Coupon, Free Pass, Gift Certificate FAQ

We have not partnered with Groupon for more than 5 years. We are no longer able to accept reservations—online or in person—for expired Groupon vouchers

1. Select the Historical Cruise you’d like to book.

2. Choose the number of people in your reservation.

3. For each ticket, enter your code in the field labeled “Do you have a gift certificate, company code, or promo code?”

Holiday Specials (2-for-1 or 4-for-2):
These specials include one unique code. Enter that same code for each ticket in your reservation.

Example:
If you purchased a 2-for-1 gift certificate, use your unique code for each of the two tickets when booking.

Yes. Your code is limited to the number of tickets included in your offer. For example, if you purchased or received a 4-for-2 special, you may use your unique code up to four times on any Historical Cruise throughout the summer.

• If you purchased or received a gift certificate for a Historical Cruise on the Chautauqua Belle, your code(s) can be found in the confirmation email that was sent to you.

• If you won a raffle or contest, please contact the organization that provided the prize. They are responsible for giving you the gift certificate code(s), and you should have received a flyer with the code from them.

To reserve online please choose the Historical Cruise of your choice. After you have selected the amount of people you are reserving for please fill out all the information asked  and enter your Gift Certificate code in the section: “Do you have a promo code or Gift Certificate?” The code will be on your confirmation email under “Your Gift Certificate(s) for….”

Yes! You may redeem your gift certificate when boarding. Please have it ready to show our crew.

We recommend printing your gift certificate ahead of time or taking a screenshot on your phone, as cell service can be unreliable at times.

Yes. To rebook, please send one email to [email protected]. Each reservation includes one complimentary rebooking. We are a small crew and become very busy during the season- We are out on the steamboat sailing with you not checking emails all the time so expect a 24-72 hour delay.

You may use your reservation for any Historical Cruise.
Example: If you originally booked for July 12 but arrived for the July 9 Historical Cruise instead, we can simply apply your reservation to the date you actually attended. (Please confirm location and times with the message box on the home page in these cases)

Please plan accordingly. Rebooking is allowed once per ticket via email. Any additional changes will require a ticket handling fee.

No!  These are NOT a reservation.  In order to obtain a confirmed reservation you must do so online at our website.  You can make a reservation online by entering the number on your Gift Certificate, coupon, or free pass in the promo code section!

No. Free passes and coupons are treated the same as walk-up customers if you do not have a reservation.

We board in the following order:

1. Guests with reservations (those who booked online and are on our boarding list)

2. Cash and gift certificate holders

3. Credit card purchases made at the gangway

You can use your free pass or coupon by making a reservation through our online booking system.

We strongly recommend reserving online in advance to ensure your spot! If you do not have a reservation you did risk the chance of the steamboat being at full capacity and having to be turned away until the next cruise.

No, if you made a reservation online you do not need to bring your physical coupon or code.

If you did not make a reservation online then we MUST receive a physical copy of your gift certificate/code/voucher.

If you are unsure its best to bring a copy anyway.

Of course! Please have it ready though. We recommend that you screenshot the Gift Certificate code on your phone the night before or on your way to the Belle. That way you have it already saved and you will not have to worry about cell service.  T-Mobile, Sprint and other small carriers have limited service in the Chautauqua area.  You may not be able to load your ticket on your phone as you are boarding, so please have it ready before hand.

Regular Gift certificates can be purchased anytime of the year! Our discounted gift certificates are available to purchase a limited time during the holiday season.  Check our website during the holiday season for updates on gift certificate sales!

We have a limited amount of free tickets we give out to local charities, organizations, schools etc.  Please email your request with a copy of your tax exempt certificate. Sorry, without this information we cannot issue free tickets under any circumstances.

Yes, you may use your free coupon, pass or gift certificate for any historical cruises, unless otherwise stated .  Please read all fine print for details, please pay close attention to any expiration dates!

These do not include specialty cruises, dinner cruises, or fireworks cruises.

We cannot accept expired coupons, we apologize for an inconvenience.  Please plan accordingly for your summer trips before they expire, do not wait till the last trips of the summer/year.

No, drinks are not included with any coupons.  We have a cash bar on board! When you book online you have the add on option of adding beverages to your reservation.

Please check the information box on our homepage the morning that you wish go, there may be last minute changes in the departure port due to winds or weather. We do not go out in forecast thunderstorms, winds forecast in excess of 20 MPH or heavy rain.

We do our very best to avoid canceling any cruises. In fact, in 2025 we added an additional dock location so we can continue operating in winds that would have prevented us from sailing in Mayville.

We only close, cancel, or delay trips as a last resort—typically due to weather, maintenance needs, or low passenger counts.
Please be sure you’re checking the forecast for Chautauqua, not your home location.

For the most up-to-date schedule information, please check the message box on our homepage after 9 AM on the day of your reservation or planned visit. We monitor weather conditions continuously, including what’s expected later. For example, if a thunderstorm is forecast to arrive within the hour, we may delay a trip—even if the weather is currently sunny.

Safety is always our top priority.
Please keep in mind that we’re a small business, and when we can’t operate, we don’t make money. Our crew truly loves being out on the lake and wants to be out there just as much as you do!