Seating on the top deck is limited, so GET THERE EARLY. You really don't want to be stuck on the lower deck, it kinda kills the point of going to see the bats. Went on their sunset bat watching cruise and had a lovely time! The tour guide was nice and knowledgeable. The whole tour/viewing is about an hour/hour and a half, and has a really convenient location within walking distance to the 1st Street bridge for going out afterwards. BYOB, cans preferred (you aren't supposed to have glass, but some people certainly did bring bottles and no one said anything). read more

I wanted to give a 1 star review but I didn't want to react out of anger and give a fair assessment of the service. I've been on this riverboat twice before. Not because I believed that they were somehow better than other bat tours, but because it was the first one I tried and I had no reason to use another service. That is no longer the case. First of all, reservations mean nothing here. If you're thinking of paying in advance, you're just putting yourself at risk for losing your money. They always let people on the boat and it's basically first come, first serve. It was my dad's last night in town and I really wanted to take him on the bat tour. We showed up at the dock (by the way, you have to pay for parking) and it was 5 minutes prior to the boat taking off. One of them already jumped the gun and was taking off. The other one still had space left, but they already locked the gate and told us that we couldn't board even though we had a reservation. When I asked "what's the point of a reservation??" I was told to contact the office tomorrow and they would give me a refund. NOT THE CASE. I was given a flat "we don't give refunds" and offered to transfer my worthless reservation to another tour. That obviously solved nothing because my dad already left town. So to sum things up, just use another riverboat. It's just a dirty old raft anyway. This one isn't better than any of the other ones and their customer service is terrible. Advice to management: give refunds if a party with a reservation shows up prior to the boat taking off. If we had shown up after 7:30 I wouldn't even have expected a refund. But it's just insulting and poor customer service to not refund someone who purchased tickets and showed up to a boat with adequate space before it took off -- regardless of what fine print you put in the email. read more

This review is for Captain Robert he was great with the kids and very informative for the adults. He also was very funny and kind. The people on the dock were kinda rude and pushy but Captian Robert saved the day. He gave my family a great experience. If you go request him you won't regret it. Thanks Captain Robert. read more

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My friend bought the Living Social deal and I really wasn't very interested in cruising around with a bunch of tourists but the experience was surprisingly entertaining. The tour guides were funny, laid-back, and actually offered up interesting info about the lake, downtown, wildlife, everything! And yes, it will likely be 100 degrees outside but it gets breezy once you start moving, don't forget to BYOB! However, I was pretty annoyed that their "suggested parking" was the hourly lot at the Hyatt when there was a free lot even closer to the dock. Even further annoyed when we had to pay SEVEN DOLLARS just to print the coupon at the Hyatt since they didn't take mobile app, get with the times!! read more

Not for locals. I went on the sunset bat tour. The tour guide doesn't go over much you won't know already, and for ten bucks and no student discount, not really worth it. The only thing I got out of this is to watch the bats from the most southern end of the bridge. I will suggest taking out-of-towners on the tour though. It's a great way to see Town Lake and downtown. read more

Rude Treatment and Verbal Abuse That's what we got when we attempted to sign up for a cruise. My wife purchased a Living Social coupon for a cruise. Not a large discount, but a small one. It also was limited to 3pm on a Saturday or Sunday. Pretty limiting for fitting it into your schedule. When she called to make reservations, she was told no space was available & we had to come down to their site & put our names on a waiting list. We showed up 30 minutes before the time we were told to be there. My wife saw a man who was unloading several things & looked like he might be running the check-in for them. She asked about being put on the waiting list. When she told him we had a Living Social coupon, he launched into a lengthy criticism of her for waiting so long to use our Living Social coupon. Then, he told her there was no way he was putting us on any waiting list & we needed to get out of their parking lot which was only for employees. The sign in the parking lot clearly stated it was for customers & we were doing our best to be customers. We left & won't be back. I recommend that no one try this business. Who needs to try so hard to get abuse and rude treatment. And we paid good money for it without receiving anything but that. I love Texas & Austin, but there is no love for the Lone Star Riverboat Cruises & evidently they have no love for potential customers, only scorn and rude treatment. read more

