From the Buffalo News:
It took about three weeks for this year’s winter ice to plummet over Niagara Falls and float away, but the river was clear enough Thursday morning for Maid of the Mist V to take its first dip of the season.
The 300-passenger boat serves the American side, and its launch into the glittering waters of the Lower Niagara River from the boat launch in Canada went off without a hitch.
The Canadian and American coast guards will perform a safety review of the attraction Monday, and then the fun can begin, said Emil Bende, general manager of marine operations.
“We have so many people calling us,” Bende said. The calls start coming in February, he said, “and whether it’s Hong Kong or England . . . some people will delay their vacations, holding off until we’re open.”