We sat on the bottom level at the first table, so we were the first to go through the buffet line and the first to exit. So that was cool. My husband tried to order a beer off the menu, but they didn't have it. Instead had several different beers. Weird. I ordered a club soda and was brought something clear and bubbly, but it wasn't a club soda. Eventually I got my right order, and he chose a different beer. There were crackers and dip waiting at our table for us.. For dinner, the salad, Mac and cheese, bread, potatoes, and lasagna were all great. We didn't try the pulled pork or beans. The carved roast beef was Ok (kind of fatty). Cake choices were excellent and very delicious. Staff was good. The captain shared interesting facts along the way (Steven Tyler's house). It was smooth sailing. Sadly too cloudy for a sunset viewing. Background music was much to our liking. People along the lake were out on their decks waving to us as we passed and the Captain blew his whistle. Once it was dark and dinner was over, we were ready to get off, but we had another 30 minutes to the ride. And not much to look at outside. read more

Sunapee Cruises - Too cloudy to see the sunset on 8/22. But smooth as glass on the lake. - Boat Charters Near Me - Sunapee, New Hampshire

See all

I would give this service 6 stars if I could!!! Every time we come into town we go on a Sunapee cruise and it's amazing! If you are debating it, doooo it! So fun for all ages. Tickets- they can be bought right online. We always go for the scenic lake tour. Seats- They start boarding about 15-20 minutes before they leave. Get there early!!!!! You can get the seat of your choice that way. There is seating on the ground level (mostly tables) or if you go up top there are a lot of chairs all around. What to wear- sunscreen!! You do sit directly in the sun if you sit up top. You may want to bring a light jacket because it can be breezy, but I was fine without one. Be careful of any hats you wear since it is breezy! The ride- the captain is so great about giving facts about the lake and houses on the lake. It is the perfect amount of talking. They also play light "yacht rock" music in the background. They don't go too fast and it is SUCH an enjoyable ride. There is a bathroom on board and you can purchase drinks (a full bar) and snacks. The crew was very nice and helpful when we had questions. They made sure the ride was exactly 90 minutes and even took us into a cool cove they don't normally go into when it was looking like we were going to arrive back early. I have never done the dinner cruise. It's the same ride but for $23 more it's a buffet style dinner from the Appleseed restaurant. The only con of that is there is no outdoor seating on that boat. read more

See all

My girlfriends and I and enjoyed a lovely sunset cruise on a beautiful fall day. They food was delicious and the service was fantastic. We enjoyed Captain Kara's tour of the local sights. Highly recommend!!! read more

Sunapee Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Sunapee, New Hampshire

Last evening, we were a party of 4 sailing for the first time on the "Lake Queen"! From start to finish it was an awesome experience! Captain Randy was most in formative of all aspects of our journey around the lake with just the right blend on humor! Our waitress Christa was wonderful, and provided excellent service! Sam at the bar was everything a bartender should be and more! And the food was fabulous! What a yummy buffet!!! We will be making "Lake Queen"" an annual trip from now on! Thank you Sunapee Cruises! Gina L read more

Our first Sunapee Cruise and on the Queen delicious food by the Appleseed Enjoyable relaxing and we will make this a regular date night Will not disappoint read more

Had a dinner cruise on the Lake Queen. Exceptional as always. The food was good and the staff was friendly and helpful. And you cannot beat the Lake Sunapee views! read more

The cruise was fantastic. The captain and wait staff were exceptional. You can't beat the beautiful views on the lake. read more

Sunapee Cruises - Beautiful views on the lake. - Boat Charters Near Me - Sunapee, New Hampshire

See all

Lovely cruise around Lake Sunapee. Not a lot of narration so you can have a conversation with your tablemates. Friendly staff. Food ( buffet) was mediocre. read more

See all

Out party of four had a wonderful evening cruising/dining aboard this magnificent cruise boat on June 30th. It was a perfect evening to enjoy Lake Sunapee and the incredible scenery while enjoying a fine meal and excellent service by all the staff onboard. I can't recommend enough this Sunapee dinner cruise to anyone interested in making a reservation. You will not be disappointed!! 6 Stars to the Lake Sunapee Dinner Cruise and Appleseeds Restaurant that provided the catering. read more

