Essex River Cruises & Charters

Really lovely experience with a small, locally owned and staffed business. We cruised on a stable, safe, clean, comfortable craft. I have lived in Essex County most of my life so far and I am always astounded by the beauty of this area. Thank you ERC for a wonderful experience.

The Essex River Cruise takes you through one of the prettiest places on the planet It’s beautiful any time of the year and going on the boat is the way to see it. Everything runs like clockwork with tasty food selections, music, an attentive crew, and full bar. The boat is clean and spacious enough that the 40 of us celebrating a big birthday had plenty of room to dance, socialize and move about the boat. Everyone’s highlight was pulling up to the beach and walking for a while with absolutely stunning views in all directions. I HIGHLY recommend the boat, having had my 50th birthday on it, then recently my 70th. Oh forgot to mention taking my Dad on it for his 80th years ago!

I cannot recommend Essex River Cruises enough! Whether it is a charter or private event, ERC is the way to go. My company held our summer event on an ERC Celebration Cruise, and it was a perfect way to enjoy a beautiful summer evening! The staff is helpful, kind, and friendly. They made it so easy to book! There are great food and drink options as well. Day of our captain and staff provided great service and even let us go over our time so we didn't miss the BALD EAGLE that was hanging out on a sandbar. 10/10 Recommend!

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

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.

A wonderful day on the water!. An informative, humourous tour guide gives a running commentary on the marsh ecosystem and the wildlife spotted along the route. We had a wheelchair bound guest on board and they handled it seamlessly. A truly enjoyable outing! Linda A. ,Wenham

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!

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

Great relaxing cruise along the river, all the way to the ocean. Well narrated and always a great breeze . I like to go every year .

The only problem for me was that the boat was entirely too crowded. I'd rather pay an extra $10.00 for a ticket and have it less full. It was not comfortable at all.

What an awesome experience. We chartered the cruise for a 60th Birthday party and it could have never been better. The crew of the ERC were spectacular. The party of 27 adults and 1 small child enjoyed a feast of an Essex Clambake and danced and partied to our own personal playlist of music, After a cruise down the river, we were able to stop at a sandbar, enjoy the scenery, and run on the beach. You can never go wrong chartering the Essex River Cruise for your own personal adventure.

Took a local trip to Essex and did a river cruise, weather was perfect. I booked tickets for one of their theme river cruises - Cider and Donut. But they have others like a sunset one during the summer, historical tour etc. Cider and donuts were delish as it was from Russell Orchard in Ipswich. Afterwards we headed to Blue Marlin Grill for a late lunch/early dinner (review posted separately).

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 all around. We have been out on the river cruise a few times but always in the summer and although that's a great time as well we really enjoyed the cooler weather for this trip. Something about the water after summer that just brings an energy and happiness to us. I hope they continue to do fall cruises because the wife already made me promise to make this an annual excursion. Great staff as well

Spectacular Sunset Cruise to celebrate my parents 60th Wedding Anniversary! Make a Memory and Mark your Milestone! Two Thumbs Up!!

Great experience for locals and for visitors to town! Went on the coffee and muffin cruise this morning and thoroughly enjoyed. The scenery is lovely and the tour was the perfect balance of informative and also giving time to just enjoy the views. Also, I don't know where the muffins were from but they were very good! I think the price was great for what you get also. We went in July so the green head bugs did get a little much during the marsh part (did not get bit but they did land on you.) I hate bugs but please don't let it deter you. I would just recommend bringing a jacket and wearing pants if you are afraid of them.

Great time! A group of us did one of their specialty cruises - the afternoon Cider & Donut cruise. It was the last one of the season... While we waited congregated we enjoyed some hot cider & fresh donuts from Russell Orchards. Very tasty! Then it became time to leave and we started out. Our Guide was wonderful, explaining where he was taking us, it's significance and history. Our boat snaked through waterways during high tide and around a few of the islands - then out to more open water. The views spectacular from each angle throughout the entire trip. And it was COLD! I knew it would be & had warmed everyone not to expect it could - but COLD. Luckily they all dressed for it. The radiance from the sun, the beauty of the area, just perfect! We arrived back at exactly the time posted. It was a great way to spend the afternoon!

Arranged a private tidal beach clambake as a summer company outing and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. The weather was gorgeous and the tidal beach was extremely clean. The crew (Alex, Jesse, Taylor) we're attentive and friendly! We took a 40 min ride out to the beach where we enjoyed a freshly prepared clambake. They also provided beach games which was a huge plus! I highly recommend this tour and would absolutely do this again. Everyone raved about it, thank you once again ERC!

