7 Best Cruises and Boat Tours in Boston

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

For example, if you like history, the best option 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. If you're travelling on a romantic getaway, a sunset cruise should be your plan. Which option do you prefer? Keep reading to find out more.

If you like history and want to learn a little more about 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 from Boston. If you like this theme, you should also take a :::link|text=history tour of Boston|element=sc-30-1348:::.

On this tour, you will pass by famous ships such as the Boston Tea Party, the USS Constitution, and the Boston Light, the oldest lighthouse in the United States.
Other sites you can admire on this cruise include the Old North Church and the Boston Floating Museum, one of the best museums in Boston.

Enjoy the views as you sail through the Harbor Islands National Park and Boston Harbour. From there, you will see panoramic views of the city and its coastal areas.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately £35.
• Duration: approximately 1 hour.
• Advantages of this option: you can visit all the historic sites in the harbour while listening to historical facts about each one.
• Disadvantages of this option: refreshments and drinks are not included, only the tour and commentary.

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

Many call it ** the "water roller coaster"** because it twists, turns and curves. If you're only in Boston for a day, this is an experience you shouldn't miss.

For this adventure, be prepared to get wet – it's part of the fun! Diesel engines provide up to 2,800 horsepower so you can travel at full speed. Of course, this experience is accompanied by music to liven up the occasion. You'll have a unique experience that will make you feel alive!

Keep in mind that this trip only runs from May to October, so it's one of the things you can do in Boston during the summer.

Some of these tours are movie-themed, such as Codzilla, which emulates Godzilla and lasts at least 45 minutes and costs £35.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately £35.
• Duration: approximately 45 minutes.
• Advantages of this option: this experience is practically two in one, as you get to enjoy the wonder of touring Boston Harbour while riding a water roller coaster.
• Disadvantages of this option: unfortunately, this is not a plan that I would recommend to everyone. If you are easily frightened, suffer from panic attacks or severe anxiety, or have heart problems, it is better to choose a different, more peaceful tour.

Duck Boats, or amphibious vehicles, are a very fun way to tour the city of Boston.
At first glance, it may seem crazy, but you can travel in these vehicles through the most famous sites in Boston and then enter the Charles River. It's an ideal option to see much of the city in just an hour and a half.

When you board the boat, the driver will welcome you and narrate the entire tour so that you know exactly what you're seeing. You will pass by iconic Boston landmarks such as the garden, the bookshop and the 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 that this boat passes by include the Boston Museum of Science, the TD Garden sports stadium and the Newbury Street shopping centre, among others.

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

This tour costs approximately £50. In addition to the tour, this price includes multilingual audio guides so that you can understand the tour if you do not speak English.

It should be noted that wheelchair users can take part in this tour as the vehicle is equipped for them. Assistance animals are also welcome.

Details of interest

• Price: around £55.
• Duration: approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

If you are over 21 and enjoy alcoholic beverages, 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 city lights, sail on a historic ship, and try special cocktails prepared by the company for this experience.

The tour is usually conducted on historic schooners, and passengers are even allowed to help hoist the sails. When the boat tour begins, 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 beer, wine and non-alcoholic soft drinks.

The tour lasts two hours and costs approximately £40. Take advantage of the evening to relax and forget the noise of the city while gazing at the starry sky. The tour ends at the same meeting point, after touring Boston Harbour.

Important information

• Price: approximately £45.
• Duration: approximately 2 hours.
• Advantages of this option: you can enjoy an old-fashioned experience aboard a schooner while enjoying cocktails and the night sky.
• Disadvantages of this option: food and snacks are not included. Drinks are also not included with the ticket price.

If you love nature and being dazzled by its beauty, I recommend taking a whale watching cruise in Boston.

The tour is a high-speed catamaran ride through the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. The cost of this trip is approximately £50 and lasts around two hours.

On the tour, you will be able to see humpback whales, minke whales, pilot whales, fin whales and Atlantic dolphins. You will also see seabirds such as seagulls. While you watch this spectacle of nature, a guide specialising 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. This area is abundant in food for all these animals. These cruises have three outdoor decks from which you can watch the natural spectacle.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately £50.
• Duration: 2 hours.
• Advantages of this option: you have the opportunity to see many marine animals up close.
• Disadvantages of this option: no food is included and the tour may be too fast for some people.

Every good plan should be accompanied by good food, don't you think? If you agree, then this is the cruise for you.

While enjoying your brunch, you can take in the city and its historic sites from Boston Harbour. If you're left wanting more of the local cuisine, I recommend a food tour.

Once the cruise sets sail, you can choose whatever you'd like to eat from the all-you-can-eat buffet. Once you've chosen your favourite dishes, you can head to one of the tables on the deck. It's sure to be a memorable brunch, as you'll have a panoramic view of the city.

The cruise passes by historic sites such as Bunker Hill, the World Trade Center and the USS Constitution, the world's oldest naval vessel still in service. While you eat, you can listen to the guides' commentary to learn important details about all the sites.

After your meal, head to the upper patio deck, where a DJ will play the best music to end the tour with a party.

This is definitely an excellent plan if you are travelling with friends, costing around £70 for a trip lasting approximately two hours.

Details of interest

• Price: around £70.
• Duration: approximately 2 hours.
• Advantages of this option: lunch is an all-you-can-eat buffet, 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 carried out within a limited time frame.

There is nothing more romantic than a sunset cruise. If you are looking for this type of experience, this is the tour for you. On board this boat, you will have a panoramic view of the harbour and the city while you take a two-hour tour of the area's historical sites.

Every evening, the sunset is announced by a cannon shot from the USS Constitution. On this adventure, you can enjoy snacks and alcoholic or soft drinks available for purchase in the cabin. I'm sure you'll feel at ease on this trip, as the number of passengers is almost always 10 or 12 people.

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

Details of interest

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

The easiest way is to book the cruise you want online. You will usually receive everything you need for the tour on your mobile phone.

If you are already in the city, you can go to the port of Boston and ask at the ticket office. There you can find out the timetables and if there are still places available, you can buy your ticket without any problems.

However, if you are travelling during the high season, such as summer, you will probably not be able to get tickets for the same day.

Cruises are a totally different way to visit a city. Travelling by boat allows you to see the city from a completely different perspective.

On the other hand, Duck Boats are a unique experience in themselves. They allow you to explore the city and the port using the same mode of transport.

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

If food is important to you, then the best options are cruises that include brunch or dinner.
Another advantage of these trips is that they usually have a limited number of passengers. This way, you can have a pleasant experience with your group of friends if you are travelling with them, or even socialise with other tourists. For romantic plans, small cruises are ideal as they give you a little more privacy to enjoy an intimate and beautiful moment.

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