Potomac Riverboat Company

It was the worst company ever. We came right on time and the boat left earlier than posted. They REFUSED to issue you a refund. They don't tell you this when you buy a ticket. Not at all accommodating. Overall experience is an F.

I went to the company that runs the water taxi to National Harbor and had a great experience. The person told me that they recommend people come to the booth 30 minutes prior to departure in case of a line. But, the lady told me that they can sell the tickets up to a couple of minutes before. I took the 6:30PM departure and thought it was a wonderful way to travel across the river. Don't listen to angry people leaving message, the water taxi was GREAT!

Last night, we had planned to take the water taxi from Old Town to National Harbor as part of a birthday celebration. We had checked the company web site for information but all they have posted is the schedule and ticket price and group sales info. There's no way to buy tickets online and no information about restrictions on buying tickets. We arrived at about 10 of 6pm to take the 6 pm ferry, it hadn't arrived yet and there was a small line of people waiting for it. It was not sold out. However, the woman selling tickets said she couldn't sell tickets less than a half an hour before the boat left and there was a sign taped up by the window that seemed to back her up. This seems odd for a 15 minute ferry ride. We didn't have an extra 1/2 hour to wait, so we had to walk back to the parking garage where we had left our car, pay for the five minutes the car had been there, and then drive in DC metro area Friday night traffic over to National Harbor. It still turned out to be cheaper and faster (given the 1/2 advance purchase requirement) to drive over and park at National Harbor. We paid $10 for valet parking, and could have just driven in to the pay lot instead. We actually beat the 6pm ferry over even with the traffic. In fact, it was so easy to find and park at National Harbor, we probably won't ever use the $14 RT per person ferry. I suspect that even a car taxi from Old Town to National Harbor would be cheaper. Take a river tour through one of the tour operators in the area if you want, but don't mistake the ferry for convenient, cheap connections across the river.

I went on the night cruise and it was pretty fun. Definitely liked that you can buy wine or beer onboard. Not a bad price for what you get!

The tour was fun and the staff were friendly. The site in Old Town Alexandria Va can be a little difficult to find so make sure to give yourself pleanty of time. The trip up the river to Mt. Vernon was great with lots of stuff to see. The boat can be "cold" in the fall so make sure and take a coat. Mt. Vernon was easily toured in the time that the boat company gives you. It is a great value.