Charles River Boat Company, Inc.

Charles River Boat Company describes itself as the only company specializing in tours along the Charles River and Boston Harbor, departing from Lechmere Canal Park behind the CambridgeSide mall. Public cruises include daily Sightseeing Tours and weekend Cocktail and Sunset Cruises along the river, with views of the city from the water. Every tour has a full-service bar with beer, wine, cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks, and the boats are wheelchair accessible with restrooms on board.

The company also runs what it calls Boston’s only Architecture Cruise, which passes through the locks to cover both harbor and river and is narrated by an expert from Boston by Foot. Groups can book any of the cruises privately and add a lunch package at the Cheesecake Factory at CambridgeSide, with an entree, a slice of cheesecake and a non-alcoholic beverage. Nearby restaurants and museums make the departure point easy to combine with other plans.

What to Know

• The company is woman owned.
• Public cruises run from May through October.
• The dock is reachable by MBTA at Lechmere station, and validated parking is offered at the CambridgeSide garage.
• Buses can drop off tour groups near the departure point.