1) Free 2) Free Parking 3) Free sodas and water and coffee The cruise was easy to get to and excellent. I have never had an opportunity to go on the waterway and found out about it on Reddit. I happened to get the last two spots for one of the last tours of the year and it was easy. My kid had a great time and I did too. Learned a lot and the sailing was smooth! read more

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This is an informative and fun tour and what's more it won't cost you anything which is pretty amazing since the city of Houston is involved! I went with 7 friends, you enter at Gate 8 off of Clinton Drive, just tell the security guard you are there for the tour. There is a nice plaza to wait at right next to the boats. The parking lot is safe; let's face it, the only folks getting in have to pass security! A bit before 10 am one of the employees came out to check everyone in and handed out bottles of cold water which was great as it was almost 90 degrees outside in full sunlight. We boarded and were asked to sit inside while they got underway. One of the shipmates gave a safety talk and then we were free to go outside. The boat moves along at a pretty good pace, every now and then it slows for tug boat traffic. You get to see the industries that are along the ship channel. There are lots of big ships and also small ones. Some are loading or unloading, others are being repaired or a clean coat of paint. The shipmates serve coffee for the adults on the way and after turning around after about 45 minutes they offer cold water and soft drinks. There are so many photo opportunities so take lots of pictures. You are asked to go inside while they secure to the dock, the air conditioning feels great. Then you are on your way. The entire crew was so nice, they were helpful and friendly and could answer questions. Please, if you plan to take children, keep them under control. While not dangerous, there are things to watch for so you don't trip and the doors for the cabin are very heavy and hard to open and shut quickly so a child could easily get hurt. I took a mix of infrared and visible spectrums photographs read more

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We have not gone on our tour yet, but I wanted to take a moment to show much appreciation to Letty! I called to schedule a tour for the residents of my retirement community, and she was so incredibly kind, informative and helpful! I just want to thank her! I can imagine, if all the staff is as kind and helpful as Letty, our experience will be a good one! read more

Free tour, be sure to sign up when it opens. Yes, drive through the secure gate to get here. Next to fire department.

Did this boat tour as a huge group that rented out the boat! Free and educational tour. It went down the bayou and then turned around to go back. Before boarding, they passed out small water bottles and then at the midway point, there was water and soda for everyone. During the ride, there are speakers that gives information about what we are seeing on each side and some history. I wish there was a bit more educational information though. The crew were great and helpful. Really nice that Houston has such a tour, and it's free! Definitely cool to see Houston from this angle. read more

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Yet another example of government incompetence. Tours are virtually never available to book online. When they do open up and you book a tour, when you show up they don't have a clue who has reservations and everyone there gets on the boat. Free tour with no cost cancellations so to the shock of no-one lots of people book and don't show up. Waste of tax money and they should shut it down. read more

The ship channel boat tour is a must see for those who appreciate the history of the city of Houston and relative importance of the ship channel. The tour starts on the boat Sam Houston docked at the port of Houston on the chip channel. It's a 90 minute tour where there is a tour of the ship channel, an informative narrative that discusses a lot of the sites that you're seeing and a lot of the history that lead to the creation and development of the area. it also includes complimentary coffee and soda. The tour is free and all that is required is for you to make a prior reservation. I believe the boat saleregardless of the weather because it has both indoor and outside viewing areas. Caution this is not a party boat and it probably will bore small children. Well worth the trip. read more

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I would highly recommend this trip for anyone! If you are a geek about Houston history, you will love it! We went on the bat tour and it was fantastic! But I definitely want to go back for the longer one that focuses on history. Can't wait! read more

I would like to kinda quote Rachael ," i didn't know there were docks" in Houston. It was a pleasant surprise when a friends suggested we go for a boat ride and all we need to do is register. We were doubtful all the way along but were in for a welcome ride. Supposedly, there are 3 rides in a day, one at 8 am, 2 pm and then 6 pm. We chose the one at 6 pm. It is a total 90 minute ride and if you are anything of a sunset on water person like me, you will just love the boat ride. Initially we are all in the cabin are the guide gives some basic instructions. He tell us where the coffee is located, where the restrooms are, and how you need to not lean over the railings and also that half way through the ride there is coke, water, etc available at the back of the boat. The moment he said u can step out, the whole crowd just went for the door. It is deep water so do be careful with yourself and your things and hold on to your naughty kids. The backdrop for the sunset though is not very appealing, huge chemical /oil factories spewing gases, some of which reach the boat and spoil the fun but if you can ignore that then it is such a romantic setting - a speeding boat, and if u are at the back of the boat, the sky bursts out into evening colors ad the sun sets right in front of you. They probably were announcing about the history , or more details about the place itself but we were so engrossed outside that we did not catch any of that. Clean well maintained boat, very friendly staff, coffee and juice onboard for free besides the free ride itself - it is not expected but maybe a tip is in order. Should visit this place and be a true Houstonian. read more

