Nice experience with a friendly and knowledgeable crew. However, given the beauty and size of the lake, the rise should be a bit longer. Ninety minutes would be more appropriate. read more

What a beautiful evening anniversary dinner cruise. While the forecast was for rain and lightning the Captain said no way and the rain stopped where the boat was as we cpuld watch the rain in the distance. He had amazing powers. We were a party of 6 and everyone had a great meal with fantastic service. 2 vegetarian lasagna were very good salmon was excellent. 3 prime ribs were fantastic served rare as asked for and very tender. They even had real horse radish. We have now celebrated on all 3 boats. Love it read more

Mid-Lakes Navigation - Boat Charters Near Me - Skaneateles, New York

Nice concise travelogue with comfy tour. Staff engaged and friendly. We enjoyed the breeezes on this hot summer day.

We did not get shipwrecked, yet this was no ordinary three hour cruise! (Somebody must still remember Gilligan's Island). I treated my sister and brother in law to an early Christmas gift and it was the best tour cruise I have been on. My brother in law agreed. It set a positive tone for our entire week end. We were on the mail cruise on a Friday morning. The captain was personable, and knowledgeable of the history, geography, lake and houses and his first mate , Cecilia, "did it all", from unlocking a bathroom door to making sure the mail landed where it needed to be. Towards the end of the cruise the captain gave us some of the spots we would want to visit in Skaneatles while we were there plus best restaurant tips. I am definitely going back for the sunset cocktail cruise this month! And for the basics, very clean, very safe, comfortable, and timely. read more

We enjoyed our 45 min cruise looking at & learning about the ostentatious mansions lining Skaneateles Lake. Our disappointment was the website didn't indicate our ability to order food or drinks on board. we were surprised when someone came around for an order. This should be indicated when ordering tickets. read more

I have been on several of the dinner/lunch cruises with Mid-Lakes Navigation and have never been disappointed. Whether it's on Skiniatlas Lake, or cruising on the Erie Canal they have always been extremely friendly, the food is out of this world, and the captain's are extremely knowledgeable. If you live in the area or are just visiting one of the Mid-Lakes cruises is a MUST do!!! read more

Mid-Lakes Navigation - Boat Charters Near Me - Skaneateles, New York

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We did the da trip...If you are looking to see how the rich 1 percenters enjoy their vacation homes, this will be it. Most of the narrative is about what's on the shore line which are million$ dollar homes. The small end of the lake is for the 99% of society the rest is for the wealthy to enjoy their private lakefront. The boat was clean and enjoyed the ride but, it can be depressing to see such accumulated wealth and how it takes away access to the lake for everyone but the private owners. read more

We had such a wonderful time on the cocktail cruise. The staff was so friendly and accommodating. We really enjoyed watching the sunset aboard the boat on beautiful Skaneatles. read more

I will say that everything about this cruise is wonderful except one thing (hence 4 instead of 5 stars). You get great food, great views, wonderful service, and more than your money's worth in time (a full 3 hours). The only thing I didn't like, and something that you should be aware of before you buy these pretty expensive tickets, is that if you are a couple, they WILL sit you with strangers in order to fill up the cruise as much as possible. This was truly annoying since I was hoping, for the price, to spend some quality time with my wife. Instead, I had to wait until after dinner (about half the trip!) before I got any privacy (and that is actually a good thing since they let you walk around on the boat--much appreciated). Other than that, it was wonderful. I'm not sure what they can do about the seating, but for the price, they ought to try something besides sticking strangers VERY close together. Not fun. read more

we booked for July first. it was the first day of mail delivery for the season. My friends and I had a great time. All the staff was friendly and kind. The captain was very knowledgeable about the lake. All the mail recipients were glad to see the mail boat and crew. One family had a bag of treats for everyone on board. The 3 hours went quickly But we're very nice. Loved the mail boat tour. read more

Awesome tour on the lake! Everyone on board is so nice. Cant wait to go back. Bring a jacket for windy days. The best seat is on the top side. read more

