Gateway Clipper Fleet

Pittsburgh, United States

4.3

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

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Telephone:
+1 412-355-7980
Website:
www.gatewayclipper.com
Address:
350 W Station Sq Dr, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219
South Side
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.4 miStation Square
0.5 miGateway Center
0.6 miWood Street
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Accepts Credit Cards
Yes

Today

Today –
Local time (Pittsburgh) 6:04 PM Wednesday, May 28, 2025

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Description

Specialties

The Gateway Clipper Fleet specializes in public, as well as private boat rides. We offer a wide array of dining and sightseeing cruises daily throughout the summer months. We operate all year round– providing customers with corporate meeting places, brides with reception venues, and families with a fun and exciting dining atmosphere.

We offer Holiday Cruises as well– Santa even frequents the boat during December. Halloween, Easter, Fourth of July, you name it, we’ll have an event for it! Our family owned business is the largest non-​sports attraction in Pittsburgh and over the last 51 years, upwards of 25 million passengers have sailed the three rivers and beyond on one of the Fleet’s riverboats. We would love to host you and yours for your next family reunion, wedding, or date night– contact us for reservations and cruise times.

History

Established in 1958.

It was an idea that became a reality for Mr. John Connelly, founder of the Gateway Clipper Fleet. His vision was simple: a fun atmosphere for friends and family alike, an activity to showcase the true beauty of our city! Our first cruise ever was on May 17, 1958, aboard the original «Gateway Clipper” — it sailed from the Mon Warf and was the first chartered pleasure cruise upon the three rivers. The «Gateway Clipper» was a success from start and became known as the city’s official sightseeing boat.

Today, the Gateway Clipper Fleet is located at Historic Station Square having moved there in 1982. Under the leadership of Terry Wirginis, Mr. Connelly’s grandson, the Gateway Clipper Fleet is ready for the future. Presently, the Fleet is comprised of five boats and has a total capacity of 2,500 passengers. What does the future hold for the Gateway Clipper Fleet? «Our growth potential is only limited by our own creativity. I think our future is filled with incredible promise and potential»,

Meet the Business Owner

Terry Wirginis W.

Business Owner

Grandson of the original founder, John Connelly, Mr. Wirginis currently owns and operates the fleet at the Gateway Clipper. Mr. Wirginis started working at the family business as a bus boy, realizing the company’s great potential and growth opportunity he took over in the 1980’s and has expanded the business into new and exciting business ventures.

A team of hardworking, year round employees make operations possible– the crew works together diligently day (and night!) to ensure the best customer experience possible.

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20 reviews of Gateway Clipper Fleet

