Padelford Riverboats

I went on the Oktoberfest cruise with my family and we thought it was excellent value for the money. There was no way they were making money off the beer drinks, as buying 4 local microbrews for $ 11 is pretty much unheard of (it was 2 for 1s).
The food was excellent, but not the best part. Helga was the best part. Hopefully she is a part of every cruise, even though we was playing an important role in this German theme cruise, leading the game of hammerschlagen. She had such awesome energy and was super fun to be around. Padelford, I hope you pay her well, as she really made the trip for us. (:

Hidden Gem! What a fun way to spend some time enjoying this beautiful area.
Did the sunset dinner cruise, oh my the food is wonderful, the brisket is melt in your mouth good. I almost ate the whole pan.
Went with the drink package, worth the money!
All the staff was so friendly and helpful.
This is our must do item for anyone that comes to visit. Excellent value and great memories!

We had a great time! It was a beautiful day & the boat ride was so much fun. I liked the historical facts & stories we heard along the way. If you’re looking for something exciting, it’s probably not for you, but for a relaxing, beautiful ride it’s great. The crew was friendly & the sightseeing tour we took was reasonably priced. So glad we did this while we were in St Paul!

Padelford Riverboat 4 hour Lunch & Lock Cruise today. It is a beautiful fall day and what a pleasure it is to be in the bright sun & cool air and take in the beautiful fall color display. Ugh the Tug is providing the Betsey Northrup our motivation. I couldn’t have stumbled on a better way to be surrounded by the best fall scenery! It was a thought and an Internet search this time yesterday. And here we are enjoying it today! Each day is what you make of it and the Padleford folks made this wonderful afternoon a possibility. I’m a jeans & sweatshirt kind of gal. I don’t mind if my river vessel is a bit 1980’s in décor. I don’t mind a buffet. If you are a bit more high brow than I am, perhaps put on a pair of jeans and tolerate a communal vessel full of average folk OR charter your own!
For me this was the right price & just the perfect amount of comfort. There are two adorable crooners with a bass & banjo telling an occasional corny joke and otherwise singing appropriate riverboat tunes they were not overbearing at all & they sure seemed to enjoy themselves. There is an enclosed cabin where lunch is served where one can spend the entire time if the weather atop the other deck is not suitable. The top deck provides a great experience if you are dressed appropriately. I’ve never been through a lock before and while it isn’t a fast or high excitement event it was quite interesting. There is smoking allowed on the upper open air deck & or the small lower outdoor deck area. This is where Padleford has lost a star. This is 2014. Communal areas on board a shared (inescapable) space of humanity outside or not. Should be smoke free. Interestingly there were two older gentleman smoking cigars from the second we left. They were the crooners! As in employees. Now I know why the interior of the vessel stinks of smoke. They were sitting enjoying the scenery while basically ruining the upper deck for all of us with awful cigar smoke. Two EMPLOYEES!
Well, of course I spoke with someone and a those cigars were extinguished. I want to beg the company to change your smoking policy. If nothing else make a change with your employee smoking policy and do what the local hospitals do. Do not allow employees to smoke within 800 feet of the building. I should think if an employee wishes to smoke aboard the Betsey Northrup 800 feet behind the vessel in a dinghy would be a good spot. Air the lower level out & make a commitment to be on the RIGHT side of history. Smoking kills. Second hand smoke kills too & is a toxin I did not sign up to inhale today. It should not have been a part of this otherwise spectacular day. It definitely should not have come from your own employees. I do have to credit the staff as my complaint was taken seriously and immediately addressed. Thank you. And to the crooners, this is not your fault. I hope you understand I think you are adorable. I support your right to smoke whatever you wish on your own time in your own personal environment.

Excellent company — they waited over half an hour for our family reunion party which was delayed because out charter bus didn’t show. The food was good and plentiful.

We wanted a relaxing activity for a Saturday afternoon during a family reunion. The riverboat ride was a perfect fit. The scenery is pretty and the stories that the were told were entertaining and educational, but just enough. Didn’t feel like we were being bonked on the head with too much history. None of us ate anything, so can’t comment on the food. The group on the boat that day was quiet and well-​behaved, so none of the problems that other reviewers had with screaming kids. Our group ranged in age from 50 yrs old to 84 yrs old (and we all behaved ourselves, lol). The staff was very friendly, even held the boat a few minutes while one of our party was lost and trying to find the place. We really enjoyed the whole experience and would go again.

There wasnt alot to see but the ride is great. It is very relaxing. The beef hot dog combo was yummy.

the trip itself and the food were fair. The scenery is really nothing to be excited about, except watching a few fishing boats on the river. The could have done better to sail a little more into the St Paul to view city skylines, instead they turn around and cut the trip probably 5 minutes short. Staff is obviously not motivated to serve customers well. The owner probably did not treat them well.
Another complaint is that they did not even let me know that the balloon they brought up for my 4 year old costs $ 5. They asked about occasions in online system and that lead me to believe the ONE balloon should have been complimentary. Instead the answer I got from the manager Tammy Gaspardo was «The Family Event choice is used in case we need to seat groups together who have booked separately». This answer really amused me as how can you identify same groups when there were say ten reservations all marked family events? The level of excuses and unprofessional responses for unsatisfied customers were beyond believe by this company and manager.
Anywany, I would not go again and nor do I recommend this to any folks who are reading this review. I hope their owner sees and responds to this review.

I’m giving this two stars because we had a beautiful day/​ride and the staff were nice. We went for Father’s Day so it was extremely disappointing. The food was terrible, found two hairs in it. It also was terribly dirty. We absolutely won’t return for the price and terrible food.

My friend had her rehearsal dinner on one of the riverboats. It’s a great idea. You can feel like Tom Sawyer going down the Mississippi. That might be an incorrect reference.
I don’t remember the name of the boat we were on, but the area you walk into is sorta like a dining room with a buffet. Above that is an open area where you can look at your surroundings. They had a dance floor upstairs too. We didn’t use it, but it’s a nice option if you were to have a party on one of the riverboats.
Staff was friendly and helpful. They were quick to pick up plates and kept bringing out water. I drink a lot of water so it’s annoying when places are stingy with the water.
I was pleasantly surprised with the food. I was starving by the time we got on the boat so I wasn’t picky about what I was eating. A little butter on the vegetables didn’t kill me. I was just happy they had some meat free options. The dessert table was also pretty impressive. They had a few different cheesecakes along with carrot cake and cheese and fruit platter. I dominated a piece of carrot cake and it was pretty good.
The ride was about 2 hours out and back on the Mississippi and I was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t get bored the whole way. I usually don’t do well on train rides or boat trips, but this one was pretty fun.

Unilocal lead me astray again. I had 2 days in the area and thought coming to a sightseeing cruise would give me a good overview of the area. I was wrong! The sightseeing cruise was very boring with long periods of no narration. The recording is pre-​recorded and I never saw any of the supposed crew walking around to answer questions. Most of the people on the boat were not interested in any of the sights or listening and were talking very loudly the whole time. The only good thing was the weather… About 20 minutes into the tour I was ready to get off.

I will say from the start that I am writing this review from a different perspective than most, my wife and I rented one of the boats for a wedding reception cruise, and in doing such it was only friends and family on board. We had an amazing time from start to finish. Tammy, who helped us book the cruise was nothing but prompt, personable, and a pleasure to deal with throughout the experience. We can say not enough good things about her. Second our staff during the actual event was very accommodating, and friendly. We were slightly worried due to another wedding being held at harriet island and much construction to deal with that people would not arrive on time. Surely there were some stragglers, but the crew was patient in making sure all our guests were able to make the cruise. The drinks were fantastic and the bar was well stocked, people continually complimented us on the food (how often does that happen at a wedding!), the atmosphere was fantastic, and travelling through the lock was a highlight for many. We did a 4 hour cruise which seemed pretty perfect for the function, and even when the boat docked our crew remained on the boat till eventually we had to depart due to a need to clean up by the boat crew. Very affordable compared to banquet rooms we inquired about, and a unique spin on a traditional event. We would not have changed a thing and highly recommend paddleford boats for such events!

My wife and I booked a dinner cruise for our anniversary and had a GREAT time — the food was very good, hot and PLENTY of it — Italian fare. Its a serve yourself line. The girl at the ticket booth was VERY nice, she set aside a small table up front for some privacy. Otherwise you just sit at long tables next to other passengers. The crew was friendly and helpful. FYI — there’s a bar up top. You can sit topside with a drink and relax on your tour (*WATCH for OSCAR the GROUCH as you pass the RR bridge LOL) — look, if you want to do something out of the ordinary and fun — hop aboard. NO, it’s not the SS luxury-golden-swan…it’s a paddle wheel boat (REALLY — a big wheel on the back and everything LOL), unless you’re from Edina (just kidding guys) you’ll have fun. ~ cheers !

Pretty good food with exceptional scenery. Nice servers. Not intimate as there are many other people who are seated with or near you, but everyone kept to themselves on our trip. Very relaxing, but a tad pricey.

My dad grew up on the Mississippi River near Monona IA, and has always loved Paddlewheel steam boats. Every time we go to the Science museum he stops and looks at the boats on Harriet Island as we descend the musical stairs. So when the Paddleford Riverboat ride popped up as a Groupon, I thought perfect! I’ll take him on a cruise for Father’s Day.
OK I’ll start with the river, the scenery was beautiful. It was cloudy all day until just before we left at 2, then the sun broke out. We even got to see a train pass over the RR bridge right before we went through. At one point I saw an Eagle along the banks. The view of the St. Paul skyline from the river is simply gorgeous.
So why only 2 stars?
Well firstly, the boat was not a paddlewheeler, it was actually more of a barge pushed by a tow boat. A lot of the fun is watching the paddle churn the water, So Dad was pretty disappointed with that. The other reason is I paid for a nice relaxing riverboat cruise, not a visit to Camp Snoopy. Unfortunately that’s what it felt like. There were dozens of kids yelling and screaming and running around the boat like it was a playground. I certainly understand wanting to take your kids on a cruise like that, but do parents not control their kids these days? Having the same group of kids barge past you 25 times on a 90 minute cruise really ruins what should have been a fun, relaxing afternoon.

We rode the Paddelford riverboat from Harriet Island as part of Northern Spark. It was a really fun and informative event, but the boat ride really stole the show for me. We spent most of our time snug the railings on the top deck and watching the scenery. The St Paul skyline and the huge trees along the shore are amazingly beautiful at night. I don’t know that I would like it nearly as much in the day time. Big thumbs up for the evening cruise though.

Clean boats. They leave on time — so don’t be late. Food is better than you’d expect.
They have boats with indoor and outdoor seating so you are comfy in all kinds of weather.
The best is that they have themed «Happy Hour» cruises on weeknights for around $ 25.

I have had the opportunity of going on two different cruises along the Mississippi. I have only experienced the public cruises on the older looking paddle boat, not the large cruising vessel. I have yet to have an unpleasant time. The slow pace provides great views of the city. Boom Island, Nicollet Island, St. Anthony Falls, the Stone Arch Bridge, are just a few of the unbeatable sights along the way.
If you are claustrophobic, going through the lock may test your comfort level, but it only takes ten minutes each way to get through. A pleasing view of the new 35W bridge will await you when you exit the lock on the south side of the falls. The new Guthrie will also highlight this turn-​around point of the trip.
During the ride, an enthusiastic captain offers fun and interesting facts about the city, the river, and various sights you see along the way. Moreover, there are plenty of refreshments ranging from popcorn, hot dogs, and candy to soda, juice, and a limited selection of beer and wine. The entire trip last for about an hour and a half if I remember correctly. I would definitely recommend this outing to anyone looking for a fun activity with their friends or family. I am hoping spring will arrive soon so that I can take yet another trip on the riverboat along the Mississippi! ahoy!

The Padelford Company operates boat cruises on the Mississippi River in St. Paul and Minneapolis. Summer is its heaviest season, though a few events are scheduled in the spring and fall (including an Oktoberfest celebration). Rentals are also available for special events, such as weddings.[Add this is as yet another reason for legalizing gay marriage. My fellow gays would go gaga over the idea of getting hitched on a fairy… err, I mean, ferry.]
The St. Paul ride is the more pleasant of the two. Departing from the Harriet Island, the ship passes through the Mississippi Historic Park and the Fort Snelling area, near the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. It then makes a u-​turn, heading back to Harriet Island.
Though built just four decades ago, the vessel offers a vague glimpse into St. Paul’s historic past, when boating was a key mode of transportation. I tend to think of the Gilded Age, F. Scott Fitzgerald, robber barons, speakeasies, and the glamorous parties of the day.
This image would otherwise persist if not for the dated ‘80s hotel conference room furniture inside – the kind that only straight couples from Coon Rapids tolerate at their weddings. [By contrast, gay marriage would bring a new paint job, Oprah’s interior designer, and a renaming of the ship with something campy, like the «Queen Mary».]
But anyway…
The Minneapolis boat departs from Boom Island Park, heading north for a mile, where you are greeted on both sides of the river by decaying industrial sites. Even the accumulation of trees, which seem to slowly be reclaiming the river banks, feel like a poor excuse for a forest.
But just before you start longing for a bottle of aspirin, the ship turns its way back towards downtown, salvaging your trip with views of the city skyline, Mill City Musem, and St. Anthony Main area. It even takes you close to St. Anthony Falls via a lock-​and-​damn system, constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers. For my next trip I’ll wait for an invitation to some event, preferably at dusk, when the illuminated skyline, combined with the sound of the cascading falls, create a mood for romance.
4 stars for the St. Paul ride, especially since you’re bound to see bald eagles; 2.5 for Minneapolis in the daytime.