Huh, I swear I just felt a raindrop. But there isn't a cloud in the sky... While I'm not thrilled about the inevitable online Big Brother apocalypse, wherein massive internet search engine and social media monstrosities and their evil minions, like review sites, gleam metadata about our spending habits, sexual preferences and foodie interests and turn us into a collective zombie consumer army, there can be some upsides while we march. I was in Austin, and I figured I should see the bats in San Antonio. So I started to Google "bats in" and before I could begin my Spanish foray, Google suggested Austin. Because Google knew where I was. Because I had the location feature turned on, to allow Google to know. And Google is absolutely, positively evil. "Bats in Austin?" I wondered aloud, and then searched. Sure enough, the largest urban colony of Mexican Free-tailed bats in North America resides in Austin, under one bridge, hundreds of thousands of them. Who knew? In the article, Lone Star Riverboat was referenced. Being a good automaton, I then searched for Lone Star on Yelp, and the reviews were strong. I called, leaving a message, I wanted four seats on the boat that evening. Five minutes later I received a call from the owner: we were in. Cash only. Arrive early. BYOB. The tour was informal and enjoyable. We rode the water for 50 minutes before the bats emerged; in the meantime we enjoyed a local's take on the history of this burgeoning city. Informative and opinionated, flavorful. And speaking of flavor: they say the bat guano, or poo, smells like warm tortillas. AND IT'S SO TRUE! Whoever made that sensory connection, however, should seek help immediately. And they also say that when you're watching the bats fly overhead and you feel a raindrop and there isn't a cloud in the sky... read more

A great way to experience a different aspect of down town Austin. I can't wait to take my out of towners on this. You can also bring a picnic. Enjoy the sights and have a snack. We got some great photos from the excellent views at the top of the boat. My husband and I really enjoyed the experience. The tour is just long enough to relax you...perfect way to spend the afternoon! read more

Impressive! I cannot say enough about the level of service that Lone Star Riverboat Cruises provided to our event last night. They were very accommodating to our needs as a non-profit organization event and really went above and beyond to make sure that every second of our trip was enjoyable! The A/C on the bottom of the boat was a nice refresher- but once the boat got moving- the breeze was all we needed! I would definitely recommend this company based on aesthetics and 5-star service! read more

I was initially confused when we got to the dock and there was a large boat and then a dinky pontoon. When I called to inquire about the tours, there wasn't any mention of options. But apparently, our reservations were for the pontoon. We left the dock as scheduled and the host/driver/tour guide was pretty good. He made a few jokes and was generally knowledgeable, so we were fairly happy. We got annoyed when we only stuck around to watch the bats for 10 minutes. Of all the cruise boats on the lake, we were the last to get there and the first to leave. What gives? It was only $10/person and I think the other boats cost more, so I guess you get what you pay for? If ever taking guests, I will be sure to investigate more before reserving. read more

We had a fantastic time on our bat cruise. Terrific captain that was funny and knowledgeable. Had perfect weather to see the bats. We had ages 7- 79 and everyone enjoyed it. read more

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This review is for the 10:30 Moonlight cruise. Tip: Park at auditorium shores -- it is a little tricky to know exactly where to go and the website isn't necessarily helpful. Tip: Get there plenty early, because you might get stuck indoors at one of the only tables left. Found this place through groupon and had a nice time. We boarded at 10:10 and the boat was basically full. I wish they would sell less seats....they really cram people on here and it really takes away from the aura. The boats were full of couples doing the same exact thing, drinking wine and looking into each others eyes etc etc. However, there was also a birthday party which comprised of hard liquor and lots of shouting..didn't bother me, but just know that you are not guaranteed an intimate quiet evening. My main complaint with this is that they really do pack a bunch of people on the boat. I felt like we were SO CLOSE together and it really took away from the experience. Yea, BYOB is nice, but you can hear every conversation around you. Also, if you want to sit out on the deck, get there plenty early. I will be back when visitors are in town to take them on a daytime or sunset trip, but essentially, the moonlight trip really doesn't do it for me. read more

We took the double decker 3pm cruise last Saturday. A beautiful day and great cruise. This was super reasonably priced for experiencing the great downtown city views of Austin. Because it is an electric boat there was no major noise to spoil your mood. The Reggae Festival was at Auditorium Shores so we got to hear a little free music too :) Our to guide did a nice job narrating the cruise giving us a little history and trivia. We read the Yelp reviews and took a cooler with a big tall can of Heineken beer, cheese, crackers, apples and chocolate, it was a perfect little nosh. The website had stated no glass, so I stopped and found some good canned beer. They do have a limited concession downstairs, but we stayed upstairs and thoughly enjoy ourselves. Make sure you bring sunscreen, this is Texas! read more

