For cruises with a meal, tickets are required (no walk-ons). The $10 deposit per ticket can be reserved by credit card through our calendar (advance purchase is highly recommended as cruises often sell out).

Walk-on tickets are sometimes available for Saturday River Tours; space permitting.

Once you've reserved tickets by deposit, the balance will be owed when you board and check in. We will have your name on our manifest, so you do not need to print or bring your receipt. We accept cash, check, or credit cards for the ticket balance and onboard beverages.

Taxes are included in the price.

Gratuities are not included, but always appreciated!

Boarding will begin 15 minutes prior to departure time. Unless otherwise stated, all of our cruises will board from the High Street Town Dock in Chestertown.

There are typically plenty of available public parking spaces located at the dock.

We are not wheelchair-accessible. Our gangway is essentially a series of 6 steps that change in according to the tides (more ladder-like at high tide, and ramp-like at low tide). Those who require a walker may be able to get onboard just fine and use their walker within the cabin/salon.

There are additionally 6 steps down to the heads/restrooms, 3 steps from the salon/cabin to the bow, and 7 steps to the upper deck.

We are all-ages friendly! And the boat is certified by the U.S. Coast Guard to meet all safety requirements.

We do ask that young children not be left unattended at any time as our crew cannot be held responsible for them.

Children 10 & under have a discounted ticket of $25/child (on regular public meal cruises), and those 3 and under are free on all public cruises.

We still require an accurate headcount per Coast Guard regulations, so please inform us of any attending children during Checkout (click the "Add an Order Note" option within the "Order Summary" section).

Cruises will run rain or shine, with the exceptions of severe weather in which we will make notifications as soon as possible - at least 24 hours prior to departure, if possible. If you need to change or cancel your reservation, we would appreciate at least 48-hours notice, so we can notify the caterer. Payments are non-refundable or transferable for cancellations or changes made within 48-hours of the cruise, but fully refundable if we, the River Packet, make the cancellation.

Due to the restrictions of our liquor license, outside alcohol and beverages are not permitted on any of our cruises. We offer reasonably priced beverages including a variety of soft drinks, beer, wine, and mixed cocktails. Water is always available for free.

Alcoholic beverages purchased onboard are not permitted to leave the boat once we have returned to the dock.

Our sister company, Occasions Catering is our exclusive caterer. They will provide a buffet for all private and public meal cruises: Casual Cuisine, Sunday Brunch, etc. Outside food & dessert are not permitted on these cruises. Please contact our caterer directly for more information.

Our Saturday "River Tour" does not include a meal, so it is the only cruise in which we allow a packed lunch to be brought onboard. Outside beverages are still not permitted on any of our cruises.

Our "Casual Cuisine" cruise buffets typically feature a main/protein item (chicken, beef, pork), with a few sides to accompany it (potato/pasta salad, coleslaw, green salad, etc.) with cookies for dessert.

We currently offer a 90-minutes guided tour on Saturday afternoons, and 2-hour meal cruises on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings (Casual Cuisine) and Sunday afternoon (Brunch).

For most private/exclusive cruises, a 2-hour sail is recommended, but we will run as long as 2.5-hours.

No, our cruises depart and return to the same dock. On a guided tour, the Captain may point out a few areas of interest, but we do not drop anchor or dock to let passengers off at any point during a cruise.

We currently only offer a guided cruise on the public Saturday "River Tour" (1:00 - 2:30 pm), but it can also be requested on any private/exclusive cruise.

We may be certified to carry 108 passengers (and as such, we always have 108 life jackets onboard), however, we will only carry 35 - 50 guests, max. Our indoor/protected cabin area has about 35 seats (high tops with stools, table seating, and banquet area). There is additional outdoor seating on the bow (10 seats, no tables), and the upper deck (20 seats, 2 tables, and one low/coffee table). Outdoor seats are not covered or protected from weather, so please factor that when planning.

Yes, we have two "heads" onboard, which are located downstairs from the inside salon area.

Please dress appropriately for the weather conditions. Our inside cabin/salon is protected from the elements (we have heat/AC, if needed), but you may want to bring a jacket for the cooler months, if you go out to the outdoor decks.

Using your own discretion, we recommend flats over high-heeled footwear.

Where we are located on the Chester River is considered protected waters and you should not expect too much rocking due to wind, just from a passing boat's wake.

However, if you often feel seasick or worry you may become so, you may want to consider some light medication before beginning the trip. However, we cannot officially advise you to take anything.

We do allow dogs in our outdoor spaces (bow and upper deck), but they must be leashed. Please be aware that other passengers on public cruises may be allergic or may not feel comfortable. If you cannot leave your dog safely at home, please notify us ahead of your cruise.

Private/exclusive cruises may use their own discretion regarding a leash.

While we do allow smoking in our outdoor spaces, we please ask that you make sure you are downwind from all other passengers and any open doors to the salon.

Weather-permitting, we operate cruises from April through December (New Year's Day is always the final sail of the season!).

Please check our calendar for up-to-date scheduling information.

Gift Certificates can be purchased online here (they will be mailed once processed).

To redeem a Gift Certificate, please contact us by phone (410-635-0321) or email us to let us know the date you'd like to use it, the amount, and for how many passengers. Once we confirm and get you on the manifest, please make sure to bring the Gift Certificate with you the day of the cruise.

Gift Certificates do not expire.

Weekend charters may override a scheduled public cruise if no reservations have been made.

If available, Mondays through Thursdays can be rented out at a discounted rate.

Please visit our Private Cruises page, or send an Email to for more information and to reserve.

The River Packet is currently the only commercial vessel that operates in the Chestertown-area of the Chester River.

Rock Hall is the next closest town to inquire about other boating options.

In the 18th & 19th centuries, Packet Boats were used to transport mail, passengers, and freight up and down smaller rivers across Europe and North America. They were generally sail or steam-powered vessels that could maneuver into narrower and shallower waters. The River Packet is not necessarily representative of the packet boat style, but we loved the tribute.