Set sail for True Love, a truly enjoyable time! Bottom Line Up Front: We had a wonderful, relaxing, and fun time for a good price. The Good: The history of the John Alden designed schooner is worth reading before you go. We had some more "salty" members of our group that recognized the name of the schooner from the 1956 movie "High Society" starring Bing Crosby, Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra and after that we were on board for a wonderful time. We even were seated in the seats once occupied by Gene and Bing. We purchased our tickets after being approached by Terry who negotiated a decent price with us because he wanted a full boat for the next trip. Captain Bill was an experienced Captain and is well known in the area. He got us underway and was a delightful host regaling us with stories about the "True Love", Seneca Lake and surroundings, as well as, some stories about racing the "True Love" and his crew, Spencer and Marena. Captain Bill even assisted another sailing boat that was in distress and precariously close to the lake edge. The trip was two hours long and on time. The crew served non-alcoholic and adult beverages (some free, some for a price) while underway and also sold some souvenirs (Whisky and glasses). The Bad: There was nothing bad, from start to finish, this was a very enjoyable trip and the crew definitely enjoyed sharing their love of the "Trie Love" with the joyful passengers. The Ugly: Absolutely nothing other than we could not be out for longer. If you find yourself in Watkins Glen, this is definitely an enjoyable to kick back, relax, and let the wind fill your sails. They say a picture is worth 1000 words, so I am going to end my post with a few that we snapped along the way. May you have fair winds, and following lake waters! read more

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Excellent sailing experience The crew was great and was very eager to make sure we had a great time The boat was in excellent condition read more

What a wonderful experience! A boat ride on Seneca Lake was not on our radar, but when our airbnb host suggested Schooner Excursions (particularly True Love), we definitely wanted to check it out. We easily made reservations for an evening ride only a a few days in advance - definitely appreciate the number of rides they have per day and was pleased it didn't sell out super far in advance. The directions to find the meeting point and boat were very easily to follow, and we were greeted and checked in by the crew on arrival. Then we loaded onto the boat! The history of True Love is awesome - it was featured in a few movies back in the day, and despite approaching its 100th birthday, it is in pristine condition. Although, that's not overly surprising considering all the work the crew clearly puts into its upkeep! As we started sailing, we were pleased that they offered beer / wine service (as well as non-alcoholic drinks), so we indulged a little for our ride. We loved that they offered pours from local wineries and brews from local breweries! The views of Seneca lake were outstanding and unlike anything we could have seen ourselves. The weather was nearly perfect - perhaps a *touch* breezy, but so sunny and quite comfortable for the whole sail. The crew was incredibly friendly, answering our questions about their background / training and daily life working for the company. I loved that the one crew member was the daughter of one of the captains and was studying to take her own captain exam! On our sail, there was an elementary school-aged girl who had a list of questions for the crew - they did a fantastic job answering the questions in an understandable way and made it a fun experience for her and the rest of us on board. Overall, we had a lovely time on our boat ride, and it really added a special touch to our trip to the Finger Lakes. Highly recommend for anyone looking for special views of Seneca Lake and a romantic afternoon or evening! read more

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Terry Stewart is one of the kindest and most patient people we have met in life period! We were running 5 minutes late for our 9/15/23 appointment and he let us know not to worry and gave us directions as how to get to the marina and where to park. My wife and I finally arrived and we apologized for the delay. We were introduced to the crew of Captain Bill, Maria & the Redhead Gentleman (Sorry I forgot your name). They all made us feel as if we were in first class they are very knowledgeable and personable. The views of Seneca lake are stunning and its as if we were looking at the area from 1700's even though we were in the 21st century! The area and its pristine beauty has been preserved well. To my California Folks if you are ever in the Finger lakes area please book a tour with Terry and the crew you will not be disappointed! read more

Weather was iffy. 90 degrees, potential severe thunderstorms. But, we drove form Syracuse and chanced it. Turned out to be an absolutely perfect day. Breezy, half sunny, half overcast, cooler on the water and we zipped along. Captain was great, and we had the chance to talk to the rest of the crew and many of our fellow passengers. It made for a delightful afternoon. Try the local blueberry beer and/or the local rum while on the ship. read more

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Very friendly crew and owner. The late afternoon excursion was beautiful and relaxing. The boat is extremely well maintained and we loved hearing stories from the crew about the boat and about their sailing experiences. Loved seeing Hector Falls and all of the scenery. Would definitely recommend and would love to do again if we're ever in the area again! read more

