We booked a 3 hour sunset boat cruise on the River City Queen for our wedding reception with close friends and family. Everything was perfect! Captain Jim and Elizabeth helped with booking, organizing the food, and booked a DJ (shout out DJ Wendell!). The whole crew was so professional and friendly! We loved it! Our guests loved it too and have talked about booking parties on the boat in the future. 10/10 highly recommend! Thank you River City Queen crew! read more

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Our office hosted our Holiday party on the Queen! The staff was over the top amazing. Extremely attentive, accommodating and fun to be around. The server, Jennifer, made sure everyone had a drink in hand and remembered peoples orders for their second and third. Kris and Captain Jim are some of the nicest people you'll meet. I could tell they throughly enjoy what they do. I can't recall the bartenders name but he delivered and was so nice as well. I highly recommend the Mediterranean menu, it was delicious and served at perfect temperature (HOT!). There's something about putting money towards a fully family operated business... and this is just that. Booking was easy and Captain Jim was very responsive throughout the process. 10/10! read more

River City Queen - Boat Charters Near Me - Sacramento, California

Disappointed. This cruise is not inexpensive so my expectations were higher,around 70.00 per person. First of all, in the information on the website it says you can board the boat early, around 15-30 minutes, however, upon arrival, the crew was not ready to permit anyone on board until precisely start time. It was a hot day, so I thought we would get rolling on time to pick up some delta breezes. This did not happen. We all waited an additional 35 minutes because one other person on board was waiting for her family member and other elderly people in her party to arrive. Eventually, the lady who narrates the cruise asked all of us if we were willing to wait longer, thumbs up/thumbs down vote. Most of us gave a thumbs down, but they still waited!! Why? Because the passenger who was waiting for her family members to arrive, told all of us on board to buck up and be patient! She was assertive, loud, and rude! She should have just chartered the boat for her own private party. I was so put off by her behavior I found that it distracted me from my enjoyment of the cruise itself. The website even warns you that if you are late, they will still leave on time and you will not be refunded. Just the same situation as if you were late to board an airplane. The lunch is just so-so. The sandwich was supposed to have carved meat on it. It did not. It was just regular lunch meat. Drinks like soda and iced tea were not included with the meal. Beer was 8.00. The best part of the cruise was going on the outdoor area of the boat to look around at the scenery. The cruises offered at Lake Tahoe or in San Diego are much better, you get more for your money. read more

Staff did a great job! Food was delicious and service was top notch. Everyone had an amazing time. We didnt want to get off the boat!

Booked a twilight dinner cruise for my partners birthday this past week and we had such a lovely time! We were greeted warmly by Captain Jim and were offered a boarding glass of champagne (cider available too) by their server. His wife Kris showed us around to the upper deck. Their son served up drinks before dinner. I had a Bahaha Mama (it was a perfect balance of alcohol and taste) but they had a wide selection of beers and drinks. Weather was perfect, we mingled with the other guests on the top deck until diner was served. Started with a mixed green salad with strawberry vinaigrette and a small helping of bread & butter, main dish was chicken in a lemon rosemary sauce with pasta and grilled veggies. It was exquisite! Desert was a cookie which felt a little basic but hey, it was good too! The vessel is a little dated, chairs are just plastic chairs. A little updating wouldn't hurt but we would do it again in a heartbeat! Everyone was so welcoming, the food was delicious, the views- BEAUTIFUL! If you're lucky enough to get a reservation, jump on it, you won't be disappointed. read more

River City Queen - View of Old Sac heading back to the dock - Boat Charters Near Me - Sacramento, California

