Enterprise Canada
Tuesday, May 14, 2024
On May 15th, Niagara City Cruises is celebrating a decade of sailing to the base of the iconic Horseshoe Falls since assuming stewardship of ferry operations in the Niagara Falls tourism district.
Over the past 10 years, the boat tour has welcomed millions of visitors from around the world aboard its pair of state-of-the-art catamarans, the Niagara Thunder and the Niagara Wonder. As they cruise along the lower Niagara River, visitors are treated to an unparalleled, up-close-and-personal viewing experience of the awe-inspiring Niagara Falls.
“As we celebrate our 10-year anniversary, we are filled with gratitude for the support of our guests, the city and our tourism partners,” says Mory DiMaurizio, Chief Operating Officer of City Cruises in Canada. “We are extremely proud of the experiences we have provided over the past decade, and we are excited to continue being one of the top tourist attractions not just in Niagara Falls, but in all of Canada, for many years to come.”
Niagara City Cruises started the cruise to the Falls on the Canadian side of the Niagara River during the 2014 season under the banner, ‘Hornblower Niagara Cruises,’ and marked its first million visitors by August 16th in its first year. The attraction was rebranded as ‘Niagara City Cruises’ in 2021 as part of an overarching global rebrand initiative and is now part of the City Experiences portfolio of travel products.
The primary offering, the Voyage to the Falls boat tour, is a 20-minute excursion that offers guests the experience of a lifetime. Starting at the dock in the Niagara Gorge – which is a site unto itself – passengers cruise past the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls before coming face-to-face with the renowned Canadian Horseshoe Falls. From the deck of one of the twin catamarans in the Niagara City Cruises fleet, guests can feel the thundering roar of the water, witness its awesome power and get immersed in the amazing mist.
“Deep in the mist, the thundering waters crashing down mere metres away – Niagara City Cruises offers a view of the falls you simply can’t experience anywhere else,” says DiMaurizio. “Once you take a cruise with us, you will understand why our experience was voted a top visitor attraction in Canada.”
This is underscored by the numerous celebrities who have cruised on a Niagara City Cruises catamaran, including Adam Sandler, Rick Mercer, Raine Maida and Kate Moss. Additionally, the vessels have been showcased in several television programs and films, such as ‘The Bachelor’ and ‘Falling in Love in Niagara,’ a new Hallmark movie.
On the day of the recent solar eclipse, Niagara City Cruises played host to the City of Niagara Falls as they successfully broke the Guinness World Record for the ‘Largest gathering of people dressed as the sun,’ with 309 participants.
In 2023, Niagara City Cruises benefited from a mild winter and was able to launch its season on March 16th – the earliest recorded opening date in the history of boat tours to Niagara Falls.
“Our journey in Niagara has been truly incredible,” says Lisa Medulun, Vice President, Operations, City Cruises in Canada. “Amidst certain economic and environmental challenges, we’ve seized incredible opportunities and delivered unparalleled service to millions of domestic and international visitors. We extend heartfelt gratitude to our guests and staff for a decade of excellence, and we’re looking forward to many more years of creating unforgettable experiences.”
To celebrate the milestone, guests visiting on May 15th will receive a free souvenir commemorating the 10-year anniversary.
