An Odyssey Dinner Cruise around Boston Harbor not just for tourists

Sometimes, being a dyed-in-the-wool local can get in the way of finding some  amazing fun.

Case in point: A friend recently invited my husband and me to join a group on the Odyssey Premier Dinner Cruise, part of Boston Harbor City Cruises’ (https://www.cityexperiences.com)  long list of on-the-water offerings in and around Boston Harbor.

Of course I said yes. I’d not seen this friend in quite a while. But I said yes with a bit of an internal eye roll.

A harbor dinner cruise? How touristy!

I was wrong. Our three-hour dinner tour of Boston Harbor was both beautiful and fun. And I’m here to say to the rest of you locals: Grab a seat on the Odyssey. You’ll see our beloved city in a new light (sunset and then starlight), from a view you don’t often get.

And, you’ll savor a great three-course meal, excellent cocktails, and make friends with many of the other guests aboard. It’s a wicked awesome time.

We boarded the Odyssey at its dock at Rowes Wharf. Having parked at the Boston Harbor Hotel’s public lot (affordable; a nice surprise), we had only steps to walk to the boarding area. Being a Thursday, a live band was playing on the floating docks outside the BHH, a nice kick-off to our night.

Before boarding, a ship photog snapped a shot of us with the ship behind us (available for purchase at night’s end. And yes they were worth taking home, we were led onboard to our window-side table.

Wanting to relish every minute, we headed up to the top deck with a first cocktail. The top deck has scattered conversation pits with those comfy outdoor couches. It was a bit chilly our night (hello, early summer 2023), but the heat lamps did the trick. And we needed not carry our drinks up; waiters approached regularly to keep us sipping.

The lower level dining area is centered with a dance floor and a house DJ. He kept up a background of perfect dining music as we ate.

I chose the charcuterie board first course, a delicious steak dinner and a decadent chocolate cake dessert. There was salmon, chicken and a vegetarian meal to choose from as well.

After dinner, the dance floor came alive, and it became clear who was celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and engagements.

We danced as we felt the mood, the sun setting on the harbor behind us.

But sunset also means back to the top deck where we watched the city shift from day to night.

I felt newly enamored with my beloved Boston. And with all the Seaport development, the skyline’s gotten a new look.

As we cruised along the harbor, past the harbor islands, the airport, the city front and more, I got a little verklempt.

“Oh wow,” I said, “Even the Tobin looks beautiful from this point of view!”

“Moira,” my husband laughed, “that may be an exaggeration.”

“Look at it!” I said, pointing at the lights of the bridge reflecting on the water.  “I rest my case. My city’s a beauty.”

As the night went on, everyone shifted from dance floor to outdoor views and back again; we took pictures of one another and airdropped them, stopped to hug the couple celebrating a big anniversary and basically, acting like one giant wedding party.

We pulled back into Rowe’s Wharf, up close with the city that had been sparkling in the distance all night. A Boston dinner cruise. Totally works for this local.