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I booked the lunch cruise as part of a birthday weekend celebration for my husband. At first I wondered if it would be a little cheezy, but thought even that would be fun. Wow, were we pleasantly surprised! It was like a vacation-in-a-vacation. One and a half hours of pure relaxation. We were greeted by the absolutely charming Captain Jim who is well suited to his position, blending hospitality, fun, and safety in equal proportions. We traveled below to chat with him a bit during the cruise, and thoroughly enjoyed his easy, engaging laugh as his piercing blue eyes kept tabs on the crazy boaters around us. Once onboard, Chris (Captain Jim's wife - a family business which is super cool), offered my husband a drink. We were told their son is quite the bartender, so I adventurously ordered my husband his favorite adult beverage - a Manhattan - wondering if that was wise. I ordered a gin and tonic, and was pleased I had several choices of high quality gin. Shortly thereafter, our drinks appeared and were served with a smile, and we toasted his birthday. A variety of music plays in the background, fun music to sway around to (Beach Boys, CCR, classic rock, etc.), but not blaring like so many of the party boats out there. This is much more of a relaxed, grown-up event, not a scream and yell and spill drinks type of venue or crowd - thankfully. You are free to roam the vessel, and my husband and I spent a lot of time outside watching the scenery go by as Chris narrated for us. The sound system is excellent so we weren't straining to hear her. She would narrate for a while, then return to music. When lunch was served, we were quite pleasantly surprised! The description sounds like something out of a vending machine, but no. These were well curated sandwiches and oh so fresh! A lovely pesto pasta salad adorned our plate, and fresh fruit cup finished it off. Once done, a plate of cookies showed up. Maybe it's just me, but I love me some fresh cookies over fancy desserts. Oh! And each table has a seating card with your name on it - ours had an additional "happy birthday" on it to acknowledge my husband's birthday. A little thing that really made him smile. After all, it is the little things in life that go a long way. The pace of the outing was well-timed, and never felt rushed. We were well tended to, and were always offered beverages. My husband decided to try the margarita after his Manhattan, which he says was fantastic. This was not cheezy at all. It was the highlight of our 3 day trip to Sacramento, including his birthday brunch and dinner at top Sacramento restaurants. There is something ineffable about what the River Queen offers in terms of hospitality and relaxation. Skip all the ridiculous party boats. Skip the commercial boat trips. This is a family-run business and you will be treated, and feel, like guests, not consumers. They've been doing this for many years, and yet you'd think each trip was their first. This is customer service/experience done right. These folks have a gift for people and creating just the right atmosphere for an enjoyable break from life. Take a few moments to chat with Captain Jim and his wife, Chris - truly wonderful human beings. We cannot rave more about this experience. Thank you! read more

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What a great way to spend some time while in Sacramento. My friend and I went on the lunch cruise and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. They accommodated my vegetarian needs with a delicious sandwich. I wasn't expecting much from the food pictures I saw but the food was surprisingly good. The staff was all great and I enjoyed the history lessons along the cruise. My only one tiny suggestion to the crew is to not play the music quite so loud so that we can hear each other talk a little better. But the music was good too ! I highly recommend taking a cruise with them read more

River City Queen - River City Queen - Boat Charters Near Me - Sacramento, California

Fabulous experience beginning with a warm welcome from captain and crew and ending with the feeling that we are ready to do it all over again. Loved seeing Sacramento from the river while enjoying bubbly champagne, a first class meal and great service. Thank you Captain Jim, Kris, and crew for a most memorable evening. Carl, Patti, and family read more

My wife and I chartered the River City Queen in April, 2023, for a gathering for twenty-one family members. The two hour cruise and the BBQ lunch was more impressive than we anticipated. It was fun exploring the river and seeing the sites. It was clear from the get-go that Captain Jim, his wife and the entire crew were dedicated, and believe in the importance of giving customers a great experience. They take pride in providing a fun journey for their customers. Highly recommend the River City Queen cruise !!! John and Toni read more

Back in April, for my little ones birthday, I took her on a River City cruise. It was awesome. We actually chose the midday ice cream cruise so that we can go out to dinner afterwards. We had a wonderful time, a great outing, an ice cream. On the river. Staff was wonderful and very welcoming. I loved the tour and how our tour guide explained everything along the river. Oh, and last but not least, there is a full bar and they keep bringing drinks. read more

