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THE TRUE LOVE SCHOONER

True Love is a 67′ schooner located at the Seneca Harbor Park Pier in Watkins Glen, New York. We as owners, along with our exceptional crew, take great pride in keeping TRUE LOVE in pristine shape. We have sacrificed many hours making sure she is ship-shape and looking “Yar” for her passengers.

After a long and proud history, the True Love schooner offers incredible experiences right here in the Finger Lakes. From public sails and private charters to corporate events and the celebration of life’s precious moments, True Love is ready to welcome you aboard.

Interested in a True Love experience? Click here for excursion options!

True Love's History

In 1926 John G. Alden, who was born in Troy, NY, designed and built the Malabar VII, the seventh vessel designed by Alden in a series of thirteen racing sailboats, known as the Malabars.

The Malabar VII was the first of seven sister ships to be created: Angelica (1926), Teal (1926), Venona II (1926-now known as True Love); Fearless (1927); Sea Dream (1927), and Moby Dick (1927).

Many of these sisters went on to win some of the world’s most prestigious and difficult sailing races, such as the Newport to Bermuda Race, and the San Francisco Class Championships.

In fact, Alden designed the Malabar VII for the sole purpose of creating a sailboat that would claim first place in the 1926 Newport to Bermuda race; and the Malabar VII accomplished just that.

The Malabar VII design varied from its predecessors by incorporating three more sails, adding about seventy square feet more of sail, making it one of the strongest racing boats in the late 1920s.

Commissioned in 1925 by Elmer J. Bliss, Venona II (TRUE LOVE) was built in 1926 in Wiscasset, Maine by Pendleton Brothers Shipyard. After Venona II’s sister ships gained notoriety for their sailing records, Venona II was eventually renamed True Love, among other names and went on to make a reputation as a movie star.

Sixteen years later in 1956, True Love would make her life size debut in the musical-film High Society, starring Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong.

There is the famous scene where Bing Crosby serenades Grace Kelly with the song “True Love,” composed by Cole Porter, while onboard True Love.

After her movie career, True Love retired to St. Thomas where she sailed for well over half her life. In 2003 she was completely restored by David Call and his crew of craftsmen to the beauty and sophistication she represents today.

In 2008 she was purchased by Schooner Excursions Inc. and made the long journey north to her current home at the Seneca Harbor Park Pier in Watkins Glen; the heart of the Finger Lakes region. This trip north entailed thousands of miles of offshore sailing, and hundreds more miles up rivers and through canal systems where her masts were stepped, or removed, enabling her to travel through narrow passage ways and underneath bridges. She was named Malabar VII for a very brief period of time before officially returning to her proper name True Love after her re-christening in the summer of 2010.

In 2021, True Love was acquired by Seneca Sailing Adventures, LLC and will continue to offer memorable excursions for its guests.

True Love is not only a symbol of American sailing history and American naval architecture, but also a representation of the love of generations past, present, and future. Those who set sail with this truly majestic boat on the waters of Seneca Lake will feel as if they have fallen in love all over again.

Schooner True Love

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Schooner True Love - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Schooner Excursions

Review Highlights

“ True Love is the schooner from the film "High Society" starring Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra. ” in 9 reviews

“ We loved checking out Hector Falls , which was close by our Airbnb so to see it from further out in the water was beautiful. ” in 3 reviews

“ - On the sail back, I was able to lay down on the cushions and took a 10mins snooze, it felt heavenly! ” in 5 reviews

Location & Hours

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3 N Franklin St

Watkins Glen, NY 14891

Serving Watkins Glen Area

Amenities and More

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About the Business

Schooner Excursions, Inc. is a charter business offering sailing and motorboat tours of Seneca Lake. Our 1926 67ft schooner True Love offers 1.5-2hr cruises 3 times a day from Memorial Day weekend in May until Columbus Day in October. Our 26ft Harbor Launch motorboat Remedy offers 1hr private sightseeing cruises, 1hr Eco-History tours, and 4.5hr Winery/Brewery/Distillery tours. …

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Weather was iffy. 90 degrees, potential severe thunderstorms. But, we drove form Syracuse and chanced it. Turned out to be an absolutely perfect day. Breezy, half sunny, half overcast, cooler on the water and we zipped along. Captain was great, and we had the chance to talk to the rest of the crew and many of our fellow passengers. It made for a delightful afternoon. Try the local blueberry beer and/or the local rum while on the ship.

