1000 island cruise gananoque ontario

We use cookies and related technologies to personalize and enhance your experience. By using this site you agree to the use of cookies and related tracking technologies.

1000 Islands City Cruises – Gananoque

Toll Free Phone: (800) 459-8105

Get ready to set sail and experience the wonder of the  Thousand Islands  aboard  City Cruises Gananoque  with ports in Gananoque and Ivy Lea. Visit the magnificent  Boldt Castle  on Heart Island, discover and learn about the 1000 islands region, its history, and stories of those who have called it home. Or enjoy a cruise at sunset with breathtaking views of majestic estates and small cottage islands.  With many cruise options to choose from, your visit to the Thousand Islands is sure to be an amazing experience! 1-Hour to Half-Day Cruises available including an officially curated 3-Hour Cruise with views of Boldt Castle, a  Canadian Signature Experience .

2023 Boat Cruise Options:

1-Hour 1000 Islands Cruise from Ivy Lea

1-Hour 1000 Islands Cruise from Gananoque

3-Hour 1000 Islands Cruise from Gananoque

5-Hour 1000 Islands Boldt Castle Stopover Cruise from Gananoque

City Cruises - Gananoque

Cruise through history and mystery. A Canadian and Ontario Signature Experience, cruise the St. Lawrence River’s 1,000 Islands region with Gananoque Boat Line. See Millionaire’s Row’s lavish mansions of the rich and famous, captains of industry and railway barons. Pass Boldt Castle, a palatial, six-storey tribute to a loved one featuring Italian gardens, sculptures and tapestries from Europe. Spy the haunts of villains and vagabonds on islands big and small. Sail beneath the Thousand Islands International Bridge connecting Canada and the United States. Hear tales of four centuries of shipwrecks lying in the St. Lawrence, a watery resting place. Explore the spooky remnants of schooners, barges, paddle wheelers and freight carriers entombed in the river’s depths through historical photos, side-scan sonar imaging, video and knowledgeable commentary. Come away with a sense of the mighty river’s history, mystery, tragedy and heartbreak.

280 Main St Gananoque ON K7G 2M2 Canada

Explore more

1000 Islands Helicopter Tours

Thousand Islands Playhouse

Hidden Meadows Alpacas

Fort Garry Stables Inc

Explore by Activity

A World-Class Waterfront Destination

You’ll want to discover the 1000 islands over and over again., welcome to the internationally-renowned 1000 islands.

This is where you can see castles straight out of a storybook and ancient shipwrecks that met their fate in the depths of our waters. 

It’s where you can trek through national parks in the morning and explore charming communities in the afternoon.

It’s what life on the river is all about and you can find it here at this top Ontario destination. 

Thrill Seekers

On the Water

Family-Friendly

Experiences, there’s no shortage of things to do. the only problem deciding what’s first..

Entertainment

Museums & Galleries

Family Friendly

We’ve made it impossible for you to be bored while you’re here.

Live Waterfront Theatre

1000 Islands Helicopter Tours

1000 Islands Kayaking

Rockport Cruises

City Cruises Gananoque

Shorelines Casino Thousand Islands

1000 Islands Drive-In

Treetop Trekking 1000 Islands

1000 Islands Tower

Hotels, motels & inns in the 1000 islands, so that you get a good night’s good sleep and have the energy to explore the next day., the 1000 islands offer a plethora of attractions and activities to enhance your stay. to jumpstart your planning, check out this video, which showcases some of the highlights the region has to offer..

Travelodge by Wyndham Gananoque

Ramada by Wyndham Gananoque Provincial Inn

Gananoque Inn & Spa

Howard Johnson Inn Gananoque

Colonial Resort 1000 Islands

Comfort Inn & Suites 1000 Islands

Holiday inn express 1000 islands gananoque, 1000 islands by map, upcoming events.

Ontario Culture Days Festival

• September 20, 2024
• October 13, 2024

“This area is one of the signature tourism spots in Eastern Ontario and in Canada. The natural beauty is astounding with rock outcrops and the beauty of the thousands of islands.”

“This is the most beautiful place on earth. This is where heaven meets earth. You can visit is a hundred different ways and enjoy it just the same. Come by water, air or land. Enjoy a day paddling, swimming or fishing.”