Out-of-town friends were visiting and wife wanted to surprise her hubby, so they asked us to go along, and we're so glad they did! It was a beautiful day and we thoroughly enjoyed it!! The tour is 2 hours and the ride greatly depends on the weather! It is a sailboat, after all, and so be forewarned! We happen to love being in the water so it was fine with us!! Bottled water and soft drinks are included with your excursion. Beer, wine, and other beverages including a private label rum is available for purchase. read more

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Terry, captain Bill and the crew were EXCELLENT! Very kind, knowledgeable and fun! We had an amazing time and the small touches like blankets and appetizers were a perfect touch. We recommend sailing on True Love if you're in the area! read more

Schooner Excursions - Sailing Near Me - Watkins Glen, New York

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Happy Wednesday Adventurers! I was lucky enough to book a last minute Sunday excursion before I left to head home after visiting Watkins Glen. I am so glad that I decided to book this because the weather was absolutely perfect for it. The entire staff was knowledgeable and well versed in the history of the schooner as well as the surrounding town. The team was also very pleasant when handling the passengers on board. The views were glorious, skies clear, and the heat was just enough to make it feel like summer. They had several alcoholic beverages on board for purchasing--I went with a locally made crisp cider. Pricing about what you'd see at a bar, but it was well worth it considering that you're on a slow moving boat with gorgeous views! The best part is that you could have laid out on the floor to sun tan and lounge. I recommend this being a stop for anyone who decides to visit the Watkins Region. read more

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The one star review is specific to the customer service we received for a rainy day. We were told if it rained we would be refunded. Well it rained and instead of being refunded we were rudely told to wait (after our scheduled time) for the rain to stop. We paid for a trip we never took. Our friends also tried to get a refund and were hung up on over the phone. Beware if it rains you may experience a similar experience. Rude customer experience. Zero sympathy for my pregnant wife. We are escalating our experience to my credit card company and the BBB. read more

We had a wonderful sunset sail. The drinks were good, as were the snacks. The staff was super friendly and knowledgeable about the area and history. We advise you to ask them to tell you about the history of the area! read more

Schooner Excursions - Sailing Near Me - Watkins Glen, New York

An absolute must-do if you're visiting Seneca Lake / Watkins Glen area. This was a gorgeous excursion on the Schooner True Love. We sailed for 2-hours, sipping wine, and snacking on cheese. We did a private tour on Sunday afternoon. The weather was perfect (albeit less windy than expected for a good sail so we scooted along with the engine most of the way). We loved checking out Hector Falls, which was close by our Airbnb so to see it from further out in the water was beautiful. The houses along Seneca are gorgeous and provided quite the backdrop to the scenery and wineries that line the lakefront. The staff are absolutely wonderful, we loved hearing more about their experience and chatting with them along the trip. read more

Amazing boat & crew... made memories on the True Live that will last a lifetime! I highly recommend this experience!

This was a spur of the moment decision on our last day of vacation in the Finger Lakes - in this case we truly saved the best for last! We were on a mid-day sail in June. The weather was absolutely perfect for a ride on the lake. It was quite windy so we learned about tacking. We were impressed with the captain who had full control of the boat the entire time and even went around and greeted everyone on board while one of the staff was at the wheel. Speaking of the staff...they were wonderful. I hope that if you go on a sail you are lucky enough to have Josh and Katie on board with you. Katie is just a fun and bubbly person. She's only been with the company for a couple of months but looks like a pro. Josh was born and raised in the area and has so much knowledge and information. We really enjoyed talking with both of them. We really can't imagine a more fun or perfect thing to do while in the Watkins Glen area. The sail is 2 hours long and highlights for us included seeing Hector Falls from the lake as well as meeting some really nice people on board. This is absolutely worth the money and will give you lots of great memories! read more

I original booked the Sunset Sail for 5 on their website and paid in full, however got a call the day before to reschedule due to weather. Thus, I rescheduled to the 3-5pm sail for the following day and they refunded me the cost difference. The boat seats approx. 22 people, not including 3 staff. For 2 hours, the boat sails 2 miles out in Senaca Lake, then back, total 2 hrs. - Check in process was seamless; you sign a waiver and off you go! - Wine and Beer available for sale. Free water. If you bring your own water, you can keep it cold in their cooler. - The staff was very friendly and happy to let us pull up the sails. - Bathroom available in the lower level! - It was a beautiful day out in the lake and it was fun first time sailing! - The boat just got a face lift last yr, so the interior/exterior is gorgeous! - Definitely wear sunblock, sun glasses and a hat! Some people took their shoes off. - On the sail back, I was able to lay down on the cushions and took a 10mins snooze, it felt heavenly! - If you have the time, I would definitely recommend this, however I would rather do the sunset sail just because it won't be as hot and sunset over Senaca Lake is a beautiful sight. read more

