FAQs About Old Forge Lake Cruises

Where do the cruises go?
The Sightseeing Cruises are 2 hours long and follow the historic steamboat route through the first four lakes of the Fulton Chain (approximately 15 miles round trip), cruising out along the north shore and returning along the south shore. The Mailboat Cruise follows a similar route to the Sightseeing Cruise, but follows the shore more closely and moves at a slower speed. The longer 3 hour cruise length is due to the mail delivery stops along the way. The Heritage Cruise is about 3 hours long and circumnavigates the entire length of the first four lakes in the Chain.

Do all OFLC vessels meet the 2006 NY State safety standards?
The Clearwater, Zilpha, & Mailboat are inspected annually by the New York State Department of Parks & Recreation, which govern all land-locked bodies of water in the state and meet all State standards. All Vessels have been stability tested in conjunction with State inspectors to receive their current capacity ratings.

Are your captains licensed?
Our captains are licensed by the New York State Department of Parks & Recreation. The captain's licenses are displayed on all vessels.

Do you take reservations?
Reservations must be prepaid to guarantee seating. Tickets must be purchased in advance through our website or by phone. We accept Visa & MasterCard only. Advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended for the Mailboat & Fireworks Cruises, as well as the 1pm Sightseeing Cruise on weekends during the Fall Foliage season.

Do we need to bring life jackets?
No. The boat has all required safety equipment on board, including life jackets. Passengers are not required to wear a life jacket during the cruise, but we will happily provide one to any passenger that requests one. Children under 12 are not required to wear lifejackets, but parents are allowed to bring life jackets for their children to wear. Please watch small children riding on the upper deck.

How many people does the Clearwater carry?
111 passengers using both the upper & lower decks – though we often limit ticket sales to approximately 100 passengers per cruise.

How many people does the Zilpha carry?
The Zilpha carries 49 passengers. There is no outside seating or smoking anywhere on the vessel.

How many people does the Mailboat carry?
The President Harrison seats 10 passengers in its cabin. There is no outside seating.

How big are the boats?
The Clearwater is 60' long, the Zilpha is 45' long, & the Mailboat is 35' long.

Are the boats handicapped accessible?
The Clearwater and the Zilpha are handicapped accessible. The entryway on the Clearwater is 27" wide. The restroom on the Clearwater is not wheelchair accessible. The Mailboat is not handicapped accessible.

Is there a restroom on the Clearwater/Zilpha/Mailboat?
Of course!

Is there anything to drink/eat on the boats?
The Clearwater has a snack bar on board serving coffee, tea, hot chocolate, bottled water, soda, beer, wine, and cocktails, chips, pretzels, candy, granola bars, nuts, and light lunch selections. The Mailboat has no refreshments or snacks on board – passengers are welcome to bring a beverage & snack with them.

Can I bring food and drinks on the boats?
Due to NYS liquor control regulations, no alcoholic beverages are allowed to be brought on board our vessels. Due to new Homeland Security Regulations, passengers are no longer allowed to bring any beverages on board any of our vessels. The only exception to this rule is to accommodate medical conditions or mothers with baby feeding needs. There is a snack bar serving refreshments, beer, wine, and snacks. Passengers are welcome to bring a bag lunch or snacks. We discourage coolers on the Mailboat due to the limited cabin space. The Captain can choose to allow a small cooler that can be easily stowed under a seat or on the engine box and won't hinder the deckhand moving through the cabin while making deliveries.

What if I make a reservation and cannot make the cruise?
Old Forge Lake Cruises cannot refund reservations but, you can reschedule for another similar cruise. Please call ahead to ensure availability.