Our first-time cruise on The River Queen last Tuesday (8/17). The River Queen was sailing out of Point Pleasant NJ that day. A very nice calming cruise along the Manasquan River. The riverboat is an old-fashioned paddleboat, straight out a Mississippi River setting. Our Captain met us as we approached the dock. He was very friendly & had a great sense of humor. He gave us some tips & fun facts about the riverboat & made the guests feel very comfortable. The weather was perfect, as we cruised along the calm inland waters of the Manasquan River, with unique perspectives of the beautiful waters and picturesque homes of the Manasquan River. A cash bar was also offered serving wine, beer, soda & juice. They offer other tours, such as a lunch cruise, a Pasta & Fireworks, as well as the 90-minute cruise (which we took). It was a lot of fun & we are looking to do the Pasta & Fireworks cruise next time. read more

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I planned my Dads 100th Birthday Celebration a few months in advance. Luckily his actual birthdate was available. From the early planning stages to the parties end, it was fantastic to work with this staff. Everyone was attentive, and available for my party to be a success. The weather was perfect and the food was plentiful and delicious. Thank you River Queen for making my Dads birthday and cruise an amazing memory. read more

The River Queen - Me and my Daddy - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Brielle, New Jersey

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Crew was communicative and professional. Always checking in that all was OK and proactive all the time.

Had a group of 38 adults and 9 kids on the River Queen for a marriage celebration. We had the whole boat to ourselves. Marlene in the office and Captain Sharon were extremely responsive throughout the planning process. The space provided us with the opportunity to have live music without worries of needing to keep it down like other spaces for that size group. The kids were able to be active and had plenty of space to do their thing! There were plenty of tables , so I set up activities for the kids (coloring, stickers, and a few games) which worked out really well! Adults also could move from one level to the other, inside and/ or outside on the bow. It was comfortable and spacious. Being on the water was super special! It was beautiful! The food home made by Captain Sharon was delicious! I also strongly recommend the pastries!!! The staff working the party were professional, ensured safety for all, friendly and helpful! A special shout out to Ewelina who voluntarily took photos and videos and sent it to me! They initiated nice touches like a photo of the group on the bow and suggested handing out party favors to each guest as they exited . They were available for whatever formalities we chose. The only suggestion I would have .. is if you are decorating tables yourself, there is a small window!!! Perhaps get dressed for the party prior to set up and be prepared to stay for boarding. The tables had a nice presentation. Having a party on the River Queen is highly Recommended!! It was a blast! read more

For more than 10 years our family (20-30 guests) have sailed on the River Queen for our annual Mother's Day event. The staff is friendly, professional, efficient, and helpful - and the food selection and quality are great. We look forward to the experience every year. read more

What a beautiful afternoon on the River Queen. Everyone of the staff members are so professional and accommodating. The captain is very informative and intermingles with the guest which is a nice touch. The food was good and the warm chocolate chip cookies were great! Will be going back again. read more

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We had our wedding on The River Queen. ourselves and the guest had a wonderful time. the crew was all so kind and on top of everything! The food was delicious and everyone raved about how beautiful the time was! We can't thank them enough for helping to make our day so special! -Dan &Sabrina read more

We held my daughter's wedding at this wonderfully unique venue. From the moment we visited the River Queen we knew it was the perfect match. Sharon was so very helpful with every single detail. The staff were amazing, accommodating and very friendly. The food was fabulous and there wasn't a picture of a guest without a smile on their face or on the dance floor dancing. My daughter told me the following day they wanted to get divorced and do it all over again changes not one detail! Thank you to everyone at the River Queen! I'll be looking for any excuse for another celebration and I know where it will be held! read more

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We had our wedding celebration there this past weekend. It was the perfect choice for us. The service, food, and venue were great. Everyone had a great time. read more

