standing on the deck area waiting for your time is torture when its hot and sunny! they should have somewhere with shade to wait especially since it's a family friendly activity. my daughters had a nice time and the staff was so friendly! that's a huge plus. we saw dolphins so that was the best part of the day read more

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Such an awesome experience! The crew were all amazing, very personable, and interactive. They also gave us some great recommendations for restaurants that we tried through out our stay down there. The boat itself was beautiful! Was able to see plenty of dolphins, and really enjoy the perfect weather we got blessed with! Beverages are available for purchase on board. Totally worth the every penny and can't wait to come back and try out on of their night time tours! read more

The Schooner Pride - Sailing Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Nice trip even in 48 f degree day. We saw lots of dolphins. The crew was great and the Captain was very nice.

This was a last minute decision and I'm glad we did it! The sailboat was large and reasonably comfortable. We had a lovely date for sailing and the crew was really personable. 2 hours did seem a little much as there's no narration and we saw little to no wildlife (just a pelican which was pretty dang cool). I understand that seeing dolphins and such is never a guarantee so we were a little sad but overall enjoyed the experience. read more

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The captain and crew were very friendly and capable. My son got to join the crew raising the sail. We enjoyed the experience and would recommend this tour to anyone who wants a relaxing experience out on the water. It felt like a 1:1 tour rather than a group. read more

The captain and crew were great. The boat is lovely . It's a very chill, relaxed 90 minutes, we saw a pod of dolphins which was cool. If you are looking for excitement this is not the tour for you, if you want a relaxing time on the water then you're in the right place . read more

Captain Dan and the crew were amazing! Answered everyone's questions and were great at that they do! Felt safe the whole time and loved getting to explore the area on a boat! read more

We live here in Low Country and had visitors from out of town. We thought that a sailboat adventure would be a great daytime ( 2-hour) diversion for all of us. The boat is pretty nice and the crew and captain are more than accommodating and helpful. We set off on a nice light breeze perfect for sailing. Our complaint is simple. WE NEVER LEFT THE HARBOR. We just tacked back and forth in the middle of the harbor. We never got past Pickney Island. The final 30 minutes were spent on a slow motorized crawl back to the docks. We never lost sight of the Aquarium. There never seemed to be an attempt to head out of the harbor. When we asked we were given some bullsh*t about winds not permitting a course out of the harbor. Are you kidding? It's not that technical a job to head out of the harbor!!! If you are hoping to get out to the open ocean, don't book. read more

Captain Dan was great, the crew was awesome, and overall had the best time. It was my favorite experience in Charleston and would definitely do it again and recommend to anyone. read more

The Schooner Pride - Views from the ship - Sailing Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Did see dolphins on the dolphin cruise and crew was friendly however do think $8.00 for two waters was a bit high. Any other tour on a blazing hot day in a boat water has always been offered free and think many people were taken by surprise they were charged $4 a bottle. I wish it was made clearer that water was chargeable with all other drinks offered ( I do agree there should be a charge for all other drinks especially adult beverages but the water or have a list with costs before you offer water or tell people they will be charged when it's presented like it's complementary. They answer all your questions but don't point anything out unless you ask.. but was still a nice time but again for kids might be more fun to be on something more interactive . read more

Great day on the water, friendly attentive staff & nice Capt. Dan, highly recommended

When I was researching all the things to do in Charleston- this one stood out. I don't think I realized how much I wanted to go sailing! I've never been sailing on a sailboat (I have toured sailboats in port) and I honestly think this was a bucket list item I didn't even know was on the list! Because this tour was that good! Easy to find- right next to the aquarium, easy boarding. They have drinks available for purchase and try to grab those orders right away as we are leaving the dock. We motored out passed the bridge and they opened the sails up and let them fill with wind. It was a perfect night for it- the wind didn't really die down at all, which apparently can happen. You could tell the crew were passionate about being out on the water and were excited at what a beautiful evening it was. The sunset was a little lost behind some clouds- but I managed to grab some photo's before it slipped away and the pink clouds around us after were stunning. We saw dolphins a couple times and the 2nd time they were right next to the ship! I was just so content tonight and that's a rarity lately. It was a perfect birthday gift and I am so happy I got to go!!! I would do it again in a heartbeat! Highly Recommend! read more

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This is such a hidden surprise! After years of visiting Charleston we were looking for something different. This was such a fun way to enjoy the Harbor. The dock is a little out of the way but we took a bike taxi to help save some time. So worth it! Our captain Sarah and her crew were friendly and knowledgeable. It was a great afternoon on the water. read more

The Schooner Pride - Sailing Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

