From finding the dock to your final river view, here’s what to expect on a typical public buffet cruise aboard the Edmonton Queen.
Come ready to settle in, enjoy your meal, explore the decks, and see Edmonton from a completely different perspective.
This guide covers a typical public buffet cruise. Your event listing and booking confirmation are the final source for event-specific timing and inclusions.
Your ticket time is the start of boarding. Build in enough time to park, walk to the dock, and have your booking confirmation ready before check-in.
The crew will check your booking at the dock, welcome you across the gangway, and point you toward the dining room and upper deck. Boarding remains open for about 45 minutes.
Standard public buffet-cruise tables are first come, first served, with seating inside and outside. If your booking includes a reserved or VIP table, a marked table will be ready and the crew will help you find it. Some special events use a different seating plan.
There’s no need to wait for departure. On a buffet cruise, meal service begins when boarding starts. Visit the buffet in the dining room, then enjoy your food at your table or elsewhere on the boat.
The Edmonton Queen is fully licensed, with bars inside the dining room and on the upper deck when weather permits. Alcohol and soft drinks are available for purchase; the bars accept cash and major cards. Complimentary self-serve coffee, tea, and water are available on both levels.
The dockside hour is part of the experience—not a delay. It gives everyone time to board safely, settle in, and enjoy the buffet while the crew completes the final steps for departure.
Boarding time
Check in, choose or find your table, and visit the buffet.
About 45 minutes
The crew confirms guests are aboard and completes departure preparations.
About 1 hour
The power changeover and Captain’s welcome happen before the lines are released.
As departure approaches, the crew changes the boat from shore power to its onboard systems. You may notice a brief change in lighting or background sound during the transition.
Listen for the Captain’s welcome and safety message. Once the final checks are complete and the lines are released, the riverboat eases away from Rafter’s Landing and the river valley begins to open around you.
A typical route heads upstream from Rafter’s Landing, carrying you beneath the Walterdale Bridge and through one of Edmonton’s best views of the North Saskatchewan River valley.
Step outside after your meal, move between the viewing areas, and watch for the downtown skyline, parkland, bridges, trails, and riverbanks. The route and sailing time can change with water levels and operating conditions, and the Captain always makes the final call.
The boat turns back toward Rafter’s Landing for the final views of the cruise. When the Edmonton Queen is secured at the dock, the crew will let everyone know it is safe to disembark.
Take a final look around your table, gather your belongings, and follow the crew’s directions across the gangway. You’ll retrace the park path back toward the parking areas and LRT.
Everything you need to settle in, move around, and enjoy the view.
Men’s and women’s washrooms are on the upper deck. An additional private wheelchair-accessible washroom is beside the lower-deck dining room.
A wheelchair lift provides access to the dining room and has a 500 lb capacity. The route from parking includes distance and inclines, so review the parking guide before your visit.
The climate-controlled dining room offers a comfortable place away from sun, wind, or rain. Bring a light layer if you plan to spend time outside.
Guests of all ages are welcome. Strollers can be left at the side of the deck where space allows; children should be supervised while moving around the boat.
Move between your table and the outdoor viewing areas throughout the cruise. Rail-side space is shared, so everyone gets a chance to enjoy the view.
Planning around mobility or access needs? Review the full parking and accessibility guide.
Quick answers for the questions most first-time guests ask.
The time on your ticket is when boarding begins—not when the boat departs. Boarding normally lasts 45 minutes and the boat generally leaves about one hour after boarding starts.
Allow extra time to find public parking and make the roughly five-minute walk to the dock. Always confirm the exact timing in your event listing and booking confirmation.
Many public buffet cruises keep guests aboard for about 2½ hours in total: approximately one hour of boarding and dockside dining followed by a 60–90 minute sailing. Event schedules vary, so use the times shown with your ticket as the final guide.
There is seating for guests inside the dining room and outside on deck. Standard public-cruise seating is first come, first served. If you purchased a reserved or VIP table package, the crew will direct you to the table prepared for your party.
Cruises operate rain or shine unless the Captain determines that conditions prevent safe sailing. You can enjoy the indoor dining room during poor weather, but dress for the forecast if you want to use the outdoor decks.
Come as you are and choose flat, comfortable shoes that stay securely on your feet. Evenings can feel cooler on the water, so a sweater or light jacket is a good idea.
The usual route heads upstream from Rafter’s Landing through Edmonton’s river valley, passing beneath the Walterdale Bridge before returning to the dock. The Captain may adjust the route or sailing time when North Saskatchewan River levels or other operating conditions require it.