This was the perfect way to celebrate my graduation. Booking the event and deciding the menu went very smoothly. Cecily was very helpful and communicating with her was very easy. Melissa accommodated our special requests the day of the event. Barbara was the best bartender and had a really positive attitude. Even the captain joined us in pictures. Thank you to this amazing team and we'll definitely be back for another event with you. read more

Went for a work outing and had a great time. We felt nice and safe with the open air and windows, the food was great, and the views were amazing. The trip was about an hour and a half and it was the perfect length. Would definitely recommend for a group outing. read more

This is a great city tour option for tourists or locals if you're tired of the annoying tourist trap tours (double decker bus, duck tour, etc) Plus it's way cheaper and parking is super easy (park in the mall lot) I've used this boat tour as a way to entertain my nephews and it wasn't bad. Random, but they serve alcohol on the boat. read more

Yesterday we took the Charles River boat tour. We really enjoyed it. The tour guide gave general, unique, and interesting facts about Boston and places we could see from the river. They sell drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and snacks on the boat. There is plenty of seating and everyone is able to see out the boat well no matter where you sit. The tour we took left from the food court entrance at Cambridgeside Galleria mall. This is a great experience at a great price! read more

My fiancee's company recently had a night cruise along the Charles, and it was incredibly enjoyable. Great and friendly crew. The food was amazing - they had rack of lamb! (WHAT?!) and chips, cheese, crackers, open bar. There were maybe 30-40 people in attendance, which the boat accommodated well; more might be harder to squeeze. The scenery was great, especially with the setting sun. Overall, a very wonderful evening, thanks to the Charles Riverboat Company! Verdict: You want to host a fairly intimate and classy party on a boat in Boston? This place is it! read more

The Charles Riverboat Co's Architectural Tour seemed like a great idea for a hot day...and it was...somewhat. The boat never went fast enough to generate many cooling breezes, so it was warmer than expected. While I learned some interesting little tidbits about the city, it didn't seem like the tour guide knew a whole lot more than I did about the buildings and their history. The highlight for me was seeing the underside of some of our region's bridges. (Short of owning or hiring a boat, this may be the only way to do that.) This tour is probably more interesting for tourists who are not familiar with Boston. But, all in all, not a bad way to spend a lazy Saturday or Sunday. read more

I booked a sightseeing tour with my 12 yr old, due to personal issue with Captain not being available, we were offered architectural tour of Boston Harbor and Charles River instead. So glad we did!! We learned so much about Boston. The staff was very knowledgeable and helpful with our questions. This is a must visit for native Bostonians and visitors. We will be going back since we also got coupons for inconvenience. read more

Great family activity! My kids, 2 & 6 loved the tour. We are from the Boston area, and have never gotten the chance to enjoy the Charles and learned some new and interesting facts about Boston. Very friendly tour guide and super easy access, leaving just steps away from the Cambridge Side Galleria. Bought tickets through Groupon at a discounted rate. But even paying full price of 14$ for adults would have been equally worth the money. read more

My son came from Arizona to spend Father's Day with me here in Boston and we planned an evening boat tour to see the Tall Ships in Boston Harbor. I bought tickets a week ahead of time and we were both excited to see the Tall Ships up close. We arrived downtown an hour before the tour, but ran into street closing after street closing all around the Seaport area. We called the Charles Riverboat Company office to ask where to park for our tour and they told us cheerfully, "Just park at the Seaport Place garage." I explained that we couldn't get to it because of police roadblocks and street closings surrounding the area. The woman on the other end of the phone said "Oh, you're right. Well, just find any parking garage and walk here." Yeah, that would've been great if there were any parking ramps within a mile or two that we could get to or weren't full. I fault Charles Riverboat Co. for having no awareness at all of the city's plan for handling traffic on a crowded holiday weekend and not being able to accommodate a paying customer or even suggest a viable solution. I requested a full refund and went home. Evening ruined. Poor planning. Poor customer service. I'll never again use Charles Riverboat Company for any events, tours, or out of town guests and will actively recommend competitors. There are plenty of boat tour companies in town. I chose the wrong one. Don't make the same mistake. Happy Father's Day. read more

