Decided to go on the sunset cruise with my lady kind of at a last minute idea, and I was concerned about the weather and how it would all play out, as it was starting to rain and was rather cold for Austin with a big fog bank blanketing the city, but I was able to get in contact with someone from the cruise down at the dock itself (I was already there) who informed us that there was only 2 other people going to go, and the weather was ok if we still wanted to go which was nice. Some places would have cancelled given only having 4 people going on the cruise. We grabbed a pizza from Homeslice and went to the dock at our cruise time, and they nicely brought out a table and set it up for us to put our food on and away we went. Our captain was very knowledgeable of the city and pointed out all the landmarks and birds as we went along, telling us stories about the various locations and the people who influenced them. He also went into pretty great detail about the bat population that was living there and its positive effects its hard on the surrounding farmers and city. The boat traveled along very slowly allowing for ample time to look around and take pictures as desired. The lake is regulated heavily for other boating, so really it was just us on the lake with the occasional canoe or row team passing by making it pretty relaxing and very enjoyable. I would recommend however to bring a jacket as the temperature on the water does drop significantly more than on the city level. The captain and the other staff was very nice and polite and I would highly suggest you book a cruise if you ever find yourself looking for a relaxing boat ride or want to learn about the area. read more

We went on a sunset cruise on a Friday evening in late January, a little chilly and no bats, but still a fun experience. Highlights: funny and knowledgeable boat captain (I hate that I forget her name, or else I'd compliment her here), BYOB, and only $10! I definitely recommend it. Relaxing little hour long cruise, you learn a lot, and see the sunset on lady bird lake. read more

We hosted our wedding reception on Capital Cruises and let me just tell you - the staff is FANTASTIC! They worked with me in every way possible. They supported me throughout the process and on the day of the wedding, EVERY little detail was perfect! We had the best captain, the best server and everyone I was in touch with behind the scenes were perfect! They are reliable, responsive and just great. Many of our vendors were selected through Capital Cruises and they picked the best dj, best photobooth, best bar tender, best captain, best everything! I cannot thank them enough for a more perfect reception. OH and they gave us a bat tour at sunset - the bar tender came upstairs and was our bat expert! She told us facts about the bats which I did NOT expect. So freaking awesome, they are amazing. We hired an event stylist on our own and the boat looked beautiful! I'd recommend everyone to host a stellar party on this cruise! read more

Bat tour: Stellar service. They observed social distancing. Only would book a maximum of 15 guests. The employees wore masks. Everyone was super helpful. Other bat tour companies had their boats jam packed with guests. So irresponsible. Capital did not. Way to keep us all safe! read more

My family was visiting Austin and we were looking for something to do and landed on the Capital Cruise Bat tour. I've lived in austin 7 years and never took the time to check out the bats, so I figured why not. We wound up having an awesome time. The tour guides were super knowledgeable and kept it fun. I even learned a few new things about the city that were interesting. When the bats came out I was actually amazed. It was unlike anything I've ever seen before and would definitely recommend this to anyone who hasn't experienced it before. They let us bring beer as well, which is always nice. read more

Great experience. Gabe was very knowledgeable about all sorts of things about the lake, the buildings, the bats, the birds and many other Austin things. We really enjoyed the cruise read more

We brought our out-of-town family for a duffy ride yesterday, and were disappointed with the experience ... mostly because our boat's steering was broken. We rented a duffy from Capital Cruises in the past and had no issue, but on this visit, there was no way to keep the boat straight. Wind was low, and the water was flat. We tried to tell the attendant about the issue, mostly for safety reasons... We felt sending the boat out on the water with kayakers etc on the water was a risk to everyone on the water. The attendant just said she'd look into it, but didn't seem very concerned. She offered no apology, and did not offer to credit us for the ride. Our relationship with Capital Cruises has definitely been soured by the experience, and I doubt we'll feel confident in returning again for a duffy ride. Update: Capital Cruises reached out to me to say they'd in fact investigated my concerns after we left, which was reassuring, and also offered a refund or credit for another ride. Since our first ride was good, I've opted for the credit. I would like to give them another chance. The follow up from management was appreciated. read more

Excellent way to see the bats from the water. Great value and would highly recommend to anyone thinking about it.

