really stood out for me was how quiet the boat ran. We weren't having to yell at each other the whole time. The crew was very polite and accommodating and the boat and its facilities were very clean and tidy. The price was very reasonable for the size of our group and the size of the boat. As beautiful as the Austin skyline is and the view from the lake, this is a great company to setup a special occasion with. Have fun! read more

Capital Cruises - Plenty of boats - Boat Charters Near Me - Austin, Texas

This is our second cruise. Alec was the perfect guide. Even though it was pretty cold that night, we saw so many bats. And we loved all of the Austin history Alec talked about. Lots of fun!!! read more

Brittany did a fantastic job. Very friendly and out going.she was able to tell us all about the make and the buildings that you could see from the boat. She explained about the bats and their migration from South to Austin and why they choose this bridge to nest and have their babies at. Even though we saw no bats we did have a great time even if it was cold. Thanks Brittany you did great. Hope to catch up with you next time we come this summer read more

Capital Cruises - Big bat after us!! - Boat Charters Near Me - Austin, Texas

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What a fantastic time. I went with my SO, sister, and teenage niece and we all loved it. Georgia, our captain, was amazing - she clearly loves what she does. I literally cannot recommend having her as your captain enough. She's not only ready with facts, but she was genuinely entertaining. The tour itself is actually a really fun thing to do if you're visiting Austin or even if you live here and haven't had a chance to go. I've been here 7 years and I learned about places along the river that I had never known! The flight of the bats themselves was absolutely majestic. Seriously. There were people from all walks of life on our tour and everyone was amazed. What's more, the bats leave their roosts when the sun goes down. To see those little guys in their multitudes with the backdrop of a Texas sunset on the water? Idk if I'll ever forget that. Tbh, I've been putting off going on the tour for years because I didn't think it would be that great, but, boy, was I wrong. This was such a fun way to spend few hours. read more

Went on the bat tour, spent around 1.5 hours on the boat, in my opinion we left a bit early... Got a bit boring but once the bats came out it was all good. Tour guides very knowledgeable and funny. The southern guy is hilarious. Worth the $10, will go again before season is over. read more

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We took the bat/sunset tour. My two girls, 8 and 14, Grandma & I had a great time! Our Captain, Georgia, shared all sorts of fascinating facts about Austin that as a resident for 31 years I never knew! Each of us walked away learning something really cool. Price is great, as well! If you and your family are looking for a relaxing, different way to check out Austin, do this!! (Then take a cruise via carriage with Austin Carriage). Bring some beverages and snacks for the tour. Quick note on parking - we didn't but there's plenty of lots around for a nominal fee (unless you're visiting during sxsw like we did!). We took the train in from northwest austin and a pedicab from the convention center to the dock, then walked back to the train station after the boat ride. As a local who detests her daily commute from north to south austin, I thoroughly enjoyed the low-key transport we opted for. read more

Capital Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Austin, Texas

The best way to view the bats at the Congress bridge. We received a knowledgeable tour of the lake and surroundings. Our tour guide positioned us in the perfect spot to watch the bats fly overhead. read more

We were in town to visit our daughters and wanted to try an Austin experience so they took us on the bat tour. We arrived at 7:15 for our 8:00 p.m. tour. We had to wait in a line on the sidewalk for about 15 minutes before boarding our boat. Once on the boat, we could sit and wait or leave for a few minutes to get a drink or use the bathroom. We could go into the hotel that was right there to use the bathroom and get something from Starbucks if needed. Capital Cruises sold water bottles for $2. Since there is a wait, I would suggest bringing your own water bottles. Our boat was like a pontoon and held about 35 people. All seats were taken. We saw a larger boat like ours and a double decker, much larger boat by the same company. The tour up and down the river (lake??) was nice and our guide Jason was informative and funny. There were a lot of kayaks in the water with the larger boats which made me a little nervous but there were no collisions. Once the bats started coming out, Jason was good about pointing them out to us because they did "hug the tree line," so it was hard to see them until more were flying. The only down side was that our boat was the first to leave and I didn't want to stop watching them yet. We could have stayed longer on that side of the bridge. We had an hour of "cruising" and looking at the skyline and about 10 minutes of watching the bats. Overall, it was a fun experience and I was glad to be watching from the boat and not up on the street with the crowds. read more

