Essex River Cruises & Charters

Fantastic experience: Great way to experience the Essex River. Staff is always fun. We actually used them to bring our guests out to our wedding on the sandbar and they were great

Fantastic experience: Overall Outstanding!! Chartered the 50 person boat for the 4-hour cruise and clambake on the beach. We had 25 guests with beach chairs, some games for the beach, etc and so the 50 person boat worked out well. The staff was very attentive and took all the work out of the day. They prepared the lobsters and clams fresh on the beach and there were plenty of fixins. No recommendations other than to relax and enjoy. We would definitely return.

Fantastic experience: A really relaxing experience … enough information given along the way but plenty of quiet time as well to enjoy the terrific scenery. Kids from young to not so young will like! Ps: they even “cued” the seals for us to enjoy!

Fantastic experience: It was an entertaining afternoon. We even saw a seal.

Fantastic experience: I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying this experience for the past two years with coworkers and partners, and as a local, it’s fun watching others discover how beautiful Essex is. The private beach with the lobster bake is unbeatable—fresh seafood, ocean views, and total relaxation. The crew is super friendly and accommodating, making the whole day flow seamlessly. I highly recommend it for anyone looking to enjoy great food and stunning scenery. Can’t wait to go back next year!

Fantastic experience: This was so neat to do. I was in town from Boise Idaho to visit my grandparents. The trip was 90 minutes and was absolutely gorgeous. The tour guide, Alex, was super friendly and knowledgeable. Definitely appreciated his way with the customers. Super nice guy

Fantastic experience: What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon with friends. The historic narration was insightful and entertaining and the views were spectacular. Thank you!!

Fantastic experience: Nice relaxing boat ride, good narrative

Fantastic experience: We had a great time taking a narrated sightseeing river cruise. The staff was very nice and knowledgeable. Everyone enjoyed the tour.

Positive experience: I went on a cruise about 6 years ago. I enjoyed the scenery and the tour guide and would love to go again if the boat was less crowded. I had to sit on one of the inner benches and then couldn't see well because all the people were standing and were blocking my view and I was shorter than all the people in front of me no matter which way I turned. I would suggest that the guide makes sure the people stay seated and not ruin it for those who had to sit on the inner bench. People on the outer benches have no need to stand. It would have been perfect if less crowded and the people had to stay in their seats.

Fantastic experience: Always a great experience. Short and sweet ride, I love this area.

Fantastic experience: We had a friend visiting from Michigan and she loves the ocean so this was a great way to sit, relax, and learn some great facts about the area. The Cider and Donuts were a great touch! Lots of free parking and a little area to hang out and enjoy the cider and donuts. I brought my own coffee and they didn't mind me bringing it on board. And the tour guide was excellent. Very knowledgeable about the area and had a great sense of humor as well. I highly recommend it! Side note: I do agree with another reviewer about the young children. It's not engaging enough for a child under 10. Two hours is a long time to sit still and listen! If you do bring young children, bring some entertainment and food/snacks for them.

Fantastic experience: 5 stars, safe, fun, active, plenty of room to sit and stretch legs, porter potty outside, be sure to go befoe you go, plenty of parking, they sever drinks/adult drinks on board

Fantastic experience: Booked this charter for my summer camp group of 30+ kids - it was so wonderful we went twice this summer! The boat ride is great and at just under an hour is the perfect length for our younger group. The captains have always been knowledgeable and quick to answer any questions the kids have. Would definitely recommend this for a school outing!

Fantastic experience: Well it is a pleasant and informative 1.5 hour narrated cruise around the Essex/ Ipswich Harbor. Look about the Crain family history and the establishment of the Crain Beach trust. Since it is a protected estuary plenty of photo ops both near and far. Your phone may suffice but a 35mm camera or binocular might enhance your experience. Wear comfortable sneakers for older folks the loading and unloading docks do test your seaworthiness. They do offer drinks, snack and below topside bathroom. Free parking available at the pier. For just $30/person well worth your consideration

Fantastic experience: Great night! Knowledgeable Captain and and a relaxing experience getting to know another corner of the North Shore . Will definitely be back for more tours! Thanks!

Fantastic experience: Highly recommend for chartered boat team building events

Positive experience: Informative and leisurely run out to the mouth of Essex River capacity for over 60. Bathroom on board. Snacks and beverages, including beer.

