Maritime heritage
Harbor Queen
Harbor Queen is a Coast Guard-approved double-decker passenger vessel built for narrated history cruises, Buffalo River sightseeing, evening events, and private gatherings.
Explore Harbor Queen
See Buffalo from a whole new perspective.
History cruises, sailing adventures, and tiki boat parties. Discover Buffalo's waterfront aboard one of three unique vessels.
Buffalo River · Canalside · Lake Erie
Meet the fleet
Three boats. One Buffalo waterfront.
Harbor Queen, Spirit of Buffalo, and Big Kahuna share one dock but deliver three distinct Buffalo experiences.
Traditional sailing
Spirit of Buffalo
Spirit of Buffalo is a classic 73-foot topsail schooner with distinctive red sails, offering day sails, evening sails, themed cruises, children's adventures, educational excursions, and private charters on Lake Erie.
Explore Spirit of Buffalo
Tropical energy
Big Kahuna
Big Kahuna is a Hawaiian-themed party vessel for tiki cruises, happy hours, family outings, evening entertainment, and private celebrations on the Buffalo River and inner harbor.
Explore Big KahunaAbout Buffalo Boat Tours
A Buffalo waterfront company since 2009.
Buffalo Boat Tours was founded in 2009 to help visitors and locals experience the waterways that shaped the city. From the Erie Canal and the grain elevators to Lake Erie sunsets and the inner harbor, the fleet gives you a front-row view of Buffalo's past and its next chapter.
Today, three vessels bring that history to life: Harbor Queen for narrated history and group events, Spirit of Buffalo for traditional sailing, and Big Kahuna for tiki cruises and celebrations. Locally owned and family operated, every cruise departs from Central Wharf at Canalside.
More about us
Buffalo River · Canalside
Start with a favorite
Upcoming ways to get on the water
These public experiences are the easiest place to begin. Open a cruise for the full description, then check live departures in Peek Pro.
History & sightseeing
Buffalo River History Tour
Follow the Erie Canal and Buffalo's working waterfront with a docent-led story of the city that grew around the grain trade.
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Sailing adventures
Day Sail on Spirit of Buffalo
Spend a summer afternoon on Lake Erie aboard Buffalo's classic red-sail schooner.
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Family-friendly cruises
Sunday Brunch Cruise
Enjoy a 90-minute Lake Erie cruise with a complimentary hot breakfast, pastries, coffee, and juice.
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Sunset & evening cruises
Cocktail Cruise
Enjoy cocktails and Buffalo Harbor scenery from the upper deck of Harbor Queen.
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Tiki & party cruises
Harbor Tiki Cruise
Put Buffalo Harbor in a tropical frame with island music and Caribbean cocktails on Big Kahuna.
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Sunset & evening cruises
Specialty Cocktail Cruise
Taste cocktails from local distillers with charcuterie as Spirit of Buffalo lights up the waterfront.
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Your event, your crew, your boat.Private events on the Buffalo waterfront
Bring the whole reason to celebrate.
From weddings and receptions to birthdays, corporate outings, bachelor and bachelorette parties, family reunions, and school groups, Buffalo Boat Tours can help you choose a vessel and build an event on the water.
- Weddings & receptions
- Corporate outings
- Reunions & birthdays
- School & educational groups
A local way to see the city
Locally owned, family operated
Buffalo Boat Tours is locally owned and family operated. The fleet brings history, sailing, and a little tropical energy together at Central Wharf in Canalside.
Buffalo Boat Tours has been included in Twinkl's guide to field-trip locations in New York.
3distinctive vessels
16+public experiences to explore
1Buffalo waterfront departure
Before you board
Make your visit easy
Boats leave on time from Central Wharf at Canalside. Arrive 30 minutes early, check in at the booth near the brown wooden Longshed building, and dress for outdoor conditions.