AB WaterSports

Great day with Captain Ron and Cathy . Highly recommend for an enjoyable and informative dayread more

The guys attitude . He's grumpy and ill mannered. Not a good time at all. Spends most of his time…read moremouthing off about other charter operators

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Chillin Charters NC

(2 reviews)

Excellent boat trip. Very relaxed trip with insightful information about multiple towns in the…read morearea. Saw dolphins and a wild horse.

A Sunset Adventure to Remember with Captain Trent & Chillin' Charters NC!…read more When my friend and I stumbled across the option to book a sunset cruise on a random Tuesday evening with Chillin' Charters NC, we thought--there's no way this is real. But guess what? It was 100% real and 110% AMAZING! From the moment we arrived at the dock in beautiful Beaufort, Captain Trent greeted us with the warmest welcome and the chillest vibes. Even though it was just the two of us, he treated us like absolute queens! We stepped onto the tiki-themed pontoon party boat, ready for an unforgettable evening--and that's exactly what we got. As we cruised along the serene waters of the Intracoastal Waterway, the sky lit up in a masterpiece of sunset hues, painting the perfect backdrop for our personal dance party. With our favorite playlist flowing through the boat's sound system and nothing but open water and good vibes around us, we danced like no one was watching--and it felt like pure magic. But it didn't stop there! We spotted multiple dolphin pods playfully frolicking in the waves and even caught breathtaking views of the wild Colonial Spanish Mustangs roaming free on the barrier island dunes. It was the kind of natural beauty that makes you pause, breathe deep, and feel completely alive. And just when we thought the night couldn't get any better, Captain Trent--with his signature easygoing, no-rush attitude--offered to dock in Morehead City so we could grab a bite to eat. YES, PLEASE! We landed at Southern Salt Seafood Co. and Waterfront Restaurant, where we devoured some of the freshest, most delicious local seafood we've ever tasted. From bow to stern, this was hands-down one of the best boating experiences I've ever had. Captain Trent, you are the real MVP of the water! If you ever need a crew, sign us up! Highly, highly recommend Chillin' Charters NC for the most relaxed, scenic, and unforgettable coastal cruise. Thank you, Captain Trent, for being truly AWESOME!

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Crystal Coast Ecotours

(10 reviews)

4.7 mi

Captain Tony took me, my son and Grandson on a personal tour I will never forget. It was a personal…read moreexperience to close an important chapter in my life. I am from Maryland visiting my son. If you wsnt a scenic personal tour, Captain Tony is the man with his company to call.

My family has booked a tour each summer for the last three years and each time is fun, easy, and…read moregeared to our interests. We love to go shelling and both Captain Jess and Captain Tony work hard so we have a great experience. The communication about the tour, what to expect, what to pack, where to meet, etc. is all clearly communicated ahead of time. The day before the tour the Captain calls to touch base and work out the final details. All you have to do is show up and enjoy the experience.

Having fun at the sandbar with Captain Jess. We found so many sand dollars and shells. The kids had a blast. Such a fun trip!

Sand dollar hunting!

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H2O Captain Eco-Tour Private Boat Excursions

(5 reviews)

3.0 mi

Great experience. Captain Mark held a wonderful ceremony for my mother. He was thoughtful and…read morerespectful. We greatly appreciated his efforts and would highly recommend H2O.

Captain Mark was very knowledgeable and the trip was great! Thank you for making our boating…read moreadventure to the sand dollar sand bar fun!

Kids LOVE being on the boat!

Finding marine life, and then returning him/her to its home right away!

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And sometimes, the wild horses come to you!

Crystal Coast Lady Cruises

3.8

(29 reviews)

We had a wonderful time tonight. Good food, great music and beautiful scenery. We got to see wild…read morehorses and lots of dolphins. The sunset was spectacular. Our crew was super friendly and gave us lots of pointers about the area. Would definitely do it again!

We booked the Crystal Coast Lady Cruises dinner cruise on July 2, 2026, from 7-9 p.m. for our…read morefamily and extended family, which included one toddler, four children, two teens, and six adults. My husband and I paid close to $800 for our group. Because we had several small children with us, I specifically chose tables close to the buffet, knowing that the adults would need to help make plates for the kids. Anyone who has done a buffet with little ones understands that it often takes multiple trips to get everyone settled and fed. I went through the line to get my food and food for my niece, then realized my sister was holding the toddler and also needed a plate, along with my other four-year-old niece. My husband was helping our other children at the time, and my family was still in the buffet line. I stepped beside my elderly parents, who were getting their food, and said, "Sorry, I forgot two more plates." At that point, the man serving yelled, "Ma'am, STOP!" His tone and behavior were completely unnecessary and embarrassing. I was not cutting in front of another party or trying to get extra food unfairly. I was simply helping feed the children in our group -- a group we had paid a significant amount of money for. The way I was treated was rude, humiliating, and completely unacceptable. It felt as though I was being scolded for trying to get food that we had already paid for. For a family dinner cruise, there should be some understanding that adults may need to assist young children at the buffet. Unfortunately, based on this experience, I would not recommend this dinner cruise for families with small children. If your children will need help getting food from the buffet, this is not a family-friendly experience. We left feeling disappointed and disrespected.