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This is something to do with a small group of friends or family on a nice sunny day. Whether native Houstonian or tourist, the boat tour is informative and gives you perspective on the Houston Ship Channel. The educational tour is 90 minutes long and guests are pretty free to roam around the boat except the very front, where the air conditioner is placed. The inside is well air conditioned but if you want the view, definitely step outside to enjoy the tour. The address to the boat tour is quite precise but it could benefit from larger signs leading to the gate itself. The tour seems to be quite popular and books up quickly...so mark your calendar ahead of time online to reserve a spot. The free tour also includes a complimentary beverage during the ride (coffee, water, soft drinks). read more

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Excellent trip. The captain and staff all did a great job with trip management. Offered interesting details about the ship channel and history. They offered complimentary drinks during the two hour trip. Most welcome due to the hot outside temperatures. By the way there is plenty of seats inside with air conditioning. The operation is kid friendly. Children received a color/ project book. You must have reservations but we'll worth the efforts. A true must do trip for all Houston area families. read more

I went on this tour today after having booked my reservation about 7 weeks ago. This tour is just that popular and it also probably has something to do with it being FREE. Making the reservation is conveniently offered online however I knew of some people who had difficulty with the reservation process and had to fall to the backup option-the old fashioned telephone call. My tour was scheduled to leave at 10:00 a.m and I arrived at 9:35 a.m. which was plenty early. The Yelp directions are accurate. You first arrive at Gate 8 where the driver has to show ID to the guard to enter. Then you drive down a 300 yard palm tree lined drive to the tours' dedicated parking lot. At the location they have a large restroom facility with vending machines. People wait near the boats entrance until about 5 minutes before departure. Then a crew member checks ID's again to match the reservation list as you board. Kids are allowed on board without ID's with an adult. My tour left the dock promptly at 10:00 a.m. At 10:01 as we were 40 yards away from the dock a family of 4 showed up and we left them. Moral of the story, Don't Be Late! They will leave you! We proceeded down the Ship Channel passing many large ships and barges along with refineries, docks and processing plants. We went under the I 610 bridge all the way to the Washburn tunnel (45 minutes) where we turned around and came back. At the turnaround everyone on board is offered a Coke Product soft drink or bottled water. There is also a water cooler on board along with restrooms. During the tour the Captain narrates points of interest along the way. This is an educational tour. Scenic wise it leaves a lot to be desired from a beauty standpoint. Kids will love this tour being so close to the big ships. Other than as we were leaving or approaching our dock, we were allowed outside to walk around the 95 foot long boat M/V Sam Houston built in 1958. This allowed great views and photo ops plus having the wind in your face. If the weather is not agreeable to you the indoor cabin has big tinted windows and is air conditioned and comfortable with nice seats. Our tour arrived back early by 10 minutes of schedule. However, it can take longer than 90 minutes due to ship traffic. While they limit the number of reservations per tour to the limit of the boat (100) it is very rare that 100 people actually take the tour. This is because reservations are usually made many weeks in advance to get a space but because they are free, people will forget or something else will come up to keep them from coming. This means your tour will most likely have fewer than 100 attending. On the Saturday of my tour, I estimated maybe 50 people were on board even though it was sold out. But remember they don't take walk ons so be sure you have a reservation or I wouldn't show up. Finally remember, don't be late!! read more

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This is a hidden gem of Houston. Make sure you make your reservation because the seating is limited. Not your sexy tourist scenic tour, but a very informative. You do have to go through a guard shack and they do check your ID, they are locate in the the port of Houston as you can imagine the security procedures. The tour itself is very informative you learn about Port of Houston. If you are standing outside, it is hard to hear through the speakers. They also offer inside air condition seating for those of you don't want to be in the sun. They offer complimentary coffee for those are 18 years and older to start out the trip. When they turn the boat around they offer complimentary soft drinks and water. Notice I keep mention the words complimentary and free. This tour would cost you nothing, but the time and gas to get here. It is kids friendly and educational. Definitely one of the hidden gem in the Houston. 216 read more

