1000 Islands Cruise Prices & Tickets: Kingston, Gananoque, Ivy Lea and Rockport Compared

Kingston cruise prices

Discovery Cruise

Current base pricing on the Kingston: Waterfront Discovery Cruise (4.2★, 162 reviews, from $34):

• Adult: C$39.50
• Child: C$29.50
• Infant: C$5

plus HST and an applicable fuel surcharge.

The route focuses on Kingston’s historic waterfront rather than Boldt Castle — an important distinction if the castle is why you came.

Heart of the Islands

Current base pricing on the Kingston: Heart of the Thousand Islands Riverboat Cruise (4.3★, 1,057 reviews, from $51):

• Adult: C$59.50
• Child: C$47.50
• Infant: C$5

plus HST.

The extra cost over the one-hour cruise buys:

• three hours instead of one
• the Admiralty Islands
• narrow channels
• cottage islands
• Mandalay Mansion

For first-time visitors who actually want to see the 1000 Islands rather than the Kingston harbour, the upgrade is usually worthwhile.

Shipwreck Cruise

Current base pricing on the Kingston: Waterfront Shipwreck Cruise with Guide (4.0★, 27 reviews, from $38):

• Adult: C$44.50
• Child: C$34.50
• Infant: C$5

plus HST and surcharge.

Choose it for the maritime-history theme, not on the assumption that a 1.5-hour trip necessarily sees more islands than a one-hour one. It also sits at 3.97 stars — the lowest rating of any cruise on this site — so read the recent reviews before booking.

Sunset Cocktail Cruise

Current adult base fare on the Kingston: Waterfront Sunset Cocktail Cruise: C$49.50 + HST, plus a C$1.75 per person fuel surcharge. This cruise is no longer listed on GetYourGuide and is sold direct by the operator — our Kingston sunset cruise guide sets out what it covers and how it compares with the Dinner Cruise.

Drinks are purchased separately. It is a 19+ evening product rather than a pure sightseeing-value choice, and it has only 13 reviews behind its rating so far.

Lunch and brunch

Current base fares on the Kingston: Lunch Cruise of Thousand Islands (4.5★, 333 reviews, from $78):

• Adult: C$92.50
• Child: C$80.50
• Infant: C$5

plus HST.

The ticket includes a three-course meal as well as the three-hour island route. A brunch cruise has run on the same route in past seasons, but it is not currently listed for booking — if brunch specifically is what you want, check back rather than budgeting for it. Our lunch and brunch cruises guide covers what both actually include, side by side.

Sunset Dinner

Current base fare on the Kingston: Sunset Dinner Cruise (4.5★, 310 reviews, from $103): C$124 + HST per adult, plus surcharge, drinks, gratuity and any optional upgrades. Our Kingston dinner cruise guide covers what the meal includes and when the lunch cruise is the better buy.

For two adults:

2 × C$124 = C$248 before tax

After 13% HST, approximately C$280.24 — before extras.

Gananoque prices

City Cruises may use live, date-dependent pricing on the Gananoque 1000 Islands Cruise (4.5★, 5,683 reviews, from $30), so check your exact date rather than a published rate card.

Typical headline pricing has placed the short one-hour products around the high C$30s, with the three-hour route priced above that.

Parking at the Gananoque port can be an additional cost.

Is the 3-hour cruise good value?

Usually yes.

The price difference between short and long sightseeing is often much smaller than the difference in duration. If you have the time, the three-hour cruise offers excellent price-per-hour value — a point our route and duration breakdown makes across every port.

Ivy Lea prices

The one-hour Ivy Lea route is generally one of the lower-priced ways to see:

• Boldt Castle
• the 1000 Islands International Bridge
• central island scenery

Because parking policies can change, check your specific booking confirmation rather than relying on an older listing. Ivy Lea also runs a longer 2-Hour Two Castle 1000 Islands Scenic Cruise (4.3★, 253 reviews, from $35) if you want Singer Castle in the same trip.

Rockport prices

Rockport publishes especially clear fixed pricing.

Typical 2026 adult sightseeing fares:

• 1 hour: C$37
• 2 hours: C$43
• 3 hours: C$49

plus 13% HST.

This pricing structure makes the longer options unusually attractive. Going from one hour to three hours costs only C$12 more before tax.

Rockport child prices

Typical published sightseeing rates:

1 hour

• Adult C$37
• Senior C$32
• Child C$25
• Infant C$5

2 hours

• Adult C$43
• Senior C$38
• Child C$28
• Infant C$5

3 hours

• Adult C$49
• Senior C$44
• Child C$31
• Infant C$5

plus HST.

Boldt Castle cruise prices

Be careful with the phrase “Boldt Castle cruise”, because it can mean either:

1. a sightseeing boat that passes the castle, or
2. a cruise that lands on Heart Island.

The second is naturally more expensive — and it requires a passport, since Heart Island is in New York State. Our passport requirements guide covers the documents, and the Boldt Castle cruise guide compares every route that reaches the island.

Rockport 4-hour stopover

Typical adult fare: C$69 + HST, with castle admission included.

Compared with a C$49 three-hour sightseeing ticket, an extra C$20 is a sensible upgrade if you genuinely intend to go inside the castle.

Rockport 5-hour package

Typical adult fare: C$99 + HST, with a longer Heart Island visit, Yacht House access and lunch.

Two Castle Stopover

Typical adult fare: C$154 + HST.

This is a full-day excursion rather than budget sightseeing.

How much does HST add?

Ontario HST is 13%.

Always compare checkout totals, not search-result headline prices.

