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    Padelford Riverboats

    3.7 (55 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Services - Padelford Riverboats

    Boat charters

    Padelford Riverboats Photos

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    Jenny G.

    Had a lovely time with my book club at Padelford Riverboats! With 2 for 1 margs, tacos, and beautiful weather it was a steal for just $36 a ticket. Cruising along the Mississippi we saw several bald eagles and their nests, a gorgeous sunset, and beautiful views of downtown St.Paul. The 2 for 1 Margarita deal was only $8 and you can choose between strawberry or lime. The tacos were delicious and they had carnitas, chicken, and beans with toppings. We had a really nice time and agreed we all would love to come back!

    Restaurant along route
    Nina S.

    The weather cooperated and it was a lovely 1 1/2 hour ride. Learn a bit of history and amazing views. We did see an eagle and there is also an eagle's nest. Snacks and beverages for sale on the boat.

    Men's Bathroom Warped Vanity.

    We attended a wedding reception over Memorial Day weekend. The stunning boat ride on the Mississippi, the Captain and happy couple being celebrated were all lovely, but the loveliness ends there. Understandable the vessel is archival and may not be up to date on all of its' features. However, there were certain things we noticed or experienced that were questionable. My husband mentioned the men's bathroom was in desperate need of attention. Two of the three lights over the vanity were out, as well as the cabinets are warped with a mildew scent (I have photos provided). Most of the lights in the dining area were crooked and looked sloppy. Again, understanding this vessel is old does not ok it to appear unkept especially when there is a paid for event being held. Having your four hour event is upwards of $10k, for reference. Food service tasted nice and had options. But I won't get into the drinks they serve, honestly just not good unless you chose something in a can or bottle. A fellow guest also pointed out a MASSIVE spider web behind the bar, which was gross. The main issue is with the "charter consultant" and crew (I'm aware of specific details given this wedding reception was my sister's). I must mention the Captain and one of the staff members who was consistently working and pleasant the whole time were amazing. I know her name started with an "M", she was young and was always polite and kind. Onto the main issue that was a strange thing to press on from the crew lead. The deal with the food and beverage is this: silverware and plates are provided for the meal purchased with the charter directly. Any outside food (i.e. cake and cupcakes) they are unable to provide any silverware or plates. Allegedly the "charter consultant" stated that this was communicated beforehand, however my sister assures if she knew they needed to bring in utensils for her guests to eat their desert they would have. I bet you're wondering what's the issue just ask if utensils could be supplied for the desert portion? You would think! After my elderly Aunt asked if I could go get her a fork and I was told NO with attitude my husband went and asked the Captain if it was possible some forks may be provided, to which she said of course and made a request to the crew. A few moments pass we see the Captain and crew lead Abby in the Captain's deck speaking. Afterwards Abby came out to the dining area where several guests saw her "clearing" tables. When her hands were full with silverware/plates she even continued to just take forks WHILE GUESTS WERE USING THEM. Again, guests witnessed her doing this. Also, even if this was communicated that they wouldn't provide the silverware for deserts (which it was not) you wouldn't bend the rules a bit when seeing elderly people challenged in consuming a piece of cake? Seems morally wrong. My sister communicated this detail (among others) in a follow-up email to the "charter consultant". In her rebuttal email she stated this was just "part of Abby's job, she was not trying to be mean". No apologies, no misunderstandings, absolutely no accountability, just siding with the crew who were in the wrong. Absurd is an understatement, and honestly how embarrassing on behalf of not only this charter company but my sister and her husband. I now understand why Padelford Boats has not had a review for a wedding reception in over three years! Why spend $10K on this when there are PLENTY of reception venues nearby that can host a clean, accommodating and pleasant event. Oh, also to note the microphone for the speakers, which they needed to pay additional money for, did not work. So all communication to her entire party needed to be done table by table. My recommendation to clients looking to have their event on a vessel in this area is to look elsewhere. My recommendation to this charter company is do better in staff training, cleanliness and most importantly, communication. Take Care!

    Dominik D.

    It resembles a lazy river ride, it feels like you're floating along. The announcer mentions a couple of fun facts about the area throughout, and you're left to your own thoughts most of the rest of the time.

    Bald eagle
    Ann H.

    We were fortunate enough to see both a pair of eagles engage midair and bald eagles cruising the riverside. The boat was spacious enough for passengers and offers an air conditioned interior. The journey itself was peaceful and unremarkable. An audio recording available on your phone would dramatically improve the experience as it could not be heard over passenger chatter.

    Gail P.

