Niagara City Cruises announced, its 2023 season will mark a banner year for the popular Niagara Falls boat tour with the earliest opening date in its recorded history. Rated as one of Canada's most memorable experiences, Niagara City Cruises will begin its 2023 season on Thursday, March 16th running tours from 10am-4pm EST.   

The annual spring opening of one of Canada's must-see tourist attractions is largely dependent on the build-up of ice on Lake Erie over the winter, which this year, has been minimal. While there have been some snowstorms and frigid stretches during this year's winter, overall, conditions have been favorable. As little as one percent of Lake Erie's surface was covered with ice, and water temperatures above freezing at the end of February. As an affect, it has prompted a relatively early removal of the ice boom that is installed -- where Lake Erie empties into the Niagara River -- to manage the amount of ice entering the River, reducing the risk of ice jams that can damage property and reduce waterflow that is generating hydroelectricity.

The removal of the ice boom is a key event for the opening of Niagara City Cruises. While that typically happens in spring — the ice boom was removed on March 29 last year — the general lack of ice on the lake this year meant the New York Power Authority and Ontario Power Generation began removing the ice boom on March 2nd.  

The sailing schedule for March:

• March 16th to March 19th — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• March 24th to March 26th — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
   

Daily service begins March 31st with tours to the base of the Falls running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Expanded summer operating hours will begin May 1st.

Ticket prices are: Adult $32.75, Child (ages 3 – 12) $22.75, Infant (2 and under) Free. Plus, applicable taxes. Tickets will be available niagaracitycruises.com, on the CityExperiences mobile app, or in-person at the Niagara City Cruises Main Ticket Plaza located at 5920 Niagara River Parkway, Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6X8.

For more information, please visit niagaracitycruises.com.