Great way to enjoy a nice evening in Edmonton! Be warned the sailing distance is subject to water levels - which were too low during our sailing so we moved a fairly short distance. They issued cruise vouchers to use for future sailing due to the situation, which I thought was fair. The dinner is buffet style - plenty of food and decently good - drinks are not included (other than water, coffee, tea). Dinner and cruise is $75; there is a cheaper cruise only option where you can buy food (hot dogs, burgers) onboard for about $15. Overall we enjoyed it and had a good time. The boarding process was annoyingly inefficient and took nearly an hour! They should streamline this - for example they can process dinner people while in line m. Once on board, it was pretty smooth and service was very friendly. Parking is pretty close to the dock and is free. read more

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There is a lot to not like about the riverboat. It is really expensive for what you get, and really there is no staff to be seen. We happened to stumble onto a deal. That being said, the views are great and it is a nice family activity. Both older and younger people can enjoy this. We did not do the buffet, just the cruise. Our daughter loved it so much, that probably we will do this again and look for a deal for next year. read more

3.5 stars? Its not amazing but it is pretty neat view of the city. The river is a different way to see the city and it can be beautiful if you ignore how dirty the water is. On a nice day rolling down the river is fun. I guess Saturday AM never fills up so go then! The prices for drinks and food are good. The boat is actually very nice inside, would love to try the dinner cruise OR the late night shows like the burlesque read more

Edmonton Riverboat - View of the Mac - Boating Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

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Lining up to board was a slow process. Got a couple of chairs once on board. No 7:00pm departure. At 7:30pm I asked and a crew member said the boat was not going to move. Got off, got a voucher, and went home. Not sure we'll return. Not told before no cruise. Overall 2 hours spent for nothing. read more

I took my Mom on a Mother's Day cruise this year. It was my first time on the Edmonton Riverboat and it won't be the last. It was a lot of fun and I hope that they do really well with this adventure. My Mom didn't know for sure if she could make it into Edmonton for Mother's Day so I held off buying tickets until the morning of Mother's Day when she committed to coming to the City. Unfortunately the Mother's Day brunch buffet was sold out so I was only able to buy tickets for the upper deck cruise only. In hindsight I am glad it worked out that way. I think we had a great view and it was nice and sunny out. If it had been rainy though I am sure my attitude would be different on my choice. I was pleasantly surprised to find out there was a bbq on the upper deck and for a few dollars we could buy some hotdogs. There was also a cash bar on the upper deck and I could get my Mom free coffee from the lower deck. Sailing on the river was a ton of fun. Our City has changed so much since I have moved here and I am glad that we have an operational Riverboat for visitors to experience. I highly recommend taking a cruise on the Riverboat. I look forward to attending some more special events or just going for a cruise! read more

Edmonton Riverboat - Boating Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

My friend and I showed up here after they had advertised a special $5 sailing. We had a great time drinking wine and noshing on a lovely meat and cheese plate. The only negative was that since the water was too low, we couldn't really go far. We really only moved a few hundred feet before we had to turn around. So that part was anti-climatic. Obviously it wasn't their fault but if I had have paid more than $5 I may have been a little annoyed. I think the staff are lovely and I would recommend this as one of Edmontons fun date nights! read more

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We went here on a whim as we've been wanting to take a ride for the past 5-6 years. We were surprised to see how popular the attraction was so were happy that we decided to check it out 45 mins pre boarding. We ended up getting in line at that point to ensure we could pick an optimal seat. I would estimate 100 people rode. Tickets were $20 each which is a fair price given the fact that this is the best way to enjoy the Edmonton water without having to risk it touching you and ending up with E.Coli. There is a 1 hour wait if you board right on time until the boat leaves. This allowed us time to get our food and drinks. The meals are $8 each regardless of what you get, to my understanding. Today they offered smokies, pulled pork sandwiches, and vegan chilli. The smokies we had were delicious but no where near worth $8. The pulled pork sandwiches exceeded our expectations in appearance, leaving us wishing we had ordered them instead. The vegan chilli looked like slop, but could have been good for all I know. The river was low when we took the 3pm ride so we couldn't go all the way up to the walterdale bridge. I feel like if we had gone this far west and been able to see more of the city, my rating may have been higher. Due to the water being so low, we hit a few sand bars which I found annoying because we spent a lot of time trying to get out of them. Overall, I love would like to try the ride once more to see what the west side of the river has to offer, and a second time during one of their date night events. There is a 50/50 chance I will be back. read more

