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Daily tours starting April 27th!

Uncle Sam Boat Tours: 1000 Islands Boat Tours in Alexandria Bay NY

Uncle Sam Boat Tours Thousand Islands, New York

Any of our daytime tours offer an optional stop at Boldt Castle at the end of the tour. If you choose to disembark at the castle you can purchase the castle admission at the ticket booth on the island.

Come explore one of America’s greatest vacation getaways, the Thousand Islands, in Alexandria Bay, NY. Here you can find magnificent homes, including historic American Castles and modern mansions, all carefully placed throughout one of nature’s most picturesque settings. Uncle Sam Boat Tours is family-operated and has been navigating these waters since 1926!!!

Contact our office with any questions at 315-482-2611 ext. 131 or [email protected] . 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Tis’ the Season for Gift Certificates!

Give them something more, give them an experience! Explore the St. Lawrence River & 1000 Islands aboard one of our famous cruises. And don’t forget the Castle’s!

About Uncle Sam Boat Tours

Uncle Sam Boat Tours invites you to cruise the St. Lawrence River and explore the famous Thousand Islands. Uncle Sam Boat Tours has been providing guided tours of the Thousand Islands for nearly 100 years from our downtown Alexandria Bay location, directly across from Boldt Castle.

Uncle Sam Boat Tours provides a variety of regularly scheduled 1000 Islands sightseeing cruises as well as luncheon  and  dinner  cruises. We are also the ONLY tour company that allows guests an unlimited visit to Boldt Castle and Heart Island. It’s not just a tour; it’s an unforgettable experience!

The most popular option is the 2 Nation Tour. Departing from the heart of the Thousand Islands, Alexandria Bay, NY. This narrated tour offers you historic and scenic wonders of American and Canadian waters; no passport required! At the end of each trip, there is an optional stop at the world-famous Boldt Castle on Heart Island for an unlimited self-guided tour. Click here for more information about Boldt Castle .

Join us for a wonderful time on the water!

Check out our Instagram feed below!

Unclesamboattours.

Uncle Sam has been providing scenic cruises of the Thousand Islands for over 85 years from its downtown Alexandria Bay, NY, location.

Tours Resume May 11th for the 2024 Season. Calendars are open, book your tour now!

• #1 Attraction on the River

Boldt Castle and Two Nation Tour

This intimate tour travels over 27 unique miles among many of the 1000 Islands through US and Canadian waters of the St. Lawrence River. We spend 75 minutes at Heart Island for a self guided tour of Boldt Castle and grounds.

Quick Details

• Hour Glass Duration: 3.5 hours
• Users Age: All Ages Welcome

This intimate tour travels over 27 unique miles among many of the 1000 Islands through US and Canadian waters of the St. Lawrence River.  We spend 7 5 minutes at Heart Island for a self guided tour of Boldt Castle and grounds. Many photo opportunities as we pass Freighters and Ocean Going Vessels traveling to and from the Great Lakes and ports around the world, millionaires row, private islands, and premier sights as your tour guide shares the history, mystery, legends and lore of the area.  Your boat, captain, and guide will be with you every nautical mile of this most popular tour in the 1000 Islands.

Explore the beauty of the 1000 Islands on our Boldt Castle Tour

Enjoy an intimate boat tour as we travel over 27 unique miles through US and Canadian waters among many of the 1000 Islands along the St. Lawrence River. Our professional local guides share rich history, legends and lore as we get closer to the islands than any other tour. View magnificent million-dollar homes, travel under American and Canadian spans of the 1000 Island Bridge System, and pass Rock Island Lighthouse on Rock Island.

At Heart Island guests have the option to take a self guided tour of millionaire George Boldt’s Castle, built as a testament of love for his wife Louise, before tragedy struck in 1904. Marvel at life in the “Gilded Age” for the wealthy who built magnificent castles and summer homes on islands as we travel through “Millionaire’s Row” and the St. Lawrence Seaway shipping channel with the possibility of viewing oceangoing vessels that travel from around the world to the Great Lakes of North America. Our small boats provide for a personal experience with our Captain and Crew. Each of our crew members have a unique, never recorded presentation, and a love of sharing the River with guests.

