Essex River Cruises & Charters

Aboard the Essex River Queen is a great way to see another side of the North Shore! The whole experience was well planned and organized by the crew. The guide Alex was well versed in the local history and did a great job piloting the boat. Regardless the time of years, I would highly recommend this adventure to locals as well as those just visiting the area!

Have gone with them many times!! Each time, I enjoy the calm green scenery. Spotting the occasional Egret and Heron, also Cormorants and sometimes Osprey's. Our Guide explained details of the landscape, history and certain events over time (soft music in-between). The Skipper watched speeding boats and gave us a calm ride! We traveled in a group of 4. Other couples and small groups were on board. All could sit a bit for themselves and ample space, because the capacity of the boat was half due to virus regulations. People wore masks, unless they had a zip of lemonade.

Great reminder of why New England is so beautiful and full of history! Comfortable boat ride and good narrator. Everyone with masks and boat only 1/2 full so felt comfortable and safe. As beautiful in the fall as in the summer!

From booking to landing, Essex River Cruises does things right and makes it easy to discover a vast estuary we, lifelong New Englanders, knew nothing about. Captain Jesse - or Alex? - provided a narration full of history, anecdotes, real time observations, and a bit of salty humor. This was a gorgeous afternoon well spent!

Make this a 'must do' on your list.whether you are living in Massachusetts or visiting. The staff is so pleasant and easy to work with. We chartered one of the boats for a 2 and 1/2 hr family event and it was perfect. The views are breathtaking and riding along gently over the marsh is a perfect way to share time with loved ones. We were lucky enough to see a seal family and had a special stop on a sand bar. Would highly recommend the narrated tours as well - they share the very interesting history of the area and islands. We try to do this every year - it's always different with the seasons!

Over the past years we've taken visiting friends on the Essex River cruise, and it stays fresh and gets better each time. The Captain, his crew, and the dockside crew are totally professional, helpful and friendly. The information given in the narration gives a clear understanding of the river, the great marsh, and the surrounding area. It is one of the top Cape Ann attractions. We'll be back.

The skipper is a master boat handler and somewhat alters the route as time and tides permit for maximum passenger enjoyment. Meanwhile the narrator shows exceptional knowledge of the area, its wildlife, and its history and is easy to hear and understand thanks to an superb sound system. We'd gladly do it again.

Even though under the Covid restrictions, the River Cruise is extremely enjoyable. The tidal river environment is extraordinary and the Essex/Ipswich marshes are just beautiful. Wildlife abounds and the narrator was very informative. On a hot summer day, there is no avoiding the boat traffic on the river and some of the mariners were cowboy like. I would have preferred a quieter time of day. All and all, it was a good trip and I would recommend it as a highlight of a North Shore visit to the Boston area.

I highly recommend you take an Essex river cruise during your stay in Cape Ann. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable and entertaining as they narrated the tour of the area we cruised. Booking was easy and the boat was clean. All covid-related protocols were followed which made cruising with a small group of people feel perfectly safe.

This was a real treat. The pilot and narrator were very pleasant, knowledgeable young men who enjoyed their work. They explained the Essex Estuary along with interesting history. The approx 5-7 foot tide differences affects everything from the boat's course to the local economy. past and present.