The Edmonton Riverboat is back after a few summers off. My wife and I had never done it before, so it was new to us when we recently did their Sunday morning brunch cruise. We boarded the ship at 11am. The brunch itself is on the lower level. It's nicely renovated with lots of tables spread around to sit. They served the brunch fairly quickly after boarding - it was standard breakfast food of eggs Benedict, sausages, bacon, pastries and fruit. The food itself was okay. For a breakfast buffet however it was a bit disappointing that the food was fairly limited (only one egg?). The highlight however was the boat cruise itself! Thankfully they didn't start the cruise until breakfast was over so you got to enjoy the views from the upper deck of the ship. The views were fantastic and well worth it! I think doing a trip on the riverboat is a must do for anyone who lives or is visiting the city. The food? I could take it or leave it however. read more

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If you're thinking of doing this event. Save your money. We did it tonight and the cruise consisted of going up to the first bridge then drifting down to the next bridge, which can easily be seen from the first and then docked. It lasted pretty much only 1 hr. NO managers could be found as every that was asked about a manger said they were busy else were. This is a far cry from what previous years offered and I can see this going bankrupt again, unfortunately read more

This is a unique experience in Edmonton, it's a ride down the river on a river boat. An experience that you can't get anywhere else in the city. Now is it worth it? Here's my review. We went here for a friend's birthday , and it was roughly $55 each for the cruise and dinner. The plan was boarding at 530 pm and then dinner , then a cruise down the river. Now gentle readers, if you've been reading my reviews you know the first thing I thought when I heard " river cruise " is "What should I wear?" Ideally I'd love to throw on a linen suit in summer colors, but knowing that I'm in Edmonton, not quite fashion capital of the world , I went to their website looking for advice. According to their website "Most people dress casually for all cruises, however we do not allow torn or imprudent clothing onboard the riverboat and shirts and shoes are also required." Ahhh, got it the dress code is wear shoes. Have a shirt. That really sets my bar. I went with my regular going outside summer outfit and saw what I expected on the boat. A mix of young and old people from newborns to people waiting in God's waiting room. They wore everything from boatwear, to regular clothes, to formalish. Here's a hint gentlemen. If you hate wearing formal clothes, you don't have to do it. One young man was wearing an undone tie, dress clothes and then black ankle sport socks. Ugg. Atmosphere on the cruise was much like having aliens abduct 120 people from Walmarts around Edmonton and drop them on a boat. When we got onto the Edmonton Queen Riverboat (I got there late because there address on the website takes you to donair shop in ottwell) we had a pleasant hour on the top deck. That was worth it, they had a fun vocal group on the boat called The Rhythm Group. I grabbed a beer , $5 for a pint of Big Rock! Fantastic price. I would expect something more for a destination location like the $99 that they charge for a beer at Rexall. My friends had slushie drinks and rye and cokes. All a very reasonable price, and they even take credit cards. Nice. After a while top side you make your way down into the bowels of the ship downstairs. Air conditioned it's pleasant, but not really anything special. It's a big long room. They had another performance by the Rhythm Group downstairs. Let me segue here and say, that one of the most enjoyable parts of the night was listening to The Rhythm Group. It's a mixed group of males and females all performing in a Rhythm/Blues/Jazz style. Perfect for a river cruise. My personal favorite was Ella Coyes, who reminded me much of young Joni Mitchell. Normally when you go to these events you get tepid, boring and unoriginal music. This group was the only thing I would call atmosphere on the Edmonton Queen. I've given the Edmonton Queen 3 stars, but if I could review the Rhythm Group I'd give them 5 stars. After getting the 120 people seated they had a buffet open. They had prime rib, chicken, fish, salad etc. One of the nice things was they had 2 prime ribs out at the same time, Medium rare and Well done. The potatoes seemed home made and the salads (I hear) were good. After dinner people went back up top and we took a pleasant cruise up and down the river for a bit. It's a nice cruise and you do get to see Edmonton from a different point of view. They also have drink service upstairs during the cruise party. Now why did the Edmonton Queen only get 3 stars if they have a decent buffet, and fun band playing? 1. The boat doesn't move during dinner, so that's kind of goofy. If I wanted to sit inside and eat a buffet, there are much better choices. I'd recommend not eating here and eating somewhere downtown and then coming for the cruise. 2. They will not give you a water downstairs without paying for it. That's a dealbreaker for me. Tap Water is all I need , and no I don't want a bottle of water. 3. Drink service. They don't serve drinks when they are seating the 120 people for dinner, they don't serve drinks when they have people coming up, and they don't serve drinks when they are docking. So, basically for half the cruise it's drink free. That's not a big deal for some people but, it does make it duller for us over 18 and alcoholics. Believe I'm much more boring sober. 4.Smoking section: There isn't one once the cruise starts. I had a double corona cigar I had to keep putting out and then relighting making me look like some sort of crazy hobo. 5.Atmosphere, again as mentioned before the River Queen has the chance of being a classy space, it's not. 6.Booking policy. They sail Rain or Shine. No refunds. Really? That makes no sense for the customer. For the business owner it makes sense. My final thoughts are . Book a trip on the Edmonton Queen if you want a somewhat different experience in Edmonton with the family. Don't come for dates, or for drinking with buddies. Family friendly and somewhat tame, the Edmonton Queen Riverboat experience gets a solid A-OK 3 Stars read more