 Exclusions – Admission to Boldt Castle on Heart Island is not included in the price of boat tour tickets.  Adult’s $12.50 and Children (5-12) $9.00 / Tickets may be purchased through our website at the time of purchasing your boat tour tickets, upon check in the day of your tour, upon arrival at Boldt Castle on Heart Island, or at www.boldtcastle.com

2024 Schedule – 

Highlights of this tour include:.

• This tour circumnavigates Wellesley Island, the largest US Island through Canadian Waters in the north and us waters in the south
• Canadian Steamboat Channel
• The Lost Channel
• Tom Thumb Island
• Parks Canada
• Rockport, Ontario
• Canadian Palisades
• Whirlpool Channel
• Tom thumb Island
• Million Dollar Canadian homes
• The Statue of St. Lawrence
• St. Lawrence Seaway shipping channel
• Rock Island Lighthouse on Rock Island
• Travel under 2 spans of the 1000 Island Bridge System
• Twin Pine Treehouse on Cherry Island
• Millionaire’s Row
• Devil’s Oven
• Hopewell Hall
• Boldt Castle on Heart Island
• and so much more!

Meeting Location

Clayton Island Tours – 39611 Chateau Lane, Clayton, NY 13624

Frequently Asked Questions

• Chevron down Is Boldt Castle Admission Included?

No, Boldt Castle Admission is a separate fee. Adults $12.50 / Children (5-12) $9.00 / Children 4 and under Free –  Admission tickets may be purchased online with your boat tour, are available at our ticket booth upon check in, Upon arrival at Boldt Castle, or online at www.boldtcastle.com

• Chevron down Are there concessions on-board?

We do not have concessions on our boats. We do offer food and beverages from  Kay’s Kitchen  , our onsite concessions.

Picnic Lunches available to pre-order for each tour Breakfast in-season Lunch in-season Catering for group/private charters aboard our boats

You may bring your own food and beverages on-board. No Alcohol.

• Chevron down Do you travel if it is raining?

Yes, our boats are covered and have windows that roll up or down in inclement weather. We do not travel in severe storms or high winds. If the weather prevents us from departing we will let you know as soon as the decision is made.

• Chevron down Are Passports Required?

Passports are not required.

• Chevron down Where do I park?

We have ample free parking. Motorhomes are welcome.

• Chevron down Are pets allowed?

Only Service Animals are allowed. No pets, Comfort Animals or ESA’s are allowed.

• Chevron down Can I smoke on the boat?

Our boats are smoke free.

Related Boat Tours

• Our Best Selling Tour!
• Clock 11:30am
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The Ultimate Sightseeing Tour in the 1000 Islands

Designed for those who wish to see the most attractions in an afternoon from the river!  Tour the 1000 islands on the St. Lawrence River through US and Canadian Waters, visit Boldt Castle on Heart Island and Rock Island Lighthouse on Rock Island.  Picnic Lunch and all admissions included.

• 2 Hour Boat Tour on the St. Lawrence Seaway
• Hour Glass 2 hours

Islands, Lighthouses, and Castle Tour

Join us for 2 hour narrated tour among many of the islands on the St. Lawrence River, including Rock Island Lighthouse on Rock Island, Sunken Rock Lighthouse on Bush Island, and Boldt Castle on Heart Island

Private Sightseeing Tour for just your family, friends, or social group!

Take a private sightseeing tour among the 1000 Islands on the St. Lawrence River in comfort, safety, and privacy with your immediate family or social group. We provide the boat, captain, and guide for a “live” narrated sightseeing tour among the islands.

5-Hour 1000 Islands Boldt Castle Stopover Cruise from Gananoque

• 5-Hour Cruise; a Canadian Signature Experience
• Views of the St. Lawrence Seaway, Millionaires Row, Boldt Castle.
• Views of American & Canadian Spans of 1000 Islands International Bridge and Statue of St. Lawrence
• Onboard food and beverage available for purchase.
• Audio Commentary in English and French.
• Restroom on board
• Paid parking available on site.
• Parking Fees
• City Cruises Gananoque, 280 Main St, Gananoque, ON K7G 2M2, Canada A paid parking lot is available on-site. Parking passes are available for purchase at the lot or in the ticket office.
• Service animals allowed
• Pushchair accessible
• Wheelchair accessible
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travellers can participate
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 225 travellers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• Boldt Castle and the Boldt Yacht House
• 1000 Islands Tower
• Thousand Islands Bridge

