When you think “staycation,” it might bring to mind a little hotel within city limits, some local attractions, maybe a dinner out with a view of the same old skyline. But what if there was another way?
Just a few hours away—in some cases, mere minutes—is a wealth of getaway possibilities, with a twist: they’re all on the water. City Cruises Canada offers ports not just at the Falls, but also in Toronto and the Thousand Islands, meaning there’s an option for whatever type of escape you’re craving.
“We’ve got iconic experiences across Ontario, Canada, and with the exchange rate very favorable right now, you get a lot of value for your U.S. dollar,” says Greg Bechkos, vice president of sales and marketing for City Cruises Canada. “Cruising is not just for the summer—It’s spring, summer, fall and into early winter, as well.”
Experience the Falls
It can be easy to forget we live minutes from one of the wonders of the world. From the Canadian side, you can experience full, panoramic views of all three majestic waterfalls that make up Niagara Falls. The Voyage to the Falls boat tour is an opportunity to get up close and personal.
“It’s one thing to see Niagara Falls from afar, but when you’re on the vessel and you’re literally 100 feet away from the Horseshoe Falls, and you can actually feel that the power and the mist—it’s just an iconic experience,” says Greg.
There are also nighttime fireworks cruises that run all summer, when the Falls are beautifully illuminated.
Escape to Toronto
If you’re up for a slightly longer drive, you can head north to Toronto for live-narrated sightseeing cruises, as well as dining cruise options, on Toronto Harbor. Odyssey—a three-deck yacht with an open-air rooftop deck— launched in 2023 and takes the experience to a new level.
“In the city, it’s all hustle and bustle,” says Greg. “But once you get out onto the water, it’s calm and cooling, and you get to see the skyline from a completely different perspective as opposed to being in the traffic and the crowds.”
Dining cruises run from April to December with buffet brunch and plated lunch and dinner options, and the climate-controlled vessels can host private events and charters all year long. Birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, retirement celebrations—all can be accommodated onboard Toronto’s fleet of five vessels.
Explore the Thousand Islands
Finally, don’t sleep on one of the area’s most scenic destinations: the Thousand Islands, located in the St. Lawrence River between New York and Canada. City Cruises Canada operates out of two ports, Gananoque and Ivy Lea, and Buffalonians can access both via an easy three-hour drive along Lake Ontario on the U.S. side.
Sightseeing on the water is the draw here, with a cruise option available for whatever timeframe you’re working with. There’s one-hour tours, a brand-new two-hour offering that takes you past the stunning exteriors of Boldt and Singer castles and a half-day package that includes an off-boat excursion to explore Boldt Castle. The fall season offers the most spectacular views.
“When you’re sailing past iconic landmarks and scenery only visible from the water and the cottages that have been passed down from generation to generation … it’s just something else,” says Greg.
Featuring Niagara City Cruises, City Cruises Toronto and City Cruises Gananoque, City Cruises Canada boasts the best sightseeing experiences and finest dining cruises on the water. Niagara City Cruises - rated as Canada’s top visitor experience, gets you deep into the mist, up close and personal with the power of Niagara Falls. City Cruises Toronto offers a range of dining, cocktail and sightseeing cruises, as well as private events and charters, with unparalleled views of Toronto’s iconic city skyline. City Cruises Gananoque offers breathtaking voyages through the 1000 Islands archipelago where the St. Lawrence River meets Lake Ontario.
