New Westminster Paddlewheeler

Vancouver Paddlewheeler Riverboat Tours is a sightseeing company that offers boat trips and cruise excursions along the Fraser River in New Westminster.

The company temporarily closed down its operations in December of 2024 due to weather conditions. As of early March, 2025, it plans to reopen sometime in the spring (with exact dates to be confirmed).

This article contains information about the following cruises:

Valentine’s Day Dinner Cruise | St. Patrick’s Day Cruises | Christmas Cruises | New Year’s Eve Cruise | Other Information

Vancouver Paddlewheeler Riverboat Tours

New Westminster’s Paddlewheeler runs regularly between early May and late September most years. It also offers special holiday-themed cruises at St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, Halloween and Christmas.

We at Vancouver’s Best Places have never actually been on one of their trips, but they sound enjoyable. Last time we checked, Google Reviews gave them a 4.1 score out of 5, and 4.2 out of 5 on TripAdvisor, so that’s fairly good.

If you ever happen to be in New Westminster and are wondering what to do, check them out.

Valentine’s Day Dinner Cruise

Vancouver Paddlewheeler Riverboat tours usually offers a romantic Valentine’s Day Dinner Cruise each year close to February 14th. When it happens, the event runs from 6:00 until 9:00 pm and features a three-course meal.

The Valentine’s Day special didn’t happen in 2025 due to the temporary closure of the boat tours. Ticket prices in past years were around $200 for a couple or $120 for a single ticket, plus taxes and gratuity.

Vancouver Boat Parties is a party boat company that operates out of downtown Vancouver. It hosts a special Valentine’s Day yacht party most years too. See our article about Vancouver Boat Parties for details.

St. Patrick’s Day Cruises

In the spring Vancouver Paddlewheeler Riverboat Tours usually offers a couple of Irish-themed cruises. They are for adults only (ages 19+) and take place on a Friday and Saturday night close to St. Patrick’s Day (which is always on March 17th). Both trips usually run from around 6:00 until 9:00 pm.

Like the Valentine’s Day cruise, there doesn’t appear to be St. Patrick’s Day cruises happening in 2025 due to the temporary closure. At least, that looks to be the case as of the beginning of March.

TIP: If you like the idea of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day out on the water, but don’t want to head all the way to New Westminster, check out Vancouver Boat Parties which offers cruises around False Creek, English Bay and Vancouver Harbour.

Christmas Cruises

During the holiday season Vancouver Paddlewheeler Riverboat Tours offers several Christmas-themed cruises. These cruises are suitable for folk of all ages and take place throughout the month of December.

There are Christmas Dinner Cruises, which run for half a dozen or so days each December in years when they happen. There’s also a Fort Langley “Christmas in the Village” Cruise run by the same company that takes on one day close to Christmas.

Prices vary depending on the cruise, ranging from around $120 to $160 or so per adult (at least that was the case a few years ago). Children’s tickets range from around $50 to $75, and little kids ages 5 and under got on for free. All prices are plus taxes and tips.

Also on offer most years are Family Fun on the Paddlewheeler and the Christmas Carol Evening River Cruise.

New Year’s Eve Cruise

Vancouver Paddlewheeler Riverboat Tours usually offers an adults-only New Year’s Eve cruise on December 31st (but not in 2024). In previous years it’s been a four-hour special event with music, dancing, appetizers and a glass of champagne at midnight.