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Ticket Information
- Beginning November 6, 2005, Riverboat Cruise Tickets can be purchased electronically through our website, by phone at (513) 562-4949 (local calls) or toll-free at (866) 5-STACKS (out of area calls only) or by visiting our Tall Stacks office at 537 E. Pete Rose Way, Suite 110, Cincinnati, OH 45202. Services charges will apply for Internet and telephone orders.
- For the best selection and to improve your chances of getting tickets for your desired cruise, we highly recommend purchasing your Riverboat Cruise Tickets as soon as they go on sale November 6.
- The purchase of a Riverboat Cruise Ticket includes admission to all the onshore activities on the day of your cruise. Cruise ticket purchasers will also have the one-time chance to add on the full five-day General Admission Pass for only $10 (more than a 50% discount!). This special offer is only available at the time of your cruise ticket purchase.
- The Delta Queen and the Mississippi Queen are not available for daily tours or riverboat cruises. Call AAA Cincinnati at (513) 762-3390 for information about the three-night cruises aboard the Delta Queen and the Mississippi Queen during the Tall Stacks festival.
- The Tall Stacks General Admission Pass allows five-day admission into the festival. It does not include tickets for boarding any of the riverboats. The General Admission Pass will be available for sale during the summer of 2006. Children 12 and under are free. One-day admission is included with all Riverboat Cruise tickets. More information about the General Admission Pass will be posted as details become available.
- Riverboat Cruise Ticket prices listed apply to persons ages 2 and up. Due to Coast Guard regulations, every person boarding a riverboat must have a ticket, even infants. Therefore, the cruise ticket price for infants (under 2 years of age) is $1.00.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I go in person to place my order? If so, where?
Where do I park?
Where is WILL CALL?
Can I purchase tickets (cruise or general admission) on site? If so, where?
How can I get a site map?
Can I purchase a one-day pass?
When & where can I buy general admission tickets?
How soon will I get my cruise tickets?
How can I find out the status of my order?
Who can I contact if I change my mind about an order?
Can my tickets be sent to a different address than my home address?
What should I do if I lose my tickets before the event?
Will you accept a check, money order or cash to pay for the tickets?
Which credit cards will you accept?
How did Tall Stacks arrive at its ticket prices? What does the ticket price include?
Do I have to pay admission to the festival if I have a cruise ticket?
Why is there a service charge when purchasing my tickets?
Why isn’t the Tour Ticket (also called Passport) offered for Tall Stacks 2006?
Why is there no admission pin this time?
Do I need a ticket for a child? For an infant? If so, what ages are specified?
Which boats offer special facilities for wheelchair-accessible facilities?
Are there reserved tables on board the boats?
I am ordering 10 tickets. Will we all be seated at the same table?
Will I receive a refund if the weather is bad?
What happens if I miss my boat? Can I use the ticket for another cruise?
Can I give or sell my ticket to someone else?
Is the same menu served on every boat?
Are the boats smoking or non-smoking? Can I specify a non-smoking boat?
From where do the boats depart? Where do they return?
How long are the cruises?
My boat cruise is at 7 PM. When should I arrive to board?
I have small children. Can I get on early?
How can I see if there are any tickets available on a "sold-out" cruise?
Is the American Queen coming?
How fast do the Tall Stacks boats travel? In which direction do they cruise?
What' the difference between a sternwheeler and a sidewheeler?
Will there be any barge traffic during Tall Stacks?
Which boats have steam calliopes?
Where will the boats be docked?
Are wheelchairs available to rent?
Will I be able to leave and re-enter the festival on the same day?
Riverboat Race Details
Ordering for a Group of Thirty or More
Chartering a Cruise Through the Captain’s Club
Can I go in person to place my order? If so, where?
We have two box office options.
First you can visit our box office location in Macy's Fountain Place, Downtown Cincinnati. 505 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. Box office is located on the first floor, cosmetics department. Hours are Monday, Wednesday, Saturday 10 am - 6 pm, Tuesday & Thursday 10 am - 8 pm, Sunday Noon - 8 pm
Or you may visit the Tall Stacks Office at 537 E. Pete Rose Way, Suite 110, Cincinnati, OH. Monday-Friday 10 am – 4 pm.
Where do I park?
Tall Stacks does not own or operate any parking facilities, however there are numerous public and privately operated parking lots near the event site and throughout downtown Cincinnati.
Please visit www.gototown.com for a map of these locations. Click here for Park N Ride options.
Where is TICKET WILL CALL?
Will call is located outside the main gate on the public landing - on Mehring Way.
Can I purchase tickets (cruise and general admission) on site? If so, where?
As long as cruise tickets are still available, you will be able to purchase them on site. There is a cruise ticket sales booth outside the main gate (Public Landing), as well as inside the event site Public landing steps (very west of Serpentine Wall). General Admission tickets will be available at the gate (All 5 days for $25 - no one-day passes available).
How can I get a map of the site?
There is a downloadable map from the home page of the website. You can print one from there. You will also receive a 72 page event guide as you come through the gates with all the maps and schedules of every event.
