I'm shocked to see that I haven't written a review for Milwaukee Boat Line. I took my first cruise, a private event, shortly after Covid started lifting. It was an evening cruise and the event was lovely. The boats are older, but they have more outdoor capacity than the other cruise line. Why go on a boat on the river and lake shut in by glass? The sights are lovely and it feels great to get onto the lake and feel the breeze on the water. I have since done several happy hour cruises. They are affordable and the DJ, DJ Paul, is awesome. He caters really well to a mixed crowd, playing music everyone can get on board with. Beware the roving bridal showers, who are usually loud and boisterous. I've also done the later cruise, after the happy hour, which really highlights the city at night, the lights of the Hoan and the city's energy. I just tried the architecture and history cruise with a pair of friends. We learned a lot and had fun, but don't forget the sunscreen. I got a wicked burn. The bar staff are very friendly and as fast as they can be in a limited space. They also sell snacks. The boat line parking can be tricky and expensive, which can add some stress to the experience. With pre-paid packages that included parking, MKE Boat Line could be even better. Bonus - special event cruises are varied and intriguing. read more

This was our favorite thing we did the weekend we visited Milwaukee. It was super easy to book two tickets online which cost about $64 including fees and taxes. We booked a Saturday at 12pm 90 minute tour and were told to arrive at about 11:30am. They let us board at that time - you need to present your online ticket / print out at the ticket booth and then they give you tickets to the boat. The boat itself has a downstairs area with port side with one women's bathroom and starboard side with one women's and one men's bathroom. You'll learn what port/starboard means during the tour. The bar with alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks and snacks is on the first level. The second level has an area with a covered space in the back and seats open to the air on the front. Since it was a hotter day, my husband and I chose to sit on the bottom of the boat. We thought the best view there was at the front where you get a nice 180 degree view through the windows. We enjoyed the information on the tour and all the great views! read more

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It was an amazing tour and we had very nice weather. Milwaukee is a very beautiful city. We learnt a lot about its history and important spaces. We also could appreciate the beauty of the lake as we spend some time there just enjoying the small movement of the waves. If you are visiting to go to a Mets game as us, don't miss the opportunity to jump in the boat for a very great one hour and a half trip. read more

We've been on two cruises with Milwaukee boat Line and thoroughly enjoyed both!! We sailed up the river to get to Lake Michigan and learned how to correctly use the phrases 'port' and 'starboard'. We learned about the different types of bridges used, and what Native American tribes lived in the area. Both tours were very relaxing and we even had a Lake Front beer and a seltzer! You can't go wrong there! read more

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Great river tour our go to for Guests who are from out of town or new to the area great tour for the money! Keep up the great work read more

I've been to Milwaukee many times and I haven't been able to enjoy a river cruise. This past time, was finally able to enjoy a cruise with family members. The Milwaukee Boat Line offers great cruising options for visitors. We had originally reserved for the 4pm cruise, however, the system had moved it to the next day... maybe I had selected the wrong date. I had called the company right away. The representative stated since the cruise was cancelled due to the weather, the system had moved it to the next day for the same time. Since we weren't able to make that one, the company refunded me without any problems. The next morning, we realized there was a 10am cruise, so we booked it. We had arrived about 30 minutes before hand as they suggest. We checked in, and shown to the boat. The staff was very friendly. The boat has two levels, the 1st level is enclosed while the 2nd level is more exposed to the outdoors, but still has some covering. Before we went to the 2nd level, we had stopped to the refreshment counter for a beverage. When we arrived, only two other passengers, so needless to say, there were plenty of seating available. By the time, we were set to sail, there were only eight of us on the 10am sailing.... SWEET! Of course, before we left the dock, the crew went over the emergency drills then three loud horn blasts. The guide, was very knowledgeable about the history and the current state of the city. Of course, the guide would point out significate buildings, like any other tours.. About 90 minutes, later, we were docking. Overall, an incredible tour and I would highly recommend this tour. I'll probably back with other friends read more

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Best boat on the water for sight seeing milwaukee skylines and just getting off the concrete! Yacht rock a personal favorite all aboard! Ready for fun! read more

