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Absolutely amazing experience! We booked a party for the moondance which was enjoyable and affordable. It's not a crazy party boat, I would say it's better for a work party or birthday party. We had about 50 people on board and it was the right size. People loved the netting where you can see the water underneath you! Plenty of seating available, there is some coverage if it starts to rain, there is a full bar and two bathrooms. The trip is about 2 hours and takes you all around Buffalo's waterfront. It's beautiful! Especially around sunset!
Beautiful boat ride in the harbor. Went with a group of 65. Wasn't sure if there'd be enough room, but it fit us all comfortably. I was grateful there wasn't any rain. Part of the reason there was enough room was due to all the areas of the boat that are accessible. But the covered portion is smaller. Not sure 65 people would have comfortably fit under the cover. They had reasonable prices on a limited selection of drinks. But if you're willing to compromise some, everyone was able to find something. They took credit and cash. Staff was super friendly.
I discovered this boat company this year when a friend mentioned it to me and now I've gone on it 3x and purchased a season pass for next year. It's a pretty big sail boat, and they have a bar and bathrooms on board. They usually play Jimmy buffet music while you're sailing around. If you love boats but don't want the hassle of owning one yourself, this is a great option!
Moondance is a giant sailboat with a covered area that holds 50+ people. The boat doesn't look that big but we had a group of 50 and there was plenty of room to move around. Under the covered part there's room to setup a table of food, plenty of benches, a bar, and a toilet. It's a boat toilet, so I recommend using the bathroom before you get on the boat. There are covers that can come down over the sides in case it rains. The bar was limited which is why I'm docking a star. No stir sticks, no white wine, very limited beer and liquor selection, however bartender was super friendly! There is also a net section outside that you can sit on and enjoy the water! The boat ride was 2 hours and didn't go very far, just kept looping around the breakwater so most of the time we were still able to see the downtown skyline, farthest down we went was to the Outer Harbor then would turn around and come back. The bartender also controlled the music and did a great job with selection. Highly recommend taking a ride on the Moondance if you get a chance. Even though it doesn't have all the amenities of other local boats (like Miss Buffalo), it's much more intimate and you're closer to the water (you can sit on the nets and hear/see the water splash beneath you).
This is a really fun, relaxing two hours. I've been 2-3 times now for a work event. They let us bring on food of our choice and have a decent enough selection of drinks given that it's a relatively small boat. Of course your experience is highly weather-dependent, but we've lucked out each time. While eating, I usually hang out in the covered, lower-deck area, then step up to the main deck and sit on the cargo nets right over the water for the rest of the ride (best to leave your phones and other belongings in the covered area since dropping anything may ruin your experience). Plan to go early enough to park and get to the pier on time since they run several per night and have to keep on schedule. When I can't find a spot on the road, I go park across the street at Templeton Landing. If you don't have food on the boat you can plan to grab dinner there or at the canal-side restaurant, which I've never been to, but always seems pretty crowded when there's nice weather. Definitely worth checking out!
So my company rented the boat for an evening, and we had set sailed around 8pm. I have been on the Moondance before, years ago, but only during the day. This evening, in late August, it was pretty windy so we were advised in advance to bring a light jacket if you tend to get cold easily. Thank God I did that, because I was so cold out on the water! The boat has two "netted" areas in front, where you can see thru to view the water beneath you. It is recommended that no more than 7 adults be on the netted area at once. The boat has speakers and they were playing music the whole ride. Also, inside the boat, there is a bar and in the lower levels, there are bathrooms as well. I did not visit either of those areas, so I can't comment. However the view at night, as the sun is setting, is SPECTACULAR! It was a 2 hour ride, so we were out there until about 10pm, and you can see the nighttime skyline of the harbor. Overall, I loved the view (maybe even more so at night). I would definitely recommend doing this during the summer months here.
Please let me preface my review by saying that I came on the Moondance Cat for a work event, so I did not deal with setting it up or any of the logistics. However, the event itself was so much fun on this boat. From the captain to the bartender, the whole crew of 3 total, were very nice and cheerful. I felt very safe and secure on this boat as well. Since it is a catamaran they have nets that you can lay down on while the boat is sailing. There is also a nice enclosed space with the bar and places to sit. You can order food through them, and I believe they have relationships with muppets vendors, so many different food options. If you are ever looking for a great way to spend the night with a big group of friends, this is a great idea! I'm looking forward to going again! Ready to set sail
Updated review 8/9/26. Another great WNY/Buffalo summer experience. I have increased my rating of the Moondance catamaran boat ride, leaving the Erie Basin Marina. Even though the boat does not sail out onto a Lake Erie as far as one would expect, $28 for a cruise at sunset especially is definitely worth it. The views of the Buffalo skyline, the lit up silo and the Naval Park, are spectacular from the water. Next year, I'm considering buying a season pass. This way I can enjoy the sailing anytime I want. as much as I want during the sailing season. Cocktails are reasonably priced on board. You're allowed to bring your own food and snacks from home. The music to accompany the tour was a little loud at first, but then turn down which was appreciated. The captain and his crew were friendly and gave good advice on before the sail began. The ramp from the dock makes it easy for those with disabilities to board and exit the ship. There are two bathrooms below deck. But they do require some stairs to go down. read more
1 year ago
