Choosing a Savannah River Cruise

Savannah Riverboat Cruises runs several different sailings on the Savannah River, and at first glance they can blur together. They differ in three things that actually matter: how long they last, whether a meal is included, and what time of day they sail. This guide lays out every cruise type so you can match the right one to your trip in a couple of minutes.

All Savannah River Cruises at a Glance

All cruises are operated by Savannah Riverboat Cruises, depart from River Street in downtown Savannah, and include free cancellation up to 24 hours before sailing. Prices are starting prices per person.

The Harbor Sightseeing Cruise — the popular starting point

The Riverboat Narrated Harbor Sightseeing Cruise (1.5 hours, from $42) is the most-reviewed cruise in the lineup at 1,288 reviews, and the natural first choice. It is the shortest and the lowest-priced, and it covers the full scenic route — the historic waterfront, the downtown skyline, the working Port of Savannah, and Old Fort Jackson downriver, where you can see and hear the fort’s cannons. A captain provides live commentary throughout. There is no meal, but Bar & Grille items are available to buy on board.

Book it if: you want the river, the history, and the views without committing a whole evening or a bigger budget.

The Sightseeing Lunch Cruise — the daytime favorite

The Sightseeing Lunch Cruise (2 hours, from $63) is the same scenic route stretched to two hours with a southern-style buffet served on board — shrimp and grits, southern fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, sweet potato soufflé, and more. At 4.6/5 it is among the best-rated cruises in the section.

Book it if: you want a relaxed midday experience with a meal and the full sightseeing route in one.

The Sunset Cruise — golden hour on deck

The Riverboat Sunset Cruise (2 hours, from $55) is timed for the evening light. The draw is the open-air top-deck patio, the river breeze, and live music you can dance to. There is no included meal, but an onboard bar and grill serves food and drinks.

Book it if: you want the scenery at its most atmospheric and a lighter, lower-cost evening.

The Buffet Dinner Cruise — the full evening out

The Buffet Dinner Cruise with Live Entertainment (2 hours, from $93) is the most complete evening: a buffet dinner in a climate-controlled ballroom, a live entertainer playing music from the 50s onward, and dancing. It boards at 6:00 PM and returns at 9:00 PM, and sails year-round Sunday through Friday.

Book it if: you want dinner, music, and a cruise bundled into one booking — ideal for a special occasion.

The Monday Gospel Dinner Cruise — the highest-rated option

The Monday Gospel Dinner Cruise (2 hours, from $77) earns the top rating in the section at 4.8/5. It serves a southern buffet alongside live gospel music. The catch is in the name: it sails only on Mondays, so it has to fit your dates.

Book it if: your trip includes a Monday and you want a memorable, distinctly Savannah evening.

What Every Cruise Has in Common

Before you fixate on the differences, it is worth knowing what does not change between cruise types — because the core experience is shared across all of them.

• The route. Every cruise sails the same stretch of the Savannah River, the waterway that forms the Georgia–South Carolina border. You pass the historic waterfront, River Street, the downtown skyline, and the working Port of Savannah. The daytime sightseeing and lunch cruises continue downriver to Old Fort Jackson and its cannons.
• The departure point. All cruises leave from River Street in downtown Savannah, walkable from most downtown hotels.
• The operator. Every cruise is run by Savannah Riverboat Cruises, on purpose-built riverboats with both enclosed climate-controlled cabins and open-air decks.
• Free cancellation. All cruises can be cancelled up to 24 hours before sailing for a full refund — so booking early to secure a slot carries no penalty.

In other words, you cannot really pick a “wrong” cruise — every option delivers the same scenic Savannah River route. The choice is purely about length, meal, and time of day.

A Note on Ratings

The five cruises span ratings from 4.1/5 to 4.8/5. The Monday Gospel Dinner Cruise leads at 4.8/5, though from a smaller base of 90 reviews. The Harbor Sightseeing Cruise, with 1,288 reviews, has by far the largest and most established review base — a 4.3/5 across well over a thousand travelers is a solid, well-tested score. The Sightseeing Lunch Cruise (4.6/5 from 795 reviews) strikes the best balance of a high rating and a large sample. Treat ratings as one input among several: duration, meal, and timing usually matter more to picking the right cruise for your trip.

How to Decide in 30 Seconds

Work through three questions:

1. Do you want a meal on board? Yes → Lunch, Dinner, or Gospel cruise. No → Harbor Sightseeing or Sunset.
2. Day or evening? Day → Harbor Sightseeing or Lunch. Evening → Sunset, Dinner, or Gospel.
3. What’s your budget? Lowest → Harbor Sightseeing ($42). Most inclusive → Dinner ($93). Best-rated → Gospel ($77, Mondays only).

Ready to Book?

Whichever cruise type fits your trip, every Savannah river cruise covers the same historic waterfront and comes with free cancellation. Compare them all side by side on our Savannah river cruises page and book the one that suits you.