We booked the Crystal Coast Lady Cruises dinner cruise on July 2, 2026, from 7-9 p.m. for our family and extended family, which included one toddler, four children, two teens, and six adults. My husband and I paid close to $800 for our group. Because we had several small children with us, I specifically chose tables close to the buffet, knowing that the adults would need to help make plates for the kids. Anyone who has done a buffet with little ones understands that it often takes multiple trips to get everyone settled and fed. I went through the line to get my food and food for my niece, then realized my sister was holding the toddler and also needed a plate, along with my other four-year-old niece. My husband was helping our other children at the time, and my family was still in the buffet line. I stepped beside my elderly parents, who were getting their food, and said, "Sorry, I forgot two more plates." At that point, the man serving yelled, "Ma'am, STOP!" His tone and behavior were completely unnecessary and embarrassing. I was not cutting in front of another party or trying to get extra food unfairly. I was simply helping feed the children in our group -- a group we had paid a significant amount of money for. The way I was treated was rude, humiliating, and completely unacceptable. It felt as though I was being scolded for trying to get food that we had already paid for. For a family dinner cruise, there should be some understanding that adults may need to assist young children at the buffet. Unfortunately, based on this experience, I would not recommend this dinner cruise for families with small children. If your children will need help getting food from the buffet, this is not a family-friendly experience. We left feeling disappointed and disrespected. read more

Crystal Coast Lady Cruises - Our paid tickets - Boating Near Me - Beaufort, North Carolina

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We had a wonderful time tonight. Good food, great music and beautiful scenery. We got to see wild horses and lots of dolphins. The sunset was spectacular. Our crew was super friendly and gave us lots of pointers about the area. Would definitely do it again! read more

Crystal Coast Lady Cruises - Sunset - Boating Near Me - Beaufort, North Carolina

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My son and I went on the sunset dinner cruise last night and it was an absolute joy. The food was good, the crew was friendly, the boat was clean and well maintained. A lovely woman sang jazz standards and classics and it was all well chosen music. The best part was seeing tons of dolphins. It was a great evening, and well worth the price. Highly recommend. read more

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I took the Crystal Coast Lady Cruise in Beaufort. The boat is a great size and has seating on the top level and bottom level. Food was available to purchase but we were told we could bring our own food too. I liked that we could spread out and move around. I sat on the top deck to get a great view of the sights. I liked that each side got the same views as we turned around and came back the same way. I thought it was a great way to see the Rachel Carson Reserve and the waterway. I didn't see any wild horses but did see dolphins and birds. I enjoyed the ride with this company and would use them again to cruise again. read more

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We were on vacation in Beaufort, NC and one of our friends found Crystal Coast Lady Cruises. We ended up booking tickets for the Thursday night Southern Home Cooken dinner cruise. The tickets seemed fairly priced for what it includes. The ship sailed around for two hours, and sailed past an island with wild ponies and we also saw some dolphins while we were out. The meal consisted of fried chicken, pulled pork, hush puppies, green beans, cole slaw and salad. Water and iced tea were included but the bar was credit cards or cash. All of the staff was were friendly and gave good information about the area. If I was back in Beaufort, I would like to try one of their other dinner cruises. Each day of the week has a different food theme. read more

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The staff were friendly. The food was delicious. The cruise was good and smooth. I missed not having any narration tho. I wasn't sure what I was seeing on shore. We enjoyed it all. read more

This cruise was awesome. We were a party of 5 the staff was attentive and courteous . We all enjoyed the dinner we had such a great time we booked a cruise the following day from this company that took us from Harkers island to cape lookout where we enjoyed the lighthouse and the water What a great experience with this company read more

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We had our rehearsal dinner on the dinner cruise one night. It was incredible and a great experience all around. Not a single complaint on the whole boat. read more

The cruise company looked for horses about 30 minutes. The rest of the cruise was looking at the waterways and ports. I was disappointed for how much it cost. I thought we would have at least searched longer for the pony's. The description is not what we did Prob won't go back. read more

