Emerald Bay Scenic Cruise: Lake Tahoe's Top Attraction

Discover Emerald Bay’s beauty on a 2.25-hour Lake Tahoe cruise. Enjoy stunning views, learn local history, and relax with onboard amenities.

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Lake Tahoe Cruises / MS Dixie II - For a genuine Lake Tahoe experience, embark on the M.S. Dixie II, a paddle-wheel vessel that navigates the lake’s breathtaking, deep blue waters.
  • Fannette Island - Fannette is the sole island in Lake Tahoe, situated in the picturesque Emerald Bay on the lake’s western shore. This granite outcrop, sparsely…
What's Included
  • Audio Guide
  • All Fees and Taxes
  • On-board restrooms
What's Not Included
  • Self Parking ($12)
Additional Information

Embark on a truly unique Lake Tahoe experience! The Emerald Bay Scenic Cruise takes place on the largest cruising vessel in South Lake Tahoe.
This one-of-a-kind paddle wheeler will take you on an unforgettable journey through world-famous Emerald Bay. Learn how the bay was formed, hear tales about Fanette Island, and see the amazing Vikingsholm Castle,…

Location
Zephyr Cove Marina
Highway 50
Located along Highway 50 approximately five miles from Heavenly Village, guests should turn into the parking lot for Zephyr Cove Resort. Guests should park and proceed to check in at the boat dock, which is directly northwest of the Zephyr Cove Resort main lodge and restaurant.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.6
(593 Ratings)
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Pamela_h
Dec 30, 2025
Great views - Views were great! Fun to be on the lake. We had seen emerald bay from the road. The tour gave a completely different perspective and we got very close to the mansion and the island. Enjoyed very much!
Review provided by Viator
Mohammed_r
Dec 26, 2025
The boat ride is very... - The boat ride is very nice, staff is very kind and pleasant. When i went it was snowing and the views of the lake were a bit limited, but what we did see was stunning, especially in the emerald cove.
Review provided by Viator
Glenn_c
Dec 15, 2025
Dixie South Lake Tahoe - All views of the lake are spectacular. Full bar and great Food. Staff was nice and boat left right on time and was nice and amooth.
Review provided by Viator
Laura_m
Dec 13, 2025
Lake Tahoe Emerald Bay Scenic Cruise - Loved it! Smooth sailing! Beautiful & very scenic! Staff on board friendly & informative. Food delicious!
Review provided by Viator
U4650sjjosepht
Dec 4, 2025
Super MS Dixie Tahoe Cruise - MS Dixie is an excellent entertainment experience. Very comfy aboard ship, and cruise Views are Spectacular! It's like walking in a beautiful Picture postcard! And great refreshments too.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sweta_m
Nov 30, 2025
Spectacular in one word! - The ride was very joyful and smooth itself. And the view was phenomenal! The 2 hours tour was total worth it. Must recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Chrissu2790ts
Nov 25, 2025
Awesome time on the water - From purchasing the tickets, to the free shuttle pick up, to being on the boat, to enjoying the scenic sites; everything went smoothly with the great staff.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bryrony_d
Dec 26, 2025
Lake Tahoe sites - Beautiful scenery. We went on an extremely rough day, so didn’t get to enjoy the outside decks as much. No fault of the company. They had an interesting audio narrative with history of the area. I wish it had been a bit louder to hear better.
Review provided by Viator
Judith_k
Dec 14, 2025
Scenery only - We've been on many cruises like this one for the scenery. We also wanted to learn about Lake Tahoe. No one could hear the history of the Lake. Speakers low. Many kids. Noisy.
Review provided by Viator
Into_c
Dec 23, 2025
Avoid this tour! They treat tourists like sh…! - The web site said that the local tour operator reserved the right to cancel if minimum number of customers were not met. There was a storm alert in Lake Tahoe on that day. I tried to confirm the tour with the local tour operator but my message was ignored. I decided to leave an hour early (30 minutes on top of the normal 30 estimated time) without snow chain in the snow from my hotel. I arrived 3 minutes after the original 12 pm that the Viator web site said that I must confirm with the local tour operator which ignored my message. The local tour operator was walking back as the ship was leaving the dock literally.
Review provided by Viator
From $105
up to 10 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).