Boat Tours and Day Cruises
Anything on the water that is back by evening: canal boats in Amsterdam, Seine cruises in Paris, Sydney Harbour lunches, Bosphorus trips, sailing days around Greek islands and sunset catamarans. The operators range from fleets of glass-roofed sightseeing boats that leave every half hour to single skippers taking eight people out. Listings here say whether the boat is open or covered, whether commentary is live or recorded, what food and drink is included, and how much of the time is spent sailing rather than boarding. Private charters and multi-day river cruise lines are noted where an operator offers them alongside day trips.
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Oahu operator running UTV tours, ziplines, E-bike trails, horseback riding, and ocean voyages through valleys and private islands.
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Bangkok's long-running bicycle tour company, running its own bike, boat, walking and tuk-tuk tours in Bangkok and Chiang Mai plus a Thailand travel desk
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Sorrento-based private boat tour company running exclusive-hire day trips, sunset cruises and yacht charters from Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and Capri
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Cairns-based booking agency selling hundreds of Great Barrier Reef cruises, snorkel trips, scenic flights and charters from Queensland operators, with instant live availability.
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Istanbul yacht cruise company running small-group Bosphorus sightseeing, sunset, lunch and dinner cruises, private yacht charters and city tours, priced in euros
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Cancun-based tour operator running boat tours, snorkeling, diving and Mayan ruins excursions across the Riviera Maya and Yucatan Peninsula.
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Fiji cruise company sailing from Denarau Marina on day sails, sunset dinner cruises and small-ship island voyages, with weddings on its private Mamanuca beach.
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A Cartagena, Colombia, outfit that runs its own food and walking tours and books boats, island days and activities from local operators in English.
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Hornblower Group booking site for its City Cruises sightseeing and dining cruises, Statue, Alcatraz and Niagara City Cruises, Walks and Devour Tours, plus some partner tours.
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French peer-to-peer boat rental marketplace listing more than 55,000 private and professional boats, bareboat or skippered, plus skippered boat tours across Europe and beyond
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Family-owned tour operator in Cozumel offering small-group snorkeling, jeep tours, diving, and fishing excursions guaranteed to return cruise passengers to their ship on time.
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Dubai tour company offering private city tours, desert safaris, dinner cruises, yacht charters and chauffeured transfers between the emirates, priced in dirhams and dollars
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Family-owned Icelandic operator running its own whale watching, puffin, northern lights, sea angling and Viðey ferry trips from Reykjavík's Old Harbour and from Akureyri
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London sightseeing company running since 1933, with guided coach, rail and small-group tours from London, Thames river-cruise combinations and resold attraction tickets
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Amsterdam-based operator running canal cruises, cooking workshops, and team-building activities with over 60 electric boats
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Boat rental and charter marketplace where travelers book captained trips, yacht charters and self-drive rentals directly from local boat owners, with payment held until the trip ends
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New Orleans sightseeing company selling riverboat jazz cruises, swamp and airboat tours, plantation trips, city and ghost tours and cocktail walks in Louisiana.
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Cairns catamaran operator in the Quicksilver Group running daily boats to Green Island and an outer Great Barrier Reef pontoon, with snorkeling, glass bottom boats and semi-subs.
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Biologist-founded Key West eco tour company running small-group dolphin watch, guided snorkel, kayak and sandbar trips from the Historic Seaport since 1986
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Family-run Key West outfit behind LED-lit glass-bottom night kayak tours since 2012, plus private sandbar boat trips, all leaving from Beachside Resort
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Boat and sailboat tours on Lisbon's Tagus River, including a 48-hour hop-on hop-off pass, a DJ sunset cruise, live Fado trips and private charters.
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Amsterdam canal cruises with fleet of 45 mostly-electric boats, audio guides in 19 languages, 4 departure locations
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Family-run New York City tour company and DMC that guides its own private walking tours and resells partner cruises, helicopter rides, passes and day trips
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Family-run private boat charter company sailing from Ċirkewwa, Marfa and Mġarr to the Blue Lagoon, Comino and Gozo, plus guided snorkel tours and team events
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Maui whale watching, snorkel and sunset cruise operator owned by the nonprofit Pacific Whale Foundation, sailing from Ma'alaea and Lāhainā with naturalist crews.
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Family-owned Maui catamaran company running Molokini and Turtle Town snorkel tours, sunset dinner cruises, whale watching and private charters from Māʻalaea Harbor since 1983
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A small-scale Amsterdam canal cruise company operating private and shared boat tours on restored and luxury vessels.
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Port Douglas operator running Wavepiercer catamaran cruises to its own platform at Agincourt Reef on the outer Great Barrier Reef, with snorkeling, diving and heli flights.
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Private and shared sailing on yachts and catamarans in Barcelona with multiactivity packages including Segway tours, helicopter rides, and city attractions
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Family-owned boat tour company running small-group shelling, dolphin, sunset, tiki and Port Royal cruises from Goodland and Naples, Florida, with naturalist captains
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Award-winning guided tours of Washington DC landmarks, monuments and national attractions by bus, boat, walking and private vehicle
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Icelandic operator of whale watching, northern lights cruises, puffin tours and sea angling from Reykjavik with year-round scheduling
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Family-run Key West watersports operator since 1984, running sunset and dinner cruises, sandbar trips, reef snorkeling, parasailing, jet ski tours and boat weddings.