My in laws we're visiting from California and I thought this would be a fun night for them and it did not disappoint. The captain and crew were wonderful! The tour gave good information about the lake but not so much that it overshadowed the cruise and dinner. The dinner was very good and the highlight was that we were able to extend the evening to watch fireworks from the boat. Overall a great time! read more

Sunapee Cruises - Fireworks from boat - Boat Charters Near Me - Sunapee, New Hampshire

See all

Food was great as was the tour. Sunapee is such a beautiful lake!! So fun to see the Lake Queen in her new home. read more

See all

This was a wonderful evening. The weather was warm but the lake air was comfortable. The views were beautiful. Your staff was amazing! Our server, Karen, was terrific. We enjoyed our dinner. I would highly recommend this experience if you are in the area. read more

Overall outstanding. The dinners here are hosted by Applebees' Restaurant out of Bradford NH and they do a superb job. The staff is awesome. The Captain is a peach of a guy. And then there's the trip itself. A two-hour round-robin around Lake Sunapee in the late afternoon and early evening with spectacular sunsets, friendly people and memorable times. Arranging for a dinner cruise on the Kearsarge takes some planning. The dinner cruise is very popular and as a result, the reservation-only cruise is usually booked a week in advance after Fathers' Day. This was our third try for a visit and it was fortuitous as we were celebrating our daughter's Sayonara to her new job in Washington DC. The Captain and staff welcome the diners and ushers them to their tables on either one of the two decks. Check-in is usually shortly after 6:00 PM and anchors aweigh at 6:30 PM. Guests are free to amble about the decks and take pictures and mingle. The buffet table is set on the lower deck while the promenade is on the upper deck. After the mandatory safety briefing, we set sail for two hours on the spotlessly clear waters of Lake Sunapee. After an initial serving of cocktails, the waitress invited us to the dinner selections. The buffet-style dinner was ample, delicious, hot, and well-presented. The buffet is served towards the bow of the ship. After the initial serving, guests are also invited to sample seconds. Our menu included all the salad fixings, scalloped potatoes, macaroni and cheese casserole, roast beef, and numerous other items. Once satiated, we went upstairs to enjoy the incredible views close to sunset. There were several people celebrating anniversaries and rite-of-passage events. The couple next to us had celebrated their wedding on board the Kearsarge and was there for their first anniversary. Another couple was celebrating their twentieth anniversary. All of it in the middle of dramatic views... What a delightful evening.... read more

wonderful captain and cruise. Beautifully restored boat with mahogany trim. Sound system is terrible, cheap speakers/amp made difficult to hear. Food cold. Cheapest beef roast, tough. read more

Fabulous dinner & views on the two-hour boat ride around the lake. Wonderful staff across the board. I'm thankful for the opportunity to visit while working in New Hampshire, and I'll plan to bring my family back! Thanks for a great evening! read more

See all

An amazing way to see gorgeous Lake Sunapee! The new Sunapee Lake Queen is Beautiful! The dinner cruise is well worth it!

