City Cruises Washington DC - Pier 4

City Cruise Washington DC was my first experience ever on a boat and it was memorable! Starting with the greetings at the entrance , the employees make us feel welcome. My doubt was on the food, i thought there was not enough for everybod but i was wrong, not only the food was REALLY GOOD, but also i could pass multiple times. The was a variety of dessert, fruits, cake and more. The best part of the cruise was the atmosphere, even though the DJ was not there, we had the chance having the waiter and waitress on the board and on the dance floor to make sure we had a good time . Was an amazing and unforgettable night!

We had a wonderful time on our DC lunch cruise. All went well from booking, boarding, plated lunch, attentive service and the cruise. The Odessey is a spacious, smooth cruising vessel, with great visibility. Our plated lunch was tasty and well presented. The Mediterranean Platter and Top Shelf Drink package are worth the upgrade. Unfortunately, the shrimp was not, it was held too long and rubbery. However, DJ Rick was an entertaining tour guide and his routine kept things moving along nicely. Our weather was perfect and enjoyed while taking several trips around the Odessey’s exterior walkway.

I attended for a family birthday dinner. It was great time. Definitely worth the price($145). It came with a 3 course meal and drinks. The DJ was also very good and the atmosphere was great.

Overall it was a great time with my partner but had to be rated a 3/5 based on things that happened. We went on the valentines day lunch cruise. When we first checked in there was a mishap with our seating arrangements. The table we were at was regular and not next to a window. We had the romance package with the decorated table. We were then moved after showing what we purchased. After some minutes the ship kept bobbing and pushing into the pier(fyi we were on the bottom deck). It was a bit odd but suspected based on staff reaction this was maybe normal. The ship took of some time after 12. So things are going nice and then bottle service comes. We're happy and the bar servicemen takes a moment to open the bottle of wine. He pops it open then pours our glass and places the bottle in our bucket. After a few minutes another waitress comes over and says there was a mistake. Were both confused...like again what's the issue? She says there was a mix up with your seats and we were like yes?? And she says they put the wrong wine on your table and she has to take it. She then takes the bottle and wine and says this is a $150 bottle of Moet I'd hate for you have to pay for and then talks about how cute our table is with petals(I guess to make it less awkward). The hubby says I thought our package came with wine. And she explains it does but not this bottle and it was an oversight. We kinda just sat there in silence as it was a bit embarrassing and top of it we basically don't drink so didnt know. And there were people around us. She walks away and the the bar service men comes back and gave us the brut wine. The super odd thing was the manager and our waitress never came to tell us or apologized. Me and hubby were ok we will make the best of it. There was another mishap with our package I am going to leave out because it was resolved after showing what we preordered. We danced and had a good time. I will say despite the errors overall staff seem to be a vibe and the patrons on aboard were cool. I will say the food was in my opinion just ok. I think being served if that was an option would've been better because with buffet food it can get cold or some spots not as well seasoned. All in all, I enjoyed abeyonce and the dj and friendliness of the people.

I just wanted to take a moment to express our sincere appreciation for the outstanding service provided by Candice Valentine, who served our group of 27 on Inner Harbor Spirit today for lunch cruise. From the moment we boarded, Candice’s friendly and attentive approach made a lasting impression. She was incredibly professional and ensured that every detail was handled seamlessly, making our experience truly enjoyable. Candice’s dedication to serving our group, managing all of our needs with efficiency and warmth, was remarkable. We couldn’t have asked for a better server, and we look forward to bringing another group aboard in the future – and we’d love for Candice to be part of that experience again. Thank you, Candice, for making our time on the cruise unforgettable!

City Cruises Washington DC exceeded all expectations in hosting a truly unforgettable brunch cruise for my mother's birthday celebration. From the moment we stepped on board, the ambiance was one of sophistication and warmth, with breathtaking views of the iconic landmarks along the Potomac River. The attention to detail was impeccable, from the elegant table settings to the impeccable service provided by the friendly and attentive staff. The brunch spread was nothing short of gourmet, featuring a delectable array of dishes that catered to every palate, from freshly baked pastries to sumptuous seafood selections. What truly set this experience apart was the seamless blend of luxury and relaxation. As we savored our delicious meal, we were treated to live music that added to the enchanting atmosphere. I cannot recommend City Cruises Washington DC highly enough for anyone looking to celebrate a special occasion in style. From the impeccable service to the stunning views, every aspect of our brunch cruise exceeded expectations and created memories that will last a lifetime. Thank you to the entire team for an unforgettable experience! #CityCruisesDC #AnKSeeTheWorld #techietreksandtreats

Very good service, ambience and atmosphere. People in the Odissey Cruise very profesional and kind, good music, good food and drinks with the views of Washington D.C. My uncle's birthday was amazing there. The best experience in Washington D.C