“We didn’t really know what to expect, but our family was enchanted by the town, the scenery, and the region. We had planned a quick overnight stay, but ended up staying two nights and could have stayed longer.”

“What a beautiful part of Ontario. We drove along the Ivy Lea Parkway, stopped and had a picnic lunch, took a boat cruise out of Gananoque, and strolled along the waterfront in Gananoque.”

« Cette région a quelque chose pour tout le monde. Il y a d’excellentes possibilités de baignade et de navigation de plaisance, de bonnes randonnées pédestres et des pistes cyclables, des routes panoramiques à proximité et des tonnes de beaux endroits où passer du temps sur l’eau. »

“This area has something for everyone. Excellent swimming and boating, good hiking and cycling trails, scenic drives are nearby and tons of beautiful places to spend time on the water.”

“I could go back over and over again and still be amazed by this beautiful scenery. Not only can you go there to relax but there is so much to do such as kayaking, biking, walking, discovering, etc. It is a must!”

Family Friendly , Restaurants , Travel Trade & Media

Ice Cream Shops in the 1000 Islands

Family Friendly , Outdoor Activities

Camping in the 1000 Islands

Don’t miss a thing..

Explore the timeless beauty of the 1000 Islands throughout the year. Subscribe to our newsletter for insights into upcoming events and more exciting things to do in the 1000 Islands!

Enter your email here and we’ll make sure you’re always up to date!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Visitor Information

• (613) 382-8044
• 10 King St E, Gananoque, ON K7G 1E6

Explore by Experience

Copyright © 2023 1000 Islands Tourism.

Terms & Privacy Policy

1000 Islands Tourism acknowledges that we are on traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee (Hoe-den-oh-show-nee) and Anishinabe (A-nish-in-‘a-bay) and First Peoples, and thanks these nations for their care and stewardship over this shared land.

Taking a Thousand Island Cruise from Gananoque, Ontario

This article may contain affiliate links. Read my ABOUT page for more disclosure information.

Gananoque is located on the northern side of Lake Ontario and is a great place from which to explore the picturesque waters of the Saint Lawrence River. Taking a Thousand Island cruise from Gananoque, Ontario, showcases the history of the river and gives you fantastic views of the islands and unique homes in the area. The Gananoque Boat Line offers a variety of tours, including a one that includes entry into Boldt Castle.

Gananoque (pronounced gan-a-nock-wey ) is a great stopover on your way between Toronto and Montreal, so definitely consider staying overnight to enjoy all the area has to offer. We visited the 1000 Islands on our way to Montreal and it was an easy drive from Toronto. It was such a tranquil area, we wished we had stayed longer than 2 days!

Disclosure: We were guests of Gananoque Boat Line for this tour, however, as always, all opinions are my own.

We started our Canadian adventures over on the west coast before heading across the country: Biking in Stanley Park in Vancouver S pending  24 hours in Victoria BC ,  and discovering what  Moose Jaw and the Canadian Maritimes had to offer.

The Shipwrecks

We took the Lost Ships Cruise , which highlights many of the ships that have sunk in the Thousand Island and St Lawrence River area. The stories are piped through the ship’s sound system, so that you can hear the history while you are sailing through the areas where the boats sunk. On the lower level of the ship, you can watch an accompanying video which shows dive footage of each wreck. The narration also has some great commentary on the general history of the area as you sail through.

The Islands

There are actually 1864 islands in the 1000 Islands area. What constitutes an island is somewhat debated. But in general, it must stay above water level year round and have at least two trees on it to be called an island. There are some islands that are just big enough for 1 house – if you step out the wrong door, you’d end up in the water! Many of the islands belong to families; and they are passed down through the generations.

Fun Fact:  Did you know that the St Lawrence River was widened at points to allow huge cargo ships passage from the open water beyond Quebec!

Thousand Islands History

The St Lawrence River has the US/Canada border down the middle of it. During the prohibition, the islands were used as cover for rum runners to smuggle booze across to the USA. Rum runners would paint their boats different colours on each side to try to confuse the border agents; dumping their loads of rum onto shallow shoals for pick up once the heat was off!

