Harbour and Islands Cruise

The Harbour Star spends about half the cruise exploring the Toronto Inner Harbour and the rest of the time traveling through the canals and lagoons of the 14 Toronto Islands.

Here are just a few of the sights you can expect to see from the boat:

Toronto’s signature skyline, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, Hanlan’s Point, Wildlife Sanctuary, Centre Island/Centreville, Island Yacht Club/Muggs Island, Toronto Island Marina, Forestry Island, Allan A. Lamport Regatta Course and Grand Stand, Ward Island/Algonquin Island, Royal Canadian Yacht Club, Queen City Yacht Club, Polson Pier, The Portlands, RedPath Sugar Refinery, Ferry Docks, Westin Harbour Castle, Pier 6, Queen’s Quay Terminal, Harbourfront Centre, Amsterdam Brewhouse, H2O Park, Music Garden, The Power Plant, Canada Malting Company Silos, West Gap and East Gap, Rogers Centre

The Harbour Star operates on a 6-month season, roughly from May until the end of October. The exact start and finish dates of the season are determined largely by weather conditions so please contact us as your travel date nears for the most current information.

The Harbour Star cruise lasts 45 minutes and departs every hour. Schedules are posted daily and may be affected by weather, so please contact us as your travel date nears for the most current information.

Yes, but keep in mind that the boat tour is seasonal, weather-permitting, and at the captain’s discretion.

The boat, called the Harbour Star, docks at the foot of Harbourfront Centre’s West Pier (Stop #12).

We offer a non-stop islands experience that is uninterrupted by awkward and time-consuming pickups and dropoffs. People typically join our tour and get a feel for the 15 islands in their entirety. If you notice a particular island during the cruise you’re curious about, we can direct you to the appropriate city ferry. The City of Toronto offers an efficient and inexpensive ferry service to Ward Island, Centre Island and Hanlan’s Point.

Bring your camera since you’ll get tons of opportunities for postcard-quality photos of our ever-growing skyline as well as the flora and fauna of the 15 islands. Nature lovers and bird watchers might want to bring binoculars as our passengers have glimpsed everything from Coyotes, White Tailed Deer, American Minks and Beavers to Great Egrets, Belted Kingfishers and Great Blue Herons.

The Toronto Inner Harbour is a natural harbour protected by the islands so, yes, the water is generally very calm. In addition, we spend about half the duration of the cruise winding our way through the canals and lagoons of the islands, where the water is usually flat calm.

Although we are happy to store collapsible wheelchairs on board during the tour, we are currently unable to offer boat tours to those who are wheelchair-bound.

Of course! No matter your age, you will have an amazing time viewing the harbour from our boat.

Yes. There is a live guide on board the boat who will deliver a fun, friendly, and informative commentary as the boat winds its way through the harbour and islands. This official Harbour Star guide would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have and to offer thoughtful advice on how to make the most of your stay.

Seating is available both inside and outside.

For for information on your seating options, please see Seating Options in the Details tab.

As per Transport Canada regulations, we have more than enough life jackets on board for everyone to use in the event of an emergency. The Harbour Star comes complete with a full array of safety equipment that includes everything from fire extinguishers and life rings to three inflatable life rafts, large enough to accommodate everyone on the boat. All of our crew is fully certified and trained to use this equipment should the need arise. We take safety very seriously!

We run rain or shine. If it’s raining, you’re welcome to sit inside on the main or second deck where you’ll be warm and toasty. The outdoor promenades on the main and second decks are covered, so you can still spend the entire cruise outside while staying dry.

However, please keep in mind that in the event of severe weather (such as strong wind, thunderstorms or other conditions), departures are at the captain’s discretion.

Yes you can! All you need to do is remove your child from the stroller and our staff will stow it on the main deck for you where it will be accessible to you at any time during the cruise.