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Hilton Head Island Cruises & boat tours

Our most recommended Hilton Head Island Cruises & boat tours

Hilton Head Island: Dolphin Watching Guided Tour by Boat

1. Hilton Head Island: Dolphin Watching Guided Tour by Boat

Take in the beauty of Hilton Head from the perspective of the water on a fully narrated boat tour. Delight in up-close encounters with dolphins, and find out about their habits, eating patterns, and more with a local guide. As you explore the island's waterways, learn about the history of the area and the surrounding islands from your guide's narration. Hear about oysters, spartina grass, tides, pluff mud, and more. As well as dolphins, keep on the lookout for other wildlife including pelicans, osprey, stingrays, herons, turtles, and more which may be seen along the way.

Hilton Head Island: Pirate Cruise on the Black Dagger

2. Hilton Head Island: Pirate Cruise on the Black Dagger

Treat your little ones to the adventure of a lifetime aboard an activity-packed pirate cruise on Hilton Head Island. Allow your child to live out their craziest fantasies by turning into a pirate with the help of face paint and temporary tattoos. Help find a sunken treasure and defeat Stinky Pete. Head to the docks to get a new pirate name and learn how to speak like a real pirate. Board the legendary Black Dagger and set sail in search of a treasure. Join in on a race to find Stinky Pete, the island’s smelliest pirate who knows about the treasure map and has stolen the key Locate Stinky Pete before he gets to the treasure first. Watch the crew man the water cannons and blast Stinky Pete until he gives back the key. Enjoy singing and dancing throughout your journey, as you navigate across the ocean before heading back to the starting point.

Hilton Head Island: Sunset Dinner Cruise

3. Hilton Head Island: Sunset Dinner Cruise

Board the luxury Spirit of Harbor Town ship for an evening of mouthwatering cuisine and the island’s best sunsets. Admire unbeatable views as you enjoy a delicious dinner and watch as the sun slips behind the horizon. Choose to dine on the shaded topside deck, or select a table in the collimate-controlled cabin with panoramic windows. Relax with a drink from the full-service bar (at your own expense) as you look out for dolphins. Sunset Dinner Cruise Sail early enough to catch the sunset and return after dark to the lights of Harbour Town. Whether a warm summer evening or a cozy November night, the Sunset Dinner Cruise is a perfect way to end any day of the year on Hilton Head Island. Keep your eye out for dolphins as they typically make an appearance during the sunset dinner cruise. Menu Starter: • Heirloom tomato panzanella salad Your choice of 1 entree:• Fish: blackened mahi-mahi • Chicken: roasted chicken breast • Pork: berbere spiced pork loin • Vegetarian/vegan: fresh pasta primavera Dessert: • Key lime pie or layered chocolate mousse

Hilton Head Island: Sunset Dolphin Cruise

4. Hilton Head Island: Sunset Dolphin Cruise

Discover the incredible wildlife of Hilton Head Island with a dolphin spotting cruise at sunset. Search for Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in open water before watching the sunset on Daufuskie Island. Sail towards the open ocean in search of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins on an amazing sightseeing cruise. Dolphin sightings are guaranteed on this cruise. After seeing these animals in open water, travel to Daufuskie Island and up Bull Creek to Dolphin Hole to watch the setting sun. Admire the incredible landscape of salt estuaries at sunset. Listen to live commentary from your expert captain, and ask the crew any questions you might have. Beer, wine, snacks, and drinks are available for purchase throughout the trip.

Hilton Head Island: Dolphin Cruise & Nature Tour

5. Hilton Head Island: Dolphin Cruise & Nature Tour

Set sail on a 14 passenger boat cruise in the surrounding waters of Hilton Head Island and encounter bottlenose dolphins and other coastal species such as osprey, egrets, pelicans, bald eagles, a variety of shorebirds, and more. Get scenic views of Broad Creek and admire the private residential homes in Long Cove, Wexford Lock System, and Spanish Wells Plantations. See famous attractions including the Harbor Town Lighthouse, Daufuskie Island, the Atlantic Ocean, Tybee Island, and the Savannah River Bridge.

