Thousand Islands Boat Tours
4.6(5.3K)google
5.0(1)yelp
FerryRiverOutdoor
Overview
The Thousand Islands (French: Mille-Îles, pronounced [mil il]) constitute a North American archipelago of 1,864 islands that straddles the Canada–US border in the Saint Lawrence River as it emerges from the northeast corner of Lake Ontario. They stretch for about 50 miles (80 km) downstream from Kingston, Ontario. The Canadian islands are in the province of Ontario and the U.S. islands in the state of New York.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration2-4 hours
Best TimeJune through September delivers peak cruising conditions when the expansive St. Lawrence River remains pleasantly calm and cool. Booking a 3-hour twilight 'Sunset Cruise' departing between 3:30 PM and 6:30 PM is highly advised; late afternoon sun rays stretch across the isolated pine-studded private islands and opulent historic summer estates of Millionaires Row, blanketing the rolling river in a deep crimson glow.
Getting ThereThe grand cruise excursion terminals line the waterfront in downtown Alexandria Bay, centered near James Street. Drivers take I-81 North straight to Exit 50, merge onto NY-12 North, and drive 10 minutes directly into the harbor district, where plentiful public paid surface lots and street spaces wrap the ticket pavilions. No fixed-route regional public buses service this remote resort town.
Travel Tips
- International 2-Nation boat tours navigate continuous border lines; while disembarkation isn't always mandatory, maritime security treaties state that all riders must carry unexpired passports for law enforcement inspections.
- Open waters of the St. Lawrence River experience heavy marine wind chills; upper-deck feel routinely plunges below mid-summer inland forecasts, making windproof thermal outerwear an absolute mandatory asset.
- The entire regional cruise fleet undergoing systematic seasonal decommissioning from mid-October through early May due to thick river ice shears; verify exact spring relaunch schedules online before routing.
Reviews
Positive
- The boat tours cruise along the St. Lawrence River, offering close-up views of various billionaires' private islands and well-arranged, exquisite cottages with endless scenery.
- The captain and tour guides provide humorous and highly informative live commentary throughout the cruise, significantly enhancing the entertainment value of the trip.
- The cabin is spacious, equipped with a basic snack bar and clean restrooms, and the seating layout on the outdoor deck is very well-designed.
- The sunset cruise itinerary offers an extremely romantic atmosphere, allowing guests to fully enjoy a flawless sunset over the water, making it worth every penny.
Heads up
- If the weather is bad or rainy, the river surface becomes windy and cold, and the visual quality of the scenery drops drastically, turning it into a photo trap.
- Drinks and snacks on board are overpriced, representing typical tourist trap pricing; it is recommended to bring your own water in advance.
- The public parking lot is quite a distance from the boarding dock, and finding a space during peak season is extremely difficult due to a lack of effective signs.
- The crowd density on popular sailings is too high, with the deck packed with people scrambling for the best photo spots, and the engine noise is somewhat loud.