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This was our fourth sailing on the Edmonton Queen. We try to go once a year. It is a beautiful trip down the North Saskatchewan river. You get to see Edmonton from a different angle. At some points you can even imagine how it must have looked to the explorers and voyageurs as there are no visible buildings! Each time we have been on the Queen before, the water levels were too low to go down towards the west. In this situation it sails east. This time we were in luck! We sailed West! What a nice treat to see that side of Edmonton! Because of the water level, she sailed in both directions! This made our sail a bit longer which was wonderful! There is a bar and kitchen service. This time we ordered the Nachos platter. It is a very big platter generously filled and LOADED with cheese! Great for sharing. Being 8 people, several of us ordered a platter per two people. That was too much. Unfortunately, when we asked for a "to go" box, we were told that no food or drink are allowed off the boat! We had half a platter left each!! What a waste. When we asked why, the server said she didn't know. Just that you can't take it off. I understand no alcohol but food in a box? That is ridiculous! Be aware that boarding time is half an hour before sailing time. There is also a golf cart service available to take down to the boat and bring back up anyone with mobility issues and seniors. There are bathrooms on the boat. They are kept quite clean. Once we were walking along the trails we also saw a wedding taking place on it. There is an indoor dining lounge that can hold 120+- people. I recommend taking a "ride" on the Edmonton Queen at least once a year. It is definitely worth it! read more

Had a great time on the riverboat last night for their dueling pianos! Couldn't have asked for better weather. You're able to see amazing views of downtown Edmonton (see photos). You're able to sit outside or inside. The renovations look fantastic. We didn't eat anything so I can't comment on the food. I did have a wine which cost $8/glass. It was good wine but that does seem a tad pricey. If you go, get a bottle as it's way cheaper! Sadly I was driving or I would have totally had a bottle! Parking is tight so we parked on whyte and used an Uber to get there. I wouldn't recommend driving! In all, it was a fabulous evening and I would recommend it. read more

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We attended the Date Night Cruise on August 2nd. It was well done and a wonderful evening. Staff were amazing, pleasant and helpful. The Date Night event offered the inclusion of a bottle of wine and a deli plate of meats, cheeses etc. for an additional charge at time of ticket order. We found there was at least 3 different reds and whites to choose from and found one that we enjoyed. Our complete package was $95 for the two of us and found that to be reasonable for the evening event. DJ was on board playing music as we sailed. The scenes of the city from the riverboat are amazing! This boat cruise should be on everyone's to do list! read more

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The boat is in great shape food trip and staff great Even a fight between two women at the start of the cruise They were quickly taken to the brig and the blood cleaned up would do again read more

I recently noticed a groupon deal to go on the Edmonton Queen river boat, and I had never been before so I thought it would be a fun activity. I believe I paid $25 for 2 people (regular $40) The River boat does sials on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays at 3pm. Among boarding the river boat they were offering a full menu and bar which was nice. Drink prices were pretty high (average $8 for a cocktail or beer) We ordered a pitcher of sangria which was $20 so a pretty decent price. The boat ride is fun but actually quite short. We basically rode from the river boat station to the capilano bridge and back. It took about an hour total. Overall I am glad I bought the groupon but paying the full price at $20 a person, an hour doesn't seem like a long enough time. They also offer dinner cruises which I assume would be longer read more

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I wish that the line would have boarded earlier because the sign said 8:00 and we didn't board until 8:15. Normally this doesn't bother me but the line went pretty far and crazy deep so lots of anxious people in the hot, hot weather. The dueling pianos though, 1000000% and highly recommend. The performers were OUT OF THIS WORLD. read more

