+For decades, the Goodtime cruises on Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River have entertained and informed thousands of Clevelanders and visitors to the city. It’s our favorite attraction to take visitors to the city.
The Goodtime III is the largest quadruple-deck, 1,000 passenger luxury ship on the Great Lakes. The ship has 4 decks and is 151′ long and 40′ wide and has been kept in immaculate condition including numerous upgrades and improvements including handicap accessible restrooms. The ship can hold 1000 passengers but Captain Rick Fryan says they limit the number of passengers to about 750 to provide a comfortable trip.
The Goodtime III offers two-hour sightseeing tours from Memorial Day through Labor Day on Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River. It operates from Cleveland’s North Coast Inner Harbor at 825 E. 9th Street Pier, behind the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Great Lakes Science Center. Easy parking is right there.
She transits the Cuyahoga River, Lake Erie and the Cleveland Lakefront. Captain Rick said that each trip is different because of the weather and river traffic and especially the wind, saying it is even windier than Chicago. Both Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River are working bodies of water so trips may encounter huge ships, work at the Port of Cleveland and other water traffic.
You will see views of Cleveland that you cannot get anywhere else as the ship passes under bridges (Cleveland has numerous different styles of working bridges) and snakes around the crooked (Cuyahoga) river.
There is an interesting narration when the ship is on the Cuyahoga River that points out all the landmarks, bridges and history of Cleveland starting with founder Moses Cleaveland’s first arrival. Even lifelong Clevelander’s will learn new things. Along with the informative and “touristy” trips they offer a variety of entertainment and other options for groups such as seniors. There are City Light cruises, Date Night events, Dance cruises and even special options for Taylor Swift’s Swifties and fans of the Michael Stanley Band and so on. The ship is power wheelchair accessible, to include gangway/boarding ramp and restrooms. The crew is friendly and helpful. Look at https://goodtimeiii.com/ for all the options and more information.
The views you will see are incredible and can’t be seen in any other way. It’s a must visit for your out-of-town visitors but locals should not forget what a fun and interesting “good time” Captain Rick and the Goodtime III offer.
In this video interview, Captain Rick told us the history of the Goodtime and his family’s efforts. He actually started at the bottom – as a deckhand – before earning his way to ownership.
Visit https://goodtimeiii.com/ for all the options and more information. There is something for everyone – locals and visitor and all ages.
