Not good" is an understatement! Update on the Gateway Clipper Fourth of July fireworks FIASCO. I noticed in my review below that I was identified as living in Pittsburgh. I'm from Pittsburgh but have lived in CA for over 40 years. I am telling readers this only to point out that I and three of my guests on that disappointing departure came from the West Coast for this event. Yes, flew in and rented cars, etc. only to attempt to watch the 4th July Fireworks in a boat that was parked under a bridge, The MAIN point I want to make is I that I wrote to the owner / manager re my disappointment and embarrassment in taking 8 people (including me) on what should have been a spectacular time but could not see the fireworks, or to be honest could not see more than 1/5 of each explosion. I SENT THAT LETTER ON JULY 10 AND HAVE NOT HEARD A WORD FROM THE CLIPPER CLAN. That's not surprising as I'm sure I'm not the first to take issue with this but secondly because they make it clear on their webpage that they won't give your money back for ABSOLUTELY ANY REASON. Well, at least they have been true to their word on that point. (WHO DOES THAT and who runs a business this way?) TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THAT BEFORE YOU SET UP AN EVENT WITH THE CLIPPER CLAN YOU COULD LOSE YOUR ENTIRE EVENT WITH NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT BUT A YELP REVIEW. read more

Great experience - our donors enjoyed the cruise so much, and it was a highlight of our Annual Conference in Pittsburgh!

We went on the clipper twice. Once as a shuttle back from Pirates game and another for the sightseeing tour. The shuttle was nice. We hopped aboard right after the game, bought a drink, and rode back. It was nice to see the city from the water at night. The shuttle is short but the price seemed appropriate for that. The sightseeing tour was a spur of the moment decision. We planned to rent kayaks and view the city that way but after a last minute cancellation from the outfitter, we booked a sightseeing tour instead. We enjoyed it. We appreciated being from out of town and learning about the history of the city and buildings. My partner is an architect so he realllllly enjoyed learning about all the different buildings. Weirdly, we rode it in a thunderstorm and rain which you wouldn't expect to do. It turned out to be the best option given the weather. We sat outside on the middle deck under a covered area and didn't get wet at all. There is air conditioned seating inside as well. The staff was pleasant both times we rode. read more

Gateway Clipper Fleet - Boat Charters Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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We attended the WDVE Yacht Rock Cruise with three other couples. We all had a really great time. The ride was very smooth, the boat was clean, the staff was courteous and helpful, and there was a good selection of (slightly pricey) drink and food options. Unfortunately the evening was marred at the very end when us guys were sitting at our table while our wives were downstairs listening to the band wrap-up. They had started one more song after the boat docked (perhaps they weren't supposed to). As we sat there with their sweaters and purses waiting for them to return to the table a large, heavy set security officer (who for some reason was dressed and equipped like a member of a SWAT team who was about to kick-in a door at some cartel hideout) approached and told us YOU MUST LEAVE NOW!! GET OFF THE BOAT!! in a very rude and abrupt manner. I guess he could not have waited five minutes for the song to finish and our wives to return to the table? They need to have security, I get it. But couldn't they hire someone a bit more professional who did not look and act like a cartoon? read more

Booked a cruise months in advance only to have it cancelled less than 2 weeks prior to our trip with no explanation. The best part is that they didn't offer a refund, only to reschedule. We are still in the process of getting a refund. Think twice before giving this company any of your money. read more

Surprisingly good, thorough, prompt, entertaining and informative. Very well run. Find a pretty day and go!

not as ratchet as I thought. pretty relaxing food was good. music could be better and the DJ was never around to request music. dress however you want. read more