The cruise was wonderful and the crew accommodating. The only thing that ruined the second half was a very young childn who screamed for the last 45 minutes of the trip. This trip us not appropriate for small children. It is for adults who want to relax, learn something and view nature from a boat. The screaming child had all of the adults stressed and it kind of ruined the whole experience. Essex River Cruises should not allow kids under 10 on these excursions.

Wonderful trip. So much fun to be out on the river. Guides were fun and interesting, cider and donuts were tasty! Only suggestion is to be more explicit about how cold it can get out on the river in October. We were so cold and wished that it had been made clearer to us how frigid it can feel with the wind and cool temperatures. Still enjoyed it very much and would go again in warmer weather. Also, the ramp to and from our boat was very wobbly. Everyone needed to be careful but people with balance challenges and/or vertigo would have a difficult time. Hope that the company will stabilize the ramp- was not pleasant to try to navigate- and also felt dangerous.

One of the best activities to do on Cape Ann. I am a local, and try to take a river cruise once a year. The price is right, the muffins and the coffee is very good. The people that work at ERC&C are wonderful. The narrated tour is incredible, you find yourself engaging with the tour guide. The Essex river is just beautiful. This is a great event for families, etc...don't let the season go by without one cruise.

My family chose the Sunday morning coffee and muffin cruise. It was very hot, but the boat ride cooled us down immediately. There was a nice offering of delicious muffins, cold drinks, and coffee. There weren't many people aboard, so that it made the ride more enjoyable. The crew were very informative as to the landscape and seascape along the way. They were eager to answer questions as well. The ride lasted about one and a half hours before returning to port. It was overall a nice way to pass the time with my family. Thank you!!

Great day trip! Very relaxing and beautiful trip. Captain was very informative about everything we had seen. Beautiful scenery and well worth the money. My wife and I are both retired.Please don't take this the wrong way, but we are not fans of young kids. Our kids are now adults. If this is you, I suggest you go on a week day trip while school is still in session. This is what we did. Our cruise was all older adults and very nice. Just something to think about. The only reason I did not give them 5 stars was because the dock you walk out onto the boat was not very stable. It did have a hand rail on one side, but I would think people with issues with balance or walking might want to have someone there to assist them. The problem could be solved with a hand rail on both sides of the ramp, or anchor it down so it would be a little more stable. Not sure if they have other accommodations for wheelchairs, but I would absolutely not recommend pushing a wheelchair on the ramp.

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 for company outing. The crew was great, the food and drink delicious, and the river and "private beach" were absolutely sensational.

We enjoyed our journey with Family. Our Captain and his Mate were amazing! The food was great! We look forward to Essex River Cruises & Charters again you made our day fun!

Beautiful Sunday afternoon, the river was high, foliage was beautiful. Narrator was awesome I learned a lot from the commentary. Would highly recommend the Cider and Donut cruise!

Fun time on the Essex River Cruise. The weather was amazing and the boat ride was so much fun. I would highly recommond taking the cruise. We did it as a company outing and it was a huge success! Fun time by all!

We had a lobster clambake for the second year in a row. The captain is great and the lobsters were fantastic! They were flexible with our special requests as well. Everyone had a great time! Hope to see them again next year

Had a nice day out on the river cruise, they are well organized, and informative about the area during the cruise. The boat was full, but wasn't cramped , and since we were in the open air, there was a nice breeze on a hot day. I recommend taking the cruise.

Excellent experience. Beautiful scenery and great information. Smooth ride as well. I highly recommend this for anyone that enjoys a beautiful day out on the water.

Took the Sunday Morning Coffee and Muffins cruise. We had a beautiful morning for it and enjoyed the cruise immensely! Learned so much about the Essex river and about houses seen from the cruise and the history behind them. We would highly recommend! Great for kids as there were 3 little ones on the boat with us. If you want to hear the narration, sit near the captain or near speakers!

Took the family out this past Saturday for the sunset cruise. What a fantastic time. The crew are awesome and so helpful. We had an elderly person along who was unsteady on her feet and they were so thoughtful and helpful to ensure she felt safe. The rest of the family had a great time. We live so close but often forget the beauty of the area you do not see everyday. I would highly recommend for a most enjoyable evening!

Took the tour with my wife and retired parents visiting from out of town. Nice crew provided an easygoing, relaxed trip through the scenic Essex river area with some interesting narration about local history. Shady boat, cooler on the water. Bring binoculars if you have them - though they mentioned they had some available on the boat as well.

I have done a private charter with Essex River cruises every year for the past 6-10 years. This is a hidden gem. They provide an amazing experience- gorgeous boat ride, clam bake (with other options for non seafood lovers) on a private island, and exceptional hospitality. Whether for corportate or personal events, adults or kids, I would recommend this to anyone!

