Terms & Conditions

• All sales are final and reservations are non-transferable.
• Add Ticket Assurance (for an additional fee) to cancel up to 5 hours before your cruise boards.
• A per-ticket fee applies and is non-refundable.
• Refunds exclude Assurance and processing fees.
• No refunds or changes will be made within 5 hours of boarding.
• If the Captain must cancel due to weather or unforeseen circumstances, you’ll receive a Gateway Clipper gift card for the full value of your booking. In the event a cruise must be dockside you will be notified prior to sailing.

When you book with us, your total is made up of a few components:

Base Rate

This is the price of your cruise or event ticket itself — the core cost of your seat, meal (if included), and experience aboard the vessel.

Service Charge

A standard fee that helps offset operating expenses, including staffing, onboard service, and day-to-day costs of running your cruise experience.

PA Sales Tax & Allegheny County Drink Tax

Pennsylvania state sales tax, applied to applicable purchases as required by law. The county drink tax that applies to all alcoholic beverages.

Amusement Tax & PA Gross Receipts Tax

A local tax required by the City of Pittsburgh (or applicable municipality) on tickets to entertainment and amusement venues, including cruises and events like ours. A state tax imposed on shuttle transportation.

Online Booking Fee

A fee charged by our third-party reservation system for processing your booking securely online. This fee is not retained by Gateway Clipper — it goes to the platform that powers our booking process.

• Menus, entertainment, and cruise offerings may change without prior notice. Prices are subject to change.
• We assign seating on dining cruises and reserve the right to banquet seat your party at a shared table.
• Cruises are not guaranteed to sail on a specific vessel; we reserve the right to reassign vessels as needed.
• We may need to adjust, reschedule, or cancel boarding or sailing times. Guests will be notified by email and/or phone prior to departure.

• All ages are welcome aboard sightseeing, dining, holiday, and kids’ cruises.
• Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
• Some cruises are 21+ only, including Moonlights, Wine Tastings, concerts, and special events.
• A valid state or federal photo ID is required for boarding.
• Guests under 21 are not permitted on 21+ cruises — no exceptions.

• The Gateway Clipper Fleet is cashless onboard all vessels.
• Cash is accepted at the Ticket Office and for Shuttle services only.
• Onboard purchases — including bar, snack bar, and souvenir photos — accept major credit/debit cards, Google Pay, and Apple Pay.
• Checks are not accepted onboard.
• Credit/debit transactions may show temporary authorization holds for up to one week, depending on your bank’s policy.

• We reserve the right to search passengers and inspect any bags or carry-ons.
• Smoking is not permitted inside any vessel.
• Designated outdoor smoking areas are available on select decks.
• All Sightseeing and Kids Cruises are completely smoke-free.
• Outside food and beverages are not permitted onboard or on the dock.
• Parking lots are owned and operated by Station Square. Every car, bus, and/or motorcoach must pay for parking. No vehicles will be permitted to park without proper payment. Please contact Station Square Parking via email at Stationsquare@vpne.com, or see Station Square parking.

Whether you’re dining, dancing, or sightseeing, here’s how to look (and feel) your best while cruising the rivers of Pittsburgh!

Sightseeing & Kids Cruises

• Come casual and comfortable — there’s no dress code for these easy-going excursions.
• Dress for the weather, especially if you’ll be on open-air decks.
• Wear sturdy, non-slip shoes for safe boarding and exploring.

Music & Dance Cruises

• Themed cruises? Get into it! From “Yacht Summer Nights” to “Throwback Prom,” creative outfits are encouraged.
• For non-themed events, concert or nightlife attire works perfectly.
• Choose comfortable shoes — you’ll be dancing the night away on deck!

Dining Cruises

• Weekday dining cruises: Casual dress is perfectly fine.
• Holiday Captain’s Dinner & Captain’s Dinner Dance: Step it up to dressy casual for a polished, festive evening.

Need inspiration? Read our dress code style guide →

Vessel Notes

• The Empress, Queen, Duchess, and Princess are all heated and air-conditioned, with open-air decks for enjoying the view.
• The Countess is entirely open-air — check the forecast and dress accordingly.
• Heels are welcome but choose comfort over height for safety while moving between decks.

By entering the Gateway Clipper venue or purchasing a ticket, you grant permission for your image, video, or interview to be used for promotional purposes — including print, social media, websites, and advertising.

Passenger Ticket Contract, Notice and Terms

IMPORTANT NOTICE: ACCEPTANCE, PURCHASE, RECEIPT OR USE OF THIS TICKET BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE PERSON (“PASSENGER”) WHO WILL USE IT TO BOARD THE ABOVE REFERENCED VESSEL, OR ANY OTHER VESSEL OPERATED BY GATEWAY CLIPPER, INC. (“THE VESSEL”) CONSTITUTES A CONTRACT, THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF WHICH AFFECT IMPORTANT LEGAL RIGHTS. PLEASE READ THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CAREFULLY.

Acceptance, purchase, receipt or use of this Passenger Ticket Contract by or on behalf of the passenger shall constitute the agreement of Passenger to all of the following terms and conditions:

Neither Gateway Clipper, Inc. (“The Company”) nor the Vessel shall be liable for any claim for personal injury or loss of life, whatsoever and wheresoever arising and howsoever caused, unless written notice of the claim with full particulars be delivered to the Company at 350 W. Station Square Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, within six (6) months from the date of such personal injury or loss of life. Suit to recover on any such claim against the Company or Vessel shall not be maintainable unless: (a) The Passenger has complied with all the above notice provisions; and (b) Suit is commenced within one (1) year from the date of the personal injury or loss of life. The foregoing limitation periods apply to any claim of Passenger against the Company or the Vessel, notwithstanding any provision of law of any state or country to the contrary.

PA Sales Tax

Pennsylvania Sales Tax will be applied for all applicable items.

ADA Information

Because of their unique design and regulatory characteristics, excursion vessels are not subject to the ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities (ADAAG). However, we still make every reasonable effort to assist and accommodate passengers with special needs. We do provide ADA accessibility to our facility and vessels, and offer boarding and departure assistance to guests in wheelchairs or with mobility disabilities. For safety reasons, please note our staff is not permitted to lift guests or equipment, but upon request will provide assistance with manual wheelchairs, walkers, canes, etc.

Additionally, please note Coast Guard regulations require water barriers (raised thresholds in doorways). All vessels also are multi-deck and are not fitted with rail lifts or elevators for upper levels. Restrooms on the Empress and Queen are outfitted with grab bars and are usable by persons with special needs, including wheelchairs. The restrooms on the Duchess (built in 1965) and Princess (built in 1984), are not large enough to accommodate larger wheelchairs; however, we have smaller wheelchairs available for use on those vessels upon request, before boarding.

We encourage guests with any other accessibility needs to contact us prior to your event or cruise, so we can make every attempt to make sure all guests enjoy their Gateway Clipper experience to the fullest. Please call (412) 355-7980 before finalizing your plans if you have any questions on access or personal equipment.