There's a first and a last time for everything. Not something I think I'd do again, but glad I did do it, and I think everyone should. It is a novel way to view our river valley from a very different perspective. Personally, I think it inspired me to find another watercraft to explore the river with, but I feel that this service does make the water-way more accessible to those who might find it very challenging to get out there, perhaps because they are not so able bodied to do so otherwise. There are ramps and a golf cart to ensure that everyone can get onto the boat Speaking of the leisure cruise specifically, it would hold much more value for me if it was a tour. It could be a tour if it went a little further up and down the river (though I understand so that is dependent on the river level) and if there was some sort of guide to point out the sights and perhaps offer light entertainment with a few witty jokes and trivia about the sights and the boat itself. It could also use some kind of binocular service, either built in apparatus or rental/sale (for all I know, they might offer this in the office - it was not made apparent if they do). So, as a FYI, BYOB(inoculars). I have some issues with the logistics of the design of the facilities. The second half of the load of passengers who boarded seemed to struggle to find shelter from the sun, and move around seats. Not just the last few stragglers, but about half. I think that's a lot of awkward discomfort that shows a bit of bad planning on the cruise company's behalf. Some of the chairs and tables could have been cleaner. I'm quite confident that the vast majority or passengers would agree that there are not nearly enough tables on board (perhaps those could be pre-booked, perhaps even at a cost). They'd likely sell more in the way of food if it was ensured that those who wished to eat had someplace to eat. I tried the nachos and the sangria. I feel the nachos were over priced for what they are, very meh, large, but nothing special, and on par with nacho platters that are $5-8 cheaper elsewhere (If I'm paying for the cruise, don't gouge me on food prices). The sangria was alright and on-point for $20 for the pitcher, I have no idea why it's not printed in their menu though, they said it was a 'drink special', though seems to be an ongoing one and should be a staple. The staff was all quite professional, helpful and friendly. read more

This was a great experience. I no expectations going in, but the boat was fun to see, it was a great viewpoint of the park and city. Our family loved it and we will go again. My only comment is with the city and their poor maintenance of the river, but that has nothing to do with the boat. Go, it's a great experience! read more

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We went on a Friday in July. It was pouring rain. Food was o.k, But we were not there for the food. The river valley was AWSOME!!! rain or shine this is a must do for a staycation. Pick your price.We are Edmonton weather does not define us!!! will do it again, read more

We did an afternoon cruise on a sunny, hot day. It's a lovely afternoon outing whether you're from here or far away, a nice way to see Edmonton from the vantage point of the river. There's a menu and bar. We shared the prime rib pin wheels which were delicious and abundant. The beverages were very cold and the service was warm and friendly. Highly recommend it! read more

At first we were a bit apprehensive about this tour as we seem to be the youngest there. We were on the 9pm dual piano sailing. It was actually pretty fricken fantastic! The music choices were typical - 80s music mostly but there were some surprises with some kanye and spice girls. If you want to hear your song played, you gotta pay up! I guess I didn't pay enough to hear Party Up by DMX. read more

Excellent service, very friendly staff. Had the dinner buffet and the food was decent. The experience is more what you go for. The river cruise is a beautiful way to enjoy your evening. Great for everybody. read more

Spectacular Evening! The views of the River Valley were gorgeous, the Boat itself was beautiful, and the experience was perfect - with great food, service.. and phenomenal music!!! The price for the cruise was extremely reasonable - well worth it! My husband and I decided on this outing for our anniversary - and it was the best choice ever. The live band was incredible - Paul Woida and the Campfire boys - we are now seeking to get tickets at a future event of theirs. The staff on the boat was so professional - they ensured that everything was perfect. We really enjoyed the charcuterie plate, there was a full buffet option, and the BBQ grill on-top had options that looked great too. Thanks River Queen - we will be back, bringing along more friends and family!! read more

We went for Mothers Day Brunch... Very disappointed with the food . We went several times last year and the food was OUTSTANDING!!! Often going on Thursday nights for wine and a lovely charcuterie platter (Even took the platter home) . It was horrible with a capital H. Seemed to me that the food was not cooked on board but catered. WHY ??? read more

We had such an enjoyable trip today with the whole family! Kids loved it, grandma thought it was beautiful and the wife and I couldn't stop gazing at how beautiful the view was! We had the Sunday brunch and the food was excellent. We ate so well!! The staff is very courteous and hospitable. We got stuck because of the current. Yes this is the second time in about two weeks for the ship, but the music was great, the view was wonderful and non-alcoholic beverages were free. So our trip was about an extra 90 minutes, but who cares!!! The view was absolutely wonderful and the staff just made everyone so relaxed. Really didn't want to leave! We will be back!!! Hope to get "stuck" again!! read more

Good experience, but after seeing an event on Facebook about the riverboat I booked my tickets for the "date night" and with option to purchase a $25-30 cheese platter. When we first got on the ship, they didn't have us on file and our barcode wasn't accurate. We didn't let that stop us, we showed receipt and was accepted on. When we sit down we ordered a cheese platter and were informed that they were not available on the 5:00 cruise only the 8:00. Which was stated no where. We were hungry, we asked the manager if we could pay to eat at the buffet he then explained he did not have room for us to eat there but there were peanuts. He got us peanuts; then him and his staff ate the leftover. End of story eat before you go on the cruise because you will not have any food unless you pre pay for the buffet. read more