It's a short ride around the naval Academy, but it was very informative and really enjoyable. A great way to see the Annapolis harbor and learn about the naval Academy and it's history read more

Watermark - Annapolis harbor - Boat Tours Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

TL;DR: Don't do business with this company! Horrible experience inside and out, wasted money, lies, and no concern for customer care. Worst Wedding Experience. Details: We recently got married and thought it would be an awesome idea to get married with Watermark while sailing on one of their boats. From day one we asked several questions about things we wished to have on our wedding night. Watermark ensured us that our desires/wishes were manageable and doable. As we got later in the process, several promises they made to us early on became untrue. There seemed to be a massive communication gap between the sales team and the operation team. A communication gap that ultimately cost us thousands of dollars. A few examples: From the day we took the tour we asked if we could bring our own chairs (rent from another company), place those chairs on the third deck for our ceremony, then have them moved downstairs for dinner. We were told this wouldn't be an issue. Come to find out roughly a month before the wedding we were told this cannot be done because furniture cannot be moved once the boat is moving. This wouldn't have been an issue if we were told from the beginning, but being we had paid for chairs, now we had to scramble to come up with different ideas for the top deck, ultimately renting couches so we wouldn't overcrowd the third deck (where we wanted to dance after the ceremony). This was a several thousand dollar last minute change due to incompetence. Furthermore, we discussed several times wanting to bring our own chairs, but the sales team waited until the very end of the process letting us know the price would be $1,000 fee. This felt like extremely dirty business as you knew the price the whole time, but failed to tell us until we had no choice but to pay it. Every contract they sent us with quotes didn't have the fee on there, even though we discussed it several times. If you would have been up front in the beginning we could have planned around this. Another communication gap between sales and operations is when the sales team told us we could have an Ice luge, so we purchased one. Only for them to come back days later saying we are not allowed. I had to push back on this and eventually they let us, but it was still very frustrating. If we weren't confrontational with them on this, it would have cost us another $750 dollars. Additionally, we paid for the unlimited drink package and specifically asked not to leave a tip jar on the counters because we didn't like how it looked. We were told this wouldn't be an issue, however when we got on the boat each bar had a tip jar on it. Throughout the course of the night, all the lights on the boat kept flickering on and off to the point where several guests started making jokes that the boat was going to lose power and we would be stuck out on the water. The sales team also tried personally reaching out to our vendors, telling them they need to bring more staff to set things up, yet again trying to cost us last minute additional charges. These vendors billed us properly from the start based on their understanding and the conversation we had with those individuals. Why would Watermark try to contact them and tell them they need more people to set up? I have several more examples where I could go on and on about the issues we had with Watermark, but ultimately it comes down to how sneaky it felt. All these hidden charges at the end, telling us we can do one thing, then later telling us we can't. At no point was working with Watermark pleasant and I truly in no good faith will ever recommend anyone doing business with them. For us, we spent a lot of money just for several things to go wrong, our food to be ice cold. At no point did anyone seem like they cared about our business from Watermark. Every interaction with them they treated us like nobodies, we were just a transaction to them. Watermark made it clear that it was simply a business transaction and they didn't care about our wedding day. We truly regret sailing with Watermark. read more

We took Watermark's Thomas Point Lighthouse Cruise this past Sunday when were visiting Annapolis for the day. The 90-minute tour takes you out into the Bay to see the lighthouse ($36/adult) and includes a bottled beer from the snack bar on the boat with each adult ticket. The staff were wonderful (our cruise wasn't very full, so we were able to talk to the staff extensively over the hour and a half), and the cruise was really relaxing and interesting. On the boat for this cruise, there is indoor and outdoor seating. We opted for the outdoor deck. We enjoyed the sun and the views and the bottled beers (and the orange crushes we bought) and the sandwiches we brought on board (they allow you to bring simple foods on board, which was great since our cruise was at 12:30pm) and the history and so on and so on. It was a great way to spend a couple of hours. And a great way to see Annapolis. (FYI: As of May 2025, the city is doing major construction at the pier where you get on Watermark cruises. They're building a park, which will be great, but it's made it a bit messy for Watermark for the foreseeable future. Make sure you give yourself time to find the temporary access to the pier!) Check them out! read more

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During our visit to Annapolis, my sister and I had the pleasure of taking a Watermark boat cruise out to the Thomas Point Lighthouse. We started out sitting outside. But when the sun became a bit too much for us, we retreated inside to relax in air conditioned comfort. Seeing the lighthouse was right at the top of our lists of favorite Annapolis experiences. All of the crew members were very professional, friendly, entertaining, and knowledgeable. Our fellow travelers were also very friendly, and in good spirits. Who wouldn't be?? On a boat, in the sunshine, listening to some pretty cool tunes, and looking at a lighthouse. Yes, please!!! read more

