1.5hr Harbour Experience on North America’s LARGEST solar boat!

See Charlottetown from a quieter angle. The 1.5-hour harbour cruise aboard the Isola Solaretto combines local history, shoreline views, and a close look at North America’s largest solar boat. I especially like the relaxed pace and the strong storytelling from guides such as Steve, Justyn, Stephen, and Justin. The enclosed cabin, large windows, roof hatches, WiFi, and onboard restroom also make this an easy outing in changing weather.

The main thing to consider is the focus. This is a water-based sightseeing tour, not a broad city tour, so you will learn about Charlottetown by looking back toward its waterfront and shoreline. The boat uses a boarding ladder, which may be difficult for anyone with mobility issues, and the ride can feel rocky when wind picks up.

What makes this harbour cruise worth your time

• The boat is the main attraction: The Isola Solaretto is North America’s largest solar boat, with a quiet electric ride and a story tied to Expo 67 in Montreal.
• You get history with the scenery: The commentary covers the Mi’kmaq, Confederation, Fort Amherst, shoreline erosion, major buildings, and Charlottetown Harbour.
• Every seat has a view: Large windows keep the sightseeing easy, while opening roof hatches help with fresh air and photographs.
• The pace is gentle: At about 90 minutes, the cruise fits neatly into a morning, midday, or afternoon in Charlottetown.
• The guides make the difference: Steve, Justyn, Stephen, Justin, and the captains are praised for humor, local facts, stories, and a welcoming style.
• The group stays small: A maximum of 34 people gives the cruise a more personal feel than a large sightseeing vessel.

A quiet boat with a good story

The Isola Solaretto is not just transportation. It is part of the explanation.

The boat’s solar-powered design gives the ride a calm, low-noise feel. You can listen to the captain and guide without competing with the heavy engine noise common on larger vessels. The boat’s background also adds an unusual historical layer. Commentary may include how it was introduced at the 1967 Montreal Expo and later refurbished.

That combination gives the cruise a clear identity. You are not simply taking a generic harbour loop. You are riding a boat built around clean power, local interpretation, and a slower way to see the waterfront.

The boat accommodates up to 34 people. That is small enough for the guide to keep the group involved, and several tours include questions, trivia, and lively exchanges. Some families have even had children take a turn at the wheel under the captain’s direction. Do not count on that as a guaranteed part of every departure, but it shows the friendly tone of the operation.

The solar system also affects how food is handled. The boat does not have the same refrigeration and galley setup as a larger cruise vessel, so meal service can be less polished than the ride itself. Lunch is not included in the standard price. Lobster or chicken dinner choices may be available as booking add-ons, so check the options carefully before paying.

Starting at Charlottetown Cruise Ship Terminal

The meeting point is the Charlottetown Cruise Ship Terminal at 1a Weymouth Street. The cruise returns to the same place, which makes planning simple if you are staying nearby or visiting from a cruise ship.

Morning, noon, and afternoon departures give you useful flexibility. I would choose your time based on the rest of your day rather than assuming one departure is best. A morning ride can leave the afternoon open for Charlottetown’s streets and museums. A later trip can make a pleasant finish after time ashore.

The tour lasts about one hour and 30 minutes. That is long enough to reach several points around the harbour without taking up your entire day. It also gives you time to settle into the boat and listen instead of racing from one sight to the next.

You receive a mobile ticket, and the experience is offered in English. Public transportation is nearby, and service animals are allowed. Most people can take part, but the boarding ladder deserves attention. If you have limited mobility, contact the operator before booking and confirm that you can safely board.

Charlottetown Harbour and the Cradle of Confederation

The opening talk places the water in its proper context. Charlottetown is tied to the 1864 meeting that led to Canadian Confederation, and the harbour was central to the city’s role in that story.

The guide also discusses the Mi’kmaq, who first settled the province. That matters because the tour does not begin with Confederation as if the story started in the nineteenth century. You get a basic sense of the people and events connected to the area before the famous political meetings took place.

The harbour itself is the setting for the lesson. From the boat, you see how shorelines, forts, wharves, buildings, and entry points relate to one another. That geographic view can be more useful than reading separate labels on land. You begin to understand why Charlottetown developed where it did.

