The African Queen

We had a great time. The captain was very kind and had a lot of knowledge about the boat and movie. There is very little shade on the boat so booking in the morning would be ideal. The tour is about 90 minutes and takes you around the huge houses along the canal. The captain also has some photos ops planned out that made it fun. Overall it was a fun morning activity and really incredible to get to ride in a famous boat that's over 100 years old.

This has been one of those small scale bucket list event that we've wanted to participate in. The captain was very friendly and had lots of knowledge about the history of the boat. It was fun going out and seeing things from the perspective of Bogie and imagining being on the set in the movie. The tour was very relaxing. We were even given the opportunity to get a photo op at the helm.

The African Queen Key Largo 4-29-25 I booked this boat ride online which was very easy for my dad’s 93rd birthday. He always loved the movie. He was shocked when he seen the African Queen and more surprised when I told him we were going on a cruise in the Queen. You can book this cruise right at the Holiday Inn if you choose so. We booked a 2pm ride and got there 15 minutes ahead of time. Captain Duncan who oversaw the boat helped my dad on the boat without to much trouble. This is the original African Queen boat that was used in the movie of the same name. The Queen is small it only holds about 6 passengers and the captain. There was only one another couple on the boat with us at the 2 pm cruise. Captain Duncan knew all about the history of the boat. He was very knowledgeable about the movie, its movie trivia, and the Marina De Mar area which we cruised around. He told us many local stories and recommendations. He was friendly and a great sense of humor and welcoming attitude. Once we got out in the Atlantic a couple yards, he left everybody steer the Queen for pictures. He even had the Whisky Bottle so we could get a picture of us pouring the Whisky overboard just like in the movie. The cruise took about 1.5 hours which was fun and lots of sightseeing to boot. I encourage everyone to take a cruise on the Original African Queen you just can’t go wrong. I give this boat cruise a 5 out of 5 stars because of all the history, the fun, Capitan Duncan letting us steer the boat plus learning all about the movie and all the sightseeing to boot. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Follow Me On Fb For More Fun and Reviews Gulf Coast Terry

The original African Queen ship that was used in the movie is docked in Key Largo, FL. We took the 1.5 hour cruise which was delightful. As the boat is fairly small it only holds 6 passengers and the captain. Captain Ed was very knowledgeable about the history of the boat, which has a very storied past. He also was very knowledgeable about the movie, its movie trivia, and the area we toured. He had lots of local stories and recommendations, and his friendliness, sense of humor and welcoming attitude encouraged everyone on the boat to participate. At his behest, we had fun taking pictures reenacting iconic scenes from the movie. Everyone had a great time. When we returned home from our vacation we rewatched the movie and really enjoyed knowing that we had sat in the same seats as Bogie and Hepburn. I highly recommend this tour and will likely do it again.

We enjoyed an hour and a half ride at a very reasonable price for the service. It included photo ops, water, a history overview of the film, and we even got to drive the boat! I do wish there was more open water time than the canal parts, but I would recommend the experience for sure.

Interesting and enjoyable experience. Nice to share a piece of history. This was a few years ago, but wife even got to pilot the boat for a short distance where there was no danger of her doing any damage. Saw some pretty awesome boats and houses on the way out to the ocean. Caption had a good knowledge of the boat and surrounding area. Great memory and worth the trip.

Outstanding trip ....do it! Great Captain very knowledgeable and personable (hard combination to find). The tour goes through the history of the boat and its place in the movie. Tour takes you through the canals out and back to the Atlantic. He points out places of interest also along the way. 1.5 hrs.

Great experience. Lots of knowledge about the history of the boat. A little bit of trivia. Captain was very friendly. I recommend a ride on the African Queen

Seen in the Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn 1951 film "The African Queen" directed by John Huston, this restored 1912 steamboat now operates as a tourist cruise in Key Largo. This 30 foot historic vintage boat offers daily tours going out into the Atlantic Ocean and the waterway canals. After purchasing tickets on their website $59 plus tax, we took the 2pm ride on this iconic vessel. The guide was very knowledgeable on the history, asked trivia questions and took photos of the six guests on the boat. The tour lasted about an hour and a half.