Fantastic experience: This cruise exceeded my expectations. The scenery was so beautiful and the narration added to the enjoyment. It might be a little long for very young kids, but our 10-year-old enjoyed it. We live in the area and it made me appreciate the beauty and nature around us. I'll definitely bring visitors with us in the future.

Fantastic experience: Exactly what this old and tired overworked soul needed today. Thanks Essex River Cruises!!! Absolutely tranquil area and experience. Can't remember last time I felt this way. Perfect.

Positive experience: Cruise out to Essex outter harbor. We had drinks and celebrated 80th birthday party with the Pelrine family. Slow cruise and anchor for lobster, clams, cole slaw, watermelon and cake.

Fantastic experience: What an informative cruise with unbelievably yummy lobster, steamers and chicken breasts with all the trimmings! You guys are the best!

Fantastic experience: Excellent, narrated cruise. Beautiful sunny day. Loved it!

Positive experience: Wonderful trip through the estuary. Friendly helpful staff. Plenty of parking.

Positive experience: The day we ended up scheduling our tour was very windy. The weather advisory was 20 to 30 mph winds which we all planned for with layers upon layers of clothing, hats and blankets. We had this event catered as well since we were this was a celebration of life a loved ones passing. We enjoyed our time and the ride was nice, the men were nice. But being it was so, so windy and barely 60, we had asked at least 3 times throughout our 2 hour ride if some of the rolled up walls could be turned down. Everytime we asked, they'd say; if you could give it another 5 minutes it will stop. Well 5 to 10 minutes go by and it would stop but not for long, as every bend we went around there was more wind. I'm talking about white caps on the river windy! We had 4 young children (bundled and hats on) 4years and and under and an 88 yr old frail man who was bundled with so many blankets. I felt they didn't want to take the time because it was to much work. The food was in the front of the boat which was good but the finger sandwiches meat and cheese platters dried fast. Had they just rolled down a couple of the windows, I'd give a 5 star!

Fantastic experience: Essex cruises took a large group of us to a beautiful sandbar. They provided games, tables, chairs, umbrellas and cooked us a delicious lobster and mussel meal (other options were chicken or veggie wrap as well as sides: corn, chowder and potato salad). Hard and soft drinks were also provided. The captain and crew went over the top to make sure we all had a safe and fun time.

Positive experience: Great cruise, lots of wildlife, One word of advice unreliable in the fall, cancelled on me twice, once with less than a days notice. Very disappointed.

Fantastic experience: Great cruise! Guide was very knowledgeable.

Fantastic experience: If you are thinking about having Essex River Cruises and Charters host you event, do yourself a favor and book it now! They hosted our wedding and it couldn’t have been more perfect! The customer service you will receive from Alex and Cliff is unmatched. Alex was always helpful and quick to respond to any questions or request I had leading up to the event. The scenery is absolutely beautiful and our guest are still raving about the entire experience! We are amazed how a group of four pulled off the most perfect wedding for 70 people! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for giving us such an amazing experience that we will NEVER forget! We will be back!

Fantastic experience: It's beautiful, it's chill, it's a lot of fun. Highly recommend the breakfast and the cocktail cruises.

Fantastic experience: Best sunset Cruise I've been on so far

Fantastic experience: Loved it!

Fantastic experience: Excellent cruise,very enjoyable, definitely coming back

Fantastic experience: The guides were great! Saw a lot of wildlife and some ruins with a funny story attributed to them. Thanks for the memorable cruise!

Fantastic experience: Beautiful, relaxing boat tour through the channels(?) of Essex. The tour guide is witty and informative about the surrounding lands, birds, plants and history. Family friendly.

Fantastic experience: Awesome time. Friendly, welcoming staff. Boat ride was lovely&educational!

Fantastic experience: Great tour! Nice staff!

Fantastic experience: Highly recommend it. The staff were great. I was very impressed by their attention to detail.

Fantastic experience: We live locally and had never done an Essex cruise. It was great seeing another side, literally, of the area. Guide have a nice overview.

Fantastic experience: Absolutely lovely and relaxing cruise. Everyone involved was professional and friendly, and we learned a lot about the area. A really nice way to spend a couple hours.

