Yesterday we went on the leaf peeping cruise on the colonial belle. It was the 1st time we've ever been on it. I very much enjoyed it. The weather was beautiful as the scenery was also. This is a woman owned business who has a an all woman staff. The staff were nice nice & knowledgeable and also walked around and asked us if we'd like a drink they had alcohol on board as well as coffee, water and soda and/ or a snack The captain was also our tour guide giving us some history on the boat and the Erie Canal. We will be back again next year. I do recommend this to anyone who is into the fall season, it's something different to do. read more

See all

We went on a cruise today which was very nice. They had a lunch but could have been better. We will go on a cruise again, but definitely not when food is served read more

We love the Colonial Belle. Our only complaint is the amount of spiders under neath where the seating is. We went on a dinner cruise and the spiders were everywhere. Understanding it's a boat, we would have liked it a little more clean. read more

I had an amazing experience aboard the Colonial Belle. Our tour guide was almost as amazing as the scenery and I loved being in the floor chamber as we traveled down the Erie Canal. We learned the history of the Belle and the history of the Canal. Our return on the boat was accompanied by a father-son musical duo that played relaxing tunes on our journey. My cruise was back in August. The colonial belle sails until October so there's some amazing opportunity to see the leaves change if you're sailing in autumn. read more

See all

We did a murder mystery cruise as a birthday date night. Everyone was very nice and the route was gorgeous. The food was also pretty good. We were one of the few younger people there, so we did feel somewhat out of place. While we enjoyed the theatrics of the cast, the murder mystery didn't feel as immersive or fully planned out as it could have been. In all, it was a good experience but I'm not sure we'd do it again. read more

Colonial Belle - View from the roof - Boating Near Me - Fairport, New York

We did the 90's cruise a few weeks ago and it was lots of fun. They serve food, did trivia and played 90s music the whole time. It was fun and I'd do it again. The drinks were supposed to be 90s themed, but weren't, so that was disappointing. It was a Cosmo and a Sex on the Beach. But they did have servers bring the drinks up to us, so it was good service. I had requested a vegetarian meal, but they didn't have it, so I had salad and 2 rolls because my friend gave me hers. It was a steep price, especially since I barely ate, and drinks weren't included. I would not do this in a non themed cruise. I think I'd have been crazy bored. But the breeze on the top was nice, and the sunset was pretty. I didn't understand why we went into the loch just to turn around... It was also annoying that you always needed to duck under bridges. We'd all be dancing, then need to duck, lol. The bathrooms are ok, but not great. The water comes from the lake so it's gross, but there's signs telling you. And I think the sink was clean, but it was discolored. They also were out of paper towels at the end. I probably could have said something, but we were literally almost done. I'd definitely do the 90s thing again. That was really fun. Or maybe some other sort of them like that. read more

See all

I would like to compliment the operation, management and employees of the Colonial Belle tour out of Fairport NY. As a background I have had a midsized cruiser on the canail for the last twelve years. We tour and live aboard in the Pittsford - Fairport- Macedon area All spring, summer and fall. I have numerous tours on the Belle over the years and never had a problem and have enjoyed every minute. I would highly recommend it. RECENTLY I see a post complaining about the Belles navigation of the Canal. I can only say it is Paul K that needs to be educational on the operation of a Large Craft and not just a pontoon boat. After being passed by the Belle hundreds of times I have never seen the Belle throw an unprofessional wake. I have never been concerned about damage to my cruiser when tied to the dock in a professional manner. The Belle has a large displacement that moves water but no wake. read more

The Captain and her crew did a fantastic job. Very informative and entertaining/touching stories narrated by the gracious owner/ Captain herself. (The boat was her fathers boat that she took over when he passed away to continue his dream and journey. ) Drinks/snacks are way over priced, but you do sort of expect to pay more when it comes to these types of things. You're not allowed to bring your own water aboard which I thought was odd, even if it's sealed (so leave them in the car). Great views, relaxing, fresh air.... Wonderful time! Highly recommend! read more

See all

I think this is definitely worth checking out, but it does have a couple of drawbacks. The biggest issue for me is the temperature. The top deck seating has no cover (bc of the low bridges, I totally get it) so it would be hard to remain at the top the entire trip. The bottom deck is hot. Even with the windows open and fans going, it was a bit much. There was live music which is a nice touch, but not necessary for me. The volume was fine on the top deck but too loud on the bottom. That being said, it's a pretty cool experience to go through the lock and to hear some of the details shared during the trip. I also appreciate that there are drinks and snacks for sale at a reasonable price point. And you could tell the staff works hard. Something to keep in mind before going is that the bathrooms are small so they could be tough for someone who is bigger, disabled, or has a child they need to assist. read more