Use 8/10/17, 3:30pm I bought my ticket in advance, on site. Take note: As you pull in the working boat yard, drive slowly-lots of dry-land activity, vehicles, boat-towing, and pedestrians, and locals who just want you to get out of the way. In front of you, you will see a newer building, with the sign 'Essex River Cruises'. You may be surprised to learn THIS IS NOT WHERE THEY ARE LOCATED. Turn around. Behind you. There is a small yellow shack on the river. This is where you buy tickets and wait for the boat. Yea, I know...As I learned from the restaurant, that actually is in the building with a sign, the river cruise company 'plans' to move in at some point, but no one knows when. I'm pretty sure that's why businesses put the signs up last. It would be easy enough to hang a sign on the door of the wrong building ('coming soon' or 'turn around Dummy'). It would be nice if this was at least noted on their website, but from the vibe of the whole Cape Ann area, I got the distinct impression that the locals wants your money, but they really don't want you. They know tourists are a necessary evil, but unlike other tourist destinations (nearby Cape Cod comes to mind), they don't fake it. There are 3 cruises a day on their covered pontoon boat that runs in all weather. A fairly 'flat' ride, although some wakes from other boats, so if you usually use Dramamine, make sure to take it. Plenty of seating but if you've ever been on a boat cruise, you know there are no good seats, as views are 360 degrees, and someone's head is always in the way. I was lucky enough to sit next two 2 teens who literally didn't lift their heads from their phones the entire 90 minutes, so I really only had blocked views if I looked out the other side of the boat. Parents-seriously-just leave your teen a 7-11 or at the beach, and pick them up later. They will only be using their phones there too, only it won't set you back $26/person like the river cruise will. But for me personally, it was worth the price. The cruise snakes throught the sea grasses, passing many boaters along the way, and opens up to the Atlantic. The tour guide (who is not the captain) shares along the way, but not so much he monopolizes the trip (thinking 'Duck Tours'...awful yuk-yuk jokes, assaulting your ears the whole time, no chance to take in the scenery, and then hounds you for tips at the end). There were a few dorky jokes, but enough standard info and quiet time that it wasn't irritating. However, I can only state that with minimal confidence, because it is possible our tour guide was Barry Kripke's son (look up Big Bang Theory if you don't know who I mean). Definite speech impediment of some sort. At first we thought it was the speakers, or the wind carrying the sound strangely. But I heard him speaking off-mike to a few of the passengers, so I know it was his voice. I'm not sure why this would be the choice for a job that would otherwise require clear speech. Having said that, I only understood about 35% of anything he said, which is mostly why I am rating this business a 3, along with the mismarked location with no attempt to redirect potential customers. Oh, and the hawking of overprices beverages and snacks on board the boat and the not-so-veiled speech at the end, encouraging you to patronize specific local businesses. It was a nice, leisurely experience in general, but certainly yours will depend on the mix of people you're on the boat with (I was seated in a nice section, others were not so fortunate-pushy parents letting their kids crawl ON other passengers to get better views, hogging the 2 pairs of 'shared boat' binoculars the entire trip, standing in the aisles so no one else could see anything...you know the type. Unless you are the type, then you have no idea what I'm talking about). It's really not an activity for young kids (90 minutes of sitting) unless they are specifically interested in boats and being on the water (not much wildlife other than a few birds).

This was a nice leisurely cruise on Essex River which the Captain provided a narration along the 90 minute trip. The 90 minute trip was just long enough so that it was a nice trip, and we didn't get too bored. We used Groupon which saved us a considerable amount of money as well. It is normally $25 each, but the groupon was 2 for $31. Make sure you check the schedule, and I would advise calling for reservations or you could be disappointed if the boat fills. They also do charters and catered clambakes instead of the basic narrated river tour.

We LOVE Essex River Cruises!!! They did an Amazing job on our Wedding Day! It was the best day ever. Cliff and his team were fun and professional. I would highly recommend them to anyone who wants a spectacular and sparkling experience! They know all of the best sandbars and islands, we were so fortunate to have chosen this team to help us make our Wedding wishes come true!!!

Had a fantastic group outing with Essex River Cruises. Staff was top notch with every aspect of the event (Boat ride, beverage service, dinner on the beach, games on the beach). Would recommend for a group event!

Worth the drive from Boston for a fun family outing, making memories with the in-laws. Even if the day is warm, consider bringing a wind breaker to wear while you're out on the water, especially if you're on a sunset cruise.

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.

The Cruise was well organized and run exceptionally well and on time. The Captain narrated about all the interesting homes and history of the area. All the folks in our group really enjoyed a nice cruise and said they would do it again. Nice job ERC.