I planned a weekend getaway for Mother's day and the sunset sail was the kick off of our Friday night. We had such a wonderful experience! We dressed for the heat of Charleston but brought jackets due to their recommendations of the chill on the water. It is not a "guided" tour but all of the crew are willing to answer any questions. The sheer beauty and atmosphere was enough to keep us constantly smiling! Aside from the views, a wonderful gentleman brought a cooler of small tapas that he shared with his date and then the rest of the guests around him! Such a great idea that we will remember for next time! TOTALLY WORTH IT! read more

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We enjoyed a July sunset cruise around the Cooper River on the Schooner Pride. The crew, weather, and views were all fantastic. I appreciated the selection of local beers to purchase. I did feel that the sail was incredibly crowded; I would personally would have preferred something more intimate. (That's my issue, not the fault of the crew.) We were able to find a spot to sit, but quite a few guests had to stand (or sit on the deck) during the sail. There weren't any cushions or anything, so I'd bring a stadium cushion next time to sit on. I enjoyed the sail and would go on Schooner Pride again. read more

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Great couple of hours on the water! Beautiful day! Loved that it was not a typical Harbor Cruise narrrated, but any questions that we had were answered. Captain Andy and his mates, Juliana and Dan, were awesome! A great way for us to celebrate our anniversary! Thanks!!! read more

We were running 3 minutes late for the 7pm departure with a party of 8 people. At 6:55pm the boat called to confirm that we would be coming and we let them know we were a few blocks away and walking with someone who had recently sprained their ankle and in a walking boot. They told us it was ok. We arrived at 7:03 and the boat was pulling away from the dock. We called their customer service to get a refund and explained that not only were we only 3 minutes late but had also received a call from the Captain who we confirmed with that we were only a few blocks away. Then they sent us this snarky response - note the acknowledgment of the person in our group with the walking boot. Why call and confirm if we are showing up if you are going to leave us behind anyways?? There are too many other hospitable companies and experiences that care about their customer service in Charleston to waste your money with Schooner Pride. read more

The Schooner Pride - Sailing Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Fabulous time aboard the Schooner Pride! The crew was amazing! Erin and Jackson were knowledgeable and polite. The captain was very nice and eager to share her sailing knowledge. The day was hot but the breeze really kept things comfortable. We saw many dolphins and one actually jumped into the air! Throughly a wonderfully memorable time in Charleston! Highly recommend. read more

I write this review as I stand 3 minutes late for the sunset cruise my party of 8 was supposed to board. We have been looking forward to this boat ride for nearly a month - as we are celebrating my sisters birthday. We walked here and my brother, (who has a sprained ankle) held us up a few minutes. The captain gave us a call while we were minutes away and we explained the situation and he said okay. Fast forward, as we arrived, we literally watched the boat sail away without us. We paid in full weeks ago for this boat ride and they didn't even give us a curtesy call letting us know they would be leaving without us. We're really disappointed and for others looking to book through Schooner - all of their documentation says to be there at 7pm but it does not state that they will leave at that time or without passengers. read more

We had a great time on this sailboat. Beautiful boat and a great crew. Very friendly and interactive experience. Captain Andrew was our favorite. Highly recommend for a relaxing and unique experience. We had a baby with us and they were very helpful with storing the stroller. Great service and a great time. We will definitely be back next time we visit Charleston. Thanks for having us. read more

Just came Back from vacation and I have to say the sunset cruise was the highlight of our trip . Friendly crew good music and we were blessed with the most beautiful night . Sunset cruise is a must read more

This was the scary cruise with my date--no, she was not scary---read on. As it was Halloween time, it was not the day or the sunset cruise. There was a licensed tour guide who gave lots of interesting information about the ghosts of Charleston and even the Yorktown (a WW2 aircraft carrier at Patriot's Point). A bit chilly but the crew brought my date a blanket and later I requested one. They bring you wine or beer (cash bar--cost not included in the boat ride's ticket) and this, as well as all the rest of the service during this two hour tour were good. Anything on the water is good, isn't it, and who would think of spooky nighttime cruise for Halloween? I thought it a good idea, and I still do. Should have dressed even warmer as the temperature had taken a sudden drop---my problem, not theirs, of course. Quite a very good recommendation from me! read more

Please be aware of this tour. I have two words for it: MONEY TRAP. They advertise their tour costs to be lower than the actual price of the tour at different tour counters and their own brochure. We booked on an especially windy day, but because of their NO CANCELLATION, NO REFUND policy, we decided to go forward with it instead of forfeit the $100. We set sail and here is the part that made me write this review. We didn't really see much because it was windy, fine. However we spent the last 40 minutes of the sail going back and forth in a zig zag close to where we docked. This was ridiculous and a waste of time. If you cannot sail or give a decent sightseeing tour of the harbor, cancel the trip! No, because they know you cannot cancel, they will still move forward with the trip and give you a mediocre tour. I contacted the tour company afterwards and basically they said 'look at all of our great reviews! ....so basically what's wrong with us?! DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME, ENERGY OR MONEY ON THIS TOUR. read more

The captain has jokes! I love it, great crew. Just nice to sit and relax. And sailboats are awesome!