The commentary is a major part of the value. Steve is described as an energetic presenter, while Justyn and Stephen are praised for humor, facts, and a willingness to answer questions. Captain Craig and other captains add their own local stories, including details drawn from working as a lobster fisherman.

Victoria Park and the old fortifications

The Isola Solaretto passes Victoria Park, where you can see cannons and other armaments connected with the historic fort.

This is a good example of the cruise’s viewpoint. You are not touring the fort on foot, and the boat does not turn the stop into a long shore visit. Instead, you see the defensive position from the water and hear how it fits into Charlottetown’s past.

That distinction is important. If you want detailed access to every historic site, you need a land tour or separate museum visit. If you want a broad view of how the harbour was protected, the boat gives you a useful look without a long walk.

The large windows help here. You do not need to fight for one special seat, since each place is positioned near a window. The roof hatches can be opened when conditions allow, giving you a clearer angle for photographs and a bit more contact with the weather.

Rocky Point and Port-la-Joye

As the boat reaches the entrance to Charlottetown Harbour, you see Rocky Point and the site of Port-la-Joye, also known as Fort Amherst.

This part of the route widens the story beyond central Charlottetown. The harbour entrance explains the relationship between the city and the larger waterway, while Port-la-Joye brings in another important historic site on Prince Edward Island.

The view is best understood as a narrated pass-by. You are not getting off to explore Fort Amherst during this cruise. The reward is the combination of sight and explanation, especially if you are still learning how the island’s historic sites connect.

Wind can be more noticeable in exposed sections of the harbour. The boat is enclosed, and one particularly useful account describes being comfortable inside on a chilly day while passengers on an open-air boat looked cold. Still, the ride can become rocky when the wind rises, so anyone sensitive to motion should keep the weather in mind.

The Birthplace of Canada from the water

The cruise also points toward the place known as the Birthplace of Canada, where Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick met in 1864 to discuss the creation of Canada.

This is the part of the tour most likely to appeal to history-minded visitors. You hear about the meeting in the same harbour setting that helped Charlottetown earn its Confederation nickname. The guide connects the political event to the physical place rather than treating it as a detached textbook fact.

The boat’s commentary may also include Expo 67 and the history of the solar vessel itself. That creates an amusing pairing: one story looks back to the founding discussions of Canada, while the other looks at a modern, low-emission way to move around the harbour.

I would bring questions if you have them. The small group and informal presentation style make it easier to ask about the boat, the harbour, or the events being discussed. The trivia portion has also been a hit with families, including teenagers.

Shoreline erosion and expensive mistakes

One of the more unusual parts of the cruise is the look at shoreline protection.

The captain points out several expensive homes, including a property valued at about $15 million, and explains a case of rock armouring that did not protect the shore in the right way. Prince Edward Island is losing roughly one foot of shoreline each year, so erosion is not an abstract concern here.

This section gives the cruise a present-day issue alongside the older stories of forts and Confederation. It also makes the waterfront more than a postcard view. You see how people try to protect private property, and how a solution in one place can create problems elsewhere.

The guide explains that there is a right way and a wrong way to protect a shoreline. Since the tour is viewed from the boat, you will not get a technical engineering lesson, but you will come away with a better sense of the pressure facing PEI’s coast.

Peake’s Wharf and St. Dunstan’s Basilica

The route includes Peake’s Wharf, set in front of St. Dunstan’s Basilica.

Peake’s Wharf is also associated with Cow’s Ice Cream, which is promoted as the number one ice cream in the world. The cruise does not include ice cream, meals, coffee, tea, soda, or bottled water, so plan your snacks and drinks before boarding. Some departures may offer open drinks, but the standard inclusions are the restroom, WiFi, and GST.

St. Dunstan’s Basilica is another strong visual reference point. It is the tallest structure in Charlottetown, one of 27 designated basilicas in Canada, and a National Historic Site.

Seeing it from the water gives you a different sense of its height and position in the city. Still, this is an exterior view during the cruise. If you want to see the interior, allow separate time on land.