It was ok but for the price that it cost the service could be a whole lot better. For starters they take over 1 hour to get your meal, another hour for your dessert to come that is ridiculous you be hungry waiting around that long. Are waiter hardly checked in on us we needed more water she seemed liked she forgot we were there. The food was good which was a plus but they can tighten up the service

Many thanks to the hardworking staff who assisted our tour group of 110 on the evening of March 1, 2025. Karen (server), Luis and Ephram (server assistants) were so attentive to our tour group's needs. Appologies for my forgetting to get the DJ and food runner's names. The students had a blast! A special thanks to Vin for his guiding assistance in leading us back to our two motorcoaches post-cruise

We did the City Cruises as an an opportunity for restaurant week. Having been on one before let's just say, you're goin for the cruise itself, not the food. The bread was fine, salad was plain, but my gnocchi was really good. The food was not hot but warm. The dessert buffet was alright, general cafeteria food. Definitely the point is to be outside to get views and I was sad we didn't cruise Georgetown like we had before. I think this is great as a one time thing with out of town guests during the summer or great for something like restaurant week.

We saw City Cruises as an option for DC restaurant week, so you know we had to go! We arrived about 30 minutes before the cruise started and we were seated right away. We got a bread basket and then our appetizer salad. The salad was a little sad, it could have used more toppings. We then got to order our entrees and drinks. The included drinks are coffee and tea. For the price, I wish we got one soda or alcohol beverage. While we waited for our food, we got to stand on the outside of the ship. The outside of the ship has a deck that you can walk around and look at the view. When we got back inside and they had set out our food. They left lids on the food to keep it warm, which was appreciated. I got the salmon and it was very good. Around this time they had a DJ that started playing more party music. We danced some and then went back outside. They then have a dessert buffet with peach cobbler, different cheesecakes and fruit. The cruise experience took a bit over 2 hours. We parked at a garage at the wharf and it was $37, so I'd recommend taking the metro. I enjoyed watching the skyline, though we were a bit bummed that the ship turned before we got to see the Kennedy center or Georgetown. I would recommend everyone see DC from the water, it is definitely a bucket list experience.

We took one of the cruises during restaurant week to see the city from the water. My friends were really excited to try and I figured why not. Our server seemed to be covering quite a few tables, and she somehow skipped over us and left us to order last. Thankfully it did not impact the speed of our food. The food overall was pretty tasty, and I thought they did a great job on the dessert bar. Drinks, appetizers, and window seating were all extra. It would have been nice to have received complimentary champagne or SOMETHING included in the price. The views were excellent - we sailed from the wharf, past Maryland and DC and ended near Old Town Alexandria. Seeing DC from the water was a highlight of the experience. I will say... we cruised with a lot of wanna-be instagram queens who asked us (and sometimes didn't!) to move so their could get an optimal photo. It felt a bit much and definitely soured a bit of the experience. Nothing the cruise line can do, but just something to be mindful. Finally, the DJ started to play some dance music towards the end that appealed to about half the crowd (the rest being older families). This definitely created a divide among guests and forced patrons to either join in on the dance party, or go outside. I felt a bit bad for those that seemed to be pushed outside. Also, many of the staff joined in or strongly encouraged dancing/extra drinks which felt a bit off putting.

From the wharf, we are able to take water taxis to Mount Vernon, Alexandria and Georgetown. There are one way tickets and round-trip tickets available for the water taxi. The taxis travel during the day and in the evening, but they do not go to downtown Washington DC near the monuments. The sightseeing cruises leave from the wharf and pass the monuments along the Potomac with views of the Lincoln Memorial, the George Washington Memorial.... There are one hour and two hours sightseeing cruises, but none of them are at Sunset. The last ride is at 4:30. They offer round-trip cruise with three hours to explore George Washington's Mount Vernon Garden and estate.

This experience was so much fun :) I actually went for a work event and we had a great time!! Ambiance: the ship was clean and nice! Loved the DJ/dance floor element - it wasn't too overwhelming or loud but added a super fun vibe for those who wanted to enjoy it. I also loved going outside for the DC views and feeling the fresh air! Service: wonderful! So sweet and accommodating. All of the staff on the ship was kind and helpful. Food: this is actually the only reason why I have 4 and not 5 stars! I found that for the price, the portion sizes were slightly smaller than I'd want (photos attached), and I think it needed more pizzaz or something. Food wasn't bad by any means, just think I wanted a bit more!

