Hornblower Niagara Cruises Review

Real adventure!!! So exciting... masterpiece of nature.

Fun boat ride to see the falls. The views are amazing. The ticket buying is super simple. Just use the kiosk it s the fastest way get your tickets and be on your way. Defiantly recommend going before 10am. We went around 9am and the crowds weren t too bad. When our ride was done there were huge lines waiting for the next one. We got on just before the crowds. One other thing, try to board when the boat arrives at the dock to get a good spot otherwise you be standing behind people with the best view. Great experience if you are in Niagara Falls in Canada.

Loved this. Lines move quickly all the staff was friendly.

Awesome.

You will get soaked. Accept it. Don't hide under the rain gear - see what you came to see and just towel off afterwards.

Definitely worth it. Tip: go early to avoid the rush, and if possible try to be near the front of the line when it's time to board so that you get s prime spot (the boats leave every 20mins so just wait for the next boat)

Went in evening and walked right into the boat. Great crew, fun time.

Stunning going on boat up close to the Falls. A must do.

Took the ride with my 2 cousins and it was excellent!! Warning though: you'll end up soaked!! Don't forget the rain sleeve for your camera....

A pleasure to walk. Wet. You can go with Hawaiian sandals.

View of the falls very close ...
. Impressive to see the volume of water falling from a boat next to a lot of people .....

This was so fun! The line was long but moved quickly. Altogether we moved through it in about 30 minutes from way outside the gate. The cruise itself was fantastic! Amazing view of the falls, got totally drenched in spray, got amazing photos. Highly recommend!

These are worth taking, day cruises into to mist, night cruises with fireworks. Amazing!!!

Long wait, all computers, all broken but 1, no humans, horrible

Such a COOL experience!! SO SO worth it! Take a poncho and stand at the front of the boat and get ready for some amazing and unique views while getting soaked by the falls! So worth the money and time!

A memorable experience. The only reason I didn t give 5 stars is we went on a day that had several tour busses. The tourists were pushy, in the way, rude, and many more things. The weather did not cooperate and there were downpours of showers. The staff did wonderful in trying to accommodate everyone under the tent to stay dry. However I think more effort needs to be made to tame the tour busses or at least give them more direction. They feel entitled to push their way though and no one is there to regulate them for safety. It makes it less enjoyable for families visiting.

This is one of the only Niagara attractions truly worth the money. It's a spectacular experience that is worth every penny. I really wanted to do the night cruise as well but it was sold out the only night we were there.

Very nice experience of the falls , safe and enjoyable ride

A super experience and an incredible view .. I loved it!

If you only have time to do one thing in Niagara Falls, this is the one to do. The line may be a bit long, but each boat can hold about 700 passengers, so the queue moves faster than you would think. There is still a bit of a wait though, so bring comfortable shoes, water, and something to keep away the sun if you're visiting on a hot day. The cruise itself lasts about 20 minutes, and you get up close and personal with the Falls. Don't think the poncho isn't necessary - though there's mist coming from the Falls, you will get soaked. Put the poncho on as soon as you board the boat! Oh, and keep any electronics/valuables in your pockets - you don't want those to get wrecked!

Hornblower was so good, when it was done I wanted to do it again! The only thing keeping me from doing so was paying again, and waiting in the line again. Do the cruise as soon as you get to the Falls, that way you can dry off while walking around before going back to your car or tour bus.

Great experience boats over crowded but still get great view would just be more enjoyable with less people

Amazing experience! You get so close to the falls that can feel every drop that falls

Pretty boring, crowded and not worth it. 29$ for some minutes at the falls. Better enjoy it by food during night light show with ur girl. :)

Missed the last boat. But members of our group had a great time in the up close views. To much to see and do for one trip.

We did a tour package thru our hotel. Was the best decision!! The Hornblower is soo worth the money! You get very up close to both the falls!! Seriously it is well worth the money to be so close to the beautiful falls!!!