All I can say is what an experience! When I heard that my job was taking us on a river boat cruise under the famous "bat bridge" I was obviously excited. Little did I know just how incredible this would be. It just so happened to be a perfect night in lovely Austin and the weather really cooperated. We brought in a fajita bar and a ton of beers and just had an all around fun night. It was gorgeous watching the sun set and checking out the beautiful scenery that Austin has to offer. The boat captains were very nice and were totally accommodating to our group. They made it a point to get the boat under the bridge right as the bats were flying out. This was a great way to experience Austin's beautiful down town! read more

Captain Chris was very entertains & informative tonight! It was a beautiful early fall evening that couldn't have been more perfect. The bats were spectacular! Very nice staff!!! REAL Austin fun! read more

Lone Star Riverboat - Boat Charters Near Me - Austin, Texas

DON'T MISS the BAT TOUR. It was absolutely worth the $10 charge per person and you get a much better view and education then sitting on the riverbank! The man who answered the phone was sooo helpful. I highly recommend you make reservations so you don't have to be put on a "wait and see" list. We made our reservations 2 hours before the tour started. As directed we parked in the city hall lot for $5 and walked across the bridge to get to the dock area. GET THERE EARLY. People were already lined up at 6:45p when we arrived, but we still had a good seating selection. Again, make sure you have reservations. We sat on the top deck of the two deck boat. Obviously the best view. Plus they had tables where you could place your things on, including the food and drinks (alcoholic too) you are allowed to bring on board. We were there when the weather was @90 degrees but we much preferred our area than the one on the bottom where they had A/C. Finally, don't forget to tip the tour guide and captain. They deserve it!! read more

Lone Star Riverboat - View of bridge on Lake Lady Bird during the Bat Tour - Boat Charters Near Me - Austin, Texas

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My friend And I went on an awesome that tour! Captain Chris was very knowledgeable and pointed out a lot of interesting things on the Austin skyline while we were waiting for the bats. They were shy at first, but our captain knew just where to look and they came out in the thousands! I highly recommend this tour. read more

Great time! I booked for my husband's birthday. We we're on the "Little Boat" with Captain Shelby. She was super entertaining!! The bats came out around 7:35, and she put us in the best position to see them come out. Great outing, totally recommend!! read more

We had given this another try and most certainly will not ever waste our time with it again. Hopefully you will get better. Do not expect us to be customers read more

I am updating my review. We initially had a bad experience as we showed up twice on time but the boat had left. This was confusion generated by groupon and Mike emailed to let me know that would be resolved. So on our third attempt we were able to board and leave on time. Our captain was friendly and funny. I think the cruise was about 30 mins too long as you're really not seeing much before the bats come out which was at 8:12pm last night. Overall good value for the price. Chairs could be spread out more instead of being so cramped. Bring a seat cushion because they are just plastic chairs which are uncomfortable. read more

This was an excellent experience! We got a guided tour of the lake with amusing stories along the way. They know where to go for the optimal view. Most impressive, when the bats were more than 30 minutes late coming out, they went back to allow the people who wanted to leave to get off the boat. Then they took the rest of us back out. My only warning is to make a reservation. We didn't and got very lucky as there were exactly two seats left when we arrived. read more

I don't believe in giving less than a three star rating or I would have given less. We rented out the entire boat for a professional at the inside of it smelled really old, food was sub par and on top of that captain DJ came down and raised his voice at us (a group of grown adults) chewing us out for opening the windows that let in a nice breeze. He said it let out the AC that we couldn't feel. The way he addressed us was so ugly. He was snapping at us like children. Then he walked away with a disgusted sigh. So shocked at his behavior. He was very proud he was the captain. I felt bad for the company that one employee could leave such a bad taste in our mouth about this tour. read more

We booked this tour kind of last minute and was happy to see there were open tickets. Parking is not the easiest, but that is everywhere in Austin. We were in the boat with inside seating and were able to see the bats just fine. We moved to the bow of the boat while underway. It was nice to go back inside when the bats were overhead. Tour guide was very knowledgeable and funny. read more

