We had a good experience with charles river cruise in our recent trip to Boston. The boat dock was next to a shopping mall with access to restroom, dining options and various shops. The receptionist was friendly. The tour guide was phenomenal. Bearing a great, easygoing and a bit sarcastic personality, she was engaging, knowledgeable, funny and honest about her delivery. I learned a few things about the city and the famous schools from her personal opinion. Very steady and peaceful ride. Clean and well-maintained boat with a bar. Be mindful it's hot inside the boat with the scorching sun in PM so bring water, sun screen and hat, dress lightly. It was our second day in town our bodies still adjusted humidity and heat, I felt I was about to get a heat stroke. It'd be nice if they consider AC operated boat in the future. read more

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We took the 90-minute Charles River Tour Cruise on Friday, August 1st--our first time using Charles River Boat Company. The views were nice, but the experience turned sour quickly due to a lack of passenger care and extremely poor customer service. Halfway through the ride, we were filming the scenery at the front of the boat when, without warning, the captain blasted an incredibly loud horn as a "greeting" to another boat far in the distance. It was completely unnecessary, and the sudden, deafening sound startled everyone around us. I almost dropped my phone into the water. We went inside for the rest of the trip because we no longer felt safe or relaxed. Later that day, we emailed the company with our concerns and offered to send them the video showing exactly what happened. They didn't care. Instead, the Director of Operations, Gibson Cushman, dismissed our complaint, quoted Coast Guard rules (irrelevant in this case), and refused a refund. He offered a credit for another cruise, which felt like a cop-out since we're not local. His response made everything worse--tone-deaf, defensive, and full of excuses. He even tried to blame us, saying passengers should expect loud horns at any time. I had ringing in my ear for 48 hours--if we'd known something like this might happen, we could've worn ear protection. Overall, it was a stressful and disappointing experience. Their focus clearly isn't on guest satisfaction or safety--only on covering themselves. We won't be returning and wouldn't recommend them to others. read more

Charles Riverboat - Boat Charters Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

3.5 rating Nice boat and views Tour guide talked too much and did not have the most useful stories read more

Was a terrific architectural tour of Boston from the bay. Very informative. And we had a great day to enjoy it. read more

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Really enjoyed my recent foliage tour. Most of the boat is enclosed so don't let chilly weather stop you from going. If you do want photos, there is an uncovered spot on the front of the boat. They have a bar onboard and drink ticket specials for groups. Our guide was also the bartender and he was great at multitasking. Would recommend this company to anyone looking for a unique way to view Boston from the water. read more

Planned a corporate social event through Charles Riverboat Company to take a party of greater than 40 people out on a post-work cruise along the Charles River on a weekday evening. We organized a 2 hour cruise with dinner and drinks included. Dayna and Kaitlin were fantastic to work with to help coordinate the event even as we made tweaks and changes through the planning process in the month and days leading up to the event, and they went above and beyond to ensure that everything went smoothly and without a hitch. read more

Charles Riverboat - Meeting point and drop off location at the CambridgeSide Mall dock location - Boat Charters Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Our college reunion group had a wonderful repeat private party experience cruising up and down the river on the Charles I in June, 2025. We enjoyed a delicious dinner buffet and, as before, greatly appreciated the staff's flexibility and patience as we worked out many details and made special requests. They couldn't have been more accommodating. The boat is very comfortable, and handicapped-accessible. The service was great. read more

We had my son's rehearsal dinner on board The Lexington and it was awesome!!!! We went from 6:30 - 9:30 and the skyline view was amazing when we got on, at sunset and then at dark, all amazing!!! The staff was super nice and very helpful!! So fun and would highly recommend. We are actually trying to come up with a reason for another event so we can do it again!! read more

We had a lovely time cruising on the Charles River on a beautiful summer night in Boston. Twenty-six of us gathered onboard and enjoyed drinks and a wonderful catered dinner of salmon, pesto gnocchi, grilled vegetables, salmon, rice, homemade focaccia, and potatoes. Dessert included chili jars lava cakes and fruit tarts. Taking in the sights of Boston while enjoying the slight breeze in the air made for a wonderful evening. read more