During a recent vacation to the Atlantic Beach area, we signed-up for the "Wild Horse and Dolphin Scenic Cruise" offered by Crystal Coast Lady Cruises. The tour was advertised at 1.5 hrs and we found that we got that and more (see pictures). In addition to the dolphin and horse sightings on their respective islands, the Captain explained the other nearby islands along the way to include Fort Macon, the Coast Guard station, Carrot Island, Radio Island and some other points of interest that I can't recall. On our particular cruise, there were a TON of dolphins and the Captain made sure to position the boat so we all had time to photograph them. We chose this tour because of it's duration (90 minutes), the areas visited and the fact that the boat was covered. As for the Captain and his wife, they couldn't have been anymore enjoyable to be around. Lovely, down to earth folks. read more

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This cruise offered a very nice boat and was not crowded when we went. We took the 4pm dolphin and wild horse cruise. We arrived at the loading time but still had to wait until the boat came back and unloaded a previous cruise. The captains were nice and it was a friendly staff. They offered food and drinks on the boat although it wasn't much. On our tour we saw wild horses from VERY far away. We did not see any dolphins on the tour which was disappointing. Not really their fault but would've been nice considering they do not go close enough to really see the horses. Nice if you like hearing about the islands histories. read more

Crystal Coast Lady Cruises - On top of boat - Boating Near Me - Beaufort, North Carolina

We had a wonderful cruise. The staff was the best and made the cruise. We sat on the top and enjoyed the breeze. I could do this every week. read more

We did the sunset dolphin cruise the other night and it was amazing! We didn't see any dolphins (not really their fault though) but still it was well worth the time as we got to see a lot of great historical locations and parts of the inlet. The staff onboard was also very kind and knowledgeable about the area. read more

Crystal Coast Lady Cruises - Boating Near Me - Beaufort, North Carolina

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Farmer and Rusty did a great job as captain and mate of our 12:00 dolphin/wild bourse cruise. Farmer narrated and answered questions easily and wasn't boring. We didn't see any dolphins, but they ARE unpredictable wild animals, so that is no one's fault. It's an enjoyable ride on a pretty day even if you don't see anything major. There are snacks and beverages available for purchase. Bring binoculars and cash for tipping the captain and mate. read more

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I took my boyfriend on this dinner cruise for his birthday that was the worst hundred dollars I have ever spent it's supposed to be all you can eat buffet but the line was so long and move so slow by the time we got up there to get our plate it was hardly any food left the fish was cold when I did go back up to get some more baked beans there was no more food what happened to the all-you-can-eat buffet so yes our plates were all fixed for us through the line with all of our food running together plastic silverware plastic plates just all around nasty not worth $100 that's for sure read more

Crystal Coast Lady Cruises - Boating Near Me - Beaufort, North Carolina

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We took the dinner cruise on a beautiful evening. It was enjoyable but I wouldn't say that it was a life changing experience. The food was chicken, shrimp and grits, mac and cheese, salad, and banana pudding. There were about 40 people on board a vessel that easily serve 150. The food is not the reason to take the cruise. It was lukewarm, the chicken was pretty tough, the mac and cheese was soupy and the salad was right out of the bag. But, the cruise is why you go so my expectations of the food were not very high anyway. The captain did a great job of narrating the cruise but the problem is that there is not much to see. You can only narrate about empty factories and former fisheries for so long. We did see two dolphins and the captain stopped the cruise to watch them (they only appeared once but that is not the captain's fault). The sound system was much too loud and made everyone jump each time he spoke. The server told us about his medical problems as he filled our plates. The cruise could be much better if they identified more islands or actually took you around some of the islands that are identified as part of the Crystal Coast. We have previously taken a smaller tour by a local guy and it was much more interesting. All in all it was a somewhat romantic evening but, I think you could spend your money somewhere else. read more