We booked the bat cruise which lasts about 1 hour. Our guide Lorrie was so informative and sweet; she really loves her job. She even took multiple photos of each group with the Austin Skyline (hand sanitizing between each phone camera). Initially on Lady Bird you learn about the history of Austin and different birds, fish, turtles. Then you learn about all the different downtown buildings. The highlight is seeing all the bats flying out; they are so tiny (chicken nuggets with wings). Another fun fact it takes several hours for all the bats to leave but the boat has to go under the bridge to get back so watch out for some bat sprinkles of pee! Easy meter street parking; this location is directly behind the Hyatt hotel. Highly Recommend even our teenagers enjoyed it! read more

My wife and I never take the time to write reviews but the superior level of service we got from Capital Cruises demands we do this. We decided to have the rehearsal dinner for our son's wedding on one of their boats and they were super responsive throughout the entire process from our original inquiry all the way through to the end. On the day of the event, they were there for us for whatever we needed which really helped calm our nerves. We were fortunate to have great weather and our guests were thrilled with the evening. We had 50 people attend and they were all thrilled with the evening and the fact that we did something a bit different than the typical sit down at a restaurant. Definitely recommend them. read more

Amazing experience with Capital Cruises last week for a bat cruise. It was touch and go whether the cruise would go forward because of rain storms earlier in the day. But the weather cleared up and gave us a spectacular sunset. The cruise itself was entertaining and educational - with a Longhorn starting at UT, I was happy to learn some history and interesting facts about the buildings downtown and the river. The bat show itself was incredible! Rivers of bats pouring out of the bridge right over our heads! Our boat guide had a great sense of humor and kept the narration interesting and fun. Would definitely recommend!!! read more

It was a lovely and relaxing experience. Our guide, Chase, was knowledgeable, and gave us enough information, but did not over burden us. For the price, it's amazing. I recommend this for locals and for out of town guests. read more

A great casual way to spend the evening. Also quite inexpensive. Sitting on a boat watching millions of bats come out the bridge can be quite therapeutic. It was my son's first time and he enjoyed it immensely read more

I thought I booked the boat tour for my bf and I, but I accidentally booked the kayak tour. Best mistake I've ever made! We had such a good time! Our guide, Mike, was so knowledgeable and cool. The evening kayak ride was beautiful. We saw the bats fly out for the evening. The next time we're in Austin we're definitely doing it again! read more

I took the evening bat cruise on June 27, 2018. What a sweet surprise. I had a wonderful time. Our boat driver and guide, Leia, was very knowledgeable. She answered all our questions. She made me feel safe on the boat. No sudden turns. Leia worked hard to find us an optimum viewing spot for the bat flights. What a treasure thevCongress Ave bridge has become. I might suggest offering up tee shirts and hats. I would have bought one.d read more

TURNTABLES ON TOWN LAKE 7/14 The Sunday cruise was fun & chill. Gene the bartender & DJ's were Awesome!! Met some cool new people & had a good time! read more

Each time we get a chance to invite family out to visit us in Austin we try to get them out on the water! We are always pleased with Capital Cruises and we are thankful for their support in making each experience with our while! read more

We did a bat tour that left at 7:45 PM with Gabe as our guide. He had a nice Texas playlist and gave interesting insights into the birds, bats, plants, and buildings you see as you cruise along the water. In early May, you won't see a huge number of bats, but Gabe helped us see some with the help of a red flashlight. Even if you have no interest in bats, the setting along the water as the sun goes down and the skyline lights up is worth the 1.25 hour trip. It was very relaxing and a great activity for our group of teens and grandparents. We parked in a lot nearby and had a drink on the Hyatt's outdoor patio before the tour - also a very nice view. Also, they had good Covid protocols. Masks are required and they seat you with your group. Thanks for a lovely evening, Capital Cruises! read more

