The parking was a zoo. Even though I found a spot in a nearby lot in time, the line to pay for parking took 45 min so we were too late for our 11:15 departure. I tried to see if I could reschedule online (since there are so many departures each day), and it just said Iād lose all the money. So I walked to the kiosk while my family waited in the parking payment line. They rescheduled us for 12:30. No extra charge. They said to get in line by 12:00 bc seating is first come first serve. Seating is better on the right side of the boat bc they narrate everything from the right side (wish weād known that). Narration was more interesting for adults than kids but my 11 & 14yoās enjoyed it and thought 1 hour was the right duration for them.
The ride was lovely. Thereās a bit of a breeze and long sleeves weāre needed at times. Sunscreen was also needed. They sell alcohol and non alcoholic drinks, chips and M&Ms on board. Cash or credit card. Itās a bit crowded in the top deck where itās open to the outside. There are two levels of stairs that are a bit narrow and steep - fine for most but a bit challenging for those who struggle w getting up and down stairs.
There are also food options near the port. This was helpful since our parking fiasco meant we were delayed on getting done w the cruise for a more typical lunch hour. It also made the $20 parking seem a little more worth it when it was for more than just the cruise. Parking is $10 for 1 hr or $20 all day. Credit card reader was temperamental so it was good I also had exact change in cash.