Colonel Paddlewheel Boat — Attraction in Galveston

Hello, I had a horrible experience with this boat tour. I pre-paid fort dinner cruise tour, as a birthday gift. The scheduled day was 9/15/24. We drove a far distance from out of town and even arrived a few hours early, just so we could be on time for the dinner cruise. Killed time in Galveston and ate lunch there as well. The cruise was scheduled to leave at 6:30pm. We arrived at 6:00pm and got in line. At about 6:35pm, a lady names McKenzie comes from the boat and opens the gate. She apologizes to everyone in line stating that one of the crew members got sick and they could not find a replacement in time for the cruise. Therefore, we can still get in the cruise and still eat but there will be no cruising around Galveston Bay, which is what we paid for. She asked for names of people that wanted their money back and maybe 3 or 4 people decided to just stay and eat on the cruise, but I would say about 95% of all that was in line left and requested their money back. My thing is there should have been some sort of communication out to everyone ahead of time, so we could have made other arrangements for this day. This was poor customer service and poor communication overall, and I will not book any events through them again in the future. Here it is Monday 9/16/24, and I have not received a phone call from the company regarding my...

Took a cruise on the Colonel Paddlewheel Boat in Galveston, Texas, and it was such a memorable experience. The boat itself is beautifully designed with a classic paddlewheel style that adds a vintage charm to the Galveston harbor.

The cruise was smooth and relaxing, offering great views of the shoreline, harbor, and historic buildings. It’s an excellent way to take in the sights and enjoy the breeze, especially at sunset. The upper deck offers the best views, while the indoor seating provides shade and comfort.

We enjoyed the light commentary about the area’s history and landmarks during the ride. The staff were polite and helpful, making boarding and disembarking easy and organized. The boat was clean, well-maintained, and had restrooms onboard.

Snacks and drinks were available for purchase, and there was music playing, which created a chill, festive vibe throughout the ride. The cruise is family-friendly, but also nice for a casual date or a solo escape to relax and enjoy the water.

Parking was convenient at the nearby Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier area, and the boarding area was easy to find.

Tip: Bring a hat or sunglasses, especially for afternoon cruises. Don’t forget your camera—the views are photo-worthy!

Highly recommend for anyone...

I bought tickets online for this tour. They do not list dates so you just show up whenever. Their only tour time is at 2pm. Several people, including a friend and I, sat at the dock for 20+ minutes today waiting for them to open the gates and let us board the boat. I finally called the 800 number for Moody Gardens only to be told, "well no, that isn't running today because they are doing a boat inspection." So you all couldn't be bothered to post online that there 9/16 there would be no tours available due to a boat inspection? Or how about posting a sign at the gate of the dock announcing there was no tour for today? Since I bought the tickets online and you can't bother to list operating dates, you could have sent an email to me to inform me that today would not be an available option. I was able to get my money back after I went clear up to the visitors' center, but that is not the point. I should never had to deal with any of this because somebody affiliated with the boat ride has terrible business management skills. I will never come back to Colonel...