Where to even begin with this review! As you can imagine, planning a wedding during Covid was one unpredictable, stressful feat I wouldn't wish upon anybody. Whilst our plan pre-Covid was to always have what's now being called a "micro-wedding," when part of the original plan fell through, it was still devastating. Then entered the Charles Riverboat Company, who ended up saving the day for us not only once, but twice. The first time was when another Boston based boat company we had signed a contract with canceled less than a month before. (Even after they had told me weeks prior they could still host us while following Covid restrictions). In total panic I called my mom and sister's crying saying the whole day was ruined and there was no way we could do the day without the harbor cruise. In hindsight, that cancellation was truly the BEST thing that could have ever happened. Within hours I called the Charles Riverboat Company, having recalled seeing some of their gorgeous boats cruising the harbor before. The only reason we didn't originally consider them was because it was easiest to go with the same company my sister had used four years prior. I was in tears and full of doubt when someone named Cecily answered the phone. I explained my dilemma, just about still half-crying, and she calmed me right down. Our date was available and within minutes I had an email with different chartering options, menu options, pricing, etc. Our original plan was to only take a two hour cocktail cruise and be dropped off at a restaurant on a pier for dinner. Welp, the restaurant portion fell through two weeks before the wedding. Like dejavu, I called Cecily again thinking our whole plan was ruined. Once again she saved the day and took over the planning as if she were a personal wedding planner I had hired to do so! The company was quick to accommodate our change of plans, allowing for a longer cruise and catering on board. They also were extremely helpful by referring us to Johnny Burke's Catering and making the introductions. And oh my gosh, to say we're glad things played out the way they did is an understatement. Our wedding reception on board was not only the highlight of mine and my husband's life, but other family has told us the same. (To the point that we're all talking about having a reunion on board again next summer!) We boarded the Valiant and were greeted with the most kind & friendly staff who were there for our every need. The views were absolutely stunning but honestly, a rainy stormy day would have still been just as gorgeous and memorable with this company. The Captain was so sweet, allowing my five nephews on board to take turns steering the boat. The bartenders were so fast and friendly, and accommodated us by making our "signature cocktail" for the evening. We were able to plug in our I-phones and dance the night away to our customized playlist while taking in views of Boston Harbor lit up at night. They also allowed for us to bring as many personalized decorations on board and set up everything for us in advance. Our wedding of 25 immediate family members was the most magical night all thanks to them. I'll never ever forget looking around at my family, dancing on the most gorgeous luxury yacht (during a PANDEMIC) and feeling such happiness and gratitude for things turning out the way they did. The Charles River Boat Company really gave us the "best day ever" and the other company canceling was the biggest blessing in disguise. I have to give a special thank you to Cecily, who I jokingly referred to as my angel throughout the process. From the second I met her over the phone all my worries dissipated because it was so evident from the get-go that we were in great hands. I truly don't think I've ever met someone as knowledgeable and professional as she is. She had an answer and solution for every random question or concern, Coronavirus related or not. My family found this so admirable especially during a pandemic in which we're all sailing unchartered waters, to put a pun on it. Cecily coordinated all of the planning and everything leading up to the day so I was thrilled to find she would be on board with us. The day after the wedding when our family was recapping, it seemed everyone had a different Cecily encounter or story to share; all were nothing but raving reviews of her. To top it all off--when we left our remaining wedding cake on board at the end of the evening, Cecily personally went out of her way to drive it to us on a holiday weekend the following day. She's a rare gem and I highly recommend trying to work with her!! Micro wedding or not, Coronavirus or not, book your wedding/event with the Charles Riverboat Company and you'll have the greatest, most unique, memorable, talked about experience. Your only regret will be that it flies by too fast! read more