Overall was ok, safe and nice crew. I especially liked Erin's kindness and her performance to raise the sail up. The one thing that kept in my mind is that the captain seems like not wanting to small talk Asians. I clearly saw him talking here and there a lot of passengers, even grabbed someone who was looking at somewhere else. I was expecting him to talk to us with smiling but when he saw we're Asians, he just passed us and grabbed the next people. I still remember how he was. read more

Absolutely wonderful experience! My husband and I recently went to Charleston for our honeymoon and we decided to go sailing to see more of the harbor. The captain and crew were very kind and accommodating. They always kept us updated on what was happening and made sure we were comfortable. The Pride was beautiful and fulfilled a dream of mine to be on a sailing ship. We went on the Dolphin Cruise and saw a handful of wild dolphins! They were far away and sometimes hard to see, but it was still a neat experience and being on the schooner was definitely worthwhile. We also loved the interactive experience and being able to help raise the sails. The ride was a solid two hours, so my husband and I felt as though it was worth the money we paid. The boat was not crowded on the particular day we went, so there were plenty of seats and we were able to change seats/move around on deck often. It is not a "guided" or narrated tour, but the crew was very knowledgeable in answering questions. Bring sunscreen because there is no consistent shade, and bring a jacket because the breeze on the water can be chilling. Overall, it was very peaceful and relaxing! Highly recommend! read more

Disappointing sunset cruise. PROS: - The Schooner is beautiful. - The crew of 3 does a good job of handling the vessel. - Watching the sails being raised and lowered with volunteer help was fun to watch. - Refreshment service was well done. - The sunset was gorgeous. CONS: - No narration at all. The quiet crew members will answer questions if asked, but no information is volunteered. - The boat stays far away from either shore and, since Charleston has no skyline aside from church steeples, there is little to see from that distance. - We saw one dolphin and the sunset on a 2-hour cruise and that was about all. It was amazingly boring for a sailing cruise. - Overpriced compared to the excellent Charleston Harbor Tour which is fully narrated, engaging throughout and about half the price. We've been on several daytime and sunset cruises in New York City, St. Lucia, Key West and elsewhere. I would rate this the least rewarding. read more

We booked the 10:30 am dolphin sight seeing harbor cruise. It advertises that you sail past several Sights such as Ft Sumter, Ravenel Bridge, and etc. We were excited to see these sites from the water as we didn't have time to see them individually. The day we went there was NO wind. Instead of canceling or refunding they kept it as scheduled. The boat has a diesel motor so we motored out to the middle of the harbor, put up The sails and they sat there limp. We literally just sat there in the sun not going anywhere. I could here the baptism and crew talking about not being able to do any sailing. They were praying dolphins would show up and save the day; they didn't. We fondly motored for sbout 2 minutes to a different spot and again just sat there baking in the sun. Finally they head back to the dock after sn hour. We tipped the deck mates (wasn't their fault) and then called the tour company to inquire about a refund. Kathy said she would have a supervisor call me; he didn't. I finally called back and asked about a refund and Kathy said uhh that ain't going to happen. This cruise is a joke. Don't waste your money. read more

Captain Andrew and his mates, Dan & Erin, went above and beyond to make sure all guests had a memorable and pleasant sailing trip on the PRIDE today. Friendly and skilled crew provided a relaxing sail, even in high wind. Highly recommend! read more

I would recommend this activity when visiting Charleston- it is a great experience and a different way to view the city. It really provides a relaxing, fun adventure and a great memory of our trip. We went for a 1pm Sunday "Dolphin tour" but unfortunately there were no dolphins. We actually got caught in a rain/thunder storm and had to end the tour about 30-45 minutes early. As a result, crew was very nice an comp'd our drinks. Although we ended early, I still really enjoyed the time we had on the water. As other say, it is not overly crowded. We had a nice area to spread out and enjoy ourselves. We made reservations a few hours before on the day of the tour but the tour seemed full, so I would recommend calling/scheduling ahead. It is a cash bar and they have wine, beer, water and some soft drinks. They also allow you to bring your own food onboard (they allowed us to bring on a cooler of food). Departure is very close to the aquarium and there is a parking garage nearby which is nice and convenient. You could make a nice afternoon out of Schooner Pride and hanging at the aquarium. read more