We went on the Odyssey DC with a large group for a graduate school event on a Friday night, and it was pretty fun. There was a three course menu (appetizer, entree, and dessert) with 3-4 choices for each course. Food was ok. I got the grilled peaches arugula salad, salmon, and fruits. The grilled peaches were good, but the salad itself was not fresh, and some pieces were going bad. The salmon was dry. Some friends got the steak and it was overcooked, and not edible. I would say the crowd is mainly middle-aged, or older folks, some there for a special occasion. The ambience and atmosphere was good, especially as it got later in the night. The DJ played a variety of music and really catered to the crowd. The boat ride is pretty smooth. You can go on the deck and take pictures, and it's great especially during golden hour. Bathrooms were clean, however there was a smell by the entrance when you enter inside.

4/6/24 We were on the Odyssey Premier Dinner Cruise The service was excellent. The food was much better than I expected. It was a fun trip up and down the Potomac. Topped it off with fireworks . Highly recommend!

It's okay, that's the best I can give. It's just okay, I came on company money but I would probably not pay for this for myself. The views were great, but the whole concept of it is kind of meh. There are other more fun options to choose from at the wharf that probably are more cost effective. The music is okay, and paying for the package is kind of a waste because by the time you're reached or the food is given to you, you are already docked back at the dock. Okay concept meh execution. Great for relaxing and views though. In my opinion I wouldn't pay for it tbh. The food though fantastic I would pay for that.

All I have to say is be on time I spent over $400 on two tickets and packages and didn't think to get the upgrade in case we didn't make it (we were going to make it). I got there at 10:59 and they were closing up ready to sail. I was sad but understood. I of course couldn't get a refund but I was hoping to speak with customer service to maybe get a deal on my next sail, all I got was AI The cruise is fun though. I've been on a few when I was younger and always had a blast.

The food was great as well as the service. The pictures you can see I had the roasted red pepper bisque, smoked chili-rubbed Atlantic salmon, and finished off with the chocolate truffle crunch cake. It was all great. The salmon wasn't dry, it was flavorful and especially the bisque . It's also great to be able to walk around outside while cruising and isn't windy having to worry about your drink flying away. The DJ would also point out landmarks while cruising and some history of them along the way. I highly recommend this experience to anyone and everyone and will likely take my family to one of the many options whether it be brunch that includes bottomless mimosas, lunch or another dinner cruise. They would love it. You definitely need to take advantage of an experience and share it with friends and family. Especially if you have visitors.

It was a lovely experience brunch Buffett with excellent food selection and service, but I missed the blossoming of the cherry trees. Don't book an excursion in April; stick to March.

Highly disappointed. I purchased two tickets for the DC 4th of July Pier Pressure Red, White & Fireworks Party Cruise. This was on the Inner Harbor Spirit Yacht hosted by VIP Nightlife. For us this wasn't just about the 4th of July. This was also a birthday celebration because my partner was also born on this date. I gave staff a birthday cake in advance and it never came out. Never saw the cake and the staff on the "yacht" had no idea what I was talking about. The listing is completely false advertising. They state "Premium Open Bar" yet nothing was top shelf and many of their listed alcohols weren't even present. They state "Professionally Staffed Bars" but only one bartender knew anything about drinks. Most bar staff were slow and didn't know how to mix. They state "Four (4) Hour Party" but most of us couldn't even get onto the boat until after 7:25pm when gates were supposed to be closed due to them being so dysfunctionally disorganized. We didn't leave on time which according to the itinerary was 7:30pm, then we got back at 10:00pm when it was supposed to end at 10:30pm. Here is the stated itinerary: "CURRENT SCHEDULE Check-in: 6:15pm VIP Boarding: 6:30pm GA Boarding: 6:45pm Gates Close at 7:25pm Sharp - Do Not Be Late, No Refunds. Cruise Time: 7:30pm - 10:30pm Inner Harbor Spirit Yacht | The Wharf DC (Pier 4) at 580 Water St SW, Washington, DC | 21+ " We did our part. We arrived in plenty of time and waited in a line that was constantly changed over the course of an hour. They didn't do their part. They made us late and skimped on our cruise time. They state "Climate-controlled decks designed for cruising 365 days-a-year" yet everyone was sweating inside - makeup running and men pouring sweat everywhere I looked. On top of the false advertising, there was also confusing advertising. In the same posting it says "3-Course Dinner Buffet" then "Before placing your order, please inform your server..." Of course it was a buffet and the food didn't match the menu which wasn't surprising after what we experienced so far. Let's not call this a yacht anymore either. It's a worn out boat that's falling apart. It has crappy carpet that should be replaced. The ceiling panels look nasty. The chairs are cheap aluminum which were so uncomfortable. The seating is the equivalent of a low quality park table with chairs rather than benches. How about quality tables and chairs so we can have a meal with our dates? Their no refunds policy is complete and utter bullshit. Two tickets for $495.96 is a complete rip off for what was given. They should be ashamed of themselves for this type of quality. They have no sense of organization. They can't even post signs so people know where the hell they are going. Then they snap at you and say there's 4 boats so we need to be patient. No, have some sense of pride and quality of work. Create clear directional signs. Create clear lines so people know where to go. Post an itinerary that can be met reasonably and don't get angry at patrons when they grow weary when the itinerary isn't met. This is a combination of issues that falls on city cruises and VIP Nightlife.

