We wanted to experience a harbor cruise while in Charleston. I checked Yelp and found Charleston Harbor Tours which had good reviews. So I booked our tickets online. I was pleasantly surprised to find free street parking. We boarded the boat and headed out in the harbor. It was a beautiful night on the water and bonus, we got to see the sun set. They played a little music but mostly the captain gave us history of the harbor. We saw some old military ships and a couple of forts and went under the suspension bridge. They sell snacks, alcohol, soda and ice cream. I ordered a Pepsi and a chocolate chip ice cream cookie. And bonus, there is a bathroom on board. The staff was friendly. I would take another cruise with Charleston Harbor Tours. read more

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The sunset cruise was beautiful and the staff were all very nice and helpful. I do feel like the cruise was overbooked, and it was hard to move around or even find a bit of railing to lean against and not be in someone's way. This is a management problem, not a crew problem, unless the crew owns the boat. It was also hard to hear the narration once the crowd of people started talking. What I could hear was well-presented and interesting. read more

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This was a great tour! It was lovely to sit on the upper deck and be out on the water. Recommend sitting up front and on the right side. Most things they point out on the tour are on the right side of the boat. Only disappointing thing was we didn't see any dolphins although the guide said he "can almost guarantee them". There are food, drinks, and bathrooms on the boat. Didn't see any bathrooms on land before departure. read more

Fun tour with plenty of seating. Our captain, Jackson, had fun stories along with the commentary.

We loved our harbor tour! Captain Travis and his crew were great. The boat/ship was very comfortable and the sound system was good. It was a fun way to learn about the history of Charleston. Information on all the beaches, parks, and forts including Fort Sumpter. We also learned about the Inter Coastal Waterway - I didn't know that during World War II they moved ship, troops, and supplies back and forth to avoid the German U boats cruising the shoreline of Atlantic Ocean. We also saw the Patriot Museum and the USS Yorktown plus many planes. Bonus were the dolphins playing in the harbor and the baby rays near the dock. read more

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I did not use the services on board the boat, so I am not going to rate that part. As for the ride itself, from start to finish, it was a great experience. If the weather is cool, do dress appropriately. Sure, you could stay inside on the voyage, but where is the fun in that? It is going to get windy out there! The captain gave a wonderful narration during the journey. We got great views of the interesting sights one can see from the water. Some of them modern, like Bill Murray's house, and some of them older, like Fort Sumter, where bombardment started on April 12, 1861 marking the beginning of the American Civil War. Pirate stories, to modern bridges and car shipments from local manufacturing. All are a part of Charleston you are not going to see just walking around town. read more

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It was a nice cruise and very informative. The captain also was very entertaining. I would recommend, only reason 4 stars is their drinks and snacks are outrageously priced. read more

On a spur of the moment decision, we took one of the Charleston harbor tours of the harbor on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. We snagged seats outside on the front of the boat, giving us perfect views of the everything. So much of a harbor tour depends on the narration, and we experienced an awesome narrator. He spoke almost constantly throughout the 90 minute trip, giving details that we had never heard before. If it's a cool day bring a jacket, as the ride will be windy. Refreshing on a warm day! There are snacks on board (hot dogs, popcorn, beer, soft drinks), and don't forget to tip before you leave. read more

Great experience, easy to locate, very accomodating and relaxing. Highly reccommend.

We booked a cruise for two for the 25th. Showed up and it was booked but only for one. Called the office and a rude man told me it was only booked for 1. And I could book another ticked but one of us would not get to eat. During the exchange I learned that prices are all over the board depending on who books it. We paid a higher price for the screwed up reservation than we could have bought it for on the street corner. Something is just waaay off about this group. I asked for a refund, but was refused. So far this business is the biggest, in fact only,disappoint with anything in Charleston. read more

we had a wonderful late morning tour on a beautiful day! Comfortable seating great views and very knowledgeable narration.

Captain Travis was amazing. He greeted every passenger upon boarding the Belle. As we toured the harbor, the history he shared over the sound system was easily heard and informative. The crew was helpful, and outgoing. Many great sights to see, and the vessel didn't even feel like it was underway. Smooth voyage. Great views from the top deck, to the widow enclosed main deck below. Restrooms clean and easily accessible. FYI all of my pictures are from a cell phone as I forgot my camera. So a real camera would get amazing pictures. read more

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They cancelled our tour due to mechanical issues and nerve offered us another cruise. They just refunded us and ruined our evening plans. When I spoke to them on the phone they were extremely rude. Will never use them again read more

We took visiting friends on a Charleston Historic Harbor Tour on a beautiful, sunny, calm Friday in March. Captain, crew & vessel all met and exceeded our expectations. Great, welcoming, friendly and informative. We highly recommend. Jim & Friends read more

Had a great time on the harbor tour today. The narration was really funny and informative. The views were outstanding. read more

Charleston Harbor Tours - Picture of the bridge from the boat - Boating Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Super relaxing sail ride! Very romantic and a perfect way to end the day. Crew was amazing & kind. read more

Charleston Harbor Tours - Boating Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Capt. Jackson and his crew provided a delightful hour and a half of boating on Charleston Harbor for us yesterday. The Captain's narration was interesting and informative. We've lived in the Upstate for nearly 20 years but heard some SC facts that we hadn't heard before. My husband commented on how nice it was to get info without overload. The boat ride was very pleasant, and we saw some dolphins about 2/3's of the way into the trip. We'd definitely recommend this boat ride, and we were fortunate to book through Booking.com which saved us a good chunk of money. As senior citizens, saving money is always a plus when traveling. read more

The captain and crew were wonderful and the opportunity to participate in the sail raising was a dream come true. Great and beautiful schooner and experience. read more

The sunset cruise itself was OK but the audio situation really ruined the experience. The speaker near my seat didn't work at all and was told it was broken yesterday, although I'm not sure that was accurate. We were not informed about the issue before seating and since the boat was busy, was not able to move. Even the working speakers sounded distorted on difficult to understand I booked this cruise specifically to hear the historical narration that didn't happen. Very disappointing overall. read more

It was great to be out in the harbor to see the sights of Charleston. Our cruise started out with a thunderstorm but great care was taken for our safety. Highly recommend the tour. read more

Very informative and entertaining. They serve drinks and snacks onboard. There is a top deck and covered deck read more

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Was an absolute amazing experience. the captain and crew were awesome. A trip worth repeatin.