I'm sure the tour is fine, however, the complete lack of human compassion by the staff is my gripe. If you are travelling from out of town, make sure that you are 150% sure there is no way you will ever need to cancel. Due to COVID-19 and 90% of our party losing their jobs because of this, our trip had to be cancelled. Even though I booked in early February and tried to cancel 3/18 for a June excursion, they refused to refund me over $500 which would have been extremely helpful for those of us facing unemployment for the unforeseen future. Instead they offered me a gift card.... so you know, if 10 of us just happen to travel from Philadelphia to Charleston one day, that will be helpful. (extreme sarcasm) What would have been helpful is a refund to my credit card since they will be able to re-book that date and make that money back. It really irritates me that someone can actually listen to another person in tears begging for a refund and still say "No, I'm sorry, this is our policy". Thanks for your complete lack of compassion and understanding. I'm sure your gift card will do a lot of good when we need to pay our actual bills. read more

Day before our trip we got an email that said the boat was in the shop. Went to a travel agency who told us they had been taking reservations and cancelling right before the trip for a month. By the time they let us know everything else was sold out. This was our anniversary trip and this was what I was most excited about. It's a crappy way to do business. read more

Great boat ride. Perfect length. Complimented amazingly by Tanya and Royce (wine stewards). Will return again soon! They also have a dolphin tour which may appeal to the kids! read more

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We loved, loved. LOVED being out on this sailboat! We saw numerous sightings of dolphins and pelicans, the captain and the crew were very friendly and nice to talk to, we had such a great time, it was so relaxing, would definitely recommend! read more

Very enjoyable! Our captain and crew were both friendly and capable. Some guests asked to work the sails and were obliged.. Lovely sail our toward Ft. Sumpter and back. Location to board the boat is hard to find. I'd describe it as sort of behind the Charleston Aquarium. read more

We did the sunset cruise last night. It was very enjoyable. They had a great selection of drinks. The crew was very polite and professional. It got a little cold so make sure you bring a light jacket as it's always cooler on the water. The crew had blankets on board as well. We definitely enjoyed it and will go again. read more

We had a sunset cruise scheduled at 6:30, when we showed up at 6:20, a man informed us that the boat's engine had broken down (which i understand no one can control) but it was a hassle to get to the dock to make it for something we didn't even end up doing. They had our information (email and phone) and didn't even think to tell us beforehand that the cruise would be cancelled. Most places like this offer 10% off your next ride or something- they didn't offer anything. Really disappointed considering we traveled all this way to do that. read more

We sailed on the Pride in early October and took our Jack Russell Dexter along ,dogs are welcome.The all female crew were amazing so very nice to everyone.Its not a guided tour but they will answer any questions you might have.I learned a lot about how a big harbor like Charleston works,fascinating stuff.Although it was raining that day we saw a lot of dolphins and are spirits weren't dampened Dexter, sadly was lol he hates rain.It was a great time well worth the cost. Oh I almost forgot I volunteered to hoist the sails great fun. Go if you get the chance. read more

The Schooner Pride - Jeff Dexter and Mindy - Sailing Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

We went on the sunset cruise as a family. There weren't any other kids on board, but the crew made my eight and eleven year olds feel so welcome. They got to help raise the sails and take turns at the wheel. The Pride is beautiful, spacious and very clean. I can't say enough good things about the crew. I personally prefer that the cruise wasn't narrated. The crew offered plenty of conversation about the surroundings and answered all questions. A peaceful and gorgeous way to see Charleston from the water. read more

The Schooner Pride - Kids got a chance as captains! - Sailing Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

During our vacation to Charleston in late Spring we really wanted to go out and try to see dolphins. As soon as I saw this tour I had to book an afternoon sail for the family, we've taken tours on Tall Ships for other vacations and love the experience. This trip was the best Tall Ship sail we've ever been on. The boat carries less than 40 people and so the trip seems more intimate than the big boats that other tours offer. The crew was professional and it was a blast to have some of the passengers raise the sails. I don't think that we saw many dolphins but we had an absolute gorgeous afternoon for a sail in the harbor and since the Schooner Pride isn't a huge ship the crew had a chance to really talk to all the passengers and even shared a little about their passion for sailing Tall Ships. In my opinion I would say this trip should be required for anyone coming into Charleston that wants to see the harbor and families of all ages will love the experience. read more