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You will receive an incredible experience to see Georgia's historic "First City" and her thriving port from the water's unique perspective. Decked out in traditional red, white and blue these towering riverboats are a staple along Savannah's historic riverfront.  

Hear our Captain’s intriguing tales and historic facts about our modern port and the ships that visit from all over the world. Then make your way down river to Old Fort Jackson, home of one of the largest and oldest original artillery pieces in the country! Take advantage of the great photo opportunities of Savannah’s historic riverfront and skyline. Bar & Grille available on top deck.

Description

Stop At: Savannah Riverboat Cruises, 9 E River St, Savannah, Georgia 31401

Decorated in traditional riverboat red, white, and blue, floating palaces continue to transport visitors back to a time when elegance and relaxation were expected from river travel. The sightseeing cruises have a live guide.

Both riverboats offer a glass-enclosed climate-controlled dining and observation deck with panoramic views, open-air patio, and has numerous bench seats that line the upper decks for incredible city views and plenty of sunshine.. Anytime is a good time for a cruise down the river. 

Come and enjoy Savannah’s only riverboat tour experience!

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Pass By: Old Fort Jackson, 1 Fort Jackson Rd, Savannah, Georgia 31404

Make your way down river to Old Fort Jackson, home of one of the largest and oldest original artillery pieces in the country! Take advantage of the great photo opportunities of Savannah’s historic riverfront and skyline.

Pass By: Historic River Street, River St., Savannah, Georgia 31401

A broad waterfront promenade lined with shopping, dining, and entertainment venues, River Street is one of the main arteries of the historic city.

• Reservations are REQUIRED for all bookings
• Book Your Package On-Line and Receive Your Confirmation
• Departure point: Detailed check-in instructions - including the address and parking information if applicable - will be included in your final confirmation email.
• Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes (Approx.)
• Return Details: Returns to original departure point

What's Included

• Bar & Grille on top deck
• Hear the Captain’s tales and historic facts about our modern port and the visiting ships
• Take advantage of the great photo opportunities of Savannah’s historic riverfront and skyline
• Fully Narrated Cruise
• 90-Minute Savannah Riverboat Cruise
• Gratuities (Optional)
• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• *THIS CRUISE DOES NOT INCLUDE LUNCH BUFFET* please see luncheon cruise

What To Bring

• Confirmation Voucher (printed or mobile)
• Any required or suggested items listed on your confirmation email.

Additional Info

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Riverboats do not have a dress code
• Boarding ramps and main decks of each vessel are accessible by wheelchairs
• The main deck of the Savannah River Queen is handicapped accessible, but restrooms are not
• Yes, smoking is allowed, but only on the outside decks. No smoking is allowed anywhere on the interior cabin of the boat
• A cash bar is available on all cruises for the purchase of alcoholic beverages; minimum drinking age is 21 years
• No walking is required for our tour
• The boarding ramps and main decks of each vessel are accessible by wheelchairs. The Georgia Queen is handicapped accessible and is outfitted with a passenger elevator and handicapped accessible restrooms. The main deck of the Savannah River Queen is handicapped accessible, but restrooms are not. Please contact our ticket office with questions.
• YOU MUST ALLOW AN EXTRA 30-60 MINUTES TO FIND PARKING IN DOWNTOWN SAVANNAH. YOU WILL NOT BE OFFERED A REFUND IF YOU MISS THE BOAT.

Cancellation Policy

This tour is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

• This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
• This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Average 4.02 out of 5 stars based on 2,701 traveler reviews collected by Cool Savannah and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Chevron down What should we wear aboard the River Explorer?

Dress comfortably for the day. The River Explorer does have a shaded canopy throughout the entire vessel, but the boat is entirely open air.

• Chevron down Where exactly are you located?

Savannah Harbor Cruises is located directly on River Street in front of the restaurant Spanky’s. The dock is called River Street Landing and a crew member will be at the top of the ramp 30-minutes prior to departure of your selected tour.

• Chevron down Do you offer parking for your tours?

No, we don’t have designated parking for our tours. It’s recommended to find parking near or on River Street at least 1-hr prior to departure of your selected tour with us. For morning tours it’s easier to find parking on River Street, but for evening tours you may need to park on Bay Street and plan to walk down or use some of the elevator services throughout Bay Street if you have trouble walking down the large cobblestone steps.