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Our group of 20+ had a wonderful time on the afternoon 2-hour cruise. The catered food was delicious, the crew and Captain Jim were friendly, personable, and attentive. The main deck table had tablecloths and flowers. We look forward to our next river cruise on the River City Queen! read more

********** 10 Stars, because 5 wasn't enough! We had an amazing beautiful spring wedding aboard the River City Queen on 3/30/19. With Captain Jim and crew providing great service and a one of a kind experience. Many of our guests said it was the funnest wedding they had ever been too. The cruise included 4 hours on the river, Captain Jim officiating the ceremony, delicious food, wedding cake and a professional top notch DJ that kept feet moving all night, and a spot on bartender and cocktail server. If you are planning a wedding with around 50 guests, i think you would hard pressed to find a better venue, value or experience. Thank you so much Jim, Chris, Jeff, Sherry, DJ Armon, and Jennifer for providing such a cool unique package for us on our special day! read more

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This was such a fun experience! Of all the river cruises offered in Old Sacramento, this is the one to take. It's family-owned and operated, and they all clearly enjoy making your time with them quite memorable. The lunch that comes with your ticket was delicious, the cocktails you can purchase we're definitely not light on the liquor , and the narration was informative and interesting. Good Times!! read more

River City Queen - My girlfriend posing with the Captain! - Boat Charters Near Me - Sacramento, California

My husband took me on dinner cruise for my birthday. According to the high ratings, he thought this was the best option for a river cruise. Upon arrival, we were given a very small plastic glass with apple cider. While I appreciate a non-alcoholic option, the serving size could have been larger. The vessel itself is very old and outdated looking. As we walked up to the upper level, we were disappointed to see folding tables covered in plastic tablecloths with plastic lawn chairs. The music playing was all from the 70's, it did match the vibe but we just didn't enjoy the ambiance. Dinner was served on Chinet paper plates with plastic utensils. For the price we paid, I expected nicer furnishings and serving ware. The food was decent but since we don't drink, it felt like we had to wait a very long time to be served. Approximately 40 minutes after taking off, we were served a salad that was just ok with two small slices of a baguette that I'm pretty sure was from Costco. The next course was roasted vegetables which were actually very tasty with lemon chicken that was very tender and flavorful. The pasta salad was not my favorite, it tasted store bought and was very basic. Again, everything was served on paper plates and we were asked to save our plastic utensils to reuse for each course. Dessert was just two cookies, pretty disappointing and casual. This experience did not meet our expectations. The presentation and food felt more like a backyard barbecue instead of a $200 dinner cruise. The staff was very friendly and I feel terrible writing a bad review but I don't want others to be misled by the high ratings when we just felt let down. read more

Cruising on the Sacramento River on the family owned River City Queen with Captain Jim and our tour guide Kris (Mrs Captain Jim ) and she is originally from San Mateo! The ice cream was delicious and a perfect Sunday outing it was a beautiful ride and a great introduction to the city's history! They also offer dinner cruises, sunset cruises, weddings, etc. We'll definitely be back in the winter to see the 'I' Street Bridge pivot on 100 year old gears to let us through on the much higher river! Check out the 2 different colors of water where the American River meets the Sacramento River at Discovery Park. read more

River City Queen - The Kingston Trio taking the Ice Cream Cruise on The River City Queen - Boat Charters Near Me - Sacramento, California

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We had a 3 hour private dinner charter in September 2022 held from 6pm to 9pm. The weather cooperated and was perfect for the cruise with a slight breeze on the river. The crew of Captain Jim, 1st Mate Jeff who was also the bartender, Kris who was the Hospitality Manager, and Jennifer the Server, all made sure everyone had whatever they needed, they were fantastic and we couldn't have asked for a more organized and great crew to make the party special. The food was outstanding and served buffet style with an appetizer of a cheese display with fruit, nuts and crackers, followed a bit later by dinner of carved beef tri-tip with horseradish creme, citrus achiote marinated grilled chicken with fruit salsa, rice pilaf, grilled vegetable medley, salad, bread and butter. Dessert was a fresh made cookie assortment. Music was provided by Roy Kinji Arimoto and he kept the party rockin' with the right type of music for the party. A great DJ and we highly recommend him. Roy@SacGoodTimes.com We can't say enough good comments about the cruise and you won't be sorry to book a cruise aboard the River City Queen. read more

