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
(602 Ratings)
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Traci_l
Mar 13, 2026
Peaceful and Fun - My Besties came to town to celebrate our yearly gathering. The whole experience was wonderful. Starting from our bus driver picking us up from the Golden Nugget, to the charming lady at the ticket counter and on the Miss Dixie II . Friendly, knowledgeable, staff. Captain Danny was very charming. Thank you all for a great wonderful day with my besties.
Review provided by Viator
Cedric_w
Mar 12, 2026
Great experience! - This was a first time for this cruise tour. It was beautiful scenery after snow ❄️ season but had a little snow on mountains still left to look at. Very relaxing, tranquil and worth the time frame. Nice open bar and snacks to eat for pricing that wasn’t too bad. Very nice experience
Review provided by Viator
Stacyw428
Mar 10, 2026
Beautiful Boat Day - This is a breathtaking way to view Lake Tahoe. We thoroughly enjoyed the day. I highly recommend this experience. We had lunch and drinks on the boat. The drinks were gorgeous.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Susan_f
Mar 9, 2026
Beautiful and Relaxing - This was worth the price of Admission. Very well run, beautiful scenery and relaxing! Everyone was so friendly. Bus drivers were fun!
Review provided by Viator
600frankc
Mar 8, 2026
Great views from the Lake. - Beautiful weather. Great experience!!! Bought food and drinks on the boat. Very friendly staff and reasonable prices.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
178suellenk
Feb 28, 2026
Emerald cove day cruise - Excellent excursion. Friendly staff. Beautiful boat. Stern speakers could be louder, but the information was very interesting.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Debra_s
Feb 24, 2026
Great experience! A must do when in Lake Tahoe 😊 - The most beautiful scenery. The narratives given during the cruise were very informative. All staff were very nice and courteous. Bar and food service were awesome!
Review provided by Viator
Jena_h
Feb 16, 2026
Scenic tour was beautiful - The scenic boat tour was my favorite part of my Tahoe visit. I was able to see the Vikingsholm castle and emerald bay. It is just gorgeous from the boat. There are three levels, levels two and three has indoor seating and you can order food and drinks. The indoor levels had heat and were warm.
Review provided by Viator
Debbie_b
Feb 10, 2026
Beautiful - Beautiful Informative Great food Pricey but well worth the cost Pickup at casino was helful Great trip
Review provided by Viator
Yong_g
Mar 14, 2026
Overall It was good... - Overall It was good cruise. Snack corner could be improved. Wait was long but we did not mind waiting.
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).