• Chevron down Do you wait for all guests to arrive before you depart for your tours?

If you are on a public tour with us we need to leave on time even if everyone isn’t aboard. It’s important to plan ahead and to get parked near River Street at least 1-hr prior to departure of your selected tour. We don’t want other experiences cut short on the water if we need to wait for some guests.

• Chevron down What’s your cancellation policy?

With 24-hour notice we have a 100% refund policy. We don’t allow any day-of cancellations.

• Chevron down What’s your weather policy?

Rain, rain, go away! If mother nature rolls in at departure time of our tour and our Captain deems it unsafe to operate we will issue 100% refunds to guests or try to rebook you to another day or later trip time if possible. We do however only make weather calls at the time of departure, so we expect guests to be ready to go if we are able to run.

• Chevron down Are you handicap accessible?

River Street in Savannah is a rather hard place to navigate in a wheelchair due to the large cobblestones. There is also a large ramp at low-tide to reach the River Explorer. Upon boarding there is a gap between the dock and the River Explorer that you would need to make it over. Aboard the River Explorer that are fixed bench seating to the deck of the vessel. With this being said we will may any accommodation possible to have every guest enjoy our tour. We do recommend if you have mobility problems please come down and visit us at the dock before booking.

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Home › Visitor Info › River Street Parking

River Street Parking

River Street is a popular destination with visitors to Savannah, offering views over the water, historic architecture, and dozens of shops, restaurants and bars.

Finding a place to park at busier times can be difficult, with longer-stay parking especially hard to find.

Limited parking is available along River Street itself, and additional parking is available along Bay Street and the Bay Street Strand, with further options a few blocks away in several parking garages (the best option for a longer stay) and on-street locations. Two free shuttles also provide transportation to more distant parking garages and lots. See below for more details.

Several of the hotels and the more upscale restaurants along River Street offer valet parking, which may be a convenient alternative to trying to find a suitable space.

New parking garages at either end of River Street are planned as part of the River Street East and Plant Riverside District hotel and retail developments, but construction is still underway.

See also: – Where and when you can park for free – More information about parking and parking passes in Savannah – Things to see and do on Savannah’s riverfront – Restaurants and bars on River Street – Must-see sights in Savannah – Public transport and free downtown shuttles

! Please check that you have complied with all signage before leaving your vehicle. Time limits and parking charges for on-street parking are not enforced outside of the hours of 8am-8pm, Monday-Saturday.

Parking On River Street

Four small parking lots (three city lots and one private), providing around 160 spaces in total, are open for public parking on Savannah’s riverfront, with two located on East River Street and two on West River Street.

A few additional parking spaces just off River Street are available on the access ramps leading to and from the riverfront. Be attentive to signage in parking areas on the ramps, as some spaces are reserved or for private parking only.

When traveling down to River Street by car, please note that it is a one-way street. All vehicular travel is in the eastbound direction only. Access to River Street from Bay Street is via the Barnard, Bull and Lincoln Street Ramps, or Martin Luther King, Jr Boulevard. Traffic back up to Bay Street is via the Barnard, Abercorn and East Broad Street Ramps.

East River Street

River street lot 3, 146-218 east river street.

This unmanned, city-owned lot has 50 spaces. It is located between the Abercorn and Lincoln Street ramps.

The lot is open daily, 24hrs. Parking charges apply Monday-Saturday, 8am-8pm, and are $2 per hour. Outside of these hours, parking is free. The lot may be closed during special events.

Riverside Parking Lot, 219-487 East River Street

This small, privately-operated parking lot has 50+ spaces and an attendant on duty. It is located east of the Lincoln Street Ramp, on the north side of River Street.

Hours are Monday-Sunday, 9am-11pm. Parking fees are $1 per 30 minutes, with a $15 maximum for the day. As this is not a city-owned lot, parking passes are not valid.

Street Parking On East River Street

Parking on the Bull Street Ramp behind City Hall is reserved for city employees. The Abercorn Street ramp offers a few public spaces with a 3-hour limit; other spaces here are for private use only. This is a one-way ramp, accessible from River Street only.