Loved it! Gabe was very knowledgeable and engaging. The views of Lady Bird Lake and Austin skyline were breathtaking. Can't wait to go again! read more

Capital Cruises - One hour sightseeing tour of Lady Bird Lake on Sunday @ 1:00. - Boat Charters Near Me - Austin, Texas

While they seem popular and well organized, we stopped while walking by to ask about a kayak rental. I asked if it was too late to rent one, and rather than providing any information about the policy, the employee just said "it is too late" and walked away. We won't be trying to come back, as it simply felt we weren't welcomed. read more

Our tour guide Leia was incredible. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. She had such a calming lovely vibe for the tour. She was also very knowledgeable and gave us a lot of information about Austin that I wasn't expecting and was grateful for. I learned so much and she was committed to creating the best experience for everyone on board. When I'm back in Austin I will definitely be back. Thank you so much!!!! read more

SO glad I booked with them for the bat boat tour! Really nice and funny guide and a GREAT view!! Be sure to have cash for parking! I had forgotten to stop for cash, but the attendant was nice enough to allow me to park and run inside to the hotel ATM! A LIFE SAVER for sure!!! read more

We rented the Pride and Joy for my husband's birthday party and had a blast. The sound system was great, and our dance party was the best - my Spotify playlist synched with their system effortlessly. Ryan was in touch with us from start to finish about the details, and when Covid forced us to postpone the party, they were very accommodating, and gave us credit to reschedule. Gabe, Zack and Chase were awesome, and the crew was very helpful with setting up the bar and food. I highly recommend them for your next cruise! We will definitely be repeat customers. read more

This is such a fun experience! Everyone was friendly and accommodating. They have all the chairs set up for you when you arrive for the evening bat cruise. The whole tour is beautiful and fun. I would recommend this tour to Austinites and tourists alike. read more

What a fun thing to do!!! Unique experience! Our guide was knowledgeable and had a fun personality...a true nature lover The weather broke at the perfect time for a beautiful sunset and the bats cooperated!! Highly tecommend read more

One of the best things I've done in Austin! Highly suggest visitors as well as residents reserve a seat on the open air boat cruise to see the flight of the bats from under the South Congress bridge. Our guide was knowledgeable about Austin history and offered cool bats facts throughout our 90 minute cruise. We cruised up and down Lady Bird Lake, we had phenomenal opportunities for sunset photos of the city skyline and were right up under the bridge when it came time to see the 2 million bats exit the bridge. I got some great video of their flight too! Parking next to the Hyatt hotel was convenient and just steps from the boat loading dock. So happy I took this memorable little Capital Cruise to witness the iconic bats of Austin! read more

Capital Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Super nice and knowledgeable staff, we went for the bat tour and it was great! It is BYOB so be aware there will be drinking younger and older adults aboard so some people on board will be drunk and acting as such read more

Wednesday 5pm tour. Absolutely outstanding guide with just the right tone and great stories for a relaxing tour.

Best bat tour EVER! Our captain was amusing and knowledgeable. Also .. apparently it was "the best bat show in a long time .. like a long time" sweeeeeet - I did get bat poop on my face and hair - which wasn't disclosed to me prior to this little water schlep, saw a chick with an umbrella and thought she was nuts - nope turns out she was a genius. read more

