Ok so I'm not really a boat person but it was our anniversary and my wife and anted to do this. Now we got there a bit early and sat on the boardwalk waiting, during that time the temperature changed and the water was real choppy. I'm not one to punk out of a challenge but.... I was Leary of the water conditions " (We gonna need a bigger boat), and was ready to say screw that! But you don't get a refund if you cancel or not show, so I muscled up. I will say the captain and mate( sorry I don't remember their names) but we sailed on the Alliance. It was a bit treacherous getting off the dock, but once out in the river it was cool. Sailing under the Coleman was cool as well. We met some nice people and the Captain and his mate were really friendly, my wife even got to help hoist the sails. Would I do again...yeah just on a calmer day. read more

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Road the Schooner Alliance on a hot summer day with no wind so we moved by motor, but at multiple points it felt like we weren't moving and were baking on the boat. If you go on a hot day, sit towards the front of the boat because you'll get any breeze that gets mustered up by the boat's movement. I'm not a boat person, and if it wasn't so hot out, I think I would have liked it better. The crew were so friendly and informative about how the boat works and they fired a cannon, which was neat. The drinks they offered were cold and went well with the boat riding. The chairs they have are plastic folding chairs, which ended up being more comfortable than expected. read more

Took my family on the "Pirate Adventure Sail Yorktown" cruise on Sunday. What a fun trip this was! Captain Mayhem and his crew were fantastic. My three grandson's thoroughly enjoyed hoisting the sails, tying knots, driving the boat, and getting tattoos! As an adult who usually has to drive the boat, I enjoyed relaxing with a nice mimosa in hand! I'd highly recommend this trip for kids and adults alike. read more

Yorktown Sailing Charters - Argh! I got tattooed! - Boating Near Me - Yorktown, Virginia

We had a great time. So far the best event of our vacation. The boat was great as was the weather. The crew was excellent and entertaining. All were knowledgeable and kept us entertained as we sailed and passed notable points of interest. While we missed seeing dolphins on this trip, there was enough going on to really enjoy the sail and the scenery. I would definitely recommend this adventure to anyone looking for a special opportunity in this gorgeous area. read more

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We sailed on the sunset cruise on June 23rd and the weather was incredibly hot. With very little breeze, the sails were unable to be used. There were limited chairs placed very close together and facing the center of the boat, so we turned ours around to get a better view. The crew was accommodating, but we had hoped for more information about the areas we traveled through. I did not appreciate the cannon blast at the end - under a bridge "so we could hear more of an echo." I certainly hope there was no one with PTSD on board. We did see quite a few dolphins, a stingray & a lovely sunset which was awesome! read more

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What an awesome sunset cruise! The Captain and deck hands were so friendly and professional. The views were stunning . We highly recommend a cruise on the Alliance 2!!! Exceptional! read more

Our tour utilized them and it was great fun. We saw dolphins and enjoyed lunch. The crew was GREAT!! read more

Yorktown Sailing Charters - Boating Near Me - Yorktown, Virginia

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I was a little disappointed as we motored out, lift the sails & sat for 1 1/2 hours in 98 degrees hot heat. Obviously no wind...so we sat & sat & sat. I was miserable. read more

We sailed on a cloudy day and our time was just fabulous. The crew was knowledgeable and friendly. The price is easily double where we live on the west coast so the value is totally there especially giving you a unique memorable experience of our time in Williamsburg. I was amazed while sailing under the moving bridge!!! read more

Yorktown Sailing Charters - Rare bridge that pivots out of the way - Boating Near Me - Yorktown, Virginia