Hilton Head: Sunset or Daytime Dolphin Watching Cruise

6. Hilton Head: Sunset or Daytime Dolphin Watching Cruise

Cruise around Hilton Head waters and the Pinckney Island National Wildlife refuge to get up close and personal with many species. Learn about the local ecosystem with your family or friends on this eco-friendly tour.    Have the chance to sight some of over 170 residential Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and around 400 nomadic bottlenose dolphins passing in the Hilton Head waters. Keep a look out for other species, such as bald eagle, pelican, great blue heron, egret, wood stork, spoonbill, sea turtles, alligators, manatees, sharks, sting rays, and blue crabs. Your tour guide knows most of the local dolphins by name and will introduce you to them as you come across them. Find out how to tell them apart, get to know the dolphins as individuals, and learn about bottlenose dolphins as a species and how they adapt to the local low country ecosystem. Be protected from the hot sun and rain in a covered boat, which sits low to the water for optimal viewing. When your eyes aren't on the water, use props on board to help you better understand local wildlife, such as a dolphin skull and shark teeth. For a different experience, choose the Sunset Cruise to spot different animals at a different time of day. Enjoy the natural beauty and cooler temperatures that come when the sun goes down. Don't miss the chance to snap the sea at sunset with your camera.

Hilton Head Island: Round-Trip Ferry Ticket to Savannah

7. Hilton Head Island: Round-Trip Ferry Ticket to Savannah

Cruise through stunning intracoastal waterways from Hilton Head Island to Savannah with this round-trip express ferry ticket. Board from inside the Sea Pines Resort, then travel to the city in a comfortable air-conditioned boat. Sit back and admire the view as you sail through old shipping channels. Enjoy over 4 hour in Savannah to explore the city, before heading back to the ferry. On the return trip, benefit from happy hour pricing on selected drinks.

Hilton Head Island: Dolphin Nature Cruise

8. Hilton Head Island: Dolphin Nature Cruise

Take a sightseeing cruise to explore the incredible nature around Hilton Head Island and the surrounding waterways. Hear about the island’s history from your expert crew as you search for Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. Admire the coastal landscape as you learn about the lifecycle of these mammals. Discover why this region is the perfect place for dolphins to settle. With sightings guaranteed, this tour is sure to be a highlight of your vacation.

Hilton Head Island: America’s Cup Sailing Yacht Cruise

9. Hilton Head Island: America’s Cup Sailing Yacht Cruise

Step aboard a former America’s Cup sailing yacht for an afternoon cruise. Discover what it takes to sail a racing yacht as you help the crew, or simply sit back and enjoy the ride. See the sights of the Calibogue Sound and learn about the history of these waters. Have your camera ready as you keep an eye out for dolphins. Drinks and merchandise are available for purchase on board.

Hilton Head Island: Dolphin Tour at Sunset & Fireworks Show

10. Hilton Head Island: Dolphin Tour at Sunset & Fireworks Show

Discover the wonders of Hilton Head Island on a guided cruise. Spot resident bottlenose dolphins playing in the water and learn about the landmarks you pass, including the Harbour Town Lighthouse. Enjoy a memorable sunset and fireworks show. Once you've met your group at the meeting point, travel first around the Hilton Head coast and take in stunning views of the shoreline. Look out for resident Atlantic bottlenose dolphins as they play, feed, and swim around the boat. Along the way, pass by the iconic Harbour Town Lighthouse, an impressive, 90-foot (27.4-meter) tall beacon renowned for its candy-striped exterior. Learn about the rich history and diverse ecosystem of the island from your guides as you soak in the scenic views and sail past landmarks. Later, sit back and relax as the sun begins to set, painting the water’s surface in a vibrant array of hues. Find out why Hilton Head has been named one of the best destinations for sunset viewing along the East Coast of the United States. After the sun has fully sunk below the horizon, round off your trip with Hilton Head’s weekly fireworks show.

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Frequently asked questions about Hilton Head Island

What top attractions are a must-see in Hilton Head Island?

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Other Sightseeing Options in Hilton Head Island

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What people are saying about Hilton Head Island

I would highly recommend getting to the event 30 minutes early instead of 15 minutes as recommended. The reason why is Google Maps sent us to the wrong location. And this happen to 2 other families. But the staff at the tour were really helpful. They called us while we ran around looking for their location and helped guide us to the event. Matt & John were our captain and tour guides and very pleasant and good natured. We even hit a snag where a rope got caught on the engine which delayed us a little. Matt asked if everyone was OK staying a little longer to compensate for the delay. All good. We had a great time. We got to see some dolphins, but it is recommended to go during the summer where there are more dolphins to see.

A fun adventure! We were able to see dolphins about half way through our tour. The tour guide made sure we were able to get a good view. Would recommend, especially for kids.

This is an amazing tour. The captain was very knowledgeable and he gave us an additional half an hour. We saw quite a few dolphins. Definitely recommend this tour.

This was a very fun tour and we were able to see dolphins right away!

We saw dolphins up close and personal!! Great fun!