Similar experiences

• Tufjzydidhrjdk 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Lovely expensive cruise Very nice cruise on the St Laurent river but a bit expensive. Free parking on the spot appreciated. Friendly staff on board. Read more Written April 19, 2024
• Allie514 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Nice way to see the 1000 Islands. Fantastic boat tour! Lots of history and great views of everything, including Boldt Castle. The boat had enough space to move around easily and the company caps the number of guests on each tour so you have opportunity to view the sites from different spots on the boat since it's not jam-packed. We all enjoyed the tour. Read more Written March 4, 2024
• 739annettk 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Unacceptable cancellation policy - be aware!!! Booked and fully prepaid a 1 hour cruise in October 2023 for our group of 18 back in May 2023. On the day of the cruise we had one person really sick and he couldn't participate. I did ask for a refund for the one ticket, but was told that the refund policy is 7 days. This is ridiculous! Prepaid month in advance and they cannot refund 1 ticket out of 18?! I loved working with the local tour operators in the past, but this company seems to get the small ones out of business and rule everything. Be aware! Don't pre-book!!! There was lots of space on the ship, even though it was a beautiful and sunny day. Read more Written October 31, 2023
• TERRAvelista 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Will be back We came once again here, as we cannot get enough of this great part of the world with it's small islands stretching between USA and Canada and yes, most surely we will come again in the future. Although we set our base in Belleville, we were travelling returning from our 3000 km trip between PEI and Toronto and I called in advance to ensure the cruise will not be busy for their afternoon 1h tour: - the person on the phone confirmed there were only a few people buying tickets due to being late September and asked to pay a fee higher than what we paid later on at the ticket office - we noticed nowadays the ticket office is housed in a different building, where they also have a souvenir shop but no toilets. The original building is now a shop and restaurant with live music - although I took pictures of the City cruises, we actually took the Thousand island boat which is laid on 2 levels: the first level with air conditioned inside and where the bar with drinks/snacks is and also toilets. The second level is not covered and a seagull travelled with us without paying any fee - Mr Bad!!!! - the tour is narrated and you learn lots of things about the life on the islands, how difficult is to get the produce and how most are un-inhabited in the cold season - there are still some people on the island waiving friendly or kayakers - after getting the tickets and parking the car at a discounted cost in their car park, we were fortunate to be the first in line for this boat, some 30min earlier: when we were here in the past, we noticed how people were running to get the best seats which is not nice to see. Even so, near us, there was a group who kept moving in 3 different directions repeatedly to take their 'best pictures' annoying just about everybody. Everything is very idyllic, yet every single time I get a headache, no idea why: could be the engine smell, or the heat etc. Yet we are still going to return here. Read more Written October 28, 2023
• 991antonr 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Pleasant trip The boat was ok but very noisy on the lower deck. One of the seats on the upper deck had a small split which caused a small tear in my wife's trousers. The commentary was reasonably clear and provided some interesting information. It was a pleasant 3 hour cruise, although the amount of development on the islands and along the river bank was surprising. Read more Written October 25, 2023
• Curtrm61 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles 1000 Island tour Trip was a lot of fun. Great sites, great narratives. Staff was nice and friendly. Boat speed was perfect to be able to take the pics we wanted. Read more Written October 22, 2023
• 924maryjanet 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A must do in Gananoque! The views were amazing and so many picturesque opportunities! The boat also gets close enough to the castle that you can some pretty good pictures! Definitely a trip to remember. Read more Written October 20, 2023
• 685oleksandrg 0 contributions 2.0 of 5 bubbles ill-considered booking Unfortunately, we were not able to arrive on time to take part in the cruise. We were travelling from another city and there was a problem with our car. As we found out when we contacted the cruise company, we would have had an opportunity to rebook the cruise, if we had booked it through the website of the cruise company, but since we booked it through Tripadvisor, we did not have such an option. So, if you aren't sure, whether you can arrive on time, we would definitely recommed to make a reservation through the cruise company directly. Read more Written October 7, 2023
• Anonymous855 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles A long 3 hour cruise with not much to see I was hoping the trees would be turning colors but nope and so until we got to Boldt castle, it was a bit dull. Pretty scenery for about 30 minutes, that's enough. We circled the castle island twice and then came back, of course, the same route. Now I was bored and went down a deck to eat popcorn and check my phone. 3 hours was too long for an adult with a terrific attention span....think about it. Parking was more expensive than the website says too. Read more Written September 28, 2023
• gopak619 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A fun, comfortable, and interesting cruise around a lovely area. Very scenic and interesting. We had wanted to take the longer cruise that included the Boalt Castle visit, but that wasn’t available. It turns out the 3 hour cruise was just right — pleasant, informative, and not too long. Read more Written September 25, 2023
• 615filomenag 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles The Worse Boat Tour First of all, the price was ridiculous much more than the one we took with Clayton Tours in Kingston and it was approximately 3 hrs. I am still fighting with this company for my refund. It also cost $9 to park they kept stressing it was all day parking. The tour NEVER TOOK PLACE! They had us all board the boat and for the first 30 mins it was TOTAL SILENCE - no one spoke to any of us. Finally, I asked 2 very nice girls at snack bar what was up. They told us that the sound and video system was down and we would only be riding on the river for an hr clueless to our surroundings. They knew of a couple things and were kind enough to point them out. BOGUS!!!! Read more Written September 24, 2023
• andreasU7202RL 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Calm experience Calm.experience. Friendly staff Well organized. Get there early to get a hood seat. . Beautiful day on the water. Great commentary if you want yo listen but mot too intrusive if you don’t. Read more Written September 24, 2023
• AndrewM826 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles go on a sunny day nice scenery but a bit too long. it would have been much nicer if the weather was better, we had some rain. Read more Written September 20, 2023
• waltersU1843ED 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles this should be on every body's visit list We took the 3 hours tour and it was better than we had expected. Very interesting about the history of this particular area between Canada and USA. The properties are beautiful or stunning in some cases! Read more Written September 18, 2023
• KrisBrownfield 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great cruise, great weather Two couples made a last minute reservation for the one hour cruise. It was on time and very entertaining. We would all recommend this cruise. Read more Written September 11, 2023

