A Scenic Tobermory Cruise Across Georgian Bay

Your journey begins at the northern tip of the Bruce Peninsula, overlooking the Big Tub lighthouse and the islands of the Fathom Five National Marine Park, where you’ll board one of Bruce Anchor’s modern glass-bottom boats.

As the vessel departs, you’ll cruise across the striking, clear waters of Georgian Bay, passing rugged limestone cliffs and forested shorelines that define the Bruce Peninsula. This relaxed crossing sets the tone for a day rooted in exploration and natural beauty.

Glass-Bottom Views of Historic Shipwreck

From here, the cruise proceeds toward the head of the harbour, where guests enjoy close-up views of two nineteenth-century shipwrecks resting in shallow, crystal-clear water:

• The Sweepstakes (sank in 1885) 
• The City of Grand Rapids (sank in 1907)

The Sweepstakes is visible through the glass-bottom viewing panels, and both wrecks are visible directly from the side of the vessel. 

A highlight of this shipwreck cruise in Tobermory is the opportunity to view the remarkably well-preserved Sweepstakes, an eerie beauty, and the remains of the City of Grand Rapids, without leaving the boat. Tobermory’s exceptional water clarity allows for detailed viewing, making this portion of the cruise especially popular with photographers.

Crew commentary provides historical context, explaining how these vessels became part of the underwater landscape that defines the region today. Guests interested in a deeper background can explore Bruce Anchor’s dedicated shipwrecks in Tobermory resource before or after their cruise.

Arriving at Flowerpot Island

After leaving Big Tub Harbour, the cruise continues to Flowerpot Island, one of the most recognizable destinations within Fathom Five National Marine Park. Guests disembark at Beachy Cove, the island’s designated drop-off point.

Once ashore, you’re free to explore at your own pace. Popular activities on the island include:

• A short hike to the famous flowerpot rock formations
• Visiting the historic Light Station and interpretive displays
• Exploring a cave, forest trails, and scenic viewpoints
• Enjoying a picnic or shoreline swim on warm days

Because Flowerpot Island is managed by Parks Canada, all guests 18 and over who disembark must have a Parks Canada pass, which is added during the reservation process. 

Book between June 19th and September 7th, 2026, and take advantage of the free Canada Strong Pass, offered by Parks Canada. 

Drop-Off Tours are designed to balance scenic cruising with meaningful time on the island. After your visit, you’ll be picked up from Beachy Cove at your pre-booked return time and brought back to Tobermory.

• Cruise time to the island is approximately 50 minutes 
• Return cruise time is approximately 20 minutes
• Variable durations of time are available on the island 

Total experience includes scenic cruising, island time, and boarding and disembarking

Who This Tour Is Best For

This Drop-Off Tour is well-suited for travellers who:

• Want to step foot on Flowerpot Island
• Plan to hike, explore, or spend time ashore
• Want a balance of sightseeing and free time
• Are looking for a classic Tobermory cruise with shipwreck viewing

Bruce Anchor Cruises offers a variety of cruise options to suit your travel plans, including varying durations on the island and transportation for overnight camping when booked through Parks Canada. 

Why Choose Bruce Anchor Cruises

Bruce Anchor has been family-owned and operated since 1989 and is known for professionalism, safety, and environmental responsibility.

With Bruce Anchor, passengers can look forward to:  

A modern glass-bottom fleet, including the low-emission Eclipse

• UV-protected canopies and top open viewing decks
• Onboard washrooms
• Experienced captains and crew with deep knowledge of the area
• Daily departures throughout the season (weather dependent) 
• Operations conducted within Fathom Five National Marine Park

Every cruise is designed to be informative, comfortable, and respectful of the surrounding marine environment.

Plan Ahead and Book With Confidence

Drop-Off Tours run every day throughout the season (weather and water level permitting), but sailings often fill quickly during peak season. Advance booking is strongly recommended every day in July and August, and every Saturday and Sunday throughout the entire season. Advance booking is especially recommended for those wanting to take advantage of the many Promotions offered throughout the season. 

Many sailings sell out in advance due to limited capacity and high demand. Guests can reserve their preferred cruise and departure time by visiting the Book a Cruise page. 

For details on payment methods, convenient 24-hour cancellation policies, weather policies, and sailing conditions, please review our Terms and Conditions before booking.

Don’t miss out! Book a cruise and experience Flowerpot Island the way it was meant to be explored.

Book a Cruise

Other Information:

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This payment must be made on a credit card, we cannot accept Visa Debit, or prepaid credit cards. Reservations are not complete until we have processed the deposit.

Bruce Anchor Cruises reserves the right to cancel at any time without notice due to inclement weather conditions including, but not limited to, strong winds and/or thunderstorms. As well, all sailing schedules are subject to change or cancellations without notice due to circumstances related to crew and captain availability, as well as instances where vessels require unscheduled repairs, may occur. In the event of cancellation, pre-purchased tickets will be refunded in full.

Boat tickets must be paid in full at the time of reservation by Visa or Mastercard. Visa Debit and Mastercard Debit will decline and are not accepted forms of payment. Cancellations must be made 24 hours prior to departure time in order to receive a refund. Any cancellations made within twenty-four hours of the purchased sailing will not receive a refund.

Cancellations and modifications can be done online, up to two days prior to departure. After that, all cancellations and modifications must be done by phone: 519-596-2555 option 1.

Refunds will not be issued to passengers who miss their sailing.  All sailings must follow a strict schedule.

For more information regarding bookings, please visit here.