Essex River Cruises & Charters
Essex River Cruises & Charters
4.5
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Full view
About
"Enjoy a scenic river excursion that captures the essence of New England " -Boston Globe. 1 1/2 hour narrated cruises, along the calm waters of the Essex River. Glide back in time, past islands, dunes & beaches formed by glaciers. See historic mansions, shipyards, saltmarsh farms, rare birds, wildlife, and stunning scenery. Charters &Clambakes. Restroom onboard, free parking, handicaped accessible, cards taken, and bar available. We also specialize in customizable private charters, perfect for corporate outings, birthdays, weddings, celebrations, and family reunions. Our private events range from New England Clambakes or BBQs on secluded tidal beaches to cocktail cruises. All charters are unique and planned your way with a variety of catering and bar options.
Essex, Massachusetts
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Essex River Cruises & Charters
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
727 reviews
Excellent
576
Very good
110
Average
32
Poor
3
Terrible
6
Ermeadle
Danvers, MA1 contribution
Oct 2021 • Family
Aboard the Essex River Queen is a great way to see another side of the North Shore! The whole experience was well planned and organized by the crew. The guide Alex was well versed in the local history and did a great job piloting the boat. Regardless the time of years, I would highly recommend this adventure to locals as well as those just visiting the area!
Written October 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ukrikefotos
Marblehead, MA1 contribution
Jul 2020
Have gone with them many times!! Each time, I enjoy the calm green scenery. Spotting the occasional Egret and Heron, also Cormorants and sometimes Osprey's. Our Guide explained details of the landscape, history and certain events over time (soft music in-between). The Skipper watched speeding boats and gave us a calm ride! We traveled in a group of 4. Other couples and small groups were on board. All could sit a bit for themselves and ample space, because the capacity of the boat was half due to virus regulations. People wore masks, unless they had a zip of lemonade.
Written July 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are so happy your group had a nice time! Please join us again next season :)
Written October 20, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
kayak01
Methuen, MA103 contributions
Oct 2020
Great reminder of why New England is so beautiful and full of history! Comfortable boat ride and good narrator. Everyone with masks and boat only 1/2 full so felt comfortable and safe. As beautiful in the fall as in the summer!
Written October 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We believe the ride is beautiful all year round, I am glad you can agree! Thank you for the review!
Written March 18, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Travel 2021
2 contributions
Sep 2021
From booking to landing, Essex River Cruises does things right and makes it easy to discover a vast estuary we, lifelong New Englanders, knew nothing about. Captain Jesse - or Alex? - provided a narration full of history, anecdotes, real time observations, and a bit of salty humor. This was a gorgeous afternoon well spent!
Written September 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
One of our favorite things is showing New Englanders and locals more to love about this place we call home! Join us again soon.
Written October 7, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
kayak01
Methuen, MA103 contributions
Oct 2021
Make this a 'must do' on your list....whether you are living in Massachusetts or visiting. The staff is so pleasant and easy to work with. We chartered one of the boats for a 2 and 1/2 hr family event and it was perfect. The views are breathtaking and riding along gently over the marsh is a perfect way to share time with loved ones. We were lucky enough to see a seal family and had a special stop on a sand bar. Would highly recommend the narrated tours as well - they share the very interesting history of the area and islands. We try to do this every year - it's always different with the seasons!
Written October 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much! We are so glad you were able to have such a memorable experience especially seeing the seal family. Being directly on the Essex River allows us to see some really unique wildlife, and we are so happy when we get to share those special moments with our guests. Join us again soon!
Written October 7, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
JoeyGorg
1 contribution
Jun 2021
Over the past years we've taken visiting friends on the Essex River cruise, and it stays fresh and gets better each time. The Captain, his crew, and the dockside crew are totally professional, helpful and friendly. The information given in the narration gives a clear understanding of the river, the great marsh, and the surrounding area. It is one of the top Cape Ann attractions. We'll be back.
Written June 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter J
Wellesley15 contributions
Sep 2021
The skipper is a master boat handler and somewhat alters the route as time and tides permit for maximum passenger enjoyment. Meanwhile the narrator shows exceptional knowledge of the area, its wildlife, and its history and is easy to hear and understand thanks to an superb sound system. We'd gladly do it again.
Written September 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We take pride in our narrators passion and knowledge of the area and are glad our guests get to see that too. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Written October 7, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
OldeMaine
Salem, MA1 contribution
Jul 2020
Even though under the Covid restrictions, the River Cruise is extremely enjoyable. The tidal river environment is extraordinary and the Essex/Ipswich marshes are just beautiful. Wildlife abounds and the narrator was very informative. On a hot summer day, there is no avoiding the boat traffic on the river and some of the mariners were cowboy like. I would have preferred a quieter time of day. All and all, it was a good trip and I would recommend it as a highlight of a North Shore visit to the Boston area.
Written July 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for joining us! We are happy you enjoyed yourself
Written October 20, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
dianaZ8287PS
2 contributions
Oct 2020
I highly recommend you take an Essex river cruise during your stay in Cape Ann. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable and entertaining as they narrated the tour of the area we cruised. Booking was easy and the boat was clean. All covid-related protocols were followed which made cruising with a small group of people feel perfectly safe.
Written October 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the kind recommendation! Cape Ann is a beautiful place and we are glad you chose to take a ride with us at Essex River Cruises!
Written March 18, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ken C
Bonita Springs, FL12 contributions
Jul 2021
This was a real treat. The pilot and narrator were very pleasant, knowledgeable young men who enjoyed their work. They explained the Essex Estuary along with interesting history. The approx 5-7 foot tide differences affects everything from the boat's course to the local economy. past and present.
Written August 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for joining us on our cruise, we are so happy you enjoyed our crew. Come again soon!
Written October 7, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Would it be difficult for a person using a crutch to get along ok on the boat. Person very mobile just needs little help with crutch. Thank you.
Written August 17, 2019
Yes you should be OK. The crew is very helpful and hands-on.
Written September 7, 2019
Are small (18 pound), well behaved dogs welcome on board? He would be on my lap.
Written May 8, 2018
Hi Terry,
Unfortunately, due to the nature of our public cruises, we do not allow dogs of any size. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. We hope to see you this summer!
Thank you,
Alex
Written May 9, 2018
Where On the boat is the bathroom? Is it handicap accessible or are there many stairs?
Written October 20, 2016
Hi, thank you for your interest!
Yes, we are fully handicap accessible and we can accommodate wheelchairs (although not the heavy, motorized ones). Our crew is also more than willing to help you if you or someone in your party has mobility issues and needs assistance!
Written October 20, 2016
Hi, it is very temping because the water is so beautiful but no, you can't
Written September 19, 2016
Hi,
Thank you for contacting us.
We operate out of the Essex Marina.
The address is 35 Dodge Street Essex , Ma 01929.
Hope to see you this season.
Sincerely,
Cliff
Written June 16, 2015
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