Two Hours Afloat: The TikiTap Cruise That Turns Excelsior’s Lakefront into a Floating Island

Board a floating island-style pontoon at 2 Water St, Excelsior, MN 55331, USA, and trade the dock for a two-hour tiki cruise across Lake Minnetonka. The Public TikiTap Cruise-Excelsior converts a standard pontoon into a small, social bar: bamboo accents, a custom tiki counter, bar-style seating, and a broad canopy that keeps the party going rain or shine. Designed for groups up to 14, it’s BYOB-friendly, runs on a private captain, and pairs lakefront scenery with an on-board Bluetooth stereo and a full bathroom for comfort. From the harbor the ride peels away from Excelsior’s historic waterfront-fronted by clapboard storefronts, slipper docks, and boat slips-and opens onto glassy bays and tree-lined fingers of Lake Minnetonka. Key features of the experience are the social layout (center bar and seating), the tiki detailing (bamboo rails and themed accents), and the practical amenities (canopy, onboard restroom, sound system). The boat’s size and shallow-draft pontoon hull make it easy to slip into quieter coves where loons and kingfishers prefer the shallows. For celebrations-birthdays, bachelor(ette) parties, small corporate outings-or just a loose, sunlit afternoon with friends, the TikiTap trims the stress out of planning. A private captain handles navigation and safety while the group supplies the playlist and beverages. Check the cap at fourteen passengers and dress for wind on the open water; the canopy helps, but lake breezes cut cooler than shore air. What sets this charters apart in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul region is the fusion of tiki-bar culture with Midwestern lakecraft: you’re not moving through a crowded resort marina but threading historic inlets and shallow bays unique to Lake Minnetonka. In summer, water lilies rim certain coves and late-afternoon light hits exposed granite and red-oak bluffs along some shorelines. Expect common local wildlife like bald eagles and great blue herons; loons sometimes call at dusk. Meet at Excelsior’s main dock near 2 Water St; check-in instructions are provided with the booking link. Boats come equipped with a restroom and covered seating; bring a cooler, sunscreen, and waterproof shoes for stepping on and off the dock. Rain plans rely on the canopy, but heavy storms cancel for safety. Accessibility varies by dock and ramp-ask the operator for details. Bookings usually appear on the FareHarbor link; confirm departure time, arrive 10–15 minutes early, and communicate any accessibility needs so the captain can accommodate your group and gear safely. Two hours on a TikiTap is compact and social: long enough to unwind and explore coves, short enough to fit into a weekend schedule. For anyone visiting Excelsior or touring Lake Minnetonka, this public cruise is an easy, memorable way to experience the lake’s shoreline, wildlife, and small-town waterfront energy without building an entire itinerary around it.