I had an amazing time when I went on their sunset bat tour a few months ago, much better than on Lone Star which I tried last week when my sister came to visit (Capital Cruises was sold out ). My guide with Capital Cruises was super knowledgeable and fun and the views of the Austin skyline at sunset were amazing! I will definitely be recommending this to all my out of town family and friends who come to visit. read more

Went on the bat cruise this evening and had a wonderful time. We were worried about how the weather might play out. After a few sprinkles everything went off without a hitch. Our Captain Brittney was amazing, very friendly and energetic. She provided alot of fun facts, beyond the "everyone already knows" information. Despite being a born and raised Austinite, I can honestly say I learned some neat info myself. Thanks for the enjoyable evening. read more

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$10 for an hour on the boat and you get to see the skyline of Austin and bats! Sooooo worth every penny! Plus our tour guide was funny! The bats were amazing! Can't wait to go again next time! I also wanna try to paddle boat and bike boat! read more

Although I wanted to give this place four stars my wife insisted that I give them five stars so that's why they have five stars. This cruise was a really nice cruise of the Town Lake. It was only $10 and it was a tour of the bats that come out from under the bridge under Congress at night. We called here to check if they had any availability for seating and we were told that we would be on the waiting list. Upon our arrival we were the second out of four people that were on the waiting list and we were able to get a seat. We were not able to sit on the upper deck but we sat on the lower deck and it was air-conditioned so that was a plus. The tour lasted about 45 minutes to an hour and we went along the Townlake. Our guide for the lower level was this Matthew McConaughey looking gentleman that had one of the strongest southern accents I've ever heard in my life he might've been Matthew McConnaughay's brother or something he was super nice and got us water several times. This is an excellent cruise to take advantage of it's only 10 bucks and you actually get to see a very good view of the bats that come out in the middle of downtown Austin read more

Yesterday we took both the sight seeing cruise and Bat cruise. Sightseeing cruise was great, Captain very informative and talked non-stop with information about Austin. 5 star for this one Bat cruise not so much, if we hadn't taken the sightseeing cruise would have been nice to be on the lake but having seen the lake our goal was to see bats. The guide said he saw a couple, we didn't. They warned there may not be too many, but the cruise did not stay out long enough to see them. If they know the bats exit their nests later in the evening the tour should be adjusted accordingly or they should not have the tours knowing the bats are due to birth and not flying as much. This information should be posted on website, not shared when you arrive at the tour. Next time we will try the other company. read more

Very informative and entertaining bat cruise. Still it was longer than I expected. The restaurant we wanted to eat at was closed by the time we got back on land. I'd recommend that you empty your bladder, bring a snack and settle in for a leisurely ride! When all is said and done you will want to leave a tip! read more

We rented a donut boat and had the best time on the lake. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable and did an amazing job despite being understaffed on a holiday weekend. Will definitely be visiting again with any out of town visitors - such a great way to see the city and socially distance from others. read more

Capital cruises is usually my go-to for kayaks ($15/hour) and paddleboards ($10/hour). My friends and I have also rented a duffy. As someone without any boating experience, I'm proud to say that I drove and parked the duffy without crashing haha This location has beautiful views of the city. After a little bit of walking, you'll locate the free parking lot but you can pay to park in the Hyatt garage located right in front of the dock. It's my favorite way to spend a beautiful day in Austin! read more

Everyone who works here is super cool and easy going. The entire process from getting your SUP, kayak, etc to returning it was seamless and guided. S/O to Tori for being awesome and helping me get on/off the board! read more

We had a great time! And Ashleigh (with a "G") was outstanding in her delivery and sharing of Austin knowledge. We saw our bats and our group had a blast. Go out and enjoy Austin!! read more

I had a college alumni meet up on a capital cruise. It was a really nice boat with fire places and lots of space to sit and be with your group upstairs and downstairs. It was a great experience. read more

This place is not worth it! They made us wait for an hour did not tell us 4 people wouldn't be able to ride until it was time to sign the waiver! They are trash I will never come I do not recommend made me waist 1 hour of my trip!!! They suck!!!!!!! read more