Was a fun trip and great captain. Was lovely way to spend the afternoon! Had fun doing movie trivia and learning more about the boat and movie.

Riding the African Queen put me in classic film fan heaven. I enjoyed the trivia on the boat as well as the discussion about the boat's history. You also get a lovely scenic view as you work your way out of the no-wake zone. You really feel the age of the boat when it is on the ocean--the ride is choppy but the fact that we get to ride it at all is amazing. I also loved the movie-related photo opps!

I stopped here with my family as a last second excursion while in the Keys. This was a decision I am happy we made. It was an extremely peaceful ride. The service was excellent, the tour was enjoyable, and everything was clean. First, the service. The tour guide, Eddy, was fabulous. He was warm and welcoming, and he made sure everyone was comfortable. Waters and umbrellas are provided, which these were especially nice as it was a bright and sunny day. My Rating for this Category: 5/5 Second, the tour itself. The tour is about an hour and a half, and it was great. You cruise out on the canals, and, weather permitting, out into the open waters for a bit. Eddy, the tour guide, did a great job making sure everyone was engaged in the tour. My Rating for this Category: 5/5 Finally, the cleanliness. There were no issues here at all. The umbrellas that were provided were brand new, and nothing was sticky or dirty. Everything was clean and seamless! My Rating for this Category: 5/5 If I were back in the Key Largo area again, I would absolutely repeat this tour. The service was amazing, the tour is educational and peaceful, and it was a great environment. I would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone traveling in the area.

Did you ever see the classic movie with Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart? It's a classic everyone should see. The acting in it is wonderful. This was Bogart's tramp steamer boat in the movie and a "star" on its own. It's where the movie gets its name. In person, it's much smaller than you'd think from the movie. The movie is the story of two companions with mismatched, "opposites attract" personalities (she's a strait laced prim spinster missionary; he's a scruffy hard drinking swearing uncouth boat captain) who develop an implausible love affair as they travel together downriver in Africa and endure hardships around the start of World War I. There's no admission to see the boat. It's parked in the north side marina next to the Holiday Inn Key Largo; it's right in front of the large glass bottom boat that gives tours. But there is a box nearby for monetary donations to help with its upkeep. The sign out front also says they offer cruises, although it doesn't look like it leaves the docks. It's a quick stop -- more interesting if you saw the movie -- and great that it's still around almost 68 years later...

We had a great time on the African Queen, as a fan of old movies the whole experience was a real treat. The Captain and his mate were very entertaining and informative guides...the trivia they have about the boat and the movie add to the uniqueness of this cruise. Very cool!

We had the boat to ourselves and it was a beautiful day. The tour starts out with a small presentation explaining about the movie and how the boat is the actual boat. It's been restored a bit but that's to be expected for something so old. The trip takes you past some beautiful houses and boats and out to the ocean and back. It was fun, beautiful and nostalgic. The steam engine doesn't work and that's a bummer but it's ok. Lots of people took our pictures, waved or stopped to talk as we went by. Fun time!

$180 plus $20 tip for old nasty disorganized plastic covered copies of so call photos and dirty and nasty mechanical disfunciones and not working motor nostalgic piece of "woods" made me feel patronized. My aunt was a teen when the movie came out so she wanted to live and experienced the trip but even her felt betrayed for the dishonest interpretation and make believe info in their website. It is sad for history to be commercialized with poor interest and still stupid people like us to pay for it. Shame on them and to the now owner to not care for fans and believers like my aunt and break their heart like this. At least try to clean it and make better photo portafolio dammit !

A little pricey but it was well worth the tri. The captain talked about the movie and the history of the boat. I was able to drive it and that was great knowing that I had the chance to that few have bone.