This review will come in two parts. First, I want to review the company. Then I will give some tips for travelers based on my experience and the reviews I have read. ***Boat tour*** We did an open top pontoon-style bat boat tour. It was outstanding. Our guide (Georgia, I think) was pleasant, funny, and full of interesting facts. It is clear that she has taken the time to research things based on previous tourists questions. I enjoyed her historical frames of reference, architectural points, and her deep knowledge of bat conservation. Nothing can prepare you for the sight of the bats flying out from under the bridge. It is awe-inspiring. ***Tips for travelers*** Not every experience is for everyone. While I found this to be the most awesome spectacle of man and nature intersecting, it is clear that some people are really only prepared for a mall food court. If you find the following obstacles to be too daunting to allow for a positive experience, may I recommend the food court instead. -Outdoor weather: The mall is fully climate controlled. On a boat, we are at the whim of meteorological trends. -Actual bats: The mall employs exterminators. When seeing animals in the wild, sometimes they excrete waste. -Functional and compact seating: The boat is designed for efficiency in ergonomics and economics. Contrast that with the mall that has massage chairs for a few bucks. -Parking: The mall has all the parking you could need for the most absurdly large soccer transportation vehicles. On the other hand, a major city is often better suited for walking. -Restrooms: Every food court has one. This relatively small boat does not. -Expectations of arriving on time: This one baffles me. Even the food court closes. If you are late, no Sbarro for you. This tour is awesome. Many, many of the reviewers here are not. read more

I booked a little private boat (Duffy) with catered dinner for my anniversary with my boyfriend. It was amazing! We arrived and were given a simple orientation on how to drive the boat, our food was then brought onto the boat and we took off for two hours of sunset floating. It was gorgeous and the food was tasty. One "difficult part" was making sure to stay aware of the "red zones," these are zones that are marked on a map of which you MUST avoid or else your boat will get stuck and you will be charged. Another small issue was finding a spot clear of kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, etc. to put the boat in neutral and eat together. Other than that, I plugged my phone into the provided aux cord and listened to some tunes as we glided through the waters and watched the sunset reflect on the beautiful city line. :) Definitely worth the $200 read more

Capital Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great evening cruise to watch the bats! very prompt and professional! Our Captain, Ashley, kept us entertained and taught us about the bats during our cruise! read more

Did one of the late afternoon group Guided Kayak Tours that left at 7:15pm. Exploring the river through sunset was amazing, and our guide Gabe could not be any more accommodating and knowledgeable of the local history, music scenes, flora and fauna -- literally anything Austin! The tour ends around the bat watching area which was very cool. Would definitely recommend anyone who wants to get some decent exercise in while having a unique tour of the city! Tip: dress and pack as if you're going swimming -- you're gonna get wet! read more

These people were willing to take my boo and I on a boat ride by ourselves because everyone else cancelled due to the rain threat!! At the last minute someone else hopped on and we went out! I'll highly recommend! read more

Had a lot of fun on this little boat ride tbe quide was very informative and knowledgeable about the history of the area as well as the bats. Though we didn't see the bats in all their splendor it was still a fun time. The only doen side was the chairs being a bit uncomfortable but whay can you do. read more

Beck was our tour guide and he was great! Made sure we were in the best spot for observation and provided a lot of neat and funny facts about the Austin bat population. Would 10/10 recommend! read more

Me and my boyfriend went on the sunset/bat kayak tour and it was AMAZING! We had a great tour, learned a good deal about the city and even more about the bats! Well worth the money and the time! 10/10 would recommend to anyone! read more

Capital Cruises - Beautiful sunset view of Austin from the kayak! - Boat Charters Near Me - Austin, Texas

The Bat excursion cruise was delightful! Our tour guide Alex was really knowledgeable about Austin and really gracious! Our group didn't see as many bats as we would have in the summer but we did get to hear them under the bridge and spotted a few! The egrets ended up giving us a great show instead! The tour was also a great price for 4 people to go! Definitely bring a jacket in the Fall & Winter months but beautiful tour! read more

5/5 recommend! Britney was the best, super sweet and knowledgeable! I definitely appreciate their precautions during this time. There was only 4 other couples aside from us and we were all spread out. Also when we got off the boat, they disinfected the whole thing. Thank you Capital Cruises for an unforgettable time. read more

