I had a great experience with this company. The original cruise had to be canceled as there were too few people. I was followed up with and given the opportunity to reschedule. The cruise was packed but the views were beautiful. Wildlife was pointed out and local history told. The drink I ordered was delicious. 😄

Travel/Food/Lifestyle Influencer: @michaela_romanosmith Such a fun experience on Essex River Cruises!! We did a brews + chowda themed sunset cruise which was unique and very fun. The ride was smooth, comfortable and the views are fantastic. We saw lots of birds. The chowder was very yummy. Super friendly staff. Also loved that the staff provided info during the tour which made it educational. Highly recommend!!

If you are thinking about having Essex River Cruises and Charters host you event, do yourself a favor and book it now! They hosted our wedding and it couldn’t have been more perfect! The customer service you will receive from Alex and Cliff is unmatched. Alex was always helpful and quick to respond to any questions or request I had leading up to the event. The scenery is absolutely beautiful and our guest are still raving about the entire experience! We are amazed how a group of four pulled off the most perfect wedding for 70 people! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for giving us such an amazing experience that we will NEVER forget! We will be back!

We live locally and had never done an Essex cruise. It was great seeing another side, literally, of the area. Guide have a nice overview.

Essex cruises took a large group of us to a beautiful sandbar. They provided games, tables, chairs, umbrellas and cooked us a delicious lobster and mussel meal (other options were chicken or veggie wrap as well as sides: corn, chowder and potato salad). Hard and soft drinks were also provided. The captain and crew went over the top to make sure we all had a safe and fun time.

The guides were great! Saw a lot of wildlife and some ruins with a funny story attributed to them. Thanks for the memorable cruise!

The day we ended up scheduling our tour was very windy. The weather advisory was 20 to 30 mph winds which we all planned for with layers upon layers of clothing, hats and blankets. We had this event catered as well since we were this was a celebration of life a loved ones passing. We enjoyed our time and the ride was nice, the men were nice. But being it was so, so windy and barely 60, we had asked at least 3 times throughout our 2 hour ride if some of the rolled up walls could be turned down. Everytime we asked, they'd say; if you could give it another 5 minutes it will stop. Well 5 to 10 minutes go by and it would stop but not for long, as every bend we went around there was more wind. I'm talking about white caps on the river windy! We had 4 young children (bundled and hats on) 4years and and under and an 88 yr old frail man who was bundled with so many blankets. I felt they didn't want to take the time because it was to much work. The food was in the front of the boat which was good but the finger sandwiches meat and cheese platters dried fast. Had they just rolled down a couple of the windows, I'd give a 5 star!

Great tour! Nice staff!

This cruise exceeded my expectations. The scenery was so beautiful and the narration added to the enjoyment. It might be a little long for very young kids, but our 10-year-old enjoyed it. We live in the area and it made me appreciate the beauty and nature around us. I'll definitely bring visitors with us in the future.

Informative and leisurely run out to the mouth of Essex River capacity for over 60. Bathroom on board. Snacks and beverages, including beer.

We had a friend visiting from Michigan and she loves the ocean so this was a great way to sit, relax, and learn some great facts about the area. The Cider and Donuts were a great touch! Lots of free parking and a little area to hang out and enjoy the cider and donuts. I brought my own coffee and they didn't mind me bringing it on board. And the tour guide was excellent. Very knowledgeable about the area and had a great sense of humor as well. I highly recommend it! Side note: I do agree with another reviewer about the young children. It's not engaging enough for a child under 10. Two hours is a long time to sit still and listen! If you do bring young children, bring some entertainment and food/snacks for them.

Great night! Knowledgeable Captain and and a relaxing experience getting to know another corner of the North Shore . Will definitely be back for more tours! Thanks!

Booked this charter for my summer camp group of 30+ kids - it was so wonderful we went twice this summer! The boat ride is great and at just under an hour is the perfect length for our younger group. The captains have always been knowledgeable and quick to answer any questions the kids have. Would definitely recommend this for a school outing!

Well it is a pleasant and informative 1.5 hour narrated cruise around the Essex/ Ipswich Harbor. Look about the Crain family history and the establishment of the Crain Beach trust. Since it is a protected estuary plenty of photo ops both near and far. Your phone may suffice but a 35mm camera or binocular might enhance your experience. Wear comfortable sneakers for older folks the loading and unloading docks do test your seaworthiness. They do offer drinks, snack and below topside bathroom. Free parking available at the pier. For just $30/person well worth your consideration