Niagara City Cruises

Boats have carried visitors to the Falls since the Maid of the Mist first sailed on September 18, 1846 as a border-crossing steam ferry. Wikipedia says its owners turned to sightseeing after a suspension bridge cut into ferry traffic in 1848, while other accounts place the shift to a tourist boat in the 1850s, so the exact date varies by source. A second Maid of the Mist, a 72-foot paddle steamer, ran from 1854 to 1860, and the present company was formed in 1884, launching a new boat in 1885.

The Maid of the Mist company ran from both banks for well over a century, but its last season on the Canadian side ended on October 26, 2013, after the Niagara Parks Commission awarded the Canadian-side concession to Hornblower. A ribbon-cutting was held on May 14, 2014, with public sailings starting the next day. The Maid of the Mist continues to operate from the American side. The terms of the concession are not covered here; check Niagara Parks for current arrangements.

News reports from February 2012 say the Niagara Parks Commission awarded a 30-year contract to Hornblower Canada Co., a subsidiary of San Francisco-based Hornblower Cruises and Events, to operate the Canadian-side boat tours. At the 2014 opening ceremony, speakers included Hornblower chief executive Terry MacRae, the company's Niagara general manager Mory DiMaurizio, Niagara Falls mayor Jim Diodati and Parks Commission chair Janice Thomson. A youth soccer team from St. Catharines sponsored by the company helped unveil the commission plaques, and a second ribbon-cutting took place at the ticket plaza.

The Niagara operation was reportedly rebranded as Niagara City Cruises in 2021; sources describe the earlier operation as Hornblower Niagara Cruises.

The fleet's two main catamarans, the Niagara Thunder and Niagara Wonder, were built in Wheatley, Ontario, and are reported to carry about 700 people each, though one source says 750. One report credits the design to Elliot Bay Design Group and the construction to Hike Metal Products of Wheatley. A smaller vessel, the Niagara Guardian, is used for private charters and events and is reported to hold about 150, though accounts give figures from 149 to 159. Reports describe the Voyage to the Falls cruise as about 20 minutes, with views of the gorge, American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and Horseshoe Falls. Passengers are given waterproof ponchos, and you should expect to be misted at the Horseshoe.

Seasonal evening cruises have also been offered. At the 2014 launch the company announced a sunset cocktail cruise, a Falls illumination cruise and a fireworks cruise that views the nightly display from the base of the Falls, and said private charters would be available on the gorge for the first time. Which sailings run in a given year changes, so check the operator for current schedules.

The boat moves into the amphitheatre where the Horseshoe Falls plunges, and the roar and mist are significant. Most passengers stay on the open decks and take photos; keep phones and cameras in a plastic bag and wear shoes that can get wet. The gorge cruise runs from spring into the autumn season.

Sailings are seasonal and weather-dependent. Check the operator for current hours, tickets, and any combination passes with Niagara Parks attractions.

A Voyzo private tour can arrange pickup near your hotel and drop-off near the dock, then take you on to other viewpoints; the boat is a separate operator and tickets are bought from them.