Table Of Content

Click on the Private Cruise tab near the top of the page to discover many details about planning a private cruise. During late spring through late fall, you can see a variety of riverboats making their way to Dubuque, stopping to explore Iowa’s oldest community. On occasion, our scheduled cruises may run at different times. From there, we turn north and return to our dock in the Dubuque Yacht Basin. We specialize in 1.5 to 2-hour public cruises on the Mississippi River along the banks of Dubuque, Iowa.
Travel Dubuque Welcome Center
Also timed to view Fall foliage, you will travel north of Lock and Dam 11, providing you with the experience of locking through a dam. Our yacht is the venue for many private cruises every year. Weddings, anniversary celebrations, birthday parties, class reunions, and corporate outings are just a sample of events held on board Dubuque's American Lady.
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
You will see our ticket office and yacht located at the same dock. Whether you're seeking rest and relaxation, outdoor exploration or family adventures, the opportunities are endless. Our Happy Hour Cruise is a great way to have fun with family, friends, co-workers, or anyone else you would like to spend quality time with! The food is lighter and the spotlight is on the locally made draft beer and margaritas! This is our planned menu, served every day that we cruise, however we reserve the right to make substitutions when needed. In the event that we cannot use the lock, we will instead travel to Bellevue, IA before returning home.
Once-a-Year Cruises
Depending on which day you join us, we will have a combination of Lunch, Happy Hour, and Evening Dinner Cruises. Click on the Sightseeing Cruise, Lunch Cruise, Happy Hour Cruise, and Evening Dinner Cruise tabs near the top of the page to discover details on those cruises. The mighty Mississippi River is the world’s fourth longest river and makes its way through Dubuque’s front yard. With a rich culture tied to the waterway - it is common to see riverboats making their way up and down the river even today. Park in Catfish Charlie's Restaurant parking lot, and walk around to the back of the building.

Cruise along the Mississippi River aboard the American Lady. Along with the beautiful scenery, enjoy narration of the Dubuque area and a bountiful lunch onboard. On the way back home, make one more stop in "A Small Town with Big Happenings" - Shullsburg, WI. We do not have office hours on Saturday and Sunday from November to mid April, but in the warmer months, our office is open every day but Tuesday.
Riverboat Schedule
Live music continental breakfast, hot lunch buffet, unlimited soft drinks, lemonade, iced tea, coffee, and two adult beverages included with each adult ticket. Each year we have groups from elementary schools to senior centers enjoy time on our yacht cruising our special piece of the Mississippi River. The nature of riverboat traffic is slightly unpredictable with rising waters, low waters, locking through, weather, and other issues.
Behind the scenes on riverboat cruises: Area ships a source of fun, excitement for passengers - BizTimes.biz
Behind the scenes on riverboat cruises: Area ships a source of fun, excitement for passengers.
Posted: Sun, 29 Aug 2021 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Pick-up Point Times
This is usually the most relaxing cruise of the day filled with sunsets, cooler temperatures, and good times. We offer this cruise four nights per week at times that fit most schedules. Expect to travel to the vicinity of Cassville, WI before we return to our dock.

The times and dates provided are approximate and subject to change. While enjoying the boats docking in port, start planning your next stop #WhereIowaStarted. Another boat that comes from south of Dubuque, is the Celebration Belle, whose home port is Moline, IL. This ship is the largest non-gaming boat on the upper Mississippi River. This paddle wheeler offers a variety of cruises including a trip from the Quad Cities into Dubuque beginning in June.
Best Patios Where Iowa Started
The American Lady Yacht is Dubuque’s only riverboat offering daily cruises from Schmitt Island. Whether it’s a lunch, happy hour, or dinner cruise, this vessel has both indoor and outdoor seating and you may even get a chance to drive the boat with the captain. This boat is located alongside restaurant (and local hangout) Catfish Charlie’s. The Riverboat Twilight, based in LeClaire, IA offers guests the chance to stay overnight in Dubuque on one of their weekly two-day cruises, starting in May. This vessel features a calliope that plays music as it departs a community and is recognizable by the locals who can be seen waving to passengers.