riverboat cruise in frankenmuth

Bavarian Belle Riverboat

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Review Highlights

“ The Bavarian Belle was a reasonably priced pleasant way to spend a little time on the Cass River in Frankenmuth. ” in 11 reviews

“ The boat ride lasts an hour and includes an engaging narration by the lead captain and patriarch of the family that owns and runs the boat company. ” in 3 reviews

“ Worth the price that seems a little high at first but the riverboat is owned and operated independently by a father and son team. ” in 3 reviews

Location & Hours

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925 S Main St

Frankenmuth, MI 48734

About the Business

Business owner information

Mitchell Q.

Business Owner

Thank you for visiting Frankenmuth. Our family operates the Bavarian Belle riverboat, an authentic Stern Driven Paddlewheel riverboat. We offer a 1-hour historical narrated tour of the Frankenmuth area on our fully restored 150-passenger vessel. The Bavarian Belle is open air canopied on the upper deck and has a fully enclosed lower salon with restrooms. We offer a snack bar and soft drinks on board. The Bavarian Belle is located in the River Place Shopping village, docking at the waterfall. Our dock and lower level are handicap accessible. One hour trips are offered Monday - Saturday 11am till Dusk, (departing every 90min), and Sunday 12:30 till 6:30, (departing every 90min) Early May to Mid-October. Please call for pre-Memorial Day and post-Labor Day hours. Extended hours are available for Group Tours and Special Events (Weddings, Reunions, etc.). Tickets are $10.00 for adults and $4 for children 10 and under. Adult tickets are discounted to $9.00 for groups of 20 or more …

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Overall rating

A flat bottom 2 story paddle boat. The ticket cost $16 and the ride lasted 50 minutes. The ride goes down the Cass river approximately a mile before turning around. The Captain was funny and gave some interesting information. The scenery was great and we got to see some 11 day old ducklings and a hawk. They say sometimes you can see large and apparently fast turtles and the 2nd largest owl in the states. Neither one made an appearance today though, nor did the Bald Eagle! Apparently this riverboat was built in 1981 and floated down the Mississippi River to the Ohio River in Indiana and then the Arkansas River in Little Rock Arkansas. Then came up here in 1999/2000. It is privately owned and Captain by a father and his 2 sons, so very cool. Overall a highly recommended 5 star review. Would I return? Absolutely!

See all photos from Chris H. for Bavarian Belle Riverboat

I love this riverboat that takes you up and down the river from the heart of downtown Frankenmuth! They have an interior downstairs space and the upstairs is covered, but open air and it gives you such a lovely view of the Frankenmuth area. Both times that I've ridden on this riverboat have been during the Dog Bowl, when they do special riverboat rides for you and your furry friends! I believe that even outside of the Dog Bowl, they are dog friendly as well, so it's something you and your pets can enjoy together! The riverboat is so gentle and a very slow ride, so it will hopefully not be too difficult or anxiety-inducing for your pups as well! As you ride up and down the river, they patch through the speakers some history of the Frankenmuth area and the riverboat itself. It's educational, the views are great, and it's a wonderful time to share with your friends and family alike! For the price of your ticket (~$15 for an adult), this is more than worth it!! A ride is roughly around an hour, they sell concessions including freshly popped popcorn, and it's just an absolute delight! Definitely more than worth it to be a part of your trip to explore the Frankenmuth area!

See all photos from Amanda L. for Bavarian Belle Riverboat

This was a great little River tour in Frankenmuth. Run by a family there was a lot of info and a cool boat to take a relaxed ride on. My kids loved that you could buy a bag of popcorn to feed the ducks and watch them race to the boat for the treats.

We brought Jasper the Adventure dog ( http://www.jaspertheadventuredog.com/) to take a trip with us on this riverboat. They are a dog friendly venue. A wonderful employee named Evy sold us our tickets. The trip was amazing. Jasper walked up front, watching the ducks, the water and wildlife along the bank of the river. Pictures from this event will end up on a another future book. I highly recommend this activity for anyone and especially for those with well behaved dogs.

