About Us

Grand Lady Cruises’ goal is to establish itself as a leader in the passenger vessel industry by providing the highest quality service and experiences for the sole purpose of exceeding our customer’s expectations.

Grand Lady Cruises, Inc. was established in 1998 by sole owner Richard A. Deegan and is locally owned and operated in Buffalo, NY. The Grand Lady made its maiden voyage on May 14, 1998, and has been cruising the Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor offering the most unique venue for spectacular sunsets, masterful cuisine, special occasions, and area sightseeing ever since.

Take some time to explore our website, where you will find detailed information on our ship, photos, and cruise and charter packages. Please call us with any questions regarding cruise and charter availability.

Demographics:

The Grand Lady is a US Flagged Vessel. At 80 feet long and 20 feet wide, it is of all steel construction, weighing in at 51 gross tons. Powered by two Caterpillar diesel engines, rated at 250 hp each, the vessel cruises at 8 knots with a top speed of 12 knots. The two engines were completely rebuilt during the winter of 2011, a preemptive measure to keep the Grand Lady running in tip-top shape.

History:

The boat was originally built in Lacrosse, Wisconsin, in 1993 by Skipper Liner Industries. She operated for five years as The Naples Princess in Naples, Florida, until 1998 when it was purchased by Rick Deegan and transformed into The Grand Lady, making its maiden voyage on May 14, 1998. The Grand Lady called Grand Island home for its first 15 seasons, sailing from the Holiday Inn Grand Island until the Spring of 2012 when she moved to her second home port at Rich Marina in Buffalo, NY. In the spring of 2017, the Grand Lady relocated to the banks of the Buffalo River in downtown Buffalo.

Layout:

The Grand Lady comfortably allows 100 guests for a non-meal cruise, 80 for a plated meal, and 70 for a buffet meal. Our main deck dining area seats up to 66 guests maximum and also hosts our fully-stocked bar, caterer’s galley, and heads (that’s the restrooms for you land-lovers). From the main deck, guests can head out onto the open-air bow deck or upstairs via one of two different staircases. Upstairs, you can visit the captain hard at work in the wheelhouse, take in the views from the open air aft deck, or sit and eat inside our Captain’s Club dining room. This smaller dining area seats a maximum of 22 passengers and is a favorite for smaller celebrations to give groups a sense of privacy aboard public cruises. For photos of the Grand Lady’s interior and exterior areas, please visit the Gallery page or our Facebook page.