May River Excursions

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17 days ago

We have gone with May River several times and their knowledge of the local waters and abilty to maneuver wwatercraft are exceptional. Sure no one can guarantee wild animals will be present but they do a masterful job seeking out dolphins and birds. Tonight as thunderstorms approached our captain kept a watchful eye on the radar, assured us we were safe and got us back to the dock exactly 30 minutes before the rain started - as he predicted. If you want a safe, fun, informative and delightful experience on the May River, this is the company to choose. read more

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Randall B.

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2

1

1 year ago

Great trip with Captain Chris - he is an awesome guide and his local knowledge was amazing! Everyone boated large redfish, had some shark action and caught many smaller ones! Well done Chris! read more

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Casey V.

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6

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3 months ago

We had a wonderful private tour with Fred on the May River. 4 adults and 3 kids ages 3,4 & 9. Everyone enjoyed it. Fred was very knowledgable. We saw dolphins mating and feeding in the wild. Many egret, pink spoonbills , a herons. Wonderful seeing islands and homes not visible from roadways. I would recommend them wholeheartedly. read more

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Jennifer J.

37

2

8 months ago

We had a great time fishing with Captain Chris today. I highly recommend going out. Great communication and directions. read more

May River Excursions - Our catch with a little help. - Boating Near Me - Bluffton, South Carolina

May River Excursions - I caught the big one! - Boating Near Me - Bluffton, South Carolina

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Angela J.

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44

8

4 months ago

Captain Chris was excellent on our private boat tour of the May River. We saw a bald eagle and some dolphins. Definitely a must activity for visitors and residents. read more

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G K.

0

12

2 years ago

Chris did a great job of putting me on the fish and filleting them afterwards. Looking forward to using them next year read more

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J H.

0

8

1

1 year ago

We had an amazing experience with May River Excursions and Captain Alan! From booking to drop-off, everything was professional and smooth. We traveled with two dogs on August 5 and appreciated Captain Alan's top priority--safety--when thunderstorms rolled in. He waited for clear skies, kept us comfortable, and informed. We were thrilled on our departure day that Alan was our Captain again. He even spotted dolphins for us on the way back!! Book your water taxi to Daufuskie with May River Excursions!! Prompt, friendly, and careful--ask for Captain Alan! read more

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Paula Z.

19

280

262

2 years ago

Fantastic private sunset cruise this evening with our captain, Allen. Leisurely journey on the river with great conversation and laughter. We brought a few beverages and simply enjoyed. While there was not much of a sunset, we saw plenty of dolphins. Allen was an excellent, engaging guide. Highly recommend! read more

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Kathy P.

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3

0

11 months ago

Our Captain Fred was wonderful. He really wanted us to see Dolphins on our very short boat excursion. He took extra time and we saw several!!! read more

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TJ B.

0

6

5

2 years ago

Overall great experience and fun morning fishing on the May River. Great customer service and our fisherman was knowledgeable and engaging. Wish it could have lasted longer but the 3-hour excursion was great and plenty for our kids. read more

May River Excursions - May River fishing excursion!!! - Boating Near Me - Bluffton, South Carolina

May River Excursions