We decided last minute to spend the day as tourists in our hometown. I've seen these boats go up and down the river since I moved here over 15 years ago and have always wanted to climb aboard - today was the day! Parking and getting to the dock was very easy. We were able to walk up and purchase tickets about an hour ahead of the cruise (though it was mid-day on a weekday, so I don't know if that will always be possible for other visitors). We were impressed that parking for the entire day was only $4 with a validation from the ticket stand. The Captain was very nice and came around the boat to chat with everyone while we waited for the boat to load up. The boat was about 3/4 full with a school group, families, and ages ranging from newborns to senior citizens. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and I know we will come back with family members and friends of all ages. Some of the tour included facts I already knew about the city, but I also learned quite a few new things as well. The boat moves at a leisurely pace and the trip was a relaxing way to see the river and enjoy a gorgeous day. It lasts just over an hour, which was perfect. The only "con" is that I wish it went a bit farther upstream, though that would obviously increase the duration of the trip. There is a snack bar (serving non-alcoholic beverages and beer and wine) as well as two restrooms on board. read more

Chartered one of this company's boats for a rehearsal dinner before our son's wedding and it could not have gone better. The crew was professional and friendly. The boat was clean and everything went off without a hitch. The route that the boat took through the Charles and into Boston harbor provided out guests with a truly memorable evening. People were able to mingle and take in all the sights and have plenty of room for dinner and drinks. I highly recommend this company to anyone looking to host a similar event! read more

My company did a team outing for 30 people and it was such a blast! We worked with Amanda Gallagher who did an amazing job helping us coordinate this event. The boat took off right on time & was back right when they promised - the food & drinks were great. I would highly recommend using them for a company outing - it was the most beautiful view of Boston most of us had ever seen! read more

Our 50+ person office at MIT had another spectacular outing with Charles Riverboat Company. This time we were aboard the majestic (so beautiful) Valiant yacht for a three-hour cruise around the harbor islands, and it was perhaps our best outing yet! With Cecily's caring and knowledgeable guidance, we chose a menu that was out-of-this-world! The food was amazing and the servers were friendly, helpful, and hardworking. The vessel itself was clean and perfectly decorated in nautical fashion. Cecily and the Captain were so caring and attentive as we nervously waited for our last-minute guests to arrive at the dock, and they actually calmed me down, assuring me that we would wait and still have our full three hours on the water. Our event was over one week ago, and I am still hearing how amazing it was from our staff. Can't wait to do it again next year! Kudos and many thanks to Cecily, the Captain, and the welcoming crew of Charles Riverboat's amazing boat, The Valiant! read more

Finally did the Sunset Cruise this weekend and it was actually nice. I was happy to see a bar with a decent variety of drinks (although it would have been nice if they had martinis hehehe). The views were so beautiful and watching the sun set was amazing. It was just over an hour so it was nice that this cruise is a little longer than some others. We met some great people and really enjoyed ourselves. I will most likely do this cruise again when I have more visitors. read more

It's easy to forget what a beautiful city Boston is. Our 3 hour chartered cruise on the Henry Longfellow really showed the best of the city. Even though I've lived in the area my whole life, there were a few places that I never knew about and saw for the first time. I had never heard of North Point Park, which is fairly large green space right next to the Zakim Bridge. That's just one example. So many things to see that you can only really appreciate when you look at it from the harbor and from the river. I'd never seen the underside of the Longfellow Bridge either. It's a lot prettier from below! Plus it was nice to see Boston & Cambridge from a chartered boat with free booze and apps. read more

Great experience from beginning to end. Everyone in my team really loved it. Food and drinks were delicious, scene was absolutely beautiful, great music, and super friendly staff (Melissa and Amanda). I will def. book again when visiting Boston area. read more

The tour included a number of interesting nuggets and was a unique way to see the city and the bridge. I would caution prospective guests there are a number of uncertainties they don't share until you are on the boat. These include items such as the locks you need to travel though, which are very busy. Ultimately you end up waiting also there is a bridge the commuter rail uses which can also cause more waiting if in fact you get through. According to the guide not all tours get through thankfully we did. I would encourage the company to explore commuter rail time schedules to minimize impact on paid guests. The tour guide was nice but never gave us the promised silence to just enjoy the sights. Again he was informative and pleasant but it might be nice if he took a break every now and again. read more

This is for the Architectural Cruise, so no reflection on anything else they do. We are architecture buffs and figured it might be interesting to do a tour in our own city, especially having done some with the Architecture Society in Chicago recently. This was nice river tour, but there was almost no actual architecture information. Lots of "this was the widest/biggest/oldest" whatever, and pointing out what buildings we were looking at. But billed as a special-interest tour, we expected some depth. We were really surprised at the interesting things we passed that the guide never mentioned, like the Hatch Shell, I mean really! Contrary to the website description, the guide had no training or involvement in the field of architecture. read more

