Sightseeing boat tours and cruises in Ontario

Ottawa Region

Ottawa Boat Cruise

Travel through the heart of Ottawa via the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Choose from several different options, including tours that combine a cruise on the canal with cycling, dining or a double-decker bus ride through the city.

Location: Rideau Canal, Ottawa

Pirate Life

Families with younger kids are invited to climb onboard the interactive theatre cruise on Mooney’s Bay. It’s an exciting, immersive adventure with swashbuckling pirates, treasure hunts and water cannons. Pirate Life excursions are also offered in Toronto, Barrie and Hamilton.

Location: 588 Hog’s Back Road, Ottawa

Southeastern Ontario

St. Lawrence Cruise Lines

St. Lawrence Cruise Lines offers overnight cruises on the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers.

Enjoy calm water cruising on a classic Canadian riverboat down beautiful, intricate riverways with historic attractions along the way.

Locations: Multiple ports from Kingston to Ottawa

1000 Islands Cruises

Tour Kingston’s historic harbour on a one-hour cruise. Or explore the 1000 Islands on a sightseeing cruise starting from downtown Kingston. The scenic three-hour tour includes live entertainment, a delicious meal and up-close views of landmarks such as the historic Boldt Castle or the lavish properties along Millionaires’ Row.

Location: 1 Brock Street, Kingston

Rockport Cruises

Add a little Rockport hospitality to your 1000 Islands tour.

Choose between the popular Heart of the Islands or Palaces & Palisades tour. Each tour features fascinating historical landmarks and stunning scenery, with a licensed bar and snacks onboard.

Location: 20 Front Street, Rockport

Kawarthas and Northumberland

Ontario Waterway Cruises

Experience the peaceful atmosphere and friendly hospitality of the 45-passenger Kawartha Voyageur Riverboat on multi-day trips on the Trent-Severn.

Look for special fall season cruises or check out more trips on the Rideau Canal and Bay of Quinte.

Location: Trent-Severn Waterway

Algonquin Park, Muskoka and Parry Sound

With a steamship heritage that out-dates Canada, cruising is a must-do in Muskoka and Georgian Bay.

Georgian Spirit Cruises

Experience a tour like nothing else through the 30,000 islands in Georgian Bay aboard Georgian Spirit Cruises out of Midland.

The ship sails daily, offering lunch, dinner, sunset and sightseeing tours.

Location: 165 King Street, Midland

Parry Sound Cruise Line

There are several ways to tour Georgian Bay with Parry Sound Cruise Lines.

Enjoy a serene morning cruise aboard the historical M.V. Chippewa III (a decommissioned Maid of the Mist). Opt for one of the afternoon, dinner or sunset cruises, or arrange for a private charter tour just for you and your crew.

Location: 20 McIsaac Way, Parry Sound

Muskoka Steamships & Discovery Centre

Experience one of the family-friendly sightseeing tours or “high-sea adventure” themed tours aboard Muskoka Steamships.

The fleet includes the Royal Mail Ship Segwun, North America’s oldest operating steamship. The Wenonah II, a larger replica steamship, departs daily from the Muskoka Wharf in Gravenhurst.

Location: 185 Cherokee Lane, Gravenhurst

Bruce, Grey and Simcoe

Sunken shipwrecks, heritage lighthouses and famed sunsets are just a few of the highlights to enjoy while cruising on Lake Huron and southern Georgian Bay.

Bruce Anchor Cruises

Book a glass-bottom boat cruise and experience an unforgettable viewing of two nineteenth-century shipwrecks.

Book a night or two in one of their well-appointed cottages for a comfortable stay before you board the cruise in the morning.

Location: 61 Front Street, Tobermory

Blue Heron Cruises

In addition to glass-bottom cruises, Blue Heron Cruises offers exhilarating open-air jet boat cruises. In a comfortable forward-facing seat, feel the wind on your face (and maybe a splash of the Bay) as you admire the iconic Flowerpot Island rock formations and the spectacular view of the Niagara escarpment.

Location: 7425 Highway 6, Tobermory

MS Chi-Cheemaun

Ojibwe for “big canoe,” the MS Chi-Cheemaun offers much more than a ferry service.

Sit back for a two-hour cruise between Tobermory and Manitoulin Island, breathe in the beautiful air and admire the largest freshwater island in the world. The sunset dining and “stargazers delight” cruises make the perfect date.

