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1000 Islands Cruises Kingston

Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises offers daily sightseeing and dining cruises with the greatest variety of cruise options in the 1000 Islands region. Explore Kingston’s historic waterfront or cruise through the 1000 Islands on board one of 3 vessels.

1 Brock Street

(613) 549-5544

Wheelchair, Air Conditioning, Parking, Tour Group Friendly, Waterfront

Hours of Operation

Raise your stein at riverhead brewing company’s oktoberfest in downtown kingston, a fall day in the apple orchard: visit waddell apples in kingston, cheap eats in kingston: 15 meals under $15.

Visitor Information

1.888.855.4555

613.548.4415

[email protected]

Check hours

209 Ontario Street Kingston, Ontario K7L 2Z1

Get directions

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• About Kingston
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One Pass, One Price, All of Kingston

• Call: 1-844-449-4513

Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises

Explore Kingston and the 1000 Islands on a sightseeing cruise or dining cruise featuring live entertainment and spectacular scenery. Cruises depart throughout the day from 1 Brock St. Crawford Wharf in downtown Kingston.

A cruise is included in K-Pass: Choose which type of cruise you’d like to take — be it a 1-hour Discovery Cruise of Kingston, or a 3-hour Sightseeing or Dining Cruise of the 1000 Islands.

Sightseeing Cruises:

• Discovery Cruise
• Heart of the Islands Cruise

Dining Cruises:

• Heart of the Islands Brunch Cruise
• Heart of the Islands Lunch Cruise
• Sunset Dinner Cruise

www.ktic.ca 248 Ontario St. / 1 Brock St. Trolley Stop #1 and #3

Explore More with K-PASS

Kingston K-Pass

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• Toll-Free: 1 800 267 7868

TALK TO AN EXPERT & BOOK

Toll-free: 1-800-267-7868, international: +1-613-549-8091, email: [email protected].

Home > Cruise Destinations > Kingston & 1000 Islands

Kingston & 1000 Islands

Kingston is the home port of the m/v canadian empress. all cruises either begin or conclude in this historic city. kingston is located at the beginning of the st. lawrence river and the southern mouth of the rideau canal. kingston once was a strategic military outpost and the first capital of the province of canada. kingston is now a city known for its educational institutions with queen's university, st. lawrence college & the royal military college. tourism makes up a large portion of the local economy., 2025 upper river expedition, overnight ports from kingston to upper canada village to kingston, 1000 islands anchorage    brockville   upper canada village    gananoque, celebration of spring, overnight ports from kingston to montreal to kingston, 1000 islands anchorage    upper canada village   coteau landing   montreal cornwall   morrisburg    brockville, heritage summer cruise, seaway discovery cruise, fall harvest and colour cruise, canadian connection east, overnight ports from kingston to quebec city, 1000 islands anchorage    brockville   upper canada village    coteau landing   montreal    trois rivieres, canadian connection west, overnight ports from quebec city to kingston, quebec city    trois rivieres    montreal    cornwall   brockville   gananoque, canada's capital north, overnight ports from kingston to ottawa, 1000 islands anchorage    upper canada village    coteau landing   lachine, a borough of montreal    montebello, canada's capital south, overnight ports from ottawa to kingston, ottawa    carillon   lachine, a borough of montreal   upper canada village   brockville, cruise choices, join us as we kick off the 2024 cruise season with 7 nights and 8 days of fresh spring air on the st. lawrence river and watch the flora and fauna of the river spring to life. this cruise features a unique itinerary and travels from kingston to montreal and return for 7 nights at a special 6 night rate. starting at $3144 cad per person., explore cruise, cruise with us in the heart of the summer for 7 nights and 8 days of relaxation on the st. lawrence river. this cruise travels from kingston to montreal and return, and features a unique itinerary that highlights the history of the international seaway. during this time of year the river bustles with lake freighters and pleasure boats. starting at $4076 per person., cruise with us for 7 nights and 8 days of warm summer weather on the beautiful and historic st. lawrence river. this cruise will explore the thousand islands region and retrace the routes of early upper canada explorers. learn about the history of the early trade route between kingston and montreal. starting at $4076 per person., discovery cruise series, these 4 night, 5 day cruises were created for those that want to deepen their knowledge of the history, geography, and culture of the 1000 islands and st. lawrence river. discovery cruise itineraries are enhanced with unique attractions, step-on speakers, and an educational focus. starting at $2096 per person., canada's capital cruise, start or end your cruise vacation in canada's capital of ottawa. the historic significance of the lower ottawa river coupled with the amazing 1000 islands and st. lawrence seaway makes this 5 night, 6 day cruise an unforgettable voyage. starting at $2910 per person., upper river expedition, come and explore the beauty and the history of the st. lawrence river and the 1000 islands for 4 nights and 5 days. marvel at the intricate passages and channels of this amazing archipelago of 1870 islands known as the 1000 islands. starting at $2096 per person., fall harvest & colour cruise, as autumn unfolds, the shore and islands ignite with a blaze of colour and travellers come from far and wide to take part in this parade of colour for 7 nights and 8 days. the comibination of fall colours and the invigorating river climate makes this our most popular cruise vacation. starting at $4076 cad per person., canadian connection cruise, experience the beauty of quebec and the richness of french canadian culture on this cruise as your ship passes through all 7 of the st. lawrence seaway locks. this cruise vacation includes 6 nights 7 days on canada's showpiece, the st. lawrence river, between quebec city and kingston, ontario. starting at $3144 cad per person., additional savings, save on your next adventure — discover additional packages & savings on all available cruises., explore savings, talk to an expert & book your vacation 1 800 267 7868, employment • faq • cancellation policy • privacy policy, ©2022 - 2023 st. lawrence cruise lines, website designed & maintained by aliado marketing group..

