Niagara Falls Boat Tours: the source-checked guide
Prices, seasons, rules and tools for the two Niagara Falls boat tours, verified against official sources on October 17, 2026.
Which boat is right for me?Read the complete guideToday at the falls
Which boats are running today, when the sun sets and when the falls lights come on, from the operators' published schedules.
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The short answer, with the numbers
Prices, hours and rules are checked against the operators' own pages and dated; each page lists its sources. Verified October 17, 2026.
| Voyage to the Falls (Canada) | Maid of the Mist (USA) | |
|---|---|---|
| Operator | Niagara City Cruises (formerly Hornblower Niagara Cruises) | Maid of the Mist Corporation |
| Ride length | About 20 minutes | About 20 minutes |
| 2026 adult fare | From C$47.95 plus 13% HST | US$30.25 |
| 2026 child fare | C$32.95 (ages 3 to 12; one source lists C$27.95) | US$19.75 (ages 6 to 12); 5 and under free |
| 2026 season | Opened May 1; no closing date published | April 24 to November 8 |
| Departures | Timed slots; every 30 minutes at the 2026 start | About every 15 minutes; first come, first served |
| Evening | Evening and Falls Fireworks Cruise on select dates | None in the published hours |
| After sunset | Outer edge of the Horseshoe Falls only | Not applicable |
| Boats | Two double-deck catamarans (about 700 passengers each, secondary source) | Two all-electric boats, 600 passengers each |
| Accessibility | Ramp, elevators, designated seating; support person free on Voyage (older wording) | Fully ADA accessible per the operator; elevator to the landing |
Three tools that answer what other pages cannot
Interactive, free, and built from the same dated dataset as every page. Nothing you enter leaves your browser.
Which boat is right for you?
Answer six questions and get a recommendation, the reasons and a pre-trip checklist, based on each operator's published 2026 rules.
Open the chooser →What will it really cost?
Fares, 13% HST, parking, bridge tolls, add-ons and a USD/CAD toggle, with a Toronto day tour comparison.
Open the calculator →Are the boats running?
Pick any date to see published hours, sunset, falls lights and fireworks on one timeline.
Check a date →The falls in every season and every light
Month-by-month climate, daylight, boat hours and visitor patterns, all sourced.
Plan it properly
Deep, dated answers to the questions visitors actually ask.
2026 prices
Both operators' published fares with currency, tax and the conflicts between sources.
Read the guide →
Tickets and resellers
How each operator sells tickets, and how to avoid overpaying.
Read the guide →
Accessibility
What both operators say about ramps, elevators, service animals and strollers.
Read the guide →
Prefer not to plan it yourself? A guided day tour from Toronto
Our shared full-day coach tour leaves downtown Toronto. The boat ride is an optional add-on.
Toronto to Niagara Falls day tour
8:30 am pickup, maple syrup tasting, Whirlpool Rapids and the Floral Clock, about 2.5 hours at the falls and about an hour in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
See the itinerary and prices →Day tour with boat ride
Add the Niagara City Cruises Voyage to the Falls at booking. About an hour extra; seasonal.
How the add-on works →
Private tours
Your own guide and vehicle for families, groups and special occasions. Request a quote.
Request a quote →Why you can trust the numbers
Primary sources, dated
Prices, hours and rules come from the operators, Niagara Parks, New York State Parks and the treaty text, and every page lists its sources and the date it was checked. Checked October 17, 2026.
Conflicts shown, not hidden
When two sources disagree, such as Canada's child fare or a launch date, we show both and say which we trust and why.
Open data
The price, hours and climate tables are downloadable under a CC BY licence, with a public changelog of every correction.
Independent
We are not owned by either boat operator. We also sell a Toronto day tour and say so wherever it appears.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers, each linking to the full guide. See all 50 questions.
What is the best Niagara Falls boat tour?
There are two falls boat tours: Voyage to the Falls by Niagara City Cruises (Canada) and Maid of the Mist (USA). Both ride about 20 minutes and finish in the Horseshoe Falls basin. No source ranks one as better; choose by the side you are on, the season, the ticket model and the price. The boat chooser applies the published rules to your trip.
How much does a Niagara Falls boat tour cost in 2026?
Maid of the Mist charges US$30.25 for adults and US$19.75 for children 6 to 12; ages 5 and under are free. Niagara City Cruises charges from C$47.95 for adults plus 13% HST. Parking, tolls and add-ons are extra; see the cost calculator.
When do the boats run?
Maid of the Mist's 2026 season runs April 24 to November 8. Niagara City Cruises opened May 1, 2026 and has no published closing date; December sailings depend on weather. Neither operator had published 2027 dates when we last verified. Check any date.
How long is the Niagara Falls boat ride?
About 20 minutes on the water, on both boats. Allow more for queuing and boarding. Niagara City Cruises' Falls Fireworks Cruise is about 40 minutes.
Do the boats go behind the falls?
No. Both boats finish in the basin in front of the Horseshoe Falls. To go behind the falls, visit Journey Behind the Falls on the Canadian side.
Do you get wet?
Yes. Both operators give a poncho and both say you may still get wet. Maid of the Mist says the lower back of the boat tends to stay driest.
Is Hornblower the same as Niagara City Cruises?
Yes. The Canadian-side operator that opened in 2014 as Hornblower Niagara Cruises now operates as Niagara City Cruises. Read how the names changed.
Can I do a day tour from Toronto with a boat ride?
Yes. Our shared day tour leaves downtown Toronto at 8:30 am, costs from C$89.99 per adult, and lets you add the Niagara City Cruises boat ride for C$47.95 more per adult. Private tours are by quote.
Want the falls without the logistics?
Our shared day tour from Toronto runs daily from $89.99 per adult, with an optional boat ride into the mist. Need a private tour? Request a quote.
Book the day tourPrivate tour quote