Thank you to Essex River Cruises for providing us one of the best company outings we've had! Our crew were Capt Sam and brothers, Powers & Spencer, all of whom provided great service which was attentive, efficient and friendly. The day was perfect as we headed out from the dock at 10:00am under warm, clear, sunny skies on board the Essex River Queen II. After a relaxing 1/2 hour cruise, during which we enjoyed festive calypso and reggae music, Capt Sam pulled the Queen II up to a large sand bar, where we all disembarked and the crew quickly worked at setting up the volley ball net, as well as the cooking and dining areas. Team ECFC enjoyed many close scoring games of volleyball then dined on a fabulously delicious clam bake of steamers, lobsters, cob corn, corn bread, cole slaw and watermelon, served by our crew. The food was plentiful and cooked to perfection! We re-boarded the Queen II for our return cruise at approx. 1:15pm, for our scheduled arrival back to the docks at 2:00pm, having enjoyed a fun and relaxing day on the beach! Thank you to Essex River Cruises, Capt. Sam, Powers and Spencer for providing Team ECFC a great company outing. We'll be back!

We had a fun, relaxing cruise! Great weather, great Captain and mate, with very interesting historical commentary! Fantastic all around... well worth it, and highly recommended!

Wonderful! Great for weddings. Crew is happy and energetic. Food is great. Scenery could not be better. A+++++++++

It was a beautiful day for this cruise and what a wonderful trip it was. The father son duo who led us out were wonderful and gave us some useful information on the area. It was an added bonus that we saw a baby seal (who had lost his way) but the sites were amazing - great affordable trip lasting 1.5 hours. Would highly recommend it to anyone - young and old!

Staff was friendly, boat and facilities well kept. Great tour, narrated but not too much, great cider & donuts, well paced.

For a staff outing about 10 of us took the morning cruise. We had perfect weather and it was a nice morning cruise that meanders around the marshes. I think $25 is a bit pricey for this experience. The seating is ok - not that comfortable, you have to turn your next to look out. The boat is motor operated so its a little noisy. The Captain was terrific and gives a nice commentary about the area and history.

The North Shore has many treasures to be found. The Essex River cruise is one. The views are breathtaking. The boats allows for good viewing from all seats and the narration gives a good glimpse of the history and richness of this area.

Our company has done the corporate cruise 2 years in a row now and it is a BLAST!

Great cruise!! The service was excellent, the staff was polite and fun, and the food was amazing! Highly highly recommended if you're looking to have a fun company outing or just looking for an activity.

I have to say first that I am a big fan of Essex River Cruises and have had a wonderful experience in past seasons. This year however I have to say that pretty much every member of the staff that was on site during our cruise was rude and disgruntled. The other major change was how they oversold the boat so we were literally fit like sardines and could barely hear what the First Mate was saying. It ruins the experience of a relaxing boat tour and we felt like the company was getting greedy rather then being hospitable to tourists. I used to recommend this tour to everyone- locals and visitors alike- as a great way to spend the afternoon. Sadly, I may not do that so much anymore after this visit. :(

Beautiful day. Super nice captain and first mate. Not much interesting of note. Nice boat ride. Good way to kill a couple of hours

It was really beautiful... you can see all around the boat and the views are just beautiful the entire time, they also tell you interesting things about what you are seeing, nice way to spend the day!

Totally enjoyed this cruise with my husband and a couple of friends. The flies were a bit troublesome, but other than that is was really fun. The info that the guide shared with us was interesting and the surroundings were beautiful.

Bought a Groupon and called for a reservation today on a beautiful warm Saturday in May, and found they decided not to run the cruise schedule for lack of reservations. I will likely not bother calling this business again.

Hi went on the 3:30 pm Essex river cruise on 8/11 - beautiful afternoon. The captain was a young guy, but knowledgeable never had to look at a script. Boat was okay, getting on a little dicey, as the walkway was really swaying ... made it though. Nice ride, smooth, beautiful views - but a couple of downsides First, the Captains "helper" stood right beside the Cap which, unfortunately was right in front of me, so I stared at his back alot, as he used his Iphone. In the way the whole ride. The others were just folks standing up the whole ride, taking pictures - the guy beside me, (I asked him to please sit so we could all see) and a woman further down who stood almost the whole time, till I got to her too. If the Cap had asked all to sit,(like pls take your pictures, but then return to your seat) it would have been fine - including his little buddy. Got a drink - 5.50 for a Corona (ok), but 6.50 for a glass of wine that was like a thimble..I asked where was the other half? If I went again, I would sit directly on the first seat that faces front and I wouldnt move. Naturally, getting on was like getting off a plane - everyone crowding everyone else - a tip - get on last, they open up the front and you end of getting the best seats!