I rented the boat for my birthday for 21 guests and we had such a blast! The staff were so professional and helpful and captain him was just so sweet! Loved having them apart of our party. The drinks were delicious and the food was out of this world! People were asking for leftovers afterwards that's how good it was! Such an awesome fun experience! Would totally do that again read more

We just celebrated my brothers 50th birthday on the River City Queen. We had all ages from 8 year olds to 86 year olds. We included the casino night and everything was perfect. I only went to one of the tables and Dexter was amazing. He put up with my family and was so friendly. I heard from other family members that they all had fantastic dealers. We had dinner and not knowing what to expect it was way above my expectations. Captain Jim was fantastic. They had to slow the boat down so we could get pictures before our final destination. The crew took care of us and Jennifer never missed a beat. She was making sure everyone had a drink and never forgot what you were drinking. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a great place to celebrate a special occasion and needing something for everyone in the family. read more

We needed to plan a special 90th birthday celebration and after looking at several options, we felt really good about choosing River City Queen for our party. Captain Jim was wonderful to work with in the planning stages and clearly knowledgeable in anticipating all of details to make the day a success. Once we boarded, he and his crew were very welcoming and helpful. Our group had some various special needs (physical and dietary) that they graciously accommodated. The overall service was wonderful - attentive but not intrusive - and it showed that they've worked together for a long time. The catered food was delicious! Simply put, we all had a wonderful time! I highly recommend River City Queen! read more

50 people on the River City Queen to celebrate my birthday last week. What fun!!! We cruised up river and even made an excursion into the American River. The weather was completely perfect, the lighting gorgeous (it was the golden hour and sunset), food delicious, great mai tais and friendly staff! We even saw a sea lion lounging on someone's pier. My friends took some spectacular photos that I'm going to get them to share here. read more

Great time on the twilight dinner cruise. Highly recommend the family owned business did a great job and provided great service! read more

River City Queen - Having a great time! - Boat Charters Near Me - Sacramento, California

Booked the dinner cruise this past weekend for a milestone Birthday for a party of 20 (all ages). We couldn't be happier with our experience. Captain Jim and his team were absolutely wonderful! Jennifer, Chris, and the entire staff was so welcoming, professional and personable. The food was good, the music lively and the sights along the River were incredible. Exceeded expectations in every way. We took a ton of pics, but they don't begin to do the views justice. 10 stars across the board! We will definitely do this again and I highly recommend. It's a great way to experience Sacramento. read more

Excellent Experience! We went on the river for a birthday private party last weekend. It was sooo much fun. Captain Jim & his wife Chris really made the cruise special. Pete was part of the crew. I lost an expensive pair of sunglasses and he searched the boat until he found them. I tried to tip Pete but he graciously declined. He was professional, efficient & friendly! We will definitely use The River City Queen again soon. read more

I would give the River City Queen a 10 review if I could!!! Captain Jim and his staff were beyond great. Extremely accommodating, friendly, professional and just all around GREAT!! My wife had the best time celebrating her 50th birthday and Captain Jim and his staff were a huge part of it. Definitely the boat to get for a surprise party or any other type of party. read more

Went on a birthday cruise, the boat is nice and the owner is friendly. There bar is very small. The bartender charged me $11 for 2 drinks. I then went back and got 2 more and he charged me $13. I wet back again and got 2 more drinks and he charged me $11. The bar is in a bad place, since the bathrooms and the door to the deck are all in the same place read more

Jim was a pleasure to work with. He went out of his way to help us, even though we had some extenuating circumstances. Highly recommend for a special occasion! read more