Fun dinner cruise around Lake Sunapee on the MV Kearsarge with food provided by Appleseed Restaurant in Bradford. Kearsarge is a small wooden vessel with two covered decks. We called ahead for reservations. They didn't issue tickets but asked for a credit card to hold the reservation. Seating was assigned and each deck had advantages. The upper seating area had maybe six tables accessed by a narrow staircase and had slightly better views with small outdoor fore and aft decks. On the other hand, the buffet was located on the lower deck so if carrying full plates of food up and down a staircase isn't your thing, pick the lower deck. We assembled on the Sunapee Harbor dock 30 minutes before departure. On a Sunday eve the harbor wasn't busy so there was plenty of free parking nearby. When the crew was ready the captain welcomed us aboard and showed us to our tables. The tables were set by party size for the most part, so no communal seating. They had tablecloths, fresh flowers and a small plate of crackers with cheese spread. The servers were friendly and efficient, getting everyone drinks. The dinner price included coffee; otherwise there was a cash bar with a small but varied selection of white and red wines by glass or bottle plus beer and a few specialty cocktails. I'd describe the buffet as a step above picnic fare--nothing fancy but hearty. It included a lettuce bar with toppings, cottage cheese and cold salads; scalloped potatoes; vegetable lasagna; mac & cheese; grilled veggies; baked beans; and roast beef carved to order. We were invited to go through the buffet once and return for seconds after everyone had a turn. Several guys decided "first trip through" meant heaping two full-size plates, but there was enough for everyone. Dessert was a simple slice of layer cake. The captain narrated as we motored around the lake, taking us into inlets and showing us lighthouses and houses of wealthy summer homeowners and providing area history. Aerosmith started there - no sign of Steven T. though. We missed most of the tour because the loudspeakers couldn't compete with the people next to us who were more interested in alcohol. Also, the crew inexplicably played a soundtrack of early 1960s pop music ("My Boyfriend's Back") that was moderately annoying. After dinner people moved around to check out the decks and kids were invited to pilot the boat with the captain. The trip took about two hours. We paid our bills and tipped at the end of the meal as at any restaurant. It was a very nice evening to share with friends and good way to experience Lake Sunapee whose shores are mostly privately owned. read more

Sunapee Cruises - MV Kearsarge, Sunapee Harbor, NH USA, 13 Jul 2014 - Boat Charters Near Me - Sunapee, New Hampshire

See all

Our host at a bed and breakfast recommended that we take this dinner cruise when we were visiting this summer and I'm so glad we did! Captain Kara was lovely, professional, and clearly proud of this community in which she was raised. She often rang the bell to "say hello" and waived to the residents that lived along the lake while she was narrating their history and involvement in the community. The only reason I wouldn't give a 5-star rating is that the food was mediocre at best and luke-warm in temperature. Having said that, I would not hesitate to reserve another round of the dinner cruise with this Captain on my next trip to New Hampshire; the sunset was beautiful, the lake was charming, and the Captain and crew made every attempt to take care of our needs. read more

We had a fantastic time on our dinner cruise on the MV Kearsarge touring beautiful Lake Sunapee. We were part of a large group and it was all pre-arranged with the seating and open bar and so forth. The weather was perfect as well as the views. Food was hot, and fresh, a nice variety to choose from. Everyone had a good meal and time out on the lake. I highly recommend going on this boat, especially in good weather. read more

We were finding something to do that was relaxing. Everyone sat near a window so everyone could see what was going on. You could go out on the deck also. They had drinks and food included in the price. It was a beautiful night and seeing all the homes was nice. Lucky people! There are light houses on the river. I would definitely go on the cruise again. read more

Excellent service, the cruise was very fun and interesting. Food was good. The views at night are spectacular.

This was a fun little cruise around the lake where you get to see how the "other half" live;) The Captain was great and super informative about the history of the lake. The staff was super friendly. Dinner was ok, it was a buffet. The salad bar had plenty of options and I thought that was the best part of the meal. The grilled veggies were good. I didn't try the beans or pulled pork or the veggie lasagna but it looked ok. The scalloped potatoes were just ok. The piece of roast beef that I was given was small and had a lot of fat and a big hunk of veins on it so I kind of lost my appetite with that. Drinks were good. I think I would go again for the cruise but skip the dinner. read more

Sunapee Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Sunapee, New Hampshire

See all

We met up with friends here for a great time. Everything was perfect. Food was good and the service was as well. The boat ride and beautiful sunset and fall foliage was the highlight. Twenty years ago we ate here and it was just as I remembered....Perfect read more

Sunapee Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Sunapee, New Hampshire

The service from the whole staff is excellent; the dinner is fresh and delicious. You get the peaceful atmosphere or the festive depending on where you seat. Overall an excellent experience! read more

I took my parents on this beautiful 2 hour tour with dinner. We loved Cpt. Kara who so graciously let us take pictures at the helm and toot the horn. The food was very good. There are two levels to the boat and dinner is a buffet on the first level. Our waiter was very personable and attentive. I would definitely go back. Rain or shine it is a nice trip. The boat is covered. We really enjoyed the music that was playing over the speakers. My only recommendation would be to fix the sound system so we could hear the narrated portion of the trip. I could not hear the Cpt. while we were moving and I was very much interested in hearing what she had to say about the area. read more

