Newport Beach Holiday Cruises — Local services in Newport Beach

It's an annual holiday tradition of mine to head down to Balboa Island and check out the holiday decorations.

I usually like to walk with a cup of hot cocoa or coffee and take my time checking out the details but this time we tried something different.

The boat tour begins on the other side of the island. You can take the ferry across -which we did and park in the lots for free after 6.

There are lots of boats that go out for the tour so it can be a bit confusing. We asked and were directed to a boat down the boardwalk area and then told to wait in a long line.

Once on board, you're surrounded by about 100 people. You can either sit down below and be warm or freeze up top to get the best view. I wanted to take pictures and videos so I chose to freeze. If you're going to take the boat tour, bring a warm jacket, gloves, a hat, a scarf etc. It's cold out on the water.

The tour lasts about an hour and a half and it goes slow so that you can see all the decor. Sadly, there weren't a lot of decorated houses and most were blocked by the the boats and yachts which is why I prefer the walking tour but either way, this was something...

We purchased tickets through Groupon. The link to book online was inactive but we called to rsvp simply. Parking nearby is a little expensive. Since you need to arrive 30min before your trip time the 2 hour parking limit cuts it a little close. The staff was friendly and helpful. Their were snacks and drinks for purchase on board. We didn’t care for the cleaning of the boat during the trip. This is something that should be done while guests are not aboard the boat unless theirs a spill. We saw many beautiful sights and had a wonderful time. Great...

This was just what we needed. With everything being shut down I’m glad this cruise stayed open. The kids thought it was a little boring just looking at lights but as adults we enjoyed the calm of water and the serenity of looking at lights. A lot of the houses weren’t fully decorated. I guess people aren’t feeling the holiday spirit... which is understandable. It that’s not the cruises fault. The boat was clean and they weren’t full. They were adhering to...