The Sam Patch Tour Boat offers various tours of the Erie Canal. One is at night, others for birders, another for kids. I took the 90 minutes tour through Lock 32, which goes through it, tours a bit, and turns around. Light refreshments including beer and wine are available. The tour guides are well informed and the staff very friendly. It's a pleasant and educational trip. Adults pay $30, with lower fees for seniors, military and kids. Very much worthwhile. read more

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Pre-pandemic, I took my initial tour on a Sam Patch boat. It was very nice, but the leaves were not in full fall color. Last October, when the Fall color was at its peak, I decided to take another canal tour. A lunch tour to lock 32. At the last minute a friend wanted to join me. I called the office, and they were able to accommodate us, but not able to get the lunch for her. We had a blast. We shared the Fairport Lunch, drank seltzer water and beer and shared the boat with a group on a surprise tour that ended on the canal tour. This trip was completely different from my previous one in the opposite direction. The experiences were different and the colors of the foliage enviable; gold, reds, oranges. The weather was perfect, partly cloudy, and then the sun broke and warmth came up and we had a sunny day Toward the end of the ride, the wind started to pick up. Along the way there were historical facts given by the crew. And we sang the famous "Low Bridge" song I was very happy, and my friend was also impressed with the trip. I highly recommend this tour. read more

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Our tour guy, Evan, was simply a great person for this job. He's funny, informative, presentation of jokes or stories was great and had everyone laughing or shaking their heads lol He explained the whole tour dude what we were seeing and information on what would be going on along the canal. All very interesting. Then to hear him break out in song and the saxophone. Just a perfect end to the cruise. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a tour read more

Sam Patch Tour Boat - Sam Patch on the Eerie canal - Boat Charters Near Me - Pittsford, New York

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It was so much fun to play "tourist" in our own town on Friday night. We took an evening cruise on Riverie, the new boat in the @cornhillnavigation fleet. Captain Larry and crew took good care of us and narrated the sights as we cruised the Genesee River and the Erie Canal for 90 minutes on a perfect summer evening. We ended the evening with margaritas and Mexican dining at @la_casa_roc in the South Wedge. I highly recommend it. #roc #eatlocal #summervibes read more

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High quality and amazing service! My wife and I did a small and intimate vow renewal ceremony on the Riverie boat. I was amazed at how professional and friendly the coordinator was. After I booked the event, I got email confirmation and they reached out to me help see how they could help with the ceremony. I trusted how they wanted my vision for the event to come true. Communication was smooth. When I arrived, the boat was already clean and ready for us to board earlier than expected. They were excited and happy to see us. I just feel very encouraged and supported by the customer service. The Riverie is a great choice for a private event. We had 12 people in our group and it was enough space for the officiant, my wife and I to be at the front if the boat and for our 9 guests to watch for at 10 minute ceremony. Thanks so much! read more

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We had a really lovely time on the Sam Patch Tour Boat! The crew was really nice, accommodating and knowledgeable. The boat was small but spacious (I'd recommend sitting up near the bow so you can easily see some of the fun) and the snacks and drink options were good (loved the local beer selections). By far, the best part was going through the Lock! This is something that I never though I'd do, or want to do, but so awesome to be a part of! For the money this tour is totally worth it! I also recommend saving room for gelato after the tour at the spot right where you dock read more

Sam Patch Tour Boat - Coming up on the Lock! - Boat Charters Near Me - Pittsford, New York

Highly recommend! Terrific tour for locals or out of town guests. Great experience for all ages. Learned so much about Rochester history from how the boats were used to help slaves escape to how and why the canals were built. We even spotted some blue heron! Absolutely loved when they played The Erie Canal song on the way back and everyone sang along. read more

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What a great trip! From the dock at Schoen Place through Lock 32 and back, everything was terrific (even with overcast and drizzly weather.) The guides were wonderful and knowledgeable. Learned so much and had a fabulous experience. read more

