Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Rudee Tours

    4.3 (194 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Services - Rudee Tours

    Boat charters

    Rudee Tours Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Rudee Tours

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    LaQuencia S.

    The GUARANTEE WAS REAL! Don't skip this tourist excursion!!! This is a must! Take the family!! Take yourself!! Incredible experience! My first time being on the ocean, on the ocean during hurricane season and seeing dolphins both up close and in general! I can't contain my excitement!! Go! Go! Go! Go NOW!!!!!

    Family photo
    Ashley H.

    If I could give this 10 stars I definitely would! I have been vacationing at Virginia beach for over 10 years and not once have I indulge in this tour. My family and I bough tickets for this tour on September 21st and had a blast of a lifetime! I can definitely tell you no matter how many times we come back each year this will always be on our list! We purchased our tickets online and went and checked in at the office once we arrived. From there we were informed to head to the dock where there are signs posted for Rudee's line. While you are waiting in line you can enjoy the view of the water, luxury boats, and fish. You are supposed to arrive 30mins before hand so you can be standing in line for a while but luckily the line was getting longer so we were allowed to board the boat. Once you climb aboard they will take your picture and inform you (depending on your preference) which spot on the boat would be the best place to sit (Do you want a calmer trip, bumper one, etc.). The employees will introduce themselves and give you a summary of the trip and what you can expect along the way. If you are sitting in the the seat on the outside (closest to the water) you will get set either on your way out or the way back but they do give you options to move before taking off. The views of the oceanfront are great the speed of the board is totally thrilling and of course seeing all the dolphins makes it even more worth it. They will even take you all the way out to see the lighthouses and to the end of the public beach at 88th street. If all that wasn't enough on the way back they will kick up the speed and do some tricks so make sure you hold on! Please be sure to bring some cash with you as you can purchase the pictures that they took of you before the trip but also the 2 employees work for tips only. Tip: If you get nauseous or motion sick easily I would definitly suggest taking something before this trip otherwise you will be feeding the dolphins :-)

    Fort Story and Cape Henry Lighthouse from the water
    Starlite C.

    This is an annual event, where Rudy Tours provides a day on the water fishing for veterans wounded warriors, combat wounded veterans, and their families or accompanying caregivers to fish and create lasting memories. They do more than say that they support veterans, they actually take a day to provide this memorable experience every year, if you want to support a business that actively tries to support Veterans and their families and wounded warriors, please consider them next time you are booking a tour to watch dolphins or take a day out fishing with family and friends. This event is sponsored and hosted by the Coast Guard exchange and the Armed Services YMCA.

    Seasick scale.. good to know!
    Janice T.

    I've been on two Rudee tours. The first time was a dolphin tour. This time I decided to try out their whale watching tours. I have used another local company to do whale watching tours prior. I feel like Rudee's boats are bigger than the other company because there's a second level/top deck you can view the whales so you can switch up the angles. They also seem to have more seating on their boats (I didn't use them). There's an inside cabin if you aren't able to brave the cold or the elements. A snack bar is located inside the cabin. The two bathrooms are located at the stern. There are even some standing tables at the stern & a couple on the top deck. They have multiple vessels for the whale tours contingent upon the numbers. Tickets can be purchased online. If there are available spots left, tickets can be purchased at the office at the pier off Winston Salem Ave. Parking is free if you purchased a tour. Tours can be canceled due to strong/high winds, but will be rescheduled for another day. Those who are unable to attend the new date can request a full refund. However, if it's just raining & no strong winds are present the tours still continue. This company actually guarantees whale sightings or you you ride for free next time. The boat itself is very clean & well maintained. Bathrooms were very clean & fully stocked with supplies. When attending the whale tours arrive 30 minutes PRIOR to tour time, go straight to the box office to acquire your physical ticket to board. You must check in first. Temperature on the water is typically 10 degrees cooler so dress accordingly, especially in the winter. Think hats, scarves, gloves. They offer various tours from fishing, wildlife tours to pure entertainment of going fast if riding the Rudee rocket. Make sure to check out when the various seasons for the whale tours & other wildlife are as they are seasonal contingent upon what you wish to see or do.