Terry Stewart is one of the kindest and most patient people we have met in life period! We were running 5 minutes late for our 9/15/23 appointment and he let us know not to worry and gave us directions as how to get to the marina and where to park. My wife and I finally arrived and we apologized for the delay. We were introduced to the crew of Captain Bill, Maria & the Redhead Gentleman (Sorry I forgot your name). They all made us feel as if we were in first class they are very knowledgeable and personable. The views of Seneca lake are stunning and its as if we were looking at the area from 1700's even though we were in the 21st century! The area and its pristine beauty has been preserved well. To my California Folks if you are ever in the Finger lakes area please book a tour with Terry and the crew you will not be disappointed!

Terry, captain Bill and the crew were EXCELLENT! Very kind, knowledgeable and fun! We had an amazing time and the small touches like blankets and appetizers were a perfect touch. We recommend sailing on True Love if you're in the area!

Out-of-town friends were visiting and wife wanted to surprise her hubby, so they asked us to go along, and we're so glad they did! It was a beautiful day and we thoroughly enjoyed it!! The tour is 2 hours and the ride greatly depends on the weather! It is a sailboat, after all, and so be forewarned! We happen to love being in the water so it was fine with us!! Bottled water and soft drinks are included with your excursion. Beer, wine, and other beverages including a private label rum is available for purchase.

Amazing boat & crew... made memories on the True Live that will last a lifetime! I highly recommend this experience!

The one star review is specific to the customer service we received for a rainy day. We were told if it rained we would be refunded. Well it rained and instead of being refunded we were rudely told to wait (after our scheduled time) for the rain to stop. We paid for a trip we never took. Our friends also tried to get a refund and were hung up on over the phone. Beware if it rains you may experience a similar experience. Rude customer experience. Zero sympathy for my pregnant wife. We are escalating our experience to my credit card company and the BBB.

Happy Wednesday Adventurers! I was lucky enough to book a last minute Sunday excursion before I left to head home after visiting Watkins Glen. I am so glad that I decided to book this because the weather was absolutely perfect for it. The entire staff was knowledgeable and well versed in the history of the schooner as well as the surrounding town. The team was also very pleasant when handling the passengers on board. The views were glorious, skies clear, and the heat was just enough to make it feel like summer. They had several alcoholic beverages on board for purchasing--I went with a locally made crisp cider. Pricing about what you'd see at a bar, but it was well worth it considering that you're on a slow moving boat with gorgeous views! The best part is that you could have laid out on the floor to sun tan and lounge. I recommend this being a stop for anyone who decides to visit the Watkins Region.

See all photos from Tiffany M. for Schooner Excursions

We had a wonderful sunset sail. The drinks were good, as were the snacks. The staff was super friendly and knowledgeable about the area and history. We advise you to ask them to tell you about the history of the area!

An absolute must-do if you're visiting Seneca Lake / Watkins Glen area. This was a gorgeous excursion on the Schooner True Love. We sailed for 2-hours, sipping wine, and snacking on cheese. We did a private tour on Sunday afternoon. The weather was perfect (albeit less windy than expected for a good sail so we scooted along with the engine most of the way). We loved checking out Hector Falls, which was close by our Airbnb so to see it from further out in the water was beautiful. The houses along Seneca are gorgeous and provided quite the backdrop to the scenery and wineries that line the lakefront. The staff are absolutely wonderful, we loved hearing more about their experience and chatting with them along the trip.

This was a spur of the moment decision on our last day of vacation in the Finger Lakes - in this case we truly saved the best for last! We were on a mid-day sail in June. The weather was absolutely perfect for a ride on the lake. It was quite windy so we learned about tacking. We were impressed with the captain who had full control of the boat the entire time and even went around and greeted everyone on board while one of the staff was at the wheel. Speaking of the staff...they were wonderful. I hope that if you go on a sail you are lucky enough to have Josh and Katie on board with you. Katie is just a fun and bubbly person. She's only been with the company for a couple of months but looks like a pro. Josh was born and raised in the area and has so much knowledge and information. We really enjoyed talking with both of them. We really can't imagine a more fun or perfect thing to do while in the Watkins Glen area. The sail is 2 hours long and highlights for us included seeing Hector Falls from the lake as well as meeting some really nice people on board. This is absolutely worth the money and will give you lots of great memories!