The boat ride was nice. The owners were wonderful. It was informational and relaxing. We enjoyed feeding the ducks. We got to see baby ducks, turtles and even some deer.

See all photos from Allison W. for Bavarian Belle Riverboat

Nice relaxing boat ride. They point out things of interest on both sides and give some history of the town and the boat. There's a small snack bar on the lower level, I recommend the pop corn.

Very relaxing fun! The tidbits that the crew shared were quite interesting along with the recorded information about the area. A nice smooth ride and a chance to chill out after a lot of walking about. Also, very clean and tidy despite serving popcorn and soft pretzels. Worth the price that seems a little high at first but the riverboat is owned and operated independently by a father and son team. Happy to support a family-owned business. Give it a go and you won't regret it.

We had a lot of fun on this boat tour. We caught the first one of the day and it was a gorgeous day. The host of the tour, also the owner of the boat, was friendly and shared some of the great history of Frankenmuth. In addition, you get to see lots of animal life along the ride; turtles, ducks (you should totally buy the popcorn to feed the ducks!), etc. It was a nice break away from the hustle and bustle of town. Note, tickets are cash or check only.

Upon departing you get this amazing view!

Awesome boat ride !! Great service, my boyfriend and our 2 boys went on this boat and my oldest son has some issues with heights and new places in general so while boarding we bought waters and pretzels for the ride and my oldest dropped in the water and with out hesitation the conductor was quick to replace it with no charge and quickly calmed my son and it was just the best experience! We will definitely be back !!

Very nice boat ride with info about frankenmuth! The family owning the boat does a nice job! It's about an hour tour of the Cass River running through Frankenmuth. A nice narrative about some history of Frankenmuth wiht some well placed humor. I found a few places that I didn't know where in Frankenmuth that I'd like to check out next time I go back. My kids also enjoy feeding the ducks popcorn before the boat ride begins..lol! On a good summer day, it's a nice break when walking from shopping at Riverplace to chicken dinner at the Bavarrian! Found out the hard way-they don't except debt cards and there isn't an ATM at Riverplace!!! Thank goodness they will except a check.

Bavarian Belle

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Bavarian Belle Riverboat Ticket Price, Hours, Address and Reviews

• North America
• United States
• Frankenmuth
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Bavarian Belle Riverboat

• Address: 925 S Main St D3, Frankenmuth, MI 48734, USA, United States
• Timings: 24-hrs Details
• Phone: +1-8668082628

Bavarian Belle Riverboat Reviews & Ratings

Attractions Nearby

• Flint River Trail
• Wilderness Trails Zoo
• Anderson Water Park
• Dixie Motor Speedway
• William H. Haithco Recreation Area

How much is the cruise and how long does it last? what are the hours

The tickets of Bavarian Belle Riverboat are priced at 12 USD per adult and 4 USD per child (aged 5-12). It is a 1-hour tour available at noon, 2 pm, and 4 pm. The schedule of tours may change. To know the updated schedule, I suggest you visit the official website of Bavarian Belle Riverboat. 

Is the river cruise open February 14th?

Yes, it will mostly remain open on 14th February. You can confirm by calling them at Bavarian Belle Riverboat contact number 1 866-808-2628. 

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(989) 652-6106 Toll Free: 800-FUN-TOWN [email protected]

Tours & More

Experiences & Tours

See Frankenmuth like an insider — from boat tours to Bavarian pretzel rolling, tasting rooms to carriage rides!

No one spends their hard-earned money and time on travel just to see someplace new or say they were there. We save up rainy-day pennies and hoard our PTO days for a peek behind the curtain — the chance to uncover a place like its locals, and maybe even bring a little slice of our best vacation life back home. So, when you’re learning to hand-roll German pretzels with the best of ‘em, sitting right by your captain on a riverboat cruise, or tasting 150 years of brewing tradition in a single pint while you chat up the brewmaster who made it — look to those local guides for all the insider tips on where to go and what to do in Frankenmuth !