    Renee S.

    This was our second time on the Rudee Rocket and it was just as thrilling and fun the second time around! Perfect way to see dolphins, have the thrill of being on a giant jet ski so to speak and cool down on a hot day by being DRENCHED!! The crew was great and the dolphins did their thing!! This is a must if you're in VA Beach!! So much fun!! To add for anyone wondering-I am not a huge fan of boats or deep water or thrill rides. I was fine on this and felt safe and had a blast!!

    Start
    Kenisha R.

    Great for the family Souvenirs on board The people were friendly, and the boat turned so everyone could have a view of the (sea creatures) dolphins It was a peaceful and incredible adventure A must-do in my book!

    My kids were thankful for the slushies and ac downstairs. They enjoyed the tour.
    Karina L.

    We had a nice smooth ride, helped by great weather and an expert captain/helmsman. We saw lots of dolphins on the 4pm tour. The sun was bright and hot but there is shade on the boat if you go downstairs or move with it. There are also slushies and other refreshments to help you cool off They maneuvered the boat to give all sides a chance to get some views and pictures/video. I would definitely do it again

    Heather B.

    Do not waste your time looking up another place for a tour... RUDEE TOURS is the best! Just book your tour now! I was looking for something to do while my in-laws were visiting. We decided a dolphin tour would be great. We booked online with no problems. The pricing was perfect! So perfect that this is going to be something we do all the time with friends and family and in our off time. We arrived 45 min early and boarded about 15 min prior to departure. It was perfect since they are operating at 50% capacity. I was actually a little bit worried at one point because I saw the amount of people and I thought to myself this has to be all on one boat. I booked because they were at 50% capacity and it seemed safe enough during Covid. All my worries went away when I realized that only half of us were going on one boat and the other half was going on a boat next to us. We found a seat all the way at the top to the front where it was just our family so we were not around anyone else. We had some great views just from that top. Then about 45 minutes into the trip I personally went downstairs and stood in a corner away from everybody else looking down at another level. If you're down on that lower level I warn you people will have their masks off because they're eating and drinking and you will also be around a lot more people because they all like to crowd around whenever they see it often so if you wanna have space I suggest you go up to the top. There is a restroom in board along with a cafe and seating indoors to warm up or get away from the heat and sun if needed. The crew was great. They took our picture before we got on the boat and sold it for $10 which I felt was very reasonable. The captain was amazing I could hear him letting the crew on the first level know when and where dolphins were. Seriously amazing!

    Unfortunately I don't recall the name of this bird. But it was cool to watch.
    Leslie G.

    My boyfriend bought whale watching tickets for me for my birthday last September. He scheduled our our tour for February 14th for Valentine's Day. Unfortunately 2 days before our tour was supposed to take place a rep from the business called and explained that the weather wasn't cooperating. The man was very polite and nice. So we rescheduled to 2/22/24. We arrived early as suggested. Wore and carried extra warm and water resistant clothing. We were greeted by a nice young woman at the ticket window and another as we boarded the boat. There was a group of physically challenged people in front of us. The staff was very good at helping them aboard. The trip out was great. It was too cold and we had a nice seat. We saw some great birds and we did get some humpback whale sightings. It was pretty exciting. As with any excursion or thing of this nature some of the others who booked the trip were rather rude. The Capt was very good making sure groups on each side of the boat had a good view of a tail, back, and blow hole spouting. The ride back, although a little rough and chillier, was still nice. We felt safe the whole trip and the staff on the boat was great. I highly recommend taking a tour with Rudee Tours. We will probably do a dolphin tour this summer.

    Cooler full of seabass
    Ieshia T.