THE RIVER "JESTER" CRUISE -- SUNDAY MAY 9, 2021 (MOTHER's DAY); BRIELLE, NJ -- The only thing "royal" about the poorly named "River Cruise" is the royal flush that you recognize it does to your wallet the second upon arrival at its dock. Where to begin? The parking lot and dock give off the appearance of an open air fish market, and the so-called "humongous" boat is nothing short of underwhelming in appearance. Before we go on with all the negatives of this boat, let's say a few positive words about the true VIP of this operation. No, it's not Capts. Tony & Sharon "Bogus" Bogan, but rather the snake oil online marketeer that operates their website, which makes Gordon Gekko and Jordan Belfort appear honest by comparison. This person could make Costco dog food sound like a $100 filet or could sell even the most prudent investor a worthless time share in Palm Springs. To start with: the laughable characterizations of the "gourmet" food options on this chamber pot chariot. Let's play a game called "what they said was/what they meant was:" --WHAT THEY SAID WAS: "sliced top round of beef" --WHAT THEY MEANT WAS: lukewarm oven-roasted ShopRite roast beef (the kind you get for free when you spend $50 during the holidays) that you needed a chain saw just to cut (see video bellow) --WHAT THEY SAID WAS: "whipped potatoes with chefs gravy" --WHAT THEY MEANT WAS: powdered can restaurant depot potatoes with jarred, store-bought, reheated gravy (see photo) -WHAT THEY SAID WAS: "vegetables du jour" and "mixed greens" - WHAT THEY MEANT WAS: lukewarm, flavorless, microwave style broccoli (they have some nerve pluralizing 'vegetables' as broccoli was the only selection) and romaine lettuce with cheap Restaurant Depot style dressing... not even any tomatoes, croutons, or peppers! (see photo) -WHAT THEY SAID WAS: "rosemary chicken" -WHAT THEY MEANT WAS: I don't know where they got chicken from. What they served was yet again a ShopRite-style oven roast turkey. No frills and no "royal" luxury amenities on the River "queen" (see photo) -WHAT THEY SAID WAS: "butler-style cookies" -WHAT THEY MEANT WAS: Silver dollar-sized Tollhouse cookies served with the BARE HANDS (no tongs; just a disposable napkin) by an employee, only one napkin per table! (See video) As if what the poor quality of the food wasn't bad enough, they had the nerve to call this buffet-style service. In reality, they micromanaged who could get food when as well as how large of a portion size you could take of each item (I was yelled at for asking for more than 2 pieces of chicken!). The only free beverages were coffee and water, which you had to serve yourself in a 4 oz glass that would be given to a kindergartner at a class pizza party! Additional, non-alcoholic beverages were $2.75 a glass!!! There was minimal outdoor space for the large crowd to take in the views outside, as well as only 1 toilet for a 125 person occupancy boat. On top of all this, they had the audacity to put a tip jar on each individual party's table! Here's a tip for you: these tacky gimmicks don't equate to the quality of a $65/person ticket price! In closing: for what markets itself as a royal Mother's Day cruise fit for a queen in reality equates itself to a tacky, white trash banquet beneath even the serfs of Medieval Times. Too bad everyone had on Covid masks. Based on everyone's commentary on line to get off the boat, there would've been a lot of frowning faces BUYER BEWARE!!!! read more

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We just attended a friend's wedding on The River Queen, and it was a lovely evening. But what really stood out to me was the service from the owner and staff - they really went the extra mile for the bride and groom! I work in the wedding industry and I love seeing an owner and staff that really care about the weddings they host. I was helping with decorations since our friends were on a budget and didn't hire a planner. You don't have a ton of time to get on the boat and decorate, so I was a bit stressed about that but the owner jumped right in to help with unwrapping and setting everything up for us! They worked hard to make sure everything was just as the bride wanted it. What really impressed me was that the owner stood in as photographer for our friends too, since they hadn't hired one! I was so worried that they wouldn't have any portraits on that day but they got all the necessary shots, even shots of the bride arriving onto the boat, AND the entire ceremony, etc. To me, this is above and beyond customer service for a venue. Of course I'm always a proponent of hiring a pro photographer for your wedding, but I was relieved for our friends that this owner was willing to offer an extra like this. Thank you to everyone on The River Queen for making our friends' big day special for them! read more

The staff, food, boat, service, and overall ambiance were nothing short of perfect for our private party! We had an amazing celebration and enjoyed every minute of our ride! Thanks to all the staff aboard the wonderful River Queen for making our party a success :) read more

Just spent New Year's Eve tonight, My second time. Could not get a warm Slice of meat! You must eat before you go! The food was from Costco! Really! Everyone was complaining about the Drinks were watered down! A tourist trap. We had to go to a dinner when we We got off! It was all about the money! No about the guest's any more Save your money!! read more

We recently held a Grad Party for my Daughter and everything was perfect. From the boat, to the food and drinks, the Team that works/run the boat, the weather, the company everything was perfect!! This was our 3rd time hosting a party aboard the River Queen and as usual did not disappoint. For those who are thinking about any party on the boat, DO IT!! You won't regret it. Truly a great time, this is so different from your usual run of the mill parties on "land" . Our celebration was during the afternoon, next time I would definitely try a later sail and hope for a sunset :) Thanks to Captain Bogan and all the crew, they run a tight ship, do a lot in a few hours and do it with smiles on their faces. We will be back read more

