River City Queen

Disappointed. This cruise is not inexpensive so my expectations were higher,around 70.00 per person. First of all, in the information on the website it says you can board the boat early, around 15-30 minutes, however, upon arrival, the crew was not ready to permit anyone on board until precisely start time. It was a hot day, so I thought we would get rolling on time to pick up some delta breezes. This did not happen. We all waited an additional 35 minutes because one other person on board was waiting for her family member and other elderly people in her party to arrive. Eventually, the lady who narrates the cruise asked all of us if we were willing to wait longer, thumbs up/thumbs down vote. Most of us gave a thumbs down, but they still waited!! Why? Because the passenger who was waiting for her family members to arrive, told all of us on board to buck up and be patient! She was assertive, loud, and rude! She should have just chartered the boat for her own private party. I was so put off by her behavior I found that it distracted me from my enjoyment of the cruise itself. The website even warns you that if you are late, they will still leave on time and you will not be refunded. Just the same situation as if you were late to board an airplane. The lunch is just so-so. The sandwich was supposed to have carved meat on it. It did not. It was just regular lunch meat. Drinks like soda and iced tea were not included with the meal. Beer was 8.00. The best part of the cruise was going on the outdoor area of the boat to look around at the scenery. The cruises offered at Lake Tahoe or in San Diego are much better, you get more for your money.

Our office hosted our Holiday party on the Queen! The staff was over the top amazing. Extremely attentive, accommodating and fun to be around. The server, Jennifer, made sure everyone had a drink in hand and remembered peoples orders for their second and third. Kris and Captain Jim are some of the nicest people you'll meet. I could tell they throughly enjoy what they do. I can't recall the bartenders name but he delivered and was so nice as well. I highly recommend the Mediterranean menu, it was delicious and served at perfect temperature (HOT!). There's something about putting money towards a fully family operated business... and this is just that. Booking was easy and Captain Jim was very responsive throughout the process. 10/10!

Booked a twilight dinner cruise for my partners birthday this past week and we had such a lovely time!We were greeted warmly by Captain Jim and were offered a boarding glass of champagne (cider available too) by their server. His wife Kris showed us around to the upper deck. Their son served up drinks before dinner. I had a Bahaha Mama (it was a perfect balance of alcohol and taste) but they had a wide selection of beers and drinks.Weather was perfect, we mingled with the other guests on the top deck until diner was served.Started with a mixed green salad with strawberry vinaigrette and a small helping of bread & butter, main dish was chicken in a lemon rosemary sauce with pasta and grilled veggies. It was exquisite!Desert was a cookie which felt a little basic but hey, it was good too!The vessel is a little dated, chairs are just plastic chairs. A little updating wouldn't hurt but we would do it again in a heartbeat!Everyone was so welcoming, the food was delicious, the views- BEAUTIFUL!If you're lucky enough to get a reservation, jump on it, you won't be disappointed.

I booked the lunch cruise as part of a birthday weekend celebration for my husband. At first I wondered if it would be a little cheezy, but thought even that would be fun.Wow, were we pleasantly surprised! It was like a vacation-in-a-vacation. One and a half hours of pure relaxation. We were greeted by the absolutely charming Captain Jim who is well suited to his position, blending hospitality, fun, and safety in equal proportions. We traveled below to chat with him a bit during the cruise, and thoroughly enjoyed his easy, engaging laugh as his piercing blue eyes kept tabs on the crazy boaters around us. Once onboard, Chris (Captain Jim's wife - a family business which is super cool), offered my husband a drink. We were told their son is quite the bartender, so I adventurously ordered my husband his favorite adult beverage - a Manhattan - wondering if that was wise. I ordered a gin and tonic, and was pleased I had several choices of high quality gin. Shortly thereafter, our drinks appeared and were served with a smile, and we toasted his birthday. A variety of music plays in the background, fun music to sway around to (Beach Boys, CCR, classic rock, etc.), but not blaring like so many of the party boats out there. This is much more of a relaxed, grown-up event, not a scream and yell and spill drinks type of venue or crowd - thankfully.You are free to roam the vessel, and my husband and I spent a lot of time outside watching the scenery go by as Chris narrated for us. The sound system is excellent so we weren't straining to hear her. She would narrate for a while, then return to music. When lunch was served, we were quite pleasantly surprised! The description sounds like something out of a vending machine, but no. These were well curated sandwiches and oh so fresh! A lovely pesto pasta salad adorned our plate, and fresh fruit cup finished it off. Once done, a plate of cookies showed up. Maybe it's just me, but I love me some fresh cookies over fancy desserts. Oh! And each table has a seating card with your name on it - ours had an additional "happy birthday" on it to acknowledge my husband's birthday. A little thing that really made him smile. After all, it is the little things in life that go a long way.The pace of the outing was well-timed, and never felt rushed. We were well tended to, and were always offered beverages. My husband decided to try the margarita after his Manhattan, which he says was fantastic. This was not cheezy at all. It was the highlight of our 3 day trip to Sacramento, including his birthday brunch and dinner at top Sacramento restaurants. There is something ineffable about what the River Queen offers in terms of hospitality and relaxation.Skip all the ridiculous party boats. Skip the commercial boat trips. This is a family-run business and you will be treated, and feel, like guests, not consumers. They've been doing this for many years, and yet you'd think each trip was their first. This is customer service/experience done right. These folks have a gift for people and creating just the right atmosphere for an enjoyable break from life. Take a few moments to chat with Captain Jim and his wife, Chris - truly wonderful human beings.We cannot rave more about this experience. Thank you!

