Hilton Head Dolphin Watching Nature Cruise

Embark on a 90-minute Dolphin Nature Cruise aboard the Vagabond in Hilton Head. Experience the beauty of the low-country, enjoy live narration by a naturalist captain, and spot Atlantic Bottlenosed Dolphins!

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • 149 Lighthouse Rd - On this 90-minute Dolphin Nature Cruise the Vagabond will make it’s way through the Calibogue Sound up towards the headwaters of the Atlantic Ocean. While in route you will see South Beach, Daufuskie Island, Bull Island, The Haig Point Lighthouse, and many other historical landmarks along the way. Enjoy sightings of wild dolphins in their natural environment, and keep you eye out for egrets, herons, pelicans, and much more. All trips are narrated by the Vagabond’s naturalist Captain, and dolphin sightings are guaranteed! Vagabond Cruise is Hilton Head Island’s original sightseeing and excursion cruise operator located under the lighthouse in Harbour Town since 1968!
What's Included
  • 90-minute sightseeing cruise
  • Spectacular views of the low-country
  • Views of the Haig Point Lighthouse
  • Dolphin sightings
  • Adult beverages available for purchase
What's Not Included
  • Entrance fees into the Sea Pines Resort $9 per vehicle
Additional Information

Immerse yourself in the serene charm of the low-country with our 90-minute Dolphin Nature Cruise on the Vagabond! Delight in enlightened commentary from the Vagabond’s naturalist captain while encountering our local Atlantic Bottlenosed Dolphins! We depart from the Harbour Town Yacht Basin, situated beneath the iconic Lighthouse. To top it off, we guarantee you’ll spot dolphins!

  • Subject to favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund final decision on safe cruise conditions are determined by the vessels Captain at departure time of the cruise
  • There is no charge for an infant 2-under, but a ticket is still needed to account for them
Location
149 Lighthouse Rd
Lighthouse Road
Departing from Harbour Town Yacht Basin, just below the Harbour Town Lighthouse. There is a $9.00 per vehicle entry fee to the Sea Pines Resort where Harbour Town is located.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.4
(340 Ratings)
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Onair53517492299
Aug 14, 2024
Loved our experience! - Almost immediately, we saw a pod of dolphins. We got some great video clips and photos. The crew was accommodating and friendly. We had a great time!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Danyel
Aug 1, 2024
Amazing Afternoon - We had an amazing time on the vagabond. The captain immediately had us at a pod of dolphins once we got going and shared alot of interesting facts about them. We also enjoyed hearing about Hilton Head and surrounding areas while on the dolphin cruise.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rachelmc9887fl
Jul 27, 2024
Memorable Experience with Dolphins in the Heart of Nature! 🌊🐬 - I recently had the pleasure of joining the Hilton Head Island Dolphin Watching Nature Cruise, and I must say, it was an experience worth every moment. If you're looking for an activity that combines the beauty of nature with the thrill of spotting wildlife, this cruise is a fantastic choice!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michael
Jul 9, 2024
Great dolphin-watching cruise! - Crew was great and very conversational! The ship was in great shape. Quickly found several pods of dolphin. Great time!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Joanna
Jul 6, 2024
Highly recommend dolphin cruise - Cruise was awesome, Captain Jason was very informative on the 2 species of dolphins that inhabit the area…also the history surrounding the island and the importance of the marsh….even had a dolphin pop up beside our boat “awesome”!! Would definitely recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Amurphygirl
Jun 30, 2024
Exactly as promised - We took the 4 pm tour on a Saturday in late June and got so lucky. First, we were prepared for a crowded deck, but on our tour the boat had about 25 passengers max. This gave us the room to move from deck to deck and side to side to see all the dolphins. Secondly, there was a shrimp boat in the sound and all the dolphins we could ever expect to see were there. I think we saw at least 50 dolphins within 15 minutes of the start of our tour. Maybe this is common in the sound but it felt really special. We also toured the coast of Daufuskie Island and saw the Haig Point light house. The captain gave good narration of our tour and the rest of the crew was delightful too. This was our final activity on a 10 day trip. We all thought it was the perfect way to cap a great vacation. I highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Prapullachandra
Aug 20, 2024
Nice cruise with definite dolphin sighting - Took this cruise trip with my Family, overall trip was good. We could able to see some dolphins which were around the island. We took afternoon trip and it was very hot. There is no cover on the for the shade, it would have been good, if they had that. Other than that we enjoyed the cruise.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Samantha_g
Jul 16, 2024
Weekend Getaway Dolphin Cruise. - Watching the dolphins as they napped and ate was one of my favorite parts of the trip. I also enjoyed listening to the detailed information about the dolphins. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and demonstrated enthusiasm for his job.
Review provided by Viator
Sonya_m
Jul 29, 2024
Can't get to the port by trolley - It was explained there was a few to get into the port but it was not explained that you MUST DRIVE to it. The trolleys don't go close enough to walk from the stop to the ports so the trip was missed completely.
Review provided by Viator
Tarantej_a
Jul 8, 2024
We purchased the tickets... - We purchased the tickets for the cruise starting at 4:00 pm. We arrived at the check-in counter at 3:58 pm but the staff told us that we are late and turned us away. We requested another experience but they were unable to accommodate or provide refund.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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