Gross. Outdated and filthy. We did the Easter dinner cruise because we were visiting from out of town. I wanted to show my husband and little girl Pgh from the water. It was a rust bucket on the water. It has not been updated since I last was on it in the 1990s. It smelled like body odor and cigarette smoke and was dreadful. My little 10 year old daughter wanted to jump off and swim back because it was so gross. The food was the same crap they served in the 1990s and a horrible selection to choose from. The salad was the only thing that was edible but the salad bowl was depleted, along with the croutons. I would never ever do this floating nightmare again. 2 hours of our lives we can never get back. The music choice from the dj was cringeworthy. Who plays the Macarena and electric slide in 2024? His outdated music selection added to our misery on this rusty smelly nasty boat. Yuck. Zero out of ten - don't recommend! Almost $300 wasted which would have been better spent on room service at our hotel. read more

the service from lou was excellent. the do was dj was pretty good ngl. i love this boat

A ride on A Gateway clipper is a must do if your visiting Pittsburgh or like me love the city so much that your packed up your Long Island home and moved to Pittsburgh. My friend was visiting from Tampa We chose the "Fun interesting and a even little strange cruise Pittsburgh" cruise At 20 bucks this is so worth it Easy parking right Nextdoor lot 5 dollars We boarded the Princess boat We were warmly greeted You can get a souvenir picture as you board just like a one of those "real" big ships ok it's 20 dollars but I feel it was worth it for the good memory Passed through 1 floor and second floor salons? Cabins? Rooms? What ever you call them tables chairs luxurious looking carpet perfect for a dinner cruise or yes this is true my sons prom was held on a clipper. Ok back to the review We picked out a table and chairs to sit at on the top outside deck Gorgeous evening clear evening I could already see this was going to be great! A totally different view of this stunning city Here is one of THE best parts of the cruise Rachel!!!! She is was the guide You could feel her love of the city as she narrated the cruise A real yinzer she is She did not read from a script like a bus tour Rachel was right there on the deck and this girl knows her Pittsburgh Stunning views of the point that you can only see by actually being on the river This cruise was so much fun now I want to experience all their cruises Dinner , Halloween , Pittsburgh history Go take a little cruise and if Rachel is your guide then it will be extra fun read more

Gateway Clipper Fleet - Rachel is awesome - Boat Charters Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I was pretty disappointed by the fact that not one crew member let us know that we had boarded the wrong ship. The guy scanning our QR code should have known right away...the guy welcoming us onto boat should have also seen the discrepancy... And yeah, just maybe, we should have asked what tour we were on instead of when will this ship depart? Cause the captain told us the boat was just waiting for a few more entertainers to board. We ended up sitting on this boat for well over 50 minutes assuming we were on a 12:15pm when it was departing at 1pm (well, 1:05pm). Then, when we finally departed, we it was announced that this was a superhero tour which is like a dance party for kids - face painting, balloons, all that jazz... Great.... So we had to make the best of our situation and in hindsight, we actually got a great deal. We paid $12 (groupon) for a tour that retails at $23 and lasts an hour longer than the sightseeing tour. The caveat was having to listen to superhero theme songs and zero narration in regards to every thing we sailed through. It pretty much wrecked our plans the rest of the day. A 12:15pm-1:15pm tour ended up being a 1:05pm-3:15pm ordeal making visiting other museums (which close at 5pm) not worth visiting. read more

Gateway Clipper Fleet - View from 3rd deck - Boat Charters Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Racist , rude ticket taker at the Sept 10 return trip from Pnc park. Taunted a handicapped couple by telling them he would make them " wait longer to get on the boat." The staff was on their phones, hanging out after the 7th inning when the boat is supposed to be returning to station square. A woman told them they had a handicap couple waiting. Of course once the rude ticket man saw that the couple was also A minority he taunted them and threatens to make them stand outside longer. The customer waiting was in serious pain and this little man enjoyed his power by making him stand longer than he needed. The fleet advertises they will board at the 7th inning stretch, the top of the 8th rolls around and they had to be told they had handicapped people waiting and they didn't lift a finger. Racist, discriminatory company who apparently allows this behavior from employees. Disgraceful ! read more