We booked this last second as we were visiting the area. It was easy to book online. The captain and crew members were lovely ladies who showed everyone a good time. They had drinks available for a price for people who wanted to drink. We found a spot near the front of the boat and so were able to see virtually everything. The other people on the lake are also very friendly, they waved to us whenever we passed them. The captain gave us a brief description of some of the big houses. read more

We booked the 50 minute tour around the lake and we all loved it. The upper deck got filled first and we were a little annoyed cause we were the first people to the launch but were resting on the benches and when the line up came everyone rushed up. All the first in lines got the upper deck. But we went to the lower deck where it was less crowded and was in my opinion a better place to be.. It was a beautiful day and the scenery was just beautiful. We toured on Sept. 16th and the leaves had not yet turned but the houses were magnificent to see. The verbal presentation was very interesting. The price was right. I would definitely do it again. read more

I love this boat cruise. The meal is delicious. I wish the desserts changed. The cannolis and dipped strawberries don't appeal to everyone. Other than that, I enjoy learning about who lives in what gorgeous home and the lake is always a pretty spot to enjoy a meal. read more

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Great evening Captain Chris was very helpful and fun The weather was great and it was a peaceful way to spend an evening

Loved the cruise. We took the early Sunday cruise but still enjoyed a cold beer onboard. Our tour guide pointed out the landmarks and history of Skaneateles Lake, and we spent the rest of the day enjoying the town. Stop in Roland's for a local T! read more

The seating area for the Skaneateles Sight Seeing Cruise Saturday afternoon was more comfortable than expected and the staff was very friendly. Only four stars were given due to not being able to hear anything the Captain was saying! The ride was pleasant but we were unable to learn anything about the lake, which was the whole idea for us. We sat on the lower level, under one of the speakers, and still strained to hear anything. Please turn up the volume! Thanks. read more

I went here for the sightseeing cruise, lasted ~ 1 hour. Prices: $11.00 Adult / $7.00 Child / $35.00 Family Now you would think that the family deal is a great deal, but it only counts for children under 13! Other than the hefty price tag, the cruise offered great views and photo ops. The guide (who spoke over the loudspeaker) sounded kind of bored and repeated some information verbatim. read more

What a perfect way to spend a Friday evening! My husband and I have been coming to Skaneatelas nearly every year for the past ten years - And a trip on the Judge Ben Wiles for the dinner cruise is part of the plan each time. Delicious dinner, friendly staff, entertaining commentary about the sights along the lake, a cool breeze and the setting sun. A truly relaxing and enjoyable event. read more

The Good - Mid Lakes provides quality cruises on Skaneateles Lake. The scenery coupled with the narratives are very good. The service was outstanding! The waitstaff are very professional. The Bad - We paid $142 for the meal tax and tip. In my opinion, the $42 is for the drinks and tip were reasonable. The other $100 is where the problem truly lies....... We paid $100 for prime rib and chicken cordon blue dinners. They included 2 small wilted salads and 2 small cups of soup. The prime rib was tough and dry. The codon blue was cold. Not what we expected. There was no choice in how the rib was cooked. It was well. Even with the 3 hour cruise (and snack cracked) to me it is over priced. In conclusion, the overall experience was ok read more

Did the 3-hour dinner cruise on Skaneatelas Lake on a beautiful summer evening. What a wonderful way to spend an evening! Staff are friendly and professional, and the lake is beautiful, with interesting houses to look at, and kids waving from shore all along the lake. The food is pretty good, considering the tiny size of the boat - prime rib or salmon or mushroom ravioli. The cabin is enclosed enough to be comfortable in all weather, and there are windows that the staff can open when the evening is nice. Only one small step to get into the boat, and then you walk right to your table.... It's very accessible. Some tips: - the shoreward side has the most interesting views - you can hear the captain's commentary (mostly at the beginning and end of the trip) better from some seats than others - if you can, go on a Captain Karl night - his commentary is hilarious and good-natured. If you wander up to the upper deck during the tour, you can ask him questions and get bonus jokes :-) read more