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Cruise the Rideau

The Rideau Canal is a chain of beautiful lakes, rivers and locks extending 202 km from Kingston, at the east end of Lake Ontario to Ottawa, Canada’s capital city. Completed in 1832 by the British, this historic waterway with its 45 locks and 19 km of canal cuts is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site  carefully maintained and operated by Parks Canada. Parks Canada has also designated the Rideau as a Canadian Heritage River .

• All fares per person double occupancy.
• There is a 75% supplement charge for single occupancy of a double cabin.  There is no supplement charge for Cabin #7 since it is a single cabin.
• Total price shown above includes your room, all meals and snacks aboard ship, luggage handling, bus transportation to depart from or return to cruise parking base, free parking, cancellation refund plan, 13% Harmonized Sales Tax on the fare and 8% Retail Sales Tax on the cancellation refund plan.
• First meal served is breakfast on morning following embarkment. Snack will be served on boarding night.

CAD/USD Exchange

• You are welcome to pay the $200. per person deposit in US funds. It will be converted to Canadian dollars at the current exchange rate and your confirmation will show your remaining balance in Canadian dollars.
• If you would like to pay your final balance in US funds, you must call our office one week before it is due to obtain the figure.
• The $US continues to be stronger than the $CA. With the $US exchange rate on May 28, 2024,  the total cost per person of our 2024 cruises including tax is $US 2,195. (subject to change according to when your final balance is paid)

2024 Schedule

Kingston to Ottawa Switch to Ottawa to Kingston

Embarkation starts at 8:00 p.m. in Kingston . Free car parking is available. The Kawartha Voyageur will remain docked at the Crawford Wharf for the night.

Day 1 Kingston to Jones Falls Sailing before breakfast, the Kawartha Voyageur enters the Cataraqui River and proceeds upstream to Kingston Mills locks for the first lockage. This is one of the flight locks for which the Rideau is so famous. For the rest of the day we traverse numerous lakes and locks before we reach our overnight docking at one of the most beautiful sites on the canal, Jones Falls.

Day 2 Jones Falls to Poonamalie This second day passes through the heart of Rideau Lakes. A mid morning stop at Chaffeys Lock lets us visit a lock house museum. We also stop at the historic village of Westport for shopping after lunch. Our picturesque overnight stop is at Poonamalie, a lock named by one of the builders for a romantic memory from India.

Day 3 Poonamalie to Merrickville This third day we enter the Rideau River and stop in the mid-morning at Smiths Falls. Continuing on down the river we pass through Old Sly’s lock, as well as Edmond’s and Kilmarnock. Our overnight stop is at Merrickville, a lovely historic town with a guide book to direct you past the many old homes from the early nineteenth century.

Day 4 Merrickville to Long Island flight locks A day of tranquil cruising down the river with constantly unfolding vistas of this lovely countryside. We pass through Clowe’s, Nicholson’s and Burritt’s Rapids locks before docking for the night at the Long Island flight locks – another remarkable setting that helped create the fame of the Rideau Canal.

Day 5 Long Island flight locks to Hartwell Locks On our final day, we pass by beautiful private homes as we near Ottawa. A stop at Hog’s Back lock to view the cascading falls before entering the man-made channel that leads down past Carleton University to our final docking at Hartwell Locks. After lunch, passengers board our chartered bus which departs by 2:00 pm and arrives in Kingston before 5 p.m.

Passengers board our chartered bus by 6:00 p.m. at the parking lot in Kingston. Free parking is available. Bus arrives at Hartwell Locks in Ottawa about 8:00 p.m. for embarkation on the Kawartha Voyageur which will remain docked for the night at Hartwell Locks.

Day 1 Hartwell Locks to Burritt’s Rapids Sailing after breakfast the Kawartha Voyageur follows the canal’s winding route through Ottawa to commence the cruise up the Rideau River past Hog’s Back, Black Rapids and Long Island locks to Burritt’s Rapids for overnight. This segment of the Rideau passes miles of beautiful country estates along the river.

Day 2 Burritt’s Rapids to Smiths Falls A pleasant day of tranquil cruising along the Rideau River to Smiths Falls. We pass numerous locks – each one different but with its own legends – and all fastidiously maintained by Parks Canada. The highlight of the day is a stop at Merrickville, one of Ontario’s oldest towns. Overnight is at Smiths Falls.

Day 3 Smith Falls to Westport Our third day introduces us to the Rideau Lakes with all their legendary beauty. From Poonamalie we cross Lower Rideau, then past Rideau Ferry to Big Rideau and through the Narrows to Upper Rideau Lake, the highest elevation of the Rideau Canal. By mid-afternoon, we arrive at the charming village of Westport.

Day 4 Westport to Jones Falls Canada’s northland of water, granite and greenery is nowhere better viewed than this day’s journey downstream through a series of lakes and rivers connected by captivating lock sites that defy casual description. In particular, a late morning stop at Chaffeys Lock takes us back in time as we visit the lock house museum there. Over night is at beautiful Jones Falls with its spectacular arched stone dam and four flight locks. In September, we continue on to Upper Brewers where we dock for the night due to the potential for early morning fog on the water.