There are a couple more public spaces at the bottom of the Lincoln Street ramp, with a 3-hour limit. This is a one-way ramp, accessible from Bay Street only.

There are also a few spaces, with a 2-hour time limit, next to the Olde Harbour Inn at the very end of East River Street.

West River Street

River street lot 1, 233-299 west river street.

This small, 29-space unmanned lot operated by the city is located to the west of the Barnard Street Ramp on the northern side of River Street.

The lot is open daily, 24hrs. Parking charges apply Monday-Saturday, 8am-8pm, and are $2 per hour. Parking is free outside of these hours. The lot may be closed during special events.

River Street Lot 2, 117 West River Street

This unmanned, 31-space parking lot is operated by the city. It is located to the east of the Barnard Street Ramp.

Street Parking On West River Street

A dozen or so public spaces, with a 3-hour limit, are available on the Barnard Street Ramp.

Parking Near River Street

The nearest parking options for visiting River Street that are not directly on the street itself are available on the Bay Street Strand, and along some parts of Bay Street itself.

More parking, slightly further away but usually within around a five minute walk from the riverfront, is available in three parking garages located on the first row of squares. Some other street parking is also available on the streets south of Bay Street.

Pedestrian access from Bay Street down to the riverfront is either via the cobbled ramps shared with vehicles, or a series of (steep and crumbling) staircases and narrow alleys. An elevator located between City Hall and the Hyatt hotel provides step-free access to the river.

Additional, generally unmetered, parking is available in the light industrial area located to the west of River Street, centered around Indian Street. This region is some distance from the main stretch of restaurants and tourist attractions along River Street.

Near East River Street

East bay street strand.

There is some paid parking on the Bay Street Strand around the top of the Abercorn and Lincoln Street ramps; parking on the Bull Street ramp is reserved for city employees. Parking is also available on either side of the road along East Bay Street. Charges vary, to a maximum of $2 per hour.

Bryan Street Parking Garage, 100 East Bryan Street

The Bryan Street Parking Garage is a block south of East Bay Street, with entrances on Abercorn Street and Drayton Street, the latter accessible to northbound traffic only, as the street is one way.

Parking is $1 per hour during the weekday, with a $5 flat rate on Friday evenings and weekends and a $2 flat rate on other weekday evenings. City parking passes are accepted.

Lincoln Parking Garage, 20 Lincoln Street

This privately-operated parking garage is a block and a half south of Bay Street, on Lincoln Street. $5 for 3 hours, $10 for 8 hours. City parking passes are not valid.

Near West River Street

West bay street strand.

Some short-term parking is available around West Upper Factors Walk on the western Bay Street Strand, between City Hall and Williamson Street. Some additional on-street parking is available on West Bay Street between Montgomery and Barnard Streets. Charges vary, to a maximum of $2 per hour.

Whitaker Street Parking Garage, 7 Whitaker Street

The entrance to this large parking garage is off Whitaker Street (southbound traffic only), a block south of Bay Street across from the Hyatt hotel. Parking costs $2 per hour, with a maximum daily charge of $16. A $10 flat rate applies on weekends.

Indian Street & Vicinity

The industrial area west of the River Street riverwalk offers more parking, including unmetered spaces, but at some distance from the visited parts of the riverfront.

Paid street parking is available on West River Street, with some additional short-term parking on Indian Street. Fees vary, to a maximum of $2 per hour. Unmetered parking is also available on Indian Street, and on some of the streets leading off it.

Other Parking Options For River Street

Sometimes the easiest way to get to River Street is to park elsewhere, especially if you intend to stay for more than a couple of hours. At busier times, including during the bigger of the events held on and around the waterfront, this becomes a necessity, with the closest garages filled to capacity and street parking next to impossible to find.

Using Savannah’s Free Shuttle To Get To River Street

Savannah offers two fare-free shuttles that circle the Historic District on a 10-minute schedule, connecting with the more southerly parking garages and other lots and on-street places to park.

The Downtown route connects with several parking lots and garages around the intersection of Liberty Street and Martin Luther King, Jr Boulevard, and with other on-street parking along the route. The shuttle makes several stops along Congress Street, three blocks from River Street.

