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A seasonal passenger ferry across the Delaware River between Penn's Landing and the Camden waterfront, running in the warmer months. The crossing takes about twelve minutes and lands beside the Adventure Aquarium and the Battleship New Jersey, and it is the cheapest way to get out on the river, doubling as short transport and a low-cost way to see the skyline from the water.
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Sailboat charter on the Delaware River, sailing from the Penn's Landing area aboard SV First Light, a 32-foot O'Day 322 that carries up to six passengers with a licensed captain. It is the only sailboat charter operating on the Philadelphia waterfront; the other river operators run powered vessels. Trips head north past the Ben Franklin Bridge toward Cherry Street Pier, Race Street Pier, and Graffiti Pier, and south past Petty Island, an undeveloped island in the middle of the river. When wind and tide allow, the engine comes off and the boat sails. The ninety-minute sunset and day sails cover the central waterfront; a three-hour historic tour runs south to Fort Mifflin and back along the New Jersey bank past Red Bank battlefield and the Battleship New Jersey, covering the river's history, including the Black maritime history of the Delaware.
Seasonal kayak and swan-boat rentals at the Penn's Landing marina on the Delaware River
Offers private trips for two to six aboard an enclosed cabin cruiser, the most weather-protected of the small Delaware River operators, which makes it usable in the shoulder seasons when open boats are cold. Cruises leave from the Penn's Landing area and run in river, sunset, and brunch formats, with catered food available on board. The whole boat is chartered as a unit rather than sold by the seat.
Sea Philly runs private cruises for up to six on the Delaware River aboard a restored 1961 Chris-Craft. Trips leave from the Penn's Landing area and run about ninety minutes for a day or sunset cruise, with longer excursions on request. The boat is BYOB
The Ben Franklin Yacht is a three-level powered vessel built for larger groups, cruising the Delaware waterfront on public happy-hour, brunch, and dinner runs as well as private charters. Each deck has room to move, and cruises come with a bar, food, and a dance floor while the boat passes the skyline, the river bridges, and the Battleship New Jersey across the water in Camden. This is the party-boat end of the range rather than a quiet trip on the water.
The Spirit of Philadelphia is the largest of the Delaware River charter boats, a multi-deck dining ship sailing year-round from Penn's Landing. It carries hundreds of guests across lunch, dinner, brunch, and moonlight cruises, with buffet dining, a DJ, and dancing, and it is the vessel most set up for weddings, proms, and corporate events. Cruises stay on the central waterfront with skyline views from the open top deck.