Locations: 8 Eliza Street, Tobermory or 41 Water Street, South Baymouth

Shaka Wasaga Boat Cruise

Be transported to the tropics aboard the Shaka Wasaga Boat Cruise. Cruise along the crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches of Georgian Bay and take in the gorgeous sunset with a full menu and bar at your service.

Location: 55 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach

Northeastern Ontario

Learn about the history of the area’s most famed lakes and waterways on a cruise in Northeastern Ontario.

Chief Commanda II

The Chief Commanda II cruises into the magnificent vistas of Callander Bay on Lake Nipissing in North Bay. There are also boat tours to explore the Manitou Islands and the scenic French River.

Make your cruise extra special with the sunset dining option or book a cruise featuring live entertainment.

Location: 200 Memorial Drive, North Bay

Northwest Ontario

From Superior to Lake of the Woods, the legendary lakes of Northwest Ontario are unforgettable.

Sail Superior

Depart out of Thunder Bay for a journey along the greatest of the Great Lakes.

Take a heart-pounding tour on the 12-person Zodiac aptly named the Superior Rocket. Or opt for a more leisurely Wine and Cheese Cruise aboard a larger vessel.

Location: 1 Marina Park Drive, Thunder Bay

M.S. Kenora

A visit to Kenora in Sunset Country isn’t complete without a sundowner aboard the M.S. Kenora, along the scenic water of Lake of the Woods.

The region is known as Sunset Country for its proximity to the prairies, causing spectacular colours due to the sun’s reflection off the land.

Location: Kenora

Grace Anne II

Feel transported through time as you sail across the Lake of the Woods aboard this luxurious vessel.

Experience a unique level of elegance and craftsmanship with its gleaming mahogany decks and staterooms, Persian carpets and white glove service.

Location: Kenora

Greater Toronto Area

Southern Ontario also has its share of amazing boat tours and cruises.

City Cruises Toronto

Glide along the water next to the biggest city skyline in the country.

Dial up the romance with dinner and cocktails in the harbour surrounded by a dramatic sunset and an unforgettable view of Toronto’s skyline at night.

Location: 207 Queens Quay West, Toronto

Hamilton, Halton and Brant

Cruise Southern Ontario’s largest watershed that is also a Canadian Heritage River System.

Grand River Cruises

For a dinner to remember, book an evening cruise with Grand River Cruises, just south of Hamilton.

Admire the scenic Grand River from your own private window table while enjoying a delicious four-course dinner.

Location: 36 Brant County Road 22, Caledonia

Niagara Region

See the mighty Niagara Falls from the water on an exciting boat tour.

Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours

For adrenaline seekers, Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours will zip you out on a one-hour, high-speed ride through the rapids below Niagara Falls.

Ride the famous open-topped Wet Jet or the enclosed Dry Freedom Jet, where you can stay dry and snap pictures.

Location: 55 River Frontage Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Niagara City Cruises

Witness the most powerful waterfalls in North America on a twenty-minute boat ride. Elevate the experience on a forty-minute Falls Fireworks Cruise, where you can also enjoy the Falls at night.

Location: 5920 Niagara Parkway, Niagara Falls

Cross-border cruises

Many of Ontario’s legendary waterways are shared with the United States and some of the most exceptional cruises explore these bodies of water that are cherished by Canada and the U.S.

Pearl Seas Cruises

Explore the Great Lakes and Georgian Bay with Pearl Seas Cruises that extend from seven to 11 days, concluding in various U.S. cities.

Experience spacious amenities, private balconies, attentive hospitality and daily entertainment. It’s a complete luxury experience along historical waters and breathtaking natural vistas.

Viking Expeditions

Sail the Great Lakes and Niagara River on an expert-led, eight-day tour that disembarks in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Glide past urban skylines, explore the complex ecosystems and hidden treasures of uninhabited islands and feel the thunderous roar of Niagara Falls.

PONANT

PONANT also offers an eight-day cruise that will have you departing from Toronto and transferring from town to town as you make your way along Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Superior and finally Lake Michigan, beholding some of the most exquisite natural and made-made marvels this world has to offer.

Adventure Life

Take an eight-day cruise from Milwaukee to Toronto. Experience the change in elevation between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes via the Soo Locks of Sault Ste Marie. Discover the charming towns along the way that represent the gateway to Manitoulin Island and the heart of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Conclude the cruise in Southern Ontario to experience the treasures of Port Colborne and the diversity of Toronto.