Day 5 Jones Falls to Kingston An early morning departure on our last day continues to amaze us with the beauty of Whitefish and Cranberry Lakes. From the picturesque Upper Brewers lock, we enter the Cataraqui River which include Washburn and the flight of four locks at scenic Kingston Mills.  After lunch, we cruise the lower reaches of the Cataraqui River to our 2:00 p.m destination in Kingston.

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We are presently taking reservations for 2024 and 2025

2026 Reservations will not open until May 15, 2025

Find Out More

About the route, each cruise offers a unique experience. find out where this journey will take you using the map below..

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Cruise Night Calendar

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Recent Updates

Last updated: September 2, 2024

• Updated: Friday Aylmer Cruise Night extended to September 27th. See details below (updated September 1, 2024)
• Updated: Tuesday Kanata Cruise Night for CHEO is on for Tuesday September 03, 2024 (updated September 2, 2024)
• Cancelled: Tuesday May 28th Winchester Catering and Event Center Cruise Night cancelled due to weather (updated May 28, 2024)

Google Car Show Calendar

You can access our Google Car Show Calendar here or scroll down to view it at the bottom of the page.

NEW! Day by Day

Click on the day to skip ahead: Tuesday – Wednesday – Thursday – Friday – Saturday – Sunday

Arnprior Cruise Night

Status: ✅ Confirmed for 2024

Opening night: May 20, 2024 Closing night: September 2, 2024

Location: Antrim Truck Stop, 580 White Lake Rd, Arnprior, ON K7S#nbsp;3G9

• Every Monday from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
• 50/50 draw, door prizes
• All proceeds to Seniors at Home – Restaurant open–Restrooms available.

For more information:

• Facebook: Valley Cruisers Arnprior
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 613-355-5878 (Brian)

Grand finale:

• Sunday September 8th, 2024 11AM to 4PM, Free for all & Spectators
• Live Music, Free for all participants & Spectators

Prescott NAPA Auto Parts Meet & Greet

Opening night: May 6, 2024 Closing night: September 30, 2024

Location: Napa Auto Parts Parking lot – 103 Churchill Rd E, Prescott, ON K0E 1T0

• Corner of Edward Street and Churchill Road E.
• Every Monday from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
• 50/50 draw, Door Prizes, Music
• Grand Finale Sept 30th will have a BBQ, and also 7 trophies to be won
• Facebook: Hotrod Meet & Greet
• Telephone: 343-327-3412 (Kristal)

Docksyde Cruise Night

Status: ❌ 2024 season completed

Location: Docksyde Snack Bar, Waterfront Morrisburg, Ontario

• Every Monday from 6:00 pm to dusk
• September 4th will feature Finals Cruise & Show – 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 613-543-2261 (Brian Erratt)

Perth Civitan Classic Cruisers

Opening night: May 27, 2024 Closing night: September 16, 2024

Location: Perth Civitan Hall, 6787 Hwy #43, Perth, Ontario (about 2 kms. East of the town)

• Every Monday from 5:00 pm to dusk
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 613-267-4935 (Hugh Henderson)

Napanee Valley Cruisers Monday Cruise-in

Opening night: May 6, 2024 Closing night: October 7, 2024

Location: No Frills, 450 Centre St N, Napanee, ON K7R 1P8

• Every Monday from 5:00 pm to just before dusk
• Facebook: Napanee Valley Cruisers

Updated: Kanata Cruise Nights for CHEO

Status: Week by week until the new T&T Store opens. Cruise nights will be cancelled after the store opens.

Opening night: May 7, 2024 Closing night: Fall 2024 – (Date TBD)

Location: Hazeldean Mall – 300 Eagleson Rd, Kanata, ON K2M 1C9

• Every Tuesday from 5:00 pm to dusk
• Great Music, Door Prizes & 50/50 Draw.
• All Classic Cars, Trucks, Muscle Cars & Hot Rods are welcome.
• Proceeds from the Cruise Nights are donated to CHEO.
• Check Facebook link below for rainout updates
• Facebook: Kanata Cruise Nights for CHEO
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 613-591-0725 (Steve Biro)

Winchester Catering and Event Center Cruise Nights

Opening night: May 14, 2024 Closing night: August 20, 2024

Location: 1567 Hwy 31, Winchester, ON K0C 2K0 (approximately 2km north of the lights at Hwy 43 and Hwy 31)

• Every other Tuesday from 5:00 pm to dusk
• May 14 & 28,
• June 11 & 25,
• July 9 & 23,
• August 6 & 20
• Check Hwy43CarClub Facebook page for rainouts
• Bring your rides, and enjoy a great meal and beverage,
• listen to some good old ” Rock and Roll ” music
• Facebook: Highway 43 Car Club
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 613-774-5415 (Mike Lecuyer)

Rockland informal Cruise Night

Opening night: April 16, 2024 Closing night: TBD

Location: A&W in the Rockland Plaza located off County Road 17 across from CTC, Rockland, Ontario

• Every Tuesday from 4:30 pm to dusk

Brockville TISMA Cruise Night

Opening night: May 14, 2024 Closing night: September 17, 2024

Location: Greater Good Thrift Store Parking lot, 2400 Parkedale Avenue, Brockville, Ontario

• Every Tuesday from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
• Door prizes and a 50/50 draw.
• Website: TISMA 1000 Islands Street Machine Association
• Facebook: Thousand Islands Street Machine Association-Automotion

