Montreal: St. Lawrence River Cruise & Olympic Stadium
The St. Lawrence opens up from the water: here's what you see from the boat
You board at Old Montreal's historic docks and spend 1.5 hours cruising 22 miles of the St. Lawrence River with a bilingual guide pointing out the Biosphere, Olympic Stadium, Jacques Cartier Bridge, and Boucherville Islands. An onboard bar serves drinks and snacks (the 4pm cruise includes one free drink), and an audioguide offers eight language options if you prefer not to rely on live commentary. You return to the same dock by early evening, having seen the city from the water without arranging transport or timing yourself.
Compare the 4 alternatives
Montreal: St Lawrence River Boat Tour & Fall Apéro HourSat and Sun · First departure 11:30, last 16:30 · Season until 18 Oct · From age 5★ 4.59 (138)1hEN · FRCA$ 25View ›
Montreal Shore Excursion: 6 Top Sights with GuideEvery day · 11:00 · All ages★ 3.71 (79)3h 30mEN · FRCA$ 60View ›
Montreal: St. Lawrence Cruise & Notre-Dame AURA Light ShowSat and Sun · 11:30, 14:00 and 16:00 · All ages★ 4.13 (75)2h 30mEN · FRCA$ 109View ›
Quebec City: Montmorency Falls & St Lawrence River CruiseEvery day · 07:00 · Season until 31 Oct★ 4.53 (914)13hEN · FRCA$ 185View › Compare more experiences like this »
Step-by-step itinerary
Montreal St. Lawrence River Cruise
- Board boat at Old Montréal
- Relax on sunny terraces
- Enjoy panoramic city views
- See Old Port of Montreal
- Pass Jacques-Cartier Bridge
- View islands of Boucherville
- Sail near La Ronde shore
- See Biosphere on Île Sainte-Hélène
- View Montreal Olympic Park
- Enjoy onboard bar and snacks
The experience
The boat pushes off from Old Montreal's historic docks, and within minutes the city tilts into a completely different frame. You're on the AML Cavalier Maxim, a 1.5-hour guided cruise that travels 22 miles along the St. Lawrence River, and the whole point is that you stop arranging and start looking. Your bilingual guide narrates as you pass the Jacques Cartier Bridge, Île Sainte-Hélène with the Biosphere's white dome catching the light, the Olympic Stadium where the 1976 games happened, and the Îles de Boucherville sliding past on the eastern stretch. There's an outdoor deck if the weather holds, or a glassed-in dining room if it doesn't.
The audioguide works in eight languages (French, English, Italian, Spanish, German, Mandarin, Japanese, and Korean), so you're not dependent on catching every word from the live commentary. The bar and bistro on board serve sandwiches, salads, snacks, and drinks. The 4pm departure includes a free drink for anyone 13 and over (alcoholic for adults), which is the kind of detail that makes an afternoon feel less like a checklist. Everything else (food, extra drinks, the Captain's cocktails). You pay for on the spot, and they take card only, no cash. Boarding starts about 30 minutes before departure, and the boats run rain or shine unless conditions get genuinely unsafe, so dress for cooler water temperatures even if the city feels warm.
You're seeing Montreal from an angle most visitors miss. The Old Port itself is one of the stops, but from the water it reads differently: the European architecture of the district, the working harbor, the way the river connects the city to something older and wider than the streets. The Biosphere and Olympic Stadium are landmarks you might glimpse from land, but from the boat they're not background. They're the reason you're here, and the guide's stories about the city's history land differently when you're floating past the actual places.
What’s included
- 1.5-hour guided cruise along the St. Lawrence River.
- bilingual expert guide with live commentary.
- audioguide in eight languages.
- views of the Old Port, Biosphere, Olympic Stadium, Jacques Cartier Bridge, and Boucherville Islands.
- access to outdoor decks and glassed-in dining room.
- onboard bar and bistro with snacks and beverages.
- one free drink on the 4pm departure (age 13+).
- local taxes and fees.
Options for this experience
2 optionsYou pick the guide language when booking.
Before you book
Prices and times updated 6 days ago
Operated by Croisieres AML
Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Montreal's major waterfront landmarks without renting a car or planning your own route. The boat does the navigation, the guide does the history, and you get the city from an angle most visitors don't.
Traveler reviews
Top questions
What languages is the guide in?
Live guide in English and French.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 12 years); Infant (under 2): 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.
How long is the cruise?
1.5 hours, covering 22 miles of the St. Lawrence River.
Where does the boat depart from?
Old Montreal's historic port, with boarding starting approximately 30 minutes before departure.
What landmarks do you see?
The Old Port, Biosphere, Olympic Stadium, Jacques Cartier Bridge, Île Sainte-Hélène, and the Îles de Boucherville.
Is there food and drink on board?
Yes, the onboard bar and bistro serve sandwiches, salads, snacks, and beverages. The 4pm departure includes one free drink per person aged 13+. All other food and drinks are at your own expense, paid by credit card only.
Does the cruise run in bad weather?
Cruises operate rain or shine unless weather conditions pose a safety risk. Dress warmly, as temperatures on the water are cooler than on land.
How do I pay for food and drinks on board?
Credit card only. Cash is not accepted on board.
Montreal: St. Lawrence River Cruise & Olympic Stadium
1h 30m · EN · FR
from CA$ 49.99 per person
3.75456 reviewsVerified traveler reviews via our booking provider