The Thousand Islands also played an important part of the Underground Railway, helping to get American slaves to freedom in Canada.

Boldt Castle

George Boldt, the General Manager of the famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel built Boldt Castle in the early 1900s. He built it for his wife Louise. Tragically, she died in 1904 before it could be completed. Heartbroken, George halted all building work and the place was left unfinished and abandoned for 73 years. It wasn’t restored until 1977, when old architectural plans were utilised to complete the building. This beautiful memorial to one man’s love and loss is now a popular tourist attraction in the area.

Visiting Boldt Castle

Gananoque Boat line offers a tour which lands on Boldt Castle, but you will need your passport. This island sits on the US side of the border and has a tiny border office on the island.

River Towns in the 1000 Islands

From the Gananoque cruise, you get a great view of some of the riverside homes and towns on both sides of the border. Little towns like Rockport Ontario, were known for their boat-building, especially their St Lawrence Skiffs. Unfortunately, the introduction of motor boats saw the decline in these industries.

Millionaire’s Row

Millionaire’s Row on the US side, in Alexandria Bay, is the impressive result of the area becoming popular with the New York elite in the late 1800s / early 1900s. Within reach of the city by rail, the Thousand Island area became their weekend playground, and impressive million dollar mansions sprang up along the shore. Although I’d hazard a guess that they are worth a fair bit more than that now.

Thousand Island Salad Dressing

Yes, this is where Thousand Island salad dressing originated. Although, no single story can be validated as the absolute truth. Some say that a fishing guide’s wife made if for his shore dinner, and that a guest tried some and got the recipe. There are other stories involving George Boldt and the Waldorf Astoria chef, but stories seem to vary depending on which part of the Thousand Islands you visit!

Canada is one of my favourite travel destinations: Read more about our adventures  visiting the Canadian Maritimes or our road trip from Vancouver to Banff !

A Thousand Island Cruise with Gananoque Boat Line

We would visit Gananoque, Ontario , again in a heartbeat. The natural beauty of the Thousand Island area will take your breath away. A Thousand Island cruise with Gananoque Boat Line is a great way to see more of the area if you are short on time, or if you want to discover more of the area’s history from the water.

Gananoque Boat Line is located at: 280 Main Street. Gananoque, Ontario K7G 2M2

Canada is a vast and incredible country in which to road trip – from Art in Banff to a city break in Calgary – enjoy!

All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF-S 24 mm f/2.8 STM Lens; and an iPhoneX

Hannah Henderson Travel Writer : Photographer : Foodie : Kiwi in France via Scotland

A Week in the Lakes of Northern Italy

The legacy of roadside motels in the usa, 14 thoughts on “taking a thousand island cruise from gananoque, ontario”.

I love that area! We did the tour to Boldt also, such a beautiful castle and story of love. the kayaking camping there was incredible, we would love to go back!

We were very sad to leave the area, it was so vast and beautiful. Another place for a revisit methinks!

This boat trip sounds interesting, love the castle, so much history there and the river towns. Wonder what the history of the thousand Island dressing really is!

Gananoque and the Thousand Islands are a unique place right at the border of the US and Canada along the St. Lawrence River. I fancy all those homes! Plus the birthplace of my favorite salad dressing!

I was so glad to hear that you did the Thousand Islands boat tour. The Lost Ships Cruise must have been interesting. We have always wanted to scuba dive in that area on the wrecks. We loved the really small islands with just one house. It was interesting to see Boldt Castle. One of very few castles in Canada! You have tempted us to do a visit there this summer.

This is an area of Canada I didn’t realise even existed! Gananoque looks so beautiful and I’d love to take the boat tour round the thousand islands

What a great story behind the beautiful Boldt Castle and the salad dressing! Canada has been on my bucket list for a while now!

The islands look unquestionably lovely, but wondering how does life in winter on those islands look like? Are they isolated in winter, is it difficult to reach the coast when outside is snowing and freezing? Just wondering.

They probably have far fewer inhabitants in the winter. A lot of the cottages on the river are just summer homes, as it would get pretty cold in winter! Good question to wonder about!