Carleton Place Cruise Night

Opening night: May 1, 2024 Closing night: September 25, 2024

Location: Parking Lot, 455 McNeely Avenue, Carleton Place, Ontario

• Every Wednesday 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm
• BIG 50/50 Draw, Music, Door Prizes, Fun
• Classic Cars/Trucks/Motorcycles – Spectators Welcome
• Facebook: Carleton Place Cruise Night
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 613-222-3778 (Jeff Shoots)
• Saturday September 28, 2024 at Beckwith Park (Rain Day Sunday September 29, 2024)
• Check Facebook page for updates

Hawkesbury Cruise Night

Opening night: May 15, 2024 Closing night: September 25, 2024

Location: Asselin Your Independent Grocer Parking lot, 1560 Cameron St, Hawkesbury, Ontario

• Every Wednesday 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
• Website: Hawkesbury Auto Club
• Facebook: Club d’autos Hawkesbury Auto Club
• Email: [email protected]

Association les Voitures Anciennes de L’Outaouais (AVAO) Cruise Nights

Opening night: May 8, 2024 Closing night: September 18, 2024

Location: 25 Ch de la Savane, at Dominos Pizza, Gatineau, P.Q.

• Every Wednesday 6:00 pm to dusk
• Prizes, music, 50/50 draw
• Open to vehicles 25 years and older – Spectators Welcome
• Website: Association Les Voitures Anciennes de l’Outaouais
• Facebook: A.V.A.O.
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 819-918-1393 (Andre Morin)

Cornwall Olde Car Club, Cruise In at the Air Force Wing, on Water Street.

Opening night: May 1, 2024 Closing night: November 1, 2024

Location: 240 Water St W, Cornwall, ON K6J 5N1

• 50/50 draw, dinner available onsite
• Facebook: Cornwall Olde Car Club
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 613-932-0245 (Ken Hodgson)

Kingston Cruise Night

Location: Held at Canadian Tire, 59 Bath Rd, Kingston, ON K7L 5G3

• Every Wednesday 5:30 pm to dusk (weather permitting)
• Driver Prizes, music, Chip truck and more!
• Facebook: Kingston Cruise Night “Wednesday”
• Instagram: @shownshinekingston
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 613-453-9397 (Angelique)

Spencerville Main Street Cruise Night

Status: ❌ Not yet confirmed for 2024

Opening night: June Closing night: August

Location: Spencer City Bar and Grill, 11 Spencer St Unit 1, Spencerville, ON K0E 1X0

• Every Wednesday 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
• Parking on Main Street
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 613-648-2337 (Jason or Joe)

Capital Cruisers Informal Cruise Night

Opening night: May 9, 2024 Closing night: TBD

Location: Fallingbrook Centre, 1675 10th Line Road, Orleans, Ontario

• Every Thursday 5:30 pm to dusk

Outaouais Mustang Club Cruise Nights

Opening night: May 16, 2024 Closing night: October 24, 2024

Location: 200 Blvd. Greber, Gatineau, P.Q.

• Every Thursday 6:00 pm to dusk
• Door Prizes and 50/50 Draw
• Deals at the nearby Mike’s Restaurant before the meet
• Website: Club Mustang Outaouais
• Facebook: Club Mustang Outaouais Facebook Group
• Telephone: 819-290-7206 (Sylvain Deshaies)

Alexandria Cruise Night

Opening night: May 2, 2024 Closing night: September 26, 2024

Location: Chartrand’s Your Independent Grocer parking lot, 420 Main St S, Alexandria, ON K0C 1A0

• 50/50 Draw, Door Prizes, etc
• Facebook: Eazy Cruisers Street Club
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 613-874-2539 (Roddy Johnson)

Smiths Falls Thursday Night Cruise In

Opening night: May 16, 2024 Closing night: September 26, 2024

Location: Settlers Ridge Mall, 275 Brockville Street (County Rd 29), Smiths Falls, ON K7A 4Z6

• Every Thursday 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm
• 50/50 Draw, Door Prizes

Special Road Tour Details:

• Saturday Cruise to St. Alberts Cheese Factory at the end of June (Exact date to be determined later)
• Saturday Cruise to Port Elmsley Drive-In for a drive in night mid August (Exact date to be determined later)
• Facebook: Smiths Falls Thursday Cruise Night 2024
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 613-430-0023 (Greg Aspeck)

Season Ender Grande Finale

Saturday, October 5th from noon to 3:00PM

Golden Gears Car Club Cruise Nights

Opening night: June 6, 2024 Closing night: August 29, 2024

Location: Iroquois Shopping Plaza, 1080 Miller St, Iroquois, ON K0E 1K0

• Every Thursday 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
• Website: Golden Gears Car Club
• Facebook: Golden Gears Car Club Inc
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 613-223-8862 (Henry Swank)

Ottawa Mustang Club Cruise Nights

Opening night: May 2, 2024 Closing night: October 31, 2024

Location: Various locations, see website for details.