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Mike, you did it again. A fantastic trip. We have finally made it to the Sam Houston Boat tour and are so glad we did. This is not a party boat or a particularly scenic tour but the information about the port and Houston's place in the infrastructure of the port, it's place in Houston's and the USA economy is very educational. First this tour is about 90 minutes and free but you need to sign up for it 4 to 6 weeks ahead of time as it books up fast. You can sign up on the web. Many school age children are taken on this tour as part of class outings but if you didn't grow up here it is worth the trip. The boat is air conditioned so you can take it on hot or rainy days as well as a nice day. The official port area starts a bit south of where Buffalo Bayou pours into the Navigation channel, it was very sad to see the amount of plastic garbage that makes it way down this bayou and the others that all feed into this area. read more

Sam Houston Boat Tour - The boat - Boat Tours Near Me - Houston, Texas

Such an amazing tour on the boat to have an insider view of the port Houston-largest port of the entire US! I was so shocked by all the docks and pipes and ships etc.! U have to try this in Houston if u got a chance! My boyfriend and I were lucky enough to be in a group of UYE hosted by Mike-who,BTW, an amazing organizer!- so we got a chance to have this tour on his birthday! You also got a free bottled water/coke/sprite on the tour back which was very thoughtful! read more

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I've been wanting to do the ship channel tour for a long time so I was so excited when we were able to book a spot! We took the maiden voyage after Covid shut everything down today!! It was really cool! The staff are so kind and professional, the interior is clean, spacious, and cool. Outside we were able to walk around the boat to see different things better. The guide pointed out locations and explained the history. It was amazing to see the ships up close - they are HUGE- and these are considered "smaller"! Also, they offered complimentary coffee and soft drinks/water which was very nice and welcome. It is free and really one of the neatest and unique things to do here in Houston. read more

Sam Houston Boat Tour - Boat Tours Near Me - Houston, Texas

I have been to Houston many times but this is the first time I took this tour. It was a comfortable boat, with friendly people and interesting information. Even though there was a large school group on board, there is ample space for everyone to be comfortable, inside or outside. We wild recommend it! read more

On a 2-day layover in our fair city, I took Soap Opera Dude* to check out this free fascinating 90-minute tour of the Ship Channel. Booking a tour requires a bit of planning since walk-ups are not accepted and capacity is tightly controlled. You can check availability and book online by going to their website. The Port's gate is in a gritty industrial area just east of downtown. One can leave your top hat and evening gowns at home and just dress casually. You will have to present acceptable ID to the gate guard before proceeding down the road to the parking lot and pavilion area. The boat's staff will check your ID again to match your name against their passenger list. Our motley holiday week crowd numbered about 80 people of all ages and walks of life. There is both indoor and outdoor viewing areas on the boat. Once on board the M/V Sam Houston for our 230 PM Tuesday tour, we passed a number of large anchored tankers, the Coast Guard station, various industrial plants (oil refineries, electric generating, gypsum processor, iron ore, and molasses: yes, I know, molasses?), sailed under the Sidney Sherman bridge, until we got to the turning basin to make the return. Coffee was available immediately after launch but the free soft drink was held back until we reached the turning basin. The ship's captain narrated the various sights but also took several pauses so it wasn't a frenetic mish-mash of minutiae. A very interesting point was when he pointed out that a little park on the starboard side was the site where General Sam Houston captured General Santa Anna during the historic battle of San Jacinto.** A small gray marker sits next to a tree in the park but is inaccessible via land. The ship's crew were visible and approachable - though they were slightly troubled by my desire to re-enact the Titanic's most memorable line: "Iceberg, dead ahead!" as we returned to the dock. Not so much troubled by the thought of icebergs but the fact that I wanted to say it. For all of their security processes, they don't screen for melodramatics. Since I was with Soap Opera Dude, this bit of acting didn't faze him one bit since he's worked with bigger hams than me. Plan ahead, take an interesting friend or two or even a date, and enjoy seeing one of the hidden engines of our local economy. Theatrics optional but not mandatory. * Yes, Soap Opera Dude is a real person and lives in Hollywood. He appears in some of my Los Angeles reviews (if you care to read more). ** For those of us rusty on our Texas history, this was the climactic battle in 1836 when Texas defeated Mexico and secured our independence as a republic. Unfortunately, the republic lasted only 9 years before crushing debts compelled us to join the Union. read more

