The 6 Best Thousand Islands Cruises

1.Heart of the Thousand Islands Riverboat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 771 reviews · 3 hours · from $49Our pick

From Kingston, cruise the Admiralty group aboard the triple-deck Island Queen. Hear English commentary on island history and folklore, spot Mandalay Mansion and Napoleon’s Hat, and enjoy live music. A canteen and bar are available, but the three-hour route may feel long for young children.

“Was an excellent trip . Couldn’t believe the beautiful houses on the islands. Highly recommend this trip to everyone.”

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2.Boldt Castle and Thousand Islands Helicopter Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 255 reviews · 20 minutes (approx.) · from $171Top rated

Take a 20-minute helicopter flight from Gananoque over the Canadian and American spans of the Thousand Islands Bridge, Boldt Castle, and 1000 Islands Tower. With only three seats per helicopter, you get a close look at the islands and clear commentary through your headset. The tour is offered in English.

“If you are not familiar with the area around 1000 islands, that is the best way to get an overview of the highlights. A big thank you to Kathy and our pilot Bill.”

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3.Lunch Cruise of Thousand Islands

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 212 reviews · 3 hours · from $76

Sail three hours from downtown Kingston through the Admiralty Group, passing Napoleon’s Hat, Wanderer’s Channel, Bateau Channel, Mandalay Mansion, and historic Kingston sights. Enjoy a prepared lunch, live music, English commentary, and bar service aboard the Island Queen or Island Star.

“Last time I went on the thousand island tour was in 1978. What a great time that was. And in all that time your attraction has not faulted in service. We had an excellent time, food was great service was great, ty Christian. You could use a Cesar salad, my fave. Thanks again to the whole crew. 👍👍”

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4.Brunch Cruise of Thousand Islands

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 132 reviews · 3 hours · from $76

Cruise Kingston’s Thousand Islands aboard the triple-deck Island Queen. Enjoy a plated appetizer, main course, and dessert while English commentary, live entertainment, Fort Henry, Kingston Penitentiary, island cottages, and grand estates pass by.

“Our server Ryan was awesome. The food was delicious and the tour was fun”

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5.Toronto, Niagara Falls & Thousand Islands 3-day Tour from NY

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6 reviews · 3 days · from $623

This three-day English-language tour links Watkins Glen, Niagara Falls, Toronto, and the Thousand Islands from New York or New Jersey. You can add the Hornblower cruise, Skylon Tower, CN Tower, Toronto attractions, and other admissions. Guide Jason has earned strong praise, but the small van and long rides require patience.

“Jason, our tour guide was terrific He was very knowledgable and was incredibly helpful throughout our trip. However, the van was very uncomfortable. It was smaller than I expected as there were only 13 seats excluding the driver and the tour guide. The ride was very bumpy, especially in the back. It was hard to rest during the long stretches as the van would suddenly jolt or lurch on the highways. The included activities were nice and the hotels were okay. I would also like to say that the food places we were brought to were subpar and I would recommend looking for other spots if possible. We stopped by…”

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6.3-Day Toronto, Niagara Falls, Thousand Islands

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 5 reviews · 3 days

Travel from Montreal to Toronto and Niagara Falls with an English or French guide, stopping at the Thousand Islands, CN Tower, Little Canada, Niagara-on-the-Lake, and Hornblower. Two hotel nights and key seasonal attractions are included, though Toronto sightseeing is brief.

“Excursion top avec notre guide M. Bin et notre chauffeuse de bus! Je recommande cette activité !”

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