Maid of the Mist vs. Hornblower: the two Niagara Falls cruises

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For those at Niagara Falls, a short cruise on the Maid of the Mist is an absolute must: what’s the point of arriving in the area and visiting this natural wonder without taking at least one boat ride to Niagara Falls? Surely this is the best way to come into direct contact with the ancestral power of nature, almost touching the devastating impact of the water element.

Approximately 600,000 gallons of water per second: that’s the impressive flow of Niagara Falls! Are you ready to get close to the thundering spray of the 3 imposing waterfalls (Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and American Falls) that practically mark the border between the United States and Canada? So here’s what you need to know about the Maid of the Mist and the Hornblower (the Canadian counterpart).

Contents

Maid of the Mist Tour (USA)
Hornblower Tour (Canada)
- Hornblower Cruises Niagara Falls Information
- Tickets and Tours

Maid of the Mist Tour (USA)

the History of Maid of the Mist

The first Maid of the Mist, significantly smaller than the current ones, dates back to 1846 but was replaced by a larger second boat just 8 years later. During the Civil War, the Maid of the Mist was sold at auction and transferred by Captain Robinson to Lake Ontario, where it was destroyed during a storm.

For more than twenty years, Niagara Falls had no boat, but in June 1885, the Maid of the Mist was finally rebuilt, and the route included a closer approach to the Horseshoe Falls. Over the decades, the boat has been rebuilt, reinforced, and enlarged several times. However, it was in 1955 that the first modern Maid of the Mist, built entirely of steel, was inaugurated.

Due to the increasing number of tourists, the ship’s capacity has gradually increased: from 101 passengers, it has reached 600 passengers of the current boat, the seventh in the long history of the Maid of the Mist.

How to Get There

The address of the Niagara Falls Visitor Center, where the boats depart, is 1 Prospect St, Niagara Falls. In the immediate vicinity, you will find parking (Lot 1), where you can park for a fee of $10 per day. If you park in the adjacent Mayor Michael O’Laughlin Dr parking lot, it costs $5; it’s just a bit farther from the Visitor Center but is a valid option.

From Parking Lot 1, you’ll take a short walk through the park and arrive at Prospect Point, where the main park building is located. From here, you already have a beautiful view of the falls, but it’s nothing compared to what awaits you!

Maid of the Mist Information

The Maid of the Mist tour lasts for 20 minutes, and the boats depart every 15 minutes. The ticket costs $28.25 for adults, while children aged 6 to 12 pay $17.75. This ticket includes access to the Maid of the Mist and the elevator that will take you down to the water level for boarding.

You will also be provided with the classic blue waterproof poncho. My advice is to dress appropriately because it can get quite windy on the boat, and you will likely get wet anyway! The cruise itinerary will take you in front of the American Falls, the Bridal Veil Falls, and then up close to the powerful Canadian falls, the Horseshoe Falls. The tour ends where it began.

Hours of Operation

You cannot make reservations in advance, but you can purchase tickets from the official website.

The Maid of the Mist operates from April 15th to November 5th, but the hours vary. Here are the details of the boat’s activity period for the Niagara Falls:

April 15 – May 19: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekends.
May 20 – Memorial Day: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (to 8:00 PM on Memorial Day weekend).
Memorial Day – June 14: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekdays; 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM on saturday.
June 15 – August 6: 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
August 7 – August 26: 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM.
August 27 – Labor Day: 9:00 AM to 7:15 PM (early closure at 5 PM; Labor Day).
Labor Day – October 1: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekends.
October 2 – October 29: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
October 30 – November 3: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

For hours during Victoria Day, Memorial Day Weekend, and Labor Day, please check the official website on this page.

Niagara Falls Cruise Deluxe Tour

We recommend a comprehensive tour that includes the Maid of the Mist boat ride along with:

A tour of the best viewpoints to see the falls.
A visit to the Skylon Tower for panoramic views.
A guided walk behind the falls (substitute activity for Maid of the Mist during the low season).
A visit to the Cave of the Winds.

This tour includes all road and bridge tolls and hotel pickup and drop-off in Niagara Falls (not valid for Buffalo or Toronto). For more information on accommodations, you can read our article on Where to Stay in Niagara Falls. You can find all the details about this tour in the following link:

Info on the Deluxe Tour of Niagara Falls

You can also find a list of all the other tours related to the Maid of the Mist boat ride at the link below:

All Tours with the Maid of the Mist Boat Ride

Hornblower Tour (Canada)

On the Canadian side of the falls, there is a counterpart to the Maid of the Mist boat called Hornblower.

The boarding point for Hornblower is right across from that of the Maid of the Mist, on the opposite shore. The address is Niagara Parkway, which is a 5-minute walk from the Rainbow Bridge that connects the United States and Canada. You can leave your car on the American side and walk to the Canadian side, so you don’t have to worry about parking. To find out what you need to do to pass through customs, take a look at our article dedicated to the best things to do in Niagara Falls.

Hornblower Cruises Niagara Falls Information

Here’s what you need to know:

The duration of the tour is the same (20 minutes), and the boats also depart every 15 minutes.
The itinerary is the same: after the panoramic tour of the three waterfalls, you will return to the starting point.
The price in US dollars is approximately $24
You will be provided with a poncho, but be careful because there is still a risk of getting wet. The poncho is red.
The Hornblower boat operates from April 1st to November 30th. You can find detailed schedules here.

Tickets and Tours

You can purchase tickets for the Hornblower at this address.

If you want to see Niagara Falls on the Canadian side with an organized tour, click on the link below: you will find some tours that include the Hornblower boat cruise.

All tours with Hornblower boat

Here is the most popular tour, including a dinner and the fireworks show:

Fireworks cruise at Niagara Falls

Warning: Operating hours can change and closures for extraordinary events can occur, so we strongly suggest to check the venues official websites.