A Unique View of the Solar Eclipse from the Water

City Cruises in Canada to offer sailings during solar eclipse at all three locations

NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. — Residents in Southern Ontario won’t need to venture far to observe one of this year’s highest-rated travel experiences.

National Geographic has highlighted multiple cities in Southern Ontario as optimal viewing locations for the rare total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8th – with Niagara Falls being dubbed as the ‘most picturesque,’ due to its unique vantage points.

Nestled amidst these remarkable vantage points is the lower Niagara River, where Niagara City Cruises operates its 20-minute Voyage to the Falls boat tour. This immersive experience provides guests with a close-up encounter of the majestic Canadian Horseshoe Falls – with departures every 30 minutes between 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

It is the best place to view the majestic falls and will provide one of the most unique vantage points for the eclipse.

“Niagara Falls hasn’t experienced a total solar eclipse in its direct path for 99 years, and the next time won’t happen for another 120 years,” says Mory DiMaurizio, Chief Operating Officer of City Cruises in Canada. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, which can be enhanced by observing it from the deck of one of our vessels.” 

During a solar eclipse, the moon blocks the sun’s light, creating a captivating phenomenon. However, it’s crucial to prioritize eye safety. Avoid looking directly at the sun without proper eye protection, as this can lead to serious eye damage or even blindness. Remember that eclipse glasses are not ordinary sunglasses; they must meet the ISO 12312-2 international standard.

City Cruises encourages all guests to arrive prepared with suitable eye protection for safely observing the solar phenomenon.

For those situated east of Niagara Falls, City Cruises Gananoque will offer a unique three-hour cruise departing at 1:30 p.m. This exclusive voyage will traverse alongside Boldt Castle and the Millionaire’s Row before positioning itself for a total view of the eclipse as it tracks over the St. Lawrence Seaway.

While Toronto is situated outside the path of complete totality, the city is anticipated to experience an impressive 99% partial eclipse. To mark this milestone, City Cruises Toronto will offer its 60-minute Harbour Tour, departing at 12 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Ticket prices vary depending on the cruise and location selected.

The solar eclipse is set to occur from 2:10 p.m. to 4:34 p.m. – with the peak totality expected at 3:22 p.m. for approximately three minutes. City Cruises advises all guests to prepare accordingly with proper eye protection for solar viewing.

About City Cruises Canada

Offering sightseeing, dining and private event tours, City Cruises in Canada represents three Canadian port locations of City Experiences, the water- and land-based experiences owned by the Hornblower Group. Featuring Niagara City Cruises, City Cruises Toronto and City Cruises Gananoque, City Cruises in Canada boasts the best sightseeing experiences and finest dining cruises on the water. Niagara City Cruises — rated as Canada’s top visitor experience, gets you deep into the mist, up close and personal with the power of Niagara Falls. City Cruises Toronto offers a range of dining, cocktail, and sightseeing cruises, as well as private events and charters, with unparalleled views of Toronto’s iconic city skyline. City Cruises Gananoque offers breathtaking voyages through the 1000 Islands archipelago where the St. Lawrence River meets Lake Ontario.

Book tickets for all three locations at citycruises.com.

About City Experiences

City Experiences represents Hornblower Group’s expansive portfolio of water- and land-based experience companies and includes two sub-brands: City Cruises and City Ferry.  City Cruises companies operate dining, sightseeing and private events across 22 destinations in the U.S., Canada and the UK.  City Cruises companies also operate cruises on behalf of the National Park Service and the Niagara Parks Commission and currently hold service contracts to provide ferry service to the Statue of Liberty National Monument and the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, Alcatraz Island and Niagara Falls.  City Ferry companies offer specialized knowledge and expertise required to transport passengers, vehicles and other cargo safely across inland and coastal waterways, serving as operator of NYC Ferry and Puerto Rico ferry system, among others.  City Experiences’ portfolio of companies also offers a range of water- and land-based experiences including shore excursions, partner-offered experiences, multi-port packages, with companies including Cruising Excursions, ShoreTrips, and Walks products.  For more information visit cityexperiences.com.