Chesapeake Bay Family Cruise

There’s no better way to bond with your clan on the open water than taking a Chesapeake Bay family cruise. The popular waterway is the ideal setting for fishing, crabbing, and sightseeing. Whether you are cruising the bay on a lighthouse tour or a sunset sail, the family-friendly adventure is one you won’t soon forget.

Not many people realize that the Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. While the bay itself stretches roughly 200 miles long, its basin covers nearly 65,000 square miles thanks to the 150 rivers that flow into it. Chesapeake Bay is surrounded by Maryland and Virginia, and is famous for its striped bass, blue crabs, clams and oysters.

The Chesapeake Bay is a huge draw for tourists visiting Maryland and Virginia. Each year tens of thousands of visitors flock to the shores of the bay to board vessels that tour the open waters. To facilitate recreational boating and provide access to additional docks and marinas, the bay is spanned in two places by the picturesque Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel in Virginia.

If you are planning a trip to the Chesapeake Bay area you might consider taking to the water during your stay.?Maryland and Virginia?feature a number of reputable cruise companies which offer seasonal sailings from May through October, including:

Down Time Charters caters to families and other large groups that are interested in exploring the legendary Chesapeake Bay. In addition to standard full and half-day sightseeing sailings on the Chesapeake, the cruise company offers an extremely popular sunset lighthouse tour. These educational voyages sail to the most beautiful and historic lighthouses in the Chesapeake Mid-Bay region, such as:

Sandy Point LightThomas Point LightBloody Point LightBaltimore Light

The leisurely cruises take between four and six hours depending on weather and wave conditions. What’s more, all of the sailings offered by the company can be tailored to meet your family’s needs. For example, if you book a private tour of the bay, you may choose your departure time, length of trip and points of interest.

Tangier Island Cruises offers daily sunset voyages to Tangier Island from Crisfield, Maryland. You’ll ride on board a luxurious 90-foot vessel which can accommodate up to 300 passengers. The boat features a spacious upper sun deck, an air conditioned lounge, snack bar, and restrooms.

The evening sail allows you to take in the sunset over famous Chesapeake Bay while journeying to family-friendly Tangier Island. The 12-mile trip includes unprecedented views of the chain of islands that form the Tangier Sound. In addition, you will be able to photograph eagles and various waterfowl that inhabit the bay.

Tickets for the sunset cruise also include admission to Hilda Crockette's Chesapeake House where you will enjoy an unlimited family-style meal, which includes:

Chesapeake Bay crab cakesClam frittersVirginia baked hamGreen beansPotato saladColeslawHot corn puddingHomemade rollsDessert

After dinner you will be given time to stroll around the island before boarding the boat back to Crisfield.

Families looking for an adrenaline rush on the Chesapeake Bay should seriously consider checking out Adventure Cruise Virginia Beach. The company offers thrills on the water for the entire family. You can choose between two daily adventure cruises:

Adventure Cruise on the Chesapeake Bay: This sailing departs at 2 p.m. each day and navigates the bay in search of dolphins, pelicans and other marine life. In fact, the company gives each passenger a “Dolphin Guarantee” whereby you purchase a single ticket, but if you don’t see dolphins during the cruise you will be given free trips until you do.Chesapeake Bay Sunset Cruise: This evening cruise departs at 7 p.m. and tours the bay while the sun dips below the horizon. In addition to enjoying unobstructed views of the area’s famed lighthouses, you will also be treated to sights of the bay’s natural wonders, including inlets and various tributaries.

Adventure Cruise’s ship features a large sundeck as well as a well-appointed lower deck. While the company does not provide meals during the voyage, you are allowed to bring your own food to eat during the cruise.

If your kids are picky eaters, then you might appreciate taking cruises that allow you to bring along your own snacks and drinks. In addition, if you are traveling with a large family, you are better off purchasing tickets in advance, as summer cruises tend to sell out quickly. Buying tickets in advance will also allow you to select the day and time you prefer.