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16 North Franklin St. Watkins Glen NY • (607) 535-6116

(All Hotel Rooms and The Harbor House)

Captain Bill's Boat Tours

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Captain Bill's Seneca Lake Cruises

• 1 N. Franklin St.
• Watkins Glen, NY 14891
• (607) 535-4541
• Visit Site | E-Mail

Discover the beauty and charm of Seneca Lake as it can only be seen from the water. With two vessels to choose from, we offer scenic boat tours on Seneca Lake, including lunch, dinner, private parties, and weddings. Captain Bill’s vintage, 49-passenger mahogany vessel, the Stroller IV, offers informative sightseeing excursions. This hour-long tour of Seneca Lake, a tradition since 1908, provides a brief look into the history of the lake and the surrounding area. You will be captivated by Hector Falls at 165 feet, the majestic cliffs of the east shore with Native American Paintings, and a view of the salt industry. Dining in the Finger Lakes would not be complete without experiencing the splendor of a meal cruise aboard the luxurious Seneca Legacy. Our meal cruises boast full course seated dining with fantastic entree selections prepared daily by our chef. The casual elegance of the finely appointed Seneca Legacy is complemented by her friendly crew. Our officers and staff promise to spoil you and your guests from stem to stern. Whether sailing for dinner, lunch, cocktail, or an entertainment cruise, you will experience elegant dining afloat executed with style and charm.

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Restaurants/Cafés Boating & Lake Life Attractions

• 1 N. Franklin St. , Watkins Glen , NY , 14891
• (607) 535-4541
• http://www.senecaharborstation.com/
• for each social option that currently exists, below are 3 of them -->

Discover the beauty and charm of Seneca Lake as it can only be seen from the water. With two vessels to choose from, we offer scenic boat tours on Seneca Lake, including lunch, dinner, private parties, and weddings. Captain Bill’s vintage, 49-passenger mahogany vessel, the Stroller IV, offers informative sightseeing excursions. This hour-long tour of Seneca Lake, a tradition since 1908, provides a brief look into the history of the lake and the surrounding area. You will be captivated by Hector Falls at 165 feet, the majestic cliffs of the east shore with Native American Paintings, and a view of the salt industry.Dining in the Finger Lakes would not be complete without experiencing the splendor of a meal cruise aboard the luxurious Seneca Legacy. Our meal cruises boast full course seated dining with fantastic entree selections prepared daily by our chef. The casual elegance of the finely appointed Seneca Legacy is complemented by her friendly crew. Our officers and staff promise to spoil you and your guests from stem to stern. Whether sailing for dinner, lunch, cocktail, or an entertainment cruise, you will experience elegant dining afloat executed with style and charm.

Falling Waters Boat Tours

Falling waters boat tours fun, pure waterfall bliss, our spectacular private waterfall patio, magnificent hector falls & our private waterfall patio, falling waters boat tours | seneca lake | finger lakes, ny, our boat tour.

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Hector Falls

What we offer.

Our Boat and Waterfall Tours: On beautiful Seneca Lake, in the Finger Lakes, our 1.5 hour and 2.5 hour tours depart from a private dock at Hector Point. Our boat trip cruises the lake’s east, west and south shores with scenic sites including the majestic 250′ top to bottom Hector Waterfalls, multimillion dollar estates, 200 -400 ft. shale cliffs, state parks, rolling hillside vineyards and Watkins Glen. Falling Waters Boat Tours capture the open water fun of boating on Seneca Lake’s crystal clear waters with views that can only be experienced by boat.

Hector Waterfall: Your tour continues on land with a short walk from our lake dock takes you to our exclusive natural shale patio that meets the waterfall’s edge. Enjoy a complimentary Finger Lakes beverage while viewing the beauty of the majestic 165 ft. lower Hector Falls from our patio or explore the waterfall just steps away. Bring your water shoes and get up close walking the flat shale at the base of the falls as the refreshing water rolls over your feet. You can fully experience the tumbling water as it flows over the towering cliff. There is nothing more exhilarating! Don’t want to get in the water? You can admire the falls from the patio just 40ft away or sit on the side of the falls while admiring its pure beauty and energy. There is nothing more relaxing than watching and listening to the falling water. Day dreaming, you might ask: “Is this heaven?”

What are you waiting for? Bring your camera! The views and experiences here make for a one-of-a-kind excursion you will always remember. Book your tour with Falling Waters Boat Tours today! See our tour page and FAQ’s for more details.

Our Captain is USCG licensed and has navigated on Seneca Lake for over 10 years. Keeping you safe as we tour Seneca Lake and Hector Waterfall, while having fun, is our highest priority.

Falling Waters Boat is a 195 Stingray bow rider inboard /outboard and allows passengers to get up close to the water while cruising quietly for ease of conversation. Falling Waters Boat meets or exceeds all USCG safety requirements. She is spacious and comfortably seats 6 passengers and the Captain.

Hector Falls is a 165ft. majestic waterfall that flows adjacent to our private nature stone patio.

ABC TV Boat Tour Interview

Customer Testimonials

Dody ballard.

