SAILING SEPTEMBER!

Greetings, Diamond Jack family! What a gorgeous summer we’ve been having! After getting off to an auspicious start, this season has left us with so many lasting memories.

Now for the even better news...  It’s not over yet!

Thanks to the strong interest from families, friends, senior groups and local history buffs, our 2020 season was full of friendly, smiling, masked faces for our limited-capacity one-hour tours. We can’t thank you enough for making memories with us.

So this year, Diamond Jack’s River Tours will run an extended season. We’re sailing September!

Through Labor Day, we will offer our four one-hour tours, at 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

After Labor Day, our cruise schedule will continue on Saturdays and Sundays only, still at 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. With high school and college football delayed until spring and many other school activities on hiatus, families will be looking for weekend recreation opportunities before jacket weather returns.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors ages 55 and older, $10 for children ages 4 to 12, and free for babies and toddlers ages 3 and under.

Our ships are running at limited capacity to allow for social distancing.

• Only 100 people are allowed on board the Diamond Queen this year, due to the pandemic.
• Arrive early to guarantee your spot.
• Our 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. cruises do sell out.

Why miss out on the fun? Come early and enjoy the sights and sounds on Cullen Plaza as you wait to board. Or take the 1 o’clock cruise and then stroll along the river on a sunny September afternoon.

We set sail from the Detroit dock and head toward Belle Isle, then down to the Ambassador Bridge and back along the Detroit shoreline, pointing out historical sites and landmarks along the way. Guests must wear masks while onboard. If you forget your mask, we have some available for purchase.

If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to call (313) 843-9376 or fill out our contact form.

Food and Beverage Options

We have summer refreshment onboard a Diamond Jack’s River Tour.

We have canned beer this year:

• Miller Lite
• Leinenkugel Summer Shandy
• Corona
• Atwater Dirty Blonde

Do you prefer wine? We have:

• Red Sangria
• Cabernet
• Merlot
• Pinot Grigio
• White Zinfandel
• Chardonnay

Our snack bar offers:

• Chips
• Candy bars
• Pretzels
• Cookies

Private Charters

Join us for a private charter aboard the Diamond Belle.

If you were reluctantly required to cancel a party or group outing earlier this year due to the pandemic, there’s still time to celebrate.

• Wedding receptions
• Birthday parties
• Major anniversaries
• Retirement parties
• Bon Voyage parties
• You name it!

Don’t let your occasion go unnoticed.

Host a party with Diamond Jack’s River Tours. Up to 100 guests will be treated to food and drinks, and you’ll have the ship to yourselves. Two of three decks are outdoors, and there are plenty of backdrops for your family photos.

When you look back at 2020, you’ll be glad you did!

Enjoy our tasty hors d’oeuvres: fruits, vegetables, cheese and crackers, followed by Herb Crusted Roast Beef, Honey Baked Ham or Maple Glazed Turkey.

Or try one of the following menus:

• South of the Border
• Taste of Italy
• Motown BBQ or Big D BBQ
• Middle Eastern Fare
• Pizza (Meat Lovers, Pepperoni, Vegetable or Cheese)

Charter tours run through October 31.

To book your private charter right now or for questions, fill out our contact form or call (313) 843-9376.

Mystery Follow-Up

Some river tourists may remember the mysterious, so-called “Windsor Hum” we described hearing on cruises. People who live along the river recall this somewhat annoying noise beginning a decade ago, and many sought out the source, to no avail.

We have an update: Neal Rubin at The Detroit News reported late in July that the hum appears to be gone and the mystery may be over.

“Researchers ultimately blamed the hum on the U.S. Steel plant on Zug Island,” Rubin writes, “and as operations at the Great Lakes Works blast furnace petered out in the spring, so did complaints.”

Featured Tour Site: Cullen Family Carousel

This month’s featured site isn’t one you’ll see onboard, but one you’ll see in line.

All our 2020 sightseeing cruises have docked at Cullen Plaza. It’s a lively place to meet friends and people watch. If you have some time to spend between cruises, you can go for a walk west along the river toward the Ren Cen and Hart Plaza or head west and enjoy the dunes and wetlands of Milliken State Park as you head toward Belle Isle.

At the plaza, kids splash in the fountains. Young people ride by on customized skateboards and bikes, some with mini speakers playing music. People of all ages buy beverages and ice cream cones from the nearby snack stand and watch the boats go by.

In the middle of it all is the Cullen Family Carousel.

The carousel was specially designed for Detroit, featuring the flora and fauna of native to the area. The design was a commission by Briggs Design in Newburyport, Massachusetts.

It features colorful, handcrafted swans, sturgeon, herons, eagles, bass, catfish and frogs. A whimsical twist on your standard merry-go-round.

The carousel is named in honor of Detroit Riverfront Conservancy founding co-chair Matthew P. Cullen and his family, whose contribution made the Riverfront the blossoming scene that it is today. Proceeds from carousel rides benefit the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy.

All aboard Detroit!