SPOTLIGHT ON…Mohawk Maiden Cruises

A graphic putting a Spotlight On Mohawk Maiden Cruises for their wheelchair accessible pontoon boat excursions

Mohawk Maiden Cruises: Building Pontoon Boat Access to NY Waterways!

In this edition of our Spotlight On… series, Rochester Accessible Adventures (RAA) is proud to highlight Mohawk Maiden Cruises, a pontoon excursion company opening up the Champlain Canal to people of all abilities.

Running excursions out of the Village of Schuylerville and the Town of Waterford, Mohawk Maiden Cruises is captained by Captains Marla and Maria, alongside First Mate Jose, and their commitment is clear: Everyone deserves a seat on the water.

Through the Accessibility Education Program — provided by Rochester Accessible Adventures through the New York Power Authority and the New York State Canal Corporation — Mohawk Maiden Cruises is working to ensure that cruising along the canal corridor is welcoming to all.

Four people get settled on a pontoon boat, each with their own seats, including one person in a power wheelchair.

Peyton rolled easily across the ramped entry onto the pontoon boat and chose his spot for the ride while others chose seats from a selection of portable and comfy seats.

Accessibility on the Water

Mohawk Maiden Cruises joined the Accessibility Education Program as an RAA Inclusion Partner, participating in a mentored process to evaluate their vessel, their boarding experience, and their operations through the lens of inclusion.

The program supports recreation providers across the canal system in removing barriers and creating welcoming opportunities for people with disabilities.

At Mohawk Maiden Cruises, that commitment shows up in both the design of the boat itself and the everyday experience of coming aboard.

A Pontoon Built for Everyone

The newly acquired and renovated Mohawk Maiden Accessible was designed so that getting on the water is welcoming from the very first step — or, better yet, no step at all.

This includes:

  • A no-step entry, so passengers can board smoothly and with dignity
  • Movable seating, allowing people to come aboard and sit wherever they need to — including in their own wheelchair or mobility device
  • Expectant hosts, providing a warm welcome and boarding experience that’s ready for guests, rather than something to “figure out” upon arrival

No transfers required. No hoping for the best. Just a boat that’s ready for you, exactly as you are.

Mohawk Maiden Accessible -- pontoon ready for accessible excursions with a metal ramp that opens to lay across the divide from dock to boat.

The “door” onto a pontoon boat for Mohawk Maiden Cruises is a metal ramp that, when docked, enables passengers to navigate on/off the boat without having to worry about the space in between. Photo credit: Mohawk Maiden Cruises

RAA Takes the Maiden Voyage

We recently spent a late afternoon on the water with Capt. Marla and First Mate Jose — it was time for our check-in meeting with this business, and we were delighted to get the invitation to hold their meeting as we simultaneously toured the Champlain Canal!

RAA Inclusion Specialist Peyton was the first person in a power wheelchair to try out the renovated Mohawk Maiden Accessible. What followed was quite the lovely strategic planning meeting on the water! That’s so often how it goes for us: the “work” of testing accessibility turns into a golden hour on the Champlain Canal, in good company, with even better views.

Group of five people smiling for a selfie on board a pontoon boat on a wide river lined by summer green trees

Settling in to our seats for a delightful strategic planning meeting!

Views, Wildlife, and the Champlain Canal

If you love the outdoors, this stretch of water delivers. Passengers take in the lush green trees, the summer-blue skies, and a fabulous meandering canal — and if you know where to look, plenty of wildlife.

A small waterfall along the route makes a perfect spot to watch for cormorants, eagles, and herons — the kind of quiet, wild moment that reminds you why getting out on the water matters so much.

Railings in the foreground of a pontoon boat give way to a view of a wide canal lined by summer green trees under a brilliant blue sky.

So many wonderful views like this one, looking out over the railing along this portion of the Champlain Canal.
A calm river flows gently over a small dam, surrounded by dense green trees under a partly cloudy sky.    The view from behind looking out over the boat's motor shows a sun dappled forest of trees on one side and a shaded tree area on the right side with a wide expanse of canal between them.
Left photo: The small waterfall makes a great place to look for cormorants, eagles, and herons. Right photo: A view to the back is just as beautiful, with evening sun rays lighting up the right side of the canal.

Big blue sky over a wide expanse of a river lined by summer green trees.

An endless sky over a gorgeous Champlain River by boat is a must-do experience!

Four people on a pontoon boat with a shade overhead are cruising a wide canal, leaving a small wake behind them

Catching the breeze as we talk about access to the Champlain Canal

Access on the Water AND at the Dock

Here’s what makes this location especially exciting: Mohawk Maiden Cruises isn’t the only piece of the access puzzle. The new BoardSafe adaptive launch, featured in previous posts about our Inclusion Partner, Hudson Crossing Park, sits nearby — and Mohawk Maiden pulls in right beside it.

That means paddlers using the adaptive launch and passengers boarding the accessible pontoon can share the same welcoming waterfront. It’s what inclusive recreation looks like when a whole community leans in together — Mohawk Maiden Cruises, the Village of Schuylerville, the Town of Waterford, and Hudson Crossing Park  —  all building access into the same beautiful place.

A new BoardSafe adaptive kayak launch installed at the water's edge on a wooden dock, ready for use.

The new BoardSafe adaptive launch in the background — Mohawk Maiden pulls in right beside it!

Inclusion That Goes Beyond the Boat

A no-step entry and moveable seating are a wonderful start — and they’re only part of the story. Through the Accessibility Education Program, Mohawk Maiden Cruises is working on the many aspects of their operations, from how they welcome each guest to how they communicate what’s possible, that make the entire experience more inclusive.

We’re proud to be working with Captains Marla and Maria and First Mate Jose, and we can’t wait to see who comes aboard next. Stay tuned — there’s more to come from Mohawk Maiden Cruises.

Plan Your Visit

Ready to get out on the water along the Champlain Canal?

Visit Mohawk Maiden Cruises to learn more about their pontoon excursions and the accessible features that make their cruises welcoming to everyone:
Mohawk Maiden Cruises

Whether you’re a seasoned boater or heading out on the water for the very first time, Mohawk Maiden Cruises is a place where everyone is welcome to come aboard.

And to find more welcoming, accessible recreation across New York State, explore RAA’s DirectConnect Resource Guide.

#MakeInclusionHappen

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