Boston Tea Party Ship

How can you go to Boston for the first time and not get on the Boston Tea Party Ship? That was my thought, anyway. Read on below for the pros and cons of my Boston Tea Party Ship adventure! 

The Pros

1. The guide was fantastic! From his attire to his accent, he never stepped out of character. He had everyone sit on benches to start and passed out a character card to everyone, making sure to connect with each person individually by asking where we were from while handing us our card. It was a large group and he led the group smoothly to several different areas including the ship. The guide was knowledgeable and professional.
   
   
2. Getting to throw fake crates of tea in the water in the exact spot as they did years ago was soo cool. Kids were encouraged to do it, of course, but adults could take a turn too and you bet I did! It was a warm, sunny day and I enjoyed getting a little splash as it landed in the water. You then had to reel the crate of tea back up using your hands and the rope it was attached to, and it was not heavy but not exactly light so it really seemed realistic.
   
   
3. Having an authentic historical Boston attraction experience! It was a polished professional attraction and would be a perfect school field trip for local kids.
   
   
4. Easy to get to - I got off the trolley and just walked up the street. The building and ship are large so it was easy to spot.
   
   
5. Solo travel friendly - it was a large group of people and you are mostly just listening.
   
   
6. There is a small cafe where you can get something to eat (I got a chocolate chip muffin) and sample the same type of tea that people drank years ago. I really liked the authenticity of getting the tea sampler. The tea set up was clear and easy. You can sit down while enjoying your tea / dessert and the view is nice!
   
   

The Cons

1. I thought the ship was going to be a cruise. I was thinking I would be on a boat ride in the Boston Harbor and I love boat rides so the fact that it was stationary was a let down for me.
   
   
2. The tea sampler was not free. I thought it should have been included as the cost of the attraction was already $35 which consisted of hearing the guide, a video, and standing on the boat. You can, however, save a few dollars by buying it with the Old Trolley Tour ticket, which I did.
   
   
3. After the guide's intro and getting on the ship, we were led into a room to stand and watch a video. I don't remember the video very well as it reminded me of an old school video to zone out on. The room was nice, had ac - however, the video didn't really add much to the experience for me. I could see it being great for field trips though to settle the kids.

All in all, I would recommend this attraction. You have to do it if you visit Boston if only to say you threw the tea in the water!