Beaconsfield Historic House and Victorian Charlottetown

The boat passes Beaconsfield Historic House, built in 1877 for wealthy shipbuilder and merchant James Peake.

The house offers a glimpse of Victorian-era Charlottetown and the wealth created through shipping and trade. From the harbour, you see it as part of the city’s shoreline story, alongside wharves, religious buildings, forts, and private homes.

Again, the boat gives you context rather than a full museum visit. Beaconsfield is one of seven Museum and Heritage PEI sites, but admission and a land tour are not included in this cruise. If architecture and interiors are priorities, add a separate visit.

Comfort, windows, weather, and onboard features

The boat is enclosed, which is a real advantage in PEI’s changeable weather. Large windows keep the views open, and roof hatches can be opened for sun, air, and better photographs.

The ride is generally slow and relaxing. It is not designed for speed or thrills. That makes it a good choice when you want an easy hour and a half, especially after a busy day of walking.

The water can still move. One account describes choppy conditions, while another notes that the ride may feel rocky in colder, windier weather. If you are motion-sensitive, choose a calm-looking forecast when possible and consider sitting where you feel most stable.

WiFi and multiple video screens are available. These are practical extras rather than the reason to book, but they can help families and anyone who wants added visual information. The onboard restroom also means you do not need to worry about going ashore halfway through the cruise.

Is $85.61 a fair price?

At the listed price of $85.61 per person, this is not a bargain boat ride. The value depends on what you want from the outing.

You are paying for a small-group cruise, a 90-minute route, a solar-powered vessel with a distinctive backstory, local interpretation, and views of several important Charlottetown sites. The guides are a major part of the package. Steve, Justyn, Stephen, and Justin are repeatedly praised for humor, clear facts, and personal attention.

The price makes more sense if you enjoy guided history and unusual transportation. It is less compelling if you mainly want a fast view of the city or a meal on the water. Food and drinks are extra, and lunch is not part of the basic fare.

I also would not book this as your only introduction to Charlottetown. The cruise shows the city from the harbour, but it does not replace walking around the downtown streets, visiting historic interiors, or seeing the city at ground level.

Who should book the Isola Solaretto?

I would recommend this cruise to:

• Couples wanting a calm, informative outing
• Families who enjoy trivia, stories, and unusual boats
• Cruise ship passengers with a suitable time window
• History fans interested in Confederation and local sites
• Visitors seeking an activity that works in cooler weather
• Anyone curious about solar-powered transportation

I would think twice if you have serious mobility limits, dislike small boats, or want a detailed walking tour of Charlottetown. Confirm the boarding conditions before paying, especially since the ladder has caused problems for people with limited mobility.

The experience is also weather-dependent. Poor weather can lead to a rescheduled trip or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but late changes are not accepted.

Should you book this harbour experience?

Book it if you want stories, scenery, and a boat with character. The strongest part is the combination of entertaining guides and a quiet solar vessel. You will hear about the Mi’kmaq, Confederation, forts, erosion, churches, homes, and waterfront buildings while seeing the places from a useful angle.

Do not book it expecting a full city tour, included lunch, or a completely smooth ride in bad weather. For most people who can board comfortably and enjoy a relaxed pace, the Isola Solaretto offers a distinctive way to spend 90 minutes in Charlottetown.

FAQ

How long is the solar boat tour?

The harbour experience lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at the Charlottetown Cruise Ship Terminal, 1a Weymouth Street, Charlottetown, PE C1A 0B4, Canada.

Where does the tour end?

The cruise ends back at the same meeting point.

What language is the tour offered in?

The experience is offered in English.

Is the boat suitable in cool weather?

The boat has an enclosed cabin, large windows, and opening roof hatches. The enclosed area can be more comfortable than an open-air boat on a chilly day, though the ride may feel rocky when wind increases.

Is food included?

Food and drinks are not included in the standard experience. Coffee, tea, alcoholic beverages, lunch, soda, bottled water, and dinner are listed as extra. Lobster and chicken meal options may be available when booking.

Is there a restroom on board?

Yes. A restroom and WiFi are included on board.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. If poor weather or insufficient bookings cause the operator to cancel, you will be offered another date or a full refund.