I received a gift card to City Cruises from my staff. (Yes, they are that amazing.) I planned a Mother's Day outing for myself, sister and mom. Then we got COVID the week we were supposed to go. I called and they quickly helped me rebook. Super easy and great customer service. Today is a beautiful day to be on the Potomac. We were quickly seated, right against the window. The AC works, so bring a jacket if you get cold. Bottomless mimosas for the win. They are super organized. No mad dash for the buffet. I so appreciate that. Also the food is amazing and made on ship. The DJ is awesome. Our server Lachelle is amazing. She's funny and on top of the refills. We love her. The people watching is top notch. Such an amazing experience.

We went on this cruise for a birthday celebration, mid week. I had to contact customer service, talk to the DJ for a birthday shout out, and talk to various staff for assistance, and ALL of them were helpful, patient and went above and beyond to make sure everyone in our party of 5 had a great time. They seemed to make sure everyone else on the cruise had a great time -whether it was 2 people or 10. Wiz, Joel and Diamond who helped us were EXCELLENT with their service and attention!! The food was great too (3 course meal) and so were the drinks (adult ones). The DJ had a great playlist. Everyone on staff spoke and was helpful. There was even cruise staff positioned at the ends of the boat for security-and any jumpers lol. The Birthday Lady was happy and I sincerely THANK the DC City Cruises staff. We will definitely be taking another City Cruise.

I booked this event to celebrate my fiancee's 40th birthday with several dozen of our friends. Given the extremely high cost of this service (approaching $150 a ticket), I thought I'd be getting something special to mark the occasion. Nothing could have been further from the truth, and nearly every person we brought with us commented at some point or another during the evening about how something had irked them. I'll list the highlights here: -Unresponsive team with regard to booking the event to begin with -A buffet with extremely average food that we had to wait multiple times to get refilled and was then taken away completely for the evening before the one hour point -DJ managed to both get my fiancee's name wrong when announcing her birthday, then failed to play the one song she requested for the evening -Music was incredibly loud, to the point many of our guests had to retreat to the back of the boat to not have their ears blown out -The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting and filled with a terrible smell that ran the entire length of the evening, so I don't even know what was going on there In general, this entire operation feels like a money grab, and my fiancee was beyond brokenhearted by her evening. Her friends and I went out the next weekend to celebrate her birthday to a lovely restaurant that wound up costing less than half as much per person with far nicer food and amenities. Do yourself a favor and please consider any other venue for your events. It's too late for us, but it isn't for you.

We booked a dinner cruise with City Cruises. Located along the Potomac at DCs warf, they offer lunch and dinner cruises of an hour or two. The crew is very accommodating. It is easy to book a cruise on their website or buy tickets on site. There are 2 ships.The cruise ships are very elegant. My only disappointment was that they had a DJ instead of someone explaining the sights, as has been my experience on other dinner cruises. We were on the Spirit of Baltimore, which has been newly remodled and used to be the Spirit of Washington. See my review for Spirit of Washington.

My friends and I celebrated a good friend of ours birthday. We were welcomed onto the boat by very friendly staff. Not long after boarding, they called our table up to the buffet. It was very organized and the way they called the tables the lines were not long at all. The food was delicious, including the dessert. I loved every single dish and every moment on the boat. My bottomless mimosa glass was great because I never saw the bottom. The staff made sure that it was always full. The so played some great music. I'm talking classic oldies, smooth r & b and even a little jazz. He catered to everyone on the boat. There was a conga and limbo line. We got to do all the new and old dances, including the Tamia dance so many of us are struggling with. Overall, the vibes were great and that boat was filled with love. Definitely worth the money!

It was enjoyable. I'm still trying to decide if I "liked" the wait staff. Not the most professional, but maybe their "authenticity " was encouraged . The food was actually good but they were short on desserts. They said that the ship was recently renovated....not sure if I could tell.

They doubled charged us! The device was good but they are hard up for money! It's very expensive and food quality it not to good! We we appreciated! It was our anniversary! But they will nickel and dime you ! Certainly confusion! The funny thing is we enjoyed it and it was a nice celebration! Alcohol felt watered down! Nice view of Regan National !

Spiders, spiders, spiders...on every piece of rail (we did not see them until evening when the light illuminated them, after we had already leaned on the rails). Food was edible. DJ was fun.

