Group/Bus Trips

Daytime Cruises | Sunset/Evening Cruises | Special Expeditions | Private Charters | Group/Bus Trips

RiverQuest can accommodate as many as 56 passengers, a 30 passenger minimum is required to qualify for our $15.00/person group rate (rate for any group tours booked after 4-20-2008). We will comp you one ticket.

If your group is large enough we can arrange a special cruise time for you or you can take your smaller group on our already scheduled 1pm and 3pm cruises.   

Your full sized bus can not be parked at the bottom of the street, but, can be parked behind the Essex Town Hall. If your driver would like to come on the river cruise, please let us know ahead of time and we will arrange to have the driver picked up. Your driver's river cruise is free.

There will be bottled water available onboard for $1. You may bring your own snacks if you'd like.

                                           Gillette's Castle and the Chester/Hadlyme Ferry            A happy group cruising aboard RiverQuest

Following is information that may help you to make a full day in the Essex area for your group.

Historical:
RiverQuest is docked at The Connecticut River Museum, so, you may want to include a visit to the museum (plan one hour). Exhibits change on a regular basis so call the Museum, 860-767-8269, for the current exhibit and for group rates, mention a combination ticket with RiverQuest.
 

Dining:
Schedule a food stop at the famous Griswold Inn (griswoldinn.com) on the way to or from your RiverQuest  cruise. The Griz, as the locals know it, has been accommodating groups for brunch, lunch and dinner for years. Call 860-767-1776 for the current menu and group price (plan 1½ hour for your brunch or lunch, 2 hours for dinner). RiverQuest is .11 mile from the Griz, within walking distance for many or have your bus drop you off at RiverQuest (you can go past the sign that says turn around!). Please mention RiverQuest when you make your brunch, lunch or dinner reservations.

For smaller groups, another option is to bring your own box lunch or breakfast with you to enjoy on RiverQuest  or we can arrange with one of the local delicatessens to supply your group with a box lunch. 

Shopping:
There are many quaint little shops along Main Street, Essex, so, try to include time for shopping.

Educational:

In conjunction with The Connecticut River Museum we offer educational programs for all ages, pre-school through adulthood. We can land you on the beach for creature searching or bring you on a bird searching, fish identifying, flora and fauna, water testing, historical cruise. Please call Captain Mark or Susan Ballek the Educational Director at The Connecticut River Museum for information on existing programs or one designed just for your group.

Also, you may want to look into our Specialty Cruises for a unique idea for your Group Cruise. E-mail or call for special pricing.

There is a lot more to see and do in the area. For more information on Essex and the surrounding area, please access our informative Essex websites: www.Essexct.com  or www.Essex.com

For additional information, please contact us.