One of the most fun and entertaining ways to enjoy Lake Norman is by taking one of the cruises aboard the Catawba Queen. The two ships, the Catawba Queen and the Catawba Belle, are replicas of the Mississippi River Paddle Wheelers.
Once you board these graceful ladies, you will find seats downstairs in a protected environment or upstairs in an open deck that is covered on top. You will delight as the boats take you on an amazing leisurely and romantic cruise around the picturesque Lake Norman. This is ideal fun for the whole family.
Their luncheon cruise lasts approximately 90 minutes. During the luncheon cruise, you have a wonderful chance to see some of the beautiful grand homes that belong to local celebrities, athletics, and the affluent of the Charlotte area. These homes are magnificent but a little to close for comfort for my taste. There are quite a few homes owned by local airline pilots, which seem to always prompt single ladies to want to abandon ship! You can choose to just do the cruise or you can have a meal. Your meal options include several types of sandwiches and children may also get hot dogs. The meal also includes a non-alcoholic beverage. "Dessert" here is limited to two cookies! So, if you are celebrating a special occasion, you will need to bring your own dessert. Princes for the luncheon are $18.50 (a) $17.50 (s) $13.50 (c). Tour only $11.50(a) $10.50 (s) $7.50 (c). They do offer an open bar.
The dinner cruise offers you a stunning sunset and enjoyment of the twinkling lights of Lake Norman. This is especially popular at Christmastime, when you can look out at all of the beautiful lights of Christmas. The top of the ship can be cool at night, even in the summer, so a light jacket is suggested. For dinner, you get a choice of prime rib, shrimp, or chicken, and salad, baked potatoes, bread, and dessert. They also have an open bar. Prices are $48.50 (a) and $45.50 (s). They do not offer a tour-only option in the evening, except for some special-occasion cruises. The evening cruises are 2.5 hours long.
They do offer several special occasion cruises, such as shag cruises (a well-known dance in the NC/SC area), Mother’s Day brunch cruises, and their most popular, fall foliage cruises and holiday lights cruises. They are available for parties and weddings.
You will depart for your cruise from Queen’s Landing. This is a one-stop-entertainment venue for the whole family. They have miniature golf, ducks to feed, beautiful flowers, a club, bumper boats, video games, and much more. There are several restaurants on the premises if a boat tour isn’t your cup of tea. Reservations are highly suggested for the boat tours. You can go to www.queenslanding.com for more information.