I enjoyed sailing on the Alliance in beautiful Yorktown. I love this historic area, there is so much history everywhere you turn. Did you know that we have our own Statue of Liberty here in Virginia? The Victory Monument stands as a fitting symbol to the French and American victory at Yorktown on October 19, 1781 - a victory that resulted in American Independence. Viewing this astonishing monument and its take on Lady Liberty from the York River aboard the Alliance schooner is quite the experience! The historian aboard the sailboat shared a lot of interesting history about Yorktown and the surrounding areas. I liked that the crew involved participants in setting the sails and I like that the vessel has a bar with refreshments as well as a restroom, making it a convenient, interactive and comfortable experience. I will say, if you get motion sickness easily to be mindful that the York River is pretty choppy. In fact, it's not a river at all, it's an estuary - so it's subject to tides and waves (rivers don't get waves). The British weren't aware of that when their large fleets prepared for battle, an advantage for the patriots (lol). So, be mindful, you're in for a bouncy ride - so take your Dramamine ahead of time. I get motion sickness very easily and the first 20 minutes were quite rough as the boat found its bearings, but it subsided quickly. I didn't have Dramamine on me and it was a bearable excursion overall, just come prepared. If you're looking for an unconventional way to enjoy Yorktown, then you should book a sail with YSC. read more

Yorktown Sailing Charters - Boating Near Me - Yorktown, Virginia

This was such a great way to spend the afternoon! The crew were excellent about safety and kept everyone informed. We learned about sailing, the history of this particular boat, fun facts about various buildings that we could see on the shoreline, and the history of Yorktown and its significance within the Revolutionary War. The crew were very entertaining and lively and made the ride so enjoyable. They chose volunteers to lift the sails and even let kids call out instructions to the crew and help steer the boat. When someone spotted a dolphin, we turned in that direction so everyone could see it. I feel like I learned so much and would definitely recommend Yorktown Sailing Charters for anyone touring the area!! read more

Yorktown Sailing Charters - Alliance - Boating Near Me - Yorktown, Virginia

This was my second time and it's always such a nice cruise and the crew is funny and informative. Can't recommend this enough! read more

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We had an enjoyable and informative sail on the Alliance II while the Serenity also sailed nearby. The crew was very friendly and earnest to teach about the boat and the area. It sounds like it's under relatively new management and they have big plans for future upgrades to the boat. The passengers got to help raise the sails which was novel. We also definitely saw dolphins! I think I would only recommend for older children as it was pretty choppy water and the boat was very open air, our toddler would have immediately hurled herself into the sea. There were plenty of safety talks that made it quite safe for adults however. read more

Yorktown Sailing Charters - Boating Near Me - Yorktown, Virginia

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My wife and I had a great afternoon sailing on the Serenity. We had a friendly and informative crew of four and were allowed to "help" as much as we wished on raising the sails and the like. And they had free snacks and beer, but we were too busy enjoying the sail to take much advantage of that. read more

Yorktown Sailing Charters - Sailing on the York River - Boating Near Me - Yorktown, Virginia

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This was a DANGEROUS and MISERABLE boat ride! First of all, there was very limited seating. There were only a few chairs so you are otherwise forced to sit on top of the containers for the life vests, etc. We were able to grab one of the few chairs, but unfortunately that put us right in harm's way. As the sails were switched from side to side, the ropes holding them whipped back and forth along the side where we were sitting. We were given no warning this was going to happen - or when. One of the ropes whacked my girlfriend soundly on the butt and we and another couple were almost hit in the head more than once. There was very little safety training. At the end they shot off a small but loud cannon with almost no warning. Not everyone wants to have their ears ringing on what is supposed to be a relaxing cruise. MOREOVER, THIS CRUISE WAS BORING. We were expecting to hear historic tidbits about the area, but there was not one word. We just sailed out in what seems to be a loop for about two hours with no sort of narration or interaction from the crew. And last but certainly not least, THERE WAS NO MENTION OF A RESTROOM! read more

I recently booked a charter, but unfortunately due to a family emergency, we were unable to make it. I sent an email to the company explaining my dilemma and Holly responded quickly and was very personable. She helped me change my reservation without any issues. I'm looking forward to our trip in the future!! read more

Had reservations for four people to celebrate a birthday and they called and cancelled an hour before with perfect weather. Unscrupolous!