Crystal Coast Lady, first cabin, seating

Water view

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Lookout Cruises

4.6

(45 reviews)

Sunset cruise--book ahead, bring a hat, and maybe a thermos…read more We grabbed the last two seats for a late-September weekend sunset cruise--as of noon the same day--so tip #1: book ahead, especially on weekends. Our boat had two larger groups (a bachelorette and a birthday), which made for a fun, jovial crowd. Seating & comfort: Plenty of places to sit and move around--shade, sun, or rail time by the water. Nice flexibility as the light changes. Drinks: They offer drinks on board; the selection was basic beer and some generic wine. I don't drink, so I can't rate them. Even if I did drink, I would still hesitate. I brought my own THC beverage, and no one blinked, but check their current policy and use common sense. A water bottle or a thermos/juice blend is a definite yes. Crew & service: Excellent across the board. Two bartenders--friendly, efficient--and the whole crew felt professional and upbeat. Bathroom note: There is a restroom onboard, which is clutch, but it's a bit awkward to access. Go before you board if stairs/steep steps are tricky. Overall: Great time: good music, easygoing crowd, smooth operation. I'd definitely recommend. Next time, we'll try a longer day cruise to the Outer Banks (with lunch)--it looked like a solid daytime option; we just didn't have the time this trip. Bottom line: Great crew, great sunset, zero fuss. Would do again.

Our last-minute date night with Lookout Cruises was absolutely incredible. The sunset was stunning…read moreand truly unforgettable, and the entire evening felt effortless from start to finish. Captain and crew--Mike and David--were professional, kind, and attentive. A special mention goes to the captain's mom, who has served as his assistant for the past 26 cruises--she is truly a treasure and adds such a warm, personal touch to the experience. All of the staff had genuinely jovial personalities, making the atmosphere even more enjoyable. One of the most thoughtful details was having crew members walk around and take photos of each couple throughout the evening, allowing everyone to simply be present while still capturing lasting memories. It was the perfect evening to take in the stunning coastal views, watch dolphins play, and see Fort Macon from the water. The boat was exceptionally clean, and safety was never a concern--it was clear we were in very capable hands. We were so impressed that we've already booked their 4th of July fireworks cruise and can't wait!

Hubby helping to hoist the main sail

My husband and his German cousin-in-law loving life!

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Cool little net hammock in the back--you can sit on it

Lookout Adventures

4.3

(11 reviews)

2.0 mi

I cannot recommend Captain Oliver enough! We had the most fun, joyful experience with him. He…read moreunderstood our needs (I.e. that I do poorly with ocean motion) and adapted without complaint. My ten year old said our day with him was the best day of her life. Please, if you're considering chattering a boat to visit a few islands and skip the rigid cookie-cutter experience offered by others - CALL CAPTAIN OLIVER!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND CAPT. OLIVER!! Went on a 2 hour dolphin charter with captain Oliver and It was…read moreAMAZING!! He is the nicest guy and knew everything about the area and animals. Him being so knowledgeable of the area was huge since we did this to see more of the east coast (we are from the west coast). We saw wild horses, beautiful houses and SO many dolphins. My daughters favorite part was when she got to "drive" the boat. He was the best captain we could have asked for. This tour exceeded our expectations!!

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Island Ferry Adventures

4.3

(32 reviews)

What a wonderful experience! From booking our tickets with the kindest lady to going on our…read moreadventure with the kindest men/captains of the boat. I didn't catch his name but one man was kind enough to talk to us about the horses, the island, and answer all our questions. He gave clear directions about where to go to find shells and the best spot to see the horses. The boat ride over itself does get faster then I expected so plan ahead for that. We had two small children with us, one being a baby and they enjoyed the boat ride too. The staff was very helpful getting out stroller on and off board. everyone was so kind and helpful and we had a beautiful day!

Overall good experience wait times were a little bit longer than expected but peak season …read more Everyone was helpful

Loons, wild horses.