Fantastic experience: Travel/Food/Lifestyle Influencer: @michaela_romanosmith Such a fun experience on Essex River Cruises!! We did a brews + chowda themed sunset cruise which was unique and very fun. The ride was smooth, comfortable and the views are fantastic. We saw lots of birds. The chowder was very yummy. Super friendly staff. Also loved that the staff provided info during the tour which made it educational. Highly recommend!!

Fantastic experience: Awesome crew and great cruise on a beautiful afternoon!

Fantastic experience: Nice pace, good scenery

Fantastic experience: Beautiful tour, experienced captain and crew. Relaxing, educational trip. Reasonable price.

Fantastic experience: I had a great experience with this company. The original cruise had to be canceled as there were too few people. I was followed up with and given the opportunity to reschedule. The cruise was packed but the views were beautiful. Wildlife was pointed out and local history told. The drink I ordered was delicious.

Fantastic experience: Nice cruise up and back the Essex River. The Captain and tour guide was well versed in the history of the area and knowledgeable of the wildlife and the marsh land ecology. The breeze on the boat cooled the air on a warm day. The boat was full so you pretty much had to stay in your seat, but the views were great out and back. I would reccomend the trip to add some knowledge of the area and to educate you on the value if salt marshes in cleaning the air and water.

Fantastic experience: Sunday morning coffee and muffin cruise along the Essex River? Yes please! This was a fun, casual, 90 minute trip through beautiful scenery, while enjoying coffee and muffins, a great way to feel like I was on vacation although I live one town over! The tour was lightly narrated — the guide pointed out various birds along the way, and provided information and stories about various places, and for me it was just enough and didn’t feel like watching an educational film. There were lots of young kids on board and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. My only regret is waiting too long to try this — I will definitely be back!

Fantastic experience: Such an amazing experience - all the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful and they kept the cruise entertaining. They had the perfect mix of narrating throughout the trip but not so much so that it became overbearing. Didn't even feel like 90 minutes, the time absolutely flew by!

Fantastic experience: The people running this operation were extremely friendly and helpful. My husband is in a wheelchair and they did everything to make boarding and exiting the boat as easy as possible. It was a fun trip.

Fantastic experience: Our company had the most wonderful time at Essex River Cruises. The food was amazing, the staff were very accommodating and everything went perfectly. Thank you so much to the entire team!!!!

Fantastic experience: We have done the Essex River Cruises every year for our company outing. The staff is awesome and weealways have a great time!

Fantastic experience: Loved it! Took four kids, three of them under 5 year old, and it was a lovely, breezy, information-packed good time. I saw parts of Cape Ann that I didn't even know existed, and got a whole new perspective on the geography, history and economy of the region. And they sold beer!

Fantastic experience: What an amazing 1 1/2 hour cruise on this huge pontoon boat. It was very relaxing and informative. We totally enjoyed our day. The staff were very friendly, the captain and narrator were very informative about the estuary land, homes, wildlife and the sand bars where many people were digging for crab. We were amazed to see the river meet the ocean before we headed back to the dock. The boat cruise is well worth the cost. We will definitely be back.

Fantastic experience: Have been here multiple times a year except for last year...for obvious reasons. Love it. Do need to better manage the waiting area as people do not respect the fact that others have been waiting.

Fantastic experience: Good narrative tour on a very hot day. Pleasant tour overall.

Fantastic experience: Narrated tour very informative about the Essex River. Impressed with how wide the river is. Saw wildlife and tidal change as we cruised.

Fantastic experience: Beautiful scenery. Great crew.

Fantastic experience: Love this cruise. Highly recommended!

Negative experience: The boat didn't start. The tour was cancelled. Received a refund and free tickets to another tour.

Fantastic experience: Great boat tour. The captain and his brother narrated the tour very well..very informative! Well worth it!

Fantastic experience: Staff and crew ensure an outstanding experience. This was a wedding on a sandbar island that disappears at high tide. Absolutely amazing.

Fantastic experience: We had our company outing here for a tidal clambake (approx. 30 people), and all agreed it was one of the best we had done. Captain Alex and the crew were all extremely helpful and friendly, and worked hard to make sure a great time was had by all.

Fantastic experience: The Essex River is one of the jewels of the North Shore and the Essex River Boat Cruise is a wonderful way to tour the estuary with stunning views and wildlife. The public tour is narrated by the captain and is both historical and anecdotal. It's a pleasant way to enjoy a fall afternoon.