The Milwaukee Boat Line is the way to go if you want to see the city from another point of view. We took the Happy Hour Tour and had a stellar time. We lucked out with the best seats in the house, the very front of the boat! The 6pm tour was the perfect time, as the weather was cooling down, but not too cold. Great margaritas on board! read more

Our son recommended we take this boat cruise as it was our first time to Milwaukee and our first time seeing one of the Great Lakes. We thoroughly enjoyed this cruise. Time-wise it was perfect. The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable and the tour guide was very entertaining. We really enjoyed this cruise and the history shared. read more

Last minute reservation that we made, unfortunately missed our original time but I'm actually glad we did! The staff was accommodating and assured us we could make another time slot. Make sure to show up 15 minutes before! They ship off right on time. We rode on the happy hour tour, which comes with two free drinks with purchase of a ticket. The captain was fun, the crew was kind and energetic and the music was awesome! It was a slow ride but eventful. It's a nice way to get to see some of the lake and the beautiful skyline. We had so much fun and we would definitely go again if and when we return to Milwaukee. Make sure to bring some warm clothing! read more

Milwaukee Boat Line - Boat Charters Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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I always enjoy boat tours, and this was a fantastic tour. I took the historical downtown cruise. It lasted 90 minutes. It's a great way to sightsee and explore Milwaukee. It takes you through downtown. The tour guide narrates the history of the city. It's fun and informative. It also takes you through Lake Michigan where you can see the lakefront park and the city's museums. I recommend sitting on the deck, if it's not too cold. There's a bar downstairs. Patrons were enjoying the bloody mary. 5 stars! Definitely something to consider. read more

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I've enjoyed going on 2 cruises and was really impressed on how well the Captain did managing his watercraft. As a Fellow captain I have to give his crew credit for safety and ability to dock and communicate. If you plan to take a cruise make sure to have a hat or sunblock as the sun can be brutal. Bring a camera instead of a Cellphone as I almost used up my battery from taking about 50 pics and videos with minimal uploading. Started with 100% and left with battery at 4% Others mentioned that the yachts have a middle deck/ salon level for comfort and Beverages are available. Check their web page for available cruises they have some that are meal cruises some for drinking and some with music others with tours for private hire weddings or corporate events. I recommend carpooling for ease of parking. Bon Voyage Matey . read more

It was very informative , the tour guides were nice. I would recommend if you want to learn history about the city but the views of the city aren't crazy nice. If that's what you are expecting like looking for maybe do something else. Overall a good cruise. Would recommend. read more

We enjoyed an afternoon on the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan today. It was breezy but beautiful. We had relatives visiting from FL so they "bundled up" but we sat out on the front of the boat in the sun the whole time. Areas in the shade up top and more protected below were also available. Had bar with snacks and drinks, etc. As long time MKE-area residents we still learned new things and really enjoyed seeing the third ward, the breakwater and beyond, McKinley Marina, the Dennis Sullivan and museums, etc. Nick was the guide, and had a nice balance of information including some history and humor. Would definitely do it again. read more

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My out of town relatives had an outstanding time on the Vista King and so did I. This has now become my top thing to do with out of town visitors and I have decided to begin a new list. The on board tour guide was friendly, knowledgeable and funny. The price was very affordable at $15 per adult and an outstanding value in my opinion. My only difficulty was navigating to the parking area as I am not real familiar with the downtown streets. I was trying to go around the block to approach the parking lot from the east side and inadvertently ended back up on the Interstate at which point I had to circle back around to the McKinley avenue exit and come back into town. Consequently we were late for our 12:00 scheduled departure. Fortunately, we were able to jump on board at the last minute. The deck hand was very nice to hold the boat a few minutes while my elderly mother made her way to the gangplank. I really appreciated their kindness! Over halfway through the cruise, the rain started pouring down (which we welcomed since we've been so dry!). The folks in the front of the boat moved inside and passengers began closing the large windows to block the rain from coming in. I was disappointed, but it was necessary since many passengers were getting quite wet. The windows did not fog up, so it was still possible to see a little bit. All passengers handled the crowded conditions quite well and we still had a great cruise! I definitely recommend the Milwaukee Boat Line as a fun thing to do with your visitors! read more