    I had a really good time aboard. The captain definitely put us on the fish and I love how he came on the speaker to talk to us instead of just blowing the horn like other boats do. He updated it's on what he saw on the fish finder and when we would move to the next spot. The mates were very vigilant and quick to help when needed. I can't remember their names but one came around with a remora stories caught to show us. Such a gorgeous fish. They have so much patience and untangled so many of us that day. I'm looking forward to my next trip with them in a couple weeks

    Light house

    See all

    10 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cory O.
    0
    46
    65

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Eric H.
    0
    17
    28

    29 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 1

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Renee S.
    12
    66
    212

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 0
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Victor M.
    49
    28
    12

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Saw a whale what more can you say? It was nice to have a place to get out of the cold in the cabin.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Danny S.
    0
    346
    452

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of A C.
    0
    41
    25

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of S B.
    1
    99
    94

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Amy C.
    13
    88
    225

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Christina B.
    34
    106
    299

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of A F.
    7
    169
    2

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 5

    Rudee Tours Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Rudee Tours

    Trying to decide between the 1/2 day fishing during the day or the night fishing. Anyone have a preference or suggestion?

    Night fishing is usually better. Cooler waters usually mean more fish.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Rudee Tours

    This was our second time on the Rudee Rocket and it was just as thrilling and fun the second time around!

    Mentioned in 25 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    SailTime - Sailing the Chesapeake Bay with family and friends.

    SailTime

    (4 reviews)

    My wife and I have been sailing a few years on lakes in 25 footers and wanted to get out on some…read morebigger waters and on bigger boats. We also wanted formal training and certifications and we found this place online. We also thought seeing Virginia and the east coast a bit would have been a great time for my wife Brittany's birthday. So we flew to Virginia's SailTime courses instead of one of the the ones in our own state. We flew from California and I spoke with Connie and she was kind enough to let us stay on a 41 ft yacht (Adiona, a 41 ft Jenneua) for our stay in Virginia which saved us about half a grand on hotels. When we landed a lady named Brooke made sure we were comfortable and had everything we needed. When we got on board to unpack there was even a note waiting for us that said happy birthday. Brooke was a sweetheart for sure and we felt like family by the time we had set our bags down. She made sure of it. We met our captain the next morning. A man named Jim Lant who took us through our 101, 103 and 104 courses over the next 6 days. We had a GREAT time and I honestly didn't want to leave when we finished up our last tests. Those six days we sailed every day and every place we sailed too seemed to have friendly people there who all knew each other and our captain Jim. The first ocean sail my wife and I ever did together was from Norfolk to cape Charles and that's pretty cool. Well miss the people and sailing for sure! Everyone who loves sailing should come here and meet Connie, Jim and Brooke. You won't regret it and we won't ever forget it. Jim is the BEST captain.

    We went on a 3 hour sail from 9-12 on July 14, 2018. It was my husband and I and our 4 children…read moreages 6-15. This was truly an exceptional experience for all of us. Captain Jim was absolutely amazing. He was so patient and did such a fantastic job of teaching us about sailing and he allowed all of us to take part in one way or another. He was so good at including everyone and making sure each person received direct guidance from him. It's generally really hard to find activities that all 6 of us enjoy due to the age range but this turned out to be an absolutely perfect day. I would highly recommend Sailtime if you are thinking of trying this adventure! Working with them on scheduling was so easy and smooth as well. Be warned, you will want a sail boat afterward.....

    Lynnhaven Boat Ramp And Beach Facility - Overlooking the ramp on Lesner Bridge

    Lynnhaven Boat Ramp And Beach Facility

    (7 reviews)

    We hosted a fishing trip, and the accommodations were nice. The facility had excellent parking and…read morewas very clean. We enjoyed the crew that we had for our trip. The distance to other tourist options was very close to the pier and parking. Great time. Safe environment and easy to locate

