The Harriet, Queen Bed, 3 Nights

The Harriet runs through Erie Canal Adventures. Rated 4.9 across 36 reviews. Runs 3, 4 or 7 nights. From $3399.

Overview

The Harriet is the specially fitted boat in the Erie Canal Adventures fleet, with living quarters larger than the standard Lockmasters, a queen sized bed, a bigger bathroom, a sitting parlor, and an enhanced pilothouse. This page covers the three-night charter, which runs Monday to Thursday or Tuesday to Friday during the summer months. No crew comes aboard: after orientation you take the helm yourself, moor where you please, and decide each day how far to travel.

Everything starts at the marina in Macedon, about 30 minutes east of Rochester. Arrive by 12:30pm and the afternoon opens with classroom and on-water training before you cast off. From there the canal runs both ways: west to Fairport, Pittsford, Spencerport, Brockport, and Lockport, or east to Palmyra, Newark, Lyons, Montezuma, and Seneca Falls. The last morning demands an early start, because the boat has to be back at the marina by 9AM.

First-time boaters have training, bow thrusters, and radio contact with lock staff on their side. Fuel, tolls, cleaning, linen service, and full equipment sit inside the rate; New York State sales tax is added at booking. One beach cruiser bike per adult, a propane grill, and an extra cooler come standard.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Arrive at Macedon marinaMake your own way to 1125 Marina Parkway, Macedon, NY 14502; hotel pickup is not offered. Plan to be there by 12:30pm on departure day.
2. Orientation and trainingSessions begin at approximately 12:30pm and combine classroom instruction with on-water practice. A safety briefing covers the life jackets, flares, first aid kit, and radio aboard.
3. Cast off west or eastHead west toward Fairport, Pittsford, Spencerport, and Lockport, or east toward Palmyra, Lyons, Montezuma, and Seneca Falls. Sample routes and docking tips for every town sit in the operator's mobile app.
4. Cruise and dockEach day runs at your own pace, tying up at town docks fitted with power and water hookups. Beach cruiser bikes, a small propane grill, and an extra cooler are aboard for time off the boat.
5. Overnights aboardSleep comes on a memory foam queen mattress topped with a quilt, with laundered sheets and towels supplied. Cabins have air conditioning when docked, and the bathroom shower runs off a hot water tank.
6. Return by 9AMBring the boat back to the marina where you departed by 9AM on the final morning. Staff need that window to return the vessel to rental standards.

What To Expect From The Tour

This is a self-drive charter rather than a skippered tour, so most of the preparation happens before you board. A few practical points are worth sorting early.

• Getting there. The base sits at 1125 Marina Parkway in Macedon, roughly 30 minutes east of Rochester. No hotel pickup is offered, so allow time to drive in, park, and check in before the 12:30pm orientation.
• Provisioning. The galley carries a compact refrigerator, stove, oven, microwave, toaster, and a K-Cup style coffee maker, plus pots, pans, dishware, and utensils. An extra cooler adds drink space. Buy groceries before you arrive, since day one begins with training.
• Handling the boat. Engines are tuned to the canal's legal speeds, so travel stays unhurried. Bow thrusters make docks and locks noticeably easier, a point the operator flags as a help for first-time boaters, and radios keep you in touch with lock staff and the base team.
• Sun and weather. Canvas shading covers plenty of the deck and cabins cool down with air conditioning once docked, but the listing still advises a hat and sunscreen. The operator also reserves the right to restrict cruising on Cayuga, Seneca, Oneida Lakes, and Lake Ontario.
• What to pack. Sheets, quilts, pillows, and towels are provided and professionally laundered. Soap, shampoo, and personal toiletries are not, so pack those alongside your hat and sunscreen.
• Final morning. The boat must be back at the marina by 9AM on the last day. Dock within easy reach the night before so the early return is a short hop.

Common issues. The cancellation terms are strict: the full fare applies inside 45 days, half the fare applies between 46 and 90 days out, and only cancellations more than 90 days ahead are fully refundable, which is why the operator recommends trip insurance. A 50% deposit reserves the boat, the balance is due 60 days before departure, and New York State sales tax is added on top of the base rate at booking. A damage deposit is held against the charter and charged only if damage is found on return, and liability coverage is required, either through a homeowner's policy or the operator's own option. The Harriet is not one of the dog-friendly boats, and popular summer dates fill quickly, though a waitlist covers sold-out dates.

Choosing Your Erie Canal Cruise