We hosted my mom's 50th birthday on the River Queen in early April and it was wonderful! The staff were all extremely helpful and friendly from the initial planning stages until the very end. My mom was so surprised and overjoyed, she and all her guests had such a wonderful time and are still talking about how great everything was! read more

Father's Day brunch cruise is nice. The views are great and the staff is really nice. Beware of the little old lady who pushes her dollar store photo key chains. Food is ok but if you don't sit down stairs you will get shafted with scraps. Sit down stairs!!!! read more

The River Queen - Father's Day Brunch Cruise 2016 - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Brielle, New Jersey

A chilly, rainy day in August didn't stop us from having a good time on the River Queen. Thanks to the staff for being so attentive, professional and for going out of their way to ensure my husband was surprised for his 50th birthday party. The maitre d' even met us in the parking lot to carry on the surprise story to the last minute! Our guests are still saying what a nice time they had. I'd especially like to call out the efforts of Roz and Christian. They went well beyond executing a catering event. They were personable and made me feel like I could bring them any problem and they'd fix it (they did each time!)... which is exactly what I'd hoped for in an event staff. Definitely recommending The River Queen to friends and family looking to host a unique party or get together. We'll be back! Sherel read more

We recently held an 80th Surprise Birthday Party on The River Queen. It was absolutely perfect. The staff was amazing and very helpful to all of our requests and needs. Would absolutely recommend this venue for any of your party needs. The Boat Capt was very accommodating as to a few requests to stay in the calmest waters due to the weather. It never rained until we were back at dock! Lol Perfect day all around! Everyone commented on what a great time we all had. Thank you crew and staff as well as office personnel. read more

My family attended a credit union event on the River Queen and a great time was had by all (grandparents, young kids & teenagers). It was a perfect summer day with a great breeze and bright sun so that helped! The cruise itself was beautiful - so many great boats and houses to admire along the way! We were served lunch and the food was fresh and delicious, the staff were friendly and helpful, and the warm fresh baked chocolate chip cookies were the best. There was a full open bar and clean bathrooms and an air conditioned section as well - take a cruise with the family before the summer leaves us! read more

The River Queen - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Brielle, New Jersey

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Please see the review by T.B. below. We went as a family for 4th of July. His review is absolutely spot on and we wish we read it before we paid them. It was super packed, loud babies screaming, and we could barely see any fireworks. I would leave no stars if possible. But now it is a hilarious family memory. ‍‍ read more

My family and I decided to take the River Queen cruise for Mother's Day today. We were mostly disappointed. I'll start off with the good things: the cruise itself was beautiful. The ship has spots to go inside and outside so you can see the views of the water, and go inside if you get cold. You got to see fabulous houses and other ships on the water. Now on to the bad parts: we were on the top floor, and we felt like we were totally left out. When the buffet was ready, we were never told by the staff. It might have been better that we didn't find out the food was ready, because it absolutely horrible. I Know Buffett food isn't gourmet dining, but this was a whole new kind of inedible. The quiche was actually wet and soggy and the scrambled eggs were so obviously powdered. I could go on, but I'll run out of room. The only edible thing was the salad (actually very fresh lettuce and tomatoes). There may have been more food that wasn't so bad, but half of the trays were empty. When we asked the young girl on the wait staff when more food was coming out, she gave us a nasty attitude and told us "we're working on it." I have worked as a waitress before for many years, and it takes no effort to smile and give someone an answer with respect. I felt like this wait staff never smiled once (except one older female waitress who was extremely sweet). I don't think my family or I will ever go back to this cruise, and I will not be recommending to this to anyone. read more

