Lake Tahoe Emerald Bay Scenic Cruise
Description
Embark on a truly unique Lake Tahoe experience! The Emerald Bay Scenic Cruise takes place on the largest cruising vessel in South Lake Tahoe. This one-of-a-kind paddle wheeler will take you on an unforgettable journey through world-famous Emerald Bay. Learn how the bay was formed, hear tales about Fanette Island, and see the amazing Vikingsholm Castle, the prominent stone mansion on its shores. Enjoy the breathtaking views from outside or relax with your climate controlled indoor seating. Lunch and full bar service are available for purchase throughout your adventure. This 2.25-hour scenic daytime cruise offers fabulous photo opportunities, sunshine, and fresh Lake Tahoe air, which has a way of invigorating everyone around.
Tour Options
Itinerary
To truly experience Lake Tahoe, take a trip aboard the M.S. Dixie II, a paddle-wheel boat that plies the lake’s stunning, cobalt-blue waters.
Fannette is the only island to be found in all of Lake Tahoe. It is located in beautiful Emerald Bay on the west shore of the lake. A sparsely timbered, brush covered upthrust of granite that rises 150 feet above the water, Fannette Island was not always known by that name. During the past 100 years it has been known as Coquette, Fannette, Baranoff, Dead Man's, Hermit's, and Emerald Isle. Fannette was the name that finally stuck.
With its rugged shoreline and blue-green water, Emerald Bay is one of the most photographed places in the world. Vikingsholm, a replica of a Scandinavian castle (800 A.D.), is part of the park. The building is considered one of the finest examples of Scandinavian
Directly from our mile-long sandy, pine-tree covered shores, there is something for everyone at Zephyr Cove Marina.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Shuttle Service & Parking: Please note parking on site can be busy on weekends and holidays, so we offer guests complimentary shuttle service that picks up and drops off at several area hotels. Please see below for information about individual pickup locations: • Lakeland Village (3535 Lake Tahoe Blvd): Shuttle arrives 80 minutes prior to cruise departure. Meet at the designated bus stop in parking area. Look for sign. • Hotel Azure (3300 Lake Tahoe Blvd): Shuttle arrives 75 minutes prior to cruise departure. Meet at the parking area on Freemont St. • 3 Peaks (9321 Park Ave): Shuttle arrives 65 minutes prior to cruise departure. Meet at the main entrance, adjacent to the lobby. • Station House (901 Park Ave): Shuttle arrives 65 minutes prior to cruise departure. Pick-up on Pine Blvd. Ask front desk for directions. • The Landing (4104 Lakeshore Blvd): Shuttle arrives 60 minutes prior to cruise departure. Meet at the main entrance, adjacent to the lobby. • Harrah's Casino - Lake Tahoe, CA (15 US 50): Shuttle arrives 55 minutes prior to cruise departure. Meet at the rear entrance near the arcade. • Harvey’s Lake Tahoe – Lake Tahoe, CA (18 Hwy 50): Shuttle arrives 55 minutes prior to cruise departure. Meet at the bus loading area nearby the main lobby. • Golden Nugget (50 Hwy 50): Shuttle arrives 45 minutes prior to cruise departure. Meet at the valet entrance at the main lobby.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please plan to arrive at the boat dock to check in 30 minutes prior to your departure
- If using our complimentary shuttle service, please plan additional time for pickup and drop off. Please see Meeting & pickup section for specific times from each location.
Reviews(821)
Great trip! Very organized and well planned!
The trip was excellent, from the storytelling of the bus driver who picked us up at hotel through the cruise across to Emerald Bay. The history and facts about the lake made it even better.
Very relaxing and beautiful cruise on the lake. Plenty of room to move around the boat and always fun to have food and drink options.
We had a great time. The ship was comfortable and well laid out. We could see all around the lake either outside or inside. There was plenty of seating. The food and drinks were excellent and the gift shop fun!
This was our first time visiting Lake Tahoe and we decided to go for full tourist with our adventures here. We loved the boat tour. The boat had ample seating and areas to view the sites. It was a good pace and the information provided over the speaker was well timed. Loading and unloading was smoother than expected given the number of people and the boat crew was friendly. The lttle gift shop with well stocked and included a good assortment of items. We did not buy our souvenir pictures but they did look really cute. If you want to see a lot of the lake in a short amount of time this is the way to go.
Great cruise with stunning, up-close views of Emerald Bay, Fannette Island, the Tea House, and Vikingsholm Castle. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, and it was one of the best ways to experience the beauty of Lake Tahoe. Highly recommend!
Beautiful trip! Enjoyed the view from the water. Great food and drinks. Only downside was there was only one bartender and the line to order drinks/food never got shorter
Ideal weather. Interesting background provided by ship operators. Just a very pleasant 2 hour cruise.
The boat ride was smooth, points of interest was well explained, plenty of photo opportunities. I would recommend this tour to family and friends.
The cruise was better than I expected. We booked it because it seemed a great way to enjoy the lake and mountain scenery. But the occasional commentary was wonderful. It covered geology and history both. Great two hours!
