The best way to get close to Lake Tahoe, if you don't own a boat, is on a Lake Tahoe cruise.
Reasons to Take a Lake Tahoe Cruise
- A drive around the lake shows a few of its faces. A walk along the shore uncovers others. A Lake Tahoe cruise reveals still more.
- The lake water's color changes subtly from aquamarine to cobalt as the cruise leaves the shore. When the boat gains speed, the wake is awash with sapphires and diamonds, studded with bubbles floating to the surface like pearls. Emerald Bay, fittingly named, glistens like a vast gemstone.
- A Lake Tahoe cruise is an easy way to get to Emerald Bay, the destination of the boat trips, where the Vikingsholm castle completes a fjord-like scene. On the bay's tiny island, Lora Knight's abandoned tea house broods above 300-year-old natural bonsai trees.
- On a Lake Tahoe cruise, you can best see the mountains encircling the lake like the edges of an irregularly shaped bowl.
Lake Tahoe Cruise Practicalities
- Reserve your Lake Tahoe cruise in advance if the area is busy.
- I took my cruise on the Tahoe Queen. If you're taking it, walk to the dock or take their free shuttle. Parking at Mariner's Village adds another $7 to your ticket price.
- From inside the boat's cabin, the views seem like scenes from a movie. To fully enjoy the experience, get outside and feel the wind and sun and spray.
- Wear PLENTY of sunscreen - thin air coupled with reflection from the water can burn much faster than normal.
Lake Tahoe Cruise Companies
- North Tahoe Cruises: Scenic cruises on the paddlewheeler Tahoe Gal.
- Tahoe Bleu Wave: Departing from Round Hill Pine Beach, they offer Emerald Bay cruises and adults-only dinner cruises.
- Tahoe Star : Daily cruises to Emerald Bay in the private yacht of gaming legend William Harrah.
- Woodwind Cruises: Sailing excursions from Zephyr Cove Resort or Camp Richardson Resort. They also offer classic motor yachtcruises to Thunderbird Lodge Historic Site and along the West Shore.
- Zephyr Cove Marina: Cruises to Emerald Bay on the sternwheelers M.S. Dixie II and Tahoe Queen, dinner cruises and Sunday brunches.
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was
provided with a complimentary cruise on the Dixie II for the purpose of reviewing it. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.
