niagara city cruises vs maid of the mist

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Hornblower Niagara Cruises vs Maid of the Mist

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Mapping out your impending Niagara Falls Tour? A boat tour to the Falls would definitely be on the theme! Right? And we’re damn sure you must be grappling between the two available Niagara Falls cruises: Hornblower Niagara Cruises and Maid of the Mist. Not sure which one to opt for & for what reasons? Don’t you worry! We have it all researched for you. Read thoroughly, book your boat tour with aplomb, and voila! You’re ready for your not-so-easy-to-forget splashy tour to the Falls!

Let us first introduce you to the two rivaling queens of the Niagara River.

Maid of the Mist

(Credit: Maid of the Mist/ Facebook)

Located at Prospect Street in Niagara Falls, New York State, United States of America, Maid of the Mist reserves the laurel of being the pioneer of boat tours to the Falls. Maid of the Mist boat tour has known Niagara waters since 1846 when it carried its first bunch of avid travelers to & from the Falls. Since then, this boat has taken many of the renowned names to the Falls tour including Princess Diana & Prince Charles, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Albert Edward.

Over time, Maid of the Mist has shuffled its vessels to ensure a state-of-the-art boat experience for its passengers. The fleet got its latest vessels in 2020 when two all-new, fully electric boats were added. So! if prominence really matters to you, Maid of the Mist is destined to be your choice!

Enjoy Your Hassle-Free Boat Ride to the Falls

Hornblower Niagara Cruises

(Credit: relivinmoments / Instagram)

It came, it saw, and it conquered the Niagara Falls boat tour market in 2013 when the Canadian Government awarded the contract for the Niagara boat tour to Hornblower. Located on Niagara Parkway at the foot of Clifton Hill, the Hornblower Niagara Cruises operates on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. Hornblower’s fleet for Niagara tours also comprises of two ships: Niagara Wonder and Niagara Thunder. Each vessel takes 700 passengers to Niagara River’s excursion to the Falls.

Done with our sneak peek into each of the two signature Niagara Falls tour boats. And with this, a lot of questions would be popping up in your mind. Let’s explore the differences between the two boat tours bit by bit!

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Which One Operates Where?

Well, the Maid of the Mist glides from the US side of Niagara Falls from the boarding dock located in the Niagara Falls State Park, New York. Whereas the Hornblower Niagara Cruise sets its sails from the Canadian side from Niagara Parkway at the foot of Clifton Hill.

So! If you’re visiting the US side of the Falls, Maid of the Mist makes sense. And if you happen to be traveling the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, Hornblower Niagara Cruise should be your choice. . . and if you have valid travel documents, voila! Enjoy the freedom, cross the Rainbow Bridge, and hop on any of the two boats (of your choice, of course!).

Are Routes Same for Both?

Yes! Each of the two vessels offers a timed 20-minute cruise taking you up & close to each of the three Falls: the American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Horseshoe Falls. However, only Hornblower offers the Niagara Falls Fireworks Cruise and Falls Illumination Cruise.

Will I Get a Poncho Free?

Yes! Both, Maid of Midst and Hornblower Cruise, offer free ponchos to the passengers.

What Color Poncho Will I Get? 

Maid of Midst would drape you in a blue poncho while Hornblower Cruise would tuck you into a red poncho. If you’re a girl with a strong preference for girly colors, better to book a ride with Hornblower Cruise! While men might like blue ponchos.

(Credit: charlotte.walsh13 / Instagram)

Well, our take on this is that colors should be gender-neutral! So, as long as you’re getting a free poncho, go color-free and choose whatever boat you would like to ride!

What Amenities Would I Find?

Maid of the Mist does not have a seating arrangement, and passengers have to see it all standing on its upper & lower deck. It is wheelchair accessible. No pets are allowed on board the vessel except for service dogs.

The Hornblower Cruise has a dedicated seating arrangement, though you can also enjoy the boat standing if you prefer it this way. It also has bathrooms and viewing areas on its lower deck. It is wheelchair accessible as well.

What is the Tour Season?

