Our last-minute date night with Lookout Cruises was absolutely incredible. The sunset was stunning and truly unforgettable, and the entire evening felt effortless from start to finish. Captain and crew--Mike and David--were professional, kind, and attentive. A special mention goes to the captain's mom, who has served as his assistant for the past 26 cruises--she is truly a treasure and adds such a warm, personal touch to the experience. All of the staff had genuinely jovial personalities, making the atmosphere even more enjoyable. One of the most thoughtful details was having crew members walk around and take photos of each couple throughout the evening, allowing everyone to simply be present while still capturing lasting memories. It was the perfect evening to take in the stunning coastal views, watch dolphins play, and see Fort Macon from the water. The boat was exceptionally clean, and safety was never a concern--it was clear we were in very capable hands. We were so impressed that we've already booked their 4th of July fireworks cruise and can't wait! read more

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My family/ extended family was in Beaufort for my son's wedding and we all decided (15 of us!) to do the Dolphin cruise the day before the wedding. Unfortunately, my sister and her children had their flight cancelled and they could only arrange to come a day later. Therefore, they were stuck in NY and not able to attend the cruise. While the rest of us (11 people!) still enjoyed the cruise, it's been disappointing that Lookout Cruises would not refund my sister's $200 for a cruise she had no way of attending. Although I understand this is policy, it is truly selfish and poor customer service. She offered to show proof of her flight cancellation and meanwhile Lookout Cruises still got the business of the other 11 people in our family. Very disappointing and we will not use this company again. read more

Sunset cruise--book ahead, bring a hat, and maybe a thermos. We grabbed the last two seats for a late-September weekend sunset cruise--as of noon the same day--so tip #1: book ahead, especially on weekends. Our boat had two larger groups (a bachelorette and a birthday), which made for a fun, jovial crowd. Seating & comfort: Plenty of places to sit and move around--shade, sun, or rail time by the water. Nice flexibility as the light changes. Drinks: They offer drinks on board; the selection was basic beer and some generic wine. I don't drink, so I can't rate them. Even if I did drink, I would still hesitate. I brought my own THC beverage, and no one blinked, but check their current policy and use common sense. A water bottle or a thermos/juice blend is a definite yes. Crew & service: Excellent across the board. Two bartenders--friendly, efficient--and the whole crew felt professional and upbeat. Bathroom note: There is a restroom onboard, which is clutch, but it's a bit awkward to access. Go before you board if stairs/steep steps are tricky. Overall: Great time: good music, easygoing crowd, smooth operation. I'd definitely recommend. Next time, we'll try a longer day cruise to the Outer Banks (with lunch)--it looked like a solid daytime option; we just didn't have the time this trip. Bottom line: Great crew, great sunset, zero fuss. Would do again. read more

Lookout Cruises - Good times!! - Boat Tours Near Me - Beaufort, North Carolina

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The low down: Such a great time on a catamaran, on the intercoastal waterway, great combo of sun and fun . Learned a couple things too! We decided on. whim to do the morning dolphin and horse tour which is 2 hrs long and it did not disappoint. Big shout out to Captain Robert, First Mate Mike and 2nd Mate Deanne who kept the flow going, made us all fell comfortable and provided plenty of water and lemonade. Free water provided, adult beverages available for an additional fee. There is a decent size bathroom below deck. read more

Booked a full moon cruise a few hours before departing and it was an excellent experience. Beer and wine were included and it went from about 8:45pm to 10:30pm. The staff on the boat were friendly and knowledgeable about the area, giving great recommendations. Plenty of seating and space to move around as you sail and full size bathroom available. read more

We took the 6-hour cruise with family visiting from Germany, and it was absolutely fantastic! Captain Robert and First Mate Regan (sp?) were engaging, funny, and full of cool stories and local facts. Great tunes, relaxed vibe, and plenty of interaction without ever feeling over the top. My husband and cousin even helped hoist the main sail -- a highlight! The boat was spotless (yes, even the bathroom!), drinks were ice cold, food hit the spot, and the scenery? Wild horses on Shackleford and a pod of dolphins on the way back into Beaufort. Don't miss this cruise -- it's a perfect mix of adventure and chill. Highly recommend! read more

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Amazing sunset cruise with Captain Rob and the crew of the Lookout. Saw the sunset over the ocean and the full moon rise over Taylor's Creek - just a perfect, relaxing, out of the park experience. Highly recommend!! read more