The girlfriend and I decided to give this a try, we were not disappointed, but it could have been slightly better. There were a lot of positives to our tour, the crew was fantastic, they were helpful, knowledgeable, and even managed to keep the nautical puns to a minimum. They also give you a nice overview of the history of the area. The boat was lovely, it was nice to be out on the water in a sail boat. It is a modern boat only 20 some years old, but fits the feel of the area. The only negative was that due to the current health crisis we were not allowed below deck. The views were nice but this leads into the only real negative I have, the boat only does one big loop in the area of the dock, only a mile or two down the river and back, so we did not see nearly as much stuff as the website leads you to believe. The other negative and this was 100% our fault is we went in the middle of the afternoon in the middle of a heat wave. The boat does have some shade form the sails it still gets real hot on the open water so take that into account. Overall we would do it again, it was a great way to spend a few hours out on the water and see the sights. Just make sure it's not a 100 degrees out. read more

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Had a great sunset cruise on the Alliance. The crew was great, very informative and fun and the ship is extremely well kept. Highly recommend. read more

Yorktown Sailing Charters - Boating Near Me - Yorktown, Virginia

We had a great time and the tour guide was very knowledgeable. We would recommend Yorktown Sailing. read more

Went out tonight on the sunset cruise. Really enjoyed, very therapeutic! Crew are knowledgeable, friendly and very accessible and attentive. Didn't see any dolphins but you know that's always going to be hit or miss, it's up to the dolphins. Gorgeous sunset! Strongly recommend! Went out on the Alliance 2. read more

Yorktown Sailing Charters - Sunset over the York River. - Boating Near Me - Yorktown, Virginia

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We went on the sunset sail as we were celebrating my husband's birthday. The 3 crewmen were awesome! They engaged the crowd and were cracking jokes. They know their history and of course know how to sail a boat. Our friend's son was able to help raise the sail, which was so cool. I would totally recommend this to friends and would do it again when in the area. Great family outing and the price is right! read more

We booked the pirate cruise for our family of 6: 3 adults, 3 kids (aged 10, 5, and 3). 1 adult and the oldest child have extra needs so finding something that suits everyone is tricky for us. This trip was perfect! Everyone had a wonderful time. The outing is just long enough for everyone to enjoy and stay engaged. The crew is lovely and they check in often to make sure we all had fun, felt included, but did not press anyone into any of the activities offered (raising the sails, tying knots, steering the ship, getting very lovely temporary tattoos). I can't say enough good things about this experience. We will come back for sure. read more

WHAT a Waste if Time AND don't go, if it's hot. It takes the crew forever to get away from the dock. We went on the Pirate Cruise with 2 kids and 9 adults. The owner was aboard, Not dressed in "Pirate Dress"... But was constantly commanding her crew of "new pirates" One of her crew, was there, it was his first day, and he was not dressed in Pirate Dress either. We spent a lot of money, For Nothing. The kids got to, Help lift the sails, and watch a cannon fire, The kids did take turns at the helm, But the captain didn't have the motor in gear. SAD trip, not fun, TOO HOT read more

We were on the Schooner Alliance 2 and it was not pirate like what so ever except for the fact that they had run down clothes and no shoes. Nothing is really planned out very well other then a rope tying class where we learned to tie 2 knots. It just was not a great experience. Not realistic at all. But we could tell that they were working hard for little money. And also we called them and they said that we could be able to see the crew members shoot a cannon. Technically we did but the cannon was the size of our foot. Over all I would not recommend. read more

Really enjoyed our outing on this! They did a fantastic job giving a tour of the history and current events of the area. The crew was super knowledgeable and we even got to see some dolphins! read more

Had a great time on the sunset tour. The tour was great and so was the narration. Saw plenty of dolphins. read more

Yorktown Sailing Charters - The alliance - Boating Near Me - Yorktown, Virginia

Beautiful view from our sunset cruise on the Alliance. Great experience. Our guide, Sam, was very charming and informative. I highly recommend a cruise on the Alliance! read more

Yorktown Sailing Charters - Beautiful view from our sunset cruise on the Alliance. Our guide, Sam, was very charming and informative. - Boating Near Me - Yorktown, Virginia

Beautiful day, but totally underwhelming "sail." It's only a 90 minute excursion, which we knew up front, but more than half of the trip was conducted only 200 yards from the dock while we bobbed up and down in stationary fashion while getting the history lecture portion of the trip. The history wasn't unexpected or unnecessary, just long...and could have been done while actually moving in the sailboat. Then we turned counterclockwise and motored to the bridge, then back to the dock. So what I thought was going to be a "sailing" cruise ended up being a very short counterclockwise circle all within eyeshot of where we started. read more

Wonderful tour with knowledgeable staff. Dolphins come right up to the boat. Do not miss this tour.