I would give this outing more than 5 stars if I could. It was such an enjoyable cruise and the Captain was entertaining! I loved it! read more

Very nice, efficient, beautiful, relaxing cruise. You can pick between a simple cruise that tour the beautiful homes on the lake and take about 1 hr ride, or a longer one and having a nice dinner for a 3 hrs ride at dusk ... simply very romantic :) we took the short one with the kids, but we are planning on having a nice date on the long one cruise :) soon, very soon :) Wonderful family time :) read more

This was our second dinner cruise, this one taking us along the Erie Canal and through the locks and Onondaga Lake. Excellent experience, the staff were great and the dinner portions and taste were both on the money!! read more

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Absolutely lovely boat tour. We are locals and my son loves boats. Took him on the 1 hour lake tour on a gorgeous summer day ( 3:30 tour) and it was even better than we expected. Very clean, friendly and knowledgeable crew. The captain had great information about the lake and history that we didn't know. He talked with us and asked my son about his boating experience and then let any of the children take pics with him at the helm - which was a highlight. Perfect length of time and will do it again for sure. read more

Beautiful sightseeing cruise, but couldn't hear anything the captain was saying. I love history and wanted so badly to hear him :(

The experience was nothing I've ever had before. Amazing views of the lake. The boat was big enough and never really rocked with waves. The waitstaff was excellent. For a dinner cruise, food was great. The only negative comment is the tables are very close together. All the chairs were back to back and people were tightly packed in. I would recommend this dinner cruise to anyone looking for something different and fun. read more

Took a bus load on the Erie Canal Trip at Dutchman's Landing in Baldwinsville, NY. The crew was so accommodating and the food delicious. Such a relaxing and enjoyable 2 hours! Carolyn read more

We had a wonderful time! We learned about the area and the staff was great! We visited during COVID and felt very comfortable and safe on the boat. read more

My wife and I took our 2 1/2 year old granddaughter on the 50 minute sigh seeing cruise. A perfect outing for us adults and our granddaughter. The staff was great, prompt & polite when I called for information. Answered our questions about parking and wheel chair with above expected politeness. Wife needs a wheel chair to get from parking lot to the ramp, no problem at all yesterday, we were able to keep her wheel chair on the dock while we were on the boat. We parked in the public lot about a 2 minute wheel chair walk away. We plan on doing a dinner cruise sometime. Note, one needs a credit card or quarters to pay for the parking, which isn't expensive. I didn't have 6 quarters on me, so I had to use a card. read more

This is a truly wonderful cruise! The Captain was highly entertaing as he took us around the breath-takingly beautiful Skaneateles Lake. The food was excellent, the desserts were delightful, and the staff were wonderful! I can't wait to enjoy this cruise again! Treat yourself to this experience, you will treasure it. read more

I was part of a bachelorette party that was running a little late and having difficulty parking but the staff called to confirm that we were on our way and helped us get directions to their location. Staff and captain were flexible and friendly allowing us to still board. We had a great afternoon touring the lake and learning all about the area! I highly recommend this for every group or family! read more

So when I originally called, it was early morning. One of the girls was not helpful and did not even call back as she said she would. Another worker was very helpful, and immediately accommodated our request. The dinner cruise was crowded, but the water was beautiful and it was peaceful. read more

I did this boat tour with teacher friends of mine as a final get together for one teacher that had retired. We had a great time. The captain was very knowledgeable and had a lot of fun, trivial information about the history of the lake as well as the houses on the lake. He also was very personable and greeted everyone as we were getting on the boat, asking where we were from or what brought us to the tour . Would definitely do it again! read more

Took a ride on the mail boat yesterday - enjoyed the ongoing commentary and the leisurely ride. Staff was friendly and courteous. Looking forward to going again! read more

