Tours/Cardiff/Cardiff Bay Boat Tour
Viator · group up to 55 pax

Cardiff Bay Boat Tour

3.8(395)Cardiff1 hour
VIATOR3.9(133)TRIPADVISOR3.7(262)

Description

Enjoy the beautiful scenic landscapes of Cardiff Bay with the Cardiff Bay Boat Tour. Experience all of Cardiff Bay's beauty and unique locations such as the Welsh Assembly and the Norwegian Church buildings. This tour makes a stop at Penarth Barrage to allow some sailors to join the journey and others to disembark at their leisure to explore the surrounding areas.

Tour Options

Bay Tour from Cardiff Bay11:30
  • 45 Minute tour of Cardiff Bay departing from the lower boardwalk in Mermaid Quay departing at 11:30, 12:30,13:30, 14:30 and 15:30. Please let us know your preferred departure time when booking.
Bay Tour from Cardiff Bay13:00
Bay Tour from Cardiff Bay14:30
  • 45 Minute tour of Cardiff Bay departing from the lower boardwalk in Mermaid Quay departing at 11:30, 12:30,13:30, 14:30 and 15:30. Please let us know your preferred departure time when booking.
Bay Tour from Cardiff Bay16:00
Bay Tour from Cardiff Bay11:00
Bay Tour from Cardiff Bay15:00
Bay Tour from Cardiff Bay12:30
  • 45 Minute tour of Cardiff Bay departing from the lower boardwalk in Mermaid Quay departing at 11:30, 12:30,13:30, 14:30 and 15:30. Please let us know your preferred departure time when booking.
Bay Tour from Cardiff Bay15:30
  • 45 Minute tour of Cardiff Bay departing from the lower boardwalk in Mermaid Quay departing at 11:30, 12:30,13:30, 14:30 and 15:30. Please let us know your preferred departure time when booking.
Bay Tour from Cardiff Bay14:00
Bay Tour from Cardiff Bay12:00
Bay Tour from Cardiff Bay13:30
  • 45 Minute tour of Cardiff Bay departing from the lower boardwalk in Mermaid Quay departing at 11:30, 12:30,13:30, 14:30 and 15:30. Please let us know your preferred departure time when booking.

Itinerary

Admission included45 min

Enjoy a relaxing tour to Cardiff Bay and Mermaid Quay with the Cardiff Bay Boat Tour. Cardiff Bay was created by the Cardiff Barrage in South Cardiff. The regeneration of Cardiff Bay is now widely regarded as one of the most successful regeneration projects in the United Kingdom. Witness remarkable landscapes and locations such as the famous Wales Millenium Centre, the Welsh Assembly, the Dr. Who Assembly the Barrage and it's lock gates, it's old docks and the Wetlands Nature Reserve. You can also choose to join the tour from the Barrage and visit Mermaid Quay, famous for it's shopping and leisure district.

Highlights

Recorded commentary
All taxes, fees and handling charges

What's included

Included
Recorded commentary
All taxes, fees and handling charges
Not included
Food and drinks

Traveller Ratings

3.8
395 reviews
5
188
4
81
3
36
2
29
1
61

Important Information

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Refunds will not be issued if tour is missed due to late or non-arrival
  • Please note: you must reconfirm directly with the supplier, refer to voucher for details
  • Please arrive 15 minutes before departure
  • We have 2 boats that are in service for our Bay Tours. You may be booked on either. These boats are alternated for trips in conjunction with peak season and also weather forecast.

Reviews(395)

K
Kelly_M
June 18, 2026
At least the bay was a mill pond- the exhaust from the back of the boat was so strong you had to sit in the front

The exhaust from the engines was so strong it made you feel sick. The commentary didn’t tell you where to look but referenced places that you were not sure you were looking at the right bit. The drinks were so over priced we decided to wait til we got back to shore & the cruise literally circled the bay interior. Booked before we saw the vessel.