    This review is for the "Beach Facility" portion of this spot. If you have a boat, I'm sure this is…read morea great place to launch your boat, but IF you have young kids and you want a hassle free beach experience, come to this spot! These are top 5 reasons why I love coming here: 1. Parking It only costs $3 for the whole day (until midnight, I believe). No need to keep plugging the meter. There's a parking machine located right by the entrance of the walkway to the beach. Can't remember if you need to place it on the dash, but why not? Just in case... 2. Public washrooms and showers There are washrooms with changing rooms, showers underneath the roof (on the other side of the washrooms) outside, equipped with the short shower heads to rinse your feet. ESSENTIAL with young kids. 3. Public beach access with tide pool The beach is the end of Chick's beach, right under Lesner Bridge. The bridge itself provides great shade on a portion of the beach, although a lot of people like to fish there too, so we usually end up moving a little further down. Also, depending on the time of day you go, there is a tidepool and the water is not as rough so it's relatively safe for the kiddos. Of course, still watch your kids. 4. Traffic Meaning, it's not crowded there at all! Only a handful of people the last couple of times we've been there. 5. American Brew The best part is coffee and bites is right next door! It's a short walk from the parking lot, but if you forget to pack a lunch, American Brew is located right at the corner of the street (you'll most likely see it before you turn in to the parking lot). They have great coffees, bowls and other bites. Summer is here so enjoy the sunshine and soak up every bit of that Vitamin Sea! Stay safe, Friends!

    Virginia Beach Watersports - Brothers having the time of their life tubing!

    Virginia Beach Watersports

    (11 reviews)

    My first experience was a great experience with Virginia Beach Watersports! A group of 8 of us went…read moreout on a Friday evening for a sunset pontoon ride, and it was honestly the perfect way to kick off the weekend. The location couldn't be better! They're located right in Sandbridge next to Baja, so it was super convenient to grab a couple of pizzas to bring along for the ride. We even brought cupcakes to celebrate a birthday. Highly reccomend this. Ryan was our boat driver, and he couldn't have been nicer. He made sure we were comfortable, gave us just enough info about the area, and let us enjoy the views at our own pace. The back bay is stunning. The peaceful water, gorgeous skies, and when the sun started to set, it was absolutely beautiful. I think we all had one of those "wow, we live here" moments. I'd recommend bringing a sweatshirt, since it does get chilly once the sun goes down! One thing I loved was how many options Virginia Beach Watersports has. Besides the pontoons, they've got jet ski rentals, watersports, kayaks, stand up paddle boards ... you name it. One day I'll definitely be back to try a jet ski day, just not quite yet! And the location. Being right next to the Baja is great if you want to continue the fun after your boat ride! If you're looking for something fun to do with friends or family that feels a little different but relaxing, I can't recommend this enough. Great location, great staff, and a gorgeous night on the water.

    This was our second time back to VB Watersports. Had a blast tubing with John on Back Bay. He was…read morevery personable, our 11 year old loved talking with him. Tubing was fun and exciting, but still safe. Highly recommend.

    American Rover - Forward Mast

    American Rover

    (56 reviews)

    We booked a 7.30 till 9.30 sunset criuse during Harborfest, an annual festival on the waterfront…read more We boarded at 7ish with maybe 30 to 40 other folks so it was not crowded on the boat and we had our choice of seats, nice chairs with backs and arm rests. The crew were very friendly. Especially Connor and Lauren, the bartender. There was a bar with snack concessions for purchase. The cruise began at 7.30 out into the harbor with narration by the captain of the history of the harbor, the various ships docked in the harbor and the many shipyards. We saw dolphins playing in the water and were able to see the festival attendees, vendors and hear the music from the shore. There was a musician on board who walked around playing guitar and singing after the narration. We would have preferred more history to the music but he was entertaining. They raised the sails once we got off the shore and that was cool. We were able to stay on the ship after docking to enjoy the drone show that was part of the Harborfest activities, which was impressive but also disappointing in that it only lasted a few minutes, maybe 5 at tops. But overall it was a great cruise, nice ship that was clean and well ran. The deck underneath was also very nice with cool furnishings and is where the bar and bathrooms were located.

    Absolutely amazing experience from check in to deboarding. The captain was knowledgeable and…read morefriendly along with the staff. My friend and I had an amazing time!! Well worth the price!