Sam Houston Boat Tour - M/V Sam Houston in foreground. Tanker in background - Boat Tours Near Me - Houston, Texas

This boat tour was soooo fun! I loved seeing the industrial activity happening along the Houston Ship Channel: largest refinery in the nation operating, scrap being loaded onto barges, grain elevator dumping grain into a ship, container ships, HUGE ships everywhere, tug boats, various flags (many from Greece or Cyprus), ship workers waving to you from high up in their ships, huge pile of gypsum, tires lined up against docking areas, etc... They didn't allow photos. I was disappointed about that and slightly annoyed when I saw other people taking photos of themselves against the awe-inspiring background with their cell phones! They give you a free drink (soda or water) on the tour, which is pretty generous. Throughout the tour, the captain describes the sights on the microphone and you can go outside and take everything in. If the area didn't smell so toxic, I'd take my parents at least once a year. I came in the summertime a few years back but I've heard it's less smelly in colder temperatures. It was also a little unsettling to see the birds on the shore near the water aka. toxic soup. I don't remember if there were fish in the water but I vaguely recall seeing a man and a boy fishing somewhere. You have to make reservations online to come. Go to their website, click the calendar day you want to come, submit your names, and print out confirmations for each person. Make sure everyone brings their Driver's License since that's what the friendly guards at the entrance check when you drive in. If you come on a weekday or some unpopular day, you won't need to reserve very early in advance. Otherwise, it's best to do so a few weeks early. There's a small park, restroom area, and vending machines where you wait for the tour boat to pick you up. It's a nice boat. You can sit indoors, but we like to stand up outside and admire the scenery. You might be able to look at the arrival / departure schedule of the ships in that particular terminal and try to identify the ships. read more

Pretty cool free activity.. Even for those of you that call Houston home . I know I have driven over the bridges of the channel a million times yet to actually go down to the channel was really cool.. Seeing the terminals and some of the HUGE Ships up close and hear some facts... They showed us a car transport ship for Volkswagon that held 5000 cars they said... That is one BIG SHIP lol .. Yes you do have to channel some of your inner nerd to enjoy this trip... Teenagers will probably be bored and glued to their phones but who cares? it is a free 90 minute boat ride down the ship channel. 90 minutes on a boat so bring sunscreen . The best views are outside .. Though you can stay inside the boat if you wish on some cushioned benches in the air conditioning .... YES AIR CONDITIONING LOL... So when your relatives come in hounding you for something to do in August when it is 105 degrees . They can stand on the bow and sweat while you stay nice and cool lol. Website says sometimes reservations fill up months in advance .. You stand a better short notice chance during week . We were able to grab two seats for a Friday with just a days notice .. Boat holds 100. But only two tours a day There are free Sodas for all at the end of the tour as well.... read more

Sam Houston Boat Tour - Shot of brays landing restaurant on brays island ... It is worth the brunch on a Sunday as well - Boat Tours Near Me - Houston, Texas

Nice boat tour, great staff!! It's something to do as a family or if you're just visiting Houston TX. Educational & fun , best part is FREE no excuses. Book online & remember the date of your tour I went with my daughter & enjoyed it. read more

# To the Budget Traveler: This is a TOTALLY FREE ride. You just need to make a reservation at the Sam Houston Boat Tour website. Finding the boat: If you follow the address to 7300 Clinton Dr. you may become a little worried that you find yourself in an industrial park. Don't worry you are in the right place. When you get to the gate a guard will ask you to show proof of the reservation (I just had the confirmation email on my phone and that was enough). Then take the road straight with palm trees on both sides. You will find ample parking. I have attached a picture of the Sam Houston Boat when it is docked to this review, which may help you to recognize it. PROs: It is completely free. If you love ships, ports and factories then this is the place for you. The ship is quite nice inside with a video camera showing the front of the ship if you don't want to go outside. There is a bathroom onboard. There is a complementary soft drink at the end of the ride. CONs: If you are not into ships and factories then you may want to stay away even though it is free. There are a lot of oil businesses in the port so it is kind of smelly. If you are looking to get a nice view of the city from the port then you are NOT going to get it. The water was quite dirty on the day that I went. A lot of plastic bottles, scrap wood, tires... oh yes ... and a dead bloated cat. Maybe this was due to the storm that had passed through Houston a couple of days before, but still it was tough to focus on the tour guide's information if I was trying to make out what was floating in the water. read more