Embarking on the boat tour on Seneca Lake was an absolute delight! From start to finish, Captain Fred's boat tour offered us an unparalleled experience filled with perfect weather, great personality and exceptional hospitality. We are already planning our return trip, eager to relive those magical moments on the shimmering waters of Seneca Lake.

From the moment we stepped aboard, the weather seemed to synchronize with our excitement. The clear blue skies and gentle breeze were the perfect companions as we set off on our adventure. The warmth of the sun on our skin amplified the sense of serenity and joy that only a beautiful day on the water can provide.

George Avila

Tara wroble.

Our boat tour on Senaca Lake had great weather and was perfect for being on the water. We enjoyed learning the history and an old myth tale of the lake that Captain Fred delighted us with.

We will definitely be booking again for our next trip. My best friend already booked another private tour for her husband's upcoming birthday.

I appreciate the small little touches both Fred and his wife did to make our experience quite memorable for our party of 5. I highly recommend Falling Waters Boat Tours as it was pure bliss!!!

Roxanne Rothenberg

Heidi asbury.

Captain Bill's

Seneca lake cruises, seneca harbor station.

Seneca Harbor Station Restaurant

2024 Re-opening schedule

Friday April 19th 4pm-9pm

Saturday April 20th 11:30am-9pm

Friday April 26th 4pm-9pm

Saturday April 27th 11:30am-9pm

Captain Bill's Seneca Lake Cruises

is closed for the 2023 season.

We will be re-opening in April 2024.

We have a Solar Eclipse cruise on

April 8th  2024 2:30pm-4:30pm

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Waterfront Dining on the Finger lakes

Destination dining afloat, sightseeing cruises.

Seneca Harbor Station offers elegant dining at our full-service restaurant replete with sandy beach patio and exceptional waterfront views from our beautiful dining room.

The casual elegance of the finely appointed Seneca Legacy is complemented by her friendly crew. Our officers and staff promise to spoil you and your guests from stem to stern. Whether sailing for dinner, lunch, cocktail,or an entertainment cruise, you will experience elegant dining afloat executed with style and charm.

Captain Bill’s offers informative sightseeing excursions. This hour long tour of Seneca Lake provides a brief look into the history of the lake and the surrounding area. The Seneca Spirit is an enjoyable way to take in the scenery and spend an afternoon.

Our story begins in 1963...

Captain Bill Simiele (pictured left) purchased a single tour boat in 1963.  From that humble beginning, his vision for the lakefront  has evolved into what we all enjoy today at Captain Bill's and Seneca Harbor Station. All who knew him felt his genuine warmth and love for all people.  From the early days through 2006, he managed with humor and had a positive influence on many lives.  We love and miss him dearly.

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For cruise reservations call 607-535-4541

For Restaurant reservations call 607-535-6101

1 North Franklin St. Watkins Glen, NY 14891

Finger Lakes Cruises

The best way to experience the Finger Lakes is to get out on them. Views from the shore and scenic byways are iconic, but  to get the full sensory effect of the Finger Lakes you have to get on the water.

Nothing beats a summer vacation in the Finger Lakes region! There’s plenty to see and do while you’re here, but what could be better than a Finger Lakes cruise? Set off on one of the best boat cruise  tours in the Finger Lakes, and you’ll enjoy the water from a whole new perspective. CHECK OUT THE FINGER LAKES BOAT TOUR GUIDE , featuring opportunities on all 11 lakes.

A Fun, Family-Friendly Way to See the Finger Lakes

Boat cruises in the Finger Lakes can be found on Canandaigua Lake , Skaneateles Lake , Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake as well as the Erie Canal . These cruises are an inexpensive way to get on the water and see the region from a different angle, with historical cruises, lunch and dinner cruises, themed cruises, sustainability and ecology-focused tours, sight-seeing, fall foliage cruises and more.

Finger Lakes Dinner Cruises & Other Specialized Boat Tours

Many boat cruise lines offer a dinner cruise with a great selection of quality food to enjoy while you experience the sights and sounds of the water. Some boat cruise companies allow you to reserve a private boat for your Finger Lakes wedding party or other group event. Incorporate a sightseeing tour on the water for your next special event!

Check out all of the boat cruise options below and find the perfect stop for your next trip to the Finger Lakes.

Boat Rentals & Marinas 

Take your vacation into your own hands and captain your own vessel by discovering rental opportunities and marinas open to public boat launches. From high-end motor boats that will make you the envy of the lake to canoes and kayaks for exploration closer to shore, our many partners can find the best solution for your family vacation, friends weekend or escape during a business trip to the region,  

Baldwinsville

Canandaigua

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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