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!

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.

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!

I took the Crystal Coast Lady Cruise in Beaufort. The boat is a great size and has seating on the…read moretop level and bottom level. Food was available to purchase but we were told we could bring our own food too. I liked that we could spread out and move around. I sat on the top deck to get a great view of the sights. I liked that each side got the same views as we turned around and came back the same way. I thought it was a great way to see the Rachel Carson Reserve and the waterway. I didn't see any wild horses but did see dolphins and birds. I enjoyed the ride with this company and would use them again to cruise 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.

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

My family and I enjoyed a charter tour with Captain Monty during our Emerald Isle vacation last…read moreweek and had an amazing experience. Our group included two adults, two adolescents, and two younger children and Captain Monty kept everyone engaged throughout the trip. He's super knowledgeable about the area and was full of interesting information. He was also the perfect blend of safety conscious, professional, laid back, and engaging. The tempo of the day was easy-going and carefree, and we never felt rushed or hurried. Upon meeting in the morning Captain Monty asked us what we hoped to see and he delivered on every single point: dolphins, the horses at Shackleford Banks, the Cape Lookout lighthouse, sand dollars and seashells. The booking process was a breeze and Captain Monty is an excellent communicator throughout the process. We definitely plan to take a future charter out with him upon our return. He's really fantastic!

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.

Captain John Blackwater showed us a great time. Informative, historical, scary and humorous. Highly…read morerecommend. Thank you for a great evening. Cindy

John was amazing tour guide as always! Love his storytelling and the pace and stying in character…read more I always take friends and family on this tour when they come from all over to visit us in Emerald Isle for the last 7 years. This is my favorite thing to do.

Fun for all! This is 100% geared towards kids, but Captain Spike definitely throws in some adult…read morehumor too. The trip is perfect amount of time for the kids to not get bored. Mrs Fettuccini was great and remembered every kids name. The treasure was icing on the cake - my kids loved it. Absolutely a must do when in the area.

This tour was amazing. Took the evening Ghost Float tour. It was fun exciting ghostly and had…read moregreat story's the staff was great. Definitely worth the visit.

This was what I needed getting out on the water was the highlight of my trip!…read more Thank you CA John for an awesome sunset tour it's a beautiful scene! Thank you so much!!! We brought a small cooler so we didn't get thirsty ... carry on carry off keep it clean! The tours are very reasonable $20-$25 a person on a smaller charming boat. I'd get advance tickets if you want to do this tour maybe holds 10-12 people, we had 7. I can't believe I didn't get a photo of the boat, ooops!

We were so exited to take the boat tour and see the wild horses. Unfortunately we didn't get to…read moresee any horses on this particular day. The tour guide said it was probably because it had been too hot and humid for the horses. We did get to see lots of birds. My only compliant about the tour was that it was very difficult to hear the tour guide over the sound of the boat engine. Waterbug Tours takes reservations and walk ups. I believe it was $18 a person for a 45-60 minute tour by boat that takes you out to the island and through the harbor. The inside of the boat was cleaned and sanitized between trips that took place every hour. I had a great time and learned a lot about Beaufort. I really wish we had been able to see some horses but that's not their fault. I'd totally take the tour again.

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!

My first trip to the NC coast, I did not know anything about the history of Beaufort or the area…read more After spending time with Rich, I feel like I am an expert! Wow, he is so knowledgeable about the history, architecture and even the cemetery. He explains everything from the unique fences around the homes to the lumber, chimney's and roofs of the different period homes in the area. He even throws in stories about the residents, such as the nurse who hid valuable information in her skirts! This tour is MUCH more personable and informing than the short bus ride with tons of other people. You can ask questions and get an informed answer when you ride in Rich's nice cart. I highly recommend the golf cart tour in Beaufort. You will come away with a better understanding regarding the history and people of this interesting city, as well as advise on places to see and eat in the surrounding area. Well worth the time and $$.

I recently took the Beaufort Cart Tour with Rich. I had a great time and got to see more of…read moreBeaufort than expected as we took a detour to the Beaufort Hotel to pick up others then made some stops along the way. Rich was enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the town. We went to Hammock House that is one of the oldest houses in the state. It was used by the Union Army in the Civil War. It is thought to be the "White House" that was used to help those at sea navigate the shoals and harbor entrance. I am interested in architecture so the tour was tailored to that somewhat. Beaufort houses tend to have a white fence with sharp tops so that the chicken and pigs didn't get loose. Neighbors were allowed to kill the animal to eat as long as half was donated to the church. The three sided roof is another Beaufort style to cover the front porches as a form of air conditioning. Some houses are a story and a jump which is a one story house with a sleeping space for children The Old Burying Ground was interesting learning about. Captain Otway Burns is buried with a cannon on his grave. I got attraction and restaurant recommendations too. This was a fun and educational tour that I highly recommend.