Victoria is full of ways to see the harbour, and this one is the most unusual: a small boat with a hot tub built in, so you soak while you cruise. The trip leaves from the Canoe Marina at the end of Swift Street, at 100 Swift Street, and runs for about an hour and a half before returning to the same dock. The price covers a waterproof speaker, dry bags for your belongings and all fees and taxes, which means you can bring your own playlist and keep your phone and wallet safe. The experience is a small-group affair, with the tour description describing a boat for three to six passengers, which makes it popular for friends, couples and celebrations rather than large tour groups. It carries a perfect 5.0 rating from nearly a hundred reviews, which is rare for any activity, and it is probably the best answer in the city to the question of what to do with a group that has already seen the Parliament Buildings and the museum. You are not on a lecture tour; you are on a relaxed, floating social outing, with the harbour, the Empress and the working waterfront as the scenery.
What to expect
You meet at the marina, board the boat and settle into the hot tub while the skipper takes you out around the harbour and nearby waterfront. Expect a relaxed pace, slow cruising and plenty of time to talk, listen to music through the speaker and take photographs. It is a sightseeing-and-soaking outing, not a high-speed ride.
Wear your swimsuit under your clothes, bring a towel and a warm layer for the walk back, and use the dry bags for phones, keys and anything you do not want wet. The tour description notes that the activity ends back at the same spot, so you can leave your car or walk back to your hotel easily afterward.
Group size and rules
The tour description is a little inconsistent on numbers, describing a boat for three to six passengers in the overview while the additional information refers to both a minimum of three and a maximum of six travellers, so treat three to six as the guide and check the exact rules for your party when you book. There is no age limit listed, but travellers with heart problems or other serious medical conditions are not advised to take part, since sitting in hot water is a strain on some people, and the experience is not wheelchair accessible. The most important rule is the cancellation policy: the booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed or amended for any reason, so only book once your date and group are fixed.
Who it suits and how to fit it in: this is a good choice for a birthday, a bachelorette or bachelor party, a reunion of friends or a couple who want something different from afternoon tea. It is less suited to travellers who want commentary and history, for which the walking tours, the harbour cruise and the museum are better.
Check the season and departure times when you book, as water activities can run on a smaller schedule in the colder months, and choose a calm, mild day if you can. The marina is a short walk from the Inner Harbour and Old Town, so a late lunch afterwards in the Chinatown and Market Square area makes an easy plan.
What to expect
The experience
A roughly 90-minute cruise around the Victoria waterfront on a small boat with a hot tub, leaving from the Canoe Marina at the end of Swift Street.
Best time
A mild, calm day, since you will be in the water and out on the harbour.
How long
About an hour and a half on the boat, ending where you started.
Tips
Wear swimwear, bring a towel and warm layer, and only book once plans are fixed, because the experience cannot be changed.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Friends, couples and celebration groups who want a different kind of harbour outing.
- Families
- There is no age limit listed, but it is more of a social soak than a family tour, so check suitability for young children.
- Couples
- A private-feeling soak with a speaker and the harbour as the view makes a memorable date.
- Pair with
- A late lunch in Old Town or Chinatown afterwards.
- Time needed
- Allow about two hours including meeting and walking back.
Good questions
Where does the Victoria hot tub boat depart?+
It meets at 100 Swift Street, at the end of Swift Street in the Canoe Marina, and finishes at the same place.
How long is the hot tub boat ride?+
The experience takes about an hour and a half.
How many people fit on the boat?+
The tour description describes a boat for three to six passengers, so check the exact group rules when you book.
What is included?+
A waterproof speaker, dry bags and all fees and taxes are included.
Can I change or cancel the booking?+
No, the booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason, so confirm your date and group before you book.