• Some events are members only.
• Website: Ottawa Mustang Club
• Email: [email protected]

Shawville Car Meet

Opening night: May 2, 2024 Closing night: September 12, 2024

Location: Wings ‘n’ Things parking lot, next to Giant Tiger, 471 Rte 148, Shawville, QC J0X 2Y0

• Every Thursday 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm
• Wing Special $10.50 / Dozen
• Valley Cruisers-Pontiac Division
• Telephone: 819-647-3533 (Len & Cathy Watson) or 819-650-4326 (D Boisvert)

Gatineau/Ottawa Mopar Cruise Night

Location: Adonis Food Store, 920 Maloney Blvd. West, Gatineau, PQ

• OPEN to all makes. Door Prizes, 50/50 Draw
• Facebook: Mopars Gatineau-Ottawa
• Telephone: 819-635-2736 (Pierre Dubois)

Smokin R&Rs Cruise Night

Opening night: April 4, 2024 Closing night: October 31, 2024

Location: 1441 Stittsville Main St, Stittsville, ON K2S 1E5

Hours: 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

10% off for cruisers

• Facebook: Smokin R&Rs
• Telephone: 613-850-324 (Roy Barnes)

Ottawa Street Machines Cruise Night

Opening night: April 26, 2024 Closing night: October 4, 2024

Location: Canadian Tire Bells Corners, West Lot, 2135 Robertson Rd, Nepean, ON K2H 5Z2

• Every Friday 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm
• Open cruise night. All are welcome
• Tim Hortons on site. Chip Truck and Restaurants nearby
• Facebook: Ottawa Street Machines
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 613-832-1372 (Blayne Paige)

Updated: Galeries d’Aylmer Cruise Night

Opening night: June 7, 2024 Closing night: September 27, 2024

Location: Held at the rear parking area of Galeries d’Aylmer, 181 Rue Principale, Aylmer, PQ

• Every Friday 6:00 pm to dusk
• Door Prizes, 50/50 Draw
• Rain or shine.
• Special Event: Corn Roast on Saturday Sept 28th, rain date Sunday Sept 29th.
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 819-665-3667 (Richard St. Laurent)

Kemptville Cruise Nights (Hwy 43 Club)

Opening night: May 3, 2024 Closing night: September 27, 2024

Location: Food Basics Parking Lot – 2615 County Rd 43, Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0

• Check Facebook for special events
• Website: Hwy 43 Car Club
• Facebook: Facebook Group
• Email: [email protected] (Mike Lecuyer) or [email protected] (Kevan Whittaker)
• Telephone: 613-774-5415 (Mike Lecuyer) or 613-258-7538 (Kevan Whittaker)

TriXster Hotrod Clubhouse Cruise In

Opening night: TBD Closing night: TBD

Location: 2 Elizbeth Drive. Iroquois, ON K0E 1K0

• Every Friday 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm
• Open to all cars lightly modified to full custom
• Free to meet, drinks and snacks available. Patio and music.
• 30 cars live here, come join us!
• Website: TriXster
• Facebook: TriXster Facebook Page

Cornwall Road Warriors Cruise Night

Opening night: April 26 Closing night: when the snow flies in fall 2024

Location: 1300 Vincent Massey Drive in Cornwall, Ontario. K6H 5N4

• Every Friday 7:30 pm
• Restaurants and washrooms nearby
• Facebook: Cornwall Road Warriors Car Club
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 613-363-7198 (Christopher Sauve)

Renfrew Cruise Night at Odi’s King Burger

Opening night: May 11, 2024 Closing night: September 21, 2024

Location: 546 Stewart St, Renfrew, Ontario

• Every Saturday 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm
• Door Prizes, 50/50 Draw with proceeds to Angelman Syndrome
• Meal Deals for cruisers
• Telephone: 613-432-6113 (Glen)
• Email: [email protected]

Ratz Lair Cruise Night

Opening night: May 5, 2024 Closing night: September 29, 2024

Location: Giant Tiger Parking Lot – 13 Industrial Blvd, Napanee, ON K7R 3S3

• 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm
• Check Facebook for details
• Facebook: Ratz Lair Garage/Cruise Night

Status: ❌ Not yet confirmed for 2024 | ✅ Confirmed for 2024

Opening night: Closing night:

• ##:## pm to ##:## pm
• Door Prizes 50/50 etc etc etc...
• Bla Bla Bla
• Website: WEBSITE
• Facebook: FACEBOOK
• Email: EMAIL
• Telephone: NUMBER
• Flyer: EVENT_NAME

For up to the minute updates on your device click on the “+” sign at the bottom right of the Calendar to add our Calendar to your Calendar.

Thousand Islands Cruise From Kingston (Our Boat Tour Experience)

Links in this article may earn us a little money if you book/ order stuff. More here

Choosing A Thousand Islands Cruise From Kingston Can Be Tough!

Want to explore the famous Thousand Islands region in the Saint Lawrence River? Great idea!

This beautiful region is a piece of classic “Canadiana” and – as a simple day trip from Kingston – there’s no better way to explore it than by water on an island cruise!

As a refresher, the 1000 Islands are a geographically and historically significant area of the St. Lawrence shared between Ontario (Canada) and New York State (United States).

That said, there are a few cruises to choose from and it can be confusing to find the best island cruise for you. Some cruises offer breakfast or dinner while others vary by tour boat prices and lengths.

Being Kingston locals for several years, we did the 3 Hour Thousand Islands Riverboat Cruise from Kingston . Eric had already done the Kingston sunset cruise, but Lisa hadn’t been out on the water yet.

So, in this guide, you’ll see what we experienced and get an overview of different 1000 Island boat tours available that leave from Kingston. If you want to leave from Gananoque, you can check here for Gananoque Boat Line . You can even tour from the USA with Uncle Sam Boat Tours.

* Friendly Disclosure: We paid for the boat tour we did ourselves – this is not a sponsored post .

Table of Contents

Thousand Islands Cruise – Boat Tour Options

If you know the kind of boat tour you’re looking for, feel free to jump ahead and click through to learn more below.

Be sure to make note of the specific details, the reviews, addresses, how to book, etc. All you have to do is book the one you like and show up to the waterfront!

