Providence River Boat Company

Tour operator · Downtown

Providence River Boat Company

Tour operator · Downtown

1

101 Dyer St, Providence, RI 02903

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Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null
Providence River Boat Company by null

Highlights

City tours by boat featuring history, architecture, and wine  

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101 Dyer St, Providence, RI 02903 Get directions

providenceriverboat.com
@provriverboat

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101 Dyer St, Providence, RI 02903 Get directions

+1 401 580 2628
providenceriverboat.com
@provriverboat

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Last updated

Aug 21, 2025

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Locally owned since the 1990s, these narrated cruises reveal architecture, history, and the hurricane barrier; special rides run during WaterFire. Repeatedly honored by Rhode Island Monthly and Yankee Magazine.

https://www.providenceriverboat.com/product/daily-narrated-tours/
Things to Do in Providence (2025)
View Postcard for Providence River Boat Company

Cory Brb

Google
Best thing we’ve done on vacation. The evening was perfection, the Prosecco flowed, the passengers were happy, and Kelly & Peter were FABULOUS. If I could’ve taken the tour 3x in a row, I’d absolutely have done it. I had no problems getting into or out of the boat (there are only a couple steps, and Peter was very helpful), the seating was comfortable, and Kelly made sure we were well-attended. Great people. The river cruise was excellent, with plenty to see, and the temperature and breeze on the water kept us comfortable. I highly recommend Providence River Boat Company tours! Can’t wait to do another!

Lynn Hobbs

Google
Had a great time with Tom. He was really nice and accommodating. There was a woman with a disability and he was so patient with her. I really did appreciate how nice he was to that family. The tour was great and he did a wonderful job of answering questions and didn't seem like he was rushing or anything. Im glad I chose this company to tour with.

Joe Zglinicki

Google
Took a Twilight River Cruise. Capt. Bob and Shannon were great. Nice, relaxing boat trip with a bit of interesting info and local wine thrown in. Twilight is a great time to do this! You'll be sitting on a hard plastic bench for 75 minutes. If it's necessary for you, bring a cushion. Plenty of parking nearby. A great way to end the day when visiting in town for the day.

Missy M

Google
We had the best night for a sunset cruise. It is beautiful to see Providence in the nighttime. Music was great wine was delish. And we had a blast. Highly recommend the sunset/twilight cruise. It's my second time doing it and loved every minute of both of them.

Ade Chase

Google
Excellent cruise, even though is was pretty cold (approx 16C). The captain made it very enjoyable with his knowledge, whit and humour. I would recommend this cruise to anyone visiting Providence

Vicki Grauer

Google
What a fantastic river boat tour of Providence with Roger Williams who shared great stories of his arrival to this city in the mid-1600’s. He brought history to life in such an animated way. Being on the river and out on the Bay, we were able to imagine ourselves in that time period. I would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone who loves history as told in this vibrant manner.

Brandi Vogeley

Google
Lovely little ride through Providence! We enjoyed the information and the weather was perfect!

Chloe Dyer

Google
We had a great time on the sip and see tour for my sister’s bachelorette. The boat goes around the city from the river and you are able to see lots of sites. We were pleasantly surprised that they kept refilling drinks and even had other options such as wine. You can also BYOB and bring food on. The shop/cafe is cute too. It was a highlight of our weekend and we’d do it again!
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Susan W.

Yelp
The staff are so friendly! We were unfortunately running a couple minutes late, but they called us, provided directions, and waited for us to start the boat tour. That was so kind of them! Also the shop where you check in was really cute and the ice cream was so tasty. I am glad that we booked this experience for our time in Providence!
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Morgan B.

Yelp
We purchased the 2hr Private Charter with Providence River Boat Company. The entire experience from booking to exiting the boat was phenomenal. The customer service was wonderful. Captain Tim was the best everrrr. We all had a good time celebrating my mother's bday with food, drinks, music, and the open Providence River. Thanks for making this experience memorable.
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Jennifer H.

