Gateway Arch Riverboats — Attraction in St. Louis

One of the main attractions that I could not wait to go on when visiting St. Louis for my first time. Descriptions for the parking situation are entirely too vague. We walked from our hotel at the Drury which was very close but I have disabilities and even though I researched all of my destinations ahead of time for this vacation they definately did not make it clear what a challenge this is for handicapped individuals.

Just getting to the level above the riverfront, the long walk from the entrance to the park, past the arch and then across the park to get to the top of the steps (which resemble the scene in the movie Rocky) is a marathon in itself. Then, the handicap ramp is a nightmare. It literally goes downward to the right of the steps and the length is so long just to be sent back in the oposite direction for even a farther distance, down a steep incline to reach the ramp to the dock and then onto the boat. In order to be "outside" on the boat you then have to climb several stairs to get to the first level of the boat because the main level of the boat is only a dining room which is located completely inside. I was using my cane and not one single person working offered to assist me in any way nor find a location for me to sit while on the tour.

The staff on the boat were all extremely rude except for the woman working in the gift shop printing the tickets. She was very helpful and kind. Every single other employee that I encountered was rude. They looked annoyed to be there, unhappy and unwilling to assist in any type of friendly way at all. The staff that greet you upon entering the boat (or the staff that are "supposed" to greet you) are rude and look at you as if you are bothering them for even daring to enter the boat. Even the gentleman walking around showing guests the pictures that were taken upon entering the boat was clearly aggitated with his job. He was not at all friendly in any way and looked as if this was the last place he would like to be.

No matter where you try and sit on the boat it was still practically inpossible to hear the person that was describing everything along the way. We tried several different locations trying to hear the history that was being described but even when we were right next to a speaker we were still unable to clearly understand what was being said.

My advice to anyone looking to take this ride is to skip it. It was uninformative (because you can't hear what they are saying anyways) and the staff are so rude you will wish you wouldnt have even entered the boat to begin with. Save your money for the food in the area. Now, that...

Caroling with Santa on the Tom Sawyer was nothing short of magical! From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by Santa himself and other cheerful staff who made us feel so welcomed. My 7-year-old son, who is still a believer but has heard some skepticism at school, was thrilled when he inspected Santa and excitedly whispered to me, “He’s the real Santa!” That moment alone was priceless.

Once onboard, we were free to explore all the decks, and since it was a beautifully warm December day, we even enjoyed the outdoor upper deck. The boat was festive and inviting, with caroling books, complimentary cinnamon rolls, cookies, and hot cocoa or coffee to enjoy. For those wanting more, snacks like hotdogs and popcorn were available for purchase, along with cocktails and other beverages served by a friendly bartender. Christmas music from the DJ filled the air, adding to the holiday spirit.

Inside, Santa’s cozy living room was perfectly set up with a fireplace, a big Christmas tree, and even a mailbox for kids to drop off their letters. We were lucky to snag front-row seats and didn’t have to wait long before Santa began chatting and caroling with the children. He even took us all outside for a tour, stopping to show interested kids the captain’s massive wheelhouse window and the stunning St. Louis skyline. My son loved waving at boaters from the deck.

Throughout the cruise, Santa made sure every child got plenty of one-on-one time. He chatted with my son about his Christmas list, the North Pole, and even remembered his name after overhearing it earlier—which absolutely blew my son’s mind. Santa also read “The Night Before Christmas” with such fun and detail, making the story come alive.

With only roughly five families on board, we felt like we had Santa all to ourselves, and my son’s belief in the magic of Christmas grew exponentially during this experience. The staff went above and beyond to make everything special, and Santa was the real deal—authentic, kind, and so engaging with every child.

Caroling with Santa on the Tom Sawyer was truly unforgettable, and I hope more families discover this hidden gem in St. Louis. We’ll definitely be back next year to create even more memories....

Visited: 04/07/2023

4th of July Riverboat Cruise with Fireworks in the evening. Goodness me, what an absolute shambles. We were lucky we walked, as parking was a joke and all cobbled so it isn't suitable for disabled either. We expected it to be busy, but they essentially had everyone queued on the jetty to clamber onto two small boats. Luckily once on board we could find a table, the adverts said there would be "food, fun, dixie band music". There was no food, not even hotdogs or burgers or even sandwiches, just snacks (popcorn, crisps, day old pretzels I was advised by staff not to eat, and pathetic nachos) so we were starving as we didn't eat beforehand due to the advert saying 'food'. The queue was also so long for food and drinks that one or our party missed half the cruise waiting. Fun - none, even the commentary on points of interest along the river were muffled and unclear - we were sat inside, so probably nothing for anyone outside. The city side is the only nice side to look at, the otherside is all industrial mess. Dixie Band Music - I don't recall Miley Cyrus' Party in the USA or Katy Perry's Fireworks being dixie band, despite 'dixie' inbetween it was muffled still (bad speakers).

We were really disappointed overall. The adverts for the Fireworks Cruise on the Gateway Arch were over-hyped and it was our first 4th July in the USA (ever) and this cruise just ruined everything. The adverts suggests a lot more than what you get. It was essentially a day-cruise with the option to stay on the boat for the fireworks. (Although they took 1 hour from getting back to the dock to start).

We did email them feedback/complaint and they never replied to us which is rude, we knew we wouldn't get money back, we just hoped they would take it on to be better next year but I doubt they will.

The only positive of this riverboat was decent placement for the 4th July Fireworks, but we still would not recommend doing this at all.

P.s. it's not even a real paddle steamer on the Mississippi. It looks like it, but bellow black smoke from the...