Water Sports · Ontario
Blue Heron Cruises
A Tobermory, Ontario, cruise operator running glass-bottom boat tours over shipwrecks in Fathom Five National Marine Park, with drop-offs at Flowerpot Island and sunset cruises. Book and park early.
What visitors say
Blue Heron Cruises runs sightseeing boats out of Tobermory harbour at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula, and with nearly 1,500 reviews it's one of the busiest operators in town. The glass-bottom tours slow over the clear water so passengers can look down at the shipwrecks, including the Sweepstakes, before heading past islands and the Flowerpot rock pillars.
Guests describe comfortable, clean boats with covered seating and open upper and lower decks, and a washroom on board. Crew are praised for being friendly and full of local history and details about Fathom Five National Marine Park, and one guide happily took photos for passengers. The extended scenic cruise runs about 90 minutes, and a sunset cruise is popular too. Boats also drop visitors at Flowerpot Island for hiking.
It suits families, older travellers and anyone who wants to see the shipwrecks without kayaking out. One group whose kayak plans were scrapped by wildfire smoke switched to the glass-bottom tour and still enjoyed it. A recent passenger noted the boat was pet-friendly.
The practical advice from reviewers is consistent: book ahead because tickets sell out, and give yourself at least 15 minutes to find parking and reach the dock, since boats leave on time. The earliest departure makes free parking near the docks easier. It's windier and colder on the water than on shore, so bring a layer, and sit inside for the shipwrecks then move up top for the views.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 1,493 Google reviews. Details change — confirm hours, prices and bookings with Blue Heron Cruises directly.