    Dream Vacations - Chick's Beach Travel - Photos of house I have cleaned

    Dream Vacations - Chick's Beach Travel

    (3 reviews)

    I booked a cruise with Dream Vacations in Summer of 2017 for an August 2018 itinerary. I picked the…read morecompany because I was aquatinted with owner Cory. I am an experienced cruiser with eight under my belt and have both used agents and booked on my own. I compare prices and typically find agents can be worth their fee for the value offered. Not all agents bring the same value, so I was thrilled to work with Cory and his wife and give them a try. From the very beginning of researching different cruise lines and itineraries Dream Vacations was on top of it. Typical communication was through email, but I also spoke with owner Cory as well. The research on itineraries, cruise lines and pricing is where a savvy agent makes the difference. The entire process was made easy and Cory also researched transportation options to the port. Prior to departing we received four industrial strength luggage tags with printed off info included that made it hassle free. Pro tip is pack light, one suit case max per passenger. Also in the packet was necessary documentation to board, called boarding documents. If 18 & over plan on obtaining a passport months in advance. Children under 16 may not be necessary, but original birth certificates required. I would recommended passports for traveling 8 and over with a 10 year expiration date. Our family had a great week in the Caribbean on Princess and recommend the line as a great middle to upper line option when cruising. Dream Vacations reviewed all lines and cabin options that fit our budget and they nailed it too! First time cruisers must understand it's necessary to build into the budget transportation, staff tipping excursions and souvenirs. All told the extras do add up, so be prepared. Our chocolate covered strawberries complimentary of Cory was a nice touch during the week. I found it necessary to reach out to Dream Vacations during the trip to receive documentation. It was swiftly handled within an hour. If you are considering a cruise then give Dream Vacations a shot at planning your adventure at sea. I recommend them and have confidence your experience will be as stellar as mine.

    Full disclosure, I've known Cory and Shellee, the Owners for years, long before they were travel…read moreagents. I think the travelling circus that my wedding and honeymoon became may have planted the "We can do this better" seed in their minds. And they do it far better than the all online, nothing worked as planned wedding/honeymoon I did back then. I had been leery of going on cruises, because after numerous 7-11 month long trips on Navy boats, and a couple years working offshore oil, the last thing on earth I wanted to do was get on another bleepin boat. Abby wanted to go on a cruise. She hates flying. I finally said OK, we'll try this. But then, work, reserves, job change, reserves, laid off, new job cross country moves (TWICE!) sick parents, hurricane damage to parent's house, etc basically kept happening. That said, Cory knew I needed to go on a vacation, since I hadn't had a non working vacation in five years and that my wife wanted to go swim with dolphins, and go on a cruise. We were talking about me going to Florida to go fix things at my parents house (working vacation strikes again) and basically planning things around my wife's work schedule. Cory said he knows of a cruise that would said out of Port Canaveral in Florida, I was already going to be there having driven down to work on my parents house, and would work time wise with Abby's job and meetings she had to be back for. About two hours later I get an email from Cory as I'm watching the football game and the price was far better than anything I could get on my own. So the next day I go over to Cory's office (this can be done online or on the phone, but it's about a block away so I just went over) and then we go through everything, plus as someone who has cruised a lot, he had lots of "pro tips" that made the cruise even better. I may have drunk texted him going "BOOK IT" but he waited until I wasn't a six pack of IPA into the Patriots game to make sure. People may ask "why do you use/pay a travel agent, the internet lets you do it yourself, etc" News flash. You are paying a travel agent even if you use Orbitz, company's website, anywhere. You just don't see/talk to them. They also don't tell you things like "do the dolphins in Freeport, it's cheaper, and there are things other than Dolphins you probably want to do in Nassau" I also didn't guess about what was a good cabin, should I get X Y or Z, whatever. Cory handled all that, and explained it all. And saved me a boat load of money over what I would have spent booking it myself. All the work I did was basically looking over the basics, and giving Cory my payment. That was it. I left his office with boarding passes, bag tags, everything I needed. Once we got on vacation, the cruise line had to change the itinerary due to a bad storm. Cory tracked that, updated my Dolphin shore excursion, and sent me the information. I didn't have to call anyone or do anything. I literally got a text/fb/email all pop on my phone going "Dolphins are now 10:30 on the new day in Freeport, it's all handled" And Abby got to swim with the Dolphins. We're going on a cruise again, the only question is where. We will be using Chicks Beach Travel for all our travel needs. They do more than cruises.

    Rudee Tours - tours - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...