For more than 150 years, the Maid of the Mist tour boats have been all alone below Niagara Falls as they've ferried tourists close enough to be drenched by the spray, according to the Associated Press.
Now, the Maid of the Mist Steamboat Co. continues to launch from the American shore but lost its Canadian contract to rival Hornblower Niagara Cruises, which set sail from across the river last week, the AP reported.
The Maid of the Mist, with its two 600-passenger steamship-style vessels, and Hornblower's pair of 700-passenger catamarans offer virtually the same daytime experience: sailing poncho-clad passengers up to the 16-story walls of whitewater for views unrivaled on land, according to the AP.
Hornblower's $25 million entry into the market includes plans for evening cocktail and fireworks cruises, as well as a redesigned plaza, self-serve ticket kiosks, double-deck loading docks and a pavilion that sells souvenirs by day and becomes party space at night, the AP reported.
For its part, the Maid of the Mist has added free Wi-Fi on board this season, renovated the ships' restrooms and redesigned its website, according to the AP.
Both companies offer online ticketing with Hornblower charges adults about $18 (U.S.) for daytime cruises and the Maid of the Mist charges $17, the AP reported.
"We do appreciate the path that was paved by our competitor, the Maid of the Mist, in years past. It's great we can build on that and expand it and provide some new amenities," said MacRae, whose company operates cruises to the Statue of Liberty in New York City and Alcatraz Island in California, according to the AP.
San Francisco-based Hornblower was awarded a 30-year contract to operate the Niagara Falls tours in 2012 after the Niagara Parks Commission, for the first time, put the Ontario rights up for bid, the AP reported.The company was chosen over five other bidders, including Maid of the Mist.