It is super fun to get so close to the falls on the Hornblower. The boat ride isnt super long but it's a good amount of time to soak up the views and to get soaked from the mist coming off of the falls! Definitely the thing to do when you're visiting Niagara Falls on the Canadian side!

Warning! You will get soaked. I don't know why when walking the long stretch to the boat it didn't hit me just how wet you'd get. But seeing as how it'll rain at the top of the falls, I should have known just how much of a down pour it would be. And man, is it cold! But what a view. If you think seeing the falls from the top outlooks are great, get to the bass of them to really understand their power. Great views, great fun, and if you don't do this, you're really missing out on the the Niagara Falls experience.

The queue to just get down to the cruise was long and there was suppose to have only one line. With tourists trying to get into the shades to cool down, it was chaos. There were different lines in the same area, which was confusing.

But on the way back, after the boat cruise to see Niagara, the elevators broke down and stopped working. We had to line up under the scorching hot sun for almost 2 hours for the shuttle bus ( Singular ONE bus) to pick and drive people up. Only later when people were complaining that there were another car that was used in the pick up.
Felt like it was worse than waiting for the TTC shuttle buses to arrive. But at least they were giving out free water so no one gets dehydrated standing under the hot sun.

Must get on the cruise to sense the strong stream of Niagara Falls

An amazing experience with a breathtaking view! The lines moved, the boats weren't overcrowded and you got time to take the falls in!

Ride was worth it to get that close to the falls. The line may look very long but it actually went by pretty fast. If you are at the falls its well worth paying for the Hornblower Cruise. They do provide you with a plastic rain coat for the ride.

Amazing experience at the hornblower ride. The staff was nice and the price is dirt cheap compared to the Maid of the mist. I'm typically not impressed by nature and this ride was so good it blew me away. I'm coming back for seconds on this awesome ride!

The cruise is a real must when visiting Niagara Falls. It is amazing to see the Falls from below, and experience the elements. The boat holds in the mist for a good 15 minutes, so you get to take in the Horseshoe Falls, as well as a great view of the Amercian side. Luckily we were was warned beforehand that you do get very wet, the poncho given will not keep you dry, the best option would be to wear waterproofs and waterproof shoes. For using your phone/camera, a waterproof pouch may be useful. I would definitely recommend the experience!

Highlight of our Niagara Falls trip! We all really enjoyed getting up close to the falls. A poncho is included with the ticket, but you will still get wet from the extreme amount of mist from both the American and Horseshoe Falls. The boats are newer and well maintained/clean. All of the staff we spoke to was friendly. There is a bar on the dock and another small one on the boat. Beautiful views and a wonderful experience!

Easy experience. It felt like a conveyor belt....walk along a series of ramps, elevator, more ramps & ways, stop take a picture, another ramp....u get the picture :) It is well organized. However DO purchase tickets before arriving. My group arrived at the perfect time. There was no wait times and the boat was half full. So it was easy to walk to the other end when the boat turned around. Remember all those ramps? Well now to do it in reverse! Lol

This is a must-do thing once in your life time, you will be super wet, because of getting really close to the falls. The falls is gigantic and amazing to watch. When you get real close, the water under looks like soda water, and there will be lots of water splashing on you, which makes it kind of hard to keep your eyes open, it's like experiencing typhoon. However, the journey was just stunning and fun.

Good experience and expect to get wet.. Hornblower is on Canada side. cost $25+taxes (adult) so crowded with a lot of Asian group tour. The maid of the mist is on US side cost $18 including taxes. It less crowded and boat are smaller but they give you the sandles so you can take it home.

You can feel the overwhelming waterfall scale up close. It's really fun, but when you get closer, it's all about splashing water and wakaran. Places that are not covered with raincoat are 100% wet. It is assured that the hat part also blows off with the wind coming from the water pressure and becomes chubby. If you like clean, you shouldn't look at the water from the boat. If you look at the clumps of dirty foam, you will be worried about the splashes that you just made.

