Top 5 Back Bay Cruises & Sailing Tours: See Boston Differently

Boston’s Back Bay, is that one spot that shows off fancy buildings and a history as deep as the ocean it borders, yet is that the vibe you get? There’s just something quite cool about seeing it all from the water. You know, very a cruise or sailboat really gives you a whole different angle on what makes Boston tick. And trust me, there is quite a lot to explore! If you want to ditch the crowds and the super-busy streets, check out these awesome cruises and sailing tours – like your view of Boston is about to seriously change.

1. Boston Harbor City Cruises: Sightseeing with a Splash

Boston Harbor City Cruises, now this outfit gives you pretty much everything, from speedy ferries to chilling harbor tours, and even some of those cool whale watches, and stuff that everyone seems to rave about. But it’s their sightseeing cruises around Back Bay that is almost what we’re checking out here. These guys will let you relax and take in stuff such as Boston’s skyline, landmarks with real history, and maybe, just maybe, even hear a story or two that is pretty wild from the guides. Honestly, sometimes those stories can almost make or break the trip, so you too better hope for a great guide!

You are going to want to look out for:

The Classic Sightseeing Cruise: it seems like this cruise hits up almost everything you would want to check out in the harbor.
The Boston Sunset Cruise: a lot like your relaxing end to the day watching that sunset do its thing with the city, in a way.
The Whale Watch Cruise: It’s very likely a bit outside the Back Bay, but just so awesome, still.

Why this rocks:

Narration which is full of crazy info!
Boats that will make you feel cozy and relaxed.

So if you like learning a few things and snapping some sweet pics, Boston Harbor City Cruises just might be for you.

2. Liberty Fleet of Tall Ships: Sail Back in Time

Ready to feel kind of pirate-y for an hour or two? The Liberty Fleet of Tall Ships lets you sail the harbor on real-deal tall ships. They’ve got two ships; one is called the Liberty Clipper and the other, Liberty Star. I believe that both are just cool in that vintage ship type of feel and both know how to give you some really awesome views from the water. Plus, you can even lend a hand in raising a sail, now isn’t that what you want? It might give you quite a workout; just a heads up!

Sort of Tours they offer:

Day Sails: you get to see some sun while just chilling on a sailboat; not very shabby at all, right?
Sunset Sails: they are perfect for when the sky begins to light up in reds and oranges; is that a real memory-maker or what?
Private Charters: Now these guys, let you feel rich while taking all your buddies out on the water; can’t get much better, truly!

This tour shines because:

Sailboats which are seriously very vintage and super Insta-worthy!
Options in which you can do like a lot of the actual sailing stuff.

For those of you looking to add something pretty special to your Insta feed and wanting more than just a boat ride, well, so you should try hitting up Liberty Fleet.

3. Charles Riverboat Company: A Different River View

The Charles Riverboat Company really specializes in providing folks a view that is unlike any other of the Boston and Cambridge areas, and it is very much from the Charles River. Like, what is cooler than experiencing the Back Bay with the area’s academic side mixing it up on the water? So, it just shows Boston isn’t just a town; really, it’s like your total learning adventure floating by.

You might see these cruises as being cool:

The Architecture Cruise: for when you like the cool building style and maybe geek out on things like the Hancock Tower.
The Cambridge Sightseeing Cruise: which shows off stuff like all those super-smart spots at Harvard and MIT; talk about the place to up your knowledge game.

Why this makes waves:

Amazing sights such as universities that are totally top-tier plus skyline looks that just don’t quit!
Tour guides that aren’t afraid to tell it like is, full of that fun knowledge to share.

For the times when you want to switch things up and do more of that quiet cruise with views that might expand your brain, try hitting up Charles Riverboat.

4. Boston Duck Tours: Land and Sea Adventure

Okay, so just picture this, the Boston Duck Tours – so this is where you get to see all the city, both by riding a vehicle on the roads and on water, alright. So that sounds fun! I am thinking it might be very a solid option for those who may have trouble deciding what spots to hit first and really are hoping to not leave anything unchecked. The way that it goes is, they take these remodeled World War II vehicles, and too it’s almost like going through time.

Duck Tours will typically take you all over the place, even:

Hitting famous spots: the State House, Boston Common, and even fancy Newbury Street.
Going into the Charles River which gives those that take this tour killer looks back at Back Bay!

What makes these a quacking good time:

These tour guides? Always hilarious!
Not having to decide whether land or water is very useful.

If a total Boston mega-tour is more what you want and having some good laughs sounds cool too, it would be smart to think about getting on a Duck.

5. Bay State Cruise Company: For Something A Little Different

Looking for something a little off-the-wall, anyway? The Bay State Cruise Company runs routes, from what I hear, not so much within the Back Bay but to spots that provide stellar perspectives of the Boston skyline, like very, very more long-distance panoramic things which feel seriously cinematic. Think about grabbing a spot out near the rails while the ship navigates along the coast, because nothing beats capturing that sea breeze plus snapping photographs that you just can’t get anywhere else!

Kind of cruises on the Bay State:

Boston to Provincetown: get out and just enjoy an amazing coastal trip where there are all kinds of sights!
Specialty Cruises: It’s very typical that this cruise group will put up different event cruises during some of the festivals in the harbor.

Here’s what makes it work:

Unique Destinations: Going beyond a tour of just your basic landmarks is always nice.
Chill and super roomy decks just might encourage some great socializing.

Check with the Bay State folks if an awesome broader Boston vista really has your name written all over it.