Sam Patch Tour Boat - Boat Charters Near Me - Pittsford, New York

The Riverie was very nice. Captain Tom & crew were great. I'd do it again! read more

History at its best! Learning first hand about historic events that were disrupters and changed the course of history. The Erie Canal put New York State on the world map. A ride on the Sam Patch puts you back in time to appreciate the marvels of human ingenuity. The Erie Canal has been called the 7th wonder of the world! This tour makes that wonder come to life. Great tour, friendly and knowledgeable staff, carefully making your ride safe and memorable. read more

Sam Patch Tour Boat - Interior of the boat. - Boat Charters Near Me - Pittsford, New York

I highly recommend this tour. Seven of us did the tour, the oldest being 89 and the youngest 14 years old and we all enjoyed it. We got some NY history, entertainment (us singing along) and1.5 hours on water for a reasonable price; a 3-fer. You could get some snacks on board to if you're sort of desperate. Get your feed on before or after the tour is best. There are very good restaurants dockside. However, there is water, beer, soda, wine and other snacks on board for sale. We ordered water all around for our crew. After the introduction and safety briefing by the Captain you are encouraged to move about to get the best views as you go along. We went through Lock 32 and returned then passed the dock for about a mile in the other direction of the Erie Canal. The Captains mate shared a lot of canal history and folk lore making the trip very interesting. read more

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgAFqNF5QRM The Sam Patch Tour Boat is a fun as well as historical ride along the old Erie Canal. A lot of great views and scenery. You get to see how the locks work, the way things were back in the days. The Captain was a good skipper, he knew the canal inside and out, was polite and informative. A long with the first mate who talked about the canal and it's history. They sell snacks and refreshments on board also. And there are places to dine near where the Sam Patch docks. I definitely suggest to anyone who enjoys the water, boat rides, history, to sail on the Sam Patch Tour Boat. Check out my video. read more

Relaxing fun cruise with good information presented by knowledgeable crew members. My friend was here from CA and thoroughly enjoyed it too. highly recommend! read more

Sam Patch Tour Boat - at Lock 32 - Boat Charters Near Me - Pittsford, New York

This tour was on my husbands bucket list for years. When researching the companies they all offered the same type tour. However what drew us to Sam Patch was their foundation for canal learning and history. Well very disappointed. There was little information on the canal, it's importance, history. Just what you would read on a postcard. Thought they would be more enthusiastic about why it is considered the "8th wonder of the world" read more

we actually took a tour on the Riverie, their boat that cruises the Genesee River to the Erie Canal and back. this cruise exceeded all of my expectations. super friendly crew, beautiful ship and stunning scenery. a huge thank you to all of the staff and crew for making our day perfect. read more

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We took the Riverie boat tour from Exchange Blvd through Lock 33 and back. When we made reservations, it said it served Beer and wine and refreshments for purchase. They had water, soft drink and bag of chips. Big disappointment. The narrator was terrible! She could have been way more educated about the area, and the history. She said "I don't know" to questions we googled, and had the answers in a second! It was an expensive ticket for what you get. Waste of money. read more

This was the perfect outing for my husband and I to treat my 89 year old mother and my brother to. We all found it fascinating how the locks work and all of us enjoyed the experience on the water and nature views only available there. The Captain and crew 'Jean' were very informative, attentive and the boat was in ship shape. Just wonderful and so affordable. read more

Great tour and ride. Refreshments available, information about canal and locks provided. Good for families with kids! Easy on and off. (No air conditioning- we went on a 90+ degree day.) Make reservations on line and arrive 10 minutes early for good seating. read more

My friend and I went on the Rivierie out of Cornhill Landing. We both enjoyed the 2 1/2 hour afternoon boat tour up the Genesee River and through Lock 33 on the Erie Canal then back to the landing. Although there were only 6 passengers, they still ran the full tour, The staff was friendly and professional. It was very relaxing. Very limited food and drink on this cruise, but I knew that as I phoned ahead of time. The boat including the bathroom was clean and comfortable. It was fun to go thru the lock. I would recommend this tour. read more

