Experience Lake Tahoe on a classic wooden boat with intimate scenic cruises, beer tasting tours, sunset cruises, and an Emerald Bay Cruise with a Vikingsholm Castle walking tour.
Guests can choose from scenic Lake Tahoe cruises, sunset tours, beer tasting cruises, and a signature Emerald Bay tour with access to Vikingsholm Castle, with private boat tours also available for those looking for a more customized experience.
For visitors seeking a more personal alternative to larger Lake Tahoe tour boats, Cruise Tahoe combines classic Tahoe charm, iconic scenery, and a laid-back atmosphere in one of the most unique cruise experiences on the lake.
Explore our classic wooden boat tours on Lake Tahoe, including intimate public cruises, private charters, sunset tours, beer tasting cruises, and Vikingsholm experiences.
Browse and book individual cruises below, or view our full tour calendar to see all available departures in one place.
Ages 6 and Up • 3 Hours
Up to 16 People!
Ages 6 and Up • 2-3 Hours
Up to 18 People!
Ages 12 and Up • 3.5 Hours
Up to 16 People!
The Emerald Bay Cruise & Vikingsholm Castle Walking Tour supports the Sierra State Parks Foundation which operates Vikingsholm Castle and other sites around Lake Tahoe.
Visit our friends at Local Freshies and have a look at their Lake Tahoe Travel Guide. Learn how to avoid the crowds, discover hidden spots to grab a bite, and get tips on where to stay! With the local knowledge in this travel guide, they’ll make sure you’re ready!
Exploring Our Backyard: Cruising to Historic Vikingsholm Castle in Emerald Bay
In partnership with the Sierra State Parks Foundation, Cruise Tahoe is offering the Emerald Bay Cruise and Vikingsholm Castle Walking Tour. The cruise includes light appetizers and lots of Tahoe History. Available Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
We specialize in intimate events and can host up to 21 passengers. Let us help you plan your wedding, engagement, family gathering or corporate function. The Tahoe can pick up and drop off at many locations around Lake Tahoe. We will work with you to create a memorable cruise on Lake Tahoe, and we can recommend top-notch vendors for catering and photography.
We did the east shore tour with Thunderbird Lodge. Amazing tour. The 2 man crew was great. Very knowledgeable about the area and the Lodge. Told us about many former residents of the houses along the shore. The tour at the lodge was wonderful and very informative. I learned a lot. We ate lunch on the grounds with amazing views all around. The sites from the boat were amazing.
A beautiful boat and a fun crew to take you to a very historic location full of cool history all the way back to the early settlers of the west and gold rush. Drinks on board and a great way to see the lake.
We have been to Tahoe numerous times and wanted to tour Vikingholm. This year we went on the cruise and home tour. The boat is a nice wooden one which takes about 17 people on it. The size of the group adds to the experience. Our boat left from the near by Hill top resort beach/pier. Our boat Captain, Stacy, was friendly and informative. On the cruise to Vikingholm, they serve beverages, after the house tour, they serve a substantial appetizer plate. At Vikingholm, you tour the grounds with a guide who tells about the property’s history. Photos are ok, but without flash. After the tour, you reboard the boat and cruise back to your launch point. This was a very enjoyable trip that I would highly recommend. One piece of advice, it is a small boat and bobs on the water accordingly. If you are susceptible to sea sickness, take a few meclazine (ingredients in Dramamine II) to avoid getting ill.
Tahoe is a beautiful boat and the 2 member crew were amazing. There were just 8 passengers on our cruise.
Best tour ever! The cruise to Vikingsholm castle was amazing! They made us feel like a million dollars! Kept offering us drinks and then snacks after the tour of the castle. It was absolutely the best! We only wish we had more cash on us to leave a tip. Thank you Cruise Tahoe! You made our week!!
My wife and I have been to Lake Tahoe many times, but we’ve never actually toured Vikingsholm Castle in Emerald Bay. Cruise Tahoe is one of the few vendors who can provide a boat trip to Emerald Bay and provide a tour of the castle by a docent. Besides that, the trip, handling about 16 people, included drinks and appetizers on this afternoon excursion. Stacy and Brad were great hosts.
Awesome day on the water and touring Thunderbird Lodge. The staff were so informative, I learned so much history and facts about Tahoe. They seemed to love their job and the area they work. Cruise was relaxing and so great to see all of the East coast while enjoying my coffee and breakfast. It is a long tour and the website was right that comfortable shoes are a must. About an hour of walking the property with steps and an underground tunnel. Made for a great day! The lunch was homey and delicious.
This is an excellent way to spend a portion of the day. A beautiful boat trip from Zephyr Cove to the incredible Thunderbird Lodge. Along the way you will get a narrated tour of the Lake Tahoe coastline. The Lodge is beautiful and extremely interesting. The walking tour will take you through the property and give you the history of George Whittell. We were offered a continental breakfast on the boat and a nice lunch at the lodge. Your guides are fun, interesting and informative. This is a really good tour. Highly recommended.
We took the 5 hour tour to Thunderbird and it was awesome. Our Captain was so good with my kids and gave an interesting tour. Lunch was great in an idyllic setting. It was expensive but considering the length of the stay and the tour, we felt it was well worth it.
We had it out on a perfect day with eight others on an antique large Chris-Craft boat with a cover. Nice and clean with two crewmembers, and coffee, donuts, and muffins were served to start us out. We cruised out of Zephyr Cove and paused in front of several magnificent mansions. We were given a history of the famous people who lived there including Harrah from Harrah’s Casino, Larry Ellison, and the owner of Costco. Wowza! We continued on to the Thunderbird house and had a full tour of the grounds, house, ending with a wonderful lunch served on the back terrace. We then cruised back, and drinks were served. Would highly recommend this to see the lake, some of the wonderful houses and history of Tahoe.
