Group/Bus/School Trips                                                                        RiverQuest phone: 860-662-0577

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

                 RiverQuest is docked at Eagle Landing State Park, Haddam, CT 06438                                                                                                                                           Groups: (Bus, Seniors, Red Hat Ladies, Assisted Living, Schools, etc) come for an informative cruise on the lower Connecticut River. Our 1½ hour narrated cruise follows the same format as our Daily Cruises (click on Daily Cruises to see daily cruise information).                                              wScroll down this page for some ideas to fill your day. 

RiverQuest can accommodate as many as 58 passengers, a minimum of 30 passengers is required to qualify for our $15.00/person group rate. We will comp the group leader and bus driver.          Under 30 passengers the price is $20/person.

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 1:30pm cruise.   

There is PLENTY, PLENTY of parking available at Eagle Landing State Park. Buses welcome!

You may bring your own snacks and/or beverage if you'd like. There will be bottled water available onboard.

Sunset/Evening Cruises are also for smaller groups. The price for these popular cruises is $25pp.

                                           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 Haddam area.

A Musical Show at The Goodspeed Opera House:

Before or after your cruise, schedule a show at The Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, located directly across the river from RiverQuest. The beautiful Victorian building that houses the opera house was built in 1876. Top Broadway shows: Annie, The Man of La Mancha and Shenandoah originated at the Goodspeed. Shows are offered April through December. Visit website: Goodspeed.org for further information.

Gillette's Castle:

Located just 4.5 miles from RiverQuest, Gillette's Castle is Connecticut's main tourist attraction. The castle looks like a medieval fortress, but a step inside the stone castle reveals the built-in couches, tables, and woodcarvings that all point to the creative genius that was William Gillette. Built of local fieldstone supported by a steel framework, it took twenty men five years (1914-1919), to complete the main structure.  Gillette was an eccentric actor who played Sherlock Holmes on stage. The grounds that surround the castle are beautiful. There is a visitors center that has a small snack bar. The Castle is open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Memorial Day Weekend through Columbus Day. Staff are available to assist with questions about the Castle interior and its history. The grounds are open year round.

Groups arriving by bus will need to make reservations at least 3 weeks in advance by contacting Reserve America toll free at (877) 668-2267(CAMP). 

Dining:
Schedule brunch, lunch or dinner at the Gelston House or La Vita Gustova, located directly across the river in East Haddam (plan 1½ hour for your brunch or lunch, 2 hours for dinner). Please mention RiverQuest when you make your reservations.

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

General:

Directly across the street from the entrance to Eagle Landing State Park is a great little "general" shop called Goodspeed Station.

Drive across the East Haddam Swing Bridge into East Haddam and stroll around the quaint, historical town of East Haddam. Have an ice cream at the Hillside Sweet Shoppe. Walk a little further and visit the Nathan Hall School House.

Educational:

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 for information on existing programs or one that can be 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 Haddam and East Haddam and the surrounding area, please access their informative websites:

For additional information, please contact us.

RiverQuest leaves from, Eagle Landing State Park in Haddam, CT