The Forsyth Park route provides transport between the southern Historic District, where it is easier to find on-street parking, and its most northerly stop on Johnson Square, a block and a half from the public elevator down to River Street (immediately west of City Hall).

See the shuttle route map, including public parking garages and lots

Using Savannah’s Paid Public Transit To Get To River Street

If you are parking in a more outlying district, where free spaces are often readily available, or leaving your car at a Midtown hotel or other lodging, Savannah’s public transit provides a way to get downtown that compares favorably to the cost of day-long parking.

Route 14 connects the southern stretch of Abercorn Street, near to many Midtown hotels, to Broughton Street, four blocks south of River Street. The regular fare is $1.50 per person. See the bus system map for alternative services

Hutchinson Island & The Free River Ferry

Event parking is available at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center’s 1200-space lot on Hutchinson Island, usually for $20 per day. A free ferry service connecting Hutchinson Island to River Street runs every 30 minutes daily. The regular parking fee at the Convention Center is $5 per day. More details

See Also: Things To Do In Savannah & Nearby

– Savannah events – Georgia food festivals – Hilton Head events – Beaches near Savannah – Boat tours from Savannah and Tybee Island – Guided tours of Savannah – First African Baptist Church – Savannah art galleries – Antiques stores in Savannah – Bull Street restaurants – Forsyth Park – Bonaventure Cemetery

© Melanie K Jones 2024

• River Cruising

Viking Moscow to St. Petersburg: Safety??

By uilleann , September 20, 2018 in River Cruising

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We are looking at doing the Viking Moscow to St. Petersburg river cruise in 2020. When I checked the US State Dept. They classify Russia as a “Consider another location” due to increased terrorism against American Tourists. I would love to hear peoples thoughts as I have never been to Russia and this cruise looks like fun?

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I can't answer your question specifically. I have done a similar cruise (another line) and I have done a land trip there. If I was to advise people, I would tell people to find a land company and just do St. Petersburg and Moscow. Stay downtown and not clear out where the river boats stay. I was bored with the ports between and wish I had spent more time in Moscow on the river boat (like I did when I was on the land trip.

Again, not the answer to the question you were asking. I personally would have no hesitations going back.

My sister-in-law just did the Viking trip, St, Pete to Moscow, with no problem at all. She reacted as I did -- greatly enjoyed the longer day time sailing of this itinerary, which she found relaxing and peaceful, and the ports quite interesting. (I was on another line, too, a few years ago). I've seen the State Dept. warning but think the cruise lines put a premium on the safety of their PAX and would withdraw their tours if safety was a concern, such as when river cruises on the Nile were shut down. We did a cruise there after they were reinstated and were a bit apprehensive, but we felt safe with the security provided there and had a great time as well.

We did this trip five years ago. We found St. Petersburg and Moscow extremely interesting, but we really enjoyed the ports during the cruising part of the trip. We loved sailing through the countryside and seeing the smaller towns. President Obama was actually in St. Petersburg for a summit the same time we were there, so Americans were treated fine. However, this was all only a few months before the Sochi winter olympics and Putin was on his best behavior. We all know what happened immediately following the olympics. But then we went to Egypt this past January and we're going to Cuba this coming winter, so we're not easily put off by state department warnings.

chicchic325

That area is generally safe. That said, there is no love lost between Russians and Americans. Most of your everyday people will be fine. You will stand out as an American, good/bad/indifferent. Most of the terrorism problems in Russia are further south than Moscow

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... there is no love lost between Russians and Americans.

I don't find it to be the case.... While the governments do indeed have a hard time finding any kind of common ground to start talking, this has not - in my experience - translated into any kind of problems on a person-to-person level.

If anything, I'd encourage the OP to extend their stay on both ends of the trip, via Viking extension or otherwise and explore both cities on their own.

There aren't too many reviews of Vikings Russian River tours here on CC, but to get a general understanding of overall safety and other issues you might also want to check reviews of other cruise companies (AMA, Scenic, Uniworld, Vodohod) and aggregators (Gate 1 cruises, etc) offering the same route - the itineraries are virtually identical.

