Charleston Harbor History Day-Time or Sunset Boat Cruise

Badge of ExcellenceCharleston, USA

1 hour 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

See the Charleston Harbor by boat with a leisurely sightseeing tour along the Cooper River to Fort Sumter National Monument. This fully-narrated tour focuses on Charleston, South Carolina history from Civil War sites to antebellum houses and landmarks, passes under Cooper River bridges, and explores a waterfront that’s home to bottlenose dolphins and pelicans.

Scenic 90-Minute Charleston Harbor Sightseeing Cruise departing Charleston, South Carolina
Travel by 80-foot sightseeing boat, the Carolina Belle
Learn about the city’s history from a guide, including the Civil War
Fully narrated and family-friendly tour
Choose from multiple morning, afternoon, and sunset cruise times to best suit you

What's Included

90-minute Charleston Harbor Sightseeing Cruise from Charleston, South Carolina
Select from Morning, Afternoon, or Sunset Departure Times
Enjoy panoramic views from aboard the unique 80-foot Carolina Belle
All taxes, fees and handling charges

Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

10 Wharfside St, Charleston, SC 29401, USA
Departure Point: Charleston Maritime Center Address: 10 Wharfside Street, Charleston, SC 29401

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Begin at the Charleston Maritime Center, which is centrally located in Charleston, South Carolina's French Quarter. Present your tour voucher before boarding the 80-foot sightseeing boat, then set off along the Cooper River.

Listen to stories from the boat captain throughout the tour, as you pass some of Charleston’s historic sites. Get close up views of Fort Sumter, the fortified island where the first shots were fired in the Civil War. Pass the Essex-class USS Yorktown, a ‘fighting lady’ aircraft carrier from the Second World War that earned eleven battle stars in her dramatic military career.

Take in Fort Moultrie and Fort Johnson, a pair of forts that housed Confederate and Union soldiers, and see St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, which survived Revolutionary and Civil War fighting by painting its steeple black. Pass elegant antebellum homes on the Battery, and navigate beneath the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, a modern span that links downtown Charleston to Mount Pleasant. Drinks are available for purchase onboard throughout the trip, which concludes with drop-off at the Charleston Maritime Center.

Fort Sumter National Monument (Pass By)

Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge (Pass By)

Joe Riley Waterfront Park (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed

Infants must sit on laps
Most travelers can participate
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.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 200 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.5

2,366 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 2,366 reviews

Mechanical issues with boat

Christine_C, Apr 2024

We were all boarded and it was taking a while to leave the dock. After about 30 minutes, we were told that the boat was having mechanical issues and told that we wouldn’t be able to complete the excursion. We did receive a full refund so that was a good thing.

Throttle wasn’t working is what we were told.

Karen_O, Apr 2024

We got cancelled. How do we get a refund? They told us to call the next day for refunds. Young people running the boat. Didn’t get away from the dock.

Don’t use viator

Patti_W, Apr 2024

Horrible customer service . I don’t recommend using Viator!!! Our sunset cruise turned out to be a rain storm so we rescheduled for the next day (not sunset) The sunset cruise cost more than the day cruise so I requested a reimbursement of $54 total but was denied!

There was not seating upstairs and we had to stand

Roseann_O, Apr 2024

My friends didn’t make the boat because their daughter got car sick and the parking meter was a challenge. They called about a refund said they were checked in. No one scanned our bar code

Wishful thinking

Michelle_E, Apr 2024

We missed the boat because we walked to get there, totally our fault for thinking we had enough time. BUT— I wish there was a reasonable fee for missing the ride and not the whole cost. Like 20% or 30% or something. We intended on going on the next available boat and we would have if some of the money spent on the missed ride could’ve gone towards the next ride.

Not worth it

Robert_S, Apr 2024

None ,it was boring Capt did a poor job of getting close enough to see bettor of what he was talking about

Get a different person to narrate!

Lori_B, Apr 2024

Harbor tour was nice. The person who was narrating the tour had an annoying intonation to his voice, which detracted from the tour. However overall the tour was enjoyable.

Fun time. Good value.

Mickie_K, Apr 2024

Great weather. Nice tour details. Seating on top level was a bit limited. Overall, it was a great experience. We kind of pulled up and ended along same time as the sunset, which was a bummer for a sunset cruise.

Excellent experience

Clinton_T, Apr 2024

Excellent experience. Extremely nice of view of the harbor. It is a must do ! Informative boat caption.

Excellent

William_Y, Apr 2024

Had a great tour. Very knowledgeable about the harbor and history. Great time. Boat ride was very smooth. Saw some dolphins.

The sunset and dolphins,...

NANCY_T, Apr 2024

The sunset and dolphins, would have liked a seat, didn't realize seating was first come first serve.

Had a fabulous time! ...

Michelle_N, Apr 2024

Had a fabulous time! Crew was exceptionally helpful with our elderly mom and aunt. Super trip! Unfortunately, we had so much fun we missed a lot of the history but it was absolutely there if my sisters would have let me pay attention😝

Don’t go for the commentary

Ann_G, Apr 2024

Being on the water on a beautiful day, bring sunscreen. The commentary was horrible with an exaggerated speech pattern so annoying it was difficult to focus on any historical information presented 😩

Charlestown harbor

KENNETH_F, Apr 2024

the view of the harbor and the surrounding area. The tour was ok but not great. I would have preferred more historical info instead of idle chatter about rich homes. Perhaps more about Ft. Sumter, which we passed

Great cruise

Laurie_Z, Apr 2024

Very helpful staff. They have it down to a science. Pleasant experience with knowledgeable staff. Great time

Fun!

Jeanene_C, Apr 2024

Great trip! Restrooms, bar, snack bar all on board. Great narration. Plenty of room and seats upstairs or downstairs.

Wonderful Charleston Harbor Cruise.

Thomas_M, Apr 2024

Pleasant cruising weather as we passed the aircraft carrier Yorktown and circling past Fort Sumter. The crew were pleasant and helpful and the narration was perfect.

Sunset did not disappoint!

cyt573, Apr 2024

The sunset was FANTASTIC! Totally worth being out in the cool & very breezy weather. Everyone onboard had a great time.

Cassie

Cassie_C, Apr 2024

Great tour, would do it again! It was also relaxing and is a great way to see the city! The popcorn was good and they had some other snacks to offer for purchase!

Great tour of the Charleston Harbor!

Stacy_M, Apr 2024

Captain Matthew on the Charleston Princess was great! His narration of the tour was very funny. We enjoyed the views and the history!

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