Wow, I was captivated by your note that the Thousand Islands played an important part of the Underground Railway, helping get American slaves get to freedom in Canada. Fascinating!! Just knowing that makes me want to visit quite bad. Not to mention the beautiful scenery. Great article!

I have never even heard of this area and now i am obsessed! I love all the little islands, the lighthouses, and of course the castle! i need to take this trip.

I’m so glad that you enjoyed your time in Gananoque! My inlaws had a cottage in the area for 20+ years, and it is a beautiful part of Ontario cottage country. That Boldt Castle is lovely, despite its tragic history, and a boat cruise is the best way to visit much of the region.

This is so cool, fun and unique! I would love to do this one day!

Cruising through 1000 islands is what we would love enjoying. What a unique experience it will be? The Boldt Castle is just lovely but it has a tragic history. view from lighthouse will be amazing.

Leave a comment Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

• Search Experiences
• Manage Booking
• Phone # SMS #
• My Offers 5

Sunset Cruise around the 1000 Islands | Gananoque Boat Line

Be the first to get offers and news, shopping cart, find your experience.

Thousand Island Bridge | Destination Ontario

Gananoque and the 1000 Islands

Located along the St. Lawrence River, Gananoque and the 1000 Islands is one of North America’s most beautiful and unique destinations. It’s home to two  UNESCO recognized sites ; the Rideau Canal and the Frontenac Arch Biosphere.

The region is home to famous castles and cottages, shipwrecks , national parks , historic  War of 1812 sites ,  theatres ,  festivals and a casino . It also boasts an abundance of natural beauty with rocky shorelines, sandy beaches, captivating rural pastureland and of course, a myriad of islands.

Where is Gananoque and the 1000 Islands?

Gananoque and 1000 Islands is located just 15 minutes from the Thousand Islands Bridge linking Canada and the U.S. The region is roughly a two-hour drive west of Ottawa and three hours from the Greater Toronto Area .

The easiest way to explore the region is by car or bicycle. It can also be reached by boat via the  port of Gananoque and by train with service offered by VIA Rail .

View Gananoque and 1000 Islands on Google Maps

Things to do in Gananoque and the 1000 Islands

Experience a guided kayak tour.

Get out on the water and explore the natural beauty of the 1000 Islands by sea kayak with 1000 Islands Kayaking . Guided half-day, full-day or camping tours are available in season.

Cruise the islands

Hop aboard City Cruises Gananoque and sail past the famous Boldt Castle on Heart Island and Singer Castle on Dark Island, once home to the founder of Singer sewing machines.

Enjoy a fair or festival

During the summer, Gananoque and 1000 Islands host an array of fairs and festivals, including the Lansdowne Fair , Emerald Music Festival and the Lyndhurst Turkey Fair .

Visit an island

Check the Amherst Island Ferry schedule and savour island life. Amherst Island is home to the village of Stella, one of Canada’s prettiest towns, and a top Ontario birding location.

Camp in a national park

Bring your own tent or rent an oTENTik , a cross between a tent and rustic cabin, and explore the rugged shorelines and picturesque landscapes of Thousand Islands National Park .

Learn the region’s history

Step back in time at the 1000 Islands History Museum on the Gananoque waterfront. The museum features a permanent collection along with seasonal events and exhibitions .

Social Media links

For more trip ideas, visit Gananoque’s tourism website or social media channels.

Get inspired

Plan your visit with these experiences and itineraries.

Lakeside summer getaways in Ontario

• Read more Lakeside summer getaways in Ontario

Where to stay near theatres and playhouses in Ontario

• Read more Where to stay near theatres and playhouses in Ontario

Points of interest

Discover more highlights this destination has to offer.

1000 Islands Cruises — Gananoque

1000 Islands Helicopter Tours 

1000 Islands Playhouse

1000 islands rockport cruises.

1000 Islands Tower

Blackwood guitar making workshop.

Miniature Enthusiasts of Toronto

Shorelines Casino Thousand Islands

Last updated:  June 6, 2024

Explore more of Ontario

Tag your photos with #DiscoverON to inspire others.

Looking for Ontario travel advice?

Our experts are here to help you plan your perfect trip. Call or book today.