The Goodtime III, Cleveland, Ohio

What better way to see Cleveland’s sparkling skyline than just after a shimmering sunset over the waters of Lake Erie — wineglass in hand and live music pulsing beneath —from the topmost sun deck of the city’s largest cruise ship?

Perhaps the only thing to improve the experience might be rubbing elbows with the likes of Drew Carey or Halle Berry, locals who’ve made it big, and who have also enjoyed the offerings of the Goodtime III.

From the mid 1920s to mid 1930s, the original Goodtime plied a course between downtown Cleveland and Sandusky’s Cedar Point. The cruise ship name was revived as Goodtime II in 1958, after a two-decade hiatus. The latest incarnation, the Goodtime III, now cruises the waters of the Cuyahoga River — through the Flats and Oxbow areas — before venturing along the Lake Erie shoreline from Lakewood on the west to as far as Bratenahl on the east. Along the way, its passengers view such sights as Cleveland Browns Stadium, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, The Great Lakes Science Center, The Cleveland Justice Center, Cleveland City Hall, The Cuyahoga County Courthouse, North Point and Burke Lakefront Airport.

The vessel can host up to 1000 passengers among its three decks (enclosed and airconditioned, partially enclosed, and sun), supported by a concession facility, several dance floors and multiple bars. Cruises, which typically last about 2 hours, and often include a full meal, feature sightseeing narration. The Goodtime III’s season runs from about June 15^th through September 30^th each year.

In addition to a slate of regularly scheduled sightseeing, luncheon, dance and happy hour cruises, the line also hosts special event cruises for holidays, such as Oktoberfest and the 4^th of July. The Goodtime III is also available for private parties, corporate events and wedding receptions.

The sleek white and blue lines of the Goodtime III are immediately recognizable as one approaches her docking berth at Voinovich Park, where the north end of East Ninth Street meets Lake Erie, just beyond the pristine prismatics of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Some nearby pier parking is available at the Goodtime III, and additional garage and surface parking is provided within a short walking distance.