Bavarian Belle Riverboat
Bavarian Belle Riverboat
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About
Thank you for visiting Frankenmuth. Our family operates the Bavarian Belle riverboat, an authentic SternDriven Paddlewheel riverboat. We offer a 1-hour historical narrated tour of the Frankenmuth area on our fully restored 150-passenger vessel. The Bavarian Belle is open air canopied on the upper deck and has a fully enclosed lower salon with restrooms. We offer a snack bar and soft drinks on board. The Bavarian Belle is located "At The Waterfall" in the River Place Shops shopping village. Our dock and lower level are handicap accessible. One hour trips are offered Monday - Sunday 11am till Dusk, (departing every 90min), Early May to Mid-October. Please call for pre-Memorial Day and post-Labor Day hours. Extended hours are available for Group Tours and Special Events (Weddings, Reunions, etc.). Tickets are $15.00 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under, children 4 and under are No Charge. Group tickets are discounted to $14.00 per adult ticket with groups of 20 or more adults.
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Bavarian Belle Riverboat
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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
5.0
1,914 reviews
Excellent
1,676
Very good
207
Average
25
Poor
1
Terrible
5
Trenches
Pittsburgh3 contributions
Sep 2019
September 27,2019--The tour guide was very informative and brought the history to life by pointing out how the river played a role in the growing country. He was very knowledgeable about the architecture, wildlife, plant species and the historical families that created this town. He was also very entertaining. This 1-hour tour is wonderful for school children, adults, and retirees. It was well worth the money. His crew maneauvered this ship so skillfully that it was such a smooth relaxing ride.
Written January 22, 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.
SharonB231
Toledo, OH1,210 contributions
Aug 2022 • Friends
This is a very nice and relaxing hourlong cruise in Frankenmuth. It is a family owned business and the captain provides a nice narration about the city and its history along with information about the animals located here. We saw herons and turtles on our cruise. They sell snacks including popcorn along with pop and water at very reasonable prices. Boat ride has to be paid for in person, they do not take reservations and they only accept cash or check (no credit cards). A very fun way to spend an hour in Frankenmuth.
Written September 4, 2022
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.
dj W
2 contributions
Jun 2020
Very interesting and well worth the price! Two things that would have made the experience better:
1) "Cash only" should have been posted at the kiosk, where the sign "pay at the boat today" was posted. We were a group of 7, and had no idea until we got to the boarding area that credit cards were not an option.
2) When the captain was speaking on the microphone, the sound tended to vary greatly. There were times when we could hear him just fine, and other times when the sound was very faint. Perhaps, poll the passengers to make sure they can hear you and/or turn up the volume a little.
Very enjoyable overall! Thank you!
1) "Cash only" should have been posted at the kiosk, where the sign "pay at the boat today" was posted. We were a group of 7, and had no idea until we got to the boarding area that credit cards were not an option.
2) When the captain was speaking on the microphone, the sound tended to vary greatly. There were times when we could hear him just fine, and other times when the sound was very faint. Perhaps, poll the passengers to make sure they can hear you and/or turn up the volume a little.
Very enjoyable overall! Thank you!
Written June 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.
Jennifer A
1 contribution
Oct 2020 • Friends
They have an Instagram page, website and a phone number. Know before you go if the boat is running, the times and that it is Cash Only!
It is a family run business with 3 generations on the boat at any time. They are warm and friendly. Get a history of Frankenmuth and the Bavarian Belle Riverboat as you enjoy nature on the hour ride on the Cass River in Frankenmuth Michigan.
I took my first ride May 2018 and have tried to get there every month she runs ever since.
Blow the horn captain, we're leaving the dock!
It is a family run business with 3 generations on the boat at any time. They are warm and friendly. Get a history of Frankenmuth and the Bavarian Belle Riverboat as you enjoy nature on the hour ride on the Cass River in Frankenmuth Michigan.
I took my first ride May 2018 and have tried to get there every month she runs ever since.
Blow the horn captain, we're leaving the dock!
Written October 15, 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.
Whittington Family
1 contribution
Jun 2020 • Couples
Went for a riverboat tour today didn’t have any cash on us for the tickets. You would think that if that happened you would be asked to comeback for a later tour. That was NOT the case! The crew member at the ticket booth said that we could come on this tour ride and then once it was done we would have the option of mailing in the ticket fare or that we could run to an atm and come back to dock. Very nice and customer friendly crew! Very informative tour and nice scenery very relaxing tour!
Written June 13, 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.
