FAQS

Riverie is wheelchair and walker accessible.
-There are wheelchair ramps from the parking location to the waterfront along with a wheelchair ramp and platform to the boat.
-The bathroom on board is also wheelchair accessible. The bathroom is also big enough for caregiver assistance if needed.
-The bow (front) of the vessel is also wheelchair accessible, at this time the stern (back) of the boat is not.
*Please contact us prior to your cruise regarding your accessibility needs. This allows us to prep the boat prior to your arrival and accommodate any other accessibility needs on board the same cruise. We are able to accommodate up to 3 wheelchairs per cruise at this time*

Sam Patch has 3 steps to navigate in order to board and disembark the vessel. We can accommodate walkers if the passenger can receive assistance up and down stairs. There is limited space on board to move around with a walker but this can be accommodated if needed.
-For liability reasons, our staff is limited on being able to provide hands on assistance for boarding and deboarding. We request people who need assistance descending and ascending stairs have someone in their party help them.
-The onboard bathroom can accommodate a walker but the bathroom is small and might not be able to also accommodate a caregiver.
See the Sam Patch accessibility audit from Rochester Accessible Adventures
*Please contact us prior to your cruise regarding your accessibility needs. This allows us to prep the boat prior to your arrival and accommodate any other accessibility needs on board the same cruise.*

Riverie is located on the west bank of the Genesee River at 280 Exchange Blvd, Rochester, NY 14608 in the Corn Hill Neighborhood.
Sam Patch is located on the Erie Canal at 12 Schoen Place, Pittsford, NY 14534.

99.99% of the time, our boats will be in their home port! However, sometimes we like to move our boats for special trips! Be sure to check the information when booking your cruise where the start and end of your trip will be

For Riverie, park along Exchange Blvd. or in the lot at Corn Hill Landing in front of our office. Please feel free to park in “retail parking only” spaces as we are retail within the complex.

For Sam Patch, park on the other side of Schoen Place along the fence by the Coal Tower Restaurant. A sign will say “Sam Patch Parking.” We recommend you try to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your cruise departure time as the Village of Pittsford can get very busy on a warm summer day.

We do not offer reserved seating. All seating is first come, first served. However, most people like to get up and walk around.

On Riverie, chairs are not allowed on the bow but there is a flat raised surface in front of the captain’s cabin that can accommodate 2-3 passengers if you would like a brief place to sit on the front of the boat.

On Sam Patch, there is a bench that seats 2-3 people on the bow.

Due to our permits and licenses, passengers are not allowed to bring outside food and drink onboard. However, we will permit personal water bottles on board our vessels.

On both vessels we offer light snacks such as cookies and chips, along with a variety of sodas, lemonade, iced tea, and water available for purchase.

Both vessels also have a liquor license which allows our crew members to serve beer, wine, canned cocktails, and hard cider.

Passengers are not allowed to bring outside food or beverage on board. However, we will permit personal water bottles to be brought on board.

We also offer specific cruises where lunch and other food and beverages are available such as our Cider & Donut Cruises in the Fall.

Riverie cruises 90-minutes south on the Genesee River to the confluence of the river and the Erie Canal and then travel a short distance east or west on the canal. We also offer a 2.5 hour cruise that travels through Lock 33.
Sam Patch cruises west on the Erie Canal and travels through Lock 32 unless otherwise specified.

Yes, both vessels will cruise rain or shine. Our captains maintain the final say whether a cruise will be canceled due to inclement weather.

Most of our cruises feature live, guided narration.  Specialty cruises may feature music or other activities in lieu of a narration.  Please read the description of the cruise you are interested in.

While not required, we recommend you purchase your ticket in advance for a public cruise.

For cruises during the week we recommend purchasing tickets 1 week prior to your desired date and time. For weekends and holidays, booking 2-3 weeks ahead would be best. If you have any questions regarding availability, please feel free to contact the Sam Patch or Riverie ticket booth by calling 585-662-5748 or emailing info@cornhillnav.org

Ticket confirmations are emailed to customers after purchase and do not need to be printed out. The confirmation email acts as a receipt on your end. You will also receive an automated reminder email 24 hrs prior to your cruise.

No, we only need the name of the individual who booked the ticket and the number of passengers ready to board for that booking. Please check in with the Ticket Sales Associate 15 – 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time.