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Free tour with free beverage (coffee on the way out and canned sodas after they make the turn around - one can per guest and you gotta be quick as the serving window is like only 10 minutes). Tours at 9 am and 2:30 pm. We picked the latter. It says reservations required but nobody checked names or ID. It also said be there at 2 pm. But the Boat started boarding at 2:35 pm and we got back at 3:50 pm (web says tour supposed to be 90 min). Restrooms are in the boat as well as at the dock. Not much narration during the tour which was fine with me. Entrance is at off Clinton. There's a faded "gate 8" sign. Just tell the guard you're there for the boat tour and he'll let you drive In (go all the way to the end of the driveway until it dead ends). Was concerned about motion sickness but didn't get even close to being sick. Sign to boat says no backpacks but many folks had them. read more

Before I get into this review there are a few important facts to know about this tour: 1. You must register ALL people (including children) who will be aboard the ship. 2. You must bring identification at check-in. 3. You must arrive at least 10-20 min. prior to embarkation because they will leave you if you are not on time. 4. This tour is completely FREE and great for children and families. Now on to the review... I attended this boat tour for a UYE (Unofficial Yelp Event) organized by Mike M. If you are using GPS, the location is not hard to find. You must stop at a check point and show ID upon entering GATE 8. Driving up to the boat's location was interesting as new palm trees line the property to add decor. That was kinda cool but this tour is definitely not a tropical scenic one. We arrived about 25 min. before embarkation and met Mike M. We were introduced to other Yelpers before we left. I noticed ALOT of trash (i.e. plastic bottles) that had emptied from the bayou into the port. I wonder if this ever gets cleaned up because it is definitely not a good look. Upon boarding and coming back to the dock, passengers must sit inside the boat until an announcement is made that it's OK to go outside. This well maintained boat is one level, carpeted on the inside with air conditioning and plenty of seating. On this trip most passengers stayed outside to take in the views of the port as the Captain narrated. My family enjoyed this tour. The port is HUGE as it normally takes about 90 minutes from start to finish. I also never realized how big the financial impact of this port is on the economy...nearly $200 billion dollars. Not only was I educated on this tour, I was entertained as well. This tour is great for kids and families. I will definitely be coming back! read more

If you are booking for a large group, be prepared to book at least a few months in advance. We saw people from as far as Austin come for this free boat ride that explores a 7.5 mi stretch of the Sam Houston Channel. Check out the website for interesting facts leading up to the Sam Houston channel (and the need for a fully functioning port and waterway to handle exports/imports), a detailed visual array of things to see (from animal wildlife to the various boats and the flags of the countries represented). We saw boats from China, Hong Kong, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, as well as from the States. The boat supposedly could handle about 100 people, but that morning there were probably at most 50 people, so there was plenty of room to wander around the ship. You can either gaze at the channel outside, or sit inside on comfy padded seats. There is also a video cam stationed inside the cabin for your sightseeing pleasure. This will captivate any young kids who love seeing tugboats, barge cranes, cargo ships, and ro-ro carriers. For firefighting enthusiasts, before you get on the boat check out the fire station next door (Port of Houston Authority). The captain and his fellow firefighters were incredibly welcoming and accommodating to our questions and our desires for photos (yes, tourists!). My 5 year old son was so excited taking it all in - the oversized excavators, the barge cranes, the larger than life boats, the water, and the huge chemical plants. Yes, some of the places you pass by are dirty, rundown wearhouses, and we did see trash and debris floating around. However, most of the trash is not from the visiting ships, but from the streets of Houston. Most of the stuff that people litter the streets with ends up disappearing down storm drains, only to reappear in the Channel. So be educated and let people know to stop littering. I would highly recommend this tour to families with young kids in the 4-9 yrs old. range. However, my observation was that the older kids (upper elementary to middle school) seemed disinterested as time wore on. Bottom Line: This offers sweeping views of the waterway, wildlife, cargo ships, and the port. How much? NO COST.. It's well worth the price of your gas. Recommended! read more

