Ontario Waterway Cruises

Ontario Waterway Cruises Explore Ontario's waterways aboard the Kawartha Voyageur, offering 5-15 day cruises on the Rideau Canal and Trent-Severn Waterway. Welcome aboard!

Join our family-owned journey since 1982, where our crew ensures your comfort from start to finish.

We've got your 2025 resolutions covered! ✅ Spend quality time with friends & family✅ Read more 📚✅ Try a new sport 🏄‍♂️✅ ...
01/03/2025

We've got your 2025 resolutions covered!

✅ Spend quality time with friends & family
✅ Read more 📚
✅ Try a new sport 🏄‍♂️
✅ Spend more time on the water 🌊
✅ Eat healthier 🥗
✅ Embrace the great outdoors 🌳
✅ Take some me time 🧘‍♀️

Whatever your goal is for 2025, we hope you can enjoy it on the Kawartha Voyageur!

Wishing you all the best for the new year from your Kawartha Voyageur family! We hope you enjoy your evening, whether yo...
12/31/2024

Wishing you all the best for the new year from your Kawartha Voyageur family! We hope you enjoy your evening, whether you're dancing with special someone 💃🕺, having a cozy night in with friends and family 🏡❤️, or tucked in early before the ball drops 🕛🎉.

Happy New Year!! All the best for 2025!

We hope you're enjoying this holiday season! 🎄✨ Our crew is taking a well-deserved rest after an incredible season. If y...
12/27/2024

We hope you're enjoying this holiday season! 🎄✨ Our crew is taking a well-deserved rest after an incredible season. If you've ever dreamed of being part of our team, now’s your chance—hiring for the 2025 season begins soon! Stay tuned for updates! 🚢

Happy Holidays from our family to yours! 🎄✨ This is just a small part of our family, as we are spread out across the cou...
12/25/2024

Happy Holidays from our family to yours! 🎄✨ This is just a small part of our family, as we are spread out across the country and, this year, across the world. 🌎 We hope you enjoy a wonderful time with loved ones 💕 and embrace the joy of the season. ❄️ To our passengers—our extended family—thank you for being part of our journey. 🛳️ Wishing you a holiday season filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories. 🎁 We can’t wait to welcome you aboard again soon! 🚢❤️

Here's a photo of Robin and Marc from the day they put the Kawartha Voyageur to bed in her dry dock for the winter seaso...
12/23/2024

Here's a photo of Robin and Marc from the day they put the Kawartha Voyageur to bed in her dry dock for the winter season. The ship rests in the canal in Kirkfield until next season begins! We're already looking forward to the 2025 season!

A big shoutout to this guy! 🙌⚓ Mr. Jack of all trades and Captain extraordinaire! 🚢
12/20/2024

A big shoutout to this guy! 🙌⚓ Mr. Jack of all trades and Captain extraordinaire! 🚢

Just sitting here dreaming about the delicious quiche on the Kawartha Voyageur 😋⛴️... and not having to make my own lunc...
12/18/2024

Just sitting here dreaming about the delicious quiche on the Kawartha Voyageur 😋⛴️... and not having to make my own lunch! 🥧✨ Where's the lunch bell when you need it? 🔔😊

Morning Wheelhouse Views ☀️. While we’re enjoying this restful time with our families, memories of warm, sunny days on t...
12/16/2024

Morning Wheelhouse Views ☀️. While we’re enjoying this restful time with our families, memories of warm, sunny days on the water stay with us. We can’t wait to cruise with you all again soon! 🚢✨

🎄 Do you enjoy card games, board games, and puzzles with the family over the Christmas holidays? 🧩✨ What are some games ...
12/13/2024

🎄 Do you enjoy card games, board games, and puzzles with the family over the Christmas holidays? 🧩✨ What are some games your family loves to play? Let us know! 🎅🃏

What holiday treats do you look forward to the most? 🍪🍫 Pies, cookies, chocolates, or maybe those festive advent calenda...
12/09/2024

What holiday treats do you look forward to the most? 🍪🍫 Pies, cookies, chocolates, or maybe those festive advent calendars? 🎄

What satisfies your sweet tooth during the season? Let us know in the comments! 😋🎅


Did you take advantage of any Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals this year? Find something that was too good to pass up?...
12/06/2024

Did you take advantage of any Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals this year? Find something that was too good to pass up? Share your finds with us in the comments!

Our passengers love exploring the charming shops in the towns along the Rideau Canal and the Trent-Severn Waterway. In fact, some of them might have even ticked off a bit of their Christmas shopping while cruising on the KV! 🎁🛍️


On a blustery day like today, we can’t help but reminisce about the warm, sunny days aboard the KV ☀️⛴️. The beauty of s...
12/04/2024

On a blustery day like today, we can’t help but reminisce about the warm, sunny days aboard the KV ☀️⛴️. The beauty of summer on the water feels even more special when contrasted with the snowy scenes outside ❄️—a perfect reminder of what’s to come. 🌊🌞


🚤 Explore the Historic Watson's Mill on Our Rideau Cruise! 🏭✨Did you know that Watson's Mill, located in the village of ...
11/29/2024

🚤 Explore the Historic Watson's Mill on Our Rideau Cruise! 🏭✨

Did you know that Watson's Mill, located in the village of Manotick, is a fully operational 1860s water-powered flour mill? And it might just be haunted!

The story is that mill owner, Joseph Merrill Currier, brought his new bride to the mill, but tragically her dress crinoline got caught in the machinery, leading to her untimely death. It's said that you can see her sitting in an upper-story window.

