Catalog leader
★ 4.6 (894)2 hoursfrom $63
Sightseeing Lunch Cruise
Check availability →Current terms shown at checkout
Savannah Riverboat Cruises
Two boats, one dock, six very different evenings and afternoons. Choose the sailing before you worry about the vessel.
Written by Alex H., Travel editor and researcherUpdated October 2026
In short: Take the 90-minute sightseeing cruise for the river itself, sunset for the open deck at dusk, and dinner when you want one reservation for both. If you only want a quick ride on the water, the ferry is free. The catalog leader is Sightseeing Lunch Cruise (4.6★ from 894 reviews, from $63).
The Savannah River is a working port, which makes this a stranger and better sightseeing route than a quiet harbor loop. Container ships share the channel. Old Fort Jackson sits downstream, and the narration points it out without stopping. The US 17 bridge and Hutchinson Island frame the other side of the city.
Every paid cruise leaves from 9 East River Street, one level below Bay Street. Sightseeing is the plain river trip. Lunch, brunch, dinner and gospel sailings add a buffet or music; sunset adds neither dinner nor a band. The two vessels differ in elevator and deck access, so confirm the boat if stairs matter. If 90 minutes feels like too much commitment, the free Belles Ferry gives you a short crossing and the same skyline.
Same river, six different plans
Sightseeing: the river without dinner
About 90 narrated minutes past the port and Old Fort Jackson, usually at 1 or 3:30 p.m. This is the cleanest choice if the river—not a buffet—is the point.
Best for: First visits, families, the working port
Sunset: dusk without dinner
A two-hour April-to-October sailing with a bar and grill, but no included meal. Eat on River Street and pay for the open deck in the last light.
Best for: Couples, warm evenings, people who have eaten
Lunch or Sunday brunch
The sightseeing route with a Southern buffet and soft drinks. Lunch runs mainly April through October; brunch sails Sundays from March through November.
Best for: A daytime meal, a rainy midday
Dinner or Monday gospel
Both are two-hour buffet cruises. Dinner adds a band year-round; Mondays from April through October swap in local gospel singers and a different menu.
Best for: Groups, a single dinner reservation, Monday nights
Trolley plus cruise
Gray Line pairs a 90-minute trolley loop with the sightseeing cruise. Check the exchange instructions and the gap between the two halves before building a day around it.
Best for: A short visit that needs land and water in one ticket
The free ferry
The Belles Ferry is transit, not a tour, and crosses to Hutchinson Island every ten minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. While City Hall Landing is closed, board at Waving Girl Landing.
Best for: A free skyline view, no narration needed
Savannah riverboat cruises compared
Current catalog prices, ratings and review counts. The view is similar; the meal, season and sailing time change.
| Tour | Duration | Price | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sightseeing Lunch Cruise Catalog leader | 2 hours | $63 | ★ 4.6(894) | Check dates |
 Monday Gospel Dinner Cruise | 2 hours | $78 | ★ 4.8(102) | Check dates |
 Riverboat Cruise & City Tour Combo | 3 hours | $81 | ★ 4.4(586) | Check dates |
 Riverboat Narrated Harbor Sightseeing Cruise | 1.5 hours | $42 | ★ 4.3(1,324) | Check dates |
 Savannah Riverboat: Sunday Brunch Sightseeing Cruise | 1.5 hours | $78 | ★ 4.4(136) | Check dates |
 Riverboat Sunset Cruise | 2 hours | $55 | ★ 4.3(799) | Check dates |
Read the sailing details first
Price, duration, tradeoffs and booking link:
How the ranking works
No operator pays for position. Ratings are weighted by review volume, because a 4.7 from a thousand guests tells you more than a 5.0 from three. Prices come from the current catalog and can change at checkout.
There is one downtown riverboat company, so choose the sailing—not the operator. Sightseeing is for the river, sunset for deck time, and the meal cruises for an event built around a buffet.
