Established in 1991, Capital Cruises is the largest all-electric boat fleet on the Highland Lakes. Nestled on the shores of beautiful Lady Bird Lake (formerly Town Lake) at the Hyatt Regency Hotel (208 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX), we are proud to offer lunch and dinner cruises, wedding events, internationally famous bat-watching excursions, party boat services, and the ultimate alternative for group and corporate outings.
Capital Cruises offers an atmosphere suitable for families and participants of all ages. Beautiful sunsets and an exciting variety of flora and fauna create a unique backdrop to weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners, and bachelor/bachelorette parties. Capital Cruises offers customized event planning, from unique locations to catering to live entertainment.
Whether you are looking for a romantic dinner for two or planning a larger dinner cruise for your office, family, or friends that you are look, Capital Cruises has a wide array of boats and dinner options to suit your wishes and fit your budget.
Our catering is provided by the Four-Diamond Hyatt Regency Hotel.
We can customize an event for any group size and budget.
Capital Cruises’ internationally famous bat-watching excursion departs nightly approximately 30 minutes before sunset and lasts roughly one hour in length. Note: November through February we offer a great way to see the sunset and the downtown area as most of the bats have migrated.
The Congress Avenue Bridge is the home of the largest urban bat colony in the world. Our cruises provide the best possible viewing for one of the most incredible wildlife spectacles in the world! Bat viewing is available on a public tour nightly March through mid-November. Or you can customize your own excursion with dinner, cocktails, and more.
Capital Cruises now offers SUPatx boards on Lady Bird Lake. Skip the lines at other facilities on the lake! Come down, get right on the water, and paddle past Auditorium Shores, Barton Creek, Zilker Park, and the Congress Avenue Bridge with the panoramic backdrop of the dynamic Austin skyline and many great restaurants and bars a short walk from the dock. Paddleboards are easy to learn and fun for everyone. Walk, cab, bus, or drive to paddle the best boards on the lake.
For any party between 9 and 140 passengers, our versatile fleet provides the ultimate Austin experience. Whether you are looking charter a boat out for a cocktail cruise to break away from the confines of the office or convention site, or desire an unconventional way to show off Austin for your friends and family on your wedding weekend, Capital Cruises presents a relaxing, idyllic alternative to the standard venue.
You can bring your own food and drinks or book catering through us. We have the capability and flexibility to house whatever event you might be hoping to throw.
Now offering guided kayak tours for sunset/bat watching
Looking to get out on the lake on a kayak to see the bats or the sunset? Capital Cruises now offers a guided kayak tour Thursdays through Saturday evenings. Cost is $30 per person and includes a ~1.5 – 2 hour tour. See views of the downtown skyline as well as watch the emergence of the largest urban bat colony in the world! Note: Bats are not seen November through February; Just a sunset tour with great lake views.
Come take a paddle with us! Now offering a daytime paddle every Friday at Noon!
Get an instant quote online! Non-binding quotes with additional add-on options, enter as many as you would like, and let the quote generator do the work for you. Our knowledgeable staff will call shortly after you enter your quote to answer questions and to follow up on booking.
May 1st, 2022 UPDATE: We are open daily Monday-Friday from 10 am till Dusk and Saturday-Sunday from 9 am till dusk. Rentals of all personal watercraft are open as normal. All private and public offerings are setup at capacity. Current CDC and local guidelines recommend not participating in group settings if you are sick. All vessels are sanitized before and after each use. All staff members are well checked before beginning work. CREDIT CARD ONLY – NO CASH PAYMENTS CURRENTLY
Established in 1991, Capital Cruises is the largest all-electric boat fleet on the Highland Lakes. Nestled on the shores of beautiful Lady Bird Lake (formerly Town Lake) at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on 208 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX, we are proud to offer lunch and dinner cruises, wedding events, internationally famous bat-watching excursions, party boat services, and the ultimate alternative for group and corporate outings.
Connect with Capital Cruises using Facebook or Twitter, and get insider information and special offers.
To our valued customers of Capital Cruises:
May 1st, 2022 COVID-19 Update
We are open daily Monday-Friday from 10 am till Dusk and Saturday-Sunday from 9 am till dusk. Rentals of all personal watercraft are open as normal. All private and public offerings are setup at capacity. Current CDC and local guidelines recommend not participating in group settings if you are sick. All vessels are sanitized before and after each use. All staff members are well checked before beginning work. CREDIT CARD ONLY – NO CASH PAYMENTS CURRENTLY
Sincerely, The Capital Cruises Team 512-480-9264 or email info@capitalcruises.com
The Donut Boat’s unique design allows up to ten people to casually sit around a center table, complete with a center post umbrella for shade, while you cruise Lady Bird Lake. The quiet electric motor allows you to easily chat with your friends and drives with the ease of a golf cart on the water. It’s fun for the “hole” family and a “Do-nut” miss it Austin adventure.
Donut Boat FAQs
Bat Cruises
Did you know?
Typical bat viewing varies from night to night but here are the general patterns:
March-mid/late May - Good;
June (birthing month) - varies from night to night with later emergences;
July-Sept/Oct. - Best as the pups are flying with the rest of the colony.
Of course, the bats are wild animals and can change their patterns any time of year. You will have the best opportunity to view the bats from the tour and will get great views and information of the surrounding area. This tour is very popular so book your tickets today! Learn more
DEPARTS NIGHTLY March through early November ~30 minutes before sunset. Adults: $13, Seniors: $10, Children: $8.
Capital Cruises is exited to partner with Blue Starlight Cinema to offer both on the water and waterfront cinema experiences!
Our monthly on the water cinema cruise of Lady Bird Lake will show classics and new independent films as you sit on the upper deck of one of our vessels with the city floating by. $35-$60 per person. First screening 9/14/22 - Book your tickets here!
We are also offering a weekly waterfront floating cinema with stationary platform seating and boat in options (with your own canoe/kayak). $20-$40 per person. First Screening 8/25/22 - Book your tickets here!
Both options are offered privately as well for groups of 21 or more. See our quote generator to look at pricing.
“We hosted our wedding reception on Capital Cruises and let me just tell you – the staff is FANTASTIC!
They worked with me in every way possible. They supported me throughout the process and on the day of the wedding, EVERY little detail was perfect! We had the best captain, the best server and everyone I was in touch with behind the scenes were perfect! They are reliable, responsive and just great.
I recently booked with Capital Cruises for an end of year celebration with my elementary school staff. I booked a few months out from our party date and in that time between they had great communication with me to let me know exactly what I needed to do, and answered all of my questions within 24hrs. To say that “we had a blast” would be an understatement. The party was two days ago and I still have staff asking when the next one will be, or if we can get a boat twice a year now! All of this was in huge part of the amazing four-man staff that took us out that evening. We WILL book again and are very much looking forward to it already!
V. Valdes – End of Year Teacher Party 2022
V. Valdes – 2022
Private Party
I would give this place five stars purely on the basis of how easy they were to work with, how wonderful the boat was, how much fun my guests had on this party, or how amazing the experience was and how badly I wish to do it again. But I definitely had to give them five stars when they literally saved my friend’s life! About halfway through our cruise one of my friends had a medical emergency and passed out. The crew was unbelievable. They took charge of the situation, coordinated with rescue services, and performed an emergency docking that literally saved my friend’s life. He’s alive today because of the quick thinking and bravery of the crew. I was worried if they could provide me a bartender who could mix drinks. Not only did he do an amazing job running a bar but he managed to hold the boat in place for paramedics. What other company has that level of crew? Just an absolutely amazing experience (for a reasonable price!) plus the added benefit of being crewed by actual heroes. Thanks Capital Cruises!