A
Adam_D
June 5, 2026
Unacceptable

Our boat trip was cancelled the day our excursion was planned for 4pm. No email. Was actually sitting on dock waiting for boat. Asked husband to check booking. “Sorry boat captain unavailable. Event cancelled”. Many travels and never had this happen before. Unacceptable considering had email and phone number (pre-paid).

Operator response

We are disappointed to read this review, as it does not accurately reflect the events that took place. Unfortunately, our skipper became unexpectedly unwell on the morning of the tour. As safety is our highest priority, we were unable to operate the excursion as planned. As soon as we became aware of the situation, we contacted affected customers through the communication channels available to us via Viator. Our records show that a message was sent at 10:24am on the day of the booking, and attempts were also made to contact customers by telephone where possible. We would also like to clarify that we did not simply cancel bookings outright. Customers were contacted and asked whether they would consider transferring their booking to the following day so that they could still enjoy their trip. Unfortunately, this option was not suitable for everyone. Your review states that the booking showed "boat captain unavailable, event cancelled." While the skipper's illness was indeed the reason the scheduled departure could not proceed, this does not accurately represent the fact that alternative arrangements were offered before refunds were processed. We fully understand the disappointment caused by a last-minute disruption. However, it is incorrect to suggest that customers were not contacted or that no effort was made to provide an alternative solution. We take great pride in our customer service and have clear records of the communications sent on the day.

L
Linda_S
June 1, 2026
A very friendly and...

A very friendly and knowledgeable crew. All the places of interest were pointed out, with excellent, clear, commentary throughout.

J
Joyce_R
May 28, 2026
As expected and well organised

On time and well organised but not a great fan of prerecorded information as not mentioning live events.

E
Elizabeth_G
May 26, 2026
Recommend!

A short, relaxing tour around the bay with guided commentary. A nice break from the city. Great for families with young children to adults.

G
Garfield_L
May 23, 2026
Poor option to see the bay

The boat is loud and old, however the worst part was the fact that you couldn’t hear any of the recorded messages. I would not recommend this to anyone frankly.

Operator response

Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry to hear that the experience did not meet your expectations. Our vessel is a working heritage passenger boat, and while many customers appreciate its character, we understand that preferences differ. Regarding the commentary, we are disappointed to hear that you had difficulty hearing the recorded messages, as this is not the standard experience we aim to provide. We will investigate this with our crew and equipment to ensure everything is operating correctly. We appreciate you taking the time to leave your comments.

H
Helen_D
May 17, 2026
Family outing

The guide on the boat was friendly and informative - better than the recorded commentary! Even though the weather was poor, we enjoyed the trip, sitting in the covered area and looking through the very large windows.

K
King_M
May 13, 2026
This crazy company...

This crazy company firstly change my boat time, the next boat never showed up, I was on this phone with crazy woman/operator for 15 mins and lying to her teeth

Operator response

We’re sorry you feel this way, however we would like to clarify a few points. We did not simply change your boat time, we contacted you beforehand to request a time change for your convenience. Both scheduled boats did arrive, however you chose not to board as you were waiting in the wrong location, despite being instructed to wait by the lower boardwalk. Our operator remained on the phone trying to assist you, but unfortunately the boat departed while you were not at the boarding point. We also ask that reviews remain respectful, as there is no need for personal insults or name-calling toward our staff who were trying to help. We always do our best to accommodate customers and ensure trips run smoothly.

J
John_M
May 6, 2026
Cruise

Cancelled at last minute, we were very upset. We would love to do this trip next time we stay at Cardiff bay

Operator response

Thank you for your review. We are very sorry that your trip was cancelled at short notice and completely understand how disappointing this must have been, particularly when you had planned your visit in advance. Unfortunately, on occasions circumstances beyond our control mean that we are unable to operate a scheduled service. While cancellations are never taken lightly, passenger safety must always come first. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused and hope that this experience will not put you off visiting us in the future. We would be delighted to welcome you aboard next time you are staying in Cardiff Bay and provide the experience that we always strive to deliver. Thank you for your understanding.

C
Carmen_S
May 3, 2026
Great holiday attraction

Staff was friendly and helpful. Information was playing throughout the journey. The boat was comfortable

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