Yelp
We took the Providence Preservation Society architectural tour yesterday, and it was terrific! Both the PPS guide and the boat's captain were knowledgeable about the architecture and history, so they could answer our questions and add personal anecdotes. It was a lovely day on the river! Being new to Rhode Island, we're always looking for fun ways to learn about the area. We both enjoyed this immensely. It's unfortunate that the cost of the PPS programs is a bit high--limiting the number of people who can participate--but it *is* for a good cause. I'd encourage more educational opportunities and ask that they consider making them more affordable for wider access.
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Francesca F.

Yelp
We had such a lovely time with Captain Ben on this informative, relaxing cruise. The price is right, it's a comfortable 50 minute narrated tour, and the views and history are awe-inspiring. Additionally, their gift shop across the street from the dock has some really unique goods for sale, and delicious ice cream!
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Hildegard T.

Yelp
A great tour, with a knowledgable guide, skilled boat captain, and historic part of the country. Also liked the check-in location offering comfortable seating, clean restroom, coffee, and excellent ice cream.
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Frances L.

Yelp
Narrated Daytime Tours & Sunset Cruises Thursday, July 15 2021 @ 7:00pm - 7:50pm 7 Adults, 2 Seniors, 1 Military/PD/FD/EMS, 2 Children, 1 Infant/Toddler My family really enjoyed the tour, especially because iur tour guide, Captain Tom, was engaging and provided us with fascinating information throughout the tour. We learned about the some of the history of Providence, RI as we rode comfortably along the river. Commentary included interesting details about the history, architecture, and local points of interest in Providence. Captain Tom keep everyone's interest as we listened to him and took photographs. He was professional, friendly, and very knowledgeable about the area. Please check out the attached photos to appreciate highlights of the tour.

Sarah G.

Yelp
GREAT TOUR! Captain Tom is an excellent guide. We learned a lot about Providence. Also, the gift shop is fun Bring sunscreen.
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Connie C.

Yelp
Captain Tom provides very informative history along the Providence River and the way the maneuver the boat for a better view of the places and building are really nice.
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Carissa S.

Yelp
SO ENJOYABLE! I took my parents to the twilight boat tour and it was amazing! We sipped on wine, enjoyed the sights, felt the wind on our skin! We will definitely be returning!

Sandy B.

Yelp
The guide and captain were very professional. The stories were interesting and fun. The boat is very uncomfortable though. Bring a small cushion with you.
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Rebecca B.

Yelp
This was such a fun experience. The tour guides were informative and funny, and the views were awesome. What a great thing to do on a summer night.

Marion W.

Yelp
My group of 16 ladies booked a private charter this past weekend. Initially the weather was not predicted to be very nice, but it turned out to be a fantastic fall day. Our guide was very knowledgeable and humorous. Although all of us are locals, we all learned so much about Providence that we didn't know. And seeing the city from the water gives a whole new perspective. Also a shout out to Kristen who helped in the booking process. Many of us said we would do it again, maybe on a different kind of tour. Highly recommend you take this tour. You won't be disappointed.

Maggie M.

Yelp
We loved the twilight river cruise! Despite a cloudy night without a visible or pretty sunset, we still enjoyed our time on the boat. We enjoyed trying 3 local wines provided on board. Captain Tom was very knowledgeable, Maddy was generous with her pours, and the other guests were all friendly. We enjoyed getting to know everyone on board - nice to talk to locals and those vacationing in Providence! The price for the tour was reasonable and well worth the cost, especially including multiple glasses of wine. Would highly recommend!
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Leah C.

Yelp
I went on the ghost tour with my daughter (12) and her friend (13). We all had a great time. The stories were entertaining and educational, and the views of Providence at sunset were beautiful.
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Chris M.