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Took the Architecture tour a couple of weeks ago. I'm not really into architecture but it was the only tour available on the day I had time to be a tourist. I was worried it would be boring because of the architecture theme, but it wasn't at all! The tour guide was delightful and I even learned the difference between modern, postmodern, and contemporary architecture so I can impress my friends. Customer service was also great -- I'd originally booked a tour on the wrong date, when I wouldn't be in Boston anymore, because I'm smart like that. There was no way to change it online, but their customer service was happy to switch me to a new date for free after I emailed them. Really nice folks. The boat was comfy enough and the views were great. It does get cold on board so dress warmly during the shoulder seasons. read more

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Grayson was an awesome tour guide. Informative, funny, personable. I really wish they accepted cash for the tickets and for the food, especially since their computer was down! Definitely a good value at $24 read more

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My wife and I were married on the Henry Longfellow. It was an incredible evening. The family and friends that joined us, the amazing staff, and our first mate/onboard manager Allison made it a night we will truly never forget. Thank you again to everyone that made that night so perfect! We want to give a special shout out to our event coordinator, Kaitlin. We initially had two separate venues for our wedding. We planned to have just the reception on the Henry Longfellow, while the ceremony takes place in Boston. It was only a month out from our wedding day, when our ceremony venue fell through and we had to scramble to find an alternative solution. During that stressful time, Kaitlin did an amazing job working with us to combine our ceremony and reception on the Henry Longfellow. She was comforting, accommodating, and a joy to work with. We couldn't have planned our wedding without her! The absolute best!!! Sincerely, Brian & Katy read more

CHARLES RIVERBOAT COMPANY If you've been following us for a bit, then you know how much we our favorite city, Boston! It had been a long four years living in Florida, but one of the activities we grew to love were taking the riverboats (aka "The Pirate Taxi") up and down the Hillsborough River! Therefore, we were thrilled when we discovered Boston's very own equivalent - the "Charles Riverboat Company" cruises! Departing from the Cambridgeside Galleria, this company offers a number of different tour options, but for our first, we went with the classic "Cocktail & Sunset" excursion! We decided to take our voyage on a beautiful Monday evening! Warm breezes and light humidity, it was a great night to be on the river! Our boat was helmed by Captain Ed, with the interior serviced by the truly awesome (and knowledgeable) Barbara, who also acted as our bartender! So you know we had to make friends! Lasting for 90 minutes, we left East Cambridge, passing a number of Boston highlights from our past - including Kell's alma maters of MIT and BU, our first apartment on Bay State Road under the Citgo sign, and our favorite bustling Esplanade along the Charles - with our tour ending by Harvard, before turning around and heading back! It is a beautiful and fun experience for both Boston natives, and those visiting this amazing city - just make sure to watch the radar to avoid summer storms! Also, it is completely affordable around $29 each (cocktails not included) - so we highly recommend checking them out this summer while you can! We know we can't wait to come back for their Boston Harbor "Architecture Tour!" What's your favorite way to check out the Charles River or the Boston Harbor? Who would should we try next? We need more time on that "dirty water!!!" Visited On 08/01/2022 read more

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Went on one of the sightseeing tours this weekend when my mom was visiting from out of town and it was such a great experience. Used Groupon to purchase the tickets which was such a steal. Pro tip: you can book the Groupon, and then call the company to secure the time slot that you want. The boat is completely covered except at the very front, so you have the option to stay seated in the shade or walk around and enjoy the sunny views from the bow. They have snacks and drinks for sale which was such a nice surprise, the bar is pretty well equipped with beer, wine and even a list of some simple cocktails. The boat even has two bathrooms and I was sooo impressed by how clean they were. Our tour guide Noah was knowledgeable and just the right amount of funny. He asked a lot of questions and kept the crowd engaged throughout the tour. We departed right on time and the trip took just over the 70 minutes advertised - long enough to enjoy the river and pick up some fun facts, but not so long that we were bored or tired. Loved this experience, I'll definitely do it again the next time I have out of town guests, I'm looking forward to checking out the architecture tour or going at sunset. read more