Great experience! My family has spent our vacations at Lake Sunapee for generations, but somehow we never tried the MV Kearsarge dinner cruise. We finally took the dinner cruise (post-Columbus Day in mid-October) and everybody had a great time. The staff was exceptionally friendly and helpful. The bar was very nicely stocked. The salad bar was first rate. Excellent pulled pork BBQ, and a roast beef carving station. But excellent food and service aside, the star of the show is historic Lake Sunapee. I have traveled all over the world, and I have never seen a place as beautiful and peaceful as Sunapee. I know this won't make sense to many people, but I swear it's true - the history (including Sunapee's golden age) is palpable. This is as close as you may ever come to experiencing what a vacation was like in 1890. We will definitely be back next year! read more

A very pleasant night. The weather was ideal, the food just OK (Great salad, beef fatty and tough, super cake). Sound system hard to hear unless you are outside just in front of the speakers. Two levels of the ship...top has the better view, but has dinner buffet access later. If it's not about the food, but about the lake I'd give more stars...lovely spot ! read more

This was so nice ! We live in NH,my fiance lives in Sunapee area and never has she been on mv kearsage! Atmosphere was perfect dinner fabulous as well as views from all parts of the vessel.the wait staff was spot on and the captain was great,he had extensive knowledge ( I think he lives on the lake!)It was a very nice evening! read more

It was a fun evening, staff is great and the overall experience good, the PA system needs some work very distorted sounding listening to the captain about the lake. Food was pretty good considering the confined space and it being per prepped. read more

This was our third or fourth dinner cruise on this ship and our last. The ship is overrun by spiders. We had 2 large spiders crawling on the table at the same time. Out on the back of the ship, there were many more spiders hanging from the roof- I saw 6 simultaneously on the port side aft. They need to treat this! The food was also below par. The beef was fatty and tough and the vegetables lacked flavor. All of the "hot" food was cold. The weather was perfect and the lake was as enjoyable as ever. I think they need some competition! read more

What a nice, relaxing evening. The buffet was extremely good. Great service, great bar. I was expecting a touristy event but it was completely opposite. I plan on doing it again read more

We had our 5th anniversary with you on August 5th. We had hoped to go on the new "Lake Queen" but it was taken for a private charter. So we were told it would be the smaller, MV Mt. Sunapee II - the ship they use for the daily sight seeing cruises. No worries because that was the one we had our wedding reception on 5 years ago so I thought that was great. Although we expected a trip similar to our wedding, disappointment soon came in. We happily told the Captain of our great experience 5 years ago. She wasn't interested and sort of looked beyond us asa we talked with her. Then she just walked away. Before dinner the wait staff said we were free to go upstairs before we departed. I thought I would to get out of the hot below deck area. Almost as soon as Igot up there. the captain came up and quite abruptly told me to "return to my seat." I replied that i told it was ok for me to be up there to which she replied, "Well, just sit down." I just went back down. We hadn't even left the dock yet! After dinner we went upstairs to enjoy the nice weather. Couldn't help notice her often checking her cell phone while driving. Our waiter, Mathew was great and the bar tender Karen was great but the Captain left lots to be desired as far as just being nice and all. At the end while she spoke over the loud speaker to say thanks she seemed to emphasize for all to tip. Then to end up on a lovely note, she bounced into the dock while docking. so overall an A for the crew but a D for the captain. Too bad. read more

The dinner cruise on the MV Kearsarge is a classic New Hampshire delight. The ship is well suited to its mission. The captain and crew run the cruise like a well oiled machine. The service is friendly and prompt. The lake and its scenery are wonderful. The meal is excellent and the experience was a nice relaxing break from the busyness of life. I would have enjoyed it a tiny bit more if we could hear the captain speak as the speakers on board are poorly positioned and a bit crackly, too. Of course it appeared that many of the guests on board are regulars who weren't interested in listening to the history of the lake, but a better sound system could accommodate those who are. Otherwise a truly wonderful experience, a trip back in time to what small town New Hampshire is and was. read more