Do this your first night in town!!!!! This cruise was a highlight of our trip to the area. My wife and I did a dinner cruise on our last night in town. The Captain was a great tour guide, pointing out all the celebrity yachts we passed, where famous folks lived, what attractions to check out, which bridges connected which islands, and a wealth of other historical and otherwise useful info. He answered all the questions that we had been wondering about all week. He even spotted some dolphins in the inlet and cruised us over to watch them play for awhile. I wish we had taken this tour sooner! Oh yeah, there was food on the tour too. The blackened Mahi and Grouper were excellent. The homemade slaw was great as well. Dessert was pudding, which was a letdown, but after 2 plates of fish and shrimp, we didn't need dessert anyway. I highly recommend this cruise, this crew, and this food. Anyone visiting the Crystal Coast should stop here their first night in town. read more

This was a lot of fun and we saw plenty of dolphins. The pilot was great. I would recommend this to anyone. It is worth the money.

We rode the 'Wild horse and dolphin cruise' at noon, which was an amazing way to spend the afternoon! We had 4 adults and a 15 month old and we all had fun and enjoyed the scenery. The captain was funny, but I really enjoyed his knowledge of the area and season. We were able to see jellyfish, horses from afar, and enjoyed dolphins swimming for a while. He told us about the two Space X ships we saw, which was very neat!! The mate was so nice and enjoyable, she was very kind to our daughter while she danced to the music and enjoyed the boat ride. The boat was very clean upon arrival and we were glad it was covered! Very fun-great activity for an afternoon at the beach! read more

Up and down the river. They go no closer than a mile to Shackleford island. You'll never see a pony. It was nice to be with family, but we created our own enjoyment. None was given by the cruise. read more

I signed up for a cruise to see wild horses and dolphins. I got my family excited about this great opportunity to see dolphins and horses. We saw a total of three horses that we could have seen from the dock and zero dolphins. What we got was a harbor cruise where we saw the town we drove through to get to the boat and an industrial area. When I complained, I was told pretty much too bad, so sad, they do not guarantee dolphin sightings, and they do not go to the ocean because people would get sea sick. We did not go near horse islands except the one across from the dock. My kids were bored and we were left wondering what that ride was all about. It is a sad way to make money off of vacationers visiting your town. At least that is what I think. read more

Took my wife here for our first anniversary. Very pleased. It was $41 a person, so I was hoping it would be worth it and I can say it sure was! Nice boat EXCELLENT service. We went on the afternoon sunset captains buffet. The food was decent. Fried chicken, honey ham, mixed veggies, salad, peel and eat shrimp, with rolls and sweet tea. Not to die for, but it filled me up. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because it is a buffet. The line was long and slow, it would have been so much better if they served you for the dinner portion. Aside from that, the view and ride itself was beautiful, educational, and fun! The staff walked around making small talk, and requesting to take your picture if you wanted. Very down to earth. It lasted a decent amount of time, and we will certainly be back. read more

Great day fishing! Great crew! Don't expect to catch a trophy marlin but you'll catch a lot of fish. I caught 13 and my sister in law caught 22. The rest of our party caught on average of 10-15 too. Great day fishing with captain Farmer! read more

We hosted our son's rehearsal dinner on the maiden voyage day of the new Crystal Coast Lady which is a whole new experience from the previous boat as it is MUCH bigger! It was a perfect event for 100 guests, lots of comfortable seating on the lower deck with a wide center aisle and food and bar set up. The upper deck had an additional bar, we chose to set up only a few tables and chairs for lots of mingling room. The crew bent over backwards to make sure that everything was to our liking and the food was delicious!!! It was a perfect venue for a destination wedding event, our guest saw horses on Carrot Island, Dolphins near the turning basin and a beautiful sunset as we cruised down the Intercostal Waterway. read more

The scenery was gorgeous as we watched the sun set. The food was delicious, and the captain and staff could not have been nicer or more helpful. read more