The Sam Patch and Mary Jemison are tour boats run by Corn Hill Navigation. The Sam Patch tours the Erie Canal, departing from Pittsford's Schoen Place. The Mary Jemison departs from Corn Hill Landing in downtown Rochester and tours the Genesee River. My experience was on the Sam Patch recently. A friend gathered a group of friends together for a dinner cruise on the Sam Patch in late September 2009. The cruise began at 6:30 pm, and unfortunately, due to rainy weather and the time of year, we had only about 45 minutes to view the scenary as we travelled down the Erie Canal. The boat went through one lock, the lock next to Clover St., immediately turned around and went through the lock agin. We cruised down past Busnells Basin before returning to Schoen Place in Pittsford. We were on the boat for about 3 hours. Again, my review was largely based upon the weather and time of year, which were poor choices. I imagine, with beautiful weather and longer daylight hours, I would have given the boat tour 4 stars. The food was catered by Lorraine's Food Factory of Rochester and was served buffet style. The food was surprisingly good for a buffet, but Lorraine's has an excellent reputation. There were alcoholic drinks available; I had a 'cup' of cabernet sauvignon and a bottled beer. Unfortunately, the drinks were served in plastic cups, diminishing some of the elegance associated with drinking wine. The beer and wine selection was very limited, but you are on a packet boat. I imagine they could seat only 20 people. Considering the space available on the boat, I was content with the food and drinks. This is not a fancy dinning experience, so do not dress up. Again, my 3 stars was for the overall experience and weather and available daylight were major factors. The cost was quite expensive, again considering the weather & time of year. For two people, with having a combined four drinks (wine & yuengling beer), plus about a 18% gratuity came to $115 (including tickets for the boat ride). For that kind of money, I could have had an amazing dinning experience somewhere in Rochester. Next time (if there is a next time), I'd probably separate the dinning and boat ride experiences. Additionally, I'd bail if the weather was less than ideal. read more

Sam Patch Tour Boat - the Sam Patch @ Schoen Place in Pittsford, NY - Boat Charters Near Me - Pittsford, New York

Fun trip and interesting to learn some of the history of the river and how it was used in the early days of Rochester and district. Also was an interesting feeling as the boat was raised and lowered via the lochs. read more

Sam Patch Tour Boat - Preparing for launch - Boat Charters Near Me - Pittsford, New York

Super easy to book online unless you're me.....accidentally booked the wrong day staff was very accommodating and understanding and quickly rectified my mistake. Great boat and crew informative and amazing cruise through the canal and lock. Every precaution taken during this ongoing Covid situation to ensure safety definitely recommend this cruise read more

Sam Patch Tour Boat - Boat Charters Near Me - Pittsford, New York

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Fun afternoon with fun people from ticket window, to the crew(guide) to the captain. Would do it again maybe with sun this time.

My sister surprised me with what she thought was going to be a lovely boat tour on my birthday (6/11) and we both could not be more confused, traumatized, and distraught over what took place. It started off as a calm ride along the Canal with some good narration, but quickly turned into a near-Titanic experience. By the time we reached the locks, the boat was unable to turn, violently crashing several times into the walls, where we ended up by the gates, taking on an overwhelmingly amount of water. To the point where I honestly didn't expect to return home. I understand that accidents happen, but was very surprised with the lack of disregard for us passengers -- who were of all ages, medical backgrounds, physical capabilities. It's no doubt that their first priority was to get the boat running properly again, but nobody seemed even a little bit concerned with our well-being. No reassurance. No accountability for what had happened. Not even a complementary water. The captain mentioned once that we were experiencing some difficulties, but never again updated us on our safety or our return or what had even happened. To my knowledge, these tours are given all the time and have been for many years, so it's expected that the crew be trained, qualified, and prepared to handle these types of circumstances. Instead, they relied on inexperienced passengers to help secure the boat to the lock walls, leaving some soaked, things falling off of tables, our folding chairs unsteady. After finally returning (although not sure how), over an hour past the expected time, and not seeing more than half of the tour, the captain joked that they were "all out of beer" and while making light of it, told us we could speak with someone to rebook our tour "if we wanted." My sister and I, as well as the other passengers, left immediately (in disbelief/shock/terror) and we decided to contact the manager the following day when we were able to gather our thoughts. We were fully reimbursed (which should've come without asking), but received a completely inappropriate, very sarcastic and snarky response from our captain, gaslighting us and refusing to take accountability. I want to express that my review does not come from a place of "dissatisfaction" from the quality of the tour (mostly because we weren't able to experience more than half of it!) It's not to discourage people from taking tours or coming to the Canal, as this may have been the first/only incident. It's not to turn anyone in, which is why I left names anonymous. It comes from a place of genuine concern for our lives. Our lives were put in danger -- and the public, as well as future passengers deserve to know what happened that day. read more

