Such an enjoyable experience! The owners are the kindest people, and they are very accommodating…read more Not to mention they have a great playlist they play during the cruise! It was an added bonus that we saw SO MANY dolphins. Highly recommend, best of Swansboro!

We had a wonderful sunset cruise tonight. Their was about 13 of us and we boarded at 6:30. The…read moreowners had bottled waters in a cooler for everyone. They were very nice and at one point they stopped and told us some history about Blackbeard. They also told us about Bear Island and showed us the Emerald aisle bridge. They went over safety regulations before hand and had life jackets for everyone on board if needed. The not had a bathroom and the seats were very comfy. This is a beautiful 90 minute cruise to see such beautiful landscape. I recommend this as a nice thing to do before a dinner on the water.

Randal and Crysta were amazing! So nice and helpful. I would recommend this outfit anytime!! In…read morefact, I want to work with them!! Lol Doreen B.

Short Version: There's a strong trend in the reviews for this vendor. Many people get their boats…read moreand have a good time. But Crystal coast Boat Charters has a problem with communication, and if anything at all goes wrong, you'll find yourself wondering what just happened and be left without a boat. We booked a boat for rental on Friday, May 28, for our family coming in to town for Memorial Day weekend. We had a couple calls with Krista over the next couple weeks, up until two days before the rental. During that call she told me the person who was bringing the boat (I think she said her husband, but not sure if I remember that right) had a broken phone, but that she promised to get me "some phone number so you could reach him." Not exactly confidence inspiring, but stuff happens, so I rolled with it. I went back to other reviews after the crash and burn and found this broken phone thing was a common issue that they still haven't fixed. The day of the rental came and I finally received a phone call about an hour before our rental time. The gentleman who called me was bewildering at best. Instead of clearly telling me what was broken and whether it could be fixed soon, I got a bizarre set of contradictions ranging from, "I have a guy in Swansboro hooking me up" (With what? A new boat? A part?), to "I'm trying to just delay an hour" and then ending with, "I'm shootin for the stars, man, I just dunno. I'm a nice guy, though, I'm an owner operator." It was difficult to get further details out of him. As we got closer to delivery time, I texted. No response. Then I called at the time he was supposed to deliver the boat. "Sorry man, I'm not 1000% sure it's going to happen today." I said "ok, if it isn't, then do you know anyone else that rents boats?" Instead of responding to the question, he said "Gimme a few minutes man, I'll call you back." When he called me back, he said, "We got it and we'll be at X launch point in 30 minutes." When I told him, "We ordered it for Y launch point," he replied, "Well that's news to me!" But we expected to meet him there in 30 minutes. 30 minutes later, I received a vague text message, "The hub is done sorry I will call you." I tried calling him and he stopped picking up the phone. Not knowing exactly what that text message meant, I texted Krista indicating what a stunning failure this had been and received a text full of excuses. Mechanical issues are out of people's hands. I get that. But communication is fully in the business's hands. Bottom line: this company is a slap dash operation who won't take responsibility for their failures, and will just stop talking to you when everything founders.

A-mazing! We went out last week for the 7 hour trip with Captain Jess and even though the weather…read morewas not cooperating everyone in our group of six has been raving about it since. The entire day was a flexible adventure based on our interests. Captain Jess was waiting for us at the dock with a hands-on lesson about the very local marine life (he collected everything from under the dock we were sitting on). He helped us get settled into the boat with all of our belongings, lunch and drinks, reviewed the safety rules and we were off! We had two 13 year old girls with us so the wild horses were a must. We also caught a fish, collected beautiful seashells, learned how to find clams (we took home a few dozen for dinner), tried our hands at cast netting, checked out the Cape Lookout lighthouse, and learned the names of some local birds. It may sound overwhelming but we never felt rushed, things seemed to flow naturally. If we were unsure what to try next Captain Jess was quick to provide suggestions without being pushy. The best part was Captain Jess' enthusiasm and knowledge about everything we did and all of the questions we asked. He genuinely loves what he does and it shows! Suggestions: Wear water shoes, flip flops will work but something that stays on your foot is best. Wear your bathing suit and clothes that dry quickly for getting on and off the boat. Get a fishing license - you'll never find a better teacher and you WILL catch something. (FYI: I've been a Yelp member for a few years but this tour is what finally motivated me to write my first review.)

I highly recommend these tours for all ages. My wife and I took my parents (both in their 70's) and…read moreour two little boys (both under 7h, and everyone had an incredible time and learned a lot. I highly recommend hunting for sand dollars and seashells. Our kids walked away with memories and an education on the ecosystem that will lost them a life time.