When I traveled from Ontario to Boston for my fiftieth birthday this year, I made the decision to purchase a Go Boston Card. The Charles Riverboat Company cruise was one of the many activities to choose from. I love mini-cruises, and this one didn't disappoint. I was afraid that since it was summer, the cruise would sell out. I tried to make a reservation just in case, but if you book using the card, they won't give you one. That, I didn't think was fair. Card customers are paying customers too. You depart from this cruise outside a huge mall. That has its pluses. There is food, drink, a bathroom and shopping if you so desire. You do have to pay for parking as with anything else you choose to do in downtown Boston. I can't remember exactly how much that was, but I believe a pretty good rate like $8-9. You'll need to take the elevator/escalator up to the main floor of the mall and exit out the back. There is a little booth there for the boat company. I went to check in. The girl working there scanned my mobile Go City Card and asked for my last name and told me I was all set. There was a wait to get on the boat, and they won't let you board until it's pretty much time to set sail. When I went to get on, I was asked for a boarding pass, a physical one. Turns out the girl didn't check me in right, so I had to get off the boat and go back to the little kiosk. That was a tad annoying. But the boating company won't get paid if people with the Card aren't checked in right, so I wouldn't want that to happen to them. I can't remember the name of our guide, who was also the bartender, which is a shame. He seemed a little nervous, but he did such a good job and was funny too. There was a full bar on board and it felt so luxurious to enjoy a prosecco while taking in all the sights on the river. Even though it was a hot day, the side windows were open and the cool breeze came in off the water. The seats looked a little hard, but there was a soft cushion across the back with nice big windows, and I was very comfortable there. We learned about the river and why it's coloured brown. Heard about the buildings in Boston's skyline, Harvard and its boathouses, the sailing club on the water, the architecture of the bridges, how the river got its name, MIT and much more. I really loved all the information provided during the cruise. There are lots of beautiful things to see along the way. Very enjoyable activity. If you're looking for something relaxing to do while you learn a lot about Boston, this is the cruise for you. read more

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I wish there were more than 5 stars !!!! We had a fabulous party this weekend on the Valiant. What a wonderful experience. The Charles Riverboat Company Team could not have been more supportive. They listened to our party goals/ideas and created an evening beyond our expectations. Good music with a DJ, excellent food , and a great bar. The Company Team was there for us throughout the evening ---- just making sure that all was going well . The boat is beautiful. Everyone that attended had a great time. Beautiful weather and traveling on the water added to the party. I would highly recommend booking an event with this company. You will not be disappointed. The Charles Riverboat Company Team clearly is passionate about ensuring a wonderful experience for any group booking with them. read more

Went for a sunset cruise around the Charles River. Was definitely value for money. It's a nice simple thing to do in the evenings around the area. Drinks served on the boat as well. Only one server which made the drinks a little slow at the beginning but they were much quicker later into the ride. Was overall great fun and great value read more

I recently booked the general tour by mistake instead of the architectural tour which runs only a few times a week. They very kindly offered to rebook but since we were in Boston just for the day we went. It was surprisingly well done and an entertaining hour was spent. read more

We had a wonderful time on our corporate outing with the Charles Riverboat Company. It was a gorgeous day with beautiful views. The ride went out surprisingly far for our 3hr ride. We were on the Lexington boat which had tons of space. We had two entire floors to ourselves - both indoor and outdoor. Food, drinks, and service in general were excellent! Absolutely worth the value for such an organized event, supportive staff, and fun time! read more

Charles Riverboat - Amazing skyline view - Boat Charters Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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This is for the July 4th Fireworks Extravaganza aboard the Lexington. My friend & I had been trying for 3 years to look for the best spot to view the fireworks show comfortably. After the Sailabration with the community boating, this is by far the best I've come across. We get to come later in the day instead of being in the hot sun all day. When they said dessert, Wine, & beer buffet they mean it! When it was done, they replaced them promptly! The view of the fireworks was amazing! Worth it! read more

Charles Riverboat - Boat Charters Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Only two days in Boston and I had to do a boat tour. It's surprisingly hard to find a boat tour whom does deals on single tickets, but I found CRC on groupon. They're located in the back of the mall, the street entrance has replete with chain restaurants and you enter there, walk to the end of the mall and exit (next to H&m) and the boat is immediately in front of you. The ticket person was very nice, the tour is exactly 70 Mins at sea. The tour guide / bartender provided fun facts and everyone seemed happy. The majority of the boat is covered, or you can stand on the bow. Note: I boarded at the last minute and all was fine. People get it up and move around, I saw a huge line form for the next tour, but it doesn't seem like there's a "point" because there is no good seat per se, because more than likely you won't be in your singular seat the entire time. read more