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If you are reading this PLEASE DO NOT give this company the time of day. HEARTLESS, UNCOMPASSIONATE, RUDE, THIEF'S ! This company is the WORST. I had planned to throw my wife a surprise birthday party on the River Queen, paid them a large deposit and then over a month before the date of the party we discovered my wife was pregnant. As anyone knows in the first trimester you are exposed to dizziness, nausea, & overall tiredness. When I called to explain that my wife had a terrible first trimester with our first daughter, had spells of fainting and extreme nausea & a boat isn't a good idea, I was rudely cut off mid sentence aggressively told WE DON'T DO REFUNDS and then pretty much hung up on. I reached out to try and reason with the manager and even the owners, the entire staff is disgustingly rude, heartless and don't care about anything but themselves & attempting to fill their wallets with money rather than cater to customers to keep them happy. If you have any intention of working with this company BEWARE they are ruthless, unaccommodating & I feel bad for anyone who would have to deal with them trying to enjoy a day that is supposed to be fun and memorable. There are plenty of venues other than this company with terrible staff, owners, do yourself a favor and save your money! I know they really needed the money much more than I did! In conclusion if I had one thing to say to others viewing this venue it would be AVOID ! AVOID ! AVOID ! read more

My surprise bridal shower was hosted here and it was wonderful. When my fiance and I arrived everyone was standing outside on the boat waving from both levels. We were welcomed by the kind staff to usher me on board. The staff was friendly, attentive, and great towards everyone. Steve was wonderful and made sure to show me all of the details and helped with the timing. Our guest can't stop talking about how much fun it was. Everyone enjoyed the views both from inside and outside and loved taking pictures. The food was delicious, so much that people went for seconds. I'm not sure who suggested giving favors on the dock as guest departed the boat but it was the perfect send off to say bye to people and didn't cause a cluster. My mom and sisters said they were very accommodating with rescheduling due to Covid and were wonderful to work with. From our experience we highly recommend hosting an event at the The River Queen, small or grand, for a unique experience with family and friends. read more

We just had my sisters wedding on the River Queen and the staff couldn't have been better. Everything but the DJ, officiant and flowers are included. The boats price for 35 guests and a 4 hour cruise was around 4k and they keep passing appetizers all through the beginning, the buffet was casual and delicious, they bake homemade cookies at the end of the night with the cake so the boat smells incredible! If you can keep your guest list to be under 80 people, I would recommend this to anyone for their wedding. read more

Good cruise but not what they said they would do when I bought the cruise package for the 4th of July fireworks cruise. They said we would go through the inland channel down close to the fireworks. The actual cruise took us further away, back up the Manasquan River -- very disappointing. The pizza included in the package price was disappointing as well. But, the captain is a very genial guy who was extremely helpful boarding our handicapped daughter. read more

Attended a wedding here tonight. Definitely a unique venue. You cruise around the Manasquan River and various nearby canals while dining and dancing. The food was all good, as were the drinks. The wait staff, especially Connor, were all very attentive and helpful. Overall, a very good night and a fun experience. read more

Went for Sunday brunch with my husband and kids. It was an especially hot day. The captain was very nice and let us board early. The boat is adorable. The food was very good. The atmosphere was great for families and singles. The cruise was comfortable and easy going, not rough or rocky. The servers were friendly and attentive. It was a great way to spend a Sunday brunch. Plenty of air conditioning too, to help beat the heat. We'll be back! If your not sure if it's worth it, it is. Great experience. read more

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If your going to the Jersey Shore and want a great experience on the water and something different I highly recommend the River Belle/ Queen. The atmosphere is relaxing and the food was great! read more

Outstanding service! Our daughter was married on the River Queen and made the right choice in picking this wonderful boat as her venue. The staff was second to none -- right from the beginning when the planning started. And on the day she was married, the food and service was exceptional! read more

We attended an event on January 15, 2011 aboard the River Queen. I truly anticipated to be cold sailing down the river in January, what a pleasant surprise. Not only is the boat warm, cozy and charming it was decorated in elegant holiday decorations. This was not your typical corporate function. We sipped cocktails and ate hors d' oeuvres as we cruised up the river and saw some of the most beautiful homes I have ever seen and a gorgeous sunset. I can't wait to sail in the summer when we can stand outside and feel the breeze! A definite shore treat! read more

The River Queen - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Brielle, New Jersey

If you are looking for a GREAT time ... This is the place to go! Food is good....the ride , fireworks and music are great!!! I look forward to going back! The people that run this are just awesome!!! Also the day trips are an amazing learning experience! From the revolutionary war till today! read more

Thanks to Sharon, Marlene, Rose and all the staff at the River Belle for making our wedding (6-27-15) a lovely experience (despite the monsoon and being dock-bound) Everyone was courteous ,professional and calming and helpful when the music was not as planned... For any bride to be - THIS was GOLDEN !!! Food was yummy and everyone raved over the Roast and the warm chocolate chip cookies. Thank you a million times for a great beginning to our lives together :) read more