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Frequently Asked Questions

River City Star
Omaha's Riverfront Entertainment Venue
FAQs (Riverboat):
Do I have to purchase tickets in advance?
Booking in advance is not necessary on our Public Sightseeing Cruises, but is hightly recommended to guarantee a spot in case a cruise sells out. Most other cruises are advance purchase only. Any cruises with a lunch or dinner require advance purchase tickets of at least 24 hours.
Are children allowed on the Riverboat?
All cruises are different, Public Sightseeing and Public Lunch & Dinner Cruises are all suitable for children. If a cruise is not suitable for children, it will be advertised as a 21+ only event.
Do I have to pay for a baby?
Yes, every passenger on board must have a ticket according to the strict guidelines of the United States Coast Guard. Babies 18 months and under are considered "Wee-Ones" and are usually $4 for every cruise.
Where are you located and where do I park?
The River City Star is located at 151 Freedom Park Road, right between Downtown Omaha and Eppley Airport. For detailed directions and maps, please click here. Our parking lot is right in front of our ticket office and we offer free parking.
How many people does the boat hold?
The maximum capacity of the River City Star is 145 people, but we have different maximums for each type of cruise.
Is the boat handicap accessible?
Yes, the lower enclosed level and the lower level outer decks at the bow and the stern are handicap accessible. The Riverboat is accessed by way of our lower drive, boarding ramp and boarding barge which can all accomodate standard sized wheelchairs and walkers. Our landing area features a gradual paved ramp that we regularly use for both wheelchair access and for the use of our golf carts to assist individuals from our main landing area to the riverboat boarding ramp. Please let us know if you require assistance when making your reservation. We are happy to assist any way we can.
Is there assigned seating?
Seating is organized on a first-come, first-serve basis. There is seating for approximately 56 people on the enclosed lower level and the rest of the seating is on the upper canopy covered level.
Is there a restroom on the boat?
Yes, the boat is equipped with a restroom for your convenience. Please note, however, restroom does not have handicapped bars so it is not fully wheelchair accessible. Our boat restrooms are equipped with a limited water supply, so please use the main restrooms across from the gift shop before boarding to conserve water.
Where do we go and what do we see?
The boat departs from the River City Star Landing and cruises along the Missouri River. Depending upon weather and river conditions, routes may vary, but we typically head North past Freedom Park Naval Yard and the Illinois-Central Swing Bridge. We then head South under the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge and along the Omaha and Council Bluffs Riverfronts. Cruises longer than 1 hour will go a bit further either way. All cruises return to dock at the same place you departed from on the River City Star Landing.
Is there a Narration or Music on cruises?
Each cruise is different. Our sightseeing cruises offer a mix of Captains Narration and Music. Cruises with Entertainment do not offer a Narration.
Can I bring food and drinks on board?
Outside food & beverages are not permitted inside our landing facility or on the Riverboat. We offer drinks and Concessions at our Gift Shop and at our Landing Bar which you can take on board with you, there is also a Cash Bar available on all cruises.
What kind of food and drinks do you offer and what is the price range?
We offer Light Concessions with Snack Foods, Soft Drinks, Wine & Spirits with a price range between $1-$7.50.
What types of payment do you accept on the Riverboat?
We accept cash, Visa, Master Card, Discover and Gift Certificates.
Will I get seasick?
The cruise is smooth and stable, so seasickness is generally not a problem. However, we do recommend taking any necessary precautions if you are prone to motion sickness.
Should I tip the crew or bartender?
Gratuities are not included in the ticket prices and are always apppreciated for a stellar job!
Can I stow anything on the boat?
We do not have room on the boat to stow any items. Please only bring along what you might need for the cruise.
Is smoking allowed on board?
Smoking is allowed on the lower level outer decks only.
Can I bring my pet?
Pets are not allowed inside our facility or on the boat unless they are service dogs with papers.
What about bad weather?
We cruise rain or shine, unless the crew deems weather or river conditions unsafe. We will contact you if we have to cancel a cruise and you will either be re-scheduled or refunded at that time.
Is the Riverboat safe and do you have life jackets on board?
The River City Star Riverboat is inspected and certified annually by the US Coast Guard and our crew takes Passenger Safety very seriously! The River City Star is equipped with over 145 life jackets, but you are not required to wear them during cruises. Our life jackets are for emergencies only. Passengers do not normally wear life jackets on our cruises, but if you wish to wear a life jacket, please bring one with you.