Extra costs

Potential extras include:

• HST
• fuel surcharge
• parking
• drinks
• snacks
• gratuities
• premium tables
• ticket assurance
• transport to the dock

Parking costs

Gananoque

Paid port parking may apply.

Ivy Lea

Check your current booking; parking terms have varied between listings.

Rockport

Parking is commonly included or waived with a cruise purchase, subject to availability.

Kingston

There is no dedicated cruise parking at Crawford Wharf — use downtown parking, and budget for it if you are driving in.

Are drinks included?

Usually not on sightseeing cruises.

Licensed bars and snack counters can add materially to the final cost, particularly for couples or families buying several rounds.

Can you bring your own food?

Policies vary, but the major operators generally restrict outside food and drink.

If you are travelling on a budget, eat before boarding rather than assuming you can bring a picnic. Our what to expect guide covers onboard facilities in more detail.

Book online or at the dock?

Book ahead if:

• you are travelling in July or August
• you need a specific departure time
• you are booking a dining cruise
• you are booking a castle stopover
• you are travelling as a group

Walk-up availability may exist, but peak departures do sell out.

Direct vs GetYourGuide or Viator

Compare:

• the final price
• cancellation terms
• booking fees
• the exact route
• the departure point
• attraction admission
• currency

A third-party listing can be more convenient and often carries free cancellation, but make sure you are comparing the same cruise, at the same duration, from the same dock.

Are longer cruises better value?

Often yes, in price-per-hour terms.

Rockport is the clearest example:

• 1 hour: C$37
• 2 hours: C$43
• 3 hours: C$49

That does not mean everyone should buy the three-hour trip. Duration should match the traveller — three hours is a long time on a boat with a restless five-year-old.

Best cruise under C$40

Look first at:

• Rockport 1-hour
• Ivy Lea 1-hour
• Gananoque 1-hour

Best around C$50

Strong options include:

• Rockport 3-hour Two Castle
• the Gananoque 3-hour, depending on the live price
• Kingston Sunset Cocktail

These are very different experiences, so do not choose purely on price.

Best around C$60

Kingston Heart of the Islands at C$59.50 + HST is the obvious choice if you are staying in Kingston and do not want to drive east.

Best under C$100

Depending on your interests:

• sightseeing: Gananoque or Rockport
• Boldt Castle stopover: the Rockport 4-hour
• a meal onboard: the Kingston lunch cruise
• an extended Boldt experience: the Rockport 5-hour

Cheapest way to see Boldt Castle

You do not need a stopover ticket.

A standard sightseeing cruise from Ivy Lea, Rockport or Gananoque will show you the castle from the water for the price of a basic ticket — and without any passport requirement.

Cheapest way to visit inside Boldt Castle

Compare the stopover products and make sure castle admission is actually included.

A low headline ticket can end up more expensive once admission and other components are charged separately.

Is a dinner cruise worth C$124?

It depends what you are comparing it against.

Against a basic sightseeing ticket, it is expensive.

Against:

• a three-hour cruise
• a three-course restaurant dinner
• live entertainment
• sunset over the islands

the gap becomes much more understandable.

Choose it for a special occasion, not for budget sightseeing.

How to save money

• Choose sightseeing instead of dining.
• Compare short-cruise departure points before you commit to one town.
• Check what parking will cost at your chosen port.
• Use family passes where they are available.
• Eat before boarding.
• Do not pay for a castle stopover if all you want is a photograph.
• Compare prices after HST, not before.
• Do not automatically choose the shortest cruise — longer sightseeing is often the stronger value.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a 1000 Islands cruise cost?

Basic one-hour Canadian sightseeing cruises generally start around C$37–C$40 before tax in operator list prices, or from $30 as a GetYourGuide booking.

How much is the Kingston cruise?

The one-hour Discovery is about C$39.50 + HST; the three-hour Heart of the Islands is about C$59.50 + HST.

How much is the Rockport cruise?

Typical 2026 adult sightseeing prices are C$37, C$43 and C$49 for one, two and three hours respectively, plus HST.

How much is a Boldt Castle stopover?

Rockport’s shorter stopover product has been around C$69 + HST for adults, with castle admission included.

How much is the Kingston lunch cruise?

About C$92.50 + HST for an adult, with a three-course meal included.

How much is the dinner cruise?

About C$124 + HST for an adult, before drinks, gratuity and upgrades.

Are taxes included in 1000 Islands cruise prices?

Often not in operator list prices. Ontario HST is 13%, and some operators add a fuel surcharge on top.

Is parking included?

It depends on the departure point. Rockport commonly includes it; Gananoque may charge; Kingston has no dedicated cruise parking at all.

Final verdict: how much should you budget?

A practical 2026 budget, per adult, after tax:

1-hour sightseeing

C$40–C$50

3-hour sightseeing

C$55–C$70+

Boldt Castle stopover

C$75–C$115+, depending on the package

Lunch or brunch

Around C$105+, before extras

Dinner

Around C$140+, before drinks, gratuity and upgrades

Best budget cruise: Ivy Lea or Rockport 1-hour

Best price-per-hour: Rockport 3-hour or Gananoque 3-hour

Best value from Kingston: Heart of the Islands

Best-value Boldt visit: the shorter Rockport stopover

Best premium experience: Kingston Sunset Dinner

Saving C$10 on the wrong route is rarely a bargain. Compare the final price after tax, parking and extras, then choose the cruise that actually shows you what you came to see — our St. Lawrence River cruise guide sets out what each route covers.

Ready to book?

Compare every cruise on price and route — Kingston, Gananoque, Ivy Lea and Rockport side by side, with live availability and free cancellation on most tickets.