We start boarding 10 minutes prior to departure time.

Yes, Coast Guard regulations require that we have a life jacket for every passenger on board our vessels.

Yes, both of our vessels are U.S. Coast Guard Certified annually.

You are welcome to purchase tickets in the following ways:
-Online at http://www.cornhillnav.org
-Calling 585-662-5748 and paying by card over the phone with a Ticket Sales Associate.
-In-person with cash or card at one of our ticket locations(12 Schoen Place Pittsford, NY or 280 Exchange Blvd Rochester, NY )

We do not make cruise reservations without payment.

We accept all major credit cards and in-person purchases can be made by credit card or cash.

Yes. You can purchase these online or ask a Ticket Sales Associate for assistance.

No smoking or vaping is permitted on either vessel. This is a rule and regulation set by the US Coast Guard.

Pets are not allowed on either vessel. However, properly registered and trained service animals, with proper identification, are allowed. Please notify our staff in advance if you plan to bring a service animal on your cruise.

We do not offer group rates. However, if you have a large group and would like to reserve a private charter, please feel free to reach out to us and we would be happy to book a special trip for your group! Please go to our Private Charter page to learn more: Private Charters

Yes, we offer discount tickets to Active Military/Veterans.

Yes – both vessels can be privately chartered. Please see our private charter page for more information by clicking on the link: Private Charters

We offer lunch cruises on Sam Patch 7 days a week on our noon cruises and on Riverie during our Saturday and Sunday Lock 33 cruises.

We may occasionally offer dinner cruises throughout the season. Please check our cruise schedule for more information.

However, the best way to enjoy a meal on one of our boats is to privately charter the vessel with one of our approved caterers.

We are a small nonprofit organization and we rely on ticket sales to fund our education initiatives and get as many people as possible out on Rochester’s incredible waterways.

We will gladly refund your ticket purchase or switch you to another trip if you notify us by phone or email more than 24 hours before your departure time.

If you are unable to attend a cruise and notify us within 24 hours of the departure time, we can issue a credit for a future trip or switch you to another scheduled trip. We do not issue refunds for cancellations within 24 hours.

Occasionally, it’s necessary to cancel a scheduled cruise due to inclement weather or for emergency vessel repairs. In these cases, we’ll work with you to reschedule your cruise, issue a credit for a future trip, or process a refund.

For questions, refund requests, or changes to your reservation, please call us at 585-662-5748 or email info@cornhillnav.org.

Usually tours on Sam Patch and Riverie depart every two hours from the first scheduled trip of the day. Both vessels operate on different schedules and days. Please check our cruise schedule for more information.

Most tours are 90 minutes long.
We also have 75 minute cruises, 2 hour cruises, and 2.5 hour cruises throughout the season.

We do not have age restrictions. However, we do ask that minors 14 and under are accompanied by an adult.
Children ages 3 and under are free but need a ticket due to Coast Guard passenger count requirements.

Maybe, it depends on how many passengers are on the cruise and if you are willing to fold up the stroller. Please reach out to our Ticket Sales Representative prior to your cruise to assist with making arrangements.

Yes, there are restrooms on board both vessels.
The bathroom on Riverie is wheelchair and walker accessible and also allows space for a caregiver if needed.
The bathroom on Sam Patch can accommodate a walker and possibly a caregiver but it is a much smaller bathroom than Riverie’s.

Neither boat is air conditioned. We hope you can enjoy the fresh breeze on your cruise as a way to cool off!

Our vessels are not heated.

Please plan to dress accordingly if coming on board in the Spring and late Fall. The canal is beautiful during both Spring and Fall but we can experience rain and colder weather during these cruises. We recommend wearing layers, gloves, and hats on these cruises.

Wi-Fi is not available to passengers on our vessels.

Wear casual, comfortable clothes and sensible shoes such as sneakers or deck shoes. Please dress appropriately for the weather. It is recommended to bring a jacket along.

Each passenger can bring one hand- or tote bag onboard.

The Erie Canal and Genesee River are placid, slow-moving bodies of water. Motion sickness is rare, but is sometimes experienced by those who are particularly sensitive.  If you are prone to motion sickness, we recommend taking over-the-counter medication prior to your scheduled departure or not going on the cruise.