Capital Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Austin, Texas

Sailed on 3.12 with Georgia at the helm and she did awesome. Loved her enthusiasm for music (being from Seattle and a huge music fan myself I can relate), Austin and the Bats. Keep up the good work and maybe see you at Hotel Vegas!!! read more

The evening was great, the setting was beautiful, the bats were cooperative, and the host, Georgia, was about as good a host, historian, and entertainer as you can get. We plan on coming back again a little further along in the season to see more of the evening's flight. This is a recommended no-hassle, for-tourist-and-local-alike one hour event that puts you in the best view of the Austin skyline and in the middle of nature's wonder. read more

I'm from Seattle. Came to Austin on vacation to see my wonderful friend. Had a excellent dinner at the Hyatt.Then she surprised me with the bat tour. Georgia was our guide. She is absolutely a doll and very informative. It was a fantastic boat tour. Can't wait to come back. Thanks so much. Alexis Erickson. read more

Capital Cruises - So many people waiting for the bats. - Boat Charters Near Me - Austin, Texas

This was a wonderful experience. I think our tour guide's name started with an A like Alex or Alec. We also got lost trying to find the location but they provided us with excellent directions. A family member of mine fell after we parked our car and the staff responded promptly with kindness and a first aid kit. It was a fun, family friendly experience. During the pandemic, they were excellent at social distancing. My family and I felt safe during the whole trip. I would highly recommend this excursion for a relaxing evening on the water with an amazing view of not only Austin, but also a once in a lifetime bat flight sighting. read more

What a great trip. Georgia, our captain & tour guide, was so personal & knowledgeable. She shared so much about Austin and the bats. read more

Capital Cruises - S Congress Ave Bridge. - Boat Charters Near Me - Austin, Texas

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The Capital Bat cruise company should put a disclaimer on their site that the first week of June the bats are giving birth and do not come out. Having done this cruise in August, it was very very disappointing that my grandkids did not see any bats (june 1st)! As we pulled awAy from the dock the guide announced we would probably not see any tonight !! Very disappointing and bad business!! However, Leah, our tour guide was excellent! read more

Looking for something to do on a Sunday afternoon while in Austin. Decided to take the 1:00pm cruise on Lady Bird Lake. It was enjoyable viewing the city from the lake, and learning a bit about the area. However, the narration during the cruise was more about our captain's personal preferences related to living in Austin versus informative about the lake, the city, and the recreation available in the area. Oh well, the cruise was only ten bucks, so not a bad way to spend an hour while in the down town area. It would have been useful had there been better signage showing the way to the boat dock. read more

We took the Bat Cruise tour tonight and had a great time. Our guide did an excellent job of narrating the entire time. Lame humor aside, he seemed to really know his stuff. You get a nice cruise on Ladybird Lake while waiting for Bat flight time. Really reasonable at $10! read more

We had a great time using Capital Cruises for my sister in law's 40th surprise birthday party. Seriously they made it so easy. The staff was super friendly. They leave out to the water when you tell them to which was nice because someone with us was afraid of the water so we had to stay at the dock to eat and then go out to the water. We were able to bring our own food on the boat and some of the crew helped set that up. We brought drinks and one of the employees was the bartender for the night. It was such a beautiful location. The Hyatt let us drive our car to the back where the boat was to bring the food onto the boat which was extremely helpful as well. If I get back to Austin I will for sure go on one of the bat cruises. Excellent all around. read more

Capital Cruises - We were able to bring on a cake and the staff helped set up. - Boat Charters Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Al our guide, was being harassed by Two individuals right from the beginning. They were rude and disrespectful to her. They were heckling your employee about her presentation. I am sure it made her Nervous. She was very professional. Do not return their money. read more

I was in town for work and had heard about the 'bats of Austin' but never seen them. This boat trip was very nice. They took us down the lake/river for a bit, providing historical details on waterfront buildings and the lake area then back up to the bridge to see the bats emerge. Worth the time (60-90 minutes) and cost (very inexpensive). read more