Gateway Clipper Fleet - Look through the window, playing on his phone while people wait. - Boat Charters Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I met my husband on the Gateway Clipper 20 years ago. For our 20th anniversary of meeting, we took a sunset dinner cruise. Food this time included chicken, pork, salad, macaroni and cheese, rolls, apple pie, corn, mashed potatoes, and carrots. We also paid extra money for crab dip and cocktail shrimp. All of the food tasted OK except for the disgusting crab dip, of which I could take only one bite. The staff members were polite. A DJ played old and new music, and other customers danced on the dance floor. I enjoyed the views of the city as the boat cruised up and down the rivers, and a guide narrated what we saw. About one month later, my husband and I went on another cruise with the Gateway Clipper, this time on a different boat. We did the Chicken & Ribs - Lock & Dam Dinner. The chicken tasted a bit bland, the ribs tasted good, and the Emsworth Locks and Dams were very interesting to see. read more

We had such a wonderful Wine Tasting Cruise ! I highly recommend this cruise once a moth for those wine lover such as myself. Dinner, cruise and wine tasting of 3 different wines of a wine theme evening all for one price per person. Such a beautiful perfect weather evening. The clipper staff, friendly and helpful. Not as organized as it should have been, but a very nice cruise none the less. We will cruise wine taste again ! read more

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For around 30 bucks you get a pretty cool view of downtown Pittsburgh, history lesson and some cocktails served on the boat. Cruise last around hour and half. Pretty cool read more

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We took the gateway clipper to the pirates game And the ride over was great. What wasn't great was taking the clipper back. The way it reads in the website is that they'd take trips every 15 minutes but what actually happened is you boarded a larger boat day around and then shuffled over to a much smaller boat, which was unexpected. Kind of felt bad for the people that had children or were older and didn't have a seat to sit in. read more

My wife and I, and our two friends went on the 1 hour sight-seeing cruise this past weekend. The price was a bit higher than I expected ($60 for the two of us). As we boarded, everyone was asked to get their picture taken. We figured they'd end up charging for the photo so even though we had no intention of buying we got our photo taken anyway. Towards the end of the tour a man came around with an already printed photo so at first we thought they were included. Nope. They wanted an extra $20-something for the photo which we did not pay. It was a waste of paper and ink for them to already have it printed and in our hands, then ask us if we wanted to buy it after the high than expected ticket. As a solution, maybe buy iPads for the boats and show customers the picture rather than wasting paper and ink? Other than that, our tour guide was very informative, and made a few jokes. read more

Gateway Clipper Fleet - Boat Charters Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This is such a fun thing to do. I've always enjoyed the cruises in this shop as well as the Goodship Lollipop; if any of you remember that one. I've done a couple of different cruises in this boat from NYE celebrations to cookie cruises, CWP Beer Barge and a few others. Sailing the Three Rivers at sunset with friends is really so lovely and just a lot of fun. The food is hit or miss but I would rate it good to very good---leaning towards good more times than not. But all in all it's ok. I mean after all it's an experience about creating memories that last a lifetime. read more

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We took a one hour tour before a baseball game. Great way to see the rivers and relax!

This was a great informational cruise Great views nice pictures highly recommended good price great drinks . Has 3 levels good for all ages . Something to do in Pittsburgh so you can learn about the history ......... read more

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Gateway Clipper Fleet offers a variety of cruises but I am writing this review from my experience with their Moonlight Dance cruise. The boat was OKish, nothing fancy - the interiors and the decor was kinda old and the lighting was dingy. The food on the cruise wasn't too great and the music played was mostly Hip-hop & Rap. Recently went on the Gateway Moonlight Dance Cruise with a group of friends when visiting Pittsburgh. Its a 2-2.5 hour cruise on the three rivers showcasing the views of Pittsburgh. We were all excited about the cruise but were pretty disappointed by the end of it. The major reason being the music played - the DJ mostly played Hip Hop and Rap. We wished he played pop or other genres for sometime to please everyone but he stuck to Hip-Hop/Rap and not everyone can dance on them. The cruise also includes a small buffet with a couple of vegetarian options like Nachos. I wish they had few more options on the menu and I didn't see people having the food much either. They also have a bar counter on the cruise where you can order some drinks, the price was decent. Overall given the price, the cruise might be worth it if can you can listen & dance to Hip-Hop & Rap for 2-2.5 hours. Otherwise wouldn't suggest going on the cruise. read more