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The Sam Houston Boat Tour is a free service of the Port Authority of Houston. You have to register about a month in advance to get a spot. We greatly enjoyed it and the narration of the captain so you can understand what you're looking at as you cruise past massive ships and factories. The inside of the boat has comfortable seating that keeps you out of the wind. Inevitably you will feel compelled to go outside and feel the polluted Houston wind on your face but hearing the ship sounds and seeing a tug boat can make it worthwhile to face the pollen and factory pollution cocktail. Eh, its Houston. I was really surprised to be given a free soda on the back of the boat. And I was even more surprised to see the monument where Santa Anna relinquished control of Texas to Sam Houston is located under two trees between two massive factories. as my mom said.. well I guess that's what TX thinks of Santa Anna. Yep. If you have small boys who love Bob the Builder, the array of equipment you get to see on this tour is amazing. I have never seen so many cranes in such a short period of time. read more

AHOY MATES! After reading Tracey & Edgars review of the Port of Houston I was super excited to schedule a visit. Upon exiting my car at the pavilion area I could smell the excitement...er....I mean tar & petrochemicals in the air. My husband kept making snarky remarks about how with each breath he was shaving years off his life. Yeah....the smell was kinda that bad. No bother! Onward ho to our sea vessel for our maiden voyage into the deep brown abyss that is the Port of Houston. So, in my head, I was envisioning lots of action in the shipping lanes, I mean, lets face it...this port is ranked numero uno in the United States in foreign waterborne tonnage (whatever that means). Hmmmm, not so much....we saw several large boats docked but nothing else was even moving in the water other than our vessel. We also saw a lot of refineries, the coast guard, lots of garbage and a gypsum mill. I've got to be honest, I really was expecting more. There weren't even ships from far away lands, they were all from the good ol' USofA. Perhaps since we went on Sunday everything was closed (?) I dunno, there really is no other explanation at the lack of action. Right when it appeared we were about to reach more interesting waters, the ship turned around and began to head back. Despite the fact that there really wasn't that much to see, I did enjoy my voyage. I find the gritty industrial side of Houston somewhat fascinating. The one question the boats crew did not address was exactly how toxic the water was we were sailing thru. I'm still still curious about that.... The boats crew had no qualms about picture taking and served a complimentary soft drink half way thru the trip. I definitely would not bring out of town guests here (there are much cooler places to take them) but for a Houstonian such as myself it was a fun way to waste an hour of the day. read more

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Can't beat a free 90 minute boat ride! Runs on time and plenty of space on board to walk around or sit inside. Make sure you bring your sunglasses and hat if you plan to stay outside. They serve free complimentary water and pop on the way back to the dock. Nice for a quick family outing. read more

This was on my to-do list for years, finally had visitors in town and it was available. I think it must be busier during the summer or something because in the past whenever I checked availability it was completely booked. Our tour wasn't even full. The boat itself is fairly large, with air conditioned seating fore and aft, as well as bathrooms below. You can go out and stand or walk around the entire length of the boat. The front was very windy on our out trip, and much less so on the return. We saw several large ships docked and in various stages of loading/unloading cargo. The people manning the boat and running the tour were very professional and the narration offered information on the basic history and characteristics of the port. The entire trip took almost an hr and a half but felt like it went faster. As others have said, it's not glamorous, but it is interesting. read more

You get what you pay for ... it is free. That should explain much of what you may expect. It takes weeks to actually get a spot on the boat. The one-hour trip from the upper turning basin of the Ship Channel down to the Washburn Tunnel and return is interesting but too short. The 1958 vintage vessel is well maintained and clean with a pleasant crew. Nothing special but after all ... it is free. read more

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Update: 5 stars was too high before. I went back, this time with an out of towner. The boat is in need of some renovations. The seating is subpar and the narraration was poor, and really loud when close to the speakers. This is still a cool thing to do at least once, particularly with the children or out of town guest. The tour is always free, just book on the website in advance. read more

It's an OK tour, it was interesting to have a look around the port and the channel. It wasn't well sign-posted, there was maybe one sign that tells you where to go and then zilch. It doesn't look like a particularly tourist-y area either, so when you're down there, you wonder whether you're supposed to be there or not. The staff at the front gate were very friendly, though, when you get to where they tell you to go, there's no indication of what you should do. We were advised to show up early for the tour, but once you get there, there's no signs to tell you to wait, or what to do ahead of time. We all just ended up hovering around under the shade for a while, until you feel like the boat should be boarding and you kind of meander down to the boat hoping someone will direct you once you get there! The tour is a 90 minute tour, the boat is a great boat and it's air conditioned on the inside. Once you venture outside in to the sunshine (and, where you can see the sights more clearly) you suddenly lose all ability to hear the tour. I had no idea what I was looking at or what I was sailing past. I was surprised they gave us a free soda though, very good touch, and the flag pole at the front of the boat made for some excellent photo-ops! I much preferred the 2 hour Galveston tour for $10, worth every penny!! read more