My wife and I went out on the Lookout Cruise. We had a great time. Perfect weather. Robert and Reagan were incredible hosts and so much fun. We got to see the wild horses on Shackleford Banks, dolphins, to look for seashells and the beautiful Cape Lookout lighthouse. I highly recommend this cruise. You'll love it. read more

Booked my 60th birthday...spend time in Oriental, NC at this cute cottage. Well, I did some research for things to do in the area and fond Look-out Cruise in Beaufort, NC. Just an hour away. Saw the Sunset Cruise and was like - YES ADD TO CART!!! They had a sunset cruise on Saturday, September 21, 2024 (day of birthday). This is now added to "One of the best things I have ever done in life" list!! The weather was perfect - the sunset was beautiful and Captain Robert and bartender Nicole made the experience amazing!! They played September by Earth, Wind and Fire, I mean they had to... " do you remember the 21st night of September..." we saw wild horses, Captain Robert played "Happy Birthday" on a Conch shell!! Which was no small feat! If you find yourself in Beaufort and you want a great experience- do yourself a favor and check it out and book a wonderful time! read more

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Booked the morning horse/dolphin cruise the day before. Staff was friendly, and made it easy! The boat was clean, not crowded and the crew were great. Reasonable price. read more

We spontaneously took the sunrise tour and it was FABULOUS! The captain and crew were so friendly and accommodating to everyone. There were plenty of places to sit and be comfortable. The thing that amazed us, other than the sailing itself, is that they provide drinks throughout the cruise! Wine, beer, water, soft drinks. It lasted a while too! We will definitely be doing this again next time we are in town. read more

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Captain Rob and Reygin are awesome. They picked us up on our dock, took us out for the most beautiful sunset. They helped us enjoy the waters, sailing and each other while keeping us safe and happy! Thanks to you, Lookout Cruises. read more

Lookout Cruises - The adults before the queen conch horn launch! - Boat Tours Near Me - Beaufort, North Carolina

Took a last minute weekend away and booked the morning Dolphin and Wild Horse tour! It was our first time on a Catamaran and the weather & water were amazing! Captain Rob and his first and second mates were professional, knowledgeable Kind and accommodating. We saw both Dolphins and Horses but honestly the experience of being out on the boat was worth it! We'll be back to take the daytime cruise. read more

Lookout Cruises - Boat Tours Near Me - Beaufort, North Carolina

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Top notch experience!! Boat is grand, super clean. Every part of the experience was fabulous. A must-do!! Loved exploring on the 2 stops read more

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Perfect evening for a sunset crew. Loved the captain and first mate (Reagan). Had wine, enjoyed watching the dolphins, and my teenage granddaughters enjoyed sitting on the netting on the front of the sailboat! read more

This is our favorite thing to do on the Crystal Coast when our family visits! Today was our third cruise on the Lookout and the weather was perfect! Captain Rob and Mike are wonderful hosts and attentive to every single need. They genuinely enjoy what they do and sharing stories and history as we sail along. The food is always wonderful from Beaufort Grocery and they accommodated our vegetarians in our group. We saw quite a few wild horses and the water was crystal clear!! Shelling fabulous as always. It is a wonderful way to share the beauty of where we live with visitors to NC. read more

Lookout Cruises - Boat Tours Near Me - Beaufort, North Carolina

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Our cruise to Cape Lookout by far exceeded our expectations! We had an absolute blast! Perfect family (Grandparents, Parents and Grandkids) adventure! The Lookout Cruises staff were so much fun! We will absolutely be back and will recommend Lookout Cruises to anyone vacationing in or around Beaufort, NC! read more

Today's 6 hr adventure aboard The Lookout was incredible! The water was beautiful, the weather was perfect and the seashell collecting was excellent. The trip out to Cape Lookout Lighthouse was so much fun. Captain Rob and First Mate Alex were fun, knowledgeable hosts. They really took care of the passengers with drinks, snacks and a tasty lunch.This was the most enjoyable sailing cruise I've ever experienced. I highly recommend Lookout cruises! read more

Best date night I have had with my husband in a long time! We did a last minute sunset cruise and not only was it breathtaking but the service was amazing. The captain and first mate were so friendly, accommodating and attentive. I can not wait to sail again on them. I am looking forward to the day cruise someday! read more

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Great time and friendly captain/crew. I would definitely recommend and would do again.