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Charles Riverboat Company offers 3 cruises: Charles River Tour - 60 min, $14 Boston Harbor & Locks Tour - 75 min, $16 Sunset Cruise - 75 min, $16 We decided to go with the Boston Harbor & Locks Tour (Boston has locks?!) - a 75 minute tour that is offered only at 10am. Their riverboats are located right outside the food court entrance of the Cambridgeside Galleria. Our tour departed at 10am on the dot in the care of our captain and the tour guide, who was doubling as the snack bar clerk. For snacks, they seemed to carry chips, some beers, and Pepsi products. Two unisex bathrooms were available on either side of the snack bar, and were found to be rather cozy and nice. Along with the cushioned benches built against the back of the boat and at the front, 9 rows of 7 chairs were set out for the convenience of the passengers - plenty for us to choose from since our ride wasn't full. We pulled away from the Galleria, passed the Museum of Science and made our way to the Boston Harbor slowly, as we had to wait for a commuter rail train to pass before a pair of bridges could lift for us to sail under, and for the water to level out in the lock. I have to admit, I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to our tour guide, but you could hear him over the speaker whether you were inside the boat or out in the front, which was nice. And I particularly enjoyed his calling the Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 "The Boston Molass-acre." The openness of the boat enabled a breeze to cool us despite it being a hot day. Definitely a good option for a summer's day - a much better idea than walking the Freedom Trail! read more

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We can't recommend this company highly enough. We used the Charles Riverboat Company once before for a night-before the wedding party for family and out of town guests. It was big hit and people still remember it. So when we were trying to figure out where to throw a special event during covid (semi-safe...outdoor...fresh air...) we remember the Charles Riverboat Company. This time our guests were all from Boston or the surrounding towns...again a big hit. The staff both pre-party (Melissa) and the day of the party (Rich, Shelby, Susan) were sincerely interested in making your event work for you and your guests. Really nice people offering a really nice service, it feels great to recommend them unequivocally read more

Dayna and the staff at Charles Riverboat Company made our small wedding celebration simply amazing. We had a group of about 50 people aboard The Valiant and it was perfect in every way. Dayna was excellent from the beginning, listening to my vision for the day and executed it better than I could have imagined! She took care of all the details, made me a timeline, floor plan, and menu. Literally all we had to do was walk onto the boat...which was beautiful! We had the perfect evening - the food was delicious, bar staff was excellent, and we had stunning views of the harbor before we danced the night away. I highly recommend Charles Riverboat Company to anyone planning their next event!! read more

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I am a volunteer tour guide with Boston By Foot, and we partner with Charles Riverboat Company to provide the Architecture Cruise which goes into Boston Harbor and back up the Charles River. I had missed narrating this cruise SO MUCH in 2020 during the pandemic emergency phase! I've narrated 3 cruises in the past week and it is so wonderful to work with the amazing professionals at this company. The customer service, knowledge of the boats, the river, and harbor, are unmatched. Everyone feels safe and enjoys the views, the ride, and our stories. Charles Riverboat Company adds a unique dimension to the tourism experience in Boston for visitors and locals alike. read more

Cecily and the Charles River Boat Company made our July 4th the most special experience our family has ever had on the holiday. The Longfellow boat under the Longfellow bridge was a unique moment and our group loved the hospitality on board along with how clean and well kept everything was. The crew on board, Capt Shaleigh and Leah, felt like part of our family while being super professionals. We plan to use the Charles River Boat Company for future events. read more

Charles Riverboat - Longfellow Bridge from the Henry Longfellow - Boat Charters Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Incredible experience on board the Henry Longfellow! Cecily and her team always exceed our expectations they are amazing to work with! Sam our architectural tour guide was lively and fascinating! Our customers enjoyed every minute! We look forward to our next cruise! read more

We were a group fo five on the friday afternoon of Memorial Day, I went to school up there and still learned alot Grayson,our guide was outstanding. The right combination of history and humor. Memorable experience! Richard Barthelmes read more

I've booked the Henry Longfellow two years in a row for a company outing. They graciously come and pick us up at Herter Park in Allston which is close to our office. The crew has always been friendly and the food is delicious! I recommend adding the cornhole--it's a great way to make the ride more engaging. We were able to hook up our own music while aboard. I highly recommend chartering a boat for group outings. read more

Very well priced better then any tour in boston. The tour guide Dillion made the whole thing better. Very good narration of the history of Boston. read more

My daughter and I had an amazing experience on their sightseeing tour. We had so much fun we're going to their architecture tour! Every time I had a question and called their staff was so kind and helpful. The crew and tour guide were so smart, funny and knowledgeable about Boston! Noah was a great tour guide!! The boat is very comfortable with a covered part and outdooor space. It's super easy to find the dock and is right next to the food court at the mall. Afterwards my husband met up with us and we took a nice walk along the Charles river. I highly recommend this tour! It's reasonably priced and a wonderful experience. read more