Join us for a visit and discover the history—and perhaps the ghost—of Watson's Mill! 👻 Follow this link to learn more about our Rideau Cruises in 2025: https://ontariowaterwaycruises.com/cruises/rideau/

Watson's Mill Manotick

👀 Where is it Wednesday! 👀Can you name this bridge? 🌅 Drop your answers below and show us your waterway knowledge! Bonus...
11/27/2024

👀 Where is it Wednesday! 👀

Can you name this bridge? 🌅 Drop your answers below and show us your waterway knowledge! Bonus points if you can tell us which communities it connects. Even bigger bonus if you know what to do when we approach this bridge! 🚤👇

The Peterborough Lift Lock is an unforgettable experience on our Kawartha Cruise. There's nothing quite like experiencin...
11/25/2024

The Peterborough Lift Lock is an unforgettable experience on our Kawartha Cruise. There's nothing quite like experiencing it aboard the Kawartha Voyageur!

Follow this link to learn more about our Kawartha Cruises in 2025: https://ontariowaterwaycruises.com/cruises/kawartha/

Although it may be hard to believe—because they are so hardworking and always ensure you have everything you need—our cr...
11/22/2024

Although it may be hard to believe—because they are so hardworking and always ensure you have everything you need—our crew does get a bit of downtime as well!

👀 Where is it Wednesday! 👀Which lock is the KV in, in for this photo? 🌅 Drop your answers below and show us your navigat...
11/20/2024

👀 Where is it Wednesday! 👀

Which lock is the KV in, in for this photo? 🌅 Drop your answers below and show us your navigation knowledge! Bonus points if you can share something interesting about this lock! 🚤👇

✈️ Discover Canada’s Air Force Story with Ontario Waterway Cruises! One of the highlights of our Quinte Cruise is a visi...
11/18/2024

✈️ Discover Canada’s Air Force Story with Ontario Waterway Cruises!

One of the highlights of our Quinte Cruise is a visit to the National Air Force Museum of Canada, a true aviation gem.

Established in 1984, the museum showcases the incredible history of Canadian military aviation, from its first flight on a frozen lake in Nova Scotia to today’s humanitarian missions. Marvel at historic aircraft, including Canada’s first military plane, the Burgess Dunne, and the iconic Halifax bomber from WWII.

Join us on the Quinte Cruise to experience this impressive museum firsthand and uncover the remarkable stories of Canada’s air force! 🚢✨

Address

3820 Hampshire Mills Line
Severn, ON
L3V0Y5

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm
Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
Friday 9am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+18005615767

Website

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Videos

Happy Trails! Thanks for an amazing 2024 season ❤️

POP QUIZ! How many lakes on the Trent-Severn Waterway can you name? Let's us know your answers in the comments below. Also which crew member got the most? #kawarthavoyager #ontariowaterwaycruises #rivercruise #crew #crewlife #tsw #trentsevernwaterway

Just saying hello to fellow boaters 😀 Happy Labour Day Weekend

A little video of our journey from Jones Falls to Davis Lock on the Rideau #ontariowaterwaycruises #ontariowaterways #kawarthavoyageur #rivercruise #welcomeaboard #discoveron #rideau #rideaucanal

A lovely day for a game of tag in the sky! 📍Bay of Quinte, ON

It's always a lovely day for cruising on the KV! This video was taken on our cruise from Balsam Lake to Kirkfield 😍 Views upon views! #ontariowaterwaycruises #ontariowaterways #tsw #trentsevernwaterway #kawarthavoyager @explore_kl

Sunday May 12th is our inaugural cruise of the season and we couldn't be more excited to get back on to the waters. For those of you who haven't yet experienced life onboard, here's a sneak peek into our passenger activities.

Passenger Activities
Passenger Activities

Sunday May 12th is our inagural cruise of the season and we couldn't be more excited to get back on to the waters. For those of you who haven't yet exprienced life onboard, here's a sneak peek into our passenger activities. #KawarthaVoyageur #OntarioWaterwayCruises #RiverCruiseMagic #OntarioWaterways #WelcomeAboard #DiscoverON

Yesterday, we received our top deck furniture! All repainted and re-strapped 🌟⛴️ #kawarthavoyager #ontariowaterways #springtime

A Family Business
A Family Business

We're proud to be a family run business where our passengers become our extended family 🚢 #KawarthaVoyageur #OntarioWaterways #DiscoverON

A Family Business
A Family Business

We're proud to be a family run business where our passengers become our extended family 🚢 #KawarthaVoyageur #OntarioWaterways #DiscoverON

A Family Business
A Family Business

We're proud to be a family run business where our passengers become our extended family 🚢 #KawarthaVoyageur #OntarioWaterways #DiscoverON

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Our Story

Experience the friendly, casual atmosphere aboard the 45 passenger Kawartha Voyageur riverboat "akin to that of a floating country inn" Providing 5 to 15 day voyages on the Rideau Canal, Trent-Severn Waterway and the Thousand Islands/St. Lawrence River.

Following their retirement from full time farming in 1978, Lloyd and Helen Ackert continued to live on the family farm providing meals and accommodation to farm vacationers. And then came the dream!

From an idea on a rented houseboat in 1981, Lloyd and Helen Ackert and their family created Ontario Waterway Cruises Inc. As founder of Ontario Waterway Cruises Inc., Lloyd spearheaded the development of the business through the 80s and although he and Helen fully retired in 1993, he continued to observe and offer his advice as the years went by. Dad passed on in 2011 but he will always be remembered for his personal interest, enthusiasm and attention to detail… a remedy for success that he instilled in us and everyone he worked with.

Since 1993, sons Marc and John have alternated as captain aboard ship. Marc & Robin and John & Joy share the various responsibilities of managing the business. Robin manages the hospitality functions and Joy manages reservations