I booked a private party of 35 about 3 months ago. The website regarding rental prices, food and beverage packages, and entertainment packages were easy to navigate. I booked with Capt. Jim. The process was smooth..and very good communication. Capt Jim gives quick estimates with all the prices outlined clearly. We had a business graduation party last night (03-05-20). Capt Jim, along with his staff (Jeff, Sona, and Jennifer), greeted us and provided outstanding service the entire time. Jeff worked the bar and the drinks were yummy and served quickly. The catered food was very very good (Ribs..chicken breast..pilof..salad..rolls) The hot food was hot and the cold food was cold. They cleared our plates quickly and even sliced and served a Costco cake that I brought with me. The sound system to plug in your phone rocks the upper deck and sounds great. My group left very happy and we had a great night. Thank you Capt. Jim, Jeff, Sona and Jennifer for and AMAZING time! read more

The Cookies and Ice Cream Tour was a perfect way to have a COVID-safe birthday celebration with our granddaughter. We all sat outside on top, and enjoyed a huge dish of ice cream and cookie (only time we were maskless), while Kris (Mrs Captain Jim) narrated our cruise along the Sacramento River. Jim even slowed the boat so we could watch several sea lions gorging on migrating salmon. Our thanks to their entire family for accommodating us with a perfect birthday day. read more

Beyond magnificent!!! Our group of 8 LOVED this dinner cruise, not only for the beautiful river, but even more so for the hospitality. It's rare that you have such attentive service from kind, caring employees. They definitely went beyond what you would expect! I don't write reviews, but I just couldn't resist after such great service. Thank you for a memorable evening! read more

I booked a private surprise party for my husband's big 50. Took a 3 hour cruise on the Sacramento and American River. Jim was great! He did everything I asked and was a wonderful host! The Mexican food was so good! My husband was so surprised! Awesome afternoon! read more

Booked this boat for our wedding...absolutely one of the best decisions I have ever made! Captain Jim was a darling! His staff was great, the food was wonderful, the DJ and bartender were awesome! The decor was beautiful, the cake was fabulous, and the food to die for! Our guests had a great time and everything went smoothly. I would recommend this as a wedding venue or any kind of celebration. Wasn't as expensive as I would have thought but worth every penny! Captain Jim and staff, thank you for making this most memorable day so amazing for us. We will treasure the memories of this day for the rest of our lives! read more

A most unique charter boat experience! Lots of Fun, beautiful views of Downtown Sacramento, and Captain Jim is a real character!

My family and I celebrated my husband's 75th birthday on this river cruise. We were impressed with Captain Jim and his entire crew. The river cruise was delightful, and much to our surprise the buffet was delicious! I was especially impressed with Captain Jim & his crew because I was handicapped and went on the boat with a knee scooter. They were very accommodating when allowing me to go up & down the stairs and ramps on my bottom. My kids keep talking about how much they enjoyed the river cruise, and I can't wait to take this little cruise again when I am walking on two feet! Definitely one of the best experiences we've ever enjoyed! Thank you Captain Jim & your entire crew for such a memorable experience! read more

Planned a party for 40+ people for my wife's 50th birthday and it was awesome! The outside weather was nice, but a little chilly, but the inside on both upper and lower decks were nice a toasty. Jim and the entire crew were excellent!! Sherri did a great job coordinating the event. The presentation of the food was was done very, very well, but I was too busy drinking the great IPA on draft to taste it. :) read more

We held my sister's 40th Birthday Surprise Party this weekend on the River City Queen. There were 11 of us and we were there for the 5:30 dinner cruise. Captain Jim, his wife and crew were fabulous hosts. We all had a great time! I was a little nervous that it would not be that fun this time of year because it would be dark, but it was a nice evening, we had a beautiful sunset as we were boarding and after dark the city and bridge lights made it magical. The dining area is casual and the food is not that fancy, but it was plentiful and tasty! Jim and his crew were so accommodating, allowing us to board a few minutes early to decorate our area of the boat (they had us set up with our own little section downstairs) and they brought out heaters when we opted to stay out on the front deck to enjoy the views. They also allow you to bring on your own wine, with just a small corkage fee. Overall a great experience, one I would recommend for a fun evening on the river as a couple or as a group. read more