Yelp
Absolutely fantastic company run by even better people. This tour is an absolute must, whether you're visiting the city or if you're a fellow Rhode Islander. My wife and I have done this tour countless times at this point, and we live just 15 minutes away! We have brought just about every friend, and our family on this wonderful tour. My 50th birthday we took up a whole boat! this was during a water fire, which is absolutely amazing on the boat! The tour itself is always run by an extremely enthusiastic and well informed guide. It really makes for a wonderful day or night. The owners, Captain Tom and his wife, Kristin, are two of the most down to earth people, they will meet most accommodation requests and have a tremendous shop (The Landing) where you can get anything from a sweatshirt to Ice Cream, yes, Ice Cream and it is amazing! I can not recommend this tour enough! Thank me later! PS- Side note, should you fancy yourself an adult beverage, it's BYOB! Bring a little cooler on board and let Captain Tom, and the rest of their incredible staff do the rest! Below based on 5 stars Service. ***** Atmosphere. ***** Cleanliness. ***** Cleanliness. ***** Overall Value. ***** Overall. *****

Tracy B.

Yelp
Easy to make reservations online. The check in was quick and The Landing is a great little shop with plenty of drinks and ice cream. Captain Tom was very knowledgeable and the boat seating allows for you to hear the entire narration. But mostly, the boat ride itself is very nice, a lot of history, and they take you out to see from the harbor side. What a great picture opportunity heading back in to see Downtown!
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Teresa S.

Yelp
India Point Fireworks! AMAZING is all I can say, Kristen & Tom you exceeded any and all expectations! It was as though the Fireworks show was custom just for US !!! I highly recommend you book this tour as soon as it becomes available. I would love to make this a yearly tradition as I met my husband on the 4th of July and it is an extra special holiday for us!

G C.

Yelp
Had a great time on the wine cruise! Sampled 6 wines, a little snack and some history of the river. Super easy checking in right across the street and ample parking. Quick walk to a number of restaurants in the area.
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John P.

Yelp
Had a fantastic time with the family yesterday. I am happy that we saved this attraction till the end of our vacation. Our captain was friendly and very knowledgeable as well as projecting his voice so that everybody could hear what he was talking about. This was a very relaxing and fun cruise through the city of Providence. The captain was fun and full of facts and dates to jiggle your mind with regards to to the city of Providence and the water canals. So if you want a affordable relaxing and fun 60+ minutes I would highly recommend the Providence River Boat Company. The only downside was there was no parking on the weekend and we ended up paying $20 to park a half a block away which wasn't too bad actually. So don't forget your cameras and enjoy the cruise!!!
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Jason P.

Yelp
Great tour with well informed and funny tour guide! A wonderful way to see the city from a different angle...

Margaret C.

Yelp
Simply a wonderful evening on tonight's Twilight Cruise. The weather cooperated beautifully, but it was Captain Tim, "wine barista" Mary, the views, the smooth ride, and just the right amount of historical and other info (though not a fully narrated tour) that made the experience so great. Others on the boat were friendly and pleasant too. Cannot recommend enough

Karen B.

Yelp
The boat tour was so informative and fun! Our Captain was funny and also taught us a lot about the city! Highly recommend Providence Riverboat and Providence Kayak!
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Jasmine S.

Yelp
The tour was very informative. Mr. Tom, the captain, answered any and all of our questions, and made all the passengers feel safe and comfortable. 10/10 would recommend to anyone, tourists or locals, to check this out.

John D.

Yelp
The boat trip was worth the time and the money. It was just long enough and just informative enough not to be boring. The Captain was on his game, had a nice voice and didn't over do it with a lot of bla bla bla. Well done captain. One complaint: the seats. No matter how padded your bottom is the hard seats were painful. The captain was great about rotating the boat to get frontal views but you are really restricted in your movement. A cushion should be placed on the hard surfaces. Or better yet, rows of cushioned chairs bolted down in the middle would go a long way. Reguardless, this venue deserves a five star .... please get some cushions. :-) Our bottoms will thank you.
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Celeste G.

Yelp
Tour guide/boat captain was very knowledgeable and personable! We had a great time!
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Jen W.