My husband is allergic to cheese. We both opted for the grilled chicken for dinner. We even called to verify there was no cheese on either dish. We were with another couple that both ordered the chicken parm. When it came time for our meals, our name tag said vegan. I am not even sure why since we ordered chicken and that isn't vegan. While trying to figure it out, we were told that the wasn't cheese on the top, but there is on the bottom. "Is that ok?" We were asked. NO! Unless they want to watch someone go into anaphylactic shock. So they told him he didn't have to pay for drinks and he could have "snacks" on the house. Snacks were Doritos (cheese), and Cheetos. (Cheese). So while he munched on some funions, we waited for our meals. Everyone was done and we asked when our food would be out. They looked at us perplexed. None of us got our food. The three of us finally got food but it was stone cold by that point. It was a terrible experience. The only thing that gave it 2 stars and not one is the waitress felt terrible about the whole thing and was very nice. Won't do it again read more

A must do while visiting the region. We took an evening cruise in the canal to lock #32 then return. One recommendation I have is even in the summer to take a light jacket or hoody on the evening tour. read more

See all

The Colonial Belle may be fine for passengers but look out if you're a boat owner on the Erie Canal. The captain of this boat really needs to take a course in navigation and common sense. The rule on the canal is NO WAKE. This boat is operated way too fast and it plows through the water creating dangerous and destructive waves on both sides. The canal is already about 2 feet below traditional levels in an effort to reduce pressure on its leaky banks. The Colonial Belle is not helping. To make matters worse, by the end of the 2024 season, my Pontoon boat was smashed against the dock so often that all of the posts came off their footings and one of the pontoons sustained damage from slamming the rocks which are now less than foot below the new water level. Due to the low water and this "high speed ferry" I'm left with no choice but to move my boat to another body of water. I realize this is a 1st world problem but come on...I'm not the only one complaining of this. read more

Greetings! A Wonderful Exoerience! Awesome Weather! I took my niece Whom was visiting from NYC and IT was a lovely ride and view! The breeze was so refreshing and juvenating. I am planning a trip this week. I truly enjoyed Everything! This time looking forward to the dinner cruise. Grateful!!! Lissette read more

Thé catering was a joke. My Caesar salad was a small side salad. There were NO sides as with the other offerings. It was really paltry.

Met a friend Sunday for the 1 1/2 hour afternoon canal cruise as we thought it would be a fun thing to try. Ticketing was easy, boarding & getting drinks easy too, overall a fun time. The boat is kind of old, and really didn't seem too clean, but for $10.00 a ticket, oh well. The captain was entertaining & knowledgeable, the speakers are kind of old, but I could understand what he was saying. Overall I would do it again if I had a couple of hours to kill and was in the area, plus when you get off the boat there's several restaurants in walking distance to grab a bite. read more

See all

Great cruise! We did the 3 hour lock tour starting at 2:30 and ending punctually at 5:30pm. We sat on the upper deck near the front of the boat. The captain was a young woman who was informative on the history of the Erie Canal, the towns that we passed through and the fascinating history of the Colonial Belle herself! She was also quite entertaining and funny! The bathroom facilities were clean and accessible. The lower deck had a full bar and the staff was very accommodating with a frozen Pina Colada for me and an Oreo ice cream shake for my son. Snacks there too. Overall, it was a very comfortable, pleasant and informative cruise. We had a gorgeous day of it. I would definitely do again and I highly recommend! I'm thinking of trying the murder/mystery or dinner cruise next time :) read more

Very enjoyable evening cruising on the Erie Canal. Sites were great and transgressing an actual lock on the canal was a unique experience. Dinner was delicious - Chicken Parmigiana/Meatballs over pasta with "Tomotto" sauce. Full bar, cold beer and snacks also available. read more

Took the noon, 1.5 hour Sunday cruise. The staff there were competent and nice. The problem was the sound system. On a cruise which features narration and historic info about the canal, you'd think they'd invest in speakers that do not distort the sound. We thought maybe it was just the speakers we were sitting next to, but as we moved throughout the boat--up and downstairs--we couldn't find any clear speakers. All were garbled, staticky, and tinny. Very disappointed with that aspect of the trip. read more

We were to sail on the Belle twice within one week. On Sunday, for a private party, the boat did not sail due to engine issues. On Thursday, for a murder mystery dinner cruise with friends, the boat did not sail because of generator problems. Each time service and food were excellent and the staff professional and attentive. Before we use the coupon for the complimentary cruise, we will definitely call ahead shortly before the departure time to make sure we will actually cruise. read more

