Erie Canal Cruises

Attraction Description

Erie Canal Cruises offers several cruises to please all preferences including historically narrated Daily Cruises, themed Friday Night Party Cruises with a DJ on board, Living History Cruises with 18th century chocolate making demonstrations and lunch included, and new this year, Comedy Cruises! Additionally, read what Rand McNally had to say about our award winning Daily Cruise historic narration and experience…

‘Take a trip through history on the calm waters of the Erie Canal, and enjoy the spectacular scenery of New York's beautiful Mohawk Valley. For 90 minutes on board one of the Lil’ Diamond vessels, your United States Coast Guard licensed Captain entertains with tales of the canal: why it was known as Clinton’s ditch, how it was constructed, how it opened our western lands and help create the America we know today, how and why it was expanded and why it’s still important to upstate New York culture.

We cruise in the beautiful Mohawk River and in a man-made section known as a “land cut”. The tour passes through massive guard gates, the Historic Fort Herkimer Church, which is one of the oldest surviving churches in New York State. Common sights along the Plantation Island Wildlife Management Area are birds such as green and blue herons and the occasional bald eagle. The vessel then enters Lock 18 at Jacksonburg, one the last remaining locks operating with all original 100 year old equipment. The Captain fully describes how the lock operates. The vessel enters the lock, the gates close behind and suddenly but smoothly the lock house seems to rise in the air as slimy walls creep up along the vessel while being lowered twenty feet. An experience not soon forgotten.

The Captain has an “open pilot house” policy where passengers can come into the pilot house and visit (except when maneuvering around docks or locks). This provides the passengers with great photo opportunities. The cruise is 90 minutes of history, entertainment, humor, calm cruising, and pure family fun!’

Erie Canal Cruises is also available for Private Charter and group bookings from 30 - 130 passengers. Call (315) 866-5989. Reservations highly recommended. Please visit our website for details and like us on Facebook.

To Make You Smile

• Cruise -Wheelchair accessible
• Restaurant
• Shopping
• Friday Night Party
• Living History Cruise
• Family friendly
• Special rates for Groups of 30+

Events

Daily Cruises
Comedy Cruises
Friday Night Party Cruises
Living History Cruises