Sunapee Cruises - Sunset on the MV Kearsarge dinner cruise - Boat Charters Near Me - Sunapee, New Hampshire

We booked a cruise for a Sunday night in July, was still a popular evening with only a few open tables. The weather for our cruise was perfect - so we spent a good deal of time out on the decks enjoying the scenery. Cpt. Kara does a nice job speaking a little about the history of the lake along the tour. The captain rings the ships bell along the way wherever there are folks out on their decks and docks. The people on shore always ring or wave back. You get the feeling that the lake community is tight-knit and friendly. You don't get that kind of interaction from the Mt Washington dinner cruise on Lake Winnipesaukee. Cpt. Kara lets the kids and any special guests pilot the boat, then opens it up to anyone else willing to give it a go, which my wife took her up on! Great picture moments. The food from Appleseed's restaurant (NOT Applebee's like one reviewer stated) was excellent. The salad bar was actually pretty extensive. The pulled pork was really great. The roast beef could have used some gravy, but was still good by itself. Even though most people went back for 2nds it didn't appear that they were running out of anything. Dessert was choice of 3 different cakes - chocolate, lemon, and strawberry. While it was an expensive dinner out (we spent $150 for the two of us including drinks and a good tip) It was definitely worth it as the food, atmosphere, and capt./crew could not be beat. The only thing that could be improved on is the speed of the checkout process. Obviously there is a bit of delay when an entire restaurant checks out at the same time - so maybe this can't be avoided. Perhaps they could start earlier with it and ask that if you want more drinks after dinner to just pay the bartender in cash. read more

Light turn-out on a pre-4th summer weekday evening. Everyone was seated on the top deck. All of the staff was friendly, courteous, and unhurried. Nice leisurely cruise around Lake Sunapee. Dining area had perfect atmosphere - not too loud - easy conversation, even over the tour narration. Buffet was fine, extensive sad bar - nothing fancy or exceptional, but suited the overall experience and price point. Drinks were reasonably priced. I think it would be a great idea to have an occasional cruise catered a little higher end - with a higher price. read more

Fantastic experience!!! Crew is super friendly and very attentive. Buffet was superb!!! Very enjoyable cruise around beautiful Lake Sunapee. read more

This was our first time dining on the Sunapee Harbor Restaurant Cruise. We called on a Monday to make reservations for that Thursday. We got the day we wanted booked and were told to show up a little earlier then departure time. We arrived 20 minutes early Thursday evening and parked with no problems. As we walked over to the boat, we were greeted with quite a long line to board and be seated. It would have been more accommodating to have few of the staff members seating customers instead of one. Though the line moved quickly and the captain seated us on the top level. We were very happy with our spot. Our waitress was friendly and got us drinks right away. She said she would inform us when it was our time to walk down and get our meals from the buffet. We walked out to the deck and enjoyed our drinks as the captain narrated a charming tour. Before we knew it, it was our time to go to down to the buffet. They had food for both meat eaters and vegetarians, with a full salad bar, and steaming hot entrees. The food and flavors were good, as we both went back for seconds. Before dessert we took a break back on deck making sure to capture pictures of the beautiful sunset. Once back inside a waitress came around with a tray of options, all being a type of sponge cake style dessert. We settled for the lemon one and a chocolate one, but found ourselves wishing they had better dessert options. Before long our bellies were full and we were headed back to harbor. The bill came to 139.17 for the two of us. Once everyone paid, the staff all walked out onto the dock and bid everyone farewell as we stepped off the boat. Overall we were happy with our evening on the Lake Sunapee Cruise! #CriticsForEats read more

See all

What a great trip! Lovely evening - great service, great food, and overall great experience!!!! Highly recommend this trip as an unforgettable memory of beautiful Lake Sunapee!!! read more

Wonderful restaurant and dining experience. The views are majestic and the food was exquisite. I enjoyed every aspect of my time on MV Kearsarge especially my encounter with a wonderful young mate named Connor. read more

See all

Our first experience with the cruise of Lake Sunapee could not have been more beautiful. Reservations were made online on the spur of the moment. All of the staff were excellent and the food was great!! read more