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Singapore tour operator and ticketing platform running open-top buses and amphibious vehicles while reselling major attractions
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Independent booking concierge for 77 hand-picked water sports, fishing, tours, and activities in Key West, Florida
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Hawaii-owned booking platform selling guided tours, activities, and vacation packages across all four main Hawaiian islands with local guides.
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Global experiences platform selling tours, attractions, and tickets in over 196 countries with vetted suppliers and flexible cancellation.
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A Lahaina-based ticket agent selling discounted Maui helicopter tours, snorkel trips, luaus, ziplines and ATV rides from local operators, priced in US dollars.
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Singapore Airlines Group booking platform reselling attraction tickets, tours, transport, rail passes and eSIMs across 2,000+ destinations, with KrisFlyer miles on every booking
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Experience-gift platform selling themed gift boxes and eVouchers that recipients redeem for one of 150,000+ activities, tours and getaways worldwide.
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An online booking platform selling skip-the-line tickets and tours for museums, attractions, and activities worldwide.
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Chicago visitor guide with affiliate links to Go City passes and to local bus, boat, bike and walking tour companies.
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Digital sightseeing pass covering 74 Istanbul attractions, museums and experiences with skip-the-line entry and a Bosphorus cruise.
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Colombian tour operator offering free walking tours, group tours, and private experiences across 6 cities, from coffee farms to cultural and conflict-history tours.
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Egyptian tour operator running day trips, Nile cruises, and multi-day excursions throughout Egypt since 2000.
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Hurghada-based Egyptian tour company selling hotel-pickup excursions and private tours from the Red Sea resorts, Cairo and Luxor, with online booking in euros
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Licensed Hong Kong travel agency run by local guide Jacky Wong, offering private day tours of Hong Kong, Lantau, Shenzhen and Macau plus layover and cruise tours
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Open marketplace where local operators and guides list day tours, activities and multi-day trips worldwide, booked online with a deposit and reviewed for travel-money rewards.
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Amsterdam food tour company running a 12-guest walking food tour plus private food, bike, boat and wine tours with local guides since 2015, with private walks in Haarlem and Utrecht
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Las Vegas tour agency selling discounted Grand Canyon helicopter, airplane, bus, boat and rafting tours with free hotel pickup, locally owned since 2001.
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City Sightseeing Berlin's red hop-on hop-off buses, with a 20-stop Classic loop, an East Berlin route, 13-language audio guides and combo tickets for Berlin attractions
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The Prague branch of City Sightseeing, running Red and Blue Line hop-on-hop-off buses, one-hour Vltava cruises and a daily English-language Prague Castle walk.
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Budapest sightseeing bus company running a 21-stop red route, a Castle Bus and a 50-minute Danube cruise, with 24, 48 and 72-hour tickets in euros.
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Vienna operator running its own hop-on-hop-off buses since 1972, plus city tours, city passes, boat trips and day trips to Hallstatt, Salzburg, Budapest and Bratislava.
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Fully licensed private tour company in Hong Kong offering customized experiences across the city, islands, and Macau since 2012.
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Resort-based dive operator running its own dive centers, snorkel trips, excursions and courses in Mexico, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Majorca
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Family-focused Maui snorkel boat from Maalaea Harbor sailing to Molokini Crater and Coral Gardens, with a glass bottom viewing room, waterslide and optional SNUBA.
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Key West water sports company running its own catamarans for reef snorkeling, glass-bottom and sunset cruises, sandbar trips, parasailing, jet skis and private charters
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Cancun hotel zone marina where guests drive their own speedboats through the Nichupté Lagoon mangroves to snorkel at Punta Nizuc, plus jet ski tours and rentals.
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Licensed Singapore tour company with its own in-house guides, running private customized walking and car tours, a small-group food tour and catamaran sails
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Booking site for Hermanus boat-based whale watching, guided Cliff Path walks and private or small-group day tours from Cape Town to Hermanus and Gansbaai
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Victoria Falls operator running its own lodges, Chobe day trips, Zambezi cruises, rafting and helicopter flights, with a conservation trust and community programs.
Frequently asked questions
Can I hire a boat just for my group or do I have to join a larger tour?
You have both options available. Some operators specialize in private yacht charters and exclusive-hire day trips, while others offer small-group sightseeing or large fleet cruises.
What kind of activities can I do besides just sitting on a boat?
Many water tours include snorkeling, diving, and fishing excursions. Some operators also combine their outings with land-based activities like zip lines, jungle treks, or visits to ancient ruins.
Are there options for people arriving on large cruise ships?
Yes, certain family-owned operators specialize in excursions for cruise passengers and guarantee you'll return to your ship on time. You can also find many booking agencies that offer various reef cruises and snorkeling trips.
Do I need to know how to sail if I want to rent a boat?
It depends on the service you choose. You can find marketplaces that allow you to rent a boat bareboat if you're an experienced sailor, or you can opt for a skippered tour where a professional handles the vessel.
Can I find boat tours that include meals?
Many operators offer specific dining experiences such as sunset dinner cruises or lunch cruises. You'll also find sightseeing trips that focus on dining while you cruise through cities or around islands.