Cancellation & Refund Policy/Privacy Policy/Terms & Conditions:
All Cruises depart promptly on time. Tickets should be picked up at our Ticket Office no later than 15 minutes prior to Cruise Departure Time. Once purchased, tickets cannot be refunded and cannot be re-scheduled because your space is being guaranteed on the cruise.
The River City Star does not share any of our guests personal information with any 3rd party.
The River City Star advises that all activities do carry a degree of risk and that by participating in the activity, you are expressly assuming those risks personally. Ticket Holders and all passengers under my reservation voluntarily agree to:
1) assume and accept all risks arising out of, associated with or related to Ticket Holder's participating in the River City Star Cruise
2) to be solely responsible for any loss, damage, injury or death which ticket holder might sustain participating in River City Star Cruise
3) to hold harmless and indemnify Rolling River, LLC (dba River City Star) from any and all liability for any damage to the personal property of, or personal injury to, any third party resulting from Ticket Holder's participation in River City Star Cruise, and
4)to indemnify and hold harmless Rolling River LLC, its organizers, associates, directors, officers, employees, volunteers, members, charity sand represesntatives from any and all claims, demands, actions and costs which might arise out of Ticket Holder's participating in River City Star Cruise.
*If you have any questions that we have not covered here, please feel free to contact us. We will be happy to help!
See you on the River!
FAQs (Landing):
Can I rent the Landing only?
The Landing and the Riverboat are available for rental by themselves and are priced separately on our price list.
Where are you located and where do I park?
The River City Star is located at 151 Freedom Park Road, right between Downtown Omaha and Eppley Airport. For detailed directions and maps, please click here. Our parking lot is right in front of our ticket office and we offer free parking.
How many people does the Landing hold?
The maximum occupancy of the River City Star Landing is 1352 people, but we have different maximums for each type of event. The Event Tent holds up to 300-320 seated at rounds.
Is the Landing handicap accessible?
Yes, our entire landing area is handicap accessible and the Riverboat is accessed by way of our lower drive, boarding ramp and boarding barge which can all accomodate standard sized wheelchairs and walkers. Our landing area features a gradual paved ramp that we regularly use for both wheelchair access and for the use of our golf carts to assist individuals from our main landing area to the riverboat boarding ramp. Please let us know if you require assistance when making your reservation. We are happy to assist any way we can.
Are there restrooms on the Landing?
Yes, the landing offers indoor restrooms for your convenience. These restrooms are located across from the gift shop.
Can I bring food and drinks in?
Outside food & beverages are not permitted inside our landing facility or on the Riverboat. We offer drinks and Concessions at our Gift Shop and there is a Cash Bar and Concessions available on all cruises.
What kind of food and drinks do you offer and what is the price range?
We offer Light Concessions with Snack Foods, Soft Drinks, Wine & Spirits with a price range between $1-$7.50.
What types of payment do you accept?
We accept Cash or Credit/Debit Cards (Mastercard, Visa, Discover, American Express) . No Checks Please!
Is smoking allowed on the Landing?
Smoking is allowed on our landing in designated smoking area's only. Smoking is not allowed inside any building or inside our Event Tent.
Can I bring my pet?
Pets are not allowed inside our facility or on the boat unless they are service dogs with papers.
How close is the River?
The river is approximately 40 yards away from our main building and the Landing is separated by a fence and hill leading to the river.
Are there any indoor spaces on your Landing?
Yes, our Atrium and Gift Shop are both enclosed and Temperature Controlled.
Can I bring my firearm in?
No, Firearms are strictly prohibited in our entire facility and on the Riverboat as well. The River City Star is classified as a passenger vessel operating on Protected US Waters and therefore we are under the strict guidelines of Homeland Security and the United States Coast Guard. Law Enforcement is the exception to this rule.
How close are you to Downtown and the Old Market Area?
We are located a little under a mile from Downtown Omaha and a little over a mile from the Old Market Area.
Are there any hotels nearby?
There are a wide variety of hotels all within a 1-Mile radius, and most of those offer Shuttle Service to our facility. We recommend the Country Inn & Suites in Carter Lake, Iowa. It is a very nice Select-Service Hotel with Shuttle Service, Complimentary Breakfast, and is the closest to us. Click here: www.countryinns.com/omahaairportia for rates and availability. You can also search Downtown Omaha Hotels or Carter Lake, Iowa Hotels for a complete list of other Hotels near us.
If you have any questions that we have not covered here, please feel free to contact us. We will be happy to help!
See you on the River!
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