Water Taxi Returns To Alexandria, DC With Safety Measures

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Potomac River water taxi service will return to Alexandria and DC on Friday, June 19 with safety protocols in place. Hornblower Cruises and Events, the company associated with running Potomac Riverboat Company, plans to resume select dining cruises on June 20 if DC moves to phase two of reopening on Friday.

The water taxi will start with daily service connecting Alexandria, DC's Wharf and National Harbor, Maryland. Sightseeing tours are expected to resume in June as well as a fourth water taxi route between The Wharf and Georgetown.

Pending approval, dinner cruises on Odyssey III will operate Fridays and Saturdays, as well as the weekend Odyssey Brunch cruise. Hornblower plans to phase in offerings throughout the summer. Once restrictions are lifted, the full list of dining, sightseeing and water taxi experiences will be offered.

Safety measures in response to the pandemic include:

• Mandatory daily crew member health screening, and wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment
• Revising boarding and ticketing procedures to allow for social distancing and touchless entry
• Requiring guests to wear face masks while cruising, except while eating and drinking (for ages 3 and up unless exempted by the local health authority)
• Reducing the number of guests on board, and adapting all seating and table spacing to allow for a minimum 6-foot distance between guests while they cruise
• Implementing enhanced sanitation and disinfection procedures, with hand sanitizing stations available throughout

Water taxi prices start at $13 for adults and $9 for children one way. Adult one-day and two-day passes are $31 and $40, respectively. Dining cruises are $79.90 for brunch or $117.90 for dinner.