The BB Riverboats fleet operates the last authentic sternwheel paddlewheelers on the inland rivers of the United States, maintaining a vessel design that predates the Civil War.
These working riverboats navigate a 15-mile stretch of the Ohio River between Cincinnati and Newport, crossing state lines between Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana during every voyage. The company's flagship vessels replicate the multi-deck architecture of 19th-century packet steamers, complete with functioning paddlewheels driven by modern diesel engines housed in period-correct housings.
A cincinnati riverboat cruise with lunch and entertainment preserves the region's commercial river heritage while serving a contemporary hospitality function. The Ohio River was the primary westward corridor for American expansion between 1790 and 1850, carrying more freight tonnage than any other inland waterway. Cincinnati emerged as the nation's sixth-largest city by 1850 because of this river traffic. Newport's waterfront, directly across from Cincinnati's downtown, became the primary steamboat landing for Northern Kentucky. The current boarding dock at 101 Riverboat Row occupies the site of a historic ferry terminal that operated continuously from 1803 to 1979.
The lunch cruise format pairs a two-hour river voyage with a hot buffet prepared onboard and live entertainment staged in the climate-controlled main cabin. Musicians perform Dixieland jazz, bluegrass, or classic American standards depending on the scheduled cruise theme. The upper observation deck provides unobstructed views of the Cincinnati skyline, the Roebling Suspension Bridge completed in 1866, and the forested bluffs of the Ohio River valley. Cruises operate year-round with enclosed heated cabins during winter months.
The buffet includes regional specialties alongside standard American fare, served from steam tables in the main dining salon. Passengers move freely between three interior decks and two open-air observation levels during the voyage. The working paddlewheel remains visible from the stern deck, where interpretive panels explain the mechanics of sternwheel propulsion. Navigation follows the historic river channel, passing beneath four bridges and alongside the restored Public Landing where steamboats once docked 40-deep during peak commercial seasons.
2 hr