• For the Classic 3 Hour Thousand Islands Cruise (We Did This) – Check Out This Boat Tour
• For the 1.5-Hour Discovery Cruise – Check Out This Boat Tour
• For a Sunset Dinner Cruise – Check Out This Site

Below, you’ll find more details about the above boat cruise tours so keep reading to make the right decision for you and your group!

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Classic 3 Hour Thousand Island Riverboat Tour (Our Tour)

If you want to experience the 1000 Islands, the cruise that we did is probably the best bet.

This cruise explored an area called The Admiralty Islands (which was beautiful) and is entirely sightseeing so you don’t get off the boat. Tour times for this longer tour are 10:30 am and 2:00 pm. We did the 10:30 am.

There is also no meal included – but you get live entertainment and amazing views of the historic waterway.

This tour also comes with audio commentary (which is really interesting) in English and there are audio guides available for Spanish, Chinese, English, French, German, and Japanese!

Overall, we really liked our tour – it was well organized and enjoyable. There’s a shop on-board where you can buy alcoholic drinks, non-alcoholic drinks, and even snacks/food like popcorn.

This tour can actually be done with a breakfast or brunch add-on but this is a different ticket altogether.

You can read about our sightseeing tour in more detail below – we’ve included LOTS of photos so you can get see what we saw on tour!

⇒ Check out the exact sightseeing cruise we went on here

Kingston & 1000 Islands: 1.5-Hour Discovery Cruise

If you’re short on time but want to get out on the Kingston waterfront, you can always do a 1.5 Hour Kingston Discovery Cruise. This cruise is on a smaller boat than the Island Queen (what we took) called the Island Belle.

To compare, this cruise focuses much more heavily on Kingston and not so much on seeing the Islands. The tour covers the rich history of Canada’s first capital city and the waterways that shaped our nation – which is admittedly very interesting!

Since the cruise is shorter, they offer more times throughout the day. You can book to leave at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm, or 5:00 pm. The 5:00 pm wouldn’t be quite at sunset but close enough and certainly not as hot as midday!

This tour also comes with audio commentary in English and audio guides for Spanish, Chinese, English, French, German, and Japanese!

⇒ Check the times to book your 1.5 Hour Island Discovery Cruise

Sunset Dinner Cruise

If you’re keen to have a meal and experience the sunset on the water, you can book a sunset dinner cruise. These cruises make use of the long, flat, glass-domed roof boat called the Island Star.

Cruises are 3 hours long and tables by the windows book up in advance so be sure to lock in your cruise if you know you want this option!

⇒ Check the prices and times here

Our Thousand Islands Cruise Experience

Since there are quite a few options, we went on a boat tour to show you exactly what it’s like.

The tour itself is run through Kingston Destination Group – the same group that runs the Tourist Information Centre downtown in Confederation Park and handles lots of Kingston tourism tours/activities like the famous Kingston Trolley Tour .

Overall, we really liked our tour. We knew it was sightseeing which meant 3 hours of sailing around in the sunshine and learning about stuff. That worked perfectly for us – and many others on the boat also enjoyed the tour!

We booked the boat cruise through GetYourGuide (a really good travel company) because the official tour booking website used to be very outdated.

That said, you can also book in person when you get to Kingston. However, the summer months are VERY busy in Kingston so some of these tours might sell out if you wait.

Personal advice: If you know the day you want to cruise, we’d suggest booking in advance.

After having booked online, we just walked up to the Kingston ticket pavilion before the cruise, showed the email voucher we got and received our paper tour tickets. Simple.

If you want to learn more about the tour and/or booking process, you can check out our boat tour here .

What You’ll Need For This Boat Tour

If you do end up on this sightseeing cruise, here’s a shortlist of the things you might want to have with you for a great day on the water. Some of these items are weather dependent, but in general:

• A hat – with a string to stay around the neck in wind
• A windbreaker jacket (in the spring or fall)
• A water bottle
• Hair tie (if you have longer hair)
• Seasickness pills (it’s not too rough, though)

Thousand Islands Cruise Itinerary

So, to give you a better idea of exactly what we experienced on our island cruise, here’s a detailed breakdown of the day.

The boat tour was advertised as 3 hours long and it ended up being a little longer (by about 10 minutes) because the boat had to slow down in the high water around the islands.

Pick-up/Drop-off

We started our day at the Kingston waterfront. If you are unfamiliar with Kingston, head for the massive building called Kingston City Hall.

On the side that faces the water, you will see a large green park called Confederation Basin/Park. This is the park full of attractions and the Kingston Tourist Information Centre.

In the water, (that’s Lake Ontario), you’ll see many small boats at the Kingston waterfront docks. Looking at the water, look left and you will see the large tour boats (you physically cannot miss them) and the round ticket pavilion that says “BOAT TOURS” on the side.

The address for this ticket office and island cruise boat pier is: 1 Brock St, Kingston, ON K7L 2Z1, Canada

The tour boats leave from this above address and NOT where you catch the ferry to Wolfe Island – which is located at Barrack St, Kingston, ON K7K 2X9, Canada.

As expected, we went into the office, exchanged our online voucher for paper tickets, and walked to the nearby pier where a line was forming to get on the boat.

We were 30 minutes early and it’s wise to be early so you get good seats on the boat and so you aren’t running down the dock as it sails away!

We got our tickets checked, got a souvenir photo taken, and climbed aboard. We immediately went to the top deck where it’s open to the sun and the air but you can sit on the first deck (shown above) or the second deck for some shade and still have amazing views.

At the end of the day, the boat returned to this exact spot on the pier. We got off, thanked the crew, had a look at our souvenir photo (didn’t buy it but honestly ALMOST did), and walked downtown for dinner and a drink!

