Dutch Apple Cruises & Tours — Attraction in City of Albany

I snapped an entire afternoon of pictures as the Dutch Apple pleasure excursion made its merry way south on the Hudson River.

I snapped pictures of tugboats, barges and yachts under way.

I snapped pictures of riverhouses built by Dutch patroons and indentured servants who had succeeded after working off their bonds.

At first, I had assumed that the woman talking on the sound system, noting fine points along the river, would be a total annoyance.

That attitude didn't last long.

Yachts cruised up close so the passengers could call out greetings and our guide returned the favor, greeting each boater by name.

She could give intimate details of the riverhouses with the great lawns spread out down to the water line.

Most riverhouses started life as Dutch designed houses, altered over centuries to look American outside and inside.

Many homes standing still in Albany hide a Dutch house inside.

She knew the riverhouses well because all her life, she had cocktails at one or attended a soiree at another or enjoyed a weekend getaway at a third.

Maybe she was the last socialite left on that stretch of the Hudson, keeper of the memories of the waterway?

She had a remarkable eye for birds, too. The bridge over the Hudson nears no besmirching marks of pigeon lime, so corrosive.

She pointed out the Peregrine Falcon box where the State of New York maintained a brood of raptors, raptors that feasted upon pigeons plucked out of midflight.

Every heron fishing in the shallows came to her notice and she helped us focus upon these birds in camoflaging plumage.

What looked to be a seagull flying in the wind behind our ship turned out to be an Osprey on the wing, searching our prop wash.

Because the Hudson thrives with eagles, she taught us to search the treeline up one hundred feet from the water for the distinctive white head of the bald eagle.

She called out to us the immature eagles on the wing, working the waters, not yet old enough to show the white pate of the species.

"Next launch, pack the telephoto lens", went down in my mental notes.

The Dutch Apple passed over the stretch of river where a sandbar thwarted the northward passage of Henry Hudson's Halve Maen.

A pier of rocks built by the Army Corp of Engineers still struggles to hold that sand bar in check.

We cruised a little further south than the appointed turnaround point, maybe because the pilot felt more relaxed on Labor Day.

One should experience the view of Albany with its post modern buildings and steampunk towers from the southern waters afforded from the top deck of the...

Having done sightseeing excursions from 4 other Hudson Valley ports (Hudson, Kingston, Newburgh, W Haverstraw), I was skeptical about one in Albany. Face it, when you think of scenic beauty along the Hudson, the Port of Albany wouldn't likely be the first thing that pops into your mind. But, I was wrong.

First, the boat: Of the 4 excursions I mention above (only 2 of which are still sailing*), the Dutch Apple was the most beautiful and well maintained. 5 stars.

Second, the staff aboard the Dutch Apple were among the best I've encountered anywhere in terms of hospitality and efficiency. The guide was informative, the captain and crew welcoming, and the galley/service teams truly attentive. 5 stars.

Third, the tour itself. Well, it's a mixed bag. The Port of Albany is industrial, complete with active grain, salvage, technological, fuel, and other active businesses. While that might disappoint some, to others, it was of keen interest. And, once we motored South on the Hudson, the abundance of wildlife on and around the river, including blue herons and multiple bald eagles, thrilled those who love nature. 4 stars.

Fourth: Food and beverage offerings were surprisingly good. I had the chicken tenders and highly recommend them. 5 stars.

I was surprised at the number of people taking thus midweek 90 minute cruise (maybe 80-100) and, although you can buy tickets right on board, why not get them ahead of time online to ensure there's...

So this was chosen as the end of the year field trip for my son's class and today we went. I would give this a 10 out of 10 and highly recommend it to anyone. Nancy was our tour guide and kept us entertained with some really cool snippets of history for the Albany and Hudson river area. She even pointed out a bald eagle nest and taught us how to identify where a boat was from and its home port. We saw some really cool sights and learned so much without the kids even realizing they were learning. The boat is absolutely amazing, very clean, and comfortable. You have an onboard snack bar that has all kinds of goodies like pizza, ice cream bars, candy,soda, and adult beverages. There is a bathroom onboard (aka Head, as Nancy taught us). I love that you have 3 levels. One entirely enclosed to keep you warm of its cool outside, the middle level is the snack bar with a closed in seating area. The top level is open air and fantastic on a warm day. you have the best view! Half of the area is out in the sun and the other half has a top awning to provide shade. This was probably the coolest field trip the kids could have had, we even got to see the coast guard cruising down the river. It's a good time for kids and adults alike. if you haven't taken a Dutch Apple Cruise, I would advise you schedule one now, you...