Virginia Dare Cruises

Virginia Dare Cruises & Marina sits on Smith Mountain Lake in Moneta, Virginia, where the Virginia Dare has been a fixture on the water for more than three decades. The marina pairs cruise service with two on-site dining spots, Beacon Pub and the seasonal Portside Grill & Bar, giving guests a full waterfront stop before or after a cruise. The Virginia Dare hosts year-round wedding cruises, offering couples the option to hold ceremonies, receptions, rehearsal dinners, and bachelor or bachelorette parties out on the lake. Spring through fall, the boat also runs a narrated two-hour sightseeing cruise past lake landmarks such as Goat, Turtle, and Bride Islands, a Nantucket-style housing development, an antique carousel, one of the area's oldest tobacco barns, and osprey nesting sites, before crossing an underwater bridge toward Smith Mountain Dam. Beyond weddings, the Virginia Dare is available for private charters for friends, family, or organizations, including charitable events, and runs specialty holiday cruises such as a 4th of July fireworks cruise, a Mother's and Father's Day brunch cruise, and a family-friendly Pirate Cruise. The marina itself also offers fuel service, a pump-out station, and beach access for boaters.