This was my first time on the Odyssey. The Brunch Cruise was with my Nurse Sisters and it was amazing! It was cool and drizzly outside. But inside we had a ball! There are 2 sides on the boat. Each side has food, a DJ and a bar. The brunch food and desserts were plentiful and wonderful. Mimosas were included. I also had a Strawberry Champagne Bowler that was delicious! Our waiter and Waitress were attentive and brought me a wonderful cup of coffee that I enjoyed with my dessert. You know I was set after that. Just so happens we were on with members of the AKA Sorority. Everyone was beautifully dressed and so nice. We danced and partied throughout the 2 hour cruise. I will definitely come back with my Family in the near future.

Had a fantastic time on the bottomless mimosa Potomac cruise. The food was fantastic. Chris was a wonderful server with an assist from Donovan. The DJ kept the music fun and the dance floor stayed busy. Just one big party while going up and down the Potomac. Would definitely do it again. A great trip for a date.

Food was ok, service was not good. If you enjoy being in the middle of some family reunion that was playing ear piercing bounce music the entire time then I guess it was ok. I don't recommend it

I had a time!!!! This cruise was so fun and classy. Even though we were clearly acting a fool it was a calm event. The food was decent for a cruise meal and they had bottomless mimosas so of course it got better as the day went on lol. Either way My favorite was the salmon. When it was fresh it was definitely a 10/10.

Just got home from the worst experience. We did the City Experience spirit of Baltimore 2 out of the Wharf. We had a family gathering of about 25 kids, adults and seniors. The air conditioning was broken and it was a big sweat box. People were getting overheated. The manager mentioned that the AC worked just not functioning properly as she had sweat running down her face. This was completely unacceptable. A family member was getting so overheated that we ended up having to call a medic. On another note.... The food was awful. They were slow to refill the buffet and since that part of the boat was even hotter you could not wait. The staff was very pleasant and miserable too in the heat. They never should have left the dock knowing the AC was broken and irresponsible not to let us know.

Fairly easy to find. The crew was awesome,staff were friendly and courteous. Food was average. Eggs were bland, most likely powered. Potatoes were bland. French toast was decent. I tried am alfredo pasta, it was average at best. The desserts were much better than the savory dishes. The cheesecakes were delicious. The best thing on the menu was the German Chocolate Cake. It was moist, sweet, flavorful, delicious. The cruise itself was OK, nothing exciting if you've been to DC before. It would be a little more scenic in the fall. Food was served for about 90 minutes,after that, the Dj played dance music . All in all, a pleasant experience.

It was a high school friend's birthday! I had never done a bottomless brunch cruise before, but I was totally down to try and celebrate! My friend got everyone's tickets ahead of schedule, and we said we'd meet up there. Finding free street parking was surprisingly easy --- And there's no time limit! There was a very busy parking lot right next to the docks, so I'm glad I didn't bother with it. We waited in line / stood around for a bit, and they started letting everyone on the boat just a few minutes after boarding was actually supposed to start. We got on, got our table, and before long it was time to eat! The buffet had EVERYTHING -- from hot stuff to cold stuff... french toast, eggs, muffins, ALL the meats, you name it! Our server was super generous with the mimosas and really tried to ensure that we had a great time. And the DJs... well, I'll be honest -- the boat had two sides, and the DJ on our side was playing some chill stuff -- nice, but chill. The DJ on the other side was cranking the ENTIRE time, and that's where the party was at. He played stuff from elementary school all the way up to now, and the party vibes were constant. I wish I could remember his name, but it was incredible. Overall, I thought it was an awesome experience -- especially for 2-3 hours and under $100. Weather was perfect too, and a plane flew right overhead that would've made for an epic shot if I was paying attention XD.

This was my 5th dinner cruise and my 3rd odyssey cruise and 1st brunch with odyssey. The price was 153 total because I got the insurance in case members of my group decided to cancel. It started raining while we were waiting in line to board and boarding didn't start on time. They were also trying to take pictures of every body who wanted it as they were boarding while the rest of us were getting wet waiting behind them. My advice, find somewhere else inside to take pictures when it's raining. We were seated quickly once inside and there wasn't an issue getting everyone seated together because we gave them everyone's confirmation number beforehand. We had two wait staff a lady and a gentleman. The lady was very pleasant and prompt. The gentleman was nice too but if you tried to ask him to do anything for you and he wasn't ready to help you he let you know it. The food was decent they had the usual bacon and Eggs, fruit, salad, desserts and French toast along with chicken tenders ( I wish they had chicken that was bone in) and a roast beef station and baked fish. Meh... I had better and worse brunch food. It was nothing spectacular. Waffles would have been nice. They chose cheaper options for food. One definitely pro about the whole food experience was the bottomless mimosas. Nice!! The cost was really the cruise experience. I love the boat and choose it over the spirit lines. The DJ was decent. I'll say we had a good time. We had lots of fun on the dance floor. One recommendation: tell patrons beforehand to bring cash for tips. Hindsight told me I should have known to bring cash because the meal was paid beforehand but most people don't carry much cash on them just credit. We scrounged up a decent amount of cash to put in the case but I would have given more if I had it

Being from DC you always miss out on these activities. However, we did try for a bday and here's my take. For all that's included on the water I'd say the price is fair. Food is your buffet style cuisine. Not bad but nothing to write home about. The only thing I wished was knowing if gratuity was included in all the fees. The manager said no but with a party of 18 I can't imagine it not being included. So if this is in fact true my suggestion is to bring a tip for the gracious workers.

