Hilton Head Sunset Dolphin Watching Cruise
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Hilton Head Island, USA
- 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Enjoy sunset views and scan the water for Atlantic bottlenose dolphins on this dolphin-watching cruise off the coast of South Carolina. The frequency of dolphin sightings makes this cruise ideal for those hoping to catch photos of the majestic sea creatures. Plus, throughout the cruise, you can learn about dolphins and your surroundings from an on-board naturalist.
- Relax while watching dolphins on a sunset cruise
- Enjoy alcoholic beverages (available for purchase) as you watch the sunset
- Capture photos of the iconic Haig Point lighthouse in the evening light
- Depart from the picturesque Harbour Town Yacht Basin
What's Included
- Guaranteed wild dolphin sightings
- Narration by our Captain who brings the history and wildlife to life
- Breathtaking views of egrets, herons, pelicans, and more
- Cruise with Hilton Head’s original sightseeing company
- Departs daily from under the famous Harbour Town Lighthouse
- Snacks and drinks available for purchase (beer, wine, soda, water)
- Gratuities
- Sea Pines Resort vehicle entry fee
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Harbour Town Lighthouse149 Lighthouse Rd, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928, USA
The Vagabond Cruise reservation office is located just behind the Harbour Town Lighthouse. If you have your mobile ticket you are able to go directly to the boat (Vagabond) 30-minutes before departure to board which is located on the pier in front of the Lighthouse.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Subject to favorable weather conditions. If the cruise is canceled due to poor weather, guests will have the option to reschedule for another date or receive a full refund.
- Infants ages 2 and under cruise free, but a ticket is still required to account for them.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 99 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Jill_W
Saw dolphins for sure. Trip was nice and smooth. Crew was very pleasant. Sunset was overcast but a little pink sky came through. Info was very interesting. Lighthouses, marsh, etc. Had a great time.
Reviews
4.6
based on 418 reviews
Kelli_F, May 2026
The boat is large and it was packed with people (Memorial Day weekend). Our group of 6 did not get to sit together but it was fine. We saw lots of swimming dolphins and rays jumping. The captain narrated during our sail and was funny and informative. The boat ride was smooth.
Sheila_M, May 2026
Sunset dolphin Cruise was relaxing and fun. We saw lots of dolphins and the captain kept us entertained. Would recommend as a fun way to spend an evening.
carron_o, May 2026
Such a fun thing to do in Hilton Head. We really enjoyed the laid back trip and saw several pods of dolphins. Highly recommend.
Rose_A, May 2026
Seen the dolpins that navigate the sheltered inland waterways rather than the deep ocean. Seen 4 in total but very hard to see.
Ron_W, May 2026
Great experience & great view of the dolphins. I would definitely recommend & I honestly would rate the cruise six out of five stars if I could.
Angie_O, May 2026
Mike and Kelly were very helpful, very knowledgeable. Thank you for a great time and a beautiful sunset with beautiful dolphins!
Mary_S, May 2026
Great boat ride and even better crew!!! Smooth ride. Saw many dolphins
Learned many aspects about the area.
Maria_Y, May 2026
Arrive EARLY to ensure you find parking, as it’s very crowded by the dock and restaurants. Also, make sure you are at the RIGHT DOCK for your cruise. There are two docks on opposite sides of the island offering similar excursions and you might miss the boat if you are trying to make it from one dock to the other.
We had the best time! LOTS of dolphins and jumping manta rays in the water! Luke, one of the crew members, was super thoughtful. 😊
Shondell_S, Apr 2026
The Dolphin Sunset Cruise was one of our first Honeymoon activities and I was glad we chose it. It was relaxing and seeing the dolphins was exciting!
Angie_D, Apr 2026
This was our 2nd time… it’s so relaxing and educational. Staff very friendly and respectful. A must every time we come to Hilton Head.
Bonnie_M, Apr 2026
We definitely saw a lot of dolphins. It was cloudy, so not much of a sunset. The captain was very knowledgeable and I would recommend this trip to others.
Laura_L, Apr 2026
This was a great tour. There were plenty of dolphin to see and the sunset was beautiful. Great captain and staff.
Sean_P, Apr 2026
The crew was amazing! The Capt knew all the best locations and did a phenom job explaining the trip.
Heather_Y, Mar 2026
It was a beautiful experience. Seeing the dolphins and the sunset. Was just so beautiful and amazing time.
Betsy_B, Mar 2026
Very kind company! Looking forward to our next visit.