Bavarian Belle Riverboat 925 South Main Street, D-3 Frankenmuth, MI 48734 Details   Open in Google Maps

925 South Main Street, D-3 Frankenmuth, MI 48734 Phone: (866) 808-2628

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713 South Main Street Frankenmuth, MI 48734 Phone: (989) 652-9941

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925 South Main Street, B-6 Frankenmuth, MI 48734 Phone: (989) 652-2483

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5450 Weiss Road Frankenmuth, MI 48734 Phone: (989) 652-8748

Frankenmuth Farmers Market 534 North Main Street Frankenmuth, MI 48734 Details   Open in Google Maps

534 North Main Street Frankenmuth, MI 48734

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Frankenmuth River Cruises | Frankenmuth Sports & Leisure

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Frankenmuth River Cruises

River cruises in frankenmuth, michigan, united states.

The Bavarian Belle Riverboat in Frankenmuth, Michigan is family owned and fun with tours departing every one and a half hours from 11 am, and the boat can take up to 150 passengers and is handicap accessible with wheelchairs on board. There is a snack bar and souvenirs on-board too, and the boat docks at the waterfall in River Place Shops, she's an authentic stern driven Paddlewheel riverboat with open air canopy on the upper deck and fully enclosed lower salon. The Bavarian Belle Riverboat caters to groups and charters offers private tours and wedding options using the upper deck of the riverboat for your wedding ceremony, and this option is ideal for a small intimate and informal ceremony.

Frankenmuth FunShips welcomes you aboard their 12 passenger electric boat for a relaxing and formative cruise on the Cass River in a setting of tasteful luxury. They have paddlewheel aqua cycle rentals for a self directed water adventure and fun cardio workout, and the aqua cycles include a front bench and bimini top, why not bring your lunch. The wine garden tasting room is a small intimate setting with friendly host offering a wide array of Michigan wines for a thoroughly enjoyable experience, why not combine a wine and chocolate tasting adventure. Frankenmuth FunShips also offer handmade chocolates made in store and the wonderful variety includes over a dozen truffles, creme filled chocolates, miscellaneous nut clusters, and much more, plus there are sugar free chocolates available. Join Frankenmuth Funships for an unforgettable journey of tours and tasting in a unique setting, also ideal for small group meetings, wedding, anniversaries and any other special celebration, and catered food items of your choice will further enhance your experience.

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Annual Canine Cruise on the Cass River

Location: Bavarian Belle River Boat  Date: Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26, 2024  Time: 8:30 a.m. & 9:45 a.m.  Register: OPEN! Click here to purchase tickets!

Back by popular demand, the annual Canine Cruise on the Cass River returns during the 2024 Frankenmuth Dog Bowl! This unique tour of Frankenmuth takes place aboard the Bavarian Belle historic paddleboat, which docks on the north side of Frankenmuth River Place Shops, 925 S. Main St. in Frankenmuth. 

Pets are not only welcome but also encouraged on the Canine Cruise. Cruises will be at 8:30am and 9:45am on both Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26 during the Dog Bowl festival. 

Each tour lasts around 45 minutes and includes a narrated history of Frankenmuth and plenty of photo opportunities with your pup!

Proceeds from the Canine Cruise go to Frankenmuth Dog Bowl Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission of advocating for responsible pet ownership through educational programs and world-class events, with a goal of being a recognized source of knowledge and entertainment for dogs and the people they love.

Registration is limited to the first 75 participants and one dog per person for each session. There are no refunds for the Canine Cruise Package.

The Bavarian Belle does allow a limited number of pets on their regularly scheduled cruises, learn more about pricing and times here:  http://www.bavarianbelle.com/

While at Dog Bowl, make sure to check out the many activities including a pet-themed vendor marketplace, the pet costume contest, fun run doggie races and explore more than 40 shops and attractions located at River Place Shops. For more information and a full schedule, visit  www.dogbowlfun.com !

All events take place at River Place Shops, 925 S. Main St. Parking is free and located around the German-styled shopping complex and along Weiss Street. With the events spread out on over 25 acres of Bavarian Inn property, there will be plenty of space for guests and canines to enjoy themselves safely.