When we first planned our trip to Niagara Falls, Dustin kept babbling about wanting to do the Maid of the Mist boat ride because it’s such an iconic thing to do. Not until I started my research that I realized there are two different cruises in Niagara Falls, offering the same experience: the Hornblower Niagara City Cruises in Canada and the Maid of the Mist in the US. So, which cruise is better? How do you know which one to choose? In this blog, we compiled a comparison list between the two Niagara Falls cruises from our personal experience and research to help you decide which of these cruises is the best for you when visiting Niagara Falls.
Maid of the Mist has been in operation since 1846, first as a ferry and later as a sightseeing boat. Since then, many famous people including Princess Diana & Prince Charles, Albert Edward, and Mikhail Gorbachev have taken a ride on these boats. Over time, Maid of the Mist boat rides have become symbols synonymous with Niagara Falls.
Niagara City Cruises by Hornblower is quite new, only starting in 2014.
These Niagara Falls cruises operate on different sides of the Niagara River, which acts as the border between the United States and Canada. The Maid of the Mist is the iconic boat tour from the US side of Niagara Falls. Its boarding dock is in the Niagara Falls State Park in New York. The Hornblower Niagara City Cruises is on the Canadian side. Its boarding dock is located along Niagara Parkway, at the bottom of Clifton Hill, near the Zipline to the Falls.
Yes, both Maid of the Mist and Niagara City Cruises by Hornblower offer the same 20-minute route. This route takes you up close and personal to all 3 Niagara Falls: American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Horseshoe Falls.
However, Niagara City Cruise is the only cruise that offers evening, illumination, and fireworks tours, depending on the season. For more info on the different tours, you can check out their website.
The operating seasons for both of these Niagara Falls cruises are similar. The Maid of the Mist operates usually on the first week of April and runs through the first Sunday in November. Hornblower Niagara City Cruises has a longer season. The boat tours usually start at the end of March, and the beginning of April, and continue till the end of November, weather permitting. If you’re planning your trip closer to the shoulder months, don’t forget to check the cruises’ websites first to make sure they are open.
As of 2025, the Maid of the Mist ticket is $30.25/person. You can use the ticket once at any time, any day during the current operating season. Once arrive at the entrance, you can just enter the line and board the next available boat on a first come, first serve basis. Boats depart every 15 minutes throughout the day, usually from 9 am-6 pm depending on the season. You can either purchase your ticket online or in person. We recommend buying it online. Also, the Maid of the Mist ticket includes access to the Niagara Falls Observation Tower, where you can see the surrounding area from a higher advantage.
The Niagara City Cruises by Hornblower ticket is CA$42.95 per person. It is in Canadian dollars instead of USD. So, with the exchange rate, the price came out fairly similar to Maid of the Mist. Niagara City Cruises has timed departures. Their boats depart every hour on the hour.
If you know exactly when you will be in Niagara Falls, Niagara City Cruises with its timed ticket might be a better choice, especially during peak season. This way, you can just walk into the boat docks when it’s your time instead of waiting in line like Maid of the Mist. However, if you’re unsure about when you’ll be there, Maid of the Mist might be a better choice. This way, you’ll have more flexibility.
Another difference between the two Niagara Falls cruises is the color of their ponchos. These cruises offer complimentary ponchos to help keep you somewhat dry when you get close to Horseshoe Falls. Usually, Maid of the Mist has blue ponchos and Hornblower has red ponchos. However, we got pink ones from Maid of the Mist because we went during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the USA.
Both of these Niagara Falls cruises are wheelchair accessible. The Maid of the Mist has limited seating onboard. Passengers have to stand on both upper and lower decks. There isn’t any enclosed area either. Hornblower Niagara City Cruises boats have dedicated seating arrangements, bathrooms, and enclosed viewing areas on the lower deck if you don’t want to get wet. If you prefer to be outside, the upper deck is open for maximum viewing.
So after all that comparison, which Niagara Falls cruises should you choose? Since they are both very similar, our first decision would depend on which side of Niagara Falls we will be on, the Canadian or the United States. Unless you want to go through the hassle of crossing the border, it’s easier to go whichever Niagara Falls cruise is on your side.
If you plan to visit both sides of Niagara Falls, the next deciding question would be when and what tour you want to do. For example, if you want to see Niagara Falls at night with all its illumination glory, you should go with the Hornblower. If your travel schedule isn’t fixed, we recommend choosing the Maid of the Mist. We chose Maid of the Mist solely for that reason. If you have the elderly or people in your group who need to be sitting down, the Hornblower offers a more comfortable seating arrangement. Whichever Niagara Falls cruise you decide to go with, you won’t regret it.
As mentioned above, we went with Maid of the Mist because of our schedule. We weren’t sure what day we could make it to Niagara Falls. It was hands down our second favorite attraction in Niagara Falls, a close runner-up right after Cave of the Winds. Since we visited on a weekday, off-season, the boarding line for the Maid of the Mist is quite short. Not too long after waiting in line, we got on the boat, ready for our adventure.
The Maid of the Mist boat ride to the waterfalls are beautiful. We’ve seen all the waterfalls from the boardwalk on the Canadian side. However, there is something about being right in front of it. Along the way, the boat stopped at the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls so we could take a look. However, the main event for a Niagara Falls cruise is the stop in front of Horseshoe Falls, the largest of the 3 Niagara waterfalls.
Even from far away, we could see the curtain of mist rising in front of Horseshoe Falls. As the boat got closer, we could hear the deafening sound of crashing water and feel the heavy water drops. At some point, we couldn’t see anything due to the dense mist. It felt like we were in the middle of a storm. It was such an amazing experience. We were in there for maybe about 10 minutes, but that 10 minutes seemed to go by very quickly. So, if you plan to take videos and photos, do it quickly. By the way, make sure to bring a waterproof pouch for your phone. It will get SOAKED!!
Since we did the Maid of the Mist, after our tour, we had access to the Niagara Falls Observation Tower. You can purchase tickets for the tower separately if you’re not doing the tour. It’s only $1.25. From the Observation Tower, there are awesome views of the surrounding areas, including the Rainbow Bridge and the American Falls. Since you’re higher, you’ll get a different vantage point from the Observation Tower. We recommend checking this out after your Maid of the Mist Niagara Falls cruise tour!
Happy Adventuring. Don’t forget to check out the related posts below for more inspiration on your upcoming adventures. While at it, follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel! We’ll love you forever!
These are the gear that we personally use and find helpful for this particular adventure. Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.
Our favorite hiking/travel jacket. It's warm and packable, perfect to bring on a hike or a road trip.
Our favorite hiking/travel jacket. It's warm and packable, perfect to bring on a hike or a road trip.
Our favorite biodegradable, eco-friendly, reef-safe sunscreen!
This is our go-to camera for all of our adventures. It comes with us everywhere!
Compact GoPro pole that extends to 25", perfect to bring on your adventure.
Nice to meet you!
Hi! We are Dustin & Vy, the proud creators of Live That Adventure. We created this website because we wanted to inspire others to live their lives to the fullest. On here, you’ll find everything from hiking, canyoneering, kayaking, and snorkeling to adventure and travel tips, gear reviews, and bucket list items such as bungee jumping or wing walking. We’ll show you the ropes so you can do them too!
Subscribe
Get our best adventure tips, guides and more send to you!
Recent Post
Subscribe
Get our best adventure tips, guides, and more send to you!