Spirit Of Tahoe — Attraction in South Lake Tahoe

Booked a sunset cruise for a (very rare) weekend getaway from work and kids. We got 3 emails confirming our cruise and saying not to be late. Not one confirmation that the complimentary shuttle was going to get us. No call or email from the driver. No contact info for the driver. Just a note that says "the driver has our number". 45 minutes of standing curbside at the Hardrock (at the shuttle pick up, 1 hour before departure- as directed). Called every phone number we could find and got some lousy, generic message system where you can push a button for your boat and get nobody. Grabbed an Uber in a last minute panic, not a clue where we are going besides Ski-Run Marina. And the damn Uber driver takes us to the wrong marina (the driver- Doyle said he was buddy's with the captain and new exactly where to take us). So on the way, our long lost shuttle driver Bill calls me and explains that another party was 1/2 hour late. So here is the problem Bill, was your phone broken for that 1/2 hour? Did you have so many clients to pick up that you couldn't confirm or report to us? And then amazingly, the office communication was excellent AFTER we missed the boat. The lady very nicely refunded my money but of course nothing was her fault because she never got my messages. And nothing was Bill's fault because another party held him up. Well guess what Bill and nice lady... your failure to communicate proved your incompetence, messed up my night with the wife, wasted my time, wasted my money, cost your outfit 2 empty seats, and earned your entire staff some well deserved 1 star...

Outstanding cruise! We loved this cruise so much! The boat is very nice with comfortable spaces inside and out. They had cozy, clean blankets to wrap around you when the weather is chilly and free unlimited coffee that was actually good. The lunch was EXCELLENT and plentiful. On the day we traveled, they had barbeque pork sliders, delicious fancy chicken salad, croissants, beautiful fresh fruit, grilled vegetables prepared perfectly/not overly seasoned, rice pilaf and brownies for dessert. We did not expect the quality of food we received. It was served in a sanitary manner that also exceeded our expectations. (We are admitted germaphobes and we enjoyed the food without a moment's hesitation). All that on beautiful Lake Tahoe would make this cruise worth your time and money but when you throw in the fun and personable crew, this cruise definitely becomes a "DO NOT MISS" experience while in Lake Tahoe. All the crew members were knowledgeable, professional, funny and attentive to the passengers. They were available for questions and just super involved and present but not at all intrusive or overbearing. We started out disappointed that a private boat we wanted for our Lake Tahoe cruise wasn't available but we quickly became thrilled for how things worked out. There is no way it could have topped the Safari Rose. Highly recommend...

The bloom is off the Rose. First the good news. It was a beautiful day and the lake was calm. And the main crew person (forgot his name) did his best to provide some information about the lake. This was a return visit for us, having had a fabulous cruise aboard Safari Rose about 9 years ago. Unfortunately, this cruise paled in comparison. First, it's only half as long, going only to Emerald Bay and back. Previously, we went as far north as Homewood where Godfather II was filmed. ("Fredo is weak.") A great disappointment. Secondly, unlike the promotional material online, there were no grilled cabobs or burgers. Food was mediocre at best, the highlight being a chicken salad sandwich. Third, this classic vessel is showing its age. Marginally comfortable beach chairs line the upper deck and the sound system was not funtional, so most people couldn't even hear what the crew member was saying. They also seemed to book about 10 people more than was "comfortable." In our collective opinion (four of us), the cruise company is riding on its past glory days and milking the unsuspecting. Grossly overpriced at nearly $100. Sadly, Safari Rose's best days are...