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5-Hour 1000 Islands Boldt Castle Stopover Cruise from Gananoque provided by City Cruises Gananoque

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Castles & Cruises

An archipelago of more than 1,800 islands creates an unparalleled water recreation land. Scenic narrated boat tours meander through channels, between islands and under bridges from spring through fall, sharing the history of the region.

Tour companies take visitors past fairytale castles, historic lighthouses and stately mansions that take you back to the area’s heyday as a playground for the rich and famous. Stories of pirates and bootleggers, industry titans and secret societies await. Sightseeing cruises can include stops at Boldt and/or Singer Castle , and Rock Island Lighthouse. For a different option, take a lunch cruise or pair an evening sunset cruise with dinner on board.

Tours depart from several communities along each side of the border. Cruising companies regularly host thematic cruises centered to fun, education and experiencing the culinary assets of the region.

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Official Boldt Castle Website - Alexandria Bay NY in the Heart of the 1000 Islands

1000 Islands NY tour St. Lawrence River

Accessible by water taxi, tour boats and private boat, the castle is open for self-guided tours from mid-May through mid-October.  The five-acre island is fully handicapped accessible, has complete restroom facilities, extensive docking for  private boats, several picnic areas, a gift shop, and a food and beverage concession.

Inside the Castle the first floor has been restored to reflect George and Louise Boldt’s intended finished interior complete with furnishings.

Hundreds of windows have been replaced and beautiful custom made doors and decorative windows now enhance the entrances. The Castle rises six stories from the foundation level of the indoor pool to the highest towered room.

Web site courtesy of the: Thousand Islands Bridge Authority / Boldt Castle PO Box 428, Collins Landing Alexandria Bay, NY 13607

In Season: 315-482-9724 Off Season: 315-482-2501

Coordinates: +44° 20' 40.29" N, -75° 55' 21.27" W

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What are the top cruises in gananoque.

• 1–hour 1000 Islands Cruise from Gananoque
• 1–hour 1000 Islands Cruise from Ivy Lea
• 3-hour 1000 Islands Cruise from Gananoque
• 5-hour 1000 Islands Boldt Castle Stopover Cruise

More about the best boat tours in Gananoque?

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Which landmarks and famous sights can you see on a Gananoque cruise?

Water & boat attractions in gananoque.

1000 Islands Cruises from Gananoque and Ivy Lea | Voyage to the Falls Boat Tour | Exclusive first on the boat Niagara Falls Tour & Journey Behind the Falls | Falls Fireworks Cruise | Toronto Harbour Dining and Sightseeing Cruises

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Flotilla Radisson Royal - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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