This is real history I hope the best for the owners of this classic vessel . I'm going to plan a getaway with just me and the wife soon We had the kids with us and they were getting bored so too make everybody happy we didn't do the cruise

Oops! This is billed as a 2 hour cruise, but, in reality, there is a half hour presentation by Captain Mike about the boat's history (interesting), followed by a 1 hour cruise in area canals mostly. I don't object to paying for the promised program, but this was CHEATING! Captain Mike controlled the itinerary. Had we known about the changes in advance, we would have requested a refund and gone elsewhere. I can not recommend this attraction to anyone, but the 1 hour was pleasant, just not worth $89 per person!

Humprey Bogart and Katherine Hepburns original movie boat "The African Queen" is on free public display behind the glass bottom boat on an ocean access canal adjoining The Key Largo Holiday Inn. The African Queen was built in Lytham, England in 1912 for service on the Victoria Nile and Lake Albert where the movie was filmed in 1951. She was used by the British East Africa Company from 1912 to 1968 to shuttle passengers and cargo across Lake Albert located on the border between the Belgian Congo and Uganda. I would not go out of my way to see this, but if you are there take a look. It is need of cleaning and repair.

Great experience! Must do for Movie Fans! Be a part of history. We had a grand time and each stirred the legendary boat!!!

This is a must-see attraction for any fans of the movie, Bogart fans, or anyone who appreciates history or a nice trip into the ocean. The captain was friendly and shared unreleased behind the scenes photos from the filming. The authenticity and restoration of the boat was amazing-all the way down to the "modern" items such as the cooler and radio being hidden by wooden boxes. The engine was in need of some tuning up, so we only experienced it for part of the trip, while an outboard motor brought us the rest of the way. This was a great way to spend an afternoon.

Saw this little gem on an episode of Art Loft on PBS. I live in Ft Lauderdale, have been to the Keys several times and never knew about it. Called my sister Tamme and off we went for the day. As stated in previous reviews it's a little pricey, but a fully operating piece of history to touch, feel, and sail in is well worth it. Our Captain was perfect for the part and knew a great deal about the history of the film and the vessel. The story of how the African Queen came to Key Largo is interesting and colorful. There are a couple of picture albums for the pre-sail lecture that give you a feel for what had to take place on the sets to make the movie come to life. They are in need of update so I am suggesting something in a tattered leather folder pouch more in tune with the illusion of the era. The stories of the interactions with Hepburn, Bogart, and the rest of the movie crew are a treat and well told. Anyone with even a slight love for the move will enjoy this slice of history.

Ditto everything Pam E wrote so well on 12/20, except I didn't do the dining experience, "just" the tour! My 1.5 hours on the African Queen is the unquestioned highlight of my time in the Keys with my hubby. (Sorry, hubby, that you went off fishing while I sat where Hepburn and Bogie once sat!) I can't recommend this highly enough. Capt. Dave was a superb captain, imbuing his three passengers with fascinating history of this glorious old inglorious steamer. He set up photo ops for us like a pro, and the "golden hour" made our photos look fantastic. I still can't believe I got to see this vessel, much less ride on her, much less take the helm briefly while in open water. (I'm a captain's wife and boat-crew-qualified coast guard auxiliarist, so we weren't going to end up in Cuba or anything.) If you love this old movie, treat yourself to a little trip on the African Queen!

Whoa - hold on - irony of irony here - The African Queen is In Key Largo? Yes. About two miles down the road from where "Key Largo" was filmed the African Queen is on display in the marina between the Holiday Inn and the Ramada. If you love old movies, if you love Bogart, you will love this. It is fantastic. You can see the decrepit old boat - and apparently you can even take a tour on it. Movie Magic, movie history, right there. An unexpected pleasure.

Wonderful experience coming out of the canal and hearing the history of the African Queen. Once we came out of the canal and into open water we hit a nasty storm, the boat was pitching, and we started singing the Gilligan's Island theme song. We had a blast. Eddie, our tour guide, was amazing, and we would love to do the tour again.

