Are you thinking of taking a Lake Geneva Boat Cruise? Below I breakdown all of the best Lake Geneva boat tours with insider tips so you know what to expect and have wonderful time on Geneva Lake!
If you only do one thing around Lake Geneva it should be a Lake Geneva Boat Cruise! The Lake Geneva boat tours are the BEST way to take in the beauty of the lake. There is nothing better than relaxing on a beautiful boat (cocktail in hand!) while learning about the history of the lakefront mansions and cruising around the lake.
Since my family has been around the lake since the 1930s I put together a breakdown of all of the best boat tours that should not be missed! From family friendly ice cream tours to Jazz dinner cruises, to full or partial lake tours, there is something for everyone.
*Cost and descriptions are subject to change without notice. Please always check the Gage Lake Geneva Cruise Line website here to confirm!
Insider Tips:
- Boats leave from the Riviera building in downtown Lake Geneva (boats are all the way in the back of the building)
- Allow plenty of time for parking- in peak times the area is packed and you may have to park several blocks away
- Tickets should be purchased in advance online HERE.
- Show the confirmation email on your phone to board
- Boats have cash bars and small snacks for purchase – no coolers or outside alcohol allowed
- Strollers are allowed and there are restrooms on board
- Boarding is 15 minutes prior to departure (except for the mail boat tour which is 30 min prior to departure)
- Tours range from 1.25 hours to 3.5 hours
- Non motorised wheelchairs can board however the restrooms are not wheelchair accessible
Best Lake Geneva Boat Cruise
- Lake Geneva Mail Boat Tours
- Lake Geneva Ice Cream Boat Tour
- Geneva Bay Tour
- Full Lake Tour
- Black Point Estate Tour- boat and mansion tour
- Jazz Dinner Cruise
- Santa Cruise
- Sunday Brunch Cruise
- Lunch Cruise
- Fall Color Tour
This post is all about the Lake Geneva Boat Cruise.
Lake Geneva Mail Boat Tours
This unique tour takes you on the journey of delivering the daily mail by boat! Around 75 homes around the lake still get their mail by boat from mid June to mid September. This lake geneva mailboat tour boat departs from the Rivera promptly at 10am (boarding at 9:30am) and here is the kicker……the mail delivery is done without the boat actually stopping! The mail runner jumps off the moving mail boat, runs the mail into the dock mail box, then jumps back on the still moving boat! This exciting narrated tour is a can’t miss which I highly recommend!
Length: 2.5 hours
Good for: older children and adults
Runs: Mid June-mid Sept
Price: Adults $50, Kids $33, 3 and under free
Portion of Lake: Whole lake
Lake Geneva Ice Cream Boat Tour
If you have kids this lake geneva ice cream boat tour is the best option. This family friendly narrated boat tour is shorter (1.25 hours), serves each passenger a HUGE ice cream sundae with cookie (either chocolate, caramel or strawberry), and has a cash bar and restrooms on the boat! My sons ages 3 and 11 both love the tour and we have gone multiple times!
Since there are usually a lot families on the boat if you really want to hear the narration or have a more adult focused ride I would recommend the Geneva Bay or Full Length boat tours over the Lake Geneva ice cream social boat tour!
Length: 1.25 hours
Good For: Families with kids
Runs: May 1st-end October
Price: Adults $43, Kids $29, 3 and under free
Portion of lake: Half of lake
Geneva Bay Tour
This is one of the most popular cruises in Lake Geneva! This narrated tour will take our around the eastern side of the lake, called Geneva Bay. The shorter tour time make it popular with all ages and again snacks and cash bar are available.
Length: 1 hour
Good For: All Ages
Runs: May 1st- end October
Cost: Adults $38, Kids $24, 3 and under free
Portion of lake: Geneva Bay
Full Length Tour
Choose this Lake Geneva lake cruise if you want to be taken around the entire lake!
Length: 2 hours
Good for: 12+
Runs: May 1st- end October
Cost: Adults $48, Kids $32, 3 and under Free
Portion of Lake: Whole Lake
Black Point Estate Tour and Boat Cruise
Looking for something different? Take a tour of this historic mansion built by Chicago beer baron, Conrad Seipp in 1888. There were no roads at the time, so the family got to the house by boat. That is how you will also get there! The Geneva Cruise Line offers a Black Point estate tour which includes 45 minutes boat ride followed by an 1.5 tour of the first 2 levels of the home. You will return home by narrated boat tour as well. The entire tour takes around 3.5 hours. Inside tip: There are around 100 steps from the pier to the home so make sure everyone on your tour is ok with this!
Length: 3.5 hours
Good For: Ages 12+ who are comfortable walking the 100 stairs from the pier to the home
Runs: May- End October
Cost: Adult $49; Kids $32
Portion of the Lake: 3/4 of the lake
Jazz Dinner Cruise
This Friday evening Lake Geneva dinner cruise takes you around the entire lake while listening to a live jazz band and has a cash bar. I thought the salmon was very good and it was a great way for my husband and I to end the week!
Length: 2.5 hours
Good for: 12+ years old
Runs: Fridays May 1st-end October
Cost: Adults $80, Kids $65
Portion of lake: Whole Lake
Santa Boat Cruise
This is one of the top things to do in Lake Geneva in the winter! The Santa boat tour leaves from Pier 290 in Williams Bay and takes you on a magical journey to catch a glimpse of Santa himself. The cool thing is that all of the kids on the boat have their names on a list and Santa reads each child’s name from his nice list as the boat passes by! I mean, a personal shout out from Santa…..what could be better!? Adults will also enjoy getting into the holiday spirit watching the light displays and listening to the holiday story.
Insider tip: Before boarding get into the Christmas spirit by walking through the Festival of Christmas tree display which has multiple decorated Christmas trees and other decorations. There is a cash bar at the tree display but no bar on the boat. The boat is heated however remember it is winter in Wisconsin and cold out! Dress warmly with hats, gloves and coats because it can get chilly. Book tickets in advance because this tour sells out quick!
Length: 40 minutes
Good for: All Ages
Runs: Day after Thanksgiving – Dec 30th starting at 4:30pm
Cost: Adults $30, Kids $18, 3 and under free
Sunday Brunch Buffet Tour
One of the best cruises in Lake Geneva is the Sunday full lake tour with brunch buffet! Gluten free and vegetarian options are available upon request but must be placed at least 48 hours in advance.
Length: 2.25 hours
Good For: 12+ (no age limit but the length could be a bit long for young kids)
Runs: Sundays from May 1- end October
Cost: Adults $64, Kids $53, 3 and under free
Portion of Lake: Whole Lake
Lunch Cruise Lake Geneva Wi
This narrated boat tour offers a view of the entire lake with a sit down lunch. Menu is classic/retro American and changes so view here. Gluten free and vegetarian options are available upon request but must be placed at least 48 hours in advance.
Length: 2.25 hours
Good For: Adults (no age limit but audience is normally adults or retirees)
Runs: May 1- end October check here for exact dates and times.
Cost: Adults $60, Kids $50, 3 and under free
Portion of the Lake: Whole lake
Fall Color Boat Tour
This is one of the best things to do in Lake Geneva in the fall! Any boat tour in lake September/October gets to take advantage of the beauty of the fall foliage. Click here for all public tours options.
Which ever Lake Geneva boat cruise you choose, you are sure to have a relaxing time while learning about the mansions along the lake!
This post is all about the Lake Geneva Boat Cruise.