Gateway Clipper Fleet - Entrance - Boat Charters Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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We went on a cruise on the gateway clipper to try and get some good views of the city and spend some time discussing wedding venues. We were fortunate to have an absolutely beautiful day, so we sat on the bottom deck. With the CoVid restrictions and social distancing the only seats available were right next to an ashtray which was a little bit of a turnoff but it didn't ruin the trip. We were able to see both stadiums and the Point up close with the skyline in the background which was beautiful. It was a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon in the city, they also offered snacks and soda which was nice also. read more

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Always a great time when we board the ship! We try to do a sightseeing tour every summer! We have came in the past for the mothers and fathers day brunch, as well as the Santa and princess cruises. They were all great. However my favorite so far has been the haunted Pittsburgh cruise, it was fantastic! (The narrator really made the cruise.) The food, drinks and photos can be quite pricey though. Using a coupon for tickets can really help even it out, check groupon! And beware, on kids cruises they sell balloons. Which wouldnt be horrible except for the fact they are 9$. Yes, 9 dollars. Luckily they do it at the end so I always try to sneak out prior. Always fun to watch them park the boat! Certain days, such as Tuesday for teachers, you can get on for free with your work ID and family members are half price! (Check their website, I always find a deal somewhere if I click around enough.) read more

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Booked a Sunset Dinner Cruise online in advanced for two. We arrived and the greeter at the front informed us which boat we were on (Empress). Make sure you ask, you don't want to board the wrong boat. Theirs a photographer that stops everyone as you're boarding to take your photo which slows the line so we kind of just formed a u-shaped line to wait. As soon as you board you can hit the buffet and bars. The food was actually pretty good, I really liked the garlic mashed potatoes. I've never seen Pittsburgh from the water and it's amazing! Bring a jacket on this cruise, you'll thank me later. We really enjoyed ourselves. Definitely will be taking another cruise soon! read more

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Always a good time. Whenever I visit I make it a priority to get an afternoon cruise. You can't get views from land like you can on the water. read more

Excellent service from the wait staff during the sunset dinner cruise. The ship was clean and the food on the buffet line was hot and never ran out. I would recommend the sunset dinner cruise to couples and families looking for a unique and fun way to see the Pittsburgh skyline. read more

Gateway Clipper Fleet - Waiting area - Boat Charters Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I had a great experience and a great time! They have a variety of different boat tour options. The booking process is easy online. It's easy to park nearby, and the boarding process is also straightforward. They do a great job of touring you around Pittsburgh in a unique way. Food and drinks are available to purchase on the boat too. I definitely think everyone should do this at least once when in Pittsburgh! read more

Im really disappointed with the communication! I emailed them LAST FEBRUARY about having a dinner for my family reunion on one of the post and the lady literally just replied. How?! If this is how they conduct business, I will continue to pass. Ive been on the tours before, but on the business side this is totally unacceptable read more

Gateway Clipper Fleet - Boat Charters Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This was a confusing event. I called and spoke to a sales person twice about what to expect and how to plan. The lady was not sure if this was a buffet. It was. There was no specific plan...we just went to the buffet when we wanted. The chicken was delicious!!! The bar had a L O N G wait. There was a bar menu at the table that you could access with your phone...but no reminder of the options Once at the bar. There was some guided information about the city sights. And then the music started. It was so loud my head is still pounding. While it was evident that many people were enjoying themselves, the noise was TOOOOO MUCH and ruined my experience. This was a good experience to do one time but I wouldn't want to go again...to expensive and WAYYYY TOOOOO LOUD!!!! read more

Excellent cruise! Aaron knocked it out of the park with his narration, and the beer went down all so smoothly ....... the one problem? Only an hour! Kick it up to 2 hours and I won't have to guzzle my Yuengling....... read more