My wife and I chartered the River City Queen in April, 2023, for a gathering for twenty-one family members. The two hour cruise and the BBQ lunch was more impressive than we anticipated. It was fun exploring the river and seeing the sites. It was clear from the get-go that Captain Jim, his wife and the entire crew were dedicated, and believe in the importance of giving customers a great experience. They take pride in providing a fun journey for their customers. Highly recommend the River City Queen cruise !!!John and Toni

What a great way to spend some time while in Sacramento. My friend and I went on the lunch cruise and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. They accommodated my vegetarian needs with a delicious sandwich. I wasn't expecting much from the food pictures I saw but the food was surprisingly good. The staff was all great and I enjoyed the history lessons along the cruise. My only one tiny suggestion to the crew is to not play the music quite so loud so that we can hear each other talk a little better. But the music was good too ! I highly recommend taking a cruise with them

Fabulous experience beginning with a warm welcome from captain and crew and ending with the feeling that we are ready to do it all over again. Loved seeing Sacramento from the river while enjoying bubbly champagne, a first class meal and great service. Thank you Captain Jim, Kris, and crew for a most memorable evening.Carl, Patti, and family

Our group of 20+ had a wonderful time on the afternoon 2-hour cruise. The catered food was delicious, the crew and Captain Jim were friendly, personable, and attentive. The main deck table had tablecloths and flowers. We look forward to our next river cruise on the River City Queen!

My husband took me on dinner cruise for my birthday. According to the high ratings, he thought this was the best option for a river cruise. Upon arrival, we were given a very small plastic glass with apple cider. While I appreciate a non-alcoholic option, the serving size could have been larger. The vessel itself is very old and outdated looking. As we walked up to the upper level, we were disappointed to see folding tables covered in plastic tablecloths with plastic lawn chairs. The music playing was all from the 70's, it did match the vibe but we just didn't enjoy the ambiance. Dinner was served on Chinet paper plates with plastic utensils. For the price we paid, I expected nicer furnishings and serving ware. The food was decent but since we don't drink, it felt like we had to wait a very long time to be served. Approximately 40 minutes after taking off, we were served a salad that was just ok with two small slices of a baguette that I'm pretty sure was from Costco. The next course was roasted vegetables which were actually very tasty with lemon chicken that was very tender and flavorful. The pasta salad was not my favorite, it tasted store bought and was very basic. Again, everything was served on paper plates and we were asked to save our plastic utensils to reuse for each course. Dessert was just two cookies, pretty disappointing and casual. This experience did not meet our expectations. The presentation and food felt more like a backyard barbecue instead of a $200 dinner cruise. The staff was very friendly and I feel terrible writing a bad review but I don't want others to be misled by the high ratings when we just felt let down.

This was such a fun experience! Of all the river cruises offered in Old Sacramento, this is the one to take. It's family-owned and operated, and they all clearly enjoy making your time with them quite memorable. The lunch that comes with your ticket was delicious, the cocktails you can purchase we're definitely not light on the liquor , and the narration was informative and interesting.Good Times!!