What You'll Get
Bodies of water are frequent metaphors in poetry, due to their unfathomable depths, unknowable sprawl, and unattainable porpoises. Set sail into the enigma with today's Groupon: for $12, you get a two-hour daytime or twilight cruise (a $24 value when purchased online) from DC Harbor Cruises. This Groupon is not valid for happy-hour cruises, fireworks cruises, or private charters. Cruises depart from Diamond Teague Park.
A recent addition to DC’s water highway, DC Harbor Cruises gives passengers flying-fish-eye views of history-rich riverside vistas from the Patriot II, an 87-foot catamaran that carries up to 149 guests and features quadruple decks, two of which are air-conditioned. A two-hour cruise during the day or at the day’s final light gives watertop travelers visual access to the city's famed institutions and architectural wonders. With a drink from one of Patriot II’s cash bars in hand, passengers can gaze in awe as the Washington Monument’s pointy peak pokes a hole through the sky’s paper ceiling or calculate the proper trajectory and velocity required for landing their garnish on the Pentagon’s front lawn. Mind-read a legal thriller from the Library of Congress, marvel as flying machines take off and land at the Reagan National Airport, or recite the Gettysburg Address backwards while cruising past the Lincoln Memorial. As you take in the sights, the friendly and engaging tour guides will regale you with tales of the city's famous events and scintillating backstories.
Introduced to the harbor this past April, the Patriot II boasts a lush interior with comfortable seating, full audio/visual capabilities, restrooms, and a hardwood floor that infuses all who tread its non-tiled top with an irresistible urge to attempt William Howard Taft’s version of the hokey-pokey. Check the schedule for departure times.
Must email or call ahead to reserve ticket.
The Fine Print
Promotional value expires Sep 30, 2010. Amount paid never expires. Limit 1 per person, may buy multiple as gifts. Not valid for happy hour cruises, fireworks events, or private charters. No cash value. Reservation required. Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services.
About National Ferry Corporation
Departing from Washington Marina, a boat skipper begins another journey down the calm, flat waters of the Potomac River. The multi-decked, climate-controlled boats, such as the Freedom catamaran, power National Ferry Corporation's daily tours of the capital's famous waterway. The tour crafts are furnished with bars, snacks, full audio systems, and plush seating for sightseers to enjoy as they drift along the Potomac's smooth waters and collect eyefuls of national treasures. Guests can admire the imposing Capitol Building and whisper about how silly the Washington Monument looks without its powdered wig. The Coast Guard–certified staff points out other notable visuals such as the National Cathedral's stately towers, the Pentagon, and Fort McNair.