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Charleston Harbor: Scenic History Boat Cruise
4.4
2,773 Ratings
Charleston
Embark on a scenic and relaxing 90-minute boat cruise through Charleston Harbor. Learn about the rich history and important landmarks while enjoying the beauty of the harbor.
Embark on a scenic and relaxing 90-minute boat cruise through Charleston Harbor. Learn about the rich history and important landmarks while enjoying the beauty of the harbor.
Duration:
1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Fort Sumter National Monument - While aboard the Carolina Belle your professional and licensed captain will narrate history, sights, and facts about the Charleston Harbor as you pass locations critical to United States history. You will get close-up views of the Holy City’s most famous and charming sights such as Fort Sumter: One of Charleston’s…
- Fort Sumter National Monument - While aboard the Carolina Belle your professional and licensed captain will narrate history, sights, and facts about the Charleston Harbor as you pass locations critical to United States history. You will get close-up views of the Holy City’s most famous and charming sights such as Fort Sumter: One of Charleston’s most popular landmarks, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired, USS Yorktown: the famous World War II “Fighting Lady,” Confederate and Union army Forts Moultrie and Johnson, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church: A surviver of both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, whose steeple was painted black so as not to be an easy target, Stately homes on the Battery: Symbols of Southern elegance and perseverance.
- Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge - You will also see the Cooper River Bridges, including the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge: A state of the art span that accommodates the largest ships in the world and connects downtown Charleston to Mount Pleasant. To add to this wonderful experience, don’t be surprised if you see Dolphins skimming the surface of the water and pelicans diving for food.
- Joe Riley Waterfront Park - Enjoy views of Charleston Waterfront Park
What's Included
- All taxes, fees and handling charges included
- 90-minute scenic Charleston Harbor Sightseeing Cruise
- Choice of Morning, Afternoon, or Sunset Departure Times
- Panoramic views aboard the 80-foot Carolina Belle
- All taxes, fees and handling charges included
- 90-minute scenic Charleston Harbor Sightseeing Cruise
- Choice of Morning, Afternoon, or Sunset Departure Times
- Panoramic views aboard the 80-foot Carolina Belle
What's Not Included
- Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
- Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
Additional Information
Embark on a scenic 90-minute journey around Charleston Harbor aboard the distinctive 80-foot Carolina Belle. Listen to the historical narratives and interesting trivia about the Charleston Harbor from your certified professional captain. This tour will take you through locations that hold immense historical significance in the United States. Soak in the…
Embark on a scenic 90-minute journey around Charleston Harbor aboard the distinctive 80-foot Carolina Belle. Listen to the historical narratives and interesting trivia about the Charleston Harbor from your certified professional captain. This tour will take you through locations that hold immense historical significance in the United States. Soak in the breathtaking sights of Charleston Harbor and enrich your knowledge of its profound history during your visit.
- There is a flat pier out to the boat and the boarding ramp is about 30 feet long. Travelers will board on the top deck and there are stairs to the lower level. Restrooms are located on the top deck.
Location
10 Wharfside St
Wharfside Street
Departure Point: Charleston Maritime Center
Address: 10 Wharfside Street, Charleston, SC 29401
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.4
(2773 Ratings)
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Ljb309
May 17, 2025
Charleston From the Water - We found our harbor tour to be informative and enjoyable. Captain Lee is a good storyteller. We learned so much about Charleston’s history and some interesting facts about pirates and the people who live there. The crew was pleasant and professional. It’s a great way to see Charleston and the surrounding barrier islands. Such a nice tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lisa_h
May 17, 2025
Best part of our trip to Charleston - We had a wonderful time on this Harbor Cruise! The Captain was very informative and the other staff members were also excellent.
Review provided by Viator
Marnie_s
May 16, 2025
Harbor history with sunset! - Had a great time! Learned about Charleston, saw a beautiful sunset. Great crew, friendly and informative. A great deal too!
Review provided by Viator
Janievoyageur
May 15, 2025
Glad We Took This Tour - On the 90 minute cruise we learned a lot about Charleston's history and present-day developments and found the commentary entertaining as well. The crew was friendly and considerate.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lou_b08
May 20, 2025
Memorable afternoon outing - We opted for the harbour tour as a nice way to see the area. Overall, we had a good experience and enjoyed the tour.
We arrived 30 minutes before check-in as advised but had to wait around until close to the scheduled departure time as disembarkation of previous tour took longer than usual. Luckily there was some shade and restrooms available. Once we had boarded the boat things got underway smoothly.
As others have mentioned there are portions of tour travelling over open water with limited things to see. However, our captain used this opportunity to tell stories of activities that took place in the harbour at various points in history.
It's worth noting that the seats on deck as plastic sunchairs so they can be quite hot to sit on if you're doing tour later in day. I was grateful that I had bought a jacket in case it was breezy and I could sit on that. it's also worth making sure you have good sun protection, if you're prone to sun burn as if you want to sit on the top deck there can be limited shade at bow and stern.
It’s a nice way to see Charleston and the surrounding barrier islands, particularly if you are only visiting for limited time. The information shared during the tour was interesting.
We did this activity as part of 'Tri-combo' ticket which we purchased in advance of our trip.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Emmy_s
May 19, 2025
What a fun trip touring... - What a fun trip touring the Harbor. The Captain regaled us with history and fun bits of information. I wish he would have acknowledged the beautiful and important Black History Museum and Memorial, along with the other activities available close by on the shore.
Review provided by Viator
Chris_c
May 19, 2025
The sunset was beautiful - Get there early if you want to sit on the top deck because seats are limited. The best view is on the right side of the boat so get a seat there if you can
Review provided by Viator
Allison_r
May 18, 2025
Be prepared to stand for 2 hours - I want to start by saying that the staff was great and narration was enjoyable. It was a Saturday night so maybe fuller than other reviewers experienced. I was disappointed that there is maybe 20-30 seats on the top deck and at least 150+ people on the boat. You can stand on the top deck at the railings but can hardly walk around because it is so packed. I also doubt the people who did get seats had a great view with people standing on either side of the boat. The downstairs portion is musty and outdated and has multiple blind spots so you can’t really see what they are pointing out. I was very envious when I saw smaller boats passing where everyone had seats and could see the sights. I would recommend booking a boat with a different seating format.
Review provided by Viator
Mrwoggz
May 18, 2025
Once, only once !!!! - 1st things 1st. Parking was more expensive in the gravel lot than in a covered garage. Waited for boat to dock and got in line to board. Then, without consent, we were forced to have our picture taken. The photographer said it was to expedite boarding. Huh? Got on board and sat it plastic chairs on the bottom floor near the bar. ( 4 DRINKS $65.00 ) Tour was just ok, but it was a beautiful day.
Before disembarking, we were told the amount of the tip we should give. 4% or more of the ticketed price per person. We tipped the bartender 20 %. She was the only one providing "Service"
Overall, it's a fun trip around Charleston Harbor.
Would we do it again ???? NOPE !!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Priscilla_h
May 18, 2025
It was ok - There was Not enough seating up stairs, over priced water and alcohol drinks. For the price it was ok
Review provided by Viator
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