Bird Island

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Seavisions Charters

(10 reviews)

My family and I had the pleasure of going on a boat trip with Captain Monty this past weekend, and…read moreit was truly a wonderful experience. We joined Captain Monty and Roy from Royster's Oysters for a tour of the local waterways, along with a visit to Roy's oyster farm. Both Captain Monty and Roy were exceptional hosts--friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about what they do. The experience was a highlight of our trip, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable and unique outing.

What a fun and engaging experience! Due to weather and time of year, my husband and I ended up…read morebeing the only passengers, making it a private tour. While we hoped to see horses, the incoming storm scared them away. Despite this, we saw dolphins, birds, seashells, and learned so so much about the area, environment, history, and marine practices. We recommend this to anyone considering it and hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

New foal on Shackleford Banks.

Front End Loader Duck.

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Sunrise on Back Sound

Surf City Jet Ski & Watersports

4.3

(24 reviews)

50.0 mi

We had a short getaway before school starts back up and our daughters found this place online. The…read morereservation process was online and easy to navigate. We got there a bit early and were out on our skis a few minutes before our actual reservation. Everything was top notch and done with professionalism. We got out on the water quickly and easily. Easy and comfortable to ride and the water course was clearly marked and generally pretty free of traffic. Highly recommended.

The cost is high, but the process is very smooth. Lots of fun riding, and no snags at all in the…read moreprocess. My biggest issue is another company I used let you ride the whole sound and gave you a map. This company limits you from the Surf City bridge to the north bridge, which is only about 30 minutes each way max, so it can get kinda boring, especially if you are with kids. No big complaints here, but for the cost I would've wanted to be able to explore and do a little more with my two hours.

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Fort Macon State Park

4.7

(84 reviews)

3.1 mi

Beautiful Fort and unique American history. Take the tour! It is free, educational, and…read moreinteresting. It was only about 30 minutes and our tour guide was wonderful.

Immensely beautiful park! The dunes are giant! We went a few times at sunset and things were pretty…read morequiet. The park is well maintained and the scenery is just stunning. We plan to return and spend more time there in the future.

Nature trail

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Shackleford Wild Horse and Shelling Safari

3.9

(7 reviews)

FAVORITE PLACE HERE. We spent hours finding the most amazing shells. The water is crystal clear and…read morethe wanes aren't bad at all. I would come back in a heart beat.

We had so much fun on Shackleford Island. We saw so many horses, found a lot of cool shells, and…read morethe beach was beautiful. It's about a 30 minute ferry ride from Beaufort. There is a restroom but NO amenities or food available for purchase. Bring everything you need with you. Once we arrived, there was a tour guide but it wasn't much of a tour. She walked us to the other side of the island to show us two horses on the beach and then walked all the way back to where we started to show us where to find the best shells. Her "tour" lasted about 30 minutes. We did most of the exploring on our own and that's when we found the majority of the horses. As long as you aren't looking for a super guided tour, this is a great day trip!

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Radio Island

3.7

(3 reviews)

3.1 mi

We went here recently and there were almost no one there. There's not much to look at, no crabs or…read morefish in sight. But it is really relaxing and there's not much waves.

Radio Island is an interesting cluster of fishing spots. If you're not familiar with Radio Island,…read moreyou're bound to hear historical tidbits about how it has changed over the years...for better and worse. You can fish and swim at the lake. I wouldn't recommend it because there was this constant funky smell. Plus, I didn't catch anything there. There's a marina where supposedly you'll have better luck fishing. Overall, an interesting place that's dear to locals and holds fishing secrets for fishers.

Shipwreck Neon Mini Golf

4.5

(16 reviews)

80.5 mi

Super cute neon mini golf spot on the island. We had been wanting to take my twins mini golfing but…read morewas waiting for them to get a little older. They are now 3 and while they still aren't that patient and grasp the game fully they still had a great time! We only "played" 9 holes (the ocean side) but they said they can't wait to play the pirate side next time. We will definitely be back!

My kids had the best time playing mini golf here. The staff were friendly, it wasn't too busy, the…read moreprice was nice and it was clean and entertaining!! It does go by quick but it was definitely a fun activity to do with my family.

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Emerald Forest Mini Golf

3.4

(9 reviews)

18.0 mi

A pirate themed 18 hole mini golf course with fun variety in the holes and enough space for a mid…read moresized party to play together and have a great time. There are a few holes separated by stairs, so be ready to climb. The adventure was a lot of fun.

Great place to take a break from the beach. It has 18 holes that are very kid friendly and straight…read moreforward. It took us 2 hours to do for a party of 5 so make sure to eat before to prevent people getting hangry. It's lightly pirate themed and get ready to climb some stairs to get from hole to hole.