Our Reviews

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Bill Parker 
 
September 11, 2026
 
 
  
We had a great trip on the Harriet from September the 3rd to the 7th of this year. Everyone at Erie Canal Adventures was very helpful in getting to know how to operate the boat, the locks and the lift bridges that we would encounter along the way. I would suggest this trip to everyone who would like to do a trip like this in the future!
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Robert Kazmierski 
 
September 8, 2026
 
 
  
This review is from someone who has chartered in many areas inside and outside of the country. I will cover the company, the boat, the locations, and some recommendations. The company: The company is top notch and professional. They are responsive to all questions, of which there are few, as most are anticipated. For novices, do not be concerned, as their training before the trip is comprehensive. You will be taken out with your own captain before the trip for full instruction. Also, canal boats are the easiest to handle and it is near impossible to get lost. Bow thrusters make handling a breeze. The boats: Are very well maintained and clean.  They obviously live by the boating ethic that if it is on a boat, it should work. This is not the case with other well known international charter companies I have seen. Too often promised bow thrusters do not work, the freezer is non functional, appliances are broken, etc. That is not the case here. Everything works and is well maintained. It's easy to tell that they own the boats and take pride in them, as opposed to renting out others boats that they do the bare minimum to maintain. (Think Moorings). The trip: Our personal bias is to get an hours walk or bike ride every day. We didn't mind bypassing bringing bikes. Brockport has free bike rentals. The holly falls walk is open, despite Google saying it is closed. Suggestions to bring is an extra ice cube tray. They supply one, and it freezes overnight. However, in many towns ice is not close and was a challenge to get daily. An extra tray would have solved the problem. The same is with water. Bottled water is never as convenient as having it at the start. From coffee to hydration, you will need more than you think. Bring extra from the start. Next is that there is no sound system. So having a Bluetooth speaker to listen to ball games and music was invaluable. While a coffee pot and Kureg are provided, just getting a large box of Kureg pods at the Walmart was most convenient. The beds, while not large, have temperpedic tops. They are comfortable. The lock masters and bridge tendors are amongst the nicest we have ever seen. Be nice to them as they can be very helpful. Be aware that the travel portion should be every bit as enjoyable as the towns. We found that the scenery past Brockport was the most pristine and beautiful. 3 and 4 day cruisers have to turn around before this and miss it. A full 7 day cruise is remmended as a result. We found it helpful to trade captains every hour. While relaxing and beautiful, no one wants to be at the helm 4 straight hours. This helps to break things up. They offer a free cooler for the boat. Take it even if you don't need it. It is a great foot rest at the helm and beats legs dangling all day. The Lockport locks are double locks and go to the top of the Niagara escarpment. Worth the trip. The ice cream near the locks is not to be missed. Albion, while not mentioned in the food itinerary, has an excellent new Mexican restaurant Mecate just 10 to 15 minutes walk from the dock. Albion also has free shore showers and bathrooms. Much more though that is enough. Enjoy!
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Yelp  
 
  
 
 
 David C. 
 
September 1, 2026
 
 
 Verified 
I would highly recommend this trip. We had very little boating experience and with the great orientation were able to navigate the locks and docking with relative ease. The company is very well run and organized. We had a very enjoyable and relaxing time touring and visiting various canal towns.
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Lisa M 
 
August 26, 2026
 
 
  
The Erie Canal is a lovely journey to experience some American history at a leisurely pace and Erie Canal Adventures makes it a snap even if you have no boating experience! What a gem 💎
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Kari Storm 
 
August 24, 2026
 
 
  
Our trip along the Erie Canal was one of the best experiences of my life.  The Erie Canal Adventure crew is professional and friendly and fun.  The organization for keep the boats clean, stocked and the customers trained is top notch.  Shout out to Evan our hands-on trainer who was patience and concise! I wish we had more than the 3 days but by the time I discovered it there weren't many slots open.  So we will definitely be back.  If you are looking to learn a new skill (piloting a boar with a rudder), visit some lovely small towns or just kick back and relax as the landscape drifts past then this is the adventure for you!
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 David Cronshaw 
 
August 20, 2026
 
 
  
Great time and great people. Three life-long friends and I took a 3 night trip on the Cayuga canal boat heading west. The boat was great; equipped with everything we needed and the canal was awesome. Using the locks added another dimension to the experience. Thank you Erie Canal Adventures! I hope I can come back and do it again someday.
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Jeffrey Kilberg 
 
August 19, 2026
 
 
  
I heard about Erie Canal Adventures through a friend who rented a boat a few years ago.  I was a bit worried about piloting this boat as my wife and I had limited boating experience.  No worries, there is extensive training the first day and there is still plenty of time to travel to the closest town before sunset.  Erie Canal Adventures is there anytime you need them for emergencies.  In fact I had called them twice and was met by the owner that morning prior to leaving the port.  Customer service is very important to Erie Canal Adventures and I would recommend them for anyone looking to live a bit outside their comfort zone, or just looking forward to enjoying nature.
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 PamJEtu 
 
August 16, 2026
 
 
  
We did a 7 day adventure on the Lockmaster 34 boat named Canadice.  The first day, arriving, training and sent off on our own was a lot!  It was a busy day and we docked at Pittsford that night.  We had a great meal, stopped at a local bar and it was so fun!  Every night we were at a different canal side town and they were all different & interesting.  We would do it again.  The Erie Canal Adventures staff equipped us for fun!   It was awesome!  Just do it!
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Yelp  
 
  
 
 
 A W. 
 
August 15, 2026
 
 
 Verified 
Just got home from our incredible trip w/ Erie Canal Adventures. We rented the Hemlock (34' lock master) for 3 nights. It was me, my husband and our 17 yr old son. Staff were amazing. Once we got done w/ our training we were given the ropes (literally) and on our way. It was a bit exhausting the first day, due to all the information and first time jitters. But within the 1st hour of heading out we started feeling quite comfortable. The boat was very clean, very well accommodated and stocked. Port masters and lock masters were very friendly and helpful. I would say that I think it's best if you have some kind of boating knowledge &/or have someone who has that experience do the docking and maneuvering of the boat. Husband and son have sailing experience so it was all good. I helped in long stretches by taking the helm when just open cruising. I found the manning the locks and leaving docks to be kind of work but nothing impossible. My favorite time was docking and just getting out and biking (they provided 3 bikes for us), getting dinner at a cute restaurant, ice cream & glass of wine w/ the sunset. Fairport and Spencerport had free to use showers. Also fun just cruising passing by all the neat tree logs, plants, houses and the bird activity is very cool. Personal fav's for us were: Pittsford and Fairport. Highly recommend doing this! Perfect for couples, friends and families (but not toddlers, my opinion).
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Chris Kies 
 
August 14, 2026
 
 
  
This was a blast.  Do it.  3 nights is plenty.  First day was the toughest as it was a crash course in boating/locks passaging/docking. Boat was SUPER CLEAN and fully equiped right down to umbrellas, grills, rain coats, towels, sheets, dish soap etc. One rainy afternoon made it even more unique.  Went west and all the port towns were incredibly welcoming.  Great food.  Highlights Cinnamon Roll at Village Bakery in Pittsford and Dinner at Bonnie & Clydes in Fairport. It was my Wife and Adult Son and myself.  Sleeping was a challege the first night.  After it was better to sleep seperate.  Many nights without AC as water has nice breezes. Morning bike ride alomg the canal, then coffee and shove off.
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Trustindex rating score: 5.0 of 5, based on 226 reviews