A surprise 2-year anniversary with my boyfriend on board the Odyssey was such an amazing experience! I was so excited but I also felt like tickets were a bit overpriced. We originally were planning on boarding a different ship however it wasn't running and we were never notified. Overall though, everything worked out because the Odyssey technically better suited our date night according to the ticket seller. Dinner was delicious, the DJ was wonderful and the atmosphere was a lot of fun. I would definitely recommend going at least once with someone special or with friends!

My husband and I had our brunch wedding Feb 2023 on the National Elite yacht. We both felt very well taken care of. The food and beverage quality were good, the customer service was excellent, and our friends and family still tell us months later that our wedding was easily in their Top 3 of favorite/most fun weddings (helped by the weather gods smiling on us and giving us really great weather for the time of year to take advantage of the outdoor deck). Steffanie and Maykayla manage and coordinate events/accounts. They made sure to constantly communicate with us, whether to figure out what worked/didn't work for our budget, coordinating, gently reminding us of deadlines that were fast approaching, and being available to meet with us when the occasion arose. These two ladies were great to talk to over the phone and/or in person, and we consistently felt like they were listening to our wants and needs. The on-board staff were amazing. If you use City Cruises for an event, request the following people: Theresa - She was excellent, always checking in with us to make sure we had everything we needed. My husband and I did not go more than a minute without a cocktail in our hand because of her. She always had a Tom Collins refresh for my husband and a Mermaid Party for me. Jordan - We requested Jordan from when he served us on our dinner cruise over the summer. His smile and energy just really set the tone, and he has such a great attitude. Bartenders Monica and (oh shoot, forgot the other bartender's name! Sorry!) - They were on point with their cocktails. My husband and I are very snobby about cocktails, and they did an amazing job on not only making them good, but that they consistently were good quality. Wanda, Martin, Ant - The food was SO good! My husband and I are also very particular about food, and the quality shown through. So many people told us how they stuffed their faces because of how good the food was. I regret not eating more. To the captain - we got to meet him and the crew at the end when we docked. He was very friendly, and we enjoyed joking and conversing with him. DJ Rich - The music was great! He did a very good job mixing in the requested songs and his own selection. I am very judgmental about music selection at weddings, and he nailed it out of the park! I was so sad there wasn't more time to dance! He could have easily kept that party going for another 1-2 hours. **HOWEVER** I did take off 1 star because there are a couple of areas in need of improvement: 1) There should be some sort of ceremony rehearsal before the wedding, even if it's just a verbal walk-through via phone 1-2 days before with all parties (the couple, City Cruises, and anyone else involved like the DJ and the bridal party/parents). We had done a general walkthrough a few weeks before the wedding, but that was just the two of us with Steffanie. We were still receiving new instructions on what was going to happen 20 min before the ceremony. I know I forgot a few things after I was told the instructions because there was just so much going on. The ceremony itself felt a little chaotic, because we had not rehearsed it or knew the step-by-step Run of Show. For example, I was instructed to go back up to Deck 2 with my husband after the ceremony was over so that we could enter again to the crowd as "husband and wife." My husband either did not remember this same instruction or was not told, so we kind of winged it and "ran down" the middle of Deck 1 for people to see us and take pics. 2) There does need to be better communication between the parties of what's going on. A couple of examples: The DJ had a significant delay in playing a particular song when our officiant pronounced us "husband and wife." My husband and I were kissing and kissing so that the photographer could get the shots, and THEN at the end the song played. It was a bit awkward. Another example was the DJ announced that we would go to the buffet first and then he would call tables, but we were told weeks before the wedding that the servers would plate our food and bring it to us (and we had submitted our food and drink choices ahead of time). We then get up (since the announcement was made), and then were told to sit back down and our plates would come to us. It just seemed like there were some gaps in communications, especially with the DJ. With that said, overall our experience was fantastic. Our guests had a great time, and it is clear City Cruises hires quality people. I was a bit hesitant last year to contract for our wedding because of previous negative reviews, but City Cruises has done a great job of turning things around. We are very much looking forward to our anniversary cruise next year and seeing how things are going with the amazing staff and crew.

