Old Forge Lake Cruises FAQs
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions. For any other questions or concerns about your cruise, please call the cruise office at (315) 369-6473
Where does the cruise go?
The Sightseeing Cruises are 2-hours long and follow the historic steamboat route through the first four lakes of the Fulton Chain (approximately 15 miles roundtrip), cruising out along the north shore and returning along the south shore.
The Mailboat Cruise follows a similar route to the Sightseeing Cruise, but follows the shore more closely and moves at a slower speed. The longer 3-hr cruise length is due to the mail delivery stops along the way.
The Kids’ Cruise is 1-1 ½-hours (depending on how many Junior Captains there are on that day) and goes through the lower part of the chain. The Heritage Lunch Cruise is about 3 hours long and circumnavigates the entire length of the first four lakes in the Chain. The Sunday Brunch Cruise travels roughly the same route as the Sightseeeing Cruise but goes more slowly and takes 2 ½ to 3 hours.
Do all OFLC vessels meet the 2006 NY State safety standards?
The Clearwater, Zilpha, & Mailboat are inspected annually by the New York State Department of Parks & Recreation, which govern all land-locked bodies of water in the state and meet all State standards. All Vessels have been stability tested in conjunction with State inspectors to receive their current capacity ratings.
Are your Captains licensed?
Our Captains are licensed by the New York State Department of Parks & Recreation. The Captain’s licenses are displayed on all vessels.
Do you take reservations?
Reservations must be prepaid to guarantee seating. Tickets must be purchased in advance through our website or by phone. We accept Visa & Mastercard only.
Advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended for the Mailboat & Fireworks Cruises, as well as the 1pm Sightseeing Cruise on weekends during the Fall Foliage season.
Do we need to bring life jackets?
No. The boat has all required safety equipment on board, including life jackets. Passengers are not required to wear a life jacket during the cruise, but we will happily provide one to any passenger that requests one. Children under 12 are not required to wear lifejackets, but parents are allowed to bring life jackets for their children to wear. Please watch small children riding on the upper deck.
How many people does the Clearwater carry?
111 passengers using both the upper & lower decks – though we generally limit ticket sales to approximately 100 passengers per cruise.
How many people does the Zilpha carry?
The Zilpha carries 49 passengers. There is no outside seating or smoking anywhere on the vessel.
How many people does the Mailboat carry?
The President Harrison seats 10 passengers in its cabin. There is no outside seating.
How big are the boats?
The Clearwater is 60’ long, the Zilpha is 45’ long, & the Mailboat is 35’ long.
Are the boats handicapped accessible?
The Clearwater and the Zilpha are handicapped accessible. The entryway on the Clearwater is 27” wide. The restroom on the Clearwater is not wheelchair accessible.
The Mailboat is not handicapped accessible.
Is there a restroom on the Clearwater/Zilpha/Mailboat?
Of course!
Is there anything to drink/eat on the boats?
The Clearwater has a snack bar on board serving coffee, tea, hot chocolate, bottled water, soda, beer, wine, and cocktails, chips, pretzels, candy, granola bars, nuts, and light lunch selections.
The Mailboat has no refreshments or snacks on board – passengers are welcome to bring a beverage & snack with them. The Zilpha lunch and brunch cruises include food.
Can I bring food and drinks on the boats?
Due to NYS liquor control regulations, no coolers or alcoholic beverages are allowed on board the Clearwater. The only exception to this rule is to accommodate medical conditions or mothers with baby feeding needs.
There is a snack bar serving refreshments, beer & wine and snacks. Passengers are welcome bring a bag lunch or snacks.
We discourage coolers on the Mailboat due to the limited cabin space. The Captain can choose to allow a small cooler that can be easily stowed under a seat or on the engine box and won’t hinder the deckhand moving through the cabin while making deliveries.
What if I make a reservation and cannot make the cruise?
Old Forge Lake Cruises cannot refund reservations but, you can reschedule for another similar cruise. Please call ahead to insure availability.
Below are the most commonly asked items pertaining to our online ticketing. If you have additional questions or comments, please feel free to call our business office at 315-369-6473.
Is my online purchase safe & secure?
Yes. Old Forge Lake Cruises utilizes 128 bit encryption Secure Socket Layer (SSL) throughout your order. Any questions at all, please contact us
How private is my information?
Old Forge Lake Cruises values your privacy and does not share or disseminate personal information with other parties. Your information is used only for future engagement and promotion to Old Forge Lake Cruises.
Can I make purchases from Old Forge Lake Cruises only online?
No. Tickets and Gift Certificates can also be purchased over the phone or in person through our Ticket Booth during normal business hours. If wish to save time you can submit your order online.
I want to take a cruise within the next 24 hours, what should I do?
You can stop by the Old Forge Lake Cruises Ticket Booth to purchase tickets in person or call our business office anytime Monday-Sunday between 9am & 5pm to purchase tickets over the phone. If you are calling after business hours, feel free to leave a message on our voicemail and a customer service representative will return your call the following business day. Tickets are sold up to scheduled departure time, as space allows.
