TourTruth score 7.2 out of 10
Photo 1 / 6
Charleston Harbor Tour and Dolphin Watch Cruise 90 min
TourTruth score 4.1 out of 10
Below average
224 reviews · Rated on 1 provider · How we score
- Mount Pleasant
- 1 hr 30 min
- Updated November 2, 2026
Cruise Charleston Harbor past historic forts and waterfront landmarks, hear local stories, and watch for dolphins along the way.
About this tour
See Charleston from the water on a 90-minute cruise through its storied harbor, where historic forts, grand waterfront homes, and a World War II aircraft carrier shape the view. Live narration from a licensed City of Charleston guide brings the city’s past and notable residents to life as the shoreline unfolds.
Pass Fort Sumter and Castle Pinckney, admire the antebellum homes along the Battery, and look for the USS Yorktown, High Battery, and Ravenel Bridge. Keep an eye on the water, too: dolphins sometimes swim alongside the boat. Choose a daytime departure from Aquarium Wharf or Patriots Point when booking, then settle in for fresh air, harbor scenery, and local stories. This Charleston Harbor Tour and Dolphin Watch Cruise offers an easy way to take in landmarks that define the city’s waterfront. Book your cruise and discover Charleston from a new perspective.
Highlights
- Admire Fort Sumter, Castle Pinckney, and the Battery from the water
- Watch for dolphins alongside the boat
- Hear stories of Charleston’s history and notable residents
- Pass the USS Yorktown, Ravenel Bridge, and other harbor landmarks
- Choose a departure from Aquarium Wharf or Patriots Point
What's included
Included
- Live narration by licensed City of Charleston tour guides
- 1.5-hour sightseeing cruise of Charleston Harbor
Ratings on each provider
The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.
-
View on ViatorViator
4.20 / 5 · 224 reviews
Important information
- Service animals are allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The tour is not wheelchair accessible; steps must be climbed to board
Show 4 moreShow less
- Children must be accompanied by a paying adult
- Up to two children may ride free per paying adult; free child tickets are for individual and family bookings only
- Children with free tickets still require a manifest seat and count toward the USCG persons-on-board limit
- Select Aquarium Wharf or Patriots Point as your departure location at checkout
Frequently asked questions
How long is the cruise?
The Charleston Harbor sightseeing cruise lasts 90 minutes.
Where does the cruise depart from?
Choose Aquarium Wharf or Patriots Point at checkout; check your ticket for the specific meeting point.
Can I see dolphins?
Dolphins may accompany the boat, but sightings are not guaranteed.
Is the cruise wheelchair accessible?
No. Steps must be climbed to board.
Can children ride free?
Up to two children per paying adult may ride free on individual and family bookings. Each child still needs a manifest seat.
How this score is calculated
This score is based on one provider. Viator rates it 4.20 from 224 reviews. We place that rating among all Viator ratings and weight it by its review count. If the tour is found on another provider later, both ratings are combined.
How the score works and rating distribution in Mount Pleasant
- Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
- Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
- Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
- The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 4.1.
Provider rating distribution in Mount Pleasant
How many tours in Mount Pleasant have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.
0
10
20
30
4.0
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.8
4.9
5.0
4.2
- GetYourGuide
- Viator
More Wildlife Watching in Mount Pleasant
TourTruth score 7.2 out of 10
TourTruth score 7.2 out of 10
from $49.82
on Viator