Field Trips & Groups

Pittsburgh School Field Trips on the Water

Looking for a Pittsburgh field trip that gets students out of the classroom and onto the rivers? Gateway Clipper offers educational cruises designed specifically for school groups — from quick sightseeing tours to in-depth Lock & Dam programs to language immersion dining cruises for high school students.
Every trip combines learning with a setting no classroom can match.
Whether you’re planning a field trip for elementary students or an immersive cultural experience for your high school language program, we have an option built for your class.

Field Trip Options for Schools: 1-Hour Sightseeing Tour, $20 per person
Sailing Wednesday’s: May 12, 19, & 26
Boarding & Drop Off Location: Acrisure Stadium, North Shore Dock

A perfect introduction to Pittsburgh’s rivers, bridges, and skyline for younger students or groups on a tighter schedule. This narrated cruise covers local history and
geography in a fun, easy-to-follow format — ideal for elementary and middle school field trips.

Great for: Elementary & middle school groups, shorter school-day trips

Focus: Local history, geography, Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers

Lock & Dam Educational Tour, $30 per person
Sailing Thursday’s: May 13, 20 & 27

Boarding & Drop Off Location: Acrisure Stadium, North Shore Dock

A longer, in-depth cruise for students who want to see engineering and river science in action. This tour travels through a working lock and dam, giving students a firsthand look at how river navigation, water levels, and infrastructure work together — a hands-on complement to STEM, engineering, and social studies curriculum.

Great for: Upper elementary through high school, STEM & engineering classes

Focus: River engineering, lock & dam systems, local infrastructure

 

 

 Educational Dining Cruises: Language Immersion Nights, $52
Sailing select Tuesday’s & Wednesday’s
Boarding & Drop Off Location: Station Square Dock, 350 West Station Square Drive.

NEW FOR THIS YEAR: Book your Dining Cruise with a SOUVENIR CUP & unlimited sodas for $60 per person!

Designed specifically for high school students, our educational dining cruises pair a themed buffet meal with an immersive language trivia game and culture experience. Choose from themed nights that bring foreign language classes to life:
Tuesday May 11
Wednesday, April 28, Wednesday, May 19
These dinner cruises give language students a real-world way to practice culture and vocabulary outside the classroom, all while cruising Pittsburgh’s rivers at night.

Why Book a Field Trip with Gateway Clipper

📚 Curriculum-Aligned Options – From geography to engineering to world languages, there’s a tour to match your subject

🚌 Simple Group Logistics – One location, one boarding point, easy to coordinate with buses and chaperones

🌉 A Classroom Like No Other – Students learn while taking in Pittsburgh’s skyline, bridges, and rivers

🍽️ Built-In Meal Options – Dining cruises simplify trip planning by combining the meal and the lesson

👨‍🏫 Group Rates & Planning Support – Our team works with teachers and trip coordinators to fit your schedule and budget

CONTACT US

Have a question? Check our some of our FAQ’s below!

What age groups are these field trips best suited for?

The 1-hour sightseeing tour works well for elementary and middle school groups. The Lock & Dam tour suits upper elementary through high school. The language immersion dining cruises are designed specifically for high school students.

Can we choose which language night for our dining cruise?

Yes — Spanish, German, and French nights are each themed around that language and culture. Let us know which fits your class when booking.

How long is the Lock & Dam tour compared to the sightseeing tour?

The sightseeing tour runs about an hour and focuses on Pittsburgh’s rivers and skyline. The Lock & Dam tour runs longer to allow time to travel through and explain the lock and dam process in detail.

How Do I Book?

To confirm your reservation, we need a signed contract and non-refundable deposit. Final count and final payment are due 30 days from cruise date.

How far in advance should we book a school field trip?

Popular field trip dates fill up quickly,. We recommend booking as early as possible once you have a date in mind.