If I could give this tour negative five stars, it wouldn't capture how horrendous this experience was. 2 hours of my life I will never get back and $50 out of my pocket. This boat fits up to 8 ppl tops so that should give you a size reference. It is old and unsafe looking. We were asked to split proportionately or we would tip the boat. It is powered by steam engine located in the middle of the boat.It overheats and combined with 80 degree sunny Florida weather makes you very uncomfortable. The captain talked about history of the boat and filming of the old movie. If you are into that, could be cool. Then he handed out two greasy,dirty binders to the passengers to look at more pictures. Pictures were computer printouts someone scrambled at home about 15 years ago. Then we took off, speed of sea snail thru the canal and residential area to the open ocean and back. Like someone was driving you to someone else's backyard. I'm still at complete dismay how this tour has any five star reviews everywhere.

We had a great time aboard the African Queen. BYOB = awesome. The only "complaint" I have is that it was a little slow, but then again it's a 100+ year old boat so how fast can it go, right? The captain was awesome -- he had an assistant too. I recommend it for anyone interested in old boats, Bogart, the African Queen, or in a relaxing cruise around a marina/ocean in the Keys.

If hearing the clickety-clack of the steam engine aboard the rustic and historic African Queen while while sauntering through the rose and violet-colored canals at sunset wasn't enough, our Pilot Dave was the cherry on top of an already amazing experience. We commented to each other after the evening was over that if we lived down here, we would be fast friends with him, he is such a great person. And because of his natural eye for photography and being great at capturing precious moments, we have pics of us we never would have had, had I not given him my iPhone . He told us about the history-- not only of the filming of the classic movie but also the story of how Lance and Suzanne, the long-term lease holders came to procure the boat. They, inch by inch, artistically restored her by hand, while managing to leave the look and spirit of the vessel completely intact. Lance is one of these rare larger than life, alligator-wrestling, generous with his time and knowledge, charismatic, legendary Indiana Jones characters you typically only read about in adventure novels. We plan on going back again, bringing our boy and sailing for a few days aboard their pirate ship, or luxurious catamaran. Dinner at the Pilot House restaurant-- the service was relaxed and perfect, the view stunning, the food delicious, and our table sat atop a slab of thick plexi-glass, the water lit by green lights illuminating the occasional fish swimming around the pylons below. As we boarded the boat, Dave gave us fish food which when we threw it in the water, created a dizzying fish frenzy in the lighted emerald green water all around the dock. We sailing back to port under the inky night full of crystal-clear stars-- The canals, full of exquisite homes, took on a whole new life after dark. We had two days on the ground before our cruise to the Bahamas and were looking for "filler" things to do-- As it turned out, the intimacy of just us with Dave at the helm allowed us time to slow down (to 3 knots and hour ;) and quietly just be with each other... it was not only extremely cool sailing aboard this historic boat, but it was also quite romantic, which is something we weren't expecting which contributed to it being our favorite experience of our trip, eclipsing our actual cruise to the Bahamas!

Great Time! We had a day to spend in the Keys while waiting to board a cruise leaving out of Miami and decided to take a short trip on the African Queen. We were not disappointed! The boat is very interesting and particularly so for anyone who has seen the movie. We spent about 1-1/2 cruising in to local area and enjoyed the narration the Captain provided about the boats history and it's role in the movie. It was a unique experience and compared to other excursions we considered it was very affordable. Our grand kids enjoyed the experience as well and were both able to steer the boat and blow the steam whistle. Over all a great experience!!!

I couldn't have imagined that one day I would take a sunset sail on a boat once used by Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart, but this weekend, that's exactly what I did! We arrived for our sail 30 minutes early and were greeted by Chris who sets up the tours. We took pictures of the boat down by the bay and read up on the history of The African Queen. When the steamboat was ready, our captain welcomed us aboard. It was only two of us on the tour, along with the captain and someone he was training. We got a full history on how the African Queen ended up in key largo, and soon took off. They offered us refreshments, but like I mentioned on my tip, we brought our own wine. We were able to re-enact scenes from the movie and even steer the boat ourselves. It was exciting to feel like we were a part of Hollywood history. The only reason why I don't give this 5 stars is because the tour is very short. You just leave the bay and make a u-turn right back. Since it's a historic steamboat it takes about an hour for the boat to do that.