As far as State Dept warnings go - they have unfortunately become a political tool rather than a useful resourse for travelers.

Host Jazzbeau

I don't find it to be the case.... While the governments do indeed have a hard time finding any kind of common ground to start talking, this has not - in my experience - translated into any kind of problems on a person-to-person level. If anything, I'd encourage the OP to extend their stay on both ends of the trip, via Viking extension or otherwise and explore both cities on their own. There aren't too many reviews of Vikings Russian River tours here on CC, but to get a general understanding of overall safety and other issues you might also want to check reviews of other cruise companies (AMA, Scenic, Uniworld, Vodohod) and aggregators (Gate 1 cruises, etc) offering the same route - the itineraries are virtually identical.   As far as State Dept warnings go - they have unfortunately become a political tool rather than a useful resourse for travelers.

AMA stopped offering cruises in Russia, reportedly because they couldn't deliver the quality of their European and other itineraries.

AMA stopped offering cruises in Russia

Very true, but past reviews should still be available - and could be helpful in overall assessment of things to expect on that route. Like I said, the itineraries are virtually the same (coincidentally, stern State Dept warnings haven't changed much over the years, either).

OnTheJourney

Would love to go to Moscow....and so I've looked at the "Waterways of the Tsars" Viking cruise quite often. When we arrived in SPB, that morning you could just feel the tension onboard the ship. Everyone just seemed keyed up and slightly nervous. NOT the usual feeling like in the Windjammer down in the Caribbean! Anyway, one of the days we went through border patrol they left my wife go right through, but I was questioned rather sternly and at length about why I'm arriving so early before my tour excursion started and what I intended to do. It was a bit uncomfortable. After a bit of jabbering in Russian among the border patrol agents, they finally let me through. Telling them that I was going to go shopping with the extra time before the excursion started seemed to win some points :)

This is because they never really tried. Ours had 2 AMA employees - the rest were Vodohod employees. It was a Vodohod cruise.

Relax & ignore uptight fellow passengers.

Viking Ocean Day One at St Pete we go to the border officer. Stares & glowers at us for something like 2-3 minutes. Then stamps our passports forcefully and bruskly waves us thru.

Day 2 at St Pete. We arrive and are promptly waived thru right away. But no smile.

Two very elderly folks on our same tour were held up at least 15 minutes as we all waited for them. Talked to them and they were both ex-military and had worked at the Pentagon. They surmised that the Rooskies knew this and had some concerns. They were laughing and thought the entire experience was a hoot. Day 2, no problems.

Yeah...we had no problems the next day we went through.

My sister and BIL just returned from the Viking trip from St. Pete. to Moscow. They said the onboard experience wasn't as good as on the European Longships but they thoroughly enjoyed the trip. They too reported the local people they met were a very warm and friendly.

We arrive and are promptly waived thru right away. But no smile.

Just out of pure curiosity (plus in the interest of identifying cultural differences) - why do you think a smile would be in order?

From my point of view: tourism is an economic plus for any country, so officials involved should be customer-focused.

The scowling old Babushkas monitoring in the Russian museums are apparently not in order.

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Suggest you try the Sampsan from Moscow to St Petes.

There is a four seat compartment at the very front of the train, excellent service, and great views.

Very safe even for Americans !

The scowling old Babushkas monitoring in the Russian museums are apparently not in order

Indeed, wouldn't we all prefer the cheerful young babushkas!

In fact, having spent a bit of time in SPB over the summer, I have a new appreciation for the scowling old type - the only time I've seen them spring back to life, in a soccer-goalie pounce, was to stop a fellow tourist from touching the private parts of a marble statue or leaning against the tapestry-adorned wall in the Hermitage :-)

When I was a Russian History major in the late '60s there was a wonderful story from the days of Stalin about an old Babushka who used to take the subway to Red Square every morning, trudge painfully across the square to the wall of the Kremlin where the front page of Pravda was posted in a glass case, look briefly at the paper and sigh, and then trudge back to the subway. One day the guard asked, "Grandma, why don't you just buy the paper? It only costs a penny." She said, "I don't want to read all of it. I'm just looking for an obituary." The guard said, "But the obituaries aren't printed on the front page!" She answered, " This one will be."

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