Maid of the Mist Will Operate Boat Tours in 2012

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. and NIAGARA FALLS, Ontario, March 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The historic Maid of the Mist will return to the water for the 2012 season on both sides of the Niagara River Gorge, delivering its 166th year of thrilling tours to the base of the Horseshoe Falls.

Maid of the Mist officials have completed discussions with the Niagara Parks Commission regarding operational issues and have decided that the popular tours will go forward for 2012.

The boats will begin operating very early, on April 12 – three weeks ahead of last year, due to unseasonably warm temperatures and ice-free conditions on Lake Erie and the Niagara River. Maid of the Mist will welcome visitors to its Canadian and American landings, providing an up-close, un-matched experience with Niagara Falls. Maid of the Mist continues to be a "must-see" destination for millions of people in the U.S., Canada, and across the world.

The early opening will allow visitors to include the world-renowned attraction in their April travel plans. Maid of the Mist has been providing celebrities, tourists and locals with a once-in-a-lifetime experience for more than 160 years. This year's early opening will allow even more people to enjoy the wonder that is Maid of the Mist.              

Maid of the Mist boats serve customers from both sides of the U.S./Canada border. Operating safely since 1846 with wheelchair and stroller accessibility, Maid of the Mist has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world.

Visitors may board the Maid of the Mist boats at either the Canadian or American landing starting at 10 a.m. daily. Tours depart every 15 minutes and last approximately 30 minutes. Those crossing the border need to show a passport or trusted travel document, such as a NEXUS card or an enhanced driver's license. For more information, please visit www.maidofthemist.com.

About Maid of the Mist
The first Maid of the Mist, a wooden-hulled, coal-fired steamboat, launched in 1846. Today, there are four all-steel diesel powered Maid of the Mist boats. Throughout the decades, presidents, kings, movie stars and countless other visitors have taken the world famous Maid of the Mist cruise of Niagara Falls. It is one of the oldest tourist attractions in North America. For more information, please visit the Maid of the Mist Web site at www.maidofthemist.com.

SOURCE Maid of the Mist