Heading For The Thousand Islands From Kingston

Once we pushed off from the pier, they went over safety procedures thoroughly which was really good. With that many people aboard it was good to know there was a plan in place if things went bad out on the water.

The entertainer introduced himself – he was an older gentleman who played classic tunes on both a banjo and a guitar.

He was hooked up to the loudspeaker so he could wander the decks and take requests from people. He was really good – and provided some comedic commentary.

Heading out of the Kingston waterfront, the entertainer shared time with the audio guide which was a narration over the loudspeakers.

The guide was actually really interesting and shared historical dates, locations of events, shipwrecks, famous battles, you name it! We learned a ton in the first leg of the trip.

We passed Wolfe Island and left Kingston behind as we headed up the Saint Lawrence. The cottages/homes on the shore were lovely and the whole area, in general, is just really, really pretty.

It was the perfect day weather-wise, too. We actually went inside for a bit because we didn’t want to get TOO much sun!

If you want, you can grab a snack or a drink at either “shop” they have on both the first and second interior decks. Families with kids were snacking on popcorn and some people even cracked a bottle of wine or a beer.

We didn’t buy anything so we don’t know about prices – but many people took advantage of the food and drinks for purchase.

Arriving At The Thousand Islands

After about an hour we arrived at the edge of the Thousand Islands. It does take a bit to actually get there but the ride was lovely (and lively) so we didn’t mind.

On this cruise, you learn all about the island chain – and explore a region of islands called the Admiralty Islands.

We learned that different parts of the islands were named by different people or groups and so that’s why there are different naming conventions all through the region! In any case, the Admiralty Islands were lovely.

Touring The Thousand Islands

Once “in” the islands, the boat started weaving between big ones, small ones, etc. The audio commentary started up and provided the names of the important islands and the history of it.

Usually, there was a historic cottage or building on it built by someone from “back in the day” – each with a small story attached.

The fact that basically every island had a short story attached made the experience so much richer. If they said “here’s a bunch of islands” it would have been pretty but boring.

However, learning the names and getting a sense of the history of the area was very worth the trip… and we just scratched the surface!

It was also easy to see the islands and snap photos from any of the decks so don’t feel like you have to stand at the top the whole time.

The large port windows make for excellent photo-taking spots – and these seats are closer to the bar and the snacks!

At one point, we could even see the waterfront of Gananoque in the distance. The small town – being even closer to the actual islands – is also rich with history.

We’ll write about Gananoque on this site soon because even Eric hasn’t explored the town in-depth yet!

Returning To Kingston

Once we zigzagged around the islands for a while, we left the grouping of islands to enter the big river again. And back to Kingston we went.

The entertainer started up again to play a few songs and take requests – and we enjoyed the sunshine and snapped as many photos as we could.

Eventually, you start to recognize the Martello Towers (the stone towers with red tops built by the British) and know that you are back in the waters near Kingston.

You actually learn more on the way back but not as much from the audio commentary as heading out for the day.

Once we got back – as we mentioned above – it was great to see Kingston from the water for a change and snapped lots of photos.

We docked, waited not too long to get off, had a look at our souvenir photo, and went downtown for a drink! The captain and crew were there to see us off and it was a great way to end the day.

Related Articles

If you are hanging around Kingston (or travelling to Kingston from Toronto ), check out these other posts for trip planning – we know LOTS about the historic city!

• Things to Do and See in Kingston
• Great Restaurants + Bars & Pubs in Kingston
• Awesome Kingston Breweries to Visit
• Coffee Shops in Kingston You Should Try
• Where to Stay in Kingston

And there you have it – our experience on a Thousand Islands cruise from Kingston. What do you think? Have you been on any of these boat tours before?

We honestly really liked the boat tour we went on . That said, let us know how your island cruise goes – we’re always interested in hearing about the best experiences Ontario has to offer!

As always, Keep exploring, eh? -E&L

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Eric Wychopen

Hi, we're Eric and Lisa - an Ontario-born Canadian and a German! After settling in Ontario together, we realized that there is lots more to explore in this beautiful Canadian province! On Ontario Away, we as well as local contributors cover everything from cities and hikes to wineries, attractions, accommodations, and more.

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• Call: 1-800-848-0011

One Pass, One Price, All of Kingston

Available May 17 – October 14, 2024. Visit kpass.ca for included attractions and pricing.

Copyright 2024 Kingston Destination Group

K-Pass is Back for 2024!

Bellevue house, the pumphouse, 1000 islands cruises, kingston trolley tours, before you sail, let us answer some important questions for you:.

Are cruises operating right now? We are currently operating our Cruises and Trolley Tours! To book a cruise please visit ktic.ca/reserve  To reserve a Trolley Tour please visit kingstontrolley.ca/reserve

What is the best way to save on a cruise? K-Pass is your all-inclusive ticket to Kingston from May to October, including a 1000 Islands Cruise, Trolley Tour, exclusive deals for restaurants, and admission to Kingston’s top museums and attractions. For more information please visit kpass.ca . 

Do I need a reservation? Reservations are highly recommended. Only a limited number of tickets are available for each departure, and most cruises sell out in advance. Same-day walkup tickets are not usually available; book ahead to avoid disappointment. We require a credit card payment at the time of booking.

How far in advance should I make reservations? Individuals should try to book as far in advance as possible. Reservations can be made right up to the day of the cruise, provided there is space available, but many departures sell out well in advance, so booking ahead is important. We recommend calling as early as you can to inquire, especially for cruises on holiday weekends and special events that tend to sell out.

