Ahoy there!
One of Wilmington’s truly unique tourist attractions is the Riverboat Queen. On Thursday, May 27, Captain Barnes and his merry crew will be kicking off a new season of floating fun with all-you-can-eat crab cruises that also include fried chicken and corn on the cob – all for just $40 per person. And there’s a full bar available!
The replica paddle-wheeler is two decks high. The bottom deck, where the bar is located, is completely enclosed. The top deck is covered to protect cruisers from the sun, but the sides are open to catch the waterside breezes. In inclement weather, the crew can close off the sides with heavy, clear plastic walls.
Crab cruises are scheduled every Thursday departing at 7:00 pm and on Sunday afternoons at 3:00 pm. Reservations are absolutely required and space is limited. The Riverboat Queen also hosts private charters for groups as large as 100 (depending on the type of venue), from its public dock behind the Iron Hill Brewery Restaurant on the Christina Riverwalk, where ample free parking is always available.
For visitors to Wilmington, the Riverboat Queen a great way to learn about the city, and even long-time residents rave about the experience. And why not! There’s no more relaxing way to enjoy Wilmington than floating through the heart of the city with friends and family all the way to the majestic Delaware River and back. Even the drawbridges salute as the Queen passes by!
A typical Riverboat Queen cruise passes several open-air waterfront restaurants; Wilmington’s Riverfront Market; Tubman-Garrett Park at Amtrak Station, where the tall ship Kalmar Nyckel is often docked for tours; the home port of the Wilmington Rowing Club; the confluence of the Brandywine and Christina Rivers; and the massive freighters docked at the Port of Wilmington just off the Delaware River shipping channel.
I’m speaking from personal experience, so I can tell with certainty that you’ll love cruising the Christina River on the Riverboat Queen. And feasting on crabs and fried chicken just makes it that much better. The only the missing is good old fashion calliope, but they do have AC current in case you want to bring your own band!
Shiver me timbers. Just three weeks to the inaugural 2010 floating crab feast on the Riverboat Queen!
Comments