I do enjoy a good boat tour whenever possible. While doing my research, this company had various tour and great reviews. So I decided to reserve the tour via Viator, which is very user friendly plus, I earn my AA miles. We had opted to do the Historic Charleston Harbor Tour (Sunset Tour) beginning at 5:45pm on the Carolina Bell. The check-in process was very easy. The attendant just scanned the tickets then we were able to select our seats. We had grab three seats in the front of the boat and to the right. The boat has two level with an interior and an exterior. There's also a concession bar to purchase snacks and beverages. The prices were reasonable. Since I check in on Yelp, I received a complimentary snack. Beginning of the 90 minute tour, the Captain did go over the safety rules. From there, we were off. The tour was very informative with the history of the city to the modern day. The crew would answer any questions as they come up. I would highly recommend this cruise and company. read more

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I love Charleston Harbor Tours. Their entire staff is amazing! Everyone from the office/booking team to the captain and crew helped cultivate an experience that will have me bringing more friends and family here! I originally booked the day tour but the staff called to let me know they needed to move me to the sunset sail. Kathy was so incredible and helpful. On board they had a great selection of beverages (for purchase) and we were able to help hoist the sails, something so incredible for me to get to see my dad do. Any time we had questions about our surrounding the team had great information, so even though it wasn't a guided tour it was super informative! 10/10 will book again read more

Charleston Harbor Tours - Boating Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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I enjoyed the captain's history lesson but it was hot below deck so get there early. I was surprised to see the Tour Protection fee on my charges because I did NOT opt -in to it, which seems rather shady. read more

The cruise is great lots of information ,amazing views and capt Ron is a wealth of information. The ship has drinks and snacks available. Now the problem they ask you to wait till boarding time so the incoming can get off but then there is no supervision we were there early and were waiting at the place requested when the group of people went ahead out to the dock even before the boat had come in so needless to say those who listen are punished we ended up inside due to no seats up top . They need better supervision for boarding. read more

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We had a lovely tour of Charleston Harbor on the Carolina Belle. The captain provided us with a good overview of the history the harbor has seen in the past few centuries. We enjoyed it. read more

If you are looking for a peaceful relaxing tour, this is it. Sit back, relax, listen, and experience history. Our group, GNO, (Girls night out) left the boat discussing the history of the area. This tour is highly recommended. read more

We just kind of muddled around in the harbor.The commentary was excellent but we were too far out to really know what we were looking at. we had hoped to get close to the entrance of Shem creek and other landmarks. Just way too far out. read more

I took a boat tour in Charleston on November 25, 2025, and it was an excellent experience. Our captain, Travels, has over 20 years of U.S. Coast Guard captain experience, and it truly shows. He is highly professional, extremely knowledgeable, and very confident on the water. Throughout the tour , he gave clear and engaging in-person explanations of the Charleston harbor and surrounding areas, pointing out landmarks and sharing insights that made the tour both educational and enjoyable. Most importantly, he made me feel completely safe in a raining day. His boat handling was so steady and controlled that it felt like even in a Category-12 typhoon, he could keep the boat upright. That level of confidence and calm is rare and very reassuring. I would highly recommend this company and this captain and tour to anyone visiting Charleston who values safety, professionalism, and a knowledgeable guide. read more

We went on the sunset harbor cruise on the Carolina Belle and it was fantastic! The crew was very welcoming and friendly! The captain was very entertaining and shared so much information. We saw several dolphins swimming near the boat and the sunset was absolutely beautiful. I would highly recommend this tour if you are in Charleston. read more

The guided boat tour experience was wonderful. The tour guide's sense of humor was definitely a plus! I highly recommend Charleston Habor Tours . read more

We had an incredible time on our harbor tour on 10-10-25! The scenery was beautiful, and the experience was both relaxing and fascinating. Captain Ron was the highlight -- knowledgeable, entertaining, and clearly passionate about the area. He shared great local stories. The crew, Gary and others, were friendly and made everyone on board feel welcome. The Carolina Belle was clean, comfortable, and well-maintained. Highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting -- it's the perfect way to see the harbor and learn some things at the same time! read more

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Lovely experience ! All staff were professional , kind, helpful and informative. Both our bus tour and boat tour were wonderful ! Great experience !! read more

We took the later tour and were able to see the sunset. It was an enjoyable tour. I suggest you get there early to get a good seat.

Great history, clean boat with plenty of seats. Captain was funny and told great stories. So much history on these waters!

We did the Blues & BBQ cruise the night after Christmas Day. Overall, the boat ride was enjoyable but due to the weather they took a different route than we anticipated. We still got great views. The food was good - nothing crazy. The only thing I would recommend they adjust is the live band's speaker level. It is EXTREMELY loud if you are on the same level as them - to where you can't talk or hear... read more

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first rate, this our third time taking the grandkids and it's a wonderful ship and staff...

Amazing! Great way to learn about Charleston's history! Great tour guide, boat, and experience!

Captain narrated the trip with details and made it very interesting. Staff was kind and helpful. read more

Charleston Harbor Tours - Boating Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina