Richmond Retro Boat Rentals
Picture yourself cruising the James River in a rare, vintage boat that has been restored to its original jet-age beauty. With the sleek design of the vessel and stunning views from the water, you’ll be a sight to see as you sightsee in Richmond!
Drive a Vintage Runabout Boat with Family & Friends
That’s right, you get to drive the boats, no captain’s license or boating experience required! Each boat has a max capacity of 4 people so you and 3 crewmates can explore the channel in style. Perfect for a unique date night, birthday celebration, or quick getaway on the water!
Bring Your Own Beverages and Food
We encourage you to bring your own food and beverages to enjoy on board. Beer, wine, seltzers, and champagne are all welcome (21+) as long as they are being consumed responsibly. The driver of the vessel is not permitted to drink any alcohol at any time and we do NOT allow hard liquor. You are also welcome to bring any non-alcoholic beverages and food to enjoy. So pack a homemade snack or order takeout from your favorite Richmond restaurant and hit the water!
Enjoy a Smooth, Peaceful Cruise on Eco-Friendly Electric Boats
We’ve retro-fitted these vintage boats with modern electric motors. They’re quiet and eco-friendly, allowing you to enjoy conversation and fresh air as you navigate RVA’s waterways. In addition to replacing the heavy-polluting motors, we also saved these gems from being junk in someone’s back yard or a landfill.
Sea Suite Cruises RVA Reviews
We had a wonderful evening cruise. They provided a fun, casual atmosphere, and were extremely helpful in setting up food and ensuring that everyone had beverages available to them. Very friendly, would definitely recommend!They were even kind enough to delay our departure a few minutes so a few people running late could still join. But they made sure we were back on time so the next cruise group would not be delayed.Our group was there for a professional event, but it was such a nice time that multiple people mentioned they were interested in booking another cruise for themselves for birthday parties, graduations, etc in the future.
Boat and crew were awesome but seating at the bar area was very very uncomfortable.
Carter was an excellent guy towards me and my friends we had a great time ! Will definitely book again !
The wife and I had a beautiful time definitely will be back the customer service was awesome the boat was clean the rental time was definitely more then enough time I encourage everyone to give this company a try it’s definitely worth it
We booked the paddle boat for my wife's birthday. Reservations were simple and I was kept up to date on waivers and progress as our date approached. On my wife's birthday we had the perfect start to our day. We and four other couples enjoyed a wonderful cruise up and down the river. The weather was perfect, the boat was more than big enough for all of us and the crew was friendly and helpful. They pointed out some sites they thought might interest us but otherwise just let our group of friends enjoy a rare opportunity to spend time together. Huge thanks to all involved. I highly recommend RVApaddle/SeaSuite cruises, and have already considered when I may book another cruise.
This may be the underrated experience in Richmond. I rented an entire boat for a friends and family outting. It was nice to be able to listen to the music that we wanted to and everyone just vibed for both hours.We knew to bring our own food. We were delightfully surprised that there was a server on the boat (Sorry that I forgot your name. You were amazing)!!!!!!She served us food and drink and we tipped her well.It wound up a tearful event for us for different reasons, BUT I would absolutely recommend this!Hopefully Virginia laws will ease up and they can serve drinks as they do in other cities.
We did the public tiki boat and had a great time! Definitely recommend bringing your own food and drinks to enjoy, which we did and it was great.
We had a wonderful trip. The captain and his mate (deadhead)were absolutely great. No one showed up I guess do to the weather but the crew still gave us a great experience.THEY ROCK!!!!Will be booking with them again
Everyone had a good time and the two employees on the boat were very nice to everyone.
10/10 experience, will definitely rebook again soon! The crew went over and beyond to ensure everyone loved their experience.
Rachel booked our cruise from the dock. Thanks a bunch Rachel. Chelsea was the perfect host on the boat. She made it so much fun. She even convinced us to take the cruise when we go to Washington DC.
This was so much fun! My family and friends really enjoyed our time on the paddle boat! Hope to do this again soon!
Just had a bachelorette party 🎉 it was great! The weather wasn’t that great but we still had lots of fun! The stuff was awesome 👏 We will be back during the summer!
We had a blast at our Tiki Boat Cruise last night! Scheduling the event was super easy and the staff was very helpful making the process a breeze. It was great to sit back & relax with our real estate team. Can't wait for next year!
We had a company event tonight on both of their boats and we couldn't be happier with the entire experience. The crew was amazing and fun - not over the top annoying like some of the cruises - just went with the flow of our group. Highly recommended.
THE BEST!!! had a wonderful time and we will be returning! we brought food & drinks. They provided ice and Bluetooth for our music. The day was perfect!
We booked the whole boat for our women's group and we had the best time! The staff awesome and exhibited a lot of patience dealing with us.. lol. Would absolutely recommend this. We had a blast!
We celebrated Father's Day aboard the Paddle Club RVA with our family. It was fun for all ages and everyone can't stop talking about how much they enjoyed themselves!
I was part of a corporate event today and we had such a great time with paddle club rva! They were super nice, professional and helped us enjoy the day. Highly recommend!
Cruise the James River in a Small Classic Boat
Our fleet of meticulously maintained and rare classic fiberglass runabout boats from the jet-age era (1958-1963), have been made available for everyone to enjoy on the James River embarking from Rocketts Landing. With fanciful fins and headlights, retro-cool colors and chrome details, we’ve kept their vintage style but upgraded the motors to a quieter, more sustainable option.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Are there boundaries to where I can take the boat?
Yes, we do place certain boundaries on the waterway. This is ultimately for the safety of patrons. We hand out a detailed map (see below) during our safety and instructional guidance prior to leaving the dock, but as a general rule of thumb, we ask that patrons stay within eyeshot of the dock.
Do I need boating experience?
You just need to be able to prove that you are 21 years old with a valid photo ID! Our knowledgeable dock attendants will provide you with information to keep you safe while enjoying a day on the scenic James River from Rocketts Landing. It’s comparable to driving a golf cart with a forward and reverse throttle. All boats are electric with a maximum speed of 4.5 miles per hour. Boats are equipped with life jackets, anchor, paddles, and a blow horn for passenger safety.
Which payment methods do you accept? Do you offer gift cards?
We accept all major credit cards and offer gift cards so you can share this experience with a friend or family!
Do you provide life jackets?
Having an ample number of life jackets available for each passenger is a requirement on each boat and each boat is outfitted with life jackets accordingly. Anyone over the age of 13 is not required to wear a life jacket, but all passengers are more than welcome to wear them for their safety and comfort. All children under age 13 are required to wear a life jacket while on the boat.
Are kids allowed? Is there an age limit?
As long as parents are on the boat with the children and feel comfortable taking them, we allow children of all ages. We do require children age 13 and under to wear life jackets and have sizes specifically for infants, youth, and children, in addition to adult life jackets.
Are dogs allowed on the boat?
We do not currently have a dog friendly boat option available.
Do you sell drinks?
We do not sell drinks but we encourage you to bring your own beverages. Beer, wine, seltzers, and champagne are all fine to bring aboard as long as they are being consumed responsibly and the driver of the vessel is not drinking at any time. We do not allow hard liquor (i.e. bottles of tequila, vodka, etc.). You are also welcome to bring any non-alcoholic beverages and food to enjoy during your time on the water!
What is the longest time I can be on the water?
Please refer to the online booking Fare Harbor for hours of availability. Our standard rental times are 90 minutes. If you’re interested in taking the boat out for longer, please contact us at 804-214-6360.
What should I bring with me?
There are a few things we highly recommend taking with you. While we provide complimentary speakers, we do recommend you bring sunscreen, water, or whatever you feel will best prepare you for the outdoor elements. Cruising down the James River provides a lot of opportunities for amazing pictures of the city skyline and adjacent scenery so have your cameras at the ready!
What are the options for parking?
There is a parking lot by Island Shrimp Co as well as street parking available.
How fast do the boats go?
The boats cruise at approximately 4.5 MPH. Retro Boats abide by wake and speed protocols on the James River and Rocketts Landing Marina.
What activities are prohibited while riding the boat?
The following activities are prohibited on all Retro Boat Rentals:
- All swimming and fishing off the boat is prohibited.
- Docking anywhere other than the dock where you initially disembark from
- Smoking (electronic smoking devices are okay, but nothing with open flames)
- The driver is prohibited from drinking
The rules of engagement are monitored and strictly enforced. We also have other charter boats operating along this route, and our captains and crew are trained to monitor and enforce the rules for Retro Boat Rentals RVA.
Boating should be a fun and relaxing activity, so the rules we have in place are enforced to ensure that it is a pleasant, safe experience for our guests and other boaters in the channel!
Can we rent more than one boat?
Yes! If you’d like to rent more than one boat and see that are both are available at a specific time, you may do so. Please just reach out to our team at 804-214-6360 so we can adjust the calendar accordingly.
Rent a Vintage Boat near Rocketts Landing in Richmond
PRICING:
Monday-Thursday: $150
Friday-Saturday: $200
CRUISE DETAILS:
Capacity: 4 people
Rental Duration: 1.5 Hours
Location: 4708 Old Main St. Richmond, VA. 23231