We went on the Moondance Cat with a group for a sunset cruise. Well we left a bit later than planned & clouds covered the sun right before sunset. Still a beautiful view though. I understand the boat often goes out on the lake but this trip it stayed on the river closer to shore. This was a bit disappointing but still gave us a good look at the shoreline at night. The night was super hot and humid & I expected a nice breeze once out in the water. The boat moved pretty slow with no sails (no breeze) so it stayed pretty sticky. There was a cash bar and our group had pizza & other snacks. They were pretty quick at the bar. There was seating on the trampoline netting, a few seats down near the bar, and plenty of room to stand along the sides. Just be careful walking since there's various spots where the floor changes. I'm so mixed on this review. I enjoyed the ride and the company but just honestly expected more. I'll have to give it a try again another time. 2024-70 read more
3 months ago
8 months ago
Absolutely amazing experience! We booked a party for the moondance which was enjoyable and affordable. It's not a crazy party boat, I would say it's better for a work party or birthday party. We had about 50 people on board and it was the right size. People loved the netting where you can see the water underneath you! Plenty of seating available, there is some coverage if it starts to rain, there is a full bar and two bathrooms. The trip is about 2 hours and takes you all around Buffalo's waterfront. It's beautiful! Especially around sunset! read more
4 years ago
Beautiful boat ride in the harbor. Went with a group of 65. Wasn't sure if there'd be enough room, but it fit us all comfortably. I was grateful there wasn't any rain. Part of the reason there was enough room was due to all the areas of the boat that are accessible. But the covered portion is smaller. Not sure 65 people would have comfortably fit under the cover. They had reasonable prices on a limited selection of drinks. But if you're willing to compromise some, everyone was able to find something. They took credit and cash. Staff was super friendly. read more
3 years ago
I discovered this boat company this year when a friend mentioned it to me and now I've gone on it 3x and purchased a season pass for next year. It's a pretty big sail boat, and they have a bar and bathrooms on board. They usually play Jimmy buffet music while you're sailing around. If you love boats but don't want the hassle of owning one yourself, this is a great option! read more
Moondance is a giant sailboat with a covered area that holds 50+ people. The boat doesn't look that big but we had a group of 50 and there was plenty of room to move around. Under the covered part there's room to setup a table of food, plenty of benches, a bar, and a toilet. It's a boat toilet, so I recommend using the bathroom before you get on the boat. There are covers that can come down over the sides in case it rains. The bar was limited which is why I'm docking a star. No stir sticks, no white wine, very limited beer and liquor selection, however bartender was super friendly! There is also a net section outside that you can sit on and enjoy the water! The boat ride was 2 hours and didn't go very far, just kept looping around the breakwater so most of the time we were still able to see the downtown skyline, farthest down we went was to the Outer Harbor then would turn around and come back. The bartender also controlled the music and did a great job with selection. Highly recommend taking a ride on the Moondance if you get a chance. Even though it doesn't have all the amenities of other local boats (like Miss Buffalo), it's much more intimate and you're closer to the water (you can sit on the nets and hear/see the water splash beneath you). read more
7 years ago
This is a really fun, relaxing two hours. I've been 2-3 times now for a work event. They let us bring on food of our choice and have a decent enough selection of drinks given that it's a relatively small boat. Of course your experience is highly weather-dependent, but we've lucked out each time. While eating, I usually hang out in the covered, lower-deck area, then step up to the main deck and sit on the cargo nets right over the water for the rest of the ride (best to leave your phones and other belongings in the covered area since dropping anything may ruin your experience). Plan to go early enough to park and get to the pier on time since they run several per night and have to keep on schedule. When I can't find a spot on the road, I go park across the street at Templeton Landing. If you don't have food on the boat you can plan to grab dinner there or at the canal-side restaurant, which I've never been to, but always seems pretty crowded when there's nice weather. Definitely worth checking out! read more
So my company rented the boat for an evening, and we had set sailed around 8pm. I have been on the Moondance before, years ago, but only during the day. This evening, in late August, it was pretty windy so we were advised in advance to bring a light jacket if you tend to get cold easily. Thank God I did that, because I was so cold out on the water! The boat has two "netted" areas in front, where you can see thru to view the water beneath you. It is recommended that no more than 7 adults be on the netted area at once. The boat has speakers and they were playing music the whole ride. Also, inside the boat, there is a bar and in the lower levels, there are bathrooms as well. I did not visit either of those areas, so I can't comment. However the view at night, as the sun is setting, is SPECTACULAR! It was a 2 hour ride, so we were out there until about 10pm, and you can see the nighttime skyline of the harbor. Overall, I loved the view (maybe even more so at night). I would definitely recommend doing this during the summer months here. read more
13 years ago
Please let me preface my review by saying that I came on the Moondance Cat for a work event, so I did not deal with setting it up or any of the logistics. However, the event itself was so much fun on this boat. From the captain to the bartender, the whole crew of 3 total, were very nice and cheerful. I felt very safe and secure on this boat as well. Since it is a catamaran they have nets that you can lay down on while the boat is sailing. There is also a nice enclosed space with the bar and places to sit. You can order food through them, and I believe they have relationships with muppets vendors, so many different food options. If you are ever looking for a great way to spend the night with a big group of friends, this is a great idea! I'm looking forward to going again! Ready to set sail read more
We decided to try this cruise after getting a 1.5 hour wait time for kayaks. We made the right choice. We didn't have reservations but got in line at 12:10 pm and didn't have an issue getting a spot on board. It was $23 for 2 hours. Not a bad value as it was going to cost us $15 to go kayaking for an hour. The boat didn't feel too crowded. We sat right in the front. They have a cash bar and drinks were very reasonable. They play music. The bathrooms are clean. Food options are limited so plan to eat before or right after. This is a great activity for a beautiful day in Buffalo. read more
16 years ago
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