Can I purchase a one-day general admisison pass?
No, general admission is for the entire 5-day event. In order to bring an event of this magnitude to the region, we are unable to offer single day passes. However, at $25 (service fees may apply) for all 5 days Tall Stacks General Admission is an amazing value. Your other option would be to purchase a Harbor Cruise ($20) on the day you want to attend - your cruise ticket gives you single day general admission. Kids 12 and under are FREE for general admission, however every body getting on a boat MUST have a ticket.
Is there a limit on how many cruise tickets I can buy?
Each person can buy no more than 10 tickets per person.
When & where can I buy general admission tickets?
The General Admission Pass will be available at all Ticketmaster locations or online at www.tallstacks.com in the summer of 2006.
How soon will I get my cruise tickets?
Every attempt will be made to mail tickets three weeks from the date of your order.
How can I find out the status of my order?
If ordering by phone, the agent handling your call will confirm your order. Internet orders are confirmed as soon as your order is complete. If your tickets are not received within 30 days, call (513) 562-4949 to speak with a ticket agent.
Who can I contact if I change my mind about an order?
Once your order and payment is processed, no refunds, exchanges, reductions or cancellations are possible.
Can my tickets be sent to a different address than my home address?
No.
What should I do if I lose my tickets before the event?
The Greater Cincinnati Tall Stacks Festival is not responsible for lost, stolen or destroyed tickets, so we recommend that they be put in a safe place until the event next October.
Will you accept a check, money order or cash to pay for the tickets?
Cash and money orders will be accepted at the Tall Stacks office. NO personal checks.
Which credit cards will you accept?
MasterCard, VISA and American Express
How did Tall Stacks arrive at its ticket prices? What does the ticket price include?
Each ticket not only covers the basic cruise package, including a small profit for the boat owner, but state sales tax where applicable, ticketing costs and the expense of bringing the riverboats to Cincinnati from their home ports. Each cruise ticket also includes general admission to the festival for the day of the cruise. Additionally, costs of running the festival have increased since 2003. Tall Stacks is produced by a non-profit corporation, which must recover all of its costs.
Do I have to pay admission to the festival if I have a cruise ticket?
Yes and no. Tall Stacks General Admission is included with each cruise ticket for the day of your cruise only. The full, five-day admission may be purchased for an additional $10.00 at the time of your cruise ticket purchase. Children 12 and under are free for general admission.
Why is there a service charge when purchasing my tickets?
A service charge is in place to cover the operational cost associated with selling and printing the tickets.
Why isn’t the Tour Ticket (also called Passport) offered for Tall Stacks 2006?
Interest in the morning Tours Tickets has declined making it no longer financially viable to offer.
Why is there no admission pin this time?
The general admission pin offered in 2003 was a special souvenir offered to commemorate Ohio’s Bicentennial. Souvenir Tall Stacks pins will still be available for purchase through the event’s official merchandise provider, but they will not allow admission to the event.
Do I need a ticket for a child? For an infant? If so, what ages are specified?
Due to Coast Guard regulations, every person boarding a boat for a cruise or a tour must have a ticket for the event that day. Therefore, infants (under 2 years of age) need to purchase a ticket for $1.00. Children 12 and under are free for all land activities, but will require a ticket for cruises.
Which boats offer special facilities for wheelchair-accessible facilities?
All boats are accessible to the main deck. The boats most comfortable and easily accessible from the riverfront site for our wheelchair patrons are as follows: Celebration Belle, Colonel, Harriet Bishop, Magnolia Belle, PA Denny, Music City Queen, and the Spirit of Peoria
Are there reserved tables on board the boats?
Reserved tables are not available on most boats, but Tall Stacks will provide each boat with a passenger list for each Lunch and Dinner Cruise to assist in seating parties together when they arrive for boarding. The General Jackson and Belle of Louisville will have assigned seating for customers who purchase the meal cruise option only. Tables will be assigned on a first come-first served basis according to party size.
I am ordering 10 tickets. Will we all be seated at the same table?
Not every boat has tables that can accommodate large parties. Each party will be seated together, but may be at separate tables depending upon the furniture available and the sizes of parties aboard a particular cruise. Smaller parties may be seated together at larger tables, again depending upon the furniture set up of the boat and the sizes of parties on board.
Will I receive a refund if the weather is bad?
All cruises will take place rain or shine, so no refunds will be offered.
What happens if I miss my boat? Can I use the ticket for another cruise?
Tall Stacks’ on-site box office staff will do their best to resolve any unforeseen circumstances as they arise, but cannot guarantee a solution. It is best to plan ahead and give yourself more than enough time to arrive at the festival site and make your way to your boat by boarding time. Boarding is usually 30 minutes prior to the scheduled sailing time as confirmed on the front of your ticket. It is recommended that you arrive at least one hour in advance of departure to get acclimated to your surroundings and leisurely board your cruise.
Can I give or sell my ticket to someone else?
That is at your discretion. However, the passenger list and seating chart will include the name of the original purchaser or designated party name. You will need to inform the ticket holder of this to avoid confusion at boarding. Also, due to copyright laws you are not permitted to promote the resale of your ticket in the public media.