Took a large group there, lovely boat, office staff is nice. The boat driver and safety Nut captain sucks most of the joy out of the trip with his awful rambling. Here is a tip -no one on the night booze cruise cares about the history of the bridges- just drive the boat and let people drink. Also, I witnessed the staff tackle a 7 year old girl who was barely 3 feet tall. I got the safety but the way they handled that was ridiculous. The girl couldn't have hit the bridge if she was jumping off of a step stool. If someone ever tackled my kid like that I would probably toss them off the boat after beating them. This boat needs to make some changes. read more

Fun time, friendly crew. Participated in the murder mystery night...the only problem was close quarters made it hard to hear and communicate with the actors. Food was ok read more

Don't do it to yourself. Took a group of 8 to the Themed Night Cruise (Parrot Head Night). Few issues : 1. Rude Staff 2. Understaffed Bar 3. Speakers so poor, music cant be heard anywhere except right in front of the musician. 4. Billed as a Party - it was a jailbreak from the Senior Center. Almost no one under 70. 5. Not encouraged to have fun, Capt and staff encourage everyone to sit down (and not just at the low bridges). 6. The entertainment was so uninspired, it wouldn't even classify as background music. This guy had zero energy. 8 tickets = $275. Drinks = $125 Food = you should eat first somewhere else. For $400, go buy a Jimmy Buffett CD and grill some steaks on your own deck. I cant tell you how poorly run this is. Thank goodness for the company of good friends or I would have had to swim to shore - which in retrospect wouldn't have been a bad idea. The staff did do a good job at soliciting tips though. If there is an owner or general manager of this thing, you may want to go for a ride and see what is going on. They may want to make some changes. read more

Had an absolute awful experience today. Signed up for the murder mystery cruise weeks in advance and even called to confirm. We got there to pick up our tickets before boarding time and they had no record of our order. The two women there were practically useless and did nothing to remedy the situation other than to suggest either we go on the cruise anyway (without the dinner we paid for, which was $50) or to get tickets to a Jimmy Buffet cruise in a few weeks instead. I was so disappointed and frustrated we eventually left the office and watched $150 sail away. read more

If you go on this try to go at night there is not alot of air in the lower cabin where they serve dinner. The gentleman that sat beside me was sweating so bad he took his shirt off.The company needs more fans or knock out the windows so air can flow threw the lower deck.The food was ok nothing great. read more

Four of us took the 3 hour cruise yesterday. It could have been a good experience if Captain Steve remembered to bring his personality with him. We received minimal information regarding the locks or the canal. All he talked about was the low bridges and we should remain sitting. We were on the top deck and barely heard him. When we asked him a question, he was actually rude. He said "I just said that". The first mate Andrew was wonderful and sat down with us at the end of the cruise and explained everything. The captain can make or break this cruise and Steve was definitely a deal breaker read more

If you want a boat ride on the Canal, this is a nice cruise with bar and bathrooms. If you want ANY history or information about the Canal, even when it was built, anything....look elsewhere. We thought we were getting a TOUR. What we got was a very nice (I do mean it was very nice) boat ride. Not what I was told when I booked. I was told we'd hear the history and a bit about the canal. Nada. Not a word. read more

We had a delightful multi-generational and educational family outing. It was a gorgeous day, we had a pleasant and hard-working crew, and we enjoyed the cruise very much. We hope to return when we're in the area again. Thank you. read more

7/21/2016 I surprised my wife with the Mystery Cruise and made sure the management and crew knew of my disability and scooter. Kudos to all as the night was great and the dinner was good. I would however make some slight suggestions. You can't here the Captain giving the history of the canal on the lower deck, an upgrade of speakers would cure the problem. And lastly although sort of funny I believe most people come to a Mystery Dinner Cruise to solve a mystery not see comedy players. The night was still enjoyable and I would recommend to friends read more

I recently went on the 2 hour boat cruise with a motor coach group. Admittedly it was a hot day. However, the main level of the boat was unbearably hot. Everyone was drenched by the time we left. There is not much to see on this trip except the back yards of home owners. Also, got tired of hearing about the low bridges. The food we received was good. A sandwich, potato salad, fruit, brownie and iced tea. The coffee was excellent. I have been trying to find it online so that I can order some. No luck yet. All in all, I would not take this particular cruise again. read more

I had previously taken the Colonial Belle canal tour and enjoyed it. But, I went on a "Murder Mystery dinner cruise" the other night and was never so disappointed in my life. First, the seating was tight with people bumping into you every minute. The sound system was the worst! It was distorted and you could not understand anything that was said. The food wasn't anything special for what I paid. Chicken? really? They were understaffed and the crew where trying to do their best. The entertainment was mostly old jokes and drunk people yelling at each other. Not a fun time. I have been to several of the Murder Mystery dinners around the country and this had to be the worst. I was curious about the dinner cruise and I thought we'd try it. I will never go on it again. read more