Summer in Lake Tahoe is just around the corner and after the biggest winter snowfall on record, locals and visitors are eagerly anticipating a season of fun in the sun.
What better way to enjoy the crystal clear waters of Big Blue than by hopping aboard a wine and cocktail cruise? Here are eight companies to consider when planning your next booze-included adventure on Lake Tahoe. From wine tastings to sunset sails, each of these companies offers a unique and unforgettable experience on the water. So grab your sunglasses, lather on the sunscreen and get ready to make some memories on the lake.
There's an extra element of fun when the man behind the bar is in uniform on the Bleu Wave.
Sail Tahoe Blue
Are you ready for a unique sailing experience? Look no further than Sail Tahoe Blue for your next wine and cocktail cruise around Lake Tahoe. This premier sailboat tour company offers private and public tours, allowing you to customize your experience to your exact preferences. Relax as you take in the breathtaking shoreline views, including the iconic Emerald Bay. With Blue, a 40’ Santa Cruz sailboat, as your vessel, you'll have ample seating and standing room to enjoy your favorite wine or cocktail while surrounded by stunning natural scenery. The boat is equipped with a galley, dining settee, restroom, surround stereo and 50” tall railings around the entire vessel, ensuring that your sailing experience is nothing short of safe and luxurious. Choose from a variety of public cruises and private charters, including daily scenic shoreline tours or custom by-request sails to Emerald Bay.
Sierra Cloud
Action Watersports in Incline Village offers Sunday morning mimosa cruises on the 55' catamaran, the Sierra Cloud. The hour-and-a-half sailing cruise takes you along the untouched eastern shores of Lake Tahoe and include mimosas and other beverages and assorted light snacks. Private charters are also available.
Tahoe Cruises
Tahoe Cruises offers a variety of cruise options on its 80-foot luxury yacht, Safari Rose. Take a guided tour of Tahoe’s West and South shores, stop by Emerald Bay and enjoy a full bar on the Lunch Cruise and Sunset Champagne Cruise. For wine enthusiasts, the Sunset Winemaker Cruise features a different winery on every trip, with a sommelier on board to provide exclusive knowledge. All cruises depart from Ski Run Marina.
Tahoe Tastings
For a unique wine-tasting experience, check out Tahoe Tastings. Their vintage Golden Rose, a 1953 Chris Craft Venetian Water Taxi, circles Emerald Bay and offers eight exclusive wines from various locations such as Napa Valley and Amador County. The Golden Rose departs from Tahoe Keys Marina and offers both mid-day and sunset cruises.
Tahoe Bleu Wave
Bleu Wave Cruises is more than just a tour boat. It's a luxurious, floating paradise on Lake Tahoe. This one-of-a-kind, million-dollar yacht is 70 feet long and can accommodate up to 49 people, making it the perfect choice for large groups or corporate events. The boat is fully equipped with all the amenities you could ever want or need, including a fully stocked bar with a fireplace, a private lounge, a stateroom, a fly-bridge, a gigantic party bow, restrooms and climate-controlled indoor facilities. They offer public cruises departing seven days a week year-round from Tahoe Keys Marina and Yacht Club, servicing north, south, east and west Tahoe.
Life aboard Bleu Wave is pretty luxurious.
North Tahoe Cruises
Established in 1977, North Tahoe Cruises was the first cruise line on the North Shore. Their flagship vessel, Tahoe Gal, is 64 feet long, accommodating up to 120 guests. It's equipped with a full galley and bar and offers exclusive charters for corporate meetings, dinners, weddings and cocktail cruises. The Tahoe Gal departs from Tahoe City.
Blue Water Charter
Hop aboard Exhale, the pride of the Blue Water Charter fleet. At 42 feet long and 14 feet wide with three levels, this yacht has ample space to roam and relax while cruising Lake Tahoe. They offer custom cruise options and two daily itineraries, a mid-day cruise and a sunset cruise departing from the North Shore.
Lake Tahoe Cruises
Zephyr Cove Resort and Lake Tahoe Cruises host a variety of on-the-water adventures on board the M.S. Dixie II, a 500-passenger paddle-wheeler, and Tahoe Paradise, a two-story luxury yacht. The M.S. Dixie II offers daytime and sunset cruises as well as holiday cruises, while Tahoe Paradise sets off for the Sipping at Sundown Cruise on Saturday evenings.
Cruising on the M.S. Dixie is nothing but fun.
Tahoe Sailing Charters
Tahoe Sailing Charters offers a sailing experience on its 50-foot sailboat, Tahoe Cruz. Enjoy beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages for the under-21 crowd on the afternoon or sunset cruise. Reserve tickets early as the cruises tend to fill up quickly.
After a day or evening on the water, be sure to keep the fun rolling with another event happening in Lake Tahoe. Learn more in our Daytime and Nightlife sections.
Photos courtesy of Lake Tahoe Sightseeing Cruises