Boat Tours and Cruises in Boston

If you're looking for things to see and do in Boston, cruises and Duck Boats are what you're looking for. These tours are a fun and different way to tour the city. You'll find different themes so you can choose a duck boat tour or cruise that suits your personal tastes.

For example: if you like history, the best thing to do is to take a historical cruise. You'll pass by iconic sites while the guide narrates interesting facts. If you like adventure, then you should take a fast boat trip. In case you are travelling romantically, a sunset cruise should be your plan. Which option do you prefer? Read on to find out more.

Duck boats or amphibious vehicles are a fun way to tour the city of Boston. It may seem crazy at first glance, but it's possible to ride these vehicles around Boston's most famous sites and then enter the Charles River. It's a great way to see much of the city in just an hour and a half.

When you get on the boat , the driver will welcome you and narrate the entire tour so you'll know exactly where you're going to see. You'll pass Boston landmarks such as the Boston Garden, the Boston Bookstore and Public Park, the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum and historic buildings such as the Old State House and the Massachusetts State House.

Other places of interest on the boat include the Boston Museum of Science, the TD Garden Sports Arena and the Newbury Street Mall, among others.

Finally, you'll arrive at the Charles River, where you can enjoy a 20-minute ride. From there you will have incredible views of Boston and Cambridge.

This tour costs approximately €55. In addition to the tour, this price includes multilingual audio guides so that you can understand the tour if you don't speak English.

It is worth noting that wheelchair users can take part in this tour as the vehicle is wheelchair friendly. Assistance animals are also welcome.

Interesting details

• Price: around 55 €.
• Duration: about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• Advantages of this option: it allows you to tour the city and the Charles River in one vehicle.
• Disadvantages of this option: it does not include food or snacks along the way. Also, for some people it can be a very fast ride.

If you are over 21 years old and you like alcoholic drinks, this option is ideal for you. Even if you are travelling as a couple, this is one of the best things to do at night in Boston.

On this cruise you can see the beautiful lights of the city, sail on a historic ship and taste the special cocktails that the company prepares for this experience.

The tour usually takes place on historic schooners and passengers are even allowed to help hoist the sails. When the boat tour starts, you can go to the bar and place your order. Some bars offer rum and ginger cocktails, a drink that sailors used to drink. You'll also find beers, wine and soft drinks.

The tour lasts two hours and costs around €44. Take advantage of the evening to relax and forget about the noise of the city while gazing at the starry sky. The tour ends at the same meeting point after a tour of Boston Harbour.

Interesting details

• Price: about €45.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Advantages of this option: you can have an old-fashioned experience aboard a schooner while enjoying cocktails and the night sky.
• Disadvantages of this option: it does not include food and snacks. Drinks are also not included with the ticket purchase.

If you love to appreciate nature and be dazzled by its beauty, I recommend a whale watching cruise in Boston.

The tour takes you at high speed on a catamaran through the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. The tour costs approximately €60 and lasts about two hours.

On the tour you will see humpback whales, minke whales, pilot whales, fin whales and Atlantic dolphins. You will also be able to observe seabirds such as seagulls. While watching this spectacle of nature, a guide specialised in marine life will explain interesting details about the life of these animals.

During this cruise you will sail through the open waters at the mouth of Massachusetts Bay. There is plenty of food for all these animals. These cruises have three outside decks from which you can watch the natural spectacle.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately €60.
• Duration: 2 hours.
• Advantages of this option: You have the opportunity to see many sea animals up close.
• Disadvantages of this option: No food is included and the tour may be too fast for many people.

If you like history and want to see a bit more of Boston, this cruise is for you. On board this ferry you can explore the city in approximately two hours.

During this time you can enjoy the narration of the guides who tell stories of sea legends, the Revolutionary War and historical figures of Boston. If you like this theme, you should also take a history tour of Boston.

On this tour you will pass by famous ships such as the Boston Tea Party, the USS Constitution, as well as the Boston Light, the oldest lighthouse in the U.S. Other sites you will see on this cruise include the Old North Church and the Boston Floating Museum, one of Boston's best museums.

Enjoy the sights as you cruise through the Harbor Islands National Park area and Boston Harbor. From there you'll see panoramic views of the city and its waterfront areas.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately €40.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Advantages of this option: you can pass by all the historic sites in the harbour while listening to the historical facts about each of them.
• Disadvantages of this option: does not include snacks or drinks, only the tour and narration.

