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.
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.
The Emerald Bay Cruise & Vikingsholm Castle Walking Tour supports the Sierra State Parks Foundation which operates Vikingsholm Castle and other sites around Lake Tahoe.
Ages 6 and Up • 5 hours
August 8th & 9th Only!
Ages 12 and Up • 3.5 hours
Up to 16 People!
Ages 6 and Up • 3 Hours
Up to 16 People!
Ages 6 and Up • 2 Hours
Up to 18 People!
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!
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.
We took the Tahoe from Zephyr Cove up to the Thunderbird Lodge. It was about 2 hours but didn’t seem like it. The boat is beautiful, and they served refreshments and danish on the way. The captain and mate were very knowledgeable about the boat and the lake.
All I can say is “WOW!”– we booked Cruise Tahoe on a whim for our wedding and it ended up being the highlight of the entire day. They picked us up at Ski Run Marina after our church ceremony and took us to our reception area at Valhalla across the lake. We were graced with Captain Stacie and a helper (can’t remember his name!) and they were just incredible. The boat was clean, the ride was smooth, and the customer service was perfect. They understood our needs, allowed for tons of great photos and overall made it a fun and memorable experience. Chris was a pleasure to work with as well during the research and booking process. I would highly recommend this company–pictures coming soon!
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.
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!!
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.
We had a wonderful captain take us on a 2 hour cruise to the Thunderbird Lodge on Tahoe’s East Shore. He was very knowledgeable of the history of that side of Lake Tahoe and made the cruise very interesting. A light continental breakfast was served on the narrated leisurely cruise.
I took both of their cruises. The boat is lovely. The crew, Stacey and Chris were fabulous. Both of their tours were very informative and fun. I highly recommend.
My husband and I have been boating and snow skiing at Lake Tahoe since we were both children. Over the years we’ve visited the many beautiful and informative sites around the lake (e.g., Vikingsholm, Tallac cottages, Hellman-Ehrman Mansion, Emigrant Trail Museum in Donner, Pope Estate, Taylor Creek Stream Profile) and recommend all of them. However, our visit to the fabulous Thunderbird Lodge this past July was a true highlight. Captain Stacey and first mate Chris took the time and care to make the couple hour ride to the mansion from Zephyr Cove a delight. The boat arrival was well-worth the extra time and money compared to arriving to the mansion by bus. The Tahoe cruised us past many beautiful properties and we learned much about the history of the east shore. I recommend bringing a jacket (even if the forecast calls for sun) and a good camera and wearing comfortable walking shoes. If you have time, read The Saga of Lake Tahoe by E.B. Scott to give you a greater appreciation for what you will see and a strong context of what you will learn while you’re on the boat ride and taking the Thunderbird tour.
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