My partner and I took a midday ride on the True Love and had a wonderful time. The crew and Captain were very courteous and kept us informed and interested by telling stories about the boat and the sights as we sailed. Non alcoholic drinks were complimentary and Beer and wine were available at a reasonable price. We highly recommend a visit if you're ever in Watkins Glen read more

Sailed at 12:30 p.m. promptly. i was pleased from the very first moment I stepped on the boat. Friendly and knowledgeable people to help you from the beginning to end. The crew on board goes above and beyond to make certain you are enjoying yourself. We were blessed with a beautiful day. I am already looking forward to sailing again. It was my 5 year anniversary of meeting my fiancé, and every minute was enjoyable. Thanks from us to the owner, captain and crew. See you soon Virginia & Chris read more

Had the pleasure of sailing on the Love Schooner over Labor Day weekend. The Captain was lovely, the crew was attentive, professional and polite. The sailboat is just gorgeous, well kept and very clean. Give this excursion a sail. So romantic, so beautiful and really a wonderful time. read more

Excellent experience for my first time sailing. Our captain was super knowledgeable about the history of the area. He also provided an excellent recommendation to check out Eagle Cliff Falls in Montour falls since we were staying in this area. Very relaxing sunset cruise with local beers and wine for sale on the boat. Complimentary local cheese was also provided. Highly recommend if you're visiting Seneca Lake area. read more

The captain and crew of the True Love showed my friends and I a great time during a sunset sail on Seneca Lake this past weekend!! We got to see a good portion of the southern end of the lake during the two hour sail. They offered us water, soda and delicious fresh fruits, cheeses and hummus for no charge. Wine was also available for a small fee. We even got to witness someone propose to their girlfriend during our voyage!!! I would definitely recommend sailing with Schooner Excursions to anyone that enjoys being on the lake. read more

Schooner Excursions - Sailing Near Me - Watkins Glen, New York

We always make a point of closing out our vacations to the Finger Lakes with a sail on the True Love. Th crew is very friendly and always eager to answer any questions. The offer complimentary soda & water along with a fruit platter & local cheese. Beer & wine is also offered. Sailing right up to Hector Falls is great as is going by the cliffs in Hector. Always great for a romantic outing. read more

We had booked this trip and were excited about going. The day of it was raining and they told us when we called that they would refund if there was rain. Then the owner pushed our time back and told us they would not be refunding us. He ended up hanging up on both my husband and his friend. I am pregnant and didn't feel comfortable going out in those conditions and thought it would have been an easy understanding. I couldn't believe how rude he was and his tone. Not professional. read more

The crew made the experience awesome the boat was beautiful. Had an amazing experience definitely recommend it to anyone one of all ages had a great time. read more

Schooner Excursions - Sailing Near Me - Watkins Glen, New York

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An outstanding way to enjoy Seneca Lake! True Love is a beautiful vessel with a great history. She is well maintained and suited to Seneca Lake's size and winds. The captain and crew were wonderful and pleasant, engaging all passengers throughout the trip. It was fun to watch them operate the vessel and they explained many things along the way. The trip isn't rushed at all, and is quite relaxing. Water and soda are available for free, with wine and beer available for purchase. Not sure I would recommend for small children. Be sure to tip the crew at the end of the trip - our crew were both college kids who greatly appreciated it! read more

What a great one hour cruise along the lake. The team of captain John and his grandson Joshua was a delight. Both provided an escape and a wealth of information along a quiet and smooth trip. Definitely recommend this little retreat. read more

True Love is the schooner from the film "High Society" starring Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra. It now cruises Seneca Lake. The two hour cruise was wonderful and they served water and soda, wine and beer for a charge, and fruit and cheese. The captain was very knowledgeable and personable. read more

Really nice crew and captain. Could not sail because of lack of wind but that was not the crews fault. Nice boat and great fees of the houses on the water read more

Went on the True Love - fantastic time!!!!! It's something you never think about and we were glad we did it. The captain let us steer, the crew was so friendly and knowledgeable. This was a fantastic couple of hours!! Highly recommend taking the time to do this! read more

The trip on True Love brought back many memories. We first sailed on her in St Thomas many years ago. We lucked out there was wind and the sails were up. The crew is friendly knowledgeable,and helpful. Water and soft drinks are complimentary. Beer and wine are for sale. read more

Such a wonderful, memorable night! The crew on the True Love was amazing! Friendly, knowledgeable. Highly recommend!

Took the 12-2 pm sail, it was wonderful! The crew was so nice! It was a beautiful day. They served beer and wine for $4-7 and free water or soda. Highly recommended. Wonderful views of Seneca Lake!! read more