This was a total bait and switch. Website shows old wooden sailing ship. When I arrived it was a metal and plastic piece of junk. Sails didnt raise and they ran the engine the entire trip. A real rip off- stay far away. read more

Great trip my son learned how to tie a knot and fun for the whole family crew very knowledgeable read more

Yorktown Sailing Charters - Boating Near Me - Yorktown, Virginia

We scheduled this as a spur of the moment kind of adventure. The ship appears very well maintained. The crew were extremely nice. We got to help hoist the sails and steer the boat. The crew entertained with information about the Yorktown area and the ship. Had a lot of fun and now I have the sailing bug. read more

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A beautiful sailing experience on the York River. Captain and crew were very friendly and informative. I highly recommend if you are in Yorktown! read more

The crew was informative and entertaining. The sunset was gorgeous. We highly recommend this experience. read more

Yorktown Sailing Charters - Alliance Schooner ride on Halloween was fantastic. - Boating Near Me - Yorktown, Virginia

Took this sunset adventure for our 37th Wedding Anniversary. Was a nice breeze so helped decrease the warmth of a hot evening. Was a nice, quiet 2 hour sail with a beautiful sunset. Staff were very friendly & informative about the history of the area & sailing. read more

Took a sunset cruise on 10/3/18. Had a very enjoyable time on the trip. The Vessel Alliance was beautiful and super clean. The crew allowed guests to help raise the sails, which was pretty cool. The crew gave us some details about sailing and about Yorktown. The captains wife was very talkative and was informative as well. The boat went a decent distance and passed under Coleman Bridge several times before returning to port. The staff seemed completely unaware of the Yelp check in offer of a free soda, so look out for that as two separate people including one of the owners asked me to show them the offer. Otherwise, it was a totally relaxing evening spent with a great crew. read more

My husband and I have done their sunset cruises twice, once as a couple October 2018, and more recently with my parents. AMAZING! It is well worth the money it is a great experience. The first time was a perfect 68° fall evening absolutely beautiful and could not of been better or at least I thought. The second time I was with my parents like I said I believe it was May 2019. We only had 2 nights in Williamsburg. First night cruise was canceled because of weather which we thought was a little odd cents really ended up getting a little rain that night. They offered to either a refund or to book us for the following night which we agreed to. If THAT one got canceled we'd have to get our refund because we would be leaving Williamsburg the next day. Anyway the rebooking was very seamless. The rebooking looked very ominous a big storm rolled in right before we were supposed to set sail but surprisingly enough they did not cancel we all got kind of wet waiting for them but once the rain passed and they dried off the seats we sat sale about a half an hour late is all. And wouldn't you know it still turned out to be an absolutely gorgeous sunset cruise with tons of dolphins coming right up to the ship it was magical!! I love giving these wonderful experiences to my elderly mother and we couldn't of asked for more special cruise!! So anyway I guess my point of this long rambling is very highly recommend it's a must do when you're in the historic triangle area!! read more

Very underwhelming. We booked the pirate cruise for the kids on July 4th. The experience was a disappointment for all. I would not recommend. Captain honestly seemed high. "Mates" seemed disinterested in their jobs and entire experience didn't feel geared towards young kids at all. No laughter or fun by staff. Music, jokes, props, excitement would make the experience worth the cost. We all couldn't wait to get off. read more

We took the sunset cruise on July 6 2019, we had a nice time and the captain and crew were knowledgeable and let the passengers help raise the sails. Only 2 stars because they way overbook this sail. We were 47 people on a boat that could comfortably seat around 30 people We really could not move freely we were stuck in the back We ordered a dinner box with our payment but that was not on board as the crew didn't pick them up prior to departure so we were offered other items like hot dogs or veggie burgers which were ok but had we known we would have made other dinner plans This would have been 5 stars with half as many people on board read more