Charlottetown solar harbour cruise with live music

A boat powered by the sun instead of fuel, moving silently through the water where Canada began.

A 90-minute solar-powered harbour cruise in Charlottetown aboard the Isola Solaretto, a heritage vessel from Expo '67 rebuilt as North America's largest solar boat, with live music, tour commentary, WiFi and trivia with prizes included. The boat is fully covered with large windows and opening roof hatches, and a restroom is on board. Meal options (chicken or lobster lunch) are available at checkout for an additional cost. Children from age 2 are welcome. Infants ride free on an adult's lap.

Step-by-step itinerary

Solar-powered cruise with live music

• Board the solar-powered boat
• Listen to captain's history of Charlottetown Harbour
• Pass by Victoria Park and historic fort cannons
• See entrance to Charlottetown Harbour and Port-la-Joye
• View the Birthplace of Canada site
• Observe multi-million dollar houses and shoreline protection
• View Peake's Wharf and St. Dunstan's Basilica
• Learn about St. Dunstan's Basilica history
• See Beaconsfield Historic House
• Enjoy live maritime music onboard

The experience

What makes this cruise different is the boat itself: no diesel engine, no emissions, no noise. The Isola Solaretto runs entirely on solar power, which means you hear the captain's commentary and the live maritime music without the rumble and smell of a traditional tour boat. The covered cabin has large windows by every seat so you stay dry and warm while watching the harbour, and opening roof hatches let you catch the sun when the weather is clear.

The route moves through Charlottetown Harbour, the "Cradle of Confederation", and the captain walks you through the history as you pass it. You'll see Victoria Park with its historic cannons, Port-la-Joye (Fort Amherst) at Rocky Point where the colonies first met in 1864 to form Canada, and St. Dunstan's Basilica, one of only 27 designated basilicas in the country. The boat passes Peake's Wharf and the Beaconsfield Historic House, a Victorian mansion built in 1877 for a wealthy shipbuilder. Along the way, the captain points out the shoreline erosion that costs PEI about a foot of land every year, and shows examples of protection methods that work and ones that don't, including a $15 million home with armoring gone wrong.

WiFi is on board, and trivia with prizes runs throughout the cruise. A restroom is available, and you can walk around the boat, explore Expo '67 memorabilia, or take a turn at the helm. Meal options (chicken or lobster lunch) are available if you want to add them at checkout. Otherwise, the cruise ticket includes live music and tour commentary only. The boat departs at several times throughout the day, from a 9:30 a.m. cruise to a 5 p.m. sunset departure.

What’s included

• Live maritime music.
• WiFi on board.
• tour commentary from the captain.
• trivia with prizes.
• a restroom.
• and the ability to walk around the boat and explore Expo '67 memorabilia.

Options for this experience

15 options

Cruise at 12 PM from $29/hrGuide in English · Available from 11 Jun 2027Cruise at 12 PM from $29/hr

Cruise at 9:30 AM from $29/hrGuide in English · Available from 25 Oct 2027Cruise at 9:30 AM from $29/hr

Cruise at 2:30 PM from $29/hrGuide in English · Available from 25 Oct 2027Cruise at 2:30 PM from $29/hr

See 12 more options

6 PM 2-hour sunset cruise from $39/hrGuide in English · Available from 1 May 20272-hour sunset cruise (May to August): a longer evening cruise with live music, trivia and sightseeing on Charlottetown Harbour around sunset.

5 PM 2-hour sunset cruise from $39/hrGuide in English · Available from 25 Oct 20272-hour sunset cruise (May to August): a longer evening cruise with live music, trivia and sightseeing on Charlottetown Harbour around sunset.

12 PM cruise with a chicken lunchGuide in English · Available from 11 Jun 2027Quarter chicken lunch or dinner: a braised quarter chicken served with a Caesar salad (house-made dressing) and a fresh dinner roll.

2:30 PM cruise with a chicken lunchGuide in English · Available from 25 Oct 2027Quarter chicken lunch or dinner: a braised quarter chicken served with a Caesar salad (house-made dressing) and a fresh dinner roll.