My husband and I did a sunset sail this past week, and we absolutely loved it so much! We decided to join them the next day for the cape lookout sailing and loved that too! The entire crew from Jackie at the front desk, Reagan and Russel, to the Captain Robert 10/10 amazing. Super hospitable, attentive, and knowledgeable. We have already recommended them to numerous friends who will be in town next year! read more

Our sunset cruise with Lookout Cruises was one of the highlights of our vacation. The captain was friendly and when I asked where the Queen Anne's Revenge wreckage was, he made sure to point it out to me later in the voyage. They played relaxing music, gave everyone drinks, and it was just a great way to spend an evening with the wind blowing and the late evening sun hitting the tops of the waves. If you get the chance to take this cruise, don't hesitate. read more

Beautiful sailing, knowledgeable and friendly crew, LOTS of fun. Captain Steve knows the Beaufort waters and shares great local stories. Every guest (ages 3 to 75) enjoyed the sunset cruise, and the crew knew just where to take us to catch the good winds and avoid the big swells. Don't miss the chance to lie in the trampoline (and get a little splash.) This cruise is just a great Beaufort institution - and a great value, too. read more

Went on the day cruise to cape lookout and it was an incredibly relaxing day! Captain Steve gave us a wealth of information and his mate Raegen was so attentive and wonderful. It was such a smooth sail and the most perfect way to spend my last day in Beaufort. Thank you for everything! I would recommend this sail to anyone. read more

I took the six hour afternoon cruise to cape lookout. Steve and Dewey were on the ship with us today. Dewey was completely helpful and charming. He was kind of our waiter--be prepared to tip the shipmate! Take with you a waterproof camera, a towel, a coverup and sun block and a ballcap--something that won't easily blow away. Be sure to make a reservation at the lighthouse on their website if you want to go inside-they require 24 hours notice. There was a yummy lunch provided by Beaufort Grocery. It included many kinds of sandwiches, a bean salad, potato salad, pickles and a cookie. We were also given a little cup of cantaloupe at just the right time and some chips at just the right time. Endless supply of water, pop, and lemonade, and beer and wine were $2 each. One note: people are no longer allowed to sun on the netting :( per coast guard... Great cruise!!! read more

The sunset cruise with lookout Cruises was the highlight of our trip. It came with beer and wine and the first mate was generous in refilling our wine cups. The view was gorgeous and it was great meeting people on the cruise!!! Would highly recommend. Great value. read more

My husband and I have sailed with these terrific people several times. We have always gone on the midday trip and it includes a delicious meal. We sailed out to an island where we found beautiful shells in the edge of the water. On the way back the captain let me stand behind the wheel while he explained how to stay on course. The most courteous staff ever on this sailboat! We want to go back and take a group from our church this time. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this guided trip! read more

We have taken the sunset and Cape Lookout cruises and really enjoyed them. The captain and first mate really treat you well and play awesome music. read more

Lookout Cruises - On the water - Boat Tours Near Me - Beaufort, North Carolina

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Beautiful boat and beautiful 2 hour cruise just super disappointing for 3 city kids who were hoping to see guaranteed dolphins and a wild pony or 2 possibly. read more

The best water tour in Beaufort. The staff is great, the meal from Beaufort Grocery is superb (they can accommodate special dietary needs), the trip is a relaxing, fun filled tour that should not be missed. The island stops and the water are like being in the Caribbean. If you only have time for one tour while visiting Beaufort this is it. read more

Not worth the money. Initial part of cruise was canceled due to ocean waves and we were stuck inside only. The so called lunch was a premade wrap that was tasteless and of no real amount of sustenance. I had to miss getting one, because all they had left at my turn was vegetarian. I tasted my wife's and we agreed it was terrible. On top of that the salads were not worth anything. Stops were alright, but for $80 bucks a person I could have drove over instead. If you never did this before it would be alright, but for world travelers like us, it was a joke and worth only about $25 a person. read more

We took the day cruise. It was a bit long for my taste but I don't know how you would have time to stop at the two stops without it. You do not get a lot of down time on this trip. The lighthouse is nice to see. I did get some very cool and big shells from the beach. The lunch was good. There is alcohol for purchase on the boat at reasonable prices. If you get sea sick at all this is not for you. It is a very choppy ride with large waves. An entire family got sick when we were on. I wasn't feeling very well myself. The owner of the cruise was very nice along with Mandy, his mate. They went out of their way to make things good. read more

Lookout Cruises - Cape LookoutLighthouse - Boat Tours Near Me - Beaufort, North Carolina