My partner and I did the premier cherry blossom cruise on the DC Odyssey. The ship is pretty nice and the staff were all fun and fabulous! We loved our server Ana! Food was all pretty good. DJ was fun. Mimosas were good. Favorites- Turkey, Alfredo pasta, bacon, sausage, seasoned potatoes with peppers and croissants.

We enjoyed the cruise it was a great day, my kids were more interested in the food than the sites but it was still a good experience, staff were nice, they welcomed us on board, got us seated and came to check on us regularly, music was a bit loud but we still really enjoyed our city cruise.

Went on the brunch cruise 11/26/22. Everyone, from start to finish, was helpful and polite. Greeters thanked us for coming, David, Danyel and one other guy partied along with the guests and kept the energy high. Danyel taught everyone how to follow the line dances and was just a vibe by herself. The DJ was excellent as well and his beautiful family/parents were there partying with everyone too. Our waiter Wayne (tried) to keep the mimosas flowing but we had to know our limit. He made the birthday celebration with a young woman I support very special and brought out a nicely decorated dessert plate and candles to help her celebrate. Food/desserts were well prepared with just the right amount of seasoning (not over salted). I wish I could remember the name of the lady who assisted Wayne because she was attentive to our table too. Plan to go again when it's warm.

We did this brunch cruise with our family for my husband's birthday. We had an absolute blast and would highly recommend. The food was good as was the selection (the brunch cruise is a buffet). They had a DJ and a small dance floor that everyone got out on. It sort of felt like being at a fun wedding. We also went outside and looked at the sights a little. But we spent most of the time inside eating or dancing so I can't comment as much on that part. The unlimited mimosas were great too! They kept refilling our juices and champagne bottles so we never ran out. Definitely a fun experience.

What an amazing adventure! I didn't know what to expect. I had never heard of the odyssey or it's cruises. I was invited to a birthday party on the ship and the tickets were $150. It was well worth the money. I am an avid cruiser on royal Carribean and with the cdc keeping me from enjoying one of my favorite past times this was a great one night stand in. I had no expectations, but they excelled in many areas. The staff was amazing and very cordial. The cooks and chefs cooked the most decadent dishes I have ever eaten on a cruise. The food was five star and they allowed the birthday party to bring a few Bundt cakes from Alexandria. The DJ on board was very informative. It was like a sightseeing tour of the Potomac. I learned many cool facts and we went from DC to Virginia. The sights were breathtaking and the captain did a great job of steering the vessel. I was told by the host that they have several cruises at night that I should check out. I went to a dinner cruise on a Friday evening around 6:30-11. I would definitely recommend this ship and this company. They have no dancing due to covid rules and regulations in DC. But there are many other things to do on the ship.

The crew is very friendly and helpful.The food was excellent. More importantly,the entertainment was fun!

Great food quick entry and 2 hours of dance food and champagne, everything I love in one place. The DJ was nice and music selection was appropriate and we enjoyed several line dances. The staff were friendly and very professional. Our trip was at 11:30 9/26/21 so shout out to the staff. We were celebrating a birthday and it was a good time. The food selection was vast from salad to deserts to breakfast to prime rib and Turkey stations. Definitely a must do for anyone seeking a nice reprieve from routine life.

I waited a week to post this review thinking perhaps someone from City Cruises would contact me to at least hear my concerns and make some compensations. My family 11 adults and 3 children took a Sunday brunch cruise on the Odyssey. It was advertised as a relaxing sip champagne and see the sights type event. Instead, it was a very loud (couldn't hear yourself speak) hip hop party. Had we been looking for this type of experience it might be fun but instead it was a super expensive uncomfortable 2 hours. The noise level and some of the language in the music was not appropriate for children. We had no access to the buffet table until the very end and it was pretty picked over. The food was ok but they did not keep up with replacing empty trays. We were never offered any kind of drink except champagne, no coffee, no tea or soda. There was a small carafe of orange juice (with a fly in it) on a table for 8 people. When the noise level got overwhelming for the kids we tried to go out on the deck but the pot smell drove us back inside. Overall it was the most frustrating and useless $2000.00 I have ever spent. When I contacted Viator they said they would contact City Cruises and also offered me a $100 voucher for another experience with them. If you want a big loud adult party on a Sunday morning I recommend this brunch. Otherwise save your money!

Very nice ship clean and spacious with great dance floor. Waiter was so friendly, I think his name was Pedro . The dinner was tasty could use more seasoning. I loved the DJ and dance floor. Would I do it again, yes.

A night for the 4th of July could have been so much more memorable if the music had been more patriotic and geared toward a wider age group rather than just the 20-30 age group. Really was a big disappointment. I can't say anything about the food since only dessert was offered which we did not have. The crew was nice. The boat was clean and not over crowded.