MotherOfTwoSons
South Holland, IL82 contributions
Jun 2022
This was our first trip down the river. The boat boards at the River Place Shops, and runs frequently throughout the day and early evening. It is a cash only ticket. The boat has an upper level with a canopy shielding you from the hot summer sun. The lower deck has snacks and is wheelchair friendly. We sat on the upper deck. We were near the back at first- great view, but we had a hard time hearing the captain who was narrating the tour. Once we moved to the center of the boat and could hear him, boy were we glad we did. He was so informative and funny! It is a family operation and many family members were there. They brought popcorn and other snacks up to the top level for anyone who wanted to purchase them (at very reasonable prices). The trip was about an hour long and we loved every minute of it. He pointed out many things we would never have thought to look for, plus gave us a history lesson about the town. It was a relaxing way to spend an hour. We will definitely be doing this again!
Written July 6, 2022
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.
Robinaire
Commerce Township, MI37 contributions
Aug 2020
My handicapped wife (uses a walker, among other issues) and I took the one hour cruise on the Bavarian Belle Riverboat, enjoying the scenery and listening to the interesting narration about the river and its environs. She needed help getting on board, and especially getting up the long ramp to the area where our car was parked. (Nice service, provided for my wife via a wheelchair, provided and serviced by Sean, from the boat crew!)
Written August 26, 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.
123Wren
South Lyon, MI160 contributions
May 2022
I have always wanted to experience the riverboat and we finally did so on our most recent trip. This is a family owned and operated business. They are very good at what they do and seem to enjoy it as well. They give a great history of how they got the riverboat to Frankenmuth and the experience around it as well as history of the area.
Written May 27, 2022
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.
James B
Cordova, TN12 contributions
Aug 2022
We took Jasper the Adventure Dog with us for a ride on the Bavarian Belle. This was a wonderful trip. Jasper enjoyed watching the ducks, the river, and the wildlife along the river bank. Evy sold us our tickets. She loved Jasper and went out of her way to help us, even selling us our tickets before she was fully set up. She was great. The Bavarian Belle is a dog friendly operation. We sat outside up front. The crew warned us before they sounded the whistle and we stepped inside for a minute and covered Jasper's ears. Pictures form this trip will end up on one of Jasper's children's books sometime in the near future. It was fun.
Written November 2, 2022
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.
Joseph M
Stow, OH89 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
This should definitely be on your list. A one hour trip out and back along the river, with narrations of history of this paddle boat, the city of Frankenmuth, etc.
Wheelchair access: gentle sidewalk slopes down to the dock, and the crew will help you board.
Wheelchair access: gentle sidewalk slopes down to the dock, and the crew will help you board.
Written October 8, 2023
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.
Is there a shuttle from the parking lot to the Riverboat for handicapped persons?
Written September 5, 2019
Not that I’m aware of, but I did see a crew member assisting a wheelchair bound passenger get up the ramp from the boat to the plaza in River Place.
Written September 9, 2019
How much is the cost for a ride and are you available all day Saturday?
Written August 29, 2019
it was $12 adults $10 for seniors we had no children so I don;t know the price (there were lots of children on our ride) they do close for the winter because they show you the spot where they pull it in for the winter so you would have to contact them, but I would guess until mid Oct It was well worth it a lot of run, relaxing, very interesting drinks and popcorn available on board, nice bathrooms It was an hour trip
Written September 4, 2019
I'm pretty sure there was a restroom on the boat. I know there were restrooms about five minutes away in the River Place shops.
Written June 11, 2019
Julie B
Ballwin, Missouri
My son will be 2.5 years old this summer when we are in the area. Is this something that a toddler that age would enjoy? Also, are the side guard rails close enough together and high enough not to be a major concern with young children?
Written January 30, 2019
We do have families of all ages on the Belle throughout the season. We do find that young children are fascinated with the paddlewheel and the animals we see. Yes, the railing is all certified for height and width by the Coast Guard. Thanks, Captain Mitch
Written June 2, 2019
Each season is a little different, but we usually try to run until the Columbus Day / Canadian Thanksgiving weekend in mid-October. After that weekend we assess our schedule on the weather. Thanks, Captain Mitch
Written June 2, 2019
We will run as long as the weather does not create a safety concern, high winds, lightning, etc... We have postponed departures if only a few guests are interested, but that is usually only an hour and half delay, or until the weather passes. Thanks, Captain Mitch
Written June 2, 2019
Our ticket booth is at the Waterfall in the Riverplace Shops, at the top of our dock. We post our schedule on our website and also at the Chamber of Commerce, Castle shops entrance and the ticket kiosk.
Written June 2, 2019
Can I take my dog, Molly? I would have her on a leash and she’s very friendly.
Written July 2, 2018
Pets are always welcome on the Belle, no charge. We just ask that they be on a leash. Thanks, Captain Mitch
Written June 2, 2019
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