I've been on two Charles River Boat tours and both of them were quite enjoyable. The first was a sunset cruise that went up the river from the Cambridgeside Galleria to Harvard Square. The second was an Architecture tour that went from the Galleria out to Boston Harbor and swung by South Boston and East Boston. The rides themselves were great. You can sit inside or stand at the front of the boat with the breeze blowing through your hair. The harbor trip goes through the locks between the river and the harbor, which is a fascinating process. You can buy drinks and snacks on board. My beef was with the narration provided on the tours. Someone recently told me that all bus,boat, duckboat etc. tours are fonts of misinformation, and that seemed to be the case here as well. The sunset cruse guide was a cute college co-ed, who provided a great deal of information, while admitting that some of it was unverified or spurious. I appreciated her candor and she had a great sense of humor. The architecture guide was a more mature woman who seemed to have accumulated a great deal of knowledge about Boston architecture but had not reviewed her notes before the trip. For instance, she stated several times that the Harvard Bridge is measured in "Snoots" rather than smoots. Her narration was also strikingly vague, almost devoid of specific dates, and included statements like "that strange looking building to the right..." or "there between the buildings you can see..." which was remarkably unhelpful information when you're looking at literally hundreds of buildings of many architectural styles. Having been on a Chicago architecture boat tour that included names, dates, and histories of close to 100 buildings in 90 minutes, the Charles River architecture tour was a bit of a disappointment. So if you want to learn actual facts about Boston, this is probably not the way to do it, but it's highly recommended for a leisurely and scenic boat ride. read more

Went on the "Sunset" cruise at 8pm. The staff was extremely friendly. They use Pandora and kept turning the music down when commercials came on, which was humorous but no big deal. There was a cash bar, but I had just had drinks and dinner before the cruise so i didn't try it out. There were only about 10 people total on our cruise which was on the Lexington so there was plenty of room to spread out and relax. If you are looking for a really lively dance boat, this is not it. I thought this was a nice relaxing way to unwind at the end of the day and would recommend it. read more

I booked the Charles I for a company outing. Amanda was very helpful when it came to evaluating our options for food and drink on the boat. They made it extremely easy to plan the event and finalize all the details. The day of the cruise was a cold day in November but the heated cabin kept our group comfortable as we cruised along the Charles River with a great view of the Boston skyline. The food was delicious and the staff on the boat was kind and accommodating during our cruise. I would recommend Charles Riverboat Company to anyone interested in a boat cruise in the Boston area! read more

Outstanding Service, outstanding price. As a rower on the Charles, I have long appreciated the neighborly tour boat company that accomondates the complex traffic on the Charles river, from small boats to large regattas and events. So when the Tall Ships came to Boston, I wanted to give my business to them. Not only was their price SIGNIFICANTLY lower than any other cruise being offered, the service was increadible. Lisa took my call and when I told her that I'd be bringing my 88 year old parents, including my dad who should use a cane or walker but won't - she immediately offered several suggestions that made this idea workable. She had suggestions for parking, for air conditioned waiting if we got there too early, and offered to bring my parents down to the dock and on board first. Staff jumped to help them on and off the boat. She was so helpful that I also purchased tickets to take my boyfriend on an earlier cruise. Which brings me to the tour guides: tour guide #1: Jan had served as a Dutch Marine and knew quite a bit about the tall ships and the miltary ships, the history of sailing, Boston Harbor, etc. He was facinating. tour guide #2: didn't catch his name and was a bit concerned because he was bartending, and looked 12 despite the salt and pepper hair. But this kid was clearly a military ship enthusiast. They gave all the official info about each ship provided by the event organizers, then the bar-tended would jump in with color commentary (with a heavy Boston accent much appreciated by the out-of-towners- one of them asking what unit of measure "wicked" represented) . Did you know that the Wasp air craft carrier, if stood up on end would be taller than the Hancock? That is cool. The tour speakers did not talk just to hear themselves - they spoke when they had something interesting to say and answered questions with ease. Bottom line: GREAT experience. Customer service that goes far beyond what you get pretty much anywhere these days. I highly recommend them. read more

