Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question about one of our riverboat cruises? Take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions below.

If you are still not finding the answers you need, please reach out! Give us a call at 859.261.8500 or toll free at 800.261.8586 – we would be happy to help you.

I was booking a dining cruise online and the cruise list said "1st Deck Only" next to the cruise name. What does that mean?

This specific condition pertains to the seating on the Belle of Cincinnati. Since the boat used to be a casino boat, the 1st deck of the Belle of Cincinnati only has a couple picture windows and are all too high to see out of. We want to alert our passengers that you will not be able to look out of any windows while dining. With that said, you only have to be at your assigned table during your meal. Most of our guests will eat dinner at their table and then will roam around on the outside decks for the rest of the cruise. We want to let you know that these are the only seats available for purchase. We also would like to inform you that based on reaction from our past customers, there is no decline of your cruise experience from being seated here. You will see that you spend very little time in the interior cabin during a cruise. Even on days where the weather is poor, there are plenty of covered outside deck areas to enjoy the river from.

What are you doing to ensure our safety during the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Please see our COVID-19 information page here.

What is your cancellation policy?

If notification is made 48 hours prior to your scheduled cruise, a reservation can be transferred to a new date and cruise. Any difference in cruise value will be returned in the form of a gift certificate. We do not offer any monetary refunds.

How far out should I make reservations?

We recommend making reservations as soon as you know you want to come to BB Riverboats. Our cruises sell-out quite often and if you don't make your reservations early enough, you could be left out. Additionally, we use our reservation numbers in order to make decisions about cancelling cruises. We have to have a minimum number of passengers for the cruise to sail, so your early reservations can make a big difference.

Does the boat sail in inclement weather?

We sail rain or shine. In the event of severe weather or dangerous river conditions, it is up to the captain of the boat to make that decision. There are times where storms can roll through the river valley and can cause a cruise to be delayed, but that is usually only for a short amount of time. If the situation exists where we are unable to cruise, we will arrange an in-dock event.

Do you have a dress code?

We do not have a dress code. Our customers dress in everything from casual to formal. We encourage everyone to dress based on the situation you are celebrating.

Are you handicapped accessible?

Yes we are handicapped accessible. We have ramps that lead onto the first deck of every boat. On the Belle of Cincinnati, we do have an elevator available that makes it possible to go up to the second and third deck. The River Queen and Mark Twain do not have elevators. Accessible bathrooms are on the River Queen and the Belle of Cincinnati.

Where will we go on our cruise?

It all depends on the length of your cruise. A typical lunch or dinner cruise will go 5-7 miles up the river and back. A sightseeing cruise will stay mostly in the downtown area. All of our cruises provide the best viewing possible of the Cincinnati area.

Is smoking allowed on the boat?

Yes, smoking is allowed, but only on the outside decks. No smoking is allowed anywhere on the interior cabin of the boat.

Are drinks included with a dining cruise?

Coffee, tea, and water are included with all dining cruises. A cash bar is available on all cruises for the purchase of soft drinks and alcoholic beverages.

Where do we park?

We have free parking at our dock on Riverboat Row. If that parking lot is full, which does happen on busy days, there is additional parking further down Riverboat Row into Taylor Park. There is also a surface lot on Columbia Street that you can park in, but there is a fee to park there.

Are there nearby hotels that we can stay in?

Yes, there are quite a few hotels for you to choose from. Learn more on hotels in the area.

What are your office hours?

Our office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm year around. During our summer season those hours extend to 7:00pm and move to 7 days a week. When we have cruises available during our off-peak times of the year, our office hours will extend depending on what we have available. Basically, if we have public cruises, our office will be open.

Do you offer any discounts or coupons?

The best way to receive special deals for BB Riverboats is to be a member of Club BB, be a fan on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. We send special deals specifically to these two groups. We do offer coupons in local print publications as well, but your best deals will come as a member of these two groups.

I am on my way for my cruise, but am running late. Can you hold the boat for me?

The short answer is no. Every cruise has a stated boarding time and departure time. You can board the boat at any time during this window. For most of our cruises, we offer a full hour to board, while a select few cruise types have 30 minute boarding windows. Please refer to your cruise confirmation for information regarding your specific boarding time. It is our goal that every one of our cruises leave at its scheduled departure time. There are extenuating circumstances that sometimes arise and in those cases that are deemed to be outside the control of a large number of our guests, departure will be held for up to 10 minutes. Unfortunately, once those 10 minutes have been exhausted, the boat will depart. We urge you to arrive early and to leave plenty of time for traffic and parking. The Newport area can get very congested especially on the weekends in the summer. Per our reservation policy, any reservation not cancelled outside of 48 hours prior to the cruise is not eligible for any refund.

Would BB Riverboats be willing to donate to my organization's event?

BB Riverboats donates tens of thousands of dollars every year to numerous organizations in the Greater Cincinnati Area. With that said we get around 10 donation requests a day and cannot afford to fulfill many of them. In order to request a donation, you must mail a letter and include a self addressed stamped envelope to our donations department. The requests are looked over and the donations are sent out if they are approved. If your donation is not received within 4 weeks, we regrettably are unable to donate.

Mailing Address:

Attn: Donations
BB Riverboats
101 Riverboat Row
Newport, KY 41071

Phone call requests will not be honored.

What does your price include?

The price listed on our website is inclusive of all fees and taxes. What you see is what you will pay. Included in that price is a 18% Food Service Fee and 6% Sales Tax. The food service fee is a fee for your food service that is split between everyone that has something to do with providing the meal. Gratuity is not included on any additional purchases made on board.