The sailings, without the brochure fog
Match your date to the season first. The free ferry is still the right answer if all you want is a short ride and a skyline view.
| Cruise | What it is | Season and times | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sightseeing | About 90 minutes of narration on the river and port, past Old Fort Jackson | Daily March–November, weekends December–January, Wednesday–Sunday in February; sailings at 1 and 3:30 | Riverboat Narrated Harbor Sightseeing Cruise (from $42 · 1.5 hours · ★4.3 (1,324)) |
| Sunset | Deck time at dusk with a bar and grill; no dinner buffet | Daily April–October; boards at 6, sails at 7, back at 9 | Riverboat Sunset Cruise (from $55 · 2 hours · ★4.3 (799)) |
| Lunch | A buffet and the sightseeing route in one | Monday–Saturday April–October, Saturdays in March and November; boards at noon, sails at 1 | Sightseeing Lunch Cruise (from $63 · 2 hours · ★4.6 (894)) |
| Sunday brunch | A 90-minute brunch cruise with the captain's narration | Sundays, March–November; boards at noon, sails at 1 | Savannah Riverboat: Sunday Brunch Sightseeing Cruise (from $78 · 1.5 hours · ★4.4 (136)) |
| Monday gospel dinner | A two-hour dinner cruise with local gospel singers | Mondays, April–October; boards at 6, sails at 7 | Monday Gospel Dinner Cruise (from $78 · 2 hours · ★4.8 (102)) |
| Dinner | A two-hour dinner cruise with a buffet and live music | Year-round, Sunday–Friday; boards at 6, sails at 7, back at 9 | Buffet Dinner Cruise with Live Entertainment (from $93 · 2 hours · ★4.2 (1,106)) |
| Trolley and cruise combo | Gray Line's 90-minute trolley tour plus the 90-minute sightseeing cruise, in one reservation | Starts at 301 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard; read the exchange instructions and the gap between the two | Riverboat Cruise & City Tour Combo (from $81 · 3 hours · ★4.4 (586)) |
Prices are the catalog's current per-person figures as of September 1, 2026; checkout shows tax, fees and what the meal includes.
Every current Savannah riverboat cruise
9 tours in this category.
★ 4.4 (586)3 hoursfrom $81
Riverboat Cruise & City Tour Combo
Check availability →Current terms shown at checkout
★ 4.3 (1,324)1.5 hoursfrom $42
Riverboat Narrated Harbor Sightseeing Cruise
Check availability →Free cancellation listed
★ 4.4 (136)1.5 hoursfrom $78
Savannah Riverboat: Sunday Brunch Sightseeing Cruise
Check availability →Free cancellation listed
★ 4.3 (799)2 hoursfrom $55
Riverboat Sunset Cruise
Check availability →Current terms shown at checkout
★ 4.2 (1,106)2 hoursfrom $93
Buffet Dinner Cruise with Live Entertainment
Check availability →Current terms shown at checkout
★ 3.2 (3)1.5 hoursfrom $69
Savannah River: River Street Karaoke Cruise
Check availability →Free cancellation listed
Which sailing fits?
Best for couples
Take sunset in warm weather. In cooler months, dinner keeps the same two-hour rhythm and adds the meal and band.
Best for families
Take the 90-minute sightseeing cruise in daylight. If that is enough boat, the free ferry can supply a second short ride.
Best for a first visit
Sightseeing is the only sailing built chiefly around the river. Pair it with a trolley loop if you want the street grid explained too.
Best for a meal
Choose lunch for daylight, dinner for the band, brunch for Sunday or gospel for Monday. They are buffets, not restaurant service.
Best if stairs are a problem
Use the public elevator at Bull and Bay to reach the dock. Vessel access differs, so confirm the boat and route before booking.
Best value
Sightseeing is the least expensive paid cruise. The Belles Ferry crosses the same water for free, without narration.
Before you walk down to the dock
Book by season
Sightseeing and dinner run most broadly; sunset and lunch are warm-season trips. Book weekend meal cruises ahead and use the live calendar for exact dates.
Find the dock
Board at 9 East River Street, behind City Hall and below Bay Street. The public elevator at Bull and Bay avoids the steps.
Arrive for boarding
Sightseeing boards 30 minutes before sailing; meal cruises board an hour before. Use the time printed on your ticket.
Park above the river
Bryan Street Garage is two blocks from the ticket office and is the simplest choice for an evening return. The parking guide has current city rates.
Dress for the deck
There is no dress code. Bring a layer after dark and a rain jacket when the forecast is wet.
Drinks and tips
Dining tickets include soft drinks, and every cruise has a cash bar. Bring cash for the servers.
Rain usually doesn't cancel the boat
Arrive at the boarding time on your ticket: 30 minutes early for sightseeing and an hour for meal cruises. Boats usually sail in rain. If access matters, confirm the vessel and deck route before relying on a general “accessible” label.
Questions before you book
Is a Savannah riverboat cruise worth it?
Yes if you want the working river: the sightseeing boat spends about 90 minutes among container traffic, Old Fort Jackson and the skyline. If you only want a quick ride, take the free Belles Ferry.
