Today is Thursday, November 21, 2024
Hop-on Hop-off Harbor Cruises are not running today.

Take a Harbor Cruise

Overview

CT MARITIME HERITAGE FEST

SATURDAY, SEP 7 & SUNDAY, SEP 8, 2024
10AM-5PM
Hop-on Hop-off Harbor Cruises
FREE – No Ticket or Reservation Req’d.

Hop aboard the Thames River Heritage Park water taxi for a one-hour cruise or hop on and off at heritage sites along the route! Your ticket is an unlimited pass to ride all day.

You’ll cruise the river that witnessed the birth of the nuclear-powered navy, with the launch of the USS Nautilus, now berthed here as part of a museum. You can imagine the river when it was home to one of the nation’s largest 19th century whaling ports. And that is just the beginning. As we say, ONE RIVER. A THOUSAND STORIES.

 

Our boats have their own history.

Our boats are refurbished surplus U.S. Navy “liberty” utility boats that were used to shuttle sailors to shore from larger ships for liberty or free time. One was assigned to the USS LaSalle which assumed the role of Commander of Middle East Forces in 1988. The other boat was assigned to the USS Hunley, a submarine tender home ported in Charleston, South Carolina servicing the nuclear powered Polaris submarine fleet.

Harbor Cruise Rates

  • ADULTS $10
  • CHILDREN 4 - 12 $5

    Children 3 and under ride free

  • ACTIVE MILITARY $5

    Active Military ID required

  • SEASON PASS (ADULT) $60
  • SEASON PASS (CHILD) $35

Buy Tickets

The Harbor Cruise starts at Fort Trumbull State Park, skips over to City Pier in Downtown New London, cruises across the river to Thames Landing in Groton and back around to Fort Trumbull.
 
CT MARITIME HERITAGE FEST

SATURDAY, SEP 7 & SUNDAY, SEP 8, 2024
10AM-5PM
Hop-on Hop-off Harbor Cruises
FREE – No Ticket or Reservation Req’d.

 
Harbor Cruise Info:
– Your ticket can be used all day long! Hop-on and off at your leisure at any landing site.
– Each cruise between sites is 15-minutes long.
– Sit back and relax to enjoy the one-hour loop.
– Tickets and Season Passes can be purchased online or when you board. Cash & Card are both accepted in person.
– Operates rain or shine.
– Bicycles allowed on board, space permitting.
– Well-behaved dogs are welcome.

2024 Schedule

Saturday-Sunday
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Opening Day
Saturday, June 22, 2024

Closing Day
Sunday, September 8, 2024

CT Maritime Heritage Festival | Sept 7th-8th | 10AM-5PM | FREE ADMISSION

Last Boat

Final departures times:

Thames River Landing5:40 P.M.
City Pier5:20 P.M.
Fort Trumbull State Park5:00 P.M.
Fort Trumbull State Park is the final disembarkment at approximately 6:00 P.M.

Departure Locations

BOARD FROM ANY LANDING
Departure LocationsDeparture Times
Fort Trumbull State Park
City of New London
On the hour 
City Pier
City of New London
20 minutes after the hour 
Thames River Landing
City of Groton
40 minutes after the hours

Operator Contact

Weekend Water Taxi Operation
(860) 333-6706

Weather Delays

Currently: Today is Thursday, November 21, 2024
Hop-on Hop-off Harbor Cruises are not running today.

Weather delays will be displayed on the home page above the main navigation throughout the site. If you have purchased a ticket, you will be notified via text message and email. Harbor Cruise tickets are non-refundable but may be used for any regularly scheduled ride for the current season.
Green dot – Taxi is running.
Yellow dot – Taxi is delayed.
Red dot – Taxi is not running.

Accessibility

The water taxis are refurbished Navy boats that are used for shuttling crews to and from large ships. They are not ADA compliant and do not have a restroom.

TRHP Accessibility Policy

Our boats are not ADA compliant, but we try to accommodate all passengers as best we can.

For your safety, passengers must be able to walk up and down 4 stairs and board the boat independently with minimal, courtesy-only assistance from the crew. Should there be a need to disembark quickly or unexpectedly, passengers must be able to do so unaided.​

Passengers requiring assistance are encouraged to board with a companion to avoid any difficulty.

Admittance onto our boats is at the discretion of our captains who are authorized to determine a guest’s ability to meet these requirements.

Season Passes

All days, unlimited rides. 

Water Taxi Season Passes for our hop-on hop-off Harbor Cruise may be purchased online or with cash or credit card on the boat.  They are non-transferable.  Children’s passes are for those 12-years old or younger. They must be accompanied by an adult. Season Passes may not be used for our Historic Boat Tours.

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