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We thought this cruise tour was great! Captain Kevin and tour guide/bartender Noah were fantastic - they kept everyone entertained and comfortable. Noah was very knowledgeable and funny (he's worth the price of admission - which is very reasonable!). It was a great way to spend a very hot Saturday afternoon on the nice, breezy river. It was such a fun experience that it makes you want to go on the other cruises they offer (Architectural, leisurely Booze Cruise, etc.). We couldn't have been more satisfied - highly recommend! read more

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Amazing from beginning to end. We held our faculty & staff end of year celebration on the Charles last week. Everyone enjoyed a nice peaceful lunch with a beautiful view, great music and great service! Macoy, the sales & event coordinator, did such a wonderful job of guiding me throughout the process, having patience and always being so friendly. I highly recommend the Charles Riverboat Company! read more

I took the 90 minute river cruise with my friend. We were walking near the Cambridge Galleria mall and actually stumbled upon the departure pier of this riverboat. The cruise is very basic, but is inexpensive (about $18) and very relaxing and pleasant. You will pass under a few bridges and get great views of the city from the water as well. There is also an informative guide who explains everything you will see. read more

Charles Riverboat - Boat Charters Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I cannot say enough about the Charles Riverboat Company and Cecily Cushman. We had a memorial cruise for my father-in-law. It was a three-hour tour into Boston Harbor. It was a beautiful day on the water, the crew was amazingly professional, the bar staff was absolutely wonderful and able to juggle a crowd that had a non-stop line to the bar. Cecily, especially, was so much help in planning the event, and putting up with multiple members of our family inundating her with calls and emails. The boat itself was awesome. Two floors, spotlessly clean, well maintained, and very stable to walk around and mingle. Everything down to the center pieces on the table was perfect. So many people commented how impressed they were with the boat, crew, and trip. This was perfect in EVERY way. read more

We loved the cruise we took with this group looking at the architectural sights on the Charles River and in the Boston Harbor. We lucked out with perfect weather which added to the pleasure of being out on the water. The narration was interesting (done by someone from Boston On Foot ) and we learned a lot - we used to live in Boston and had no idea about the locks, etc. on the River. The cruise was 90 minutes long and totally worth doing. read more

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Over the past 3 weeks, I have taken 2 Charles Riverboat Cruises, (the sightseeing & the Architectural tour), and BOTH were absolutely amazing, and the guides on EACH cruise offered outstanding KNOWLEDGEABLE narrations, history and details with a PERSONAL & humorous touch which just notched it UP!!!. The architectural tour was a retired engineer from "Boston-By-Feet" tours which I only heard of last month in Washington DC where I also took a couple of tours. read more

We recently held a staff outing on the Lexington cruising around Boston Harbor and couldn't have asked for a better experience! Staff loved being able to spend time together, chat, and drink. Tables were set up with lovely flowers and perfect for sitting down for lunch. For our group's small size we stayed on the top deck, but it was still great that we had the entire boat to ourselves. Working with Melissa was a breeze. She was attentive to all the questions I had from COVID protocols to accommodating and adding an extra lunch bento a few days before the event due to change in headcount. She was also there on the day of our boat trip to greet me and introduce me to the staff working on board. I would love to work with her and Charles Riverboat Company again in the future! read more

Hosted my daughter's bridal luncheon on the Lexington, and the crew could not have been more helpful. From the start to the end of planning Melissa was great, and her suggestions were very much appreciated. All of my guests were thrilled to spend a relaxing day cruising Boston harbor. The boat was spotless and decorated when we arrived, which made it easy for me as the host. I highly recommend cruising with this company as a host or as a guest!! read more

Out of the various duck, bus and boat touring options in Boston, I would definitely recommend the Charles boat one if one enjoys being on a boat( I do). Nice one hour informative and a fairly scenic tour with good boat which have large glass windows and and nice small deck area. Our tour guide a college going young fella was informative and helped appreciate the tour although some of the info was repetitive for us since we had done the hopOnhopOff upper deck trolley tour earlier. Boston doesn't have a great skyline as NYC so if u expecting great skyline views u gonna be disappointed but the Charles River and the Boston riverside has its own beautiful charm. I found the tree lined Boston riverside of Charles River very beautiful and can imagine how pleasant and colorful dig would be to watch it from the Cambridge side in fall season. Verdict - Go for it. read more