This year, D.C. docks are home to a surge of drinking vessels designed for every occasion, vibe, and price point. A returning line of retro motor boats is apparently the ticket to getting engaged, with multiple proposals out on the water over the past
three years. And a fancy sailboat manned by a fine dining chef continues to pair tasting menus with French wines. Soak up monumental views along the Potomac River and beyond, drink in tow, with this running list of bookable boats for 2026.
Sea Suite Cruises
Co-founders and Arlington natives Jack Walten and Jack Maher’s first BYOB paddle pub debuted in 2018. Eight years later, their supersized fleet is made up of 26 boats bobbing around mid-Atlantic waterways (in D.C., Annapolis, and Richmond), plus floating tiki bars and vintage electric Retro Boats. Plus, partnerships with long-established local bars, beverage companies, and even live DJ cruises.
Whitlow’s on Water
One of the two large boats in Sea Suite Cruises’ fleet, the 47-passenger tiki tour is the product of a fun partnership with Whitlow’s owner Jon Williams. His iconic Clarendon dive has moved to Shaw and the Wharf, but its original tiki rooftop on Wilson is reincarnated as a floating bar. “Whitlow’s on Water has taken the [Potomac] by storm,” says Sea Suite’s Jack Walten, noting it’s pretty much sold out almost every Saturday through the summer. Diehard Whitlow’s regulars, which include the “Jacks,” can enjoy standard mixed drinks, beers, wines, seltzers, orange crushes, margaritas, and rum punches. For private events, they also offer catering sourced from Whitlow’s.
Two TVs air “whatever people want to watch,” he says, which has included everything from March Madness to the Bachelorette (bachelorette parties are popular bookings, after all). As are corporate teams, birthdays, Whitlow’s fans, and even 50-year wedding anniversaries. Individual tickets are also available, to “mix and mingle as you would in a normal bar,” he says. Last year, the vessel relocated from its original Navy Yard slip to the Wharf — which is right out front of D.C.’s newest Whitlow’s location, which sits next to music venue Anthem. That makes Whitlow’s on Water a prime new pregame option for concerts.
The vessel is now right out front of D.C.’s newest Whitlow’s location, which sits next to music venue Anthem. That makes Whitlow’s on Water a prime new pregame option for concerts.
Price: Ticket tiers start at $40 and up for daily options that include individual tickets, sunset cruises, private charters, and corporate events (book online).
Where: Pick-ups and drop-offs from Market Pier at the Wharf right between the Municipal Fish Market and the Anthem (101 Market Square SW)
Cantina Cruises
The second of the two large boats in Sea Suite Cruises’ fleet, the 48-passenger Cantina Cruises boat is a floating cantina for views and mixed drinks, beers, wines, seltzers, and a variety of tequila-centric cocktails. That includes D.C.’s woman-owned brand 1953 Tequila.
Look for live DJs on a bi-weekly basis as part of its “On Deck” series. The boat has two TVs that will be used for World Cup watch parties as well as other sporting events throughout the year. For private events, guests can order catering through District Taco that will be ready for them on the boat upon arrival. The boat has retractable Isinglass panels so the boat can be fully or partially enclosed.
Price: Ticket tiers start at $40 and up for daily options that include individual tickets, sunset cruises, private charters, and corporate events (book online).
Where: Pick-ups and drop-offs from Washington Harbour in Georgetown (Monday to Thursday) and the Yards Marina in Navy Yard (Friday to Sunday).
Retro Boat Rentals
Be your own captain with vintage runabout boats from Sinatra’s time were retro-fitted with electric motors, so having a romantic or intimate conversation is highly possible. It’s no wonder there are countless proposals on these boats every season, reports Sea Suite. Each four-top fiberglass beauty sports a different color and name (Gladys, Bonnie, and Violet).
Price: $175-$250 for 1.5-hour tours; BYO drinks and food
Where: Wharf to the Washington Channel
Private Tiki Boat
D.C.’s “first tiki cruise” by Sea Suite Cruises lets patrons buy booze on board, or opt for an $8 corkage fee for wine and Champagne. Guests also have the option to add an all-inclusive drink package to their booking. BYO food or purchase small snacks.
Price: $50-$65 standard tickets for parties of 8 to 18 out of Georgetown. For an additional $20 per person, guests can upgrade to all-inclusive.
Private Party Boat
Sea Suite Cruises’ fleet that started it all are pontoon paddlewheel boats that were all renovated in 2025. They were previously outfitted with 10 cycle stations around the central bar so patrons could pedal if they pleased, but the cycle stations have all been replaced with plush, swiveling barstools so these boats are now all party and no pedals. The switch to a comfortable party boat has greatly increased demand for these boats, which now rivals demand for their thatch-roofed counterparts so you’ll want to book well in advance.
Price: $45-$60 per person for groups of 8 to 20 for cruises that run 1 hour and 45 minutes. All 3 boats have the option to BYOB (just no hard liquor), and guests can buy drinks on board or upgrade to all-inclusive packages on the Georgetown and Navy Yard boats.
Where: Docks from the Wharf, Navy Yard, and Georgetown
Sea Table
Chef and sommelier Troy Knapp makes Michelin-level menus on his luxury sailboat Cru Classé. Back at the Wharf for its fifth year, the detail-oriented captain brings fine dining to the dock with artfully plated courses, decadent floral arrangements, seafaring table settings, and French wines he pours himself. Knapp also mans other Wharf vessels for parties of six or more, partnering with Nautiste to offer dining excursions with his catering company Curated.
In D.C., choose from two different experiences this season from April through October (book via TOCK):
Where: Docks at the Wharf (650 Wharf Street SW)
And Sea Table Annapolis sets sail for the second time this season on the Chesapeake Bay aboard the new, contemporary-styled luxury motor yacht Prestige 520. Book one of two dining excursions via TOCK from April through October. Add a Master of Champagne-led tasting to commemorate time on board. Oyster, seafood, and cheese-and-charcuterie pairings are also available. 1 Dock Street
Nautiste
Boat captain and oyster aficionado Hannah Puckett leads a growing fleet of American-made yachts, with seafaring and dockside dining experiences for parties up to 30. The cruise-friendly cuisine is handled by Troy Knapp’s catering company Curated by TPK. Nautiste’s stunning portfolio of vessels includes: the 72-foot, midcentury-era Patriot wrapped in polished mahogany; the New England-styled Independence, built in the 1970s and newly restored in 2024; and the turquoise-toned American Pie — the newest addition to the Nautiste fleet, with room for six.
Baller options — starting at $2,875 and lasting two to four hours — include: Golden Hour cruises, premium dining cruises, dockside receptions, and VIP itineraries.
Where: Home ports at the Wharf (634 Wharf Street SW), with additional pick-up locations in Navy Yard, Alexandria, National Harbor, and Mount Vernon.
Private Hot Tub Boat
Believe it or not, it’s now possible to bask in a bubbling hot tub with 10 friends, be a DJ, and soak up city sights out on the water — all at once. NYC-based Sea the City expanded its tricked-out party fleet on the Hudson down to the Potomac for the first time last spring. No food is allowed, but 21-and-up passengers are permitted to bring alcohol (beer, wine, bubbly, or hard seltzers only) on board. The company provides complimentary ice, coolers, cups, and water. Up to 20 can fit on the boat at once, and the 10-person tub is outfitted with a Bluetooth-enabled sound system to create your own set list.
There’s a private room onboard for swimsuit costume changes (along with a separate bathroom). BYO towels or rent ones for $3-$6. Party favors include customized marquee boards, and the boat promises “attentive deckhands” at the ready. There’s also VIP “Date Night” experiences available. It’s no surprise Netflix’s Love Is Blind filmed on the hot tub boat in D.C.
Where: The Wharf Marina, 101 Market Square SW
Price: Starting at $395 for a two-hour experience