Lots of fun and lots of water everywhere; Very nice cruise !

Definitely the must-go in Niagara falls, however I feel my boat was too crowded, I gave my spot to a couple kids who could see nothing othereise, however I'm not happy for doing the right thing as this could be my last time here.

We had a blast! I am so happy that we decided to go on the Hornblower cruise. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day!

Without doubt you should experience this if you are visiting Niagara Falls. It s totally worth it. It s well organized, they provide you red ponchu which will only be sufficient to save your upper half.

You may wish to wear floaters if you have an extra pair with you (you will be soaked below the knees). Have a great time!

This is a great experience you get to see the true power of the falls and the lines are fairly fast and it is just breathtaking seeing the falls so up close

It wouldn't be a visit to the Falls without getting a little wet! Though it may not be the most affordable attraction in Niagara (but really what is?!) it is definitely something that everyone should experience at least once. Get there early to avoid the crowds which start to get busy in the afternoon, and try to go on a warm day so then at least it'll be refreshing when you get soaked! You can either take the funicular down or save a few bucks by just using the elevator; the funicular was out of service when we arrived so I can't comment on that experience.

Once on the boat, prepare to get wet and make good use of the provided poncho. If you have a small child, the sides of the boat have lower railings which offer a nice view for them without having to hold them in your arms, which I doubt you would want to do once the water starts pouring in and the boat starts rocking (it's actually a pretty smooth ride considering you're in the falls).

Take a few photos and enjoy the wet ride!

The best part of visiting the falls! Hornblower from Canadian side, while Maid of the Mist for USA. You get the best view of the falls, and they provide you with a makeshift plastic raincoat, which is really helpful.

Closed during winters.

My husband & kids went on while I watched because I get motion sick. My husband said it was one of the best things he has ever done. Well worth the money. The kids loved it! I enjoyed watching & taking pictures. I got an education from a guy holding a hawk to keep sea gulls away. Great experience for all!

Incredible experience! Especially the boat ride. This is a must visit so put it on your bucket list!!

Definitely worth doing!!!
See the falls from a different perspective.

Went during off peak season ( Friday after Labour Day), no crowds and were on the ship with no wait. Was one of the last to board at 1:30pm and still got right to the front of the ship on the first level. Pretty nice trip, got a little damp, not as wet as some people seem to imply. No change of shoes required, just slightly damp.

Cruises charming, ticked times, impressive scenery, a must for anyone who comes to the falls.

This is a really fun to her to take you get really wet if you're in the front but it's so worth it. You can get some really good pictures. Do it on the Canada side. I suggest being on the right side of the boat because you see a lot more. It's worth its money I don't suggest going behind the Falls I don't know that that's worth its money.

It is quite an experience to be on that boat at the base of Niagara Falls. Make no mistake about it...you will get wet. They do issue a "trash bag" type poncho that will keep some of the mist off of you. If you go during the colder months, be sure to dress warm. The falls themselves do tend to generate a breeze as you get closer to them. It is quite a view up close.

A really exciting honeymoon experience! I don't like getting wet but the ponchos sort of help! It is very misty for electronics, so enjoy the whole experience as it is.

Slightly overcrowded but otherwise beautiful. Buy your tickets online or else you'll spend your day in line.

Niagara itself is breathtaking, it is one of the main tourist spots in this area. As for the "cruise" by the boat to the waterfall itself is something beyond description, downstairs it is cold even in summer, breeze etc. You get plastic coats so as not to get wet. As far as I remember, the price is around 23 bucks.

I feel like I paid way too much to wait in a line. And had a short boat trip at the end. Now that my kids have gone on it I feel I will not ever need to do this again.

Great attraction! A must for anyone visiting Niagara for sure!

It does not matter how long the lines are, they move quickly. A lineup that was probably over a km long was done in 45 minutes.