Yelp
Took a ride during Waterfire. Reservations were made weeks in advance. It started to pour while waiting our turn but by the time our reservation was ready the rain had ended. After the crew wiped down the seats, we boarded. I'm happy they were a little behind schedule or we would have been caught in the downpour. The folks who go off before us were drenched. No bimini on this boat, which is a good thing. Being on the river, after sunset, brassieres lit, music playing, getting a new perspective of the city. What a wonderful experience. Definitely worth it. An experience to remember.
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Allie S.

Yelp
I decided to take the 50min tour of the Providence River to get a nice overview of the city layout and its history. This was also a great option as some museums and events are still closed or very limited due to the pandemic. The tour guide was great and he was very detailed in explaining different landmarks along the way. I would recommend this for people who are in town for a short time.
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Danielle G.

Yelp
Fun time going on the haunted boat tour. The night lights and going down the river was amazing. The ghost tales were good to enjoyed the history of providence
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Joe V.

Yelp
Great boat tour of the Providence river with Captain Pete who is friendly knowledgeable and really enjoys his job. We had a great hour with him and would recommend this to anyone

Kelsey N.

Yelp
Such a great tour on the Providence River. Captain Tom was the best! Very knowledgeable and engaging. Would definitely come again.
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Judy S.

Yelp
We took what was suppose to be the 7pm river cruise. Due to incoming weather, the captain postponed the trip by about 45 minutes. We were pleased that he was concerned for the passengers safety on the water during the rain. After it passed, we enjoyed the most amazing trip. Our captain Tom was extremely knowledgeable about the town, the river and the history of the buildings. He made the trip enjoyable. It was sooooooooo much better going up the river at dusk when the lights of the town were shining. It did drizzle a little, but the captain had umbrellas for everyone to share. This trip is worth every penny!! Judy S.
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Emily P.

Yelp
So great! It was a truly lovely night. I especially liked the director's assistant, Christine, she was really kind and super pleasant to talk to. It was just a calm, enjoyable night on the river with lots of wine for the others with me (I'm pregnant and could totally handle the motion of the river.). Everyone else seemed to think there was plenty of wine! Highly recommend the sunset cruise! I do think it would be especially nice for a date night.
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Andrea W.

Yelp
Highly highly recommended this activity if your in Providence and love a little bit of history! Captain Tom is amazing and so knowledgeable about the city. The 55 minutes flew by and everyone in our family didn't want the cruise to end.
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Rhonda M.

Yelp
We had a wonderful time yesterday on our river cruise. Our captain was fantastic and our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the area and sites. I would recommend this to anyone who is unfamiliar with Providence and those of us who live in the community that have never taken advantage of this great opportunity to learn more about where we live.
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Andres A.

Yelp
We had a wonderful time on the Riverboat cruise. What a great way to see Providence and hear about it's history. Captain Tom did a wonderful job in explaining the history and answering all questions. The cruise was about 1-1 1/2 hours long but it was very nice. The weather was perfect and we brought our own snacks on board which made it even better. Beautiful architecture on both sides of the river, a great opportunity to take pics. The cruise is perfectly safe for little kids, my grandson is 8 and he enjoyed it (had to wear a life preserver) but it was for his own safety and he actually like it. We took the cruise in the early afternoon (around 2PM) I would not mind taking it later in the evening to see the sights from a different point of view. I highly recommend this tour but strongly suggest you do your reservations online via their website. We got lucky when we visited the dock; a gentleman at one of the restaurants helped us navigate how to make a reservation. At first we thought their was no cruise but luckily we were steered in the righ
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Jan P.

Yelp
Perfect way to end a busy week! Loved our boat tour! And enjoyed delicious wine. Highly recommend. Priced right! Booked again for the ghost tour
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Kara L.

Yelp
Wonderful experience! The tour guide was very knowledgeable and made history fun. We learned so much about Providence and it was a lovely boat ride up and down the river. Can't wait to do one of the other tours they offer.
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Kristen L.

