Favourable forecast confirms the earliest start ever for the iconic Voyage to the Falls Boat Tour
NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. — The Voyage to the Falls catamarans, Niagara Thunder and the Niagara Wonder are set to sail the Niagara River for the 2020 season on Saturday, March 28th — the earliest they have ever hit the water with passengers aboard.
A relatively mild winter and a favourable long-term forecast through to the end of March makes the early start to the season possible. The attraction didn’t open last year until May 15th because of excessive ice build-up in the upper Niagara River. No such situation exists this year.
“A record early opening is possible by not only favourable weather, but also by the efforts of our entire team to prepare our Lower Landing and vessels for operation,” says Mory DiMaurizio, Vice-President and General Manager of Hornblower Niagara Cruises. “There is no ice on the Niagara River right now that would impact our ability to open early. Based on the forecast, we are looking forward to our earliest opening ever and a great start to the season.”
When the season launches, the Voyage to the Falls Boat Tours will run every half hour between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm until March 31st. Then from April 1st to May 7th, boats will sail between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm. The full season sailing schedule running to November 29th is available online at niagaracruises.com.
The Hornblower Niagara Funicular, which opened for the first time in a generation last year and welcomed more than one million visitors, will also be open when the cruises begin March 28th. Every ticket purchased online includes a ride on the Funicular.
“Opening this early in the season provides a great opportunity for local residents to come check out what is in their own backyard before the crowds of peak tourist season arrive,” says Mr. DiMaurizio. “The early start will also allow Hornblower to be open for Easter weekend, which gives families something unique and fun to do over the long weekend.”
2020 Voyage to the Falls Boat Ticket prices including access on the Hornblower Niagara Funicular are: Adult (13+) – $30.50 plus tax, Child (ages 5 to 12) – $20.50 plus tax, while Infants (4 and under) ride for free. Tickets are available online at niagaracruises.com or through the Hornblower Niagara Cruises app.
For the 2020 season, Hornblower is introducing a couple of new features so guests can make the most out of their experience:
- Voyage to the Falls 7-Day Flexible Date Mobile Tickets — Book in advance at com and skip the line at the ticket booth with a flexible date mobile ticket. This new ticket is valid within seven days of the booked tour date, allowing you to plan around weather and other travel plans. Mobile entry is the easiest and safest way to access tickets – simply scan your ticket from your phone.
- New Hornblower Niagara Cruises App — Not only a new way to purchase and manage your mobile tickets, the app is packed with features for an enhanced experience. Free audio tour guides are offered in eight languages, a virtual tour is an interactive way to learn more about important landmarks and a trivia game will test your knowledge of Niagara Falls. The app is available for download in the App Store and is coming soon to Google Play
“The new 7-Day Flex tickets for the Voyage to the Falls provides our customers with the opportunity to book in advance, plan their visit, skip the ticket booth, scan and sail – it’s that easy,” says Greg Bechkos, Hornblower Niagara Cruises Director of Sales and Marketing. “The new app features help visitors learn more about Niagara Falls and Hornblower in a fun and interactive way.”
For more information visit niagaracruises.com, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram @niagaracruises.
About Hornblower Niagara Cruises:
Hornblower Niagara Cruises, the official and only Boat Tour operator for the Niagara Parks in Niagara Falls, Canada, is a subsidiary of the Hornblower Group, headquartered in San Francisco, California. The Hornblower Group has 40 years of delivering premier dining, entertainment and sightseeing experiences from east to west coast including ferry boat services to Alcatraz Island, the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island National Monument of Immigration as well as Hornblower Cruises and Events, NYC Ferry, American Queen Steamboat Company, Victory Cruises Lines, Boston Harbor Cruises, Mariposa Cruises by Hornblower, Spirit Cruises, Odyssey Cruises, Potomac Riverboat Company, Seadog Cruises, Gananoque Boat Line, City Cruises in the United Kingdom and HMS Global Maritime.
In 2019, Hornblower Niagara Cruises was named “Best Water Adventure” and “Top Fan Choice” in North America by leading booking platform GetYourGuide and was recognized as a “Hamilton-Niagara Top Employer.” As Canada’s most memorable visitor experience, the Niagara Falls boat tour operation hosts millions of visitors a year, delivering amazing experiences to more than 12.5 million guests since launching in May 2014.
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For more information, please call
Stephen Murdoch
Vice President, Public Relations – Enterprise
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 289-241-3997
Office: 905-346-1232
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