Our water taxi service will get underway Saturday, June 12, 2021 with new programs and a renewed sense of purpose to promote history and heritage sites on the Thames, Amy Perry, the Thames River Heritage Park’s executive director announced today.

“It’s fitting that we’ll be launching our harbor cruises and boat tours on CT Open House Day which was created to enhance awareness and interest in the state’s tourism assets,” she said. In celebration of CT Open House Day the Park will be offering $5 rides on the hop-on hop-off harbor cruise running 11:40 am to 6:20 pm. Those passengers who show proof of being fully vaccinated may ride for free. Schedules, landing sites, tickets, season pass information and details can be found here. 

Harbor cruises will operate Saturday, Sundays, and holidays. For a limited time Chelsea Groton Bank is donating $50 for every season pass sold up to $1,000. Season passes provide unlimited rides all season.

The Park has added two new historic narrated boat tours to its lineup. In addition to the popular “Submarines, Battlefields, & Betrayers. Military Life on the Thames” and “Suffragettes, Puppeteers & Patriot. Women of the Thames”, the new tours include “Blowholes, Blubber, and Breaches. Whaling Tales on the Thames” and “Water, Wampum, and Medicine Wheels. Mohegan Life on the Thames.” The latter was developed in collaboration with the Mohegan Tribe and will be led by Mohegan Tribe members. The tours will run Fridays at 6:15 pm, Saturdays at 4:30 pm and 6:15 pm, and Sundays at 4:30 pm. The tours will originate at City Pier. Tickets are $25 for adults, $18 for children under 12 who are accompanied by an adult. Tickets are available here.

Organized group tours will be available this year. Tickets include lunch, a guide for the duration of the tour and admissions to park sites that are included in the three themed tours. Go to Group Tours.

The park has renewed its contract with Vixen Ledge Marine LLC to operate the water taxi. The company is owned by Scott Arsenault who served under the previous operator as a captain from 2016 to 2018 and has served as operator since 2019.

Our 2021 sponsors include Groton Utilities, 98.7 WNLC, The Day, Crocker’s Boatyard, Garde Arts Center, Engineering and Consulting Center for Excellence.