Milwaukee Boat Line - View from the covered deck - Boat Charters Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

We had a groupon and did the happy hour cruise in June. I'd highly recommend reserving on line and doing so early in the week. We tried 2 get on again later in summer without reservations and were out of luck. It's a nice cruise tho. Appropriate time wise (90min) The boat isn't that new but has 2 levels - great photo opps! They had (big) $2 don q rum mixers while we were on. Yes, the line was a little long but moved quickly. However, I gotta ditto another yelper on one of the bartenders hating her job and giving an exasperated look when I was happy and there to buy a drink. The other bartender was nice which kinda/sorta made up for it. But we'd do it again. read more

Milwaukee Boat Line - I'm on a boat - Boat Charters Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

This was a fun way to be a tourist in Milwaukee. Get there as early as possible to order a drink and reserve your seat on the boat. I enjoyed the history talk and the views. read more

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I like boat tours but I've only been on the one here in Milwaukee and compared to Chicago this is smaller, less expensive, more fun. We took a bunch of college student organizations and they worked with us on price, let us bring our own DJs and equipment, our own catering, and they made sure none of our students got into their booze. We all had fun and I will do it again, probably next time without college students. read more

Milwaukee Boat Line - Boat Charters Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

We saw many of parts of the city, that we could only do if we walked for miles. Highly recommend!! We took the 4pm Tour on a Saturday & it was perfect. They practiced social distancing, required masks when boarding, in lower cabin & disembarking. Beverages, both non & alcoholic, plus snacks available for purchase in lower cabin. read more

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We took the 90 min sightseeing tour. It was the perfect length. Got to see the architecture downtown and then headed down the river to Lake Michigan and cruised along the shore for great views of the downtown skyline. The tour narrator did a great job. Plenty of places to sit...both inside and out. In sun or under shade. They offered a bar with drinks and snacks (brats, hotdogs, chips). Everything was reasonably priced and would be affordable even with a whole family along. We purchased our tickets online. There are several parking structures within 1-2 blocks of the boat dock. Enjoyed it very much. Might have to come back sometime to try a sunset cruise. read more

Milwaukee Boat Line - Beautiful skyline views of downtown Milwaukee - Boat Charters Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Took the History & Architecture Cruise. Not a bad way to spend 90 minutes before a ball game. You cruise down the Milwaukee River into Lake Michigan and back. And they have locally brewed adult beverages on board for purchase. Woo Hoo !!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

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My wife and I were visiting Milwaukee and wanted to see the Lake and learn something of the city. The boat tour was highly praised and we agree with the assessment. We had a wonderful cruise and learned a lot of Milwaukee history along with a lot of other visitors. For example, did you know that Lakes Michigan and Huron are really one lake (because their levels rise and fall together) that contain 20% of the WORLD'S fresh water! Learn these and many other interesting factoids on the tour. Don't miss it! read more

Although the boats aren't huge or extremely modern, this company provides very affordable cruises ($15 for the one I took that was a little over 90 minutes) that pass by a lot of the important attractions you'll want to take a look at in Milwaukee. It's completely worth it since you'll be able to get great shots from the viewpoint of the water looking in to the city rather than from somewhere within the city. The boat I took had 2 levels providing many great angles from which to take shots and the captain was very knowledgeable about the city. read more

Milwaukee Boat Line - Boat Charters Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The Happy Hour Cruise at 6PM is so nice and relaxing. We had the Groupon where we got a free drink. Drinks are average priced $4-6 and they are now offering Brats and hot dogs. A camera is a must on the cruise. I love to take tons of scenic and sunset pictures. You even get close to the Dennis Sullivan which is really beautiful to see. This is also a great family event which takes about a hour and a half. It's a nice way to spend a hour or two. You also have to take one "king or queen of the world" picture. read more