Is the same menu served on every boat?
Each boat has been supplied with a basic catering menu. However, it has been suggested that the boats personalize their menus based on the local flavors and cuisines of their homeports. Check www.tallstacks.com for specific menus by boat. This information will be updated as it becomes available.
Are the boats smoking or non-smoking? Can I specify a non-smoking boat?
Smoking is allowed on outer decks only. No smoking is permitted in inside cabins or salons.
From where do the boats depart? Where do they return?
All riverboats dock and depart from the Cincinnati Festival site along the Serpentine Wall and Public Landing.
How long are the cruises?
Harbor – 1 hour, Race & Parade – 1.5 hours, Specialty/Themed Cruise – 1.5 hours, Breakfast – 1.5 hours, Lunch – 2 hours, Dinner – 2.5 hours.
My boat cruise is at 7 PM. When should I arrive to board?
Standard boarding time is 30 minutes prior to sailing, but give yourself enough time to arrive at the festival site and leisurely make your way to your boat in enough time for boarding. It is recommended that you arrive at least one hour prior to your scheduled sailing as confirmed on the face of your ticket.
I have small children. Can I get on early?
You may board at the standard boarding time with the other passengers – 30 minutes prior to sailing.
How can I see if there are any tickets available on a "sold-out" cruise?
There will be no tickets sold past boat capacity. Because of stringent Coast Guard regulations, we are selling tickets up to the boat's capacity, and not overbooking at all. If you are interested in a particular cruise that has been sold out, try calling 513-562-4949 about a month before the event. Occasionally tickets become available, but this is a rare occurrence.
Is the American Queen coming?
No. The Mississippi Queen and the Delta Queen will be attending and offering overnight cruises through AAA Cincinnati only.
How fast do the Tall Stacks boats travel? In which direction do they cruise?
These boats will travel approximately 5 miles an hour. For the most part, they will head up river, toward old Coney Island.
What's the difference between a sternwheeler and a sidewheeler?
A sidewheeler has a wheel on the side of the boat, whereas a sternwheeler has a wheel on the back of the boat.
Will there be any barge traffic during Tall Stacks?
Yes; however, barge traffic will be stopped during the races and for the Parade of Tall Stacks ceremonies.
Which boats have steam calliopes?
The Mississippi Queen, the Delta Queen, the Natchez, and the Belle of Louisville.
Where will the boats be docked?
The boats will be docked on the Ohio side of the river along the Public Landing and the Serpentine Wall. Your ticket will include your boat's specific docking location and time of your cruise. A map will also be included.
Are wheelchairs available to rent?
Yes, wheelchairs will be available at all customer service booths near each entry gate. Wheelchair rental will be subject to availability.
Will I be able to leave and re-enter the festival on the same day?
Yes, but you must obtain a re-entry wristband from one of the customer service locations before exiting. Re-entry wristbands will only be valid for that day.
Riverboat Race Details
Thursday, October 5, 2006
Race 1 – Heat 1
The Majestic from Pittsburgh, PA races the Celebration Belle from Moline, IL
Begins at approximately 3:45 PM
Race 1 – Heat 2
The Spirit of Cincinnati from Cincinnati, OH races the PA Denny from Cincinnati, OH; the Magnolia Belle from New Orleans, LA; and the Chattanooga Star from Chattanooga, TN
Begins at approximately 5:30 PM
Friday, October 6, 2006
Race 2 – Heat 1
The Colonel from Galveston, TX races the Belle of Cincinnati from Cincinnati, OH
Begins at approximately 11:45 PM
Race 2 – Heat 2
Belle of Louisville from Louisville, KY races the Delta Queen from Cincinnati/New Orleans
Begins at approximately 2:30 PM
Saturday, October 7, 2006
Race 3 – Heat 1
The Spirit of Peoria from Peoria, IL races the Harriet Bishop from St. Paul, MN
Begins at approximately 12:00 PM
Race 3 – Heat 2
The Spirit of Jefferson from Louisville, KY races the Music City Queen from Nashville, TN
Begins at approximately 2:45 PM
Ordering for a Group of Thirty or More
If you are ordering 30 or more tickets for the same riverboat cruise, contact Christine Paul, Groups Sales Manager for Tall Stacks at (513) 721-0104 or christine.paul@tallstacks.com
Chartering a Cruise Through the Captain’s Club
Corporations and other large groups can charter an entire riverboat for private entertaining through the Captain’s Club program. A surcharge over and above the face price of the cruise ticket is added to the cost of Captain’s Club to help recoup additional costs associated with adding elements to a cruise based on customer choice. This additional per ticket charge is also a tax-deductible donation to the 501(c)(3), non-profit Greater Cincinnati Tall Stacks Festival and helps provide funding for the Tall Stacks Music, Arts & Heritage Festival.
Erin Loudner Emerson, Ticket Sales Director for Tall Stacks can provide further information to any interested parties concerning charter cruises. Please contact Erin Loudner Emerson at the Tall Stacks office or via e-mail at erin.emerson@tallstacks.com.
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