We booked the Lexington for my daughter's graduation party, for a group of about 55 family and friends. It was just a terrific experience all around! We really lucked out with the weather, got to see a beautiful sunset and then clear and gorgeous views of evening Boston. Our guests loved the atmosphere of the boat. Eric, Captain Gibson, and the rest of the crew were just tremendous. Extremely helpful, very customer-service oriented, everything flowed perfectly and seamlessly. Also, Melissa in the main office was a pleasure to work with. Greatly appreciate all her help, advice, and hand-holding! From start to finish, she made this an exceptionally easy and enjoyable experience. Thank you for everything! read more

We got married on the Valiant on 6/4/16 & LOVED it. We definitely made the right choice. Brooke, Melissa, and the whole staff were kind, professional, responsive and so helpful in helping us put together an amazing evening, right down to personal touches such as glasses of sparkling wine for guests as they came aboard. We did the entire ceremony and reception on the Valiant, and it provided the elegant but laid-back feeling we were looking for. The amazing weather helped! Brooke did a great job keeping everyone on track for the rehearsal and she and her team made the whole night seamless and responded to a number of our requests on the fly. Highly recommended! read more

Okay, so everything I said about the Boston Harbor Sunset Cruise with Click and Clack the Tappet Brothers giving their Mustang 350 V8 turbocharged narrative, it doesn't apply to the folks at the Charles Riverboat Company by CambridgeSide Galleria, Our Fair City, Cambridge, MA. Now *this* is the chillin' on the water experience I was looking for. Get there earlyish (but not terribly early), get yourself a beer at the bar and a spot at the bow of the covered riverboat. After a brief introduction on what you'll be seeing, as well as how to find those life jackets in the bin that they've never needed, you and your mind will be off and floating down the Charles. The Charles River. Love that dirty water. Down the Lechmere Canal, and under Land Boulevard as you watch the drivers above cussing at why they went this way instead of taking Storrow Drive. Nothing matters anymore - you're in a boat. Right turn by the Museum of Science, you'll take in landmarks like the Prudential, the Hancock, the Esplanade, the Citgo sign, and the whole of the Boston Skyline. Marvel not only at the architectural heritage and grandeur of the Longfellow Bridge, but also at the sheer miracle that under that rust is enough structural integrity to carry a Red Line full of people going on that other cruise. Play guess-what-building-that-is, because the captain's not going to tell you. That's the beauty. It's another quiet world from between the banks of the Charles. The wind in your hair, the ducks, geese, sailboats, speed boats (wheeee...let's try to tip the riverboat over with our wake!), and various floating contraptions and debris...it's enough to make you wonder how you ever missed the beauty and grit of this semi-ancient metropolis. Hey, this could be your magic moment with that special someone, guys. Or not. But what the hey... If you're looking for edutainment, then by all means go on that floating triple decker Big Mac with Ronald McFactoid the announcer. But for a Zen of Motormind Maintenance experience, the weekend calm before the Monday morning storm, this is your cruise. And if that's not enough, a Cheesecake Factory awaits you at journey's end. Life just doesn't get much gooder, does it? (BTW, lest I lead poor unsuspecting tourists from Nebraska astray, our friends Click and Clack weren't actually on that other cruise, it just kinda sounded that way) read more

It was a great time to catch a Boston Harbor Sunset Cruise and the Lexington operated by Charles Riverboat Company was the right way to do it. I took the 8 PM tour because sunset was going to be at 8:12 that night. There were about 15 passengers and the crew on board so it was not crowded. The weather was great with just enough clouds to make the sunset spectacular behind the city skyline and the Bunker Hill Bridge. The crew of the Lexington were friendly, genuinely engaging and helpful. For 1 hour and 15 peaceful minutes we slowly cruised the harbor as the sunset gave way to darkness and the city lights took over your attention. Thanks for the beautiful memories and picture opportunities. read more

What a fabulous cruise? The crew was fantastic- wonderful hosts plus beautiful weather. Saturday night 10/14/17. We cannot wait to take another cruise with the Charles River Boat company! Regina - Madison New Jersey read more