Every good plan should be accompanied by a good meal, don't you think? If you think like me then this is the cruise you should choose.

While you enjoy your brunch, you'll be able to see the city and its historic sites from the Boston harbour. If you're still hungry for more food, I recommend a food tour.

After the cruise starts, you can choose the food you prefer and the quantity you want as they have an open buffet. Once you have chosen your favourite meal, you can head to one of the tables located on the deck. It's sure to be a memorable brunch with a panoramic view of the city.

The cruise passes historic sites such as Bunker Hill, the World Trade Center and the USS Constitution, the oldest serving naval vessel in the world. While you are eating you can listen to the narration of the guides to learn important details about all the sites.

At the end of your meal, you can head to the upper deck, where a DJ will play the best music to end the tour with a party.

This is definitely a great plan if you're travelling with friends for around €80 for a two-hour trip.

Details of interest

• Price: around 80 €.
• Duration: approximately 2 hours.
• Advantages of this option: the lunch is buffet style, so you can eat as much as you want, as well as visit historical sites and enjoy good music at a small farewell party.
• Disadvantages of this option: it only lasts two hours, so each activity is done within a limited time.

There's nothing more romantic than a sunset cruise. If you are looking for this kind of experience, this is the tour for you. Aboard this ship you'll have a panoramic view of the harbour and the city as you cruise for approximately two hours past the area's historic sites.

Each evening's sunset is heralded by the cannon fire of the USS Constitution. On this adventure you will enjoy snacks and alcoholic or soft drinks available for purchase in your stateroom. I'm sure you'll feel at ease on this trip, as passenger numbers are almost always 10 or 12 people.

Sites you'll see from the ferry include the Old North Church & Historic Site, the historic Navy Yard, the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge, among others.

Details of interest

• Price: around 45 €.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Means of transport: ferry.
• Advantages of this option: you can watch the sunset from the sea while having a panoramic view of the city.
• Disadvantages of this option: drinks and snacks are not included in the ticket price.

Want an experience full of adrenaline and speed? Then try the speed boat ride through Boston harbour at around 65 kilometres per hour.

Many call it "the water roller coaster", as it makes twisting, ripping and turning motions. If you're only in Boston for a day, this may be an experience you should have.

For this adventure you should be prepared to get wet - that's part of the fun! The diesel engines provide up to 2,800 horsepower to keep you travelling at full speed. Of course, this experience is accompanied by music to liven up the occasion - a unique experience that will make you feel alive!

Please note that this tour only runs from May to October, so it's one of the things to do in Boston during the summer.

Some of these tours are movie-themed, such as the Codzilla, which emulates Godzilla and lasts at least 45 minutes and costs €40.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately €40.
• Duration: 45 minutes or so.
• Advantages of this option: This is practically a two-in-one experience as you experience the wonder of touring Boston harbour while riding a water roller coaster.
• Disadvantages of this option: Unfortunately this is not a plan I would recommend to everyone. If you are easily frightened, suffer from severe panic attacks and anxiety, or have heart problems, choose another, calmer type of ride.

The most convenient way is to book the cruise you are interested in online. Normally, you will receive everything you need for the tour on your mobile phone.

If you are already in the city, you can go to Boston harbour and ask at the ticket office. There you will have to find out the schedule and if there are still places, you can buy your ticket without any problem.

However, if you are travelling in a peak season like summer, you probably won't be able to get same-day tickets.

Traveller Tip

Before taking a cruise, Duck Boat or any kind of tour in a foreign city, research all the details of the attraction very well. This way you will know what to expect when you arrive at the site. Also, booking your ticket in advance will ensure you have a good experience.

Cruises are a totally different way to visit a city. By travelling on the boat you can see the city from a totally different perspective.

On the other hand, Duck Boats are a different experience on their own. They allow you to explore the city and the harbour on the same mode of transport.

In addition to the sights, cruises usually have themes that add a unique touch to the trip. Some are history themed for those who want to learn interesting facts about the city's landmarks.

If having something to eat is important to you, then the best options are cruises that include brunch or dinner. Another advantage of these trips is that they usually admit only a few people. So you can have a pleasant experience with your group of friends if you travel with them, or even socialise with other tourists. For romantic plans it is ideal to travel on small cruises as they give you a little more privacy to live an intimate and beautiful moment.

On the other hand, a cruise is an experience you must live if you are going to stay more than three days in Boston. Other plans will not give you the same information and memorable memories that these cruises will give you.