5 PM sunset cruise with a chicken dinnerGuide in English · Available from 25 Oct 20272-hour sunset cruise: a longer evening cruise with live music, trivia and sightseeing on Charlottetown Harbour around sunset. Quarter chicken dinner: a braised quarter chicken served with a Caesar salad (house dressing) and a fresh dinner roll during the cruise.

6 PM sunset cruise with a chicken dinnerGuide in English · Available from 1 May 2027Longer 2-hour sunset cruise: a longer evening cruise with live music, trivia and sightseeing on Charlottetown Harbour around sunset. Chicken dinner included: a braised quarter chicken served with a Caesar salad (house dressing) and a fresh dinner roll during the cruise.

2:30 PM cruise with a lobster lunchGuide in English · Available from 25 Oct 2027PEI lobster dinner: half a PEI lobster served with a Caesar salad (house-made dressing) and a fresh dinner roll, enjoyed while cruising the harbour.

12 PM cruise with a lobster lunchGuide in English · Available from 11 Jun 2027PEI lobster dinner: half a PEI lobster served with a Caesar salad (house-made dressing) and a fresh dinner roll, enjoyed while cruising the harbour.

6 PM sunset cruise with a lobster dinnerGuide in English · Available from 1 May 20272-hour sunset cruise (May to August): a longer evening cruise with live music, trivia and sightseeing on Charlottetown Harbour as the sun sets. PEI lobster dinner: half a PEI lobster served with a Caesar salad (house-made dressing) and a fresh dinner roll, enjoyed while cruising the harbour.

5 PM sunset cruise with a lobster dinnerGuide in English · Available from 25 Oct 20275 PM sunset cruise with a lobster dinner: half a PEI lobster, Caesar salad and a fresh dinner roll on a 2-hour sunset cruise with live music, trivia and sightseeing. Sept/Oct

5 PM sunset surf and turf dinnerGuide in English · Available from 25 Oct 20272-hour sunset cruise (Sept/Oct): a 2-hour cruise with live music, trivia and sightseeing on beautiful Charlottetown Harbour during the sunset hours. Duration: 2 hours. Solar surf and turf dinner: our version of surf and turf, with PEI lobster and a braised quarter chicken dinner, Caesar salad, a fresh dinner roll and chocolate cheesecake.

6 PM sunset cruise with a surf and turf dinnerGuide in English · Available from 1 May 20272-hour sunset cruise: a longer evening cruise with live music, trivia and sightseeing on Charlottetown Harbour around sunset. Surf and turf dinner included: our version of surf and turf, with PEI lobster and a braised quarter chicken dinner, Caesar salad and a fresh dinner roll.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 May 2027

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (15 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (5 to 14 years) · Child (2 to 4 years): free

GroupUp to 34

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Ride Solar

Is this one for you?Book a morning or afternoon cruise if you want the harbour history and live music without the meal. Add the lobster or chicken lunch option at checkout if you'd like to turn it into a longer waterfront experience. The solar-powered boat runs silently, so you hear every word of the captain's commentary and the music without engine noise, which matters if you're bringing children or prefer a quieter pace on the water.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (5 to 14 years); Child (2 to 4 years): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Cradle of Confederation that the captain talks about?

The Cradle of Confederation is Charlottetown Harbour itself, where the colonies of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick met for the first time in 1864 to decide that Canada would become a country. The boat passes the exact site at Port-la-Joye (Fort Amherst) at Rocky Point, where this historic meeting took place.

Is food included in the cruise ticket, or do I have to buy it separately?

The cruise ticket includes live music, tour commentary, WiFi and trivia with prizes, but not a meal. Chicken or lobster lunch options are available at checkout for an additional cost. If you don't add a meal option, you'll have the tour and entertainment only.

How long is the cruise?

The cruise is 90 minutes long. Multiple departure times run throughout the day, including a 9:30 a.m. cruise, afternoon departures at 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., and a 5 p.m. sunset cruise.

What if I want to add a meal to my booking?

Meal options are chosen at checkout when you select your cruise time. The operator asks that you call or text through the booking platform to confirm same-day meal orders, as they may not always be available on short notice.

Will I be cold or wet on an open-air boat?

The boat is fully covered with large windows by every seat, so you stay protected from wind and rain. Opening roof hatches let you catch the sun on clear days, but you can stay inside the cabin if the weather turns. The covered design keeps you comfortable throughout the 90-minute cruise.