My family and I took a cruise on Sunday. They were well organized, our guide (Johnny) gave lots of great info and interesting tidbits, and we had a wonderful time! I would definitely recommend it for a good overview of Boston sights. It certainly didn't cover all the sights, but it hit a lot of the big ones and gave us information we hadn't heard in other tours. read more

We decided to have our wedding - both ceremony and reception - on the Lexington. We could not have been more pleased. Emily from Charles River Boat Company met us in the freezing cold back in December to show us options for boats on a Saturday no less! She was always available for any question no matter how small and helped us build the whole wedding by hooking us up with great vendors for cake and catering - and even above and beyond by helping us set up room blocks! The rehearsal was able to happen on the boat the night before - good thing since none of us knew what we were doing - but Emily helped us get through the set up and run through everything a few times. The day of was flawless. The entire Charles River Boat staff was professional, helpful and courteous to all of our guests. The cruise we took was 4 hours and I just wish it was longer! I cannot say enough good things about Emily and the Charles River Boat Company. It was the perfect setting for a laid back wedding with beautiful views of Boston. I wouldn't change a thing. Thank you! read more

A very nice and interesting low-key tour! I definitely recommend doing this. You'll get some great photos and have a nice relaxing time.

If you over in Cambridge visiting Harvard or for any other reason, stop by this Riverboat tour. It was about 2 hours long and it's a great way to unwind and see the sites from The Charles. I recommend sitting up front or you will be unable to hear the tour guide speak. There is a bar on board for snacks and drinks. It was nice to see things on the Boston and Cambridge side and learn about both history and local culture. read more

This tour was very informative and enjoyable. We took the Charles River Tour, which was great. We learned the history of not only the Charles river but also of Boston and Cambridge, which it is between. One cool feature of the tour was that the tour guide was also the bartender! read more

We had a company event on the Valiant last night, one of the Charles Riverboat Company's yacht's, and had an excellent time. The boat was beautiful, the food was great and the service was top notch! Captain Tom and his crew were wonderful and very accommodating. We saw beautiful rainbows out in the Boston Harbor, even with less than perfect weather, the event turned out just wonderful! We will definitely consider future employee events with this company! read more

Bought a Groupon last summer for the sunset cruise and ended up having to cancel it because I was not able to do the tour. I used the reschedule confirmation number to book a date this summer and they still honor it. I was overall very impressed with the friendly service. It rained pretty hard during the first half of the tour, so the windows were mostly up and therefore pretty stuffy. But, the second half the rain stopped and I was able to go out to the bow and enjoy the amazing view of the Boston skyline. They also have some basic alcohol selections on board. The music was a little tacky. read more

Smooth ride. Sit up front for the view, the air and your hearing. The tour guide can be muffled in the back. The best spot is definitely up front for you picture entrepreneurs as Boston looks very cool from the Charles River. read more

The Church Ladies band charter on the Lexington June 21, 2019: Filled to capacity. Flawless! Terrific time had by all. Great support by Cecily Cushman, Captain Nate, and the whole staff. www.churchladiesband.com read more

We just had our rehearsal dinner/welcome night event on the Lexington and had an incredible experience! It was so easy to work with the planning team, the crew on the night-of was extremely considerate and accommodating to our guests, they were flexible with our departure time and return path -- and genuinely wanted us to have a great time. I loved that we could use their caterers or our own (galley fee) and how responsive they were to work with. I would absolutely do business with them again and highly recommend CRC for any Boston-based events. As a side note - I've also done a sunset cruise on the Charles AND another private event on the Charles. All were great! 3 for 3! read more

Very good company to work with for a special event. They were more than accommodating to our needs. They had one small problem with with the boat during the event and was more than reasonable compensating us for it. The owner even called us several times after the event to make sure we were happy. I would use them again. read more

We did the sunset cruise and it was lovely. They don't do much narrations so you don't get the full tour experience however the scenery was beautiful, weather was perfect, and there was a bar on board! I had a friend in town and we did the tour as a sightseeing thing which was great. The water was calm and the trip was a great relaxing end to a busy day of walking around the city. I bought a buy with me that made the rides half off which was a great deal! read more