Edmonton Riverboat — Attraction in Central Core

We were so excited to do a dinner cruise and we were pleased to be able to buy the tickets online. When we arrived, there was a long line of guests waiting to get in so we went to the end of the line. Once the gate was open and people were getting their tickets checked and going in, we watched with disappointment as late arrivals would just walk up and be let in, bypassing the orderly (and obvious) lineup cued to enter. Why wasn't there staff on hand to guide the line jumpers to the end of the line?

We were guided downstairs where we joined another line queued for the buffet. The meal was supposed to be prime rib, chicken, and several sides. The green salad had no choice of dressing. There was no butter for the hard rolls, and sides included canned corn and macaroni and cheese. The chicken was a sliced chicken breast loaf in a mushroom sauce. The prime rib was highly disappointing. It was sliced so thin, it was basically a slice of overcooked roast beef. It was overcooked dry with no choice of rare or medium. It would take about four slices of this to equal one slice of prime rib anywhere else. There was no au jus or horseradish, common accompaniments for prime rib. There was a brown gravy that was way too salty.

The dining room was basically a cafeteria with long tables and hard seating either on benches or institutional plastic or wood chairs reminiscent of elementary school. There was no staff to answer any questions and only a bar which appeared to be serving the alcohol. After we finished eating we looked at our tickets to see if drinks were included and the ticket said they were but we never saw any place to get any drinks. There were no signs or staff to help. We found out later that the bar will serve the coffee, soda, and water upon request.

In the description online it said the dining room was for the exclusive use of guests who ordered dinner and that the guests that were for the cruise only weren't allowed to come downstairs. This made it sound like this would be the prime place so we hung out for a bit but continued watching more and more people leave the dining area and go above deck. When we finally ventured up there, there were huge crowds with not enough room for everyone to find a seat. Some of the staff had been dragging chairs from the dining room up to this deck so people could sit down. Besides the picnic table style seating, people had placed these random chairs anywhere there was space and yet there were still people with no place to sit. The cruise itself was enjoyable, as long as you can find a place to sit and see without being blocked by the people in front of you.

Afterward, we talked about how disappointed we were with the dinner. It was certainly not worth the money and not what I would expect booking a dinner cruise. Dinner cruises I've been on elsewhere have servers to bring drinks, individual tables, and you get to eat during the cruise. We decided that if we booked it again we would certainly skip dinner here because we could do better going to a local restaurant before boarding for the cruise.

Then thinking about the cruise itself, we don't think we're interested in doing it again because: 1, it's so crowded with not enough seating for everyone, and 2, The boat doesn't travel very far and once you've seen that particular stretch of shoreline, I don't think it would be worth it to repeat that experience.

So overall, we've come to the conclusion that it was a very underwhelming experience that we...

Group of Family made up of transplanted Maritimer's and visiting East Coasters took the 2.5hr tour package. Arrive & Park at Rafters Landing by 5:30pm, traffic was tricky, so give your group extra time ⏲️ to arrive! Once you gather your things, head down the paved path through the steel poles. It's well marked. NOTE: (if anyone in your group has mobility issues, turn on your 4-way flashers and proceed through the steel poles down the paved path keep to the right and then you will see a steep left hand turn down to the dock and the front of the pedway for the boat. Drop off your Mobility passengers, who will have a nice set of benches to rest on and head straight down the road and up to the left and back to the front gate where you can park your vehicle). Once down at the pedway there is a large dock area with railing which allows you to see the river and Edmonton cityscape across the River with many of the local attractions including observation tower and rock climbing walls with bridges on both sides with trams and walkways there are many opportunities for local attractions and pictures. Sharp at 6:00 p.m. they come and meet you at the gate and check tickets on cell phones and allow groups through and up and over the pedway leaving to the boat. Once on the boat you will be at the very rear of the boat and will be able to see the paddle wheels at the rear turning to the left you will be at the bar where you can grab a drink. Proceed along the side the railing of the boat towards the front where there is a large outdoor seating area find a table for your group, set down your jackets on your chairs and head downstairs for the buffet! When you reach the bottom of the stairs immediately on your left, there is the entrance to the buffet. Once you've selected a plate and chosen all your favorites, head out into the open dining room, enclosed nice and warm, and enjoy the delicious meal. Inside the enclosed dining room is another bar, which is very quick to serve up your liquid favorites! Heading back to the buffet as many times as you would like is encouraged! When you're done your meal, head back into the buffet area for round number two and grab some dessert! Once you've all enjoyed a delicious meal and some liquid favorites, grab another drink and head upstairs out onto the exposed deck because we're about to set sail! Get your cameras out and get ready for dozens of great photo ops that can only be viewed from off the top deck of the ship at the Edmonton downtown cityscape! While cruising, you will witness a number of bridges, both transit system and car and pedestrian bridges. Some are very old double decker Bridges from 70 years ago, and others are brand new concrete state-of-the-art structures that are impressive! Yo cruise by and turn around at Accidental Beach ⛱️. Local shared that this beach was formed once construction of the new concrete tram Bridge began and it created an Eddy in the water which washed out the opposite Shore and pushed the sand and rocks to the right side, creating an Accidental Beach which has become super popular with the locals and tourist alike!

Use these guidelines we learned on our trip, and you and your group will have an excellent night!

I...

Overall: Nice cruise. You can see several of Edmonton’s notable landmarks, bridges, and historical sites. Good brunch buffet. Friendly and courteous staff.

Details: We boarded the riverboat at 10 am on a Saturday in early May. The weather was good: sunny, 13C, and not windy. The whole experience lasted about two hours. The brunch buffet was open when we boarded and stayed open until 11:30. It was a decent buffet. As a vegetarian, I found good options: green, Caesar, and chickpea salads, egg frittata, and roasted potatoes. There were also meat options like chicken strips, sausage, and bacon. And of course, waffles, fresh fruit, and assorted desserts. There were two bars on the upper and lower decks. The cruise itself was smooth and enjoyable, about an hour long, heading upstream on the North Saskatchewan River toward the Walterdale Bridge, then returning to the dock. Nice views of the riverbanks and downtown Edmonton.

The brunch buffet was $75 per adult (as of May 2025), with discounts available for seniors, children, and groups.

What you can see: -Alberta Legislature Building, Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, Rossdale Power Plant, Canada Place, downtown skyline including the Stantec Tower, the funicular... -Walterdale Bridge (modern and iconic), High Level and Low Level Bridges (both well over 100 years old), possibly the Streetcar, the older LRT bridge, and the newer Tawatina LRT bridge. -You also get an appreciation for Edmonton’s river valley park system.

I didn’t upload any photos of the boat itself out of respect for the privacy of other passengers.

Tips for Visitors: -Arrive a bit early to find parking. -Pick a good table first, then head to the buffet, there’s plenty of food and time! -Check the weather and dress accordingly. Sunglasses, sunscreen, and hats are on sunny days.

Suggestion for the Owners: It feels like a missed opportunity that the boat passes so many notable sites, yet many guests (especially visitors, but even some locals) don’t know what they’re seeing. I overheard several out-of-town passengers asking each other about landmarks like the Legislature Building and the Rossdale Power Plant. It would be great to offer some context, ideally a recorded audio guide that highlights key landmarks along the route, or at least a printed brochure. I understand this would take time and resources, but perhaps it could be developed in partnership with the City or Explore Edmonton as a way to also promote other attractions...