Brian was a fabulous captain. Very informative and interesting history lesson. Accommodating to our interests. Not too exciting in the ocean.

What a great attraction. My wife and I felt like Bogey and Hepburn, steaming out the canal and into the ocean. Well, we would have been steaming, but the little boat's boiler needed a rebuild, so it outboard motor powered. But still, we were on the African Queen. The captain was knowledgeable, friendly, personable and really made the short trip interesting. When we got home to Michigan, we watched the movie (again), with a whole new interest.

Wow! What a piece of history and movie nostalgia setting right there in front of us. Just imagine Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn being there. The ship is small and looks to be in great condition. We didn't take the cruise but just enjoyed the fact that we saw the ship.

A totally fun and unique experience. This attraction may not be for everybody but I loved it. I liked how the boat was lovingly restored over the years. I liked our guide's stories and the whole kitschy Florida-attraction-thing about how a working boat from Africa in 1912 became a movie prop, then passed from hand to hand down through the years to be restored into an attraction moored next to a Holiday Inn in Key Largo (a city made famous by another Humphrey Bogart movie that wasn't even filmed there and for which the town was later renamed). One of the things I love about Florida is the way fact and fiction get tangled up in the name of tourism and development. Mostly I loved that amazing Sisson steam engine! In fact, for me the engine made it all worthwhile. How often do you get to go out in a boat powered by a 19th century steam engine? We putt putt-ed out the channel and into the harbor where we had some engine trouble and the guide (dressed in Humphrey Bogart's costume) had to get out his tools to get it going again while we bobbed helplessly around in the waves and drifted out to sea. I don't know if they do that all the time on purpose or if these engines are always touchy but, that was actually my favorite part - watching him tinker with the engine and getting it going again. I only wish I could have been the one playing with it. I really wish I had one of those engines. I could just watch it for hours - it's like a living thing! I got home and wanted to build one. So the whole cruise is kind of romantic and kind of goofy. They only take about 6-8 people on each cruise which is nice - so it's not too crowded. The guide lets you steer if you want to and has lots of good stories about Key Largo and the millionaire yachts and houses that you pass by. You can wave to the tourists on the fancy pants catamarans and pirate ships as you s-l-o-w-l-y work your way up the channel and back. It's a little pricey, but it must cost a small fortune to restore it and run it. I'm really glad we took the cruise. I would recommend it for people who are old movie fans, steam engine fans or old boat fans. Is it history? Is it a reproduction of a movie prop that never really worked in the first place? What's real? What's not? And what do you care as long as you're having fun? Welcome to Florida.

If you've seen African Queen and are a Bogart fan this is must do. Our captain Brian had a boatload of facts, history, background information, etc.. It was a lot of fun.

If you are a fan of Bogart movies, then this cruise is a must do. The ship is pretty original to what you see in the movie. Our captain was great. He explained the ship and its history well. He had production stills from the movie. He took pictures of us with our camera so we could have them at home. He let us steer the ship while at sea. He also pointed out the houses of the rich and famous along the canals of Key Largo. All in all, a very enjoyable and worthwhile experience. Thank you, African Queen!

We didn't get to go out, because the boat is limited to six pax and was already full, but I heard the lecture and watched the engine start and the boat leave. For engine buffs, it appears to be a single expansion true steam motor in beautiful shape. OSHA would have a fit: the connecting rods are exposed as is the crankshaft and live steam exits while the engine is being prepped for launch. Any engineer fool who puts a foot or hand wrong will live to regret it. As in the old days, the operator is responsible for his own safety. (The engine is safely out of the way of passengers.) This is the real thing, and worth a trip.

Incredible afternoon. I recommend this for anyone in the Largo area. The capt is wonderful and full of information to make the trip even more fun than we'd imagined. I can't believe I was on the famous boat and in fact steered for most of the cruise. Fantastic!!!