    This is a wonderful activity to enjoy on the Mississippi River. And I got lucky when I visited the Twin Cities in mid-May because most of these tourist-type boat rides don't begin running until after Memorial Day. But hallelujah, Padelford Riverboats go rolling on the river on weekend afternoons. So, despite the drizzle and threat of rain, the boat was actually quite full. Lots of families with excited kids. Tourists. History buffs like me. There is some narration at first and then Padelford is off and running down the mighty Mississippi, which made St. Paul a river transportation hub during the 18th & 19th centuries. The remnants of old flour mills and processing plants still line the waters. I was thrilled to see many unique bridges along the way; many of these structures were made of steel and iron. The bridges were more evidence of the important role the Mississippi River played earlier in our country's history as a way to move goods up and down through the Midwest and into southern ports. I would also encourage birders to take the Padelford Riverboat to check out the variety of waterfowl here. Now I came through very early in May before the nesting and roosting got into full swing. However, I managed to spy out plenty of ducks, a big gaggle of Canadian Geese and plenty of swallows cruising the river banks in search of mud for their nests. The narration mentioned bald eagles are commonly seen during the tour but later on into the summer & fall. A small snack bar on board serves drinks and food. The hot dogs looked good. Be advised--many schools take the kiddies here for school outings. That is great but plan your trip accordingly. Nice employees and ship hands work here. A gracious deck man helped me down the plank which was very slippery and wet with drizzle. Your kids and out-of-town guests will love the Riverboat as much as I did! 5 YELP STARS!

    Swing bridge.

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    8 years ago

    Riverboat cruise was fun, but food was so awful and disgusting. Not worth the money. Very disappointed.

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    You don't get great customer service everywhere, so when you do it stands out as extraordinary, and Tammy was awesome.

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    Lady Chateau

    Lady Chateau

    5.0
    (2 reviews)

    Great tour! Great tour guide. Last minute and got a ticket easy online!…read moreLoved my time on vacation! A lot of history and interesting facts from the guide. It is such a beautiful city and so much interesting information. Highly recommend !

    The Lady Chateau is a luxury yacht with indoor and outdoor spaces and a personable, professional…read morecrew. The charter service operates from a little past flood season in the spring until early October. We chartered them for a groom's dinner. The boat is both elegant and comfortable. It is nicely appointed but they don't allow stiletto heels or black soled shoes (it wrecks the decks) so you have a good excuse to kick off your shoes and relax. The cruise was a great alternative to renting a hall or private room in a restaurant and the price is comparable. We had about 25 in our party. It POURED for most of our cruise, but the boat has a large indoor lounge area and there was enough seating for everyone. Besides the captain, we had two really friendly, competent servers who kept us all dry and made sure the bar and buffet stayed well stocked. Food is all buffet style, catered by the Lake Elmo Inn (yum!) and ranges from appetizer trays to full meals. Meals range from lunch buffet ($15/person) to Captain's Choice ($38/person) with a minimum of 20 people. Drinks extra; they have a compact but full bar. Summer on the St. Croix is fleeting and fabulous--take advantage of this while you can!

    Wayzata Bay Charter Cruises

    Wayzata Bay Charter Cruises

    4.0
    (61 reviews)

    Recently celebrated a friend's birthday on one of the Yachts here. This is actually the 3rd time…read more The first 2 times we were on a different model than this most recent one. Both models were 2 floors generally nice. I did like this most recent one better because it had a front deck and way better seating areas in my opinion. Staff were nice. The bar/snack options were only okay in my opinion. Very limited to type of drinks they could mix and also a tiny bit of inconsistency depending on who made the drink. The drinks were reasonably priced. The rental package I guess required a meal plan - which chips and salsa and veggie tray were chosen. They also sold a few snacks at the bar (a few typical bar snacks). We were able to use our own device to place music via an aux. It was a 2 hr event, we had so much fun the time went by really fast. I would recommend their rentals!

    I have booked a private cruise through Wayzata Bay Charter Cruises for 3 different years and it has…read morebeen an amazing experience every time. 2 different occasions was on the Voyager boat and the most recent was on the Elixir. Both were 2 story boats with a stereo system, bar on board, and 2 bathrooms. You can take a look at the boat layouts online and choose one that fits for your party. When booking a private cruise, it is mandatory to select a food package so keep in mind that the price of the boat you see online does not initially include the total of the food costs and the additional taxes and fees. The staff have always been so nice and really create a fun environment. It always goes by fast because we are all having so much fun! I will continue booking through them because we have never had a bad experience.

    Padelford Riverboats - boatcharters - Updated June 2026

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