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Manhattan, NY
This is horrible. There is no booze! Bathroom covered in feces and I saw a baby in the toilet. They allow Arabs on this boat. Where am I?
Place rating: 4
Pittsburgh, PA
I’m actually shocked that there are so few reviews for the Gateway Clipper! When I was in elementary school, this was a yearly field trip. I remember going on dinner cruises with different groups as well. This is one of my favorite things to tell tourists to visit.
Having not been on a cruise in many years, I was excited to find out that Thursdays in the summer were university appreciation days. This means that any student, faculty member, or anyone with a university ID can get a free ride for one of the hour-​long sight-​seeing cruises, day or evening. As a way to get together before classes started, I invited about 10 friends, with only one originally from Pittsburgh, to go on an evening cruise with me. We had a great time!
There were only about 4 other people on our cruise so we had full run of the ship, which was pretty neat. We mostly hung out on the top deck because there was a guide on the top. The guides on these cruises really know their stuff. I grew up in Pittsburgh and only knew about 75% of the information provided to us. Definitely informative and fun! We loved doing the cruise at night, and we had great views of the Point!
We had so much fun on this cruise that we are looking at doing one of the Friday dinner cruises. Some of the cruises are quite pricey and don’t look too exciting so be sure to do your research. Overall, it’s a really fun way to spend an evening in Pittsburgh!
Place rating: 5
Pittsburgh, PA
I took my parent here when they were visiting from out of town and I am glad I did. My folks and I took the sight seeing evening cruise and it was pretty fun.
This is a really good way to check out the city from the river, find out the name of all those buildings that compose the Pittsburgh skyline and also learn Pittsburgh history.
One thing that I recommend is that you line up and early, as the seating on the top deck is limited and also is where you will have the best view (unless you really want to stay inside and see everything behind the windows on the lower deck). Also get concessions after you get your seat, otherwise you will be out of luck. Hubby went down after we got our seats and I would say close to 7 people attempted to take it.
Our guide was very knowledgeable, and threw in a few cheesy jokes which can be expected at these sorts of places. He screamed «drama student» to me as he was very animated and really relished the attention.
The views of the city were phenomenal and would recommend bringing in a decent camera if you are going in the evening.
Definitely recommend to out of towners and people that would like to be a tourist in their own city.
Place rating: 5
New Providence, NJ
Highly recommend taking the 50 minute sightseeing tour of Pittsburgh on the water. The guide was extremely informative and entertaining. Lots of fun facts and got a good layout of the area during our first visit to Pittsburgh. Also appreciate you weren’t pressured into purchasing the photos the staff took as you boarded the boat.
Place rating: 5
Coraopolis, PA
I loved the boat ride. The food was good. I would recommend the ride and food for anyone who comes to Pittsburgh.
Place rating: 3
Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh, PA
I’ve been riding the on the Gateway Clipper since I was a little kid and my grandparents would bring my sister and I down for the Good Ship Lollipop cruise. It was always a blast and I have such fond memories. So we decided to bring my grandparents down for a brunch cruise this past weekend.
I made reservations ahead of time for the four of us over the phone and it was very easy with polite customer service. I even purchased our picture ahead of time for a discount. At the last minute my parents decided to join us so we added them to our table on the day of. It was no problem. I did, however, ask for a table on the first level because my grandma has a hard time walking. We did get that, but instead of allowing us to go in the doors near the table, we had to walk around to the hostess booth and then past the buffet and through the crowded floor. It was a little tough for her, especially after walking down the big ramp to the entrance. I wish they would have made note as to why I asked for a first level table and accommodated us better.
The buffet offered many choices, but I have to say that I wasn’t a fan of too many of the dishes. They are nothing to brag about, to say the least. I wish the quality compared to many of the amazing restaurants in town, especially at $ 40/​person. The eggs were just so bland, the fish felt rubbery, a muffin I took had a hair in it (could have been mine, but I didn’t want to risk it and eat it). Also, they packed so many people in that our waitress had many tables to take care of and I had to go to the bar twice to ask if someone could come get our drink order. I was finished with my meal by the time I got a glass of water. And pop was an extra charge! The food and service were the worst part of our trip.
We did enjoy our boat ride though. My family (except my sister and I) loved the historical commentary and tour during the first part of the ride. The views, of course, are spectacular and the ride was smooth, which was good while eating! The boats are old though and there was so much chipped paint everywhere, plus outdated décor. Pittsburgh is becoming such a metropolitan city and I would love to see the Gateway Clipper update it’s fleet to match that. It’s our only option now, so of course I’ll be back with family and friends visiting town, but I would like to see some improvements in the future.
Place rating: 3
Waddell, AZ
Neat way to get to the game. Ran into a few locals who say this is the best way to get to Pirates/​Steelers games. Easy walk from the boat with a good perspective on the way there. They serve drinks but the line was long and slow, so I passed. If you are staying near Station Square definitely give the boat a shot. If you do it is a 15 minute walk from the stadiums to Market Square (restaurants and bars) and another 15 back to Station Square to make a good round trip with food and drinks.
Place rating: 5
Brooklyn, NY
I loved the one hour sightseeing cruise. Got a groupon for 12 $. The tour guide was very funny and knowledgeable about Pittsburgh buildings and bridges.
Place rating: 5
Pittsburgh, PA
The weather has been so beautiful – finally, summer! – in recent weeks, and one Friday last month my husband and I decided to spend a sunny day wisely by redeeming our Groupons for Gateway Clipper’s 1-​hour sightseeing tour. It was so much fun, and overall the experience was quite a bit better than the previous sightseeing cruise we did a few years back.
The Groupons, weather, and our narrator/​tour guide were the main reasons for the great experience. The guide spoke nearly the entire time and was charismatic and entertaining, which wasn’t surprising being that he’s a local actor who is also involved in the Good Ship Lollipop’s pirate show. In addition, during this particular cruise a lot more information was provided and a lot more buildings and landmarks were pointed out than I recall for past cruises. Really good info for locals and visitors alike.
Other considerations and FYI:
* Gateway Clipper has been running a Groupon special for months, for the sightseeing cruise and the Good Ship Lollipop cruise.
* I adore Gandy Dancer’s weekday Happy Hour, which offers a nice selection of food and drinks at reasonable prices in an intimate, old school bar atmosphere. If that’s up your alley, then do like we did and pick a mid-​afternoon cruise time so that afterwards you can walk to the other end of Station Square to enjoy Gandy Dancer’s Happy hour offerings. There are loads of places to eat in Station Square, but Gandy Dancer’s the only one I’m crazy about.
* Want to do something else while you’re in Station Square? Ride the Monongahela Incline up Mount Washington to take in beautiful city views, ideally on a clear day. Another great activity for locals and visitors alike. Exact change required, and the last time I checked the round-​trip fare per adult was in the $ 5 range.
* Station Square parking rates are reasonable, and there are several options including parking garages and uncovered parking.
Place rating: 3
Charlotte, NC
We booked a boat for a corporate event and overall was a great thing but food was subpar. First, the crew seemed less than amused to be there. Only one waitress was nice and would come to the top deck to get us drinks. The view of course was awesome and nice for out for those never been in Pittsburgh. My issue was the food. Generally was not very good and there were several things wrong. They served the crab cakes for appetizers and not a meal, the petit fours were substituted for some other patsies that looked and tasted like they came from SAMs club, and the chicken description with risotto wasn’t how it was severed. No risotto and stuffed with something else not on the menu. After I sent an email to the sales rep indicating the issues and never got a response. Generally would do a tour but not pay for food.
Place rating: 4
Seattle, WA
Very nice cruise. This city is based around 3 rivers so it’s no wonder you need to go on the river to really appreciate it.
Place rating: 4
New Haven, CT
The good old gateway clipper. I’ve been to the gateway clipper a handful of times over the past few years and it’s always a good time. The only drawbacks in my opinion are it’s a little expensive, there are no free refills unless you buy their $ 8 souvenir cup, and the food quality varies greatly.
Place rating: 4
Pittsburgh, PA
I actually met my husband on the Gateway Clipper over 15 years ago (is that reason to give 5 stars rather than 4?). For our 14th anniversary, my husband and I booked a second trip, this time a sightseeing tour of the city. We enjoyed the views and the narration. The clipper fleet also does river trips for dinner cruises, school social functions, weddings, private parties, and shuttling to sports events. The boats are older and could be more comfortable, but they still operate OK.
Place rating: 5
Pittsburgh, PA
I will always love hopping aboard the Gateway Clipper, no matter what the event! I most recently went on a 1 hour sight seeing tour ($ 20) in the evening. It was a wonderful trip, sailing beneath many of Pittsburgh’s famous bridges, passing the point, and even shouting out to the Pirate’s fans during a game with a giant Pirate flag and a huge toot from the boat! The tour guide was very energetic and knowledgeable about Pittsburgh’s history, from the movies filmed in our city to the myths and facts about Mount Washington, none of the tour was boring! I am really looking forward to attending some of the holiday cruises or a murder mystery cruise! There are many options to choose from, all of which are packed with entertainment and fun that won’t leave you disappointed! As an added plus, you are free to snap away photos while on the boat, creating some fun memories and some unique Pittsburgh themed selfies!
Place rating: 4
Pittsburgh, PA
Unique way to get a tour of the city and I highly recommend for any out of towners but also fun for Pittsburghers! My first time on the clipper was riding it to a Pitt Game. The fleet serves as great roundtrip transportation for Pitt, Steelers and Pirates games. Get a fun ride on the river for about as much as North Shore parking would be. I also attended a college formal on the boat and many events with groups of newly arriving international students. The food is always fantastic, the ship is clean with plenty of indoor/​outdoor seating, bathrooms, a nicely stocked bar and usually a tour guide of some sort shouting out historical facts about the city. Whether you rent out one of the ships for a formal affair or take a leisurely cruise on a Sunday afternoon (for 1 hour it is $ 21) it is a great time for the entire family!
Place rating: 4
Pittsburgh, PA
For my 100th review, I figured I’d review one of my favorite PGH attractions: the Gateway Clipper fleet. For Valentine’s Day, I went on a cruise on the Duchess, and it was a really wonderful, unique way to spend my first non-​single V-​Day. Although my now-​ex bf and I have since split, this does little to diminish my fond memories of the cruise!
I believe we set sail around 7:30pm, and we floated up the Mon past the Hot Metal Bridge, then up the Allegheny past the 40th St. bridge, then finally down the Ohio for the longest leg of the trip. During this time, we enjoyed a buffet dinner, a raffle, and then dancing to live music. Sure, the food wasn’t up to the standard of the type of restaurant I’d pick for a special occasion such as V-​Day (given that I’m a foodie…), nor was the band as good as one I’d hire for a wedding, but the experience was a pleasurable gestalt, in that the sum was greater than its parts. The ex and I had a great time conversing with other couples at our table, enjoying the scenery from the river, and then busting some moves on the dance floor. Although it was quite cold, given that it was the middle of Feb., towards the end of the ride, when the boat was headed back to Station Square, we went up to the deck to get some fresh air and take in the scenery of nocturnal downtown PGH. Although the trip had been my suggestion, I definitely felt loved that he’d do it for me, since it’s not cheap ($ 60/​person, if I recall).
Based on my experience, I’d highly recommend the Gateway Clipper as a unique way to celebrate special holidays, such as V-​Day, New Year’s, or Light Up Night. If you do decide to give it a try, be sure to book early, since, needless to say, it’s very popular during these holidays. I’d love to try it again during the warmer months, so that I could enjoy the view without freezing on deck. The Gateway Clipper is definitely a one-​of-​a-​kind way to see PGH and to celebrate special occasions! 4.5 stars.
Place rating: 4
Pittsburgh, PA
My cousin threw an awesome party for her daughter and husband. The tickets I believe were only $ 10 to ride but it was an ice cream cruise. We received a raffle ticket used to get one ice cream sundae. They had several topping options to choose from like chocolate, pineapple, strawberry, sprinkles, and whip cream.
We had a big party about 30 people using 4 tables. There were several other people celebrating birthdays aboard. It was a beautiful day so the top deck is where we spent most of our time. The warm weather and breeze made me feel like I was on the beach. We traveled down all three rivers and went under so many bridges.
The trip itself was awesome but the only aspect I didn’t like was the food. They basically had ball park food like nachos, ice cream, hotdogs and popcorn. It’s only a two hour trip but I’d really prefer a cold sandwich, even a PB and J would be better than all the salty snacks they serve.
The tour of all the great aspects of the city like PNC, Heinz field, and the fountain at the point. The announcer was very poor at his tour constantly messing up the sentences and information. He was very ignorant when it came to facts about the city; almost embarrassing. Anywho, I would still love to take a trip on this clipper for the fresh air and view alone.
Place rating: 4
Cary, IL
I was in Pittsburgh over a week ago visiting friends. Living in Chicago and working in the field of Architecture it made perfect sense that during my stay I take some kind of tour to learn more about the skyline.
The Gateway Clipper Fleet was clean, courteous and informative. The tour guide, a woman in her late 20s was very knowledgeable and accommodating, which made for a very enjoyable trip.
Lasting about an hour you’ll travel up and down the three converging rivers as buildings and landmarks are pointed out and you’re given a few fun facts about each spot. Half way through they give you a few moments to venture to the bathrooms or down the the somewhat over priced bar…
The trip was extremely enjoyable and had it not been the 8 $ Canned beer they would have received a five out of five… If you can manage to not partake in buying food or beverages on the trip; you’ll most certainly enjoy it. I know I did.
Place rating: 4
Pittsburgh, PA
The Clipper fleet is absolutely one of the best parts about living in Pittsburgh. I love seeing and learning about my city, and seeing my city from the river is about as unique as sightseeing can get.
I have no (majorly) bad memories when it comes to the rides and events I’ve had and attended while one of the Gateway Clipper boats. Even the weather has always been good when I get on board a Clipper boat. Anything you could possibly want to do while on a boat, this fleet offers as a special event, including but not limited to children’s events, dinners, fall foliage sightseeing, absolutely fascinating historical sightseeing tours, dance parties and 4th of July firework shows. If you do want to attend a special event, always buy tickets in advance; the Clipper fleet is extremely popular among locals and tourists alike.
Here are the drawbacks: food and drink will cost you a pretty penny. In fact, you’re better off eating before you get on board (fortunately, Station Square offers plenty of options, so this won’t be a problem). And unfortunately, smoking is allowed on the decks of these boats. A friend and I actually ended up moving to a lower deck because someone behind us lit an extremely disgusting-​smelling cigar. It absolutely ruined part of the evening as we looked for new seats on a very crowded boat. If we had not found new seats I’m sure we both would have soon become sick to our stomachs.
Still, definitely fun, definitely worth the price of admission for the overall experience.
Place rating: 5
Pittsburgh, PA
The Gateway Clipper reminds me of so many fond memories! I first came down to the Burgh to attend Point Park University. They used to schedule a welcome back party on the boat every year in August our first week in school. The first time seeing the city from the river was so magical for me! I think that’s when I feel in love with it. Seriously, you can get the view from the highway, the tall buildings or even Mt. Washington, but this is a totally different perspective. One you can get to by yourself. I just love it!
I looked forward to that time on the boat every year! It even put so much of an impression on me that I considered it for my wedding. Ultimately we decided to have our wedding in Erie, but if we would have had it in Pittsburgh, it would have been my first choice. It’s just such a unique way to experience the city!
They usually sail a good way along each of the rivers so you get to take in every last part of the city. I love being able to float past all the main hot spots of the city, especially the Point and the Stadiums. And you can’t beat that cool summer breeze coming from the top of the boat.
I love that they offer a slew of different cruises, from the family ice cream sundays to the dinner and dancing cruises and everything in between, they pack that schedule full! If you’re visiting Pittsburgh or have lived here for 50 years, you’re missing out if you don’t head on the Clipper Fleet for a visit or two!