Charleston

15 Best Charleston Harbor Cruises

The harbor cruises: tour boats and schooner sails past Fort Sumter, where the Civil War’s first shots landed. The canvas adds something to the history.

1.Charleston Harbor History Day-Time or Sunset Boat Cruise

Discover Charleston’s history and scenic beauty on a 90-minute boat cruise, passing forts, historic homes, and bridges, with optional sunset views.

Most Popular★ 4.5

“The person we had was very knowledgable about the history of Charleston and also gave us alot of great info and trivia about the city and its history.”

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2.Charleston Eco Boat Cruise with stop at Morris Island Lighthouse

Discover Charleston’s natural beauty on a 2.5-hour eco boat cruise, with wildlife sightings, Morris Island Lighthouse stop, and expert guides for authentic experiences.

★ 5.0

“Very informative and a different kind of tourist experience. Our guide Chris obviously enjoys leading the tours and has many anecdotes and local lore to impart.”

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3.Charleston: Daytime or Sunset Historic Harbor Cruise

Discover Charleston’s history and scenic harbor views on a 1.5-hour daytime or sunset cruise aboard a vintage-style boat, with insightful narration and wildlife sightings.

★ 4.5

“The crew were wonderful! The cruise was great, and we even saw many dolphins! The Captain was very knowledgeable on everything we saw and passed not to mention a BEAUTIFUL sunset! Highly recommend!”

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4.Charleston Harbor Sunset Cruise

Experience a relaxing 2-hour sunset cruise in Charleston, seeing iconic landmarks, wildlife, and enjoying a romantic waterway escape for $60.

★ 5.0

“Capt JP and Victor were amazing hosts. Learned a lot of history from JP and Victor was engaging and entertaining! Definitely booking again if we get the chance to come back!”

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5.Charleston Water Taxi Cruise with Dolphin Sighting

Discover Charleston by water on this affordable water taxi cruise, with chances to see dolphins, visit top landmarks, and enjoy scenic harbor views.

★ 5.0

“It’s a nice ride we were lucky enough to see some dolphins. Would have been nicer if the crew was telling us the different buildings etc that we were passing as they did when I rode in the past.”

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8.Afternoon Schooner Sightseeing Dolphin Cruise on Charleston Harbor

Experience Charleston's harbor aboard a classic tall ship for 1.5 hours, enjoying scenic views, dolphins, and a relaxed sailing atmosphere.

★ 4.5

“The captain and crew were very knowledgeable and interacted with all the passengers. My husband loved getting to help hoist one of the sails and was surprised at how hard that job was. The crew made it look so easy! The weather was perfect and…”

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11.Pirates of Charleston: Pirate Adventures and River cruises

Experience a fun-filled pirate adventure on Charleston’s Ashley River with costumes, games, and scenic views—perfect for kids and families seeking authentic fun.

★ 5.0

“From the jump they were entertaining the kids and parents. They made every kid (which ranged from 2 to 8 year olds) feel included and fully immersed in the adventure. It was a memory our daughter will never forget. Also love that she’s started calling…”

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12.Charleston: Schooner Sailing Experience & Dolphin Watch

Experience Charleston Harbor on a classic schooner, hoist sails, spot dolphins, and enjoy scenic views in this relaxing 1.5-hour sailing adventure.

★ 4.6

“My family thoroughly enjoyed our trip(including two teens)! We liked that it was not “guided” with someone talking the whole time, but the captain and the two mates circulated, speaking to everyone and answering questions. We got a couple of fantastic restaurant suggestions, too! This…”

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13.Charleston: Sunset Harbor Cruise

Experience stunning Charleston harbor views on a 2-hour sunset cruise for $60. Enjoy scenic sights, dolphin sightings, and a relaxed atmosphere with knowledgeable guides.

★ 4.8

“Captain Mike and his crew were the best!! They went above and beyond to make the cruise memorable!! A lot of fun!”

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14.Charleston: Historic City Tour and Harbor Cruise

Discover Charleston’s charm with this combined land and sea tour. Enjoy historic sights, harbor views, expert guides, and authentic experiences for $71.

★ 4.5

“We really enjoyed the city tour. Our guide was excellent and very informative. The harbor tour was also good, but not as good as the city tour. The harbor guide spoke so fast that it was difficult to follow.”

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More Charleston Harbor Cruises

5.0Charleston Harbor Speed Boat Adventure Tour2 hours (approx.)$102.42 4.51.5-Hour Charleston Harbor Cruise with Live Narration1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)$40.00 3.5Charleston Sunset Blues & BBQ Dinner Cruise$72.00 5.0Private Folly Beach Dolphin Cruise (up to 12)1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)$55.00 5.0Private BYOB Afternoon Harbor Sail On 50ft Sailing Yacht Fate2 to 4 hours (approx.)$599.00 5.0Charleston: Private BYOB Luxury Yacht Cruise2.5 hours$500 5.0Private Afternoon Harbor Cruise on Kismet for parties up to 152 hours (approx.)$1,549.00 5.0Charleston: Harbor Bar Pedal Boat Party Cruise1.5 hours$66 4.2Charleston: Haunted History Harbor Cruise$45 5.0Charleston: Morris Island Dolphin Cruise with Beachcombing2 hours$105 4.6Charleston: City Bus Tour and Harbor Cruise Combo$81 5.0White point Battery and River Run through Charleston Harbor Boat2 to 3 hours (approx.)$199.00 5.0Charleston: Boat Charter Booze Cruise And Sunset Tours2 hours$700 5.0Private Sunset Boat Tour of Charleston Harbor$900.00 5.0Private Sunset Harbor Tour 18 passenger party Yacht Kismet2 to 4 hours (approx.)$1,549.00 4.3Charleston: Harbor Sunset Cruise from Shem Creek – Music1.5 hours$50 4.8Mount Pleasant: Charleston Harbor E-Bike Tour2 hours$135 5.0Carolina Blue Sunset Cruise$60.00 5.02hr Private River Cruise with stop at Morris Island2 hours$325 5.0Harbor History Tour Aboard the Palmetto$45.00 5.0Bachelorette Party Boat Charleston Harbor$60.00 5.0Sunset Dolphin Cruise (options for public of private)$65.00 Private Luxury Sunset Boat Tour in Charleston Harbor$415.00 4.5Charleston: Sunset Schooner Pride Harbor Sail2 hours$75