Our family enjoyed a wonderful sunset cruise with Captain Mike and Admiral Shannon. Mike and…read moreShannon are extremely friendly and knowledgeable. We learned a lot about the sailboat, ICW, and area itself. 10 out of 10 would recommend this adventure. We'll be back next year!

From the owner: Swansboro By Sail is a sailing experience located in downtown Swansboro. We offer a verity of…read moredifferent charters to fit your needs and budget.

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!

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!

Awesome fishing trip with Captain Rob. Caught several red and black drum. He knows fish and he…read moreknows the area. Laid back, fun and extremely knowledgeable! You can't go wrong by booking this charter. The best around so look no further!!!

Captain Rob took my family of 5 with three boys, 8,6,and 3 out for what turned into the best half…read moreday of our Emerald Isle vacation. He catered to the needs and dreams of young boys at ever turn, and it was evident he knows the water and channels of the area like the back of his hand. We saw dolphin, hunted shark teeth on a sandbar island, did a little fishing, dropped crb traps, and he taught he kids about all the animal life we encountered including a massive manta ray, and hundreds of fiddler crabs we scooped up for bait. Thanks for filling our day with adventure and delight!!

Outstanding boat tour. Mark was a great captain, fishing, swimming, found dolphins, and shared…read moreinteresting insights about the area. a great birthday present for our grandson.

The worst place you could possibly choose on a "vacation". Today we were taken out with insane…read morewinds, rip currents, and a "tour guide" that was too pre-occupied with his Instagram and Snapchat than the group. I was about 30 minutes behind the group by myself nearly the entire time. It was the most challenging trip any of us (11 of us) have ever been on. The entire trip was a struggle and most of us suffered. We wholeheartedly believe we shouldn't have been taken out that day and I think the company was more concerned with making money than our safety. At one point my mother in law couldn't go any further and the "guide", tanner, was so far ahead that he had no clue anyone was behind and struggling. She was exhausted, worried that she'd have a heart stroke, and unable to move forward. One of us had to paddle up to let this incompetent "guide" to help her. He didn't have a tow rope, in fact, I'm not even sure what the point of him being there was. For half of the trip the current and winds were so strong that we were paddling and still moving backwards. It was irresponsible for them to allow us to go out. When Tanner was confronted by the group he quite literally said "but I checked the internet and it said the winds were 10mph". This company DOES NOT test the water before taking a massive group of beginners. At the very least he should have found a route that wasn't AGAINST the wind and current the entire time. If I could give them 0 stars I absolutely would. Unbelievable. Go to the place across the street instead.

So grateful for these people and this facility. They are doing such a great service to the animals…read moreand the community. My cat unfortunately catches a bird every year it seems and I have to make the annual trip to Possumwood. This year it was a baby dove. The animals are really happy here and are given a second chance at life. You can see how much the employees love and care for the animals, really warms the heart! Thank You Possumwood!!

Our visit to Possumwood Acres was nothing short of extraordinary! My brother really loves owls, so…read morefor Christmas I contacted multiple wildlife centers in multiple states to find a place where he could hold one. Possumwood Acres was by far the most personable and accommodating of all the centers I contacted. We reserved a private tour of the reserve and a one-on-one with Pixie, their Barn Owl. What we got was so much more! We arrived the day after Christmas, bringing two of our friends along. We were greeted by turkeys & guinea fowl along with friendly human faces! Tonya, my point of contact, introduced herself and was our guide for the day. She took us all around the reserve where we saw falcons, hawks, vultures, crows, geese, swans, ducks, goats, pigs, peacocks, guinea fowl, turkeys, bunnies, squirrels, kestrels, pigeons, opossums, screech owls, woodpecker, kite, ducklings, and a lovely wood duck named Snuggles. Tonya brought us up close to everything and let us pet or hold as much as we wanted and was safe for the animals. We learned so much about all the animals, not just the species we were meeting, but about the individual animals and their stories as well. Most of them had permanent injuries, and it was really touching to hear how Tonya and the staff cared for them, giving them a home when they weren't able to have one in the wild. Tonya's passion was infectious and we wandered the reserve with her for two hours, never feeling rushed and always looking forward to the next animal she would show us. The grand finale was a one-on-one with Pixie, their Barn Owl! My brother held Pixie on his arm as Tonya educated us on barn owls, and some of Pixie's fun peculiarities. We were all able to pet her and take as many pictures as we wanted. It. Was. Awesome. The whole experience was very personal and interactive. It never felt like a packaged show or scripted tour. We had real interactions with the animals, not just a few pets through a fence. For a place that runs entirely on donations and is dedicated to animal rehabilitation and education, we were given the star treatment. It's crazy and so impressive how much this place accomplishes with so little. A huge thank you to Possumwood Acres for making our experience unforgettable!