Purchased tickets for the lunch cruise the morning of April 5th, 2018 in celebration of my husbands birthday. Drove 2.5 hours from our home to Beaufort, NC only to arrive and receive an EMAIL on my phone stating the cruise had been cancelled due to mechanical issues. LESS THAN 45 MINUTES FROM DEPARTURE?!?! I was disappointed, upset and completely embarrassed as I had NO replacement plans for my husbands BIRTHDAY being out of town. I receive a phone call a short time later from a girl named CHRISTINA who was argumentative, unprofessional and rude. I completely understand "things happen" out of our control but I was understandably disappointed to say the least. Instead of her using any professionalism at all, she stated SHE was stressed and that SHE was "not THE ONE." What? The one to be upset with?!?! WOW.. I said back to her "I have not said anything to you other than I am stuck out of town with no plans now for my husband on his birthday because of this" she said back "YEAH, BUT YOU'RE ABOUT TOO!" "about too?? About to what? Say something about being upset?!?" I was SHOCKED at how she was speaking me!! I can not say that I will ever forget this experience and it is not for good reasons. If this company will hire an employee that will speak to customers this way, this is not a company I will give my business too. Beware of terrible, TERRIBLE customer service!! read more

My family and I visit the area every year and we wanted to do something special for my sister's 50th birthday. We decided to go on the Crystal Coast Lady sunset dinner cruise! It was awesome! The boat ride is two hours long and cruises pass the town of Bueaford and moorehead city!!! From the boat we experienced a fantastic night time view of the cities lite up. I can't say enough about how much fun it was and the amazing sunset. The captain and the crew were very friendly and attentive. The captain shared fun facts and stories about the area as we cruised the coast. We were lucky enough to spot dolphins nearby! The food was simple yet tasty and fresh! The slaw and the grouper especially delicious. They could improve on dessert. We chose to dine on the top tier of the vessel. For the price, I highly recommend this trip for anyone!!!! Outstanding!! Worth every cent and then some!!! read more

We received a gift from my son for a birthday dinner cruise for my wife in June of this year. We had previously sailed on the Crystal Coast Lady a couple of times, thoroughly enjoyed it, and were looking forward to yet another pleasurable dining event. When we decided to utilize the voucher, we were informed that the boat was under repair/refit, and another vessel, The Miss Morehead City, would honor the trip. However, when I checked with them, I was disappointed to learn that a dinner cruise was not offered, only a scenic cruise sans dinner which was not what we had planned for. I asked if my son or myself could be refunded the fee so that we could pursue a different line offering dinner, and were assured that an inquiry would be made and I would be contacted. After waiting a week or so without notification, I again contacted The Crystal coast Lady, explained the situation to the lady, and once again was told that she would check and respond.... once again, after waiting a week or so, no response. I attempted it yet a third time with again, no answer, at which time I contacted my son who contacted The Crystal Coast Lady, and was told that the voucher time would be extended, however he now just wanted to be refunded the fee. It did not surprise either of us when he likewise was promised a forthcoming answer which never came. He was faced with no other option than to dispute and disallow his credit card charge to remedy the issue.....in late October! I understand that maintenance difficulties on vessels arise, and schedules can be adversely affected. I too have operated a business. I cannot, however, condone complacency and disregard on the part of a business in ensuring that their customers receive the best possible service. There should have been no hesitation in refunding the cost of the voucher on the very first request, which would have allowed us to find another dinner cruise, and would have saved four months of disappointing negotiation time. I really hope that the Crystal Coast Lady is able to replace or refit the boat, and I wish her much future success. She is a wonderful vessel and will doubtless serve many future customers. I, however, will not be one of them. read more

Terrible customer service starting with the owner and management. Received a gift certificate to the previous location in New Bern for a sunset cruise. Tried to set it up, but very busy with our 9 month old and 3 year old... They no longer offered this service and would not honor our $54 gift. Bad business, rude owner, and a garbage operation. read more