Good to find helpful, good company that is very responsive to do business with.
Lisa_M, Mar 2026
Nice clean vessel, captain knowledgeable and staff very friendly. Saw a good about of dolphins throughout the trip
John_L, Jan 2026
Excellent The staff was great and informative We had a wonderful time aaaaaaAAaaaaaseventeeeeeeeeeeeen
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you John for joining Vagabond Cruise aboard the Hilton Head Sunset Dolphin Watching Cruise! We're glad to hear you had a wonderful time aboard the cruise with Captain Justin and first mate Clayton. We hope to have you back aboard the Vagabond again soon!
James_G, Jan 2026
Justin "Captain" was very kind and welcoming. His mate who is also a CG certified Captain was amazing. She served cold drinks and took care of all the dolphin watchers.
Their knowledge of the waters, wildlife, and historical area are immense. Justin kept us positioned to have a perfect up close view of two different types of Dolphin. He also did a great job navigating other boats like the shrimp boat "Lisa Suzanne". That was an interesting part of the trip learning about the seafood industry in the area.
Great job captain and crew.
If you are looking for an excellent way to watch the beautiful HHI sunset, this is the one.
DO IT!
Jim G
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you so much, Jim! We truly appreciate you sharing such a detailed and enthusiastic review of your Sunset Dolphin Cruise with Vagabond Cruise. Captain Justin and his mate Jenna will be thrilled to hear your kind words and they take great pride in making everyone feel welcome while sharing their knowledge of the local waters, wildlife, and Hilton Head Island history.
We’re so glad you enjoyed the dolphin sightings, learning about the shrimping industry, and taking in that beautiful HHI sunset. Thanks again for cruising with us and we hope to welcome you back aboard soon. 🌅
Joan_B, Jan 2026
Highlight of our trip! A must do! As promised we saw many dolphins. The sunset was beautiful. The captain and crew were friendly and informative.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you for the wonderful review! We’re honored to hear this was the highlight of your trip. We’re so glad you enjoyed the Sunset Dolphin Cruise with Vagabond Cruise and that you were able to see so many dolphins and take in a beautiful sunset. Captain Justin and Jenna will be happy to hear their friendly and informative service made your experience even better. We truly appreciate the recommendation and hope to welcome you back on the water again soon.
Julie_H, Dec 2025
This was originally scheduled for a sunset cruise but cx due to staffing and then moved to 2 pm. It was nice, crew was great.
Albert_L, Nov 2025
The dolphins cruise was awesome. The staff was professional and courteous. My family and I enjoyed the cruise.
Bryant_G, Nov 2025
What an amazing experience!!! Captain and the Crew were amazing and we got to see many dolphins. The highlight was a 2 sunset views and a bald eagle that basically hovered over the boat!
Robert_G, Nov 2025
A fabulous evening on our sunset dolphin cruise. We were just a few minutes from our departure when the first dolphins were spotted . The captain was very knowledgeable and the dolphins were plentiful! The sunset was gorgeous as well. I would definitely book this again when I return to HH.
lgcrilley, Nov 2025
Nice evening cruise. We saw lots of dolphins and were able to capture a lovely sunset. Captain gave a nice narration on the Sound.
Christina_T, Oct 2025
The captain was very knowledgeable and fun. He provided information about the area and knew where to go to find the dolphins. We would do this again the next time we are in the area.
JENNIFER_H, Oct 2025
Captain was great, we saw so many dolphins and a beautiful double sunset. Highly recommend this tour.
John_B, Oct 2025
The captain was knowledgeable about the area, the wildlife and the vegetation in this area. The boat has snacks and beverages for sale at reasonable prices. We saw a lot of dolphins and a gorgeous sunset! Our group of 5 all agree we would go again!
One thing to note you have to pay $9.00 dollars to get into Harbour Town, I think that should be advertised when booking.
Tsitsi_T, Sep 2025
It is worth taking the time to do the cruise. The crew members are very polite, professional and super friendly . We got the chance to see plenty of dolphins. They are very punctual too. The boat was very clean too. I love the whole experience I wish i remembered there names.
Cynithia_P, Sep 2025
My only complaint is that I wish it was longer! It was awesome ♡ I had 2 kids with me and we all had a blast
Kevin_M, Jul 2025
The ship was clean, we were in shade for most of the cruise, the crew was pleasant and helpful, and we saw sharks and dolphins as promised.
From $50.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Hilton Head Sunset Dolphin Watching Cruise
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1 hour 30 minutes
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