Shelby was a fantastic captain! She was lots of fun and was very knowledgeable! Fun facts about Austin, patient with the kiddie questions, and a great navigator! Would definite recommend! read more

I went lastnight for the bat tour (first timer) and was pleasantly surprised to pay less (as a walk-up) versus having booked online. Parking at the Hyatt Regency for $5 was super simple. I grabbed myself a sandwich from the Hyatt Starbucks and brought a couple of beers from home. The captain/tour guide was knowledgeable and funny. It would have been much better if the captain stopped talking while we watched the bats emerge from the bridge. I really wanted to enjoy this natural phenomenon but struggled to do so because the sounds of the bats were competing with the voice of our tour guide. read more

Very cute boat ride!! Enjoyed it very much!! The "tour guide" was very informative and funny! We brought some champagne to enjoy on the ride and I was thankful for the nice cold a/c they had downstairs!! It was getting pretty hot up on the top in the sun! We were able to get some beautiful pictures of the city while up there, though!! Great ride!! Will definitely do this again with other people! I want everyone to see how cool this was!! :-) read more

Would definitely recommend, the sites are beautiful and usually you are Captain is very funny

We loved Captain Shelby! This was the best way to see the bats and learn about Austin at the same time. We'll be back!

Lovely cruise. Staff provided a lot of information, good humor, open to questions. We had a great time.

Get Capt. Shelby! We had a great time. Capt Shelby gave a wonderful tour. Great value. I would have given them 5 stars but the time spent just sitting on the boat was way too long. Other than that it was all perfect! Highly recommend. read more

We had a great time on the pontoon boat cruise! DJ and Melissa were wonderful hosts. We've already recommended it to other people we bumped into. read more

My wife and I took our boys on the tour because we thought our toddler would love it and we all ended up enjoying it. We went during the bat season so about 20 minutes into the tour we were able to watch 750,000 bats fly overhead. Though that might sound gross, it was actually pretty amazing. I would suggest to do the tour at night during sunset and during bat season, it is well worth the $10. read more

Absolutely amazing! My bf and I have never seen the bats in Austin before and so we booked a cruise with Lonestar expecting it to be a bit of a tourist trap but we were wonderfully proven wrong! This is the only way to do it. The boat captain was insightful and humorous, the sunset was gorgeous, and there were a TON of bats. It's amazing price so such an incredible experience! read more

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Took a ride on the river in conjunction with BAMM at SXSW. We got there early and all staff was very congenial. They offered us cold drinks (non-alcoholic). We began boarding per schedule and check-in and were all aboard. Left the dock and were entertained by a group and a solo. Fun ride and good reverb when we passed under the bridges. Will return for the Bat Sightings. It doesn't cut it trying to see these creatures under the Congress St. bridge. Take a ride! Johnny Chitown read more

Our guide was funny, informative, and overall great. We learned so much about Austin history and architecture on the sunset/bat tour. The bats were very cool to see! Even though they came out from under the bridge a bit late, our guide stayed a bit past our tour time to make sure we got to experience this. Would recommend to anyone new or visiting Austin! read more

Great tour. Tour guide was very entertaining and knowledgeable about the bats and city of Austin. Would definitely recommend choosing the smaller boat over the larger. Would definitely go again. read more

Booked the Sunset Bat Cruise. My flight into Austin was delayed just enough to miss the loading time, so I contacted Lone Star Riverboat. They were able to reschedule my reservation for another night and really made my weekend! The top deck was warm waiting to take off, a lot of people with kids moved to the lower boat in the shade. It was very pleasant once we started moving. The Captain had a great sense of humor and did a wonderful job educating the guests about the bats and the history of the city's skyline. We had a fantastic view of the bats and I would book this tour again in a heartbeat! read more

So amazing to see the bats, laughed a lot at our tour guides jokes and learned some of the history too! Definitely worth the cost!!

This was such a great tour! We were looking for something family friendly to do in Austin since we could not go to local parks due to the amount of rainfall that had came down that week. The tour guides were so funny and kept us rolling the whole time! I would recommend this tour to anyone. It not only gave you great facts about the bats but the tour also gave us some insight on the buildings that are in downtown Austin. Make sure to carry cash to tip the tour guides as I am sure that you will want to tip them. read more

Highly recommend. Captain was very entertaining and informative. The ride was slow and enjoyable. Great for the family or date night.