Fantastic experience: Beautiful weather, delightful ride through tidal wetlands. Excellent guide. All protected water. Just delightful.

Fantastic experience: A very professional, smooth operation.

Fantastic experience: Excellent tour.

Fantastic experience: Great trip to a beach that is only available for a visit at low tide.

Fantastic experience: We took our granddaughters on the mid-day cruise and it was educational and enjoyable. The weather was perfect; Tony and Amanda were consummate professionals; and we learned quite a bit about our local area. Definitely worth an hour and a half!!

Fantastic experience: A most pleasant and educational experiences on a warm summer day. We were, unfortunately, socked in but fog and had to cut the trip short after a brief time on the water.

Fantastic experience: solid info. great insight and historical knowledge.

Fantastic experience: So awesome, especially for a great corporate event!

Positive experience: Good time

Positive experience: It took you to places not normally seen.

Fantastic experience: Very worthwhile!!! Discover the natural beauty of The Essex River and marshland!!

Positive experience: Friendly, caring and hardworking staff. We had catered barbeque that was all good tasting and coordinated effectively.

Fantastic experience: We had a beautiful day for our daughter wedding. Thank you for making it a wonderful time.

Fantastic experience: My wife and I just went on an Essex River Cruise and it was a great experience! The captain was very knowledgable about the area, and the entire crew was very helpful and friendly. Also I was presently surprised that the boats were large pontoon boats which offered plenty of seating and a peaceful smooth ride.

Fantastic experience: Fun

Fantastic experience: On a nice day you can't beat this. Take a short cruise out to a sand bar and enjoy some fun time in the sun and freshly cooked lobster and sides right there on the spot. A great trip for a company outing.

Fantastic experience: Down River and happy as a clam

Fantastic experience: This is a great trip. They have a DJ on board and you have a great Clambake to go with the trip. Worth going.

Positive experience: It was ok. A bit overpriced. It was interesting to hear about Chevy Chase and his connection to the area.

Fantastic experience: Very enjoyable 90 minute cruise. The narration was interesting and included a lot of local history. Nice scenery along the river and several good restaurants nearby the marina.

Fantastic experience: Great staff, fantastic experience, good food and fun.

Fantastic experience: My wife and I had a great time on the Saturday coffee and muffins cruise. The captain and the tour guide were terrific and the scenery is beautiful!

Fantastic experience: Excellent commentary during the trip

Fantastic experience: Great cruise. Saw some wildlife it's a nice way to spend an afternoon.

Fantastic experience: They use a boat

Fantastic experience: Went today on the sightseeing cruise. It was great! Informatuve and entertaining! Staff was pleasent and knowledgeable.would recommend to anyone who want to relax and enjoy some fun.

Positive experience: Had a leisurely cool cruise on a beastly hot day. Worth doing at least once.

Positive experience: This was a nice cruise up the Essex River. Rleaximg on a fairly comfortable and stable boat. The history narrative was good but I wouldn't call it the most scenic ride I have been on but there were things to see. There were a few cormorants, evrets in the distance and terms and lots of seagulls. It's not overly expensive and about 1 1/2 hours long so enjoy.

Positive experience: My class took a feild trip to the Essex River and we had a good time. I have no complaints about this cruis only good thing to say.

Positive experience: Relaxing ride. Knowledgeable guide.

Positive experience: At $26 a ticket, leave your texting teenagers home. And as it's a 90 min tour, trapped on a boat (very clean! Nice ocean breezes. Operates in all weather. Covered pontoon boat), with very little wildlife, consider leaving the little ones home too. Those on my cruise were antsy and bored. But if you love being on the water and enjoy some time on a mostly flat ocean, it's really lovely. The tour guide doesn't talk too much so you can allow your eyes and ears to take in your surroundings. A note-they are located in a busy ship yard so drive with caution, and although the building in front of you says Essex Cruises, it's not. They will move as some point but were hasty with the sign. The yellow shack is the place to buy your tickets and wait to board. While it's mostly a smooth ride, there are some wakes from other boats (passing boats was one of fun things to see) so prepare if you get some motion sickness.

Fantastic experience: Great Cruise for a company outing!

Fantastic experience: Beautiful cruise of the river and back side of Castle Hill. It's always well narrated.

Fantastic experience: Most most amazing tour, planning on it being a annual event for our family.