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Went on the 9:20am-11:15am Dolphin Cruise this morning, and it was setting up to be a pretty nice day with the sun and clear skies to be out on the water. Despite this, my family did not enjoy our experience. I understand that they can't guarantee that you will see dolphins however after looking for the dolphins for a while the captain (Steve) admitted that they would be hard to find as it was extremely high tide today because of the time of day and the moon being in a fuller stage. This seemed dishonest to me, because despite them knowing the circumstances, they still took our money and didn't warn us that the conditions might make it difficult to find the dolphins. We did see one dolphin as it surfaced a few times barely close enough to even spot it, much less see it even remotely up close. Yesterday on our way back from Shackleford Island (where we saw horses and found conch shells) we encountered a pod of dolphins just by chance (which was by the way not in the same place that the Dolphin Cruise went). There were several of the dolphins and the ferry driver was able to give us some info about them such as how many there were and that they had a baby or two with them. This short ride that was only $15 roundtrip was much more enjoyable than the Dolphin cruise that did not meet my expectations. Back to the Dolphin Cruise, the captain was also pretty unprofessional, as when he wasn't obligated to speak to us he was talking to a buddy I presume on his cell phone the whole time. It was especially frustrating when he was on his cell phone while we were supposed to be finding dolphins. However Sara(h?) the only other crew member was much more amicable and professional, she did as good a job as she could. The little kids that were on the boat got visibly bored and the adults just ended up talking the whole time. Overall: not worth the $30 per person, instead of this Dolphin Cruise, I would recommend taking the ferry to Shackleford Island to collect shells and see the Shackleford ponies, and maybe see dolphins if you're lucky! read more

Get reservations for a sunset cruise. The cruise lasts a while as the large, comfortable catamaran glides up Taylor's creek and then out into the ocean. It's pretty low-key, but charming and lets your appreciate a little sailing with your friends or on a date. Beer and wine are complimentary and all you can drink. There is one primitive toilet below deck. I recommend getting a seat with your back to the front windows, on the deck forward of the main cabin. When you get out into the water, go out on the rope net and look down at the ocean waves. Last time I went on this sunset cruise some folks got engaged right next to us. This is the perfect start to the night, or maybe to cap off an early dinner. Although a handicapped person may be able to get around, not all parts of the boat are accessible. Bring some cash to tip the crew who serve your drinks - $5 to $10 would be appropriate. read more

Lookout Cruises is a wonderful experience for both tourist and locals. Steve and his crew offer a variety of sailing trips on a beautiful, clean, well equipped, sturdy catamaran. He is both professional and accommodating to each customer. His crew is equally as pleasant. The trip takes you to the local islands, light houses, views of the wild horses, dolphins and trip to shell collect in between sails. Endless glasses of cold water and lemonade are included and a cold beer is two bucks! The scenery is not to be missed! Morning, Afternoon, Sunset and Late Night cruises are all options. I would suggest a light jacket in case there is any precipitation and on the day cruise perhaps a book to enjoy on the longer leg sails. You will love this sail with family or friends. read more

We went on the sunset cruise, and it was the worst I've ever been on. The captain visited with his wife and another couple the entire time. Barely any commentary was shared. We only sailed for about 10 minutes - other than that, the engines (which were loud, even though they were Honda engines) were running constantly. This didn't make for a relaxing, peaceful experience. I didn't expect noise pollution on a relaxing sunset cruise. We were also never positioned in a way that allowed us to have an advantageous view of the sunset - by the time we got back to the dock, the sun hadn't even set yet. I felt this was a waste of time and money - not to mention that we drove 2 hours just for this experience. read more

Perfect! Kind, generous, the trip was worth ever penny! I wouldn't have changed a thing. :) read more

Lookout Cruises - Boat Tours Near Me - Beaufort, North Carolina

What a fun way to spend the evening! See the sunset on a nice catamaran and finish up with some dinner at one of the restaurants on the water. We lucked out with a smaller group... perfect evening. read more

We have been doing trips on the lookout for 17 years now, ever since our kids were little. Great boat, nice crew. Really great for adults or kids. I highly recommend the all day trip to Cape Lookout. We just did that trip again yesterday and it was both fun & relaxing. read more

Fantastic value. Great sail to Lookout Point. Crew is very friendly and helpful. Lunch was great and we managed time for a swim at Cape Lookout National Seashore. Beer and wine available on board for only $2.00. Highly recommend this cruise for those who lie to get out on the water. read more