Yelp
I am a local Rhode Islander, but I have taken this tour several times and it never disappoints. It's my "go to" activity to do with out-of-town guests to show them how beautiful Providence is. The guides are always informative and personable and the online reservation system is well organized and easy to use. This is clearly an expertly run company led by people who care about the experiences of their guests. Don't hesitate to take one of these tours if you visit our state, even in the fall, which can be one of the most beautiful times of year here!
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Rod R.

Yelp
My wife, son and I had the privilege of going on the daytime cruise on Saturday morning. It was fantastic. For my wife, she enjoys being on a boat and seeing the sights. I love anything historical so the old buildings and bridges were great for me. Our son has autism and we originally planned a babysitter for him but it fell through at the last minute. We brought him and we are glad we did. He really enjoyed it. It was the right amount of adventure for him! Well worth the cost.
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Robert S.

Yelp
Took a sunset boat tour around the Providence River area, including Waterplace Park, the Hurricane barrier and many historical areas of the city. Captain Tom, owner of the company, gave our group a great description of the river history, downtown history and city history. He is full of information and he is happy to answer random questions from the guest. The tour allows for guests to bring a cooler with drinks and food, even though there are no tables on the pontoon boat. The tour is $20 and it lasts for about 45 minutes. Many departure options are available, please check their website for times.
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Jennifer D.

Yelp
We spent the day as tourists in our own city, and the Providence Riverboat Tour was the best part! Easy to order tickets online before, convenient to sit by the water with a cocktail at Tel Aviv or Whiskey Republic before boarding (cocktails are welcome aboard, too!), and wicked fun to tour the city from the river! Captain Tom knew his stuff and even us locals learned more about Providence's history. Going to tell everyone I know to check it out!
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Bob D.

Yelp
We did this as a haunted boat tour with Captain Peter and a lovely woman we forgot her name. Very easy to follow their directions and find the boat launch(parked for free on benefit street - we don't mind a 0.3 mile walk). I forgo the women's name who told the stories but they were very well told. We mainly do these sort of events to get some fun history but they did a nice job with the ghost aspects too. Boat captain gave some history of the river and participated in some of the storied.
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Hennie Rose D.

Yelp
My boyfriend and I decided to book a fire water boat ride during our short stay in Rhode island. It ended being a mission just to find where the boat was docked and people who worked around for the for water presentation couldn't direct us the right way to the dock which was a little frustrating when were tight on time. After to difficulty finding the dock, we finally checked and got on the boat before the fire water presentation began. The boat ride took about 45/50 minutes which was great bc it was worth the $20 but we didn't expect it to take too long since reviews said about half an hour. So luckily we were able to push our reservations back. Overall glad we did it, it was worth it for sure
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Jeff F.

Yelp
Great way to see the city from a different view. Our captain was pleasant and informative. Definitely recommend

Phillip L.

Yelp
Very nice 50-min boat tour of Providence with great narration from Captain Tom. Be sure to bring a hat and sunscreen as it's a small boat with no covering.
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Jeni H.

Yelp
Loved the tour. Lots of nerdy history stuff and Captain Tom patiently answered all 100 of my questions. And it's BYOB which is never a bad thing. I was only in town for a couple days and it was unfortunately storming for most of it. The customer service was outstanding. She worked with me on rescheduling several times to ensure I got a tour. Would highly recommend!!!

Colleen G.

Yelp
Family excursion with 10 of us onboard. Our Captain was pleasant, very knowledgeable and had a great personality. We really enjoyed it and we'll definitely be back! thanks for the memorie.
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Craig B.

Yelp
Tom did a great job with our tour last night. This was a cool way to learn about the history and architecture of the area. We walked from the Omni and it took about 25 minutes. No problem with the directions on apple maps. River walk is very clean.
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Ann A.

Yelp
Captain Tom gives a fabulous and interesting tour of the Providence River. He was easy to hear, had a lot of personality and presented interesting historical information about the City of Providence and the Providence River. I have lived in RI my whole life and I saw and heard things I never knew about before. I would highly recommend this as a "must do" event if you are visiting Providence.