Cruises in Lake Tahoe

For some visitors to the Tahoe region, it isn’t enough just to admire the lake from the shore. Many people enjoy taking a Lake Tahoe cruise while vacationing in the area. This gives them an opportunity to view large portions of the country’s largest alpine lake and also allows passengers to see what’s located on the shore at various points along Lake Tahoe. Furthermore, these cruises are just a great way to relax and enjoy the lake breezes, and often include some kind of refreshment and sometimes even a show. A number of different lake cruise options are available, from classic riverboat cruises to high-speed options. They operate mostly during the summer months from April or May until September or October though some are available all year long.

• M.S. Dixie II and Tahoe Queen – A true Tahoe landmark, the Dixie has been cruising the waters of Lake Tahoe since 1949 though the vessel has been upgraded several times. Since 1994, guests have been climbing aboard this particular 570-passenger paddle wheeler with three passenger decks. There’s also a glass-bottom viewing area on the main deck. The boat is climate-controlled, so it can operate year round. Similarly, the Tahoe Queen is also an old-fashioned-style paddle wheeler. It recently underwent extensive renovations. Guests who wish to travel on either of these vessels can choose breakfast/brunch, lunch, or dinner cruises including a sunset dinner cruise with live music. (Consult a schedule for specifics.) Scenic cruises with no food service are also available. Specialty cruises are also scheduled occasionally and the vessels can be leased for special events. The Dixie departs from Zephyr Cove, the Queen from the Ski Run Marina.
• Tahoe Thunder – Rather pump up a little adrenaline instead of sitting back and enjoying the sites? Then the Tahoe Thunder lake cruise is for you! But calling this experience a cruise is really a misnomer. This vessel is a 12-passenger catamaran-style boat that gives passengers the ride of their life courtesy of the 800 horsepower attached to the vessel. Cruises last about an hour and travel to Emerald Bay. They operate from May to October. Guests can get wet and it does get mighty chilly at this high speed, so plan accordingly.
• Sailing Cruises – People have been sailing on Lake Tahoe for a few centuries and the weather here makes it an ideal place to sail. For groups searching for something different than the usual dinner cruise aboard a standard passenger vessel, sailing is a wonderful option. Groups as large as about 50-60 can find sizeable sailboats to charter for a great adventure, including the Woodwind I and II, which belong to the oldest sailing excursion company on Lake Tahoe. These boats hold 30 and 50 passengers, respectively, and the Woodwind II offers daily shoreline excursions, happy hour cruises, and champagne sunset cruises. The Woodwind I offers daily Emerald Bay cruises and also a champagne sunset tour. The sailboats operate from mid-May to mid-October. They’re located at the Zephyr Cove Marina.

Various other charter companies offer private lake cruises for groups as well and, generally, those excursions must be booked in advance.  

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