The Captain and assistant shared some great history of the Canal. Going through the lock was enjoyable. Very knowledgeable crew.

The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable, and the cruise through the lock and back was fun. I'm glad to have done it once. There are other things to do in the area, including restaurants. read more

I purchased as a family excursion for the grand kids birthdays, 4 & 5 years old. It was wonderful!!! The kids said they spent the best day ever! I highly recommend it. Wonderful service. read more

This is my third Erie Canal tour with Sam Patch. It is consistently enjoyable and was a pleasure to share with my family.

We came here with my bf's family since we were looking for something to do that would be good for a 9 month old, her great grandmother, and everyone in between. This was actually pretty cool and I never would have thought of it myself. This ~1.5 hour boat ride led us through the canal and into one of the lochs. They give you some history, throw in a couple jokes, and even have a bar on board in case those other things don't do the trick. On a beautiful Friday afternoon, this little boat ride was relaxing and a good way to experience the area. read more

Booking online was smooth. The tour was wonderful...even in the pouring rain, our college student and high school senior loved it! The tour guide was informative and lively, the ride was comfortable and going through the lock was excellent! Also, good restaurants in the area! read more

Staff were great! Good history & information. Chairs are a little rickety. Since it was very hot, we were glad we could purchase chilled water for only $1. read more

Great trip....especially for taking out of town visitors...of any age. Fun and informative. A great bargain. We went to Pittsford Farms Dairy afterwards for ice cream...a great way to end a fun afternoon. read more

Our family (2 adults, 2 kids) enjoyed this boat ride a lot. We learned about the locks and the canal. It would be a good activity for family who come to town and want to learn about the area. Kind and friendly staff. read more

This is the second time in less than a month I have taken friends on this tour, that are visiting us here. Both times we had a wonderful time and each trip we learned something new. I highly recommend this to everyone! read more

Pleasant intro to some canal history good for visitors and kids. You get to experience a lock from the boat which is different that from onshore, and fun for kids. read more

Had a fabulous time on the Sam Patch. I've done a couple rides including the wine cruise and the Thursday night happy hour. It was great each time and was a fun and beautiful way to spend an evening. My friends and I had a great time, and they had really great drink specials. The crew was nice and accommodating...you could tell they wanted us to enjoy the ride. I'll definitely be back! read more

I took a ride on the Sam Patch with some people from my office and it was tons o' fun. It's so unique to Rochester, to pass by all the little houses and villages on the banks, and the size is perfect for a group of friends to hang out together and enjoy the view. The captain is hilarious and the deckhand was lovely. Can't wait to go again! read more

Every year I come home for a visit and it is not complete without a ride down the Erie Canal on Sam Patch. Good information given on the history of the canal and it is 1.5 hours of plain fun. See you next year. Job well done employees of Sam Patch read more

This boat ride is 90 minutes long and just wonderful! You learn some history, observe wildlife, start and end at Shoen Place in Pittsford, and get to go through a lock. Snacks available on board. Worth every penny! read more

Fun way to spend an afternoon. Kids loved going through the lock especially. Not for adrenaline junkies!