Maid of the Mist boat ride runs its operations from May to Early-November.

Hornblower has a relatively longer tour season, extending from April to End-November.

Do I Need a Vaccination Certificate to Get Onboard?

As of 2022, the Maid of Midst does not require a vaccination certificate to get on board. Hornblower does not require such a certificate.

Which One Should I Choose?

Since the differences between the two cruises aren’t that significant, your choice largely depends on the side of Niagara Falls you happen to be! If you don’t have the appropriate travel documents, then by default you’ll have to take the cruise available on the side of Niagara River you happen to be i.e., Maid of the Mist on the US side, and Hornblower Cruise on the Canadian side. 

If you have appropriate travel documents and reserve the freedom to cross the rainbow bridge, you’ll need extra time and extra bucks. Warning! Crossing the Rainbow would take time whether you walk across it to take a boat to reach the other side. You’ll also incur a fee (though only a few dollars) for crossing the bridge!

Wanna explore Niagara Falls to & beyond its signature Falls? Explore these Niagara Falls Tours featuring iconic experiences book your favorite tour now!

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maid of the mist/niagara city cruises - Niagara Falls Forum

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wondering whether to do the us maid of the mist or the canadian equivalent.. will be visiting both sides so not bothered either way but is the canadian one slightly cheaper? the only thing i could see that put me off the canadian one was that you have to fix a time to go-wont know til near the dock what time will be poss (only a short visit) so that put me off the canadian side..or am i misunderstanding the reservation process?

6 replies to this topic

Hi londongoto;

~ You are consulted about what time you wish to board.

~ Each catamaran carries up to 700 passengers.

Which side is your hotel located on? That may be the deciding factor as you can get very wet aboard either boat cruise and may want to return to your hotel to change clothes.

Best Regards

Over the 4th we did the Canadian side. We walked up purchased tickets and boarded. We did not buy in advance.

We always choose by ‘crowd’. The emptier the boat, the more fun. We like to get a front rail spot

It's all dependent on the current exchange rate.

MOTM - $28.25 USD = approx. 22 GBP

Niagara City - $32.75 CAD = approx. 19 GBP

You do not need to reserve a time. Many many people just walk up and there is space available. The boat holds 700 people.

Thanks all..we are arriving rochester and driving onto detroit via niagara so not staying a night.

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What is the difference between Hornblower and the Maid of the Mist

Who doesn’t come to Niagara and see the falls? And there are so many ways to do that – observation decks along the riverbank, tours through the caves behind the falls, looking out from atop the falls on Goat Island and a breathtaking Fallsview Room .

One of the most popular ways to get up close and personal to the waterfalls is by experiencing a cruise right up next to the Falls.

Historic Maid of the Mist

The name most commonly associated with that thrill is the Maid of the Mist – a name associated with the ferries shooting up and down the river since 1846 . ‘Iconic’ is a word that has lost most of its splendour from overuse, but the Maid of the Mist is synonymous with Niagara River ferries in a way that really does make it iconic.

A lot of people visiting the Canadian side of Niagara Falls ask after the Maid of the Mist, and there can be a bit of confusion on what’s ‘happened’ to the Maid ferries. They still run, of course, but since 2013 the port of call for the Maid of the Mist ferries has been from the United States only .

Enter Hornblower Cruises

This brings us to the new kid on the block— Niagara Hornblower Cruises . Hornblower cruise ships are the currently chartered ferry line for the tours that leave from the Canadian side of the border . Similar service, a different moniker with newer boats, a hipper vibe and an upgrading launching pavilion.

Both cruise ships will take you to the rim of Niagara Falls. So if you’re in Canadian Niagara Falls, ask after the Hornblower – and you’ll get the same great experience arriving at the cusp of the Horseshoe Falls just as every ferry on the river has always provided.

If you’re staying in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, book a trip aboard Hornblower Cruises and stay at the closest hotel to The Brink of Niagara Falls , the Marriott on the Falls. For more information on cruises, hotels, things to do and great rates, visit our homepage: Marriott on the Falls Niagara Falls Hotel .

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