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Went on the Sunset dinner cruise that sails on Friday and Sundays. Excellent food and service. The buffet had salad, bread, carrots, corn/zucchini, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, chicken, and breaded pork chops. The pork chops were perfectly done and the best I've ever had. Good drink menu but expensive as expected. It rained when I went but it still sailed and we had just used umbrellas on the 3rd deck. read more

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Took the 11pm cruise as a tourist. Was fun except the dock was infested with spiders everywhere. It looked like the movie Arachnophobia. The tour was gorgeous at night. No fun facts, just hanging out. read more

This was such a fun way to see the city and learn a little bit more about the history of Pittsburgh. We sailed in the lunch cruise. The process of getting tickets was a breeze. When we arrived they let us know our table and we could immediately start enjoying lunch. The lunch menu offers salad, veggies and potatoes, chicken and pork tenderloin. Everything I tried was delicious. And I love that you can fill up on as much as you want. After lunch, we heard up to the top of the boat to see the view and hear more of the tour. I'd absolutely recommend this to anyone visiting the area. Tip! I hear the dance floor is a great time on the dinner cruises. But they book quickly...so plan ahead! read more

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This review is mostly based off of one question......How is it possible that this boat only has24 children life vests?! For the Easter bunny boat ride there were at least 100 on board plus adults. Good thing we didn't wreck. The other bummer is that every time I've been on this boat they are out of paper products. Toilet paper or napkins. I don't get it. So either bring ur own tp or be prepared to sit there while texting hubby to save a sista! But the Easter event WAS super cute. Egg dyeing (50 cents each egg, $8 snow globe making , face painting, food and dancing. THERE IS ZERO GLUTEN FREE FOOD. so bring ur own if u have allergies. I guess I'll just bring my own life vests next time. Talked to one of the workers who claims they have more but they don't list it publicly. Who knows. Still makes me wonder read more

Overall, a good experience! The tour was very informational and I felt like we got a good understanding of Pittsburgh history, while also being entertained. Our group had fun! The boat did seem a bit crowded, with a lot of people standing because seats were taken up. read more

Gateway Clipper Fleet - East-facing view of Point State Park - Boat Charters Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Best way to see the city and get to a Steelers, Pitt Panthers or Pirates game and stadium concerts too! Their sunset and captains dinner cruises rock too read more

A gorgeous warm sunny day and this cruise are made for each other. Great views and a great history lesson. The folks take great pride in their City. I highly recommend this. read more

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Outstanding opportunity to learn epic history about the unique city of Pittsburgh and enjoy a beautiful river cruise for a bargain price! Captain Joe and Narrator Leah were top notch! Truly, if you love Pittsburgh or want to learn anything about the City of Champions (Penguins, Pirates, Steelers) this is your chance! Take it! read more

Gateway Clipper Fleet - Pittsburgh Plate Glass Building - Epic architecture! - Boat Charters Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Had a relaxing and informative river cruise while visiting Pittsburgh. It was raining the day we went but still had a great time.

I'm actually shocked that there are so few reviews for the Gateway Clipper! When I was in elementary school, this was a yearly field trip. I remember going on dinner cruises with different groups as well. This is one of my favorite things to tell tourists to visit. Having not been on a cruise in many years, I was excited to find out that Thursdays in the summer were university appreciation days. This means that any student, faculty member, or anyone with a university ID can get a free ride for one of the hour-long sight-seeing cruises, day or evening. As a way to get together before classes started, I invited about 10 friends, with only one originally from Pittsburgh, to go on an evening cruise with me. We had a great time! There were only about 4 other people on our cruise so we had full run of the ship, which was pretty neat. We mostly hung out on the top deck because there was a guide on the top. The guides on these cruises really know their stuff. I grew up in Pittsburgh and only knew about 75% of the information provided to us. Definitely informative and fun! We loved doing the cruise at night, and we had great views of the Point! We had so much fun on this cruise that we are looking at doing one of the Friday dinner cruises. Some of the cruises are quite pricey and don't look too exciting so be sure to do your research. Overall, it's a really fun way to spend an evening in Pittsburgh! read more

Gateway Clipper Fleet - The lovely views you can see on a night cruise! - Boat Charters Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania