mark twain riverboat reviews

Mississippi River Boat Cruise

Experience the mississippi river like never before.

Adventures in LynderLand

August 8, 2024

Mikhail Makarenko

Judy Klimek

Andrea Kimpel

Barb Wilson

Family-Friendly Tours Full Of Adventure, Storytelling, And Fun

History, literature, and travel enthusiasts unite for a unique sightseeing and dining experience aboard riverboat cruises on the Mississippi River from beloved author Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain's hometown of Hannibal, Missouri. Witness firsthand what inspired the writer to create iconic characters, Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. At Mark Twain Riverboat Co., you get to experience the Mighty Mississippi River in a truly memorable way, a Mississippi river boat cruise complete with storytelling, scenic views, and fine dining.

We provide a unique experience perfect for individuals, families, and groups. The cruise takes place on the Mississippi River from Mark Twain's boyhood home town of Hannibal, MO.

Mark Twain shared his unique perspective of life on the Mississippi River throughout his writings and characters. Get a glimpse of the Mississippi River as Mark Twain might have seen it.

The Mark Twain has been a unique feature on the Hannibal riverfront for more than 30 years. As a family-owned business since 1997, we strive to offer you a unique riverboat experience on the Mighty Mississippi, whether you’re a Hannibal resident or visitor. Choose between our two daily cruise offerings: our Sightseeing Cruise and our evening Dinner Cruise which includes live entertainment and a two entree buffet-style dinner.

Whether you are looking for a sightseeing adventure on the Mississippi River, taking in the sights, or dining on the river at sunset, Mark Twain Riverboat has something for everyone.

Set Sail on Our Riverboat Cruises

Sightseeing Tour

This one-hour sightseeing cruise travels along the mighty Mississippi River, allowing you to soak up the scenery at a relaxing, rhythmic pace. Listen as the captain guides your cruise with historical commentary on the history, legends, and sights of the Mississippi River.

A cruise aboard the Mark Twain Riverboat is great for family events. Whether you are a visitor or resident of Hannibal, you can make wonderful memories aboard our unique riverboat experience! Looking forward to having you onboard!

Departure time: Varies - check calendar Yearly availability: April 1 - Nov. 4 Weekly availability: Daily

Dinner Cruise

Enjoy a night of dinner and dancing on this cruise on the Mighty Mississippi. Indulge in a delicious buffet and share a wonderful dinner with your family or friends, then enjoy live music from the dance floor or the deck.

Once on board, you are escorted to your table, then you are free to roam the boat until the captain announces that dinner is ready. After dinner, you are free to dance or sit back and enjoy the music. Live entertainment is included on our Dinner Cruises. It may be The Rivermen playing modern jazz (Saturday night from Memorial Day thru October), or you might get to enjoy the music of Tim Hart (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) and David Damm (Thursday and Friday). Listen or dance to their favorite tunes — and they have been known to take a request or two. And you never know when a crew member or two may step up on the stage and join in.

Departure time: 6:30 pm (5:30 pm in October) Yearly availability: May 3 - Oct 28 Weekly availability: Varies - check calendar

Why choose us?

A Glimpse At Missouri Through The Lens Of A Famous Author On The Mississippi River

A Mississippi River cruise aboard Mark Twain Riverboat Co. allows you to enjoy a short excursion from Hannibal during the more pleasant weather months of the year. Just 100 miles away from St. Louis, our Mississippi River boat cruise is the only cruise that departs from Mark Twain's boyhood home.

River cruising gives you the time and space to fully immerse yourself in Mark Twain's story and the Mississippi River, getting to know the inspiration behind his books. We handle every detail for you from departure to dinner on our Mississippi river cruises, making it possible for you to fully relax and enjoy our modern riverboat.

Cruising down the river is a great way to unwind and enjoy nature after a busy week. Hannibal, Missouri is home to some of the most scenic riverfront views in the Midwest!

Informative

Our cruise guides are experts in their field and love to share their knowledge about this beautiful city. They'll educate you all about the history of the area and its inhabitants, so you can really get an insider's look at this fascinating area.

Family-friendly

Our cruises are great for families with children of all ages, so bring your whole crew along with you! We have plenty of activities that will keep you occupied during the day and night.

Hannibal, Missouri

Despite its small size, Hannibal, MO is full of history and immersive learning experiences. It is there that you can visit Mark Twain's boyhood home and museum, take a Mississippi River cruise, or even attend a festival in his honor. That's not all there is to do in the area, though. You can explore caves and even take a ghost tour. Although, we are sure our cruise will be one of your favorite experiences yet.

Upper Mississippi River cruises are a great way for people of all ages to take a break from the normal day-to-day. Instead you'll enjoy an afternoon taking in the beautiful scenery or an evening of entertainment and dining. Our cruises are perfect for anyone who wants adventure but doesn't want the length of trip that most American cruise lines offer. A short trip aboard our Mississippi River cruises is just the evening out you need to feel refreshed, educated, and creative.

Frequently asked questions

Can we modify existing itineraries.

To some extent – yes. Sometimes we will have to because the weather isn’t always ideal and we want to stay in shallow, calm waters to keep the trip enjoyable.

What is the duration of the cruises?

Our cruises last approximately one to two hours

Are food and drinks available on board?

Yes, we offer a variety of food and drinks, including a snack bar and a full-service bar.

Is smoking allowed on board?

No, smoking is not allowed onboard.

Is the Mark Twain Riverboat wheelchair accessible?

We are wheelchair accessible on the lower deck. However, there is no lift to the upper deck and wheelchairs do not fit in the bathrooms.

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Mark Twain Riverboat

The Mark Twain Riverboat goes on a gentle cruise around Tom Sawyer Island. That's the same route that the Sailing Ship Columbia and Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes take, and I'd suggest choosing only one of these three attractions. You don't need to see that same scenery three times.

What You Need to Know About the Mark Twain Riverboat

TripSavvy / Betsy Malloy Photography

We polled 131 of our readers to find out what they think about the riverboat. 74% of them said It's a must-do or ride it if you have time, making it one of the lower-rated things to do at Disneyland.

• Location:  Mark Twain Riverboat is in Frontierland
• Rating:  ★
• Restrictions:   No height restrictions. Children under age seven years must be accompanied by a person age 14 years or older.
• Ride Time:   12 minutes
• Recommended for:   Everyone
• Fun Factor:  Low
• Wait Factor:  Low    
• Fear Factor:  Low
• Herky-Jerky Factor:  Low
• Nausea Factor:  Low
• Seating:   You just get on and ride, and you can move around while it's going
• Accessibility:   This ride is fully accessible, and you can stay in your wheelchair or ECV for the whole thing, but you'll only get onto the lower level. Go to the access gate on the right side of the turnstile or enter through the attraction exit and ask a Cast Member for help.  More about visiting Disneyland in a wheelchair or ECV

How to Have More Fun on the Mark Twain Riverboat

• If you want to  rest your feet , head for the seats in the front as soon as you get on.
• This ride  closes before dark
• Watch the kids.  They may be tempted to climb on the railings and could fall off.
• If you ask a cast member, the  pilot might let you ride inside with him . This is limited to just a couple of people per trip.

Next Disneyland Ride: Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes

More about disneyland rides.

You can  see all the Disneyland rides at a glance on the Disneyland Ride Sheet . If you want to browse through them starting with the best-rated,  start with the Haunted Mansion  and follow the navigation.

While you're thinking about rides, you should also  download Our Recommended Disneyland Apps (they're all free!)  and  Get Some Proven Tips to Minimize Your Disneyland Wait Time .

Fun Facts About Mark Twain Riverboat

Built in 1955, this was the first paddle wheeler built since shortly after 1900. It was built at the Disney Studios, except for the hull which was constructed at a shipyard in San Pedro. But don't let that fool you. It's a working reproduction of the historic vessels that ferried people up and down the mighty Mississippi, with a working steam engine that powers the large paddle, which in turn propels the boat.

The Mark Twain made its first voyage four days before Disneyland opened to the public, for Walt and Lillian Disney's 30th wedding anniversary. 

The Mark Twain was christened by actress   Irene Dunne who starred in the 1936 movie "Showboat" on Disneyland's Opening Day.

The boat is 28 feet tall and 105 feet long, with four decks.

The writer Mark Twain was a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi river when he was younger, and one of Walt Disney's personal heroes, which is why Walt named the boat after him.

A riverboat ride was in the plans from the earliest days, when Walt Disney started the first plans for building an amusement park near Walt Disney Studios in Burbank.

Every Disney theme park throughout the world has their own version of the Mark Twain riverboat. 

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• Cigar Reviews

Mark Twain Riverboat Churchill Cigar Review

Maria morales.

• April 1, 2023
• Mark Twain , medium strength , Nicaraguan

The market is filled with a wide variety of cigars, each of which has a distinctive flavor character. One such choice, which is renowned for its smooth flavor transition, is the Mark Twain Riverboat Churchill cigar. This cigar is certainly worth trying, whether you are an experienced cigar smoker or are just getting started.

With tastes of floral, coffee, sweet spice, cedar, and leather, it has a medium body and produces a pleasant, smooth smoke. This cigar has a wonderfully nice finish that lingers for a while.

Appearance of Mark Twain Riverboat Churchill

The Mark Twain Riverboat Churchill cigar features a barber pole wrapper, meaning it uses two wrappers. The first wrapper is a Connecticut shade, and the other one is a Maduro wrapper.

As for this cigar’s band, it uses a huge band that features a very rustic design. The colors of the band are brown, dark brown, white, and what seemed to be an old gold color. There’s an English man portrait in the middle and above him is the phrase “Mark Twain,” written using a white font and multiple gold circle details in the middle of each letter. Below the man is the word “Riverboat,” written in cursive in white font.

Smoking Experience

Upon lighting the Mark Twain Riverboat Churchill cigar, the flavors that kicked off immediately were sweetness and coffee. I also tasted a hint of floral, but not too much, but it was during the first third that the floral notes started to become a predominant flavor. The coffee flavor is at the very front of the flavor palette, accompanied by floral, and the sweetness of this cigar is just right. So far, the flavors are perfectly balanced, and they’re light. The construction of this one is good, but it burns unevenly. The good thing is that despite its bad burn, it didn’t make the draw tight.

For the second third of smoking the Mark Twain Riverboat Churchill cigar, it still burns unevenly, which makes my smoking experience unpleasant. There’s actually one part where the burn canoe down. The ash also didn’t hold quite well as bits of it started to fall off then next was the chunk. As for the smoke output, it gives an ample amount of smoke, and the draw is still good. For the flavor profile of this cigar, the dominant flavor became the floral notes, accompanied by coffee. The sweetness mellows down a little bit, but I could still taste it at the back. The retro-hale has a hint of sweet spice, and the wrapper of the cigar makes my mouth a little bit creamy. Basically, the flavors continued to be light, but the strength is definitely medium.

During my final third of smoking the Mark Twain Riverboat Churchill cigar, there’s a subtle hint of cedar that emerges at the back of the flavor palette and an earthy flavor. Both new flavors are not strong, but it was there, which makes them a great flavor ending note. The floral and coffee are still at the front, but both of them kind of mellow down. The sweetness at this point is already gone, but I think it’s because it transitioned to being a sweet spice and became present on the retro-hale. For the flavor transition, it definitely gained points. As for the construction of this cigar, up until the very end, it gave me a terrible burn, and the ash didn’t even hold on for an inch anymore. The smoke output is not as many too, but the draw remains good.

Overall, I enjoy smoking the Mark Twain Riverboat Churchill cigar if we only talk about its flavor. I really liked how the flavors transitioned from the first third up until the final third. Not much actually happened during the first and second third as the notes of floral and coffee only changed positions, but it was during the final third that it changed the whole game.

I was about to complain about how boring this cigar was because the flavors didn’t even reach their peak and had already mellowed down, but good thing I tasted cedar and earth flavors. Even if they’re not that rich, I still appreciate how they started to emerge at the last minute.

Now, for the construction of this cigar, this is where it lost a lot of points to me. While I didn’t struggle when it came to its draw, I had a hard time trying to even out the burn of this cigar since one part really canoe down. The ash is also not holding on very well, making it a messy experience to smoke this cigar. I almost had to relight it just to make an effort to even the burn, but it’s really bad, and there’s nothing I can do about it. The smoke output is okay, though I don’t understand why I didn’t produce much during my final third.

To simply put, I enjoy smoking the Mark Twain Riverboat Churchill cigar if we’re only talking about its flavors but for the construction, it’s a no for me. But still, this cigar is something I would smoke again in the future since I really loved how the flavors transitioned as well as the actual flavors I got which are floral, coffee, cedar, earth, and sweet spice. I considered the flavors light, but the strength of this one is indeed medium.

If you’re a cigar aficionado who enjoys smoking a cigar that has an excellent flavor transition, then I will definitely recommend this to you. I also find this good cigar perfect to smoke during great weather or whether you just feel like it. But you need to store it properly since it really did me badly on the construction of this one.

Other Cigars Reviews

Other j.c. newman cigar reviews, brick house fumas robusto.

The Brick House brand is celebrated for its high-quality cigars known for their exceptional flavor profiles, making them an ideal choice for enthusiasts. The Brick House Fumas Robusto, particularly noted for its affordable pricing, features a medium-bodied blend wrapped in a smooth Sumatran leaf, filled with Nicaraguan tobacco, and hints of coffee and nuts. However, despite its consistent flavor and reasonable price, the cigar’s overall experience is marred by a tight draw and uneven burn, resulting in a monotonous smoking experience. While it is a decent option for those on a budget, this review of Brick House Fumas Robusto  might not be a repeat purchase for those seeking a more flavorful and seamless experience.

Other Nicaraguan Cigar Reviews

Cao l’anniversaire cameroon robusto.

After a long day or during a significant event, lighting up a CAO L’Anniversaire Cameroon Robusto can offer a deeply relaxing experience for a cigar enthusiast. This medium-bodied cigar boasts an African Cameroon wrapper with Nicaraguan binder and filler, delivering a flavor profile rich with notes of nuts, coffee, and earth, accented with citrus and spice. The robusto shape provides a satisfying size, and its construction promises a firm ash and a smooth smoke. The dual bands add a visually appealing touch to the cigar’s overall presentation. As the smoking experience progresses from the initial third to the last, the flavors intensify, retaining a pleasant nuttiness throughout, while the strength edges from medium to a more substantial medium-plus body. Overall, this cigar is a superb selection for aficionados seeking a balanced, medium-bodied smoke, particularly those with a palate for premium Cameroon-wrapped cigars, as reflected in this review of the CAO L’Anniversaire Cameroon Robusto.

AJ Fernandez Last Call Maduro Geniales

The AJ Fernandez Last Call Maduro Geniales is a full-bodied cigar with a dark and oily Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro wrapper, a departure from the typical Broadleaf. The cigar presents a consistent flavor profile, offering a balance of sweetness, leather, toasted nuts, and a hint of coffee, though some notes subside by the final third. Its construction is praised for even burning and a solid ash hold, with no need for retouching, and its strength remains steady throughout the smoke. Despite the high-quality tobacco and craftsmanship, the cigar’s presentation is marred slightly by a band design that lacks the complexity expected from the AJ Fernandez brand. In summary, while the band’s aesthetic might not appeal to everyone, the smoking experience of the AJ Fernandez Last Call Maduro Geniales is largely satisfying for those who appreciate a consistent, coffee-forward flavor in their cigars, leading to a positive review of AJ Fernandez Last Call Maduro Geniales .

For more information about the best cigars and other ways to relax make sure to come back to Scotch & Cigars here .

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