Frequently Asked Questions

Please check our website! On our homepage the message box is updated by 9am daily to make sure you have the most current schedule! If it is on the message box, we are going from that location and that time! No need to call.

We are located at multiple docks through out the summer season. YOU MUST check our schedule or read the message box on our homepage for today’s schedule, times, and port of departure. Our different dock information is as follows:

Chautauqua Institution: We come ashore at the Miller Bell Tower, (yes that’s down on the lake) directly adjacent to the swimming beach. If you are not staying inside the Chautauqua Institution grounds we suggest you board in Mayville or you will have to pay a $30 day pass to enter the grounds of the Chautauqua Institution.

Mayville: We are located at the Lake Side Park/ Steamboat Village (78 Water St. Mayville, NY 14757).

Bemus Point: The Belle leaves from 1 Lakeside Drive Bemus Point NY. The dock is right beside the Bemus Point Ferry  next to the Village Casino Restaurant.

Midway State Park: We are located in Midway Park down by the Merry-go-round. (and yes that also is down by the lake, not up in the amusement park) GPS address…4859 NY-430, Bemus Point, NY 14712

Reservations are not required however, we suggest online reservations be made if you are coming from any distance OR want to make sure you get on your desired trip OR would like a picnic on the paddle wheel lunch. We strongly suggest making a reservation- it is the ONLY way we can contact you in the unlikely event of a weather cancellation.

Historical and cocktail cruises are approximately 1 hour 30 mins – 1 hour 45 mins long, depending mostly on lake winds.

All Free ticket/gift certificate/coupon questions can be answered HERE!

No! We update the message box on our homepage daily.  Please check there for today’s schedule. If you do not see the date you are interested in going, please check the calendar on our website, www.269belle.com. If you are unclear about when you can use your free tickets please read the free ticket.

Cocktail cruise passengers get the same historical tour, music and fun as any historical cruise.We have a cash bar with beer, wine on ALL  trips.  DRINKS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN ANY TRIP UNLESS YOU PRE-PURCHASE  THEM WHEN MAKING A RESERVATION.

There MAY be some lunches available for purchase on board. We DO NOT have a kitchen on board.  The only way you can guarantee a lunch is by preordering ahead of time by booking online. When booking online be sure to tell us exactly what type of wraps you would like. Options for lunches are: Turkey, Ham, Italian, and Vegetarian. Picnic on the paddle wheel lunch includes the wrap of your choice, chips, a dessert, and a non-alcoholic beverage from our on board bar. Again to reserve a picnic on the paddle wheel lunch please book online ahead of time.

In order to disembark in Chautauqua Institution, all passengers must present a valid Chautauqua Institution Gate Pass before exiting the gangway.  Since each cruise is round-trip, passengers with valid Gate Passes who board in Mayville and disembark in Chautauqua Institution may board the Chautauqua Belle at a regularly scheduled time later in that same day to complete their round-trip fare.  Please check the online calendar in order to ensure later cruises have not been canceled and notify the crew of your intentions to board on a later cruise.  To purchase a Gate Pass, visit the Chautauqua Institution website, found in the Partner Links page. (Approx $30.00)

Yes, we have men’s and women’s restrooms available on-board the Chautauqua Belle, and at our home dock in Mayville.

Yes, we accept all major credit cards.  Please remember that we prefer cash payment and ask anyone paying with a credit card to wait until all cash passengers have been boarded  before approaching the gangway. We take all credit cards through “square” on our phones –which takes a little bit of time, so we always do credit cards last- thank you for your cooperation in advance.

The steamboat runs at approximately $650 an hour. Therefore a general minimum passenger count of 20 may be required for all trips. Please see ‘What is your weather cancellation policy?’ for more about our weather cancelation policy.

Yes, we have group rates available for parties of 20 or more.  Groups of 20 or more receive a discounted rate of $20.00/adult.  Arrangements for your group must be made in advance by sending us an email request, please include a phone number. The group discounted rate must be paid in full by 1 person only.

Yes, The Chautauqua Belle is one of the only tour boats in western NY which is handicapped accessible.  Designated space is available on the main deck for wheelchair passengers and those individuals are generally given priority boarding.

The Chautauqua Belle is an open-air vessel with no air-conditioning.  It is covered to provide shade, often experiences a cool, refreshing breeze across the second deck, and has side curtains in the event of inclement weather.  Most passengers find a ride on the Chautauqua Belle to be very comfortable on warm or hot days and prefer to bring a jacket along on cool days or for most evening/night cruises.  Please dress accordingly.

We offer priority seating & boarding for several reasons. Passengers with disabilities may be offered priority seating on the lower deck to circumvent any stairwells. Bus groups, group reservations, and season ticket holders may request priority reserved seating at the time of their reservation, including access to tables.  We ask that all other passengers please respect crew member instructions and priority seating guidelines. We board and ticket at the gangway in the following order: reservations/ cash customers, coupons or complimentary tickets, and credit cards last.

No, we are licensed by the Chautauqua County board of health. We kindly ask all our guests to refrain from bringing outside food or beverages on-board the Chautauqua Belle.  We have a full-service bar with snacks, water, soft drinks, juices, beer, wine, & mixed drinks on-board and open during every cruise for your convenience.  If you would like a deli lunch, please  reserve a Picnic on the Paddlewheel by booking online.

Yes, we have chips, cookies, pretzels, large deli sandwiches, chicken barbecue dinners, & your favorite soft or hard drinks.  Lunches can only be purchased when booking online.

Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled cruise to allow for ticketing, boarding, and a timely departure.  Remember that passengers with reservations, or those paying in cash are ticketed first and have priority seating, while passengers paying with credit card or check are ticketed and boarded after all cash passengers.

It is our goal to run every trip posted. We occasionally need to delay, postpone or cancel a trip due to weather. We try to rarely do this as we are not making any money just sitting at the dock and it is certainly not very fun, we love and want to be out on the lake just like you!  Please check the weather for Chautauqua before leaving NOT where you live!   In general we do not go out in thunder, lightening, heavy rain, and /or winds forecast up to 20+ MPH.   Safety is a number one priority for us.  PLEASE— ALWAYS,  check our website message box and calendar as we update both regularly!  If you are coming from any distance…PLEASE…check the message box to make sure there are no anticipated weather cancellations.

Children age two (2) and under are free.  Children age 3-12 fall under the children’s rate of $10 per child. Teenagers and seniors fall under the adult rate of $22.50 per person. We do not offer any discounts on individual tickets.

Yes, all specialty cruises require reservations. Please book online using our reservation system.  Payment must be made at the time of reservation before tickets may be issued.

Yes, we have a full-service cash bar available on-board for every cruise with a fine selection of beers, wines, and liquors.  Photo identification required.  No alcohol may be served before noon on Sundays.

You can’t. the Belle runs a time schedule, it is tight, and every minute is accounted for. Once the gang way goes up it is very difficult to put it back down and bring the boat back in without losing 10 or 15 minutes. So. If you pull in a little bit late, you very well may have to wait till the next trip. Your ticket is good for any other historical tour. Watching the belle as she pulls away from the dock brings all new meaning to “missed the boat”