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2 hr
Glide along the Cincinnati riverfront while savoring a multi-course buffet and panoramic skyline views
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2 hr
Two-hour voyage aboard a classic paddlewheeler with three-course buffet and onboard entertainment
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2 hr
Two-hour river cruise with live jazz, buffet brunch, and panoramic views of Cincinnati's waterfront
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The landmarks, rooms, and views travelers on this tour remember — all visible on a single visit.
The flagship 225-foot vessel features four decks and offers panoramic Ohio River views.
The primary boarding point located at 101 Riverboat Row, situated near the Newport Aquarium.
An expansive, uncovered space perfect for viewing the Cincinnati skyline and river scenery.
Climate-controlled indoor space where the brunch buffet is served with reserved seating.
A modern addition to the facilities available for private gatherings and pre-cruise celebrations.
They complement each other; most visitors who prefer bright daylight and casual socialization choose the cincinnati riverboat brunch cruise, while those seeking romance and city lights favor the dinner excursion. Choosing between these cincinnati riverboat brunch cruise tours depends on whether you prioritize morning river vistas or evening skyline illumination.
| Feature | Top pick Brunch Cruise | Dinner Cruise |
|---|---|---|
Time of Day |
Morning to Afternoon | Evening |
Atmosphere |
Casual and social | Formal and romantic |
Menu Focus |
Traditional breakfast buffet | Chef-prepared multi-course meal |
View Experience |
Natural river sunlight | City skyline night lights |
Duration |
2 hours | 2.5 hours |
| See tickets → |
Verdict: Secure your cincinnati riverboat brunch cruise tickets for a relaxed weekend outing, or opt for the dinner cruise if you prefer a sophisticated night on the water with refined catering and scenic deck views.
Choose your ticket, select your date, and reserve in under two minutes. Secure checkout handled by our verified partner.
Instant confirmation by email, with a mobile voucher you can save offline. No printing, no queuing at a collection desk.
Arrive at the entrance, show your voucher on your phone, and walk in. Most tickets include priority or skip-the-line access.
Practical details for your visit straight from our verified partners — hours, access, rules, and how to get there.
There is no formal dress code. Guests are welcome to dress casually or formally depending on the occasion and the cincinnati riverboat brunch cruise experience.
BB Riverboats is a cashless facility. Small personal items are permitted, but guests should be prepared for potential security checks prior to boarding.
Photography is encouraged throughout the vessel to capture skyline views and river landmarks. Please be respectful of other guests while taking photos during your cincinnati riverboat brunch cruise.
The Belle of Cincinnati features an elevator providing access to the first three decks, with boarding ramps available. Please note that the fourth deck is stair-access only.
The cincinnati riverboat brunch cruise is family-friendly and welcoming to guests of all ages. Children under 4 often qualify for free entry, though booking under a single reservation is required to ensure seating together.
Coffee, tea, iced tea, and water are included with dining cruises. A bar is available on board for the purchase of alcoholic beverages and soft drinks during your cincinnati riverboat brunch cruise.
Best time to go, insider tips, nearby landmarks, and the cancellation fine print — flip through to skim what matters to you.
Flexible, no hidden fees.
All sales are final. Ticket Assurance, which allows for a full refund up until departure, must be purchased at the time of reservation for 10% of the ticket price.
BB Riverboats has carried passengers along the Ohio River since 1979, when the company launched its first sternwheeler from the Newport levee with a single Sunday brunch service. The fleet now includes three vessels, each a modern interpretation of the 19th-century paddle-wheel steamers that once hauled freight and passengers between Pittsburgh and Cairo. The Belle of Cincinnati, commissioned in 1991, is the largest of the three, carrying up to 600 guests across two climate-controlled decks and an open-air observation level. The Cincinnati riverboat brunch cruise operates year-round on Saturday and Sunday mornings, departing from Riverboat Row in Newport, Kentucky, directly across the Ohio River from Cincinnati's downtown skyline. The route threads beneath the Roebling Suspension Bridge, completed in 1866 and the model for the Brooklyn Bridge, then turns east past the Public Landing and Smale Riverfront Park. The cruise typically covers six miles of river, looping back beneath the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge—known locally as the Big Mac Bridge—before returning to the Newport dock. Live Dixieland jazz is performed on the second deck, a tradition that dates to the company's earliest sailings and reflects Cincinnati's role as a river-music hub during the steamboat era. The buffet menu includes hot entrées rotated seasonally, a carving station with roast beef or ham, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy, fresh fruit, pastries, and a dessert bar. Beverage service includes coffee, tea, juice, and a full bar with mimosas and Bloody Marys available for purchase. Seating is open—tables are assigned on a first-come basis at boarding, with window tables filling earliest. The cruise duration is two hours, with boarding beginning 30 minutes prior to departure. Passengers are advised to arrive early on holiday weekends, when brunch sailings frequently reach capacity. The climate-controlled interior decks remain comfortable year-round, though the observation deck is accessible only in favorable weather. Parking is available in a paid lot adjacent to the dock, and rideshare drop-off is accommodated at the main entrance to Riverboat Row.
"The Belle of Cincinnati loops beneath the Roebling Suspension Bridge, the 1866 prototype for Brooklyn's span."
A step-by-step walkthrough of the visit — what you'll see, how long each stage takes, and the details that matter.
You arrive at Riverboat Row 30 minutes before departure and join the check-in line on the ground-floor boarding platform. A crew member scans your mobile voucher, hands you a boarding pass, and directs you up the gangway to the main deck. You step inside, where Dixieland jazz is already audible from the second level, and claim a window table near the bow before the crowd fills in. The paddle wheel churns to life at departure, and the Belle of Cincinnati eases away from the Newport shore. You move to the buffet line, loading your plate with biscuits, scrambled eggs, roast beef from the carving station, and fresh fruit. Back at your table, you watch the Roebling Suspension Bridge slide overhead, its stone towers framing the downtown skyline. The music shifts to a slower tempo as the boat turns east, passing the Public Landing and the serpentine walkways of Smale Riverfront Park. Midway through the cruise, you climb to the observation deck for an unobstructed view of the Big Mac Bridge. The river traffic is light—a barge heading downstream, a few recreational boats hugging the Kentucky shore. You return inside for a second pass at the dessert bar, then settle back as the boat completes its loop and the Newport dock reappears. The paddle wheel reverses, the hull nudges the pier, and you disembark two hours after boarding.
A typical adult brunch cruise ticket price is 65 USD, which includes the buffet and entertainment.
The cincinnati riverboat brunch cruise welcomes all ages, and children under 4 can often join at no charge.
The attraction is located at 101 Riverboat Row, Newport, KY 41071.
Complimentary parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis in front of the dock on Riverboat Row.
Outside food and beverages are generally not permitted on board the cincinnati riverboat brunch cruise.
The cruise duration is typically 2 hours, allowing plenty of time to enjoy the meal and skyline views.
Yes, the culinary team offers gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options; please specify your needs when booking your cincinnati riverboat brunch cruise tickets.
For your cincinnati riverboat brunch cruise tour, please arrive between 09:00–18:00 to ensure you have time to check in comfortably.
Yes, boarding ramps and the main decks of the vessels are wheelchair accessible.