How much is a Savannah riverboat cruise?
Current prices are $42 for sightseeing, $55 for sunset, $63 for lunch, $78 for brunch, $78 for gospel dinner and $93 for dinner. The trolley combo is $81; checkout shows fees and inclusions.
Which riverboat cruise should I choose?
Sightseeing is the honest default. Pick sunset for dusk, lunch or brunch for a daytime buffet, dinner for the band, and Monday gospel for the singers.
Where is the best place to sit on the riverboat?
Go up to the open top deck for the container terminal, Old Fort Jackson and the bridge; that is where the river looks biggest. The lower decks are enclosed and climate-controlled with big windows, which is the better seat on a July afternoon or in rain. On a meal cruise, eat inside and walk up once the boat is moving. There is no dress code, so dress for the deck and bring a layer after dark.
What time does the 3:30 riverboat board?
At 3 p.m. Sightseeing cruises board 30 minutes before they sail, so the 1 p.m. sailing boards at 12:30 and the 3:30 boards at 3. Meal cruises board an hour early: lunch and brunch at noon for a 1 p.m. sailing, dinner, sunset and gospel at 6 for 7. The time printed on your ticket wins if it differs.
How long is the cruise?
Sightseeing, lunch and brunch run about 90 minutes. Sunset, dinner and gospel sailings run two hours, generally from 7 to 9 p.m.
Where does the riverboat leave from, and where do I park?
Board at 9 East River Street, behind City Hall and one level below Bay Street; the ticket office faces the dock. Bryan Street Garage is two blocks away with more than 400 hourly spaces, and it is the easiest return after a 9 p.m. dinner cruise. There are also public lots on River Street and meters on the Bay Street level, enforced Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. north of Liberty Street. The Bull and Bay elevator saves you the steps down to the river.
What do you see from the boat?
A working port, container ships, Old Fort Jackson, Hutchinson Island and the US 17 bridge. This is industrial scenery as much as postcard scenery, which is its charm.
What is the food like?
It is a Southern buffet: shrimp and grits recur, with meats, sides and soft drinks. Dinner has a band; Monday gospel has local singers; every cruise has a cash bar.
Does the sunset cruise include dinner?
No. A bar and grill sells food aboard, but the ticket buys a two-hour dusk sailing; choose dinner if you want the buffet included.
What happens if it rains, or I need to cancel?
The boat normally sails in rain; only severe weather or unsafe river conditions make the captain cancel, and a weather cancellation is refunded. If your own plans change, the cancellation window is on the booking listing at checkout and on your ticket. Read it before you build a nonrefundable evening around a dinner sailing. Pack a rain jacket either way.
How big are the boats, and are they accessible?
The Georgia Queen is 230 feet long and carries 1,000 passengers in three ballrooms, with a passenger elevator and an open top deck of more than 5,000 square feet. The Savannah River Queen carries 600 on three decks, each with restrooms and a bar. Its main deck is wheelchair accessible but its restrooms are not, so confirm which boat your sailing uses if access matters.
Primary sources
Checked September 1, 2026. Schedules, fees and policies can change, so recheck a linked source when the detail will affect your visit.
- GetYourGuide: Savannah activities — current catalog fields
- Savannah Riverboat Cruises: cruises — cruise types and seasons
- Savannah Riverboat Cruises: harbor sightseeing cruise — times; Old Fort Jackson
- Savannah Riverboat Cruises: sunset cruise — no dinner buffet
- Savannah Riverboat Cruises: our boats — Georgia Queen and Savannah River Queen
- Savannah Riverboat Cruises: FAQ — dock, dress code, parking, weather, vessel access
- Gray Line Savannah: Land and Sea combo — trolley plus cruise
- Georgia Ports Authority: Port of Savannah — the terminal the cruise passes
- Georgia Ports Authority: June 2026 volumes — fiscal 2026 container count
- Georgia DOT: Savannah River crossing FAQs (PDF) — 185-foot bridge clearance
- Coastal Heritage Society: Old Fort Jackson — the fort the narration points out
- Chatham Area Transit: Savannah Belles Ferry — the free alternative
- Savannah's Waterfront: getting here — steps, ramps and public elevators
Fit the sailing into a River Street day
Pair the 1 p.m. sightseeing cruise with a morning trolley loop, or eat early and take sunset. Bryan Street Garage is two blocks from the River Street dock; the parking guide has rates. For dolphins and coastal marsh, start with the boat guide.
Catalog leader
Sightseeing Lunch Cruise
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