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Essex Steam Train & Riverboat / Essex, Connecticut

The only steam train and riverboat connection in the country spotlights the

unspoiled Connecticut River Valley, designated “one of the last great

places on earth” by the Nature Conservancy. The serenity of the valley, with

its coves, inlets, marshes, wildlife and rocky shoreline, enchants passengers

on the 220-passenger Becky Thatcher, a three-deck, Mississippi-style river-

boat. Sights on the 1¼-hour cruise include Gillette Castle and the Goodpseed

Opera House. The boat can be chartered for evening cruises. The 2½-hour

rail-cruise journey begins at the historic station in Essex, Conn. with a ride in

vintage coaches pulled by a steam locomotive. The train travels through the

quintessential New England towns of Deep River and Chester and near the

tidal wetlands of Pratt Cove and Chester Creek, natural habitats for birds. A

highlight is the undeveloped Selden Neck State Park, accessible only by

boat. (essexsteamtrain.com)

EASTERNWATERWAYSCruise boats spotlight some of the East’s most photogenic

shorelines on sightseeing excursions and overnight journeys

LeisureGroupTravel.com June 2012 51

Yorktown Sailing Charters /Yorktown, Virginia

Groups can experience the days of Captain John Smith and the golden

age of sail on tall ship cruises departing from Riverwalk Landing Pier in

Yorktown, part of Virginia’s Historic Triangle. Yorktown Sailing Charters’ 49-

passenger Schooner Alliance offers two-hour cruises into Chesapeake Bay

tidewaters, three times a day, from April to early November. Under a cloud of

canvas, passengers on Historic Yorktown Cruises glide past Yorktown Bat-

tlefield, view the Victory Monument along the banks of the York River, sight

dolphins and osprey, and sail by working watermen. They can even help raise

the sails. Snacks and drinks are sold on board, and box lunches can be or-

dered. The 26-passenger Schooner Serenity, new this year, offers Pirate

Cruises with crew in pirate costumes and cannon firings; kids get pirate tat-

toos. Also available are educational cruises that focus on the ecology of

Chesapeake Bay. Both the Alliance and Serenity can be chartered for private

cruises. In Yorktown visitors enjoy the seafood restaurants, 18th century

homes, museums showcasing Revolutionary history, strolling the scenic

Riverwalk and relaxing on the sandy beaches. Picturesque streets are the

backdrop for art galleries and antique and specialty shops. Not far away are

Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown Settlement. (sailyorktown.com)

Touring by water provides a refreshing alternative from the “road

routine,” as many group planners know. Seeing the sights on a

harbor cruise, riverboat or traditionally rigged sailing vessel adds a

heady dimension to any group itinerary. Waterborne trips not only give

travelers a fresh perspective but in some cases provide access to

areas that can’t be experienced any other way.

New York City’s SHARK speedboat

New York Water Taxi / New York City

Several cruise options give travelers a chance to view

Manhattan’s famous skyline from the water. The “Statue

of Liberty Express” departs from South Street Seaport and

takes passengers on a narrated one-hour tour of the Big

Apple. Highlighted by close-up views of Lady Liberty, the cruise

showcases sights like the Brooklyn Bridge, Empire State Build-

ing and World Trade Center site.

The “Statue by Night Cruise” spot-

lights New York under the stars

and includes a champagne toast.

The “Hop-On/Hop-Off” option lets

passengers disembark as they

please for visits to such sights as

the Intrepid Air, Sea and Space

Museum, 9/11 Memorial, Times

Square and Statue of Liberty. Or

they can just relax and enjoy the

90-minute loop. The tour picks up and drops off at West 44th

Street (next to the Intrepid), Christopher Street, Battery Park,

South Street Seaport and Fulton Ferry Landing. The New York

Water Taxi/Circle Line Downtown fleet includes bright yellow,

149- and 64-passenger water taxis and the 600-passenger

Zephyr luxury yacht. For the adventurous, there’s the SHARK

speedboat’s 30-minute thrill ride. (nywatertaxi.com)

St. Lawrence Cruise Lines /Canada’s St. Lawrence River

The 32-stateroom Canadian Empress, a replica steamship

with brass handrails and ornate metal ceilings, operates

overnight cruises that begin or end in Kingston, Ontario,

where the St. Lawrence River begins at Lake Ontario.

Groups have a choice of

four itineraries that range

from three to six nights. On

the five-night “Canada’s

Capital” route, the boat jour-

neys from the St. Lawrence

to the Ottawa River as far

as Ottawa, or vice versa.

The six-night “Canadian

Connection” travels to or

from Quebec City, while

three-night “Heritage Water-

way” sailings go to Mon-

treal. A three-night roundtrip

from Kingston spotlights

the 1,000 Islands. Shore ex-

cursions (included in the

cruise fare) visit such living history sites as Upper Canada

Village and Fort Wellington, built during the War of 1812. A

highlight is transiting the locks of the St. Lawrence Interna-

tional Seaway. (st.lawrencecruiselines.com)

EASTERN WATERWAYS

Operating Season: April 15–November 1

Contact Laura Lohse, Yorktown Sailing Charters757-639-1233 • info@sailyorktown.com • www.sailyorktown.com

Group Rates for Private Charters on Alliance: (up to 49 pax) and Serenity: (up to 26 pax)

Join the Alliance and step back into history and cruise down the shores of the York River on a traditional 3-masted schooner, past the

battlefield where our country won its independence. For groups that love history, yearn for romance or enjoy a true sailing adventure,

“Your ship has just come in!”Box lunch or catering options available.