What number should I call to make reservations? Individuals can call (613) 549-5544 or 1-800-848-0011 to book, or use our online reservation system. Online reservations show the same availability that our phone agents use.

What if I need to cancel my reservation?

• Cancellation Policy: All reservations are non-refundable , including tickets, passes, and certificates. If your travel plans change, we would be glad to help you adjust your reservation; you must contact us by phone at least 24 hours before your cruise or tour boarding time to reschedule for a different date or time OR cancel all or part of your reservation and receive a Future Credit Certificate for any outstanding balance. Future Credit Certificates expire on Thanksgiving Monday (October 14th in 2024) of their issued year, and can only be used to purchase tickets, not for retail or onboard purchases. Future Credit Certificates are redeemable for the amount specified on the certificate. Within 24 hours of boarding all tickets are final sale and reservations cannot be changed or credited.
• Ticket Assurance: All reservations with Ticket Assurance are refundable up to 3 hours before your cruise or tour boarding time. If your travel plans change, we would be glad to help you adjust your reservation; you must contact us by phone, email, or live chat at least 3h before your cruise or tour boarding time to cancel all or part of your reservation and receive a refund back to the original method of payment. Assured reservations will be eligible for a refund of ticket(s) minus the price of the Ticket Assurance. Within 3h of boarding all tickets are final sale and reservations cannot be changed, credited, or refunded.
• Applies to all reservations: All members of your party must be present at the cruise or tour departure point at boarding time. No delay, rescheduling, future credit or refund is possible for late arrivals. Cruises and tours depart rain-or shine: events will not be cancelled for inclement weather unless a vessel captain determines that it is unsafe to sail. If a departure is cancelled by us for any reason, you will have the option to reschedule, or to opt for a full refund to the original method of payment.

Do I need a passport? Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises sail entirely in Canadian waters, so no passport is required for any of our cruises.

How early should I arrive for my cruise? All members of your party must be present at the cruise departure point with tickets in hand for the boarding time indicated on your confirmation document. Boarding for dining cruises begins 30 minutes prior to departure. Sightseeing cruises board 20 minutes prior to departure. Our marine team has the desLate arrivals will not be able to board: please allow adequate time to park, and arrive at the cruise departure dock at 1 Brock St., Kingston Ontario.

• Priority Boarding: Priority Boarding allows guests to choose where to sit and take in the sights on board before everyone else. Select priority boarding for $5+hst per person and join a dedicated line-up guaranteed to board first. Guests with Priority Boarding board 5 minutes before guests without Priority Boarding. Priority boarding is available for purchase on Sightseeing Cruises departing between Victoria Day and Labour Day. Priority Boarding can be added to your reservation at a later date, subject to availability. A limited number of Priority Boarding tickets are available for each departure, each day.

Can I bring my dog on board? Pets, including dogs, are not permitted on board any Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises vessel. Service animals which have been professionally trained to work or perform tasks to assist a person with a disability are welcome onboard. The service animal must be a working service animal which has received professional training to remain calm and continue assisting its owner in a busy public transportation setting, including in an emergency situation involving loud sounds.

Can I bring my own food or beverages? Outside food and drink cannot be brought onboard any Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises vessel. This requirement is strictly enforced: any person approaching the vessel gangway with food items will be refused boarding by the ship’s crew. Dining cruises are available, and all sightseeing cruises have an onboard canteen offering snacks and drinks for purchase. Please note our onboard canteen is cashless and accepts Credit and Interact Debit.

Which credit cards are accepted? We accept VISA, MasterCard, American Express online and by phone. Some, but not all, Canadian Visa-Debit cards work in our system. At our ticket offices we accept Credit, Interac Debit and Cash. On the boat, our onboard canteen and full-service bar is cashless, and accepts Credit and Interac Debit.

Is the gratuity included in the ticket price? Ticket prices do not include gratuities. Gratuities are at your discretion. In support of our service team, we kindly ask you to consider the combined value of your onboard and advanced meal purchases when offering a gratuity.

How do I get to Crawford Wharf? For detailed directions, click here .

Where do we park our vehicle? Parking for cars is not provided on site, but is available at several downtown Kingston city lots all within walking distance to our dock (parking fees are extra). Please allow extra time for parking. We recommend the City of Kingston Parking lots nearby, which are the best value. The Hanson Memorial Parking Garage is the closest and most convenient lot to our location.

What kind of food is served? All of our menus are prepared fresh, in-house, by Wheelhouse Culinary. We offer a plated Brunch , Lunch and Dinner on the Island Queen. A vegetarian option is available. Please let us know in advance if you have allergy concerns or dietary restrictions. When booking online, list your request in the notes space provided under ‘Additional Information’. When booking by phone or in person, let our staff know so we can make note. We cannot guarantee dietary accommodations if we have not been notified in advance.

What type of entertainment is offered? All three hour and dining events feature live entertainment. The music and entertainment shows provided are as varied as the performers themselves, however all include familiar music from Jazz, Rythym & Blues, Pop, Folk and Soft Rock music genres. The entertainer is the host of the event and also provides the commentary, telling the stories of the sites and the region. Throughout the summer we will also have special event nights on Thursdays.

Is there a smoking/non-smoking section? Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises is committed to maintaining a non-smoking environment for our staff and guests, in accordance with the City of Kingston’s  smoke free Kingston bylaw . Smoking is not permitted anywhere aboard any of our vessels or in our boarding lineups.