PROS: The cruise itself was fantastic. The waitstaff was good. The food was plenty although average in taste. My girlfriend loved the dessert. The cost was reasonable considering a meal and cruise. CONS: This was supposed to be a romantic dinner cruise for my girlfriend's birthday. They completely failed to tell us they book a full boat and assign seats. They even put strangers at tables together. So my girlfriend and I were shocked to see 2 strangers sit at our table. Tough to carry on 2 separate conversations at same time. That was very disappointing. read more

Did the Mother's Day lunch cruise and everything was fantastic! It was sunny and warm! Our service was outstanding and we look forward to our next cruise! read more

I asked our group of 8 adults to give their thoughts so we could adequately review our wonderful September 28, 2021 Mid-Lakes Navigation cruise on Skaneateles Lake. Their comments were many and included - the cliff scenery along the lake was spectacular; I enjoyed listening to the history of the lake and town, particularly since Captain Ben grew up and lived his life on the lake and in the area; he had lots of fun personal anecdotes and stories to share; the algae bloom issue in the lake caused quite a good discussion since we had a retired farmer with us who made sure we all knew that chemicals leaching into the lake come from many different sources, not just farm runoff (take note Captain Ben!); the history of gravity-fed piping that supplies water to Syracuse was very informative; our two retired postal workers enjoyed the explanation and demonstration of how the mailboat delivers US mail on the lake during the summer months; Emily (our crew for the trip) was so personable and kept us "hydrated" during the cruise; and I can't say enough good things about the wonderful office staff - Christine and Margaret - who helped set up the cruise for our group! Don't miss this wonderful cruise on Skaneateles Lake through Mid-Lakes Navigation! Be sure to ask Captain Ben to point out where "Bare-Ass Beach" is, and share some of his personal stories connected to it . . . . read more

As a wedding gift (thanks Dan and Sherry) we received a gift certificate for a champagne dinner cruise on Skaneateles Lake with Mid-Lakes Navigation. In celebration of our one year anniversary in June we decided to give it a try. The business website provided lots of info, and the customer rep was very pleasant and helpful when I called to book our seats. Skaneateles is a picturesque town with a variety of gift shops, coffee shops, and (key to our hearts) fairly clean and plentiful public restrooms. We recommend arriving early to wander around, then sit by the dock and watch the ducks till boarding time. The dock used by Mid-Lakes Nav. is in the heart of town and not at all difficult to find. The cruise itself was relaxing and enjoyable. The wait staff were young, pleasant, and hardworking. We were provided with a substantial multi-course meal while looking out on handsome homes and lovely scenery. Was the meal superb? Not really, but it was pretty good and the cruise made the whole experience something truly special. We heartily enjoyed ourselves and hope to go again. read more

This is a review of a charter rather than a an evening or day sail. My wife and I rented a 34' Lockmaster canal boat over the Internet for a for a 4-night Erie Canal charter. Mid-Lakes' pre-rental service was excellent and we received a two-hour hands-on training session before taking the boat. Neither of us had any real sailing experience to speak of. We picked up the boat in Macedon Landing and found it to be clean, well-equipped (linens, cooking equipment, etc.), and easy to handle on the Canal. Docking and passing through the canal locks were a bit more challenging, but we improved as we received help and advice from other cruisers. The boat came with two bicycles, but we never used them Our plan was to head east from Macedon Landing, and we went as far as Holley, NY. We docked each night at a town along the Canal and walked to local restaurant. Breakfast and lunch were prepared on the boat. Although it contained a very nice head and shower, we generally attended to those functions at dockside-facilities provided at little or no cost in the towns we visited. We spent the final night back at Macedon Landing. All in all, the experience was terrific. The Canal ranges from rural to urban (it passes through Rochester!), and the ambiance is similar to camping in an RV (so I've been told, never having done it). The boat moves slowly (about 4 to 6 mph), so you can't get hurt or go very far, but you see herons, fish, deer, and the occasional wild turkey and eagle. It's very restful in a "sitting on the beach and zoning out" way. Mid-Lakes provided fine service (they found my lost glasses) and we hope to do it again with some friends in a larger boat. read more