Milwaukee Boat Line - Beautiful skies from MKE boatline. - Boat Charters Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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I have done both the 90-minute sight-seeing tour and as a guest on an evening cruise. Overall, I'm impressed. Disclaimer: I am a sucker for boats and skylines. Milwaukee Boat Line includes both. Tours (guided and non) include a breathtaking view of the Milwaukee skyline. It's even better when you can hit it at sunset! For evening cruises, the boat had two local breweries on tap for $6 each. They also had a couple wines and mixed drinks available from what I could tell. Concessions were sold during sight-seeing tours. Tour itself was good. Little bit of history, little bit of building pointing out, little bit of everything. Only thing it was lacking was punny jokes. read more

Absolutely a wonderful time, very beautiful and relaxing!! Also pet friendly...A must do when In the area! read more

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We couldnt really hear the speaker on the historical tour. ...I enjoyed being on the boat. The boat was older. We did this as part of a coworker outing--There were a lot of people there for a Tuesday at 200p. read more

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Best part of our whole trip to MKE! The 90 minute tour was very informative and offered beautiful views of the city and Lake Michigan. We also loved that they had a bar on board so we were able to have an afternoon cocktail while sailing on Lake Michigan. We started on the top of the boat, however it started to get chilly and it was nice that they had an area beneath the boat that was covered, warm, and still offered views. For $20 a person this tour is a deal. Highly recommend! read more

Milwaukee Boat Line - Boat Charters Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Wonderful tour & we got to enjoy the scenery with our pups! The staff was so friendly & the tour guide was very knowledgeable about the city! Fun interesting facts along with some hilarious commentary! read more

Milwaukee Boat Line - My dog Toby, just enjoying the beautiful scenery! - Boat Charters Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Everything about this boat cruise was perfect. We purchased our tickets online before we arrived, and boarded with ease at the time of sailing. There is a covering over the main part of the boat, so you are protected from the sun's rays. At the front of the boat, you can get some sun without a roof. The boat sailed into Lake Michigan and turned around. Throughout the tour, the guides give interesting tidbits of information about the things we saw along the way. There is a snack bar on the bottom level of the boat in case you are hungry or thirsty. It was the perfect length cruise and we had a wonderful time. Highly recommend this cruise! read more

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I was sorely disappointed with my first (and last) experience on a Milwaukee Boat Line cruise. I regret the experience, and their failure to deliver meant that I misled an entire group of my friends, too. I noticed that they offered five Happy Hour Cruises every week, and nearly signed up for that to bring along all my friends. But then I saw that once a week they advertised a special Yacht Rock cruise. It was billed as "Come join us as we keep Milwaukee adult & contemporary aboard the Vista King with DJ Paul H of the Enablers. Enjoy [various drink specials] while we relax to the sounds of Kenny Loggins, Steely Dan, Hall & Oates, et al.". I rounded up ten of my pals, urged them all to get tickets, made playlists, and half of them even dressed up 70's nautical for the occasion. When we got on board there was maybe 15 minutes of the entertainment advertised. It's not difficult to get a playlist and stick to the 70's soft rock format. It does not involve rocket science to queue up some Toto, Seals & Crofts, Robbie Dupree, Chistopher Cross, and Steeley Dan. Over 2 hours of the music was Spice Girls, R&B, and 80's alternative, so it was effectively a bait-and-switch. It's not like we could all leave the venue; they had us trapped on a boat. Jeers to the Milwaukee Boat Line and their fraudulent, misleading event. read more

Was super lucky to be able to attend a sweet Yelp Event on one of these boats. Such a great time - at just around 2 hours you were offered amazing views of the city. The cash bar had a decent selection and wasn't too overpriced. I certainly appreciated that! The people were really friendly, and I would definitely hop on again for another boat tour! If you're from out of town - be sure to check these peeps out. It's well worth it! read more

I'd totally recommend the Monday Yacht Rock tour on the Vista King. For $5 you get a two hour trip which starts with a tour of the MKE river and then it heads out to the breakwater with great views of downtown as the sun sets. They had a DJ spinning tunes and drinks were cheap - $5 for two PBR's or $3 for a pre-mixed margarita. Way cheap Monday fun! read more

