Gateway Clipper Fleet – Your “Gate” to Fun on Pittsburgh’s Waters

Looking for a place for a formal private event? How about some top-notch entertainment and fine dining? Maybe just some sightseeing? Or maybe just convenient transportation to and from Heinz Field or PNC Park? If you’re looking for any of these things, how about kicking it up a notch and doing them while sailing along the beautiful Monongahela, Ohio, and Allegheny Rivers? If this is what you’re looking for, then the Gateway Clipper Fleet is for you.

The Gateway Clipper Fleet is a fleet of riverboats that sails along the three rivers in Pittsburgh. It was founded by John E. Connelly. It has six ships: Empress, Duchess, Countess, Majestic, Princess, and Three Rivers Queen. It is docked at Pittsburgh’s Station Square. It has several cruises with several different themes and for several different occasions. It can also be used for private formal events. Alternatively, it can simply be used as a shuttle to and from Heinz Field or PNC Park on the day of a game or other event. But regardless of what you’re on the Gateway Clipper for, it’s a great way to observe Pittsburgh in all its natural beauty while also having fun with family and friends.

Various themed and non-themed cruises are held on the Gateway Clipper for a variety of occasions. Some are specialty cruises held for one day only, while some are held various times throughout a certain month (or during a certain season, such as summer or fall). Some that are held various times throughout a certain month include the Saturday Lunch and Sunday Brunch cruises. Another commonly held one is the Captain’s Dinner. Held at least once every month, this formal night cruise includes a buffet and a DJ. Some specialty ones include a Chicken & Ribs dinner and a Wine Tasting Dinner. There are also themed cruises for kids that are held on certain dates, such as a Star Wars cruise, a princess cruise, and a children’s Christmas cruise that includes meet-and-greets with Santa. The food and activities on the kids’ cruises are usually more kid-friendly. There are also music and dance cruises. These cruises have either live music or a DJ, depending on the theme. They also may or may not serve food depending on the theme. There are also themed dinners for various holidays. A cruise featuring a Thanksgiving dinner is held on Thanksgiving Day. Various holiday lunches and dinners are held throughout the month of December; these are great for enjoying Pittsburgh decorated for the holidays. A special cruise is also held on Light Up Night, a well-known Pittsburgh event in which the town’s holiday lights are first turned on; this is usually the Friday before Thanksgiving. An Hors D’Oeuvres/dance party is held on New Year’s Eve. Lunch/brunch is also held for holidays such as Easter, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day. If you want to simply observe Pittsburgh, a sightseeing tour is always a good idea. Not only do you get a cruise, but you also get a tour guide to point out the various locations you pass by. Snacks are available on the sightseeing cruises. Sightseeing cruises are also available on various days throughout the month of May for school groups on field trips. A reviewer on TripAdvisor said that the ship’s dinner cruises in particular are “highly recommended.” To view cruise dates and make cruise reservations, go to the Gateway Clipper website. You’re sure to have a blast on a Gateway Clipper cruise no matter which one you go on.

The Gateway Clipper is also great for private events. These events are usually formal. They can include anniversary parties, company holiday parties, family reunions, etc. Several Pittsburgh area high schools hold their formals and proms aboard the Gateway Clipper. However, the most popular private events held on the Gateway Clipper are weddings. You can hold wedding ceremonies, receptions, or both. There are various wedding packages available, all of which can be viewed on the website. The ceremonies are usually held on the ship’s upper deck. I think this is very special because the overlook of Pittsburgh serves as the backdrop when you get married. Because they’re usually held on the upper deck, it’s probably best to only hold wedding ceremonies on the Gateway Clipper during the warmer months of the year. However, wedding receptions can be held any time of year, because they are usually held inside the ship. As I said, various packages are available, and this mainly applies to the reception aspect of weddings. For example, some packages include a champagne toast for everyone in attendance, while some only include a toast for the wedding party. The wedding planner on the website also mentions various businesses you can contact for additional services on the ship, such as wedding photographers, decorators, and florists. A reviewer on TripAdvisor who got married on the Gateway Clipper said that it’s a “wonderful choice for anyone looking for a unique wedding venue.” Private events on the Gateway Clipper must be booked by calling; they cannot be booked online. If you’re looking to go more upscale or memorable for your next event, consider the Gateway Clipper.

The Gateway Clipper can also be used as a shuttle to and from PNC Park and Heinz Field. It’s only $12 for adults and $6 for kids to ride the Gateway Clipper round-trip to PNC Park or Heinz Field. The shuttle only runs on days when events are being held at PNC Park or Heinz Field, such as games or concerts. The shuttles usually begin shuttling from the Station Square dock to the stadium 2-3 hours before an event starts, and begin shuttling back from the stadium to the dock for 30-60 minutes immediately after an event ends. For post-game events at PNC Park, such as concerts and fireworks, the ship does not begin shuttling back to the dock until after the post-game event ends. It should be noted that you can’t buy tickets for the shuttles online; you have to buy them at the dock on the day of the event. I’ve only been on the Gateway Clipper twice, and both times were to shuttle to Heinz Field for a Steelers game. This is a great way to go, because you can park at one of the stores or restaurants in Station Square and then walk over to the dock. Plus, the ship stops right in front of either PNC Park or Heinz Field. Therefore, unlike a lot of the other people attending the event, you don’t have to worry about potentially walking a mile or two to leave and return to your parking spot. If you need a quick, easy, and cheap way to get to PNC Park or Heinz Field, consider the Gateway Clipper.

Here are a couple tips for riding the Gateway Clipper. If you’re going to an event at Heinz Field or PNC Park, it might be a good idea to get to Station Square a few hours early and either do some shopping or eat at one of the restaurants. This way you have a parking spot secured, plus you’re guaranteed not to miss any of the shuttles in the instance of a traffic jam, getting a late start on the road, etc. Plus, on certain event days, some of the restaurants offer complimentary tickets onto the shuttle. My family took advantage of this both times we took the shuttle to Heinz Field. Another piece of advice is, if you’re holding a wedding or family reunion, you’re going to likely have a lot of people from out of town. You should consider recommending to them a hotel in Station Square. That way, they’re only a few steps away from the venue, and don’t have to worry about being late, being stuck in traffic, or even driving for that matter. The last thing I wanted to mention was the bar. There is a bar on the Gateway Clipper that is available for all passengers at all times, whether you’re on a shuttle, on a cruise, or at a private event. They offer all sorts of beverages, and they check I.D.’s to make sure you’re 21 before purchasing alcohol. I hope these tips make your Gateway Clipper experience simpler and more enjoyable.

Whether you’re getting married, need a better way to see Pittsburgh, or just need to get from Point A to Point B, the Gateway Clipper Fleet can do it for you.