This was not what I expected. First you tell people to arrive at 6:15 just to have them stand out in the cold for 15 minutes is crazy. It was so cold that I almost got frost bite. The food was good, but not a lot of choices or desserts for the price that was paid. The expensive price didn't even include the drinks, that was extra and extra expensive. We drove over 2 hours to get here for this dinner cruise and I was very disappointed for the money that was paid.

Staff was great and made the trip fun, but over priced for breakfast that resembled a continental breakfast at holiday inn

I wanted this 4th of July to be a fun experience for my parents (in their 70s) who were visiting from out of state. I didn't want my mother, who has physical limitations and uses a cane, fighting through crowds and walking for long distances. I thought the 4th of July dinner cruise would be perfect way to celebrate the holiday. To begin, it was very hot, and we had a thunderstorm that came around late that afternoon. But to our dismay, there was nowhere at the pier to sit and get out of the weather (other than going into a bar or restaurant we were not planning to patronize), so we huddled close to buildings with others and were completely soaked before we even started our evening. Everyone just crowded around a gated entrance waiting for the boarding to begin. This would have been great to know before we arrived over an hour early. Boarding began late and everyone was so tired of standing around in the weather that people were pushing their way to the front of the line while only ONE person checked/scanned in each guest. Once we were through the line and began to board the vessel, the kind young ladies who were seating us led us down the stairs. I must mention here that when I purchased the tickets, I requested we be located in an area where my mother would not need to climb stairs. Sure enough, they put us on the bottom floor--downstairs. I also added that I was celebrating a special occasion when we purchased our tickets, and our waitress asked again if we were celebrating something special, and I told her. She said, "I will bring you all something special to celebrate." Well, not only did our waitress never return with the drinks we ordered, but she never brought us "something special. " In fact, she NEVER returned to our table for the rest of the evening. My husband and I kept going back up to the bar anytime we needed a refill of soda, wine, or beer. The food in the buffet line ran out before we arrived and left us adding the scraps as the staff SLOWLY replenished the food on the line. The music/DJ was so loud on our floor/level that we could barely have conversation without yelling at each other across the table. Halfway through our cruise, I could tell my parents were miserable. This was not the fun and festive evening I was hoping for. All this and we battled everyone else on the boat just go outside to get a small glimpse of the Capital fireworks. This was not worth the $1300 I paid for 4 tickets. In fact, it wasn't worth a quarter of that price. Never again.

We had the absolute best time on the Valentine Premier Brunch Cruise. From arrival, we were brought to our gorgeous window seat and we enjoyed the amazing buffet and (truly) bottomless mimosas. Pedro H., Edilberto and DJ Rich were the best. The food was great, the music was spot on, and the service was on point. I want to come again next year. You must buy tickets!

Hoping to enjoy the cherry blossoms, I booked this cruise for my moms bday. The older gentlemen who served as an entrance greeter was rude, grumpy and not suited for a public facing position. He barked at guests. The experience greatly improved once onboard. We received excellent service from Mike and Johnny. Unfortunately the prior weeks weather was not kind to the blossoms. The food was ok...it was brunch fair with salads, pastries, a pasta dish and a carving station.

Odyssey dinner cruise was a fantastic way to celebrate my man's birthday! I chose a regular dinner cruise. You can add various items like window seating, but the view was still great without the window seating. It was a pleasant, partly sunny day when we went so we got to walk around outside and enjoy the view of the Potomac after dinner as well. Dinner works like this: after you get seated, your waiter/waitress will greet you to take your food and drink order. I only mention this because it took about 15 minutes for someone to greet us and we were confused as to what the process is. Same with table bread - it will eventually come. Dinner was delicious. I highly recommend the crab cakes as there was so much tender crab meat. It is served on a bed of corn succotash and Cajun cream sauce. The smoked duck breast was also fantastic - it was prepared more lean than a typical presentation of duck and I loved the pickled cornichons and pearl onions it was served with. The chocolate cake was decadent and rich. I recommend this over the Apple parfait, which was wanting in textural contrast (the crumble was rarely present). The live music was great and flowing throughout the evening, offering guests various songs to dance to. One star off because dinner took a LONG time. I understand this is probably a personal preference, but I thought we would have time after dinner to walk around a bit more and dance, but the food was paced out so far that dessert actually came out past 8 pm on a 6-8:30 dinner cruise. I think the better way to do it is to explore the deck after your entree and come back to find the dessert at your table rather than spending all your time waiting for your food! That way, you have time to digest and get on the dance floor too. All in all, a great way to celebrate a birthday (or to take advantage of the beautiful summer nights).

From someone who used to work there let me let you in on a little secret most of the dishes people use are dirty the staff is disgusting management is lazy and the boats are falling apart.