About Us

Potomac Riverboat Company, a private company owned by the Polak family for over 30 years, began as Potomac Boat Tours in 1974. Upon building the popular and authentic split sternwheeler "The Cherry Blossom", the company changed its name to Potomac Riverboat Company (PRC) and began operating in Alexandria in 1984. A short time later PRC commissioned the building of the Admiral Tilp, named after a wonderful local historian and writer, Fred Tilp. Other vessels were then added to the fleet: The Matthew Hayes in 1994, named after a little known Potomac River pirate; the Miss Christin in 1996; and in 2004, the Miss Mallory.

Potomac Riverboat Company's vessels and services are based in the colonial seaport of Alexandria, Virginia, just 8 miles south of Washington, D.C. Unlike most cruise companies in America, we at PRC do not use our boats as restaurant boats. Rather, we use our boats as touring and private party/ charter boats, except for the Cherry Blossom, which is exclusively for private charters. We do not mix clients aboard this vessel when it is chartered privately. Whether you have a party of 2 or 200, the boat belongs exclusively to you.

Enjoy the charm and colonial ambiance of Alexandria with a 40-minute narrated Seaport Cruise. Or board our water taxi operating between two magnificent historic sites -- Alexandria (in Virginia) and Georgetown (on the Washington, D.C. side of the river). En-route see America's greatest monuments from the river while enjoying a narrated tour. Or board a narrated cruise for a trip south to George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens, the number one historic home in America. Learn about the history of this scenic area and the great Potomac River that begins 200 miles away in the mountains of Maryland and West Virginia, emptying into the Chesapeake Bay 90 miles south of Alexandria. Wildlife, natural beauty, spectacular sunsets, Washington D.C.'s monuments, and a rich American history await.

We look forward to sharing these with you and to welcoming you aboard!