The Sam Houston Boat Tour was super! It gave me a chance to see many of the large boats that were on both sides of the Channel. We had excellent weather - if it had been raining, they would expect us to stay on the boat anyway. I took a lot of photos of the different boats. I waved at some of the men on the boats and they waved back. That was very nice. There are several areas on the boat. Inside on the front and then outside on the very front. In the back there is an inside room and the bathrooms are downstairs. The seats are comfortable though I found standing out on the front the best place to take photos. The tour does not cost anything. You can set up your trip online but do not expect it to be anything but a couple of months. I think I will do it again. read more

I give this FREE tour 5 stars for sevral reasons one being it's free and 2 it's exactly what it is a tour of the Industrial Port of Houston there is usually a wait for about a month but we were able to get reservations 2 days before we actually went so I guess you just have to continuously check it other than that it was about an hour and a half long and was pretty cool considering unless you work there you won't get that point of view they offer drinks on the tour for free and the guard at the entrance was very helpful and you really can't get lost getting there read more

Sam Houston Boat Tour - Boat Tours Near Me - Houston, Texas

My husband and I, decided to take my mother in law to Sam Houston Boat for the first time coming from New York.She really liked the view to the water. read more

After waiting to find an opening on a date we were in the Houston Area we finally scored a tour! I read the reviews and they were good. BUT, We were so disappointed in the tour. It had all the right things going for it...a beautiful boat, lots of crew, good organization, cold drinks, and an active port. What stunk? The air of course...but we new that. The tour was almost non-existent. There was very little narration beyond telling where the ships hailed from and pointing out the monument marking "the spot" were Santa Anna was taking prisoner. Beyond that sooooo little info! I thought this might be an off day. It was during spring break. So I emailed the boat tour reservations and asked. I never received a reply. I do not know if this is the norm or if the regular guide was out at that time. All I can say, is that we drove up from Surfside which is one of the entry points for the Intercoastal Waterway and it is where the Port of Freeport is. You can see many similar ships coming and going and catch some fish too. Without decent narration on the tour this is a better bet. No I would not recommend this tour. read more

Came to Austin to visit our daughter and son-in-law and decided that Houston was going to be the place to visit on this trip. Saw they had the free boat tour and thought this could be fun! It was raining and cold but since we had already made the reservations, we decided it was still a go. There were 4 of us and we were all warmly greeted upon our arrival to the boat. It was very clean, staff was friendly and professional. Free coffee upon heading out and half way through they offered complimentary soda and water. Loved the narration throughout the trip. Staff was also more than willing to answer any questions we had. Lots of windows for viewing inside or if the weather is nice you can stand outside. We would definitely do this again. Great family trip. read more

This free 1.5 hour public boat tour along the Houston shipping channel gives a different perspective on Houston's industrial port. Be prepared for a midly displeasing odor. The boat is very clean & well maintained. No photography, drinks, or food is allowed. They do provide a complimentary soft drink half way through the tour. read more

Put me on almost any boat, and I'm a happy gal. The Sam Houston Boat Tour is a great way to spend an hour and a half cruising down the Bayou to see a different side of Houston. It takes you to the industrial side, and gives you a glimpse into the port life. Huge tankers, vessels and all kinds of manufacturing facilities lining the shores make for a pretty interesting sight seeing tour. The captain does a nice job of narrating without being overly talkative. In late February on a sunny day, it was perfect weather for a cruise. The air-conditioned interior would make a nice respite for the rest of the year if you needed to get out of the sun. Halfway through the ride, they offer a small water or soda, which is a nice touch of a totally free excursion. The reservations do fill up quickly, so plan in advance if you can. Remember to bring a picture ID to get you into the parking lot and on the boat. read more

Sam Houston Boat Tour - How often can you say you've been under 610? - Boat Tours Near Me - Houston, Texas

tour was pretty nice. It was great to see industrial part of Houston. A free service I wouldn't have minded paying for!