I can not say enough how much I love them. I've been a handful of times in my day...Recently twice in a month's time. I honestly do not know why I don't go every weekend. The views of the city are amazing, the staff is friendly, it's clean, the price is good. I never considered myself to be a "boat person" but clearly I am. I barely just got my land legs back and I want to go again. Please, do not wait until you have people in from out of town to give them a whirl. Perfect for groups of people...And I assume it'd be wildly romantic for a date (Ahem). Log this under the things Milwaukeans don't do enough of in their own city! read more

I mean if you advertise a yacht rock cruise and then play nothing but lame R&B as soon as the boat leaves the dock do you really expect more than one star? read more

This was a cool Friday night activity. Though it was rainy, the boat still floated on. In August, I went on the happy hour tour. Ticket options included one just for the boat ride, and one for the boat ride and two drinks. Since I was going with one other person, we bought one of each and shared the drink tickets. The boat ride takes you out to Lake Michigan, through the marina, and back through the 3rd ward. Because it doesn't go out too far onto the lake, there is no need to worry about rough waters. Our cruise wasn't terribly packed, but I can imagine these fill up with the nice weather. read more

I really wanted to enjoy this Beers and Brats river cruise, but there were several things that just were not run well. A huge amount of people from our conference, upwards of 100, went on this trip that has been planned for months. That being said, the crew and staff seemed completely unprepared for our group, or it was way overbooked. Either way I was not impressed. There was only one bar with two people working it. One for the food and one for the drinks. The line for the bar literally wrapped around the whole boat about half way through the trip. I felt like it did move at a decent pace, but I truly couldn't believe they thought one bartender would be sufficient for this large of a party. There's just no way to really get three drinks for this many passengers within 90 minutes. The food wasn't even ready until almost halfway through either. Also the boarding process was a total joke. We all had pre-ordered tickets, and were all obviously 21+, so explain to me why we had to go through the will call line AND have IDs checked THEN our tickets scanned. Literally three people doing jobs that could be accomplished by a single person. That just baffled me and made the process take a lot longer than it needed to be. I hope it isn't always this inefficient, but they clearly couldn't handle a group of this size. I don't see how they'd have any excuse though since they've literally know about this for months. It was cool to see the city from the boat and all, but I would not do this again. read more

Wonderful Lake views of the city. Can sit inside or out depending on weather. Great narration and stories of sights along river. Very insightful. We booked first cruise of the day and seemed like we had the boat to our selves. Great sightseeing tour for first time visitors. read more

I did the sightseeing tour and it's a good, relaxing way to spend 90 minutes. It's especially cool that they have some local craft beer available for purchase. The tour took us over to the Summerfest grounds and we could hear some of the rock and roll blaring from one of the stages. It was also neat that they took us out on the lake for a while. I actually laid down on the bench and fell asleep for about ten minutes. The history of the city was ok, but not overly exciting though. I did it once and I'd say it's a nice thing to do, but by no means would I call it an essential aspect of a trip to Milwaukee read more

You know what, internet-land? I AM a fan of the Milwaukee Boat Line. In this case, the sometimes limiting star rating system and accompanying blurb ring true. Although most of my experience w/ the MBL has been in an event planning/professional capacity, I was lucky enough to enjoy the Voyageur as a passenger and not a planner a few weekends back. A friend of mine was looking for a unique spot/venue to host his 30th birthday party, so he asks me because, well... I work for Yelp. I recommend a few spots (including MBL) and he's into it, so he books, and Phil's 30th birthday extravaganza goes into full effect. And I show up and I'm hanging, and it's really, really great. I knew some of the staff/crew previously and it was nice to see them and chat with them again. Drinks are reasonably priced for the most part. When planning your own event they allow you to bring your own food on board, which is really nice. Bring your own iPod/DJ... really, the sky's the limit (within reason, obvs). The Boat Line does Monday night Yacht Rock cruises, concert cruises, and other "tours" that are open to the public; you needn't rent the whole shebang out to reap the benefits of awesome boat party time. I love that we live on a great lake and have great opportunities to do things like throw parties on supercool giant boats. read more