Did the day cruise to St. Michaels on June 20, excellent trip and my first time in the maritime museum. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to do a day on the bay. Captain Pete in the best. read more

The captain and crew were friendly the trip was fun and we had a great time We are going again on a longer cruise. read more

This is a perfect go to event if you have out of town guests to show around. The 40 minutes is a perfect amount of time to get a glimpse of the beautiful Severn River feeding into the Chesapeake Bay. The trip is narrated so your guests get a blast of history particularly focused on the Navel Academy. Snacks and drinks are served. Seating is inside and out side on the upper deck. Great time! read more

At almost 2 and a half hours, this tour is not for the faint of heart or frail of limb, but a truly wonderful experience, both entertaining and informative. Lucky you if you get Mistress Emma for a guide. She's the best!! read more

Such a great way to spend a Sunday!! Yoga on a yacht was an amazing experience. The weather was perfect and the instructor read more

This is a lovely company to cruise along the Annapolis waterfront. My family and I scheduled a cruise on the water on 4th of July evening. The staff were friendly and welcoming and there was plenty of space on the boat to stand or sit upstairs or in the covered section on the lower level. They had plenty of complimentary desserts and snacks to provide to the guests. And the bar had fun themed drinks like the Star Spangled Banner. This is an EXCELLENT cruise to be right under the fire works! Due note, the cruise typically gets to the spot on the water and aims to just stay there for 1.5 hours before the fireworks...thankfully the captain heard our request to cruise around while we waited for the fireworks to start. read more

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In Annapolis we came across a very touristy thing to do. We went on a 40 minute cruise tour of Annapolis. This was a sailing across Chesapeake Bay. We didn't plan this in advance, we just saw them boarding the ship, and decided let's go! The tickets are $25 for adults, and $10 for kids. The tickets cost the same if purchased on line. It was such a beautiful day, which was honestly the biggest selling point. Pretty quickly after we boarded, the sailing began. You can sit on the lower level or up higher. We sat on the higher level. This sailing was smooth and easy. The gentle wind was welcome and refreshing. The guided tour narrator was prerecorded. If it was live, it might have been more interesting and I might have listened a bit more. There was a young man who was going around taking pictures for us with our devices. They have a bar and restrooms on the lower level. I didn't utilize these. This was a very pleasant cruise ride across the Chesapeake Bay. read more

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Annapolis Harbor Cruise, great little trip around the Naval Academy perimeter then toward (but not into) Chesapeake Bay. 40 minutes with full narration. read more

This was a great experience from start to finish. It was incredibly easy to order tickets online and their handling fees were cheap! Everything was on time. I just walked up, gave my name, they handed me tickets, and I got in line. Boarding was smooth and the ride was relaxing and educational! You could actually hear and understand the narrator. The only negative is 40 minutes was over too fast. Highly recommend! read more

great experience- the captain was amazing and staff were super friendly. Definitely a must for all visitors to Baltimore

It was a fabulous ride. The staff was courteous great Father's Day gift! We might make this an annual event. Thanks!!!

This is our FAVORITE thing to do each time we visit the city! The staff are friendly and SO helpful. This is a great experience for all ages and all weather!!! read more

Nice ride and very informative. The view of the Naval Academy and the history was great. The web price is $30, the walk up price is $25. I'm not begrudging the extra $5 but wanted people to know. read more

The Only Review You Need To Read I was born & raised in Maryland and have been to Annapolis many times; however I've never taken a cruise around the Severn river until today. I booked a 40 minute cruise with my funny little hunny, who is from California and I thought she might enjoy a little excursion while learning about what was at one point the nation's capital. Parking by the water was a bit of a challenge as it was a beautiful sunny Saturday morning and I was driving myself nuts trying to navigate all of the one-way streets in the nearby neighborhood, so I just opted to pay the $30 for public parking. The walk to the harbor was no big deal, we made it to the check-in spot, got our tickets, got in line, then in single file, they granted us access onto the boat. We made our way up to the top deck, found a bench next to the captain's wheelhouse, and I chatted it up with the friendly captain with some small talk before we set sail. Then after a couple toots of his horn, we were off. For the next 35 or so minutes, we were treated to a nice education about the Naval academy, surrounding buildings, the Chesapeake Bay bridge and other interesting bits and pieces about Annapolis. It was a pleasant leisurely ride, and with the exception of people who came speeding by and causing waves, not too choppy (for those who might get a little woozy on a boat). There's also a little bar for refreshments, as well as a restroom if you don't think you can wait until you get back to the public restrooms at the harbor. This was a really fun activity if you are entertaining guests from out of town, on a date (because there are lots of things to do in walking distance after the boat ride), or if you just want something interesting to do while learning a little trivia about the Old Line State. Next up for us will be taking the all day cruise down to St. Michael's. I highly recommend this cruise line! read more

Watermark - The cruise ship for the 40 minute tour - Boat Tours Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

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Annapolis Seaport: This was a good way to take a break from walking around the waterfront. Watermark offers over nine different cruises providing history & culture lessons of the Chesapeake Bay area. They also have a location at the Baltimore Inner Harbor. We were on the Harbor Queen boat ($19 per adult) that provided us with a 45-minute narrated cruise of historic Annapolis & the banks of the U.S. Naval Academy. Due to the Pandemic, the occupancy has been decreased to provide a comfortable atmosphere while adhering to social distancing requirements. We opted to sit on the lower deck at the bow as the upper level was more occupied. There's a full bar service with light snacks available for purchase, restrooms & disability accessibility. The entire crew before, during & after were great with their service, guidance & assistance. Extra thanks to Daniel, the Cruise Waiter as he was such a friendly & accommodating individual. We enjoyed taking in the scenic views, watching the sunset, vibing with the ebb & flow of the water. I'm thinking of embarking on the St. Michaels excursion next. The ticket stand is located at 1Dock Street, look for the Red umbrella. read more

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Great live music by Red Betty & The Ruckus last night! This ship provided an excellent evening sunset cruise. We spent the first half of the night looking at the beautiful houses and boats and landscape. But by the end of the night, many people were rocking out on the dance floor. What a fun evening on the water! read more

I am going to review the 40 minute cruise on the Harbor Queen ship. I just recently went on this boat with my family and have probably done this about 6-7 times since I moved here 10+ years ago. It's a fun, easy thing to do with family from out of state and few will be disappointed. The boat doesn't look like much, but it's a very pleasant cruise. The narration has been the same one they've had for 10+ years, but it's fun and you'll learn a lot about the naval academy. The crew are amazing and if you have any young kids, let the captain know they are here and they'll probably let them "drive" the ship. There are food and beverages (alcoholic) but nothing here is special and I would recommend against it, except maybe the fresh popcorn which is $2. Again, the focus is the narration and the beautiful views, which this ship has many! read more

Watermark - The ship, the Harbor Queen as she came into dock. - Boat Tours Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

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I would give this cruise 5 stars if we were treated with respect. Clean boat. Sweet captain. Great view. Smooth ride. But the lady. I don't know her name. She acted like we were babies or that we don't know how to be parents to our kids. She picked on us and stood near us just to watch us. We weren't the only ones on the boat, but the only Deaf. So I really did feel like she looked down on us and became bossy. "Don't do this. Don't do that." And just watched us like we paid her to babysit us. Why aren't you watching other parents and boss them like you did to us? BTW, this boat ride wasn't our first time. And we did not have anyone onboard bossing us and my kids did the same thing every time- getting excited they're on the boat, but they weren't monkeys like she acted. Lady- we know our kids, not you. And we were always right next to our kids. Please mind your own business and treat everyone equally. Our Deafness does not make us incompetent that we needed you to babysit us. Will we ride on the boat again? Not with that lady onboard. read more

For the price we paid for the 90 minute tour, I did expect a bit more. Overall, the staff were nice and the boat was clean but it was a bit of a lackluster outing. read more

I previously purchased a gift card for an Annapolis to St Michaels cruise for my elderly mother in law (who lives in California). Due to the pandemic and the fact that my family is suddenly relocating out of state and will not be returning to the Annapolis area, I requested a refund. Despite the fact that Watermark currently isn't even offering weekday cruises to St. Michaels, they refused. Taking money for a service that a customer cannot utilize, and not making an exception for extenuating circumstances during a pandemic seems to me to be bad business practice. I have requested refunds for gift cards and memberships for restaurants and attractions we will not have a chance to fully utilize, and this is actually the only business that would not consider a refund. For this reason, I wouldn't recommend Watermark. There are a lot of wonderful options in the area that seem to treat customers with more understanding during these unprecedented times. read more

On first blush, this seems like it'd be the most unpleasant and touristy thing imaginable. Way better than you'd think, though. In fact, it was awesome! I got roped into this on a 90 deg summer day-- by others I was with. I was very unenthusiastic. The cool, breezy riparian air was incredible, and the views were cool too. Went on the Bay cruise, but it was too choppy, so we adjourned to the Severn. It did not disappoint. Cool seeing the Naval Academy and all the little inlets of the Severn. If you ever try to look when you're on the bridge, but wish you didn't have to watch traffic and had more than a second, you'll like this. good photo ops for people, wildlife and scenery. there's a pre-recorded(?) speech with a couple interesting (and sometimes mildly inaccurate) factoids, but you can mostly ignore it. I thought I was an ace at parallel parking, but you should see the captain bring this huge thing in to dock! She was amazingly hum-drum about it. three things... one, there's lots of fuel fumes when the boat does a six point turn to get out of the docks, but it builds character... I'm a wimp with asthma and if i can do it, you can too. two, bring sunscreen and secure your hair/hat-- best views are on the top deck and there's not much shade and a lot of strong wind. three, you'll have to park at a garage and walk, the meters won't give you enough time... be sure to check annapolisparking dot com! read more

Excellent day trip to st Michaels. Definitely recommend this business and the trip.

We took the "Spa Creek" tour on August 9th for my son's 21st birthday celebration. Our guide was friendly and jovial. He wished my son happy birthday. Cleaned the boat and enforced proper social distancing guidelines on his boat. It's cool how they have refreshments on the boat that we could help ourselves too and pay before we hop off. He narrated well and the views were breathtaking. I would have given it 5 starts had it not been for the uncomfortable seating. The metal part on the backside really digs in your back. I wish they had pillows to protect riders back from the metal railing wrapped around the boat. read more

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Fun cruise! The staff was great. Always present and very pleasant so you felt safe but never intrusive. This is a vacation while staying in town because the pace is slow. The cruise time and on shore time is perfect for connecting with friends and family. At Michaels was an unexpected delight because the scenery was so perfectly serene and welcome when we arrived. All the residents and business staff were absolutely welcoming. Will definitely take out of towners here to slow the pace of their travels. One guest was so enamored she is looking into purchasing a home here in the future. read more

Wonderful tour, but leaving a star out for the fact that there are no clear signs of where to go to take the tours- boats are in different areas for different tours. read more

I was in DTA for a day off. I was walking down the dock and they had a nice ticket booth with a big red umbrella that you couldn't miss. They were only doing the 40-minute Naval Academy cruise that day. At first, I wasn't going to do it, but the ticket agent convinced me, and I am happy that she did. From the moment I stepped on board the crew was so welcoming and even the Captain welcomed me aboard. From there I went to the bar and grabbed a beer before going upstairs and getting a seat. We pulled away from the dock not long after that and it was a really pleasant, narrated cruise that taught me about the Naval Academy and the Chesapeake Bay. It was just the right amount of time. I look forward to going back and doing one of the 90 minute cruises that Watermark offers. read more

Our work group just finished the Annapolis Ghost Tour and had such a fun time! Our tour guide, Saggy Boots, kept us all entertained with his accent, outfit, and great humor. Aside from his everlasting jokes, he pointed out the tiniest details of history in each stop which brought life to the stories from hundreds of years ago. Overall a cool experience! read more

Colleen Price is the best bartender one can ask for. Super attentive and incredibly nice. It was a pleasure being served by her! Cant wait to come back! read more

We went on this tour on July 2 at 10 am. Terribly disappointed. I gave it 2 stars only because the guide is a very nice person. Out of the 2.25 hours of the tour, we spent an hour and 45 minutes at the USNA and did not see the main building and the majestic memorial hall. We basically took a tour of the gym, and the chapel (which of course is beautiful) and spent way too much time listening to the sports records of athletes, and the admissions process which are definitely not historical, we can find all that information online. With due respect, the guide is knowledgeable but he is 79 years old, the USNA is too spread out for someone his age to cover. Basically what we saw of colonial Annapolis was what was on Maryland Avenue and spent the last 20 minutes at Maryland Capitol. We went back to the USNA the following day and saw a lot more than what was covered on the paid tour. If you want to see colonial Annapolis, do not sign up for this tour. If you want to see USNA sign up for the tour that only concentrates on USNA. read more

Lousy customer service. Purchased the tickets online ahead of time after I called them to ask questions about the tour details. I received one email with the tickets and nothing else. Not even a reminder on the day of or an update about the weather delay. A huge thunderstorm rolled in with thunder and lightning. Did not seem safe. Tried contacting the company before the start of tour to see if it was delayed or canceled. Received no response. I called the phone number multiple times. Contacted them again the next day and the operations manager rudely informed me that the tour had not been canceled, "only delayed" and a refund, credit or even partial refund was not possible. Nothing. Still have not received a response to the email that I sent inquiring about schedule. We were here for Plebe Parents weekend and it way my son's birthday! I told the folks at Westmark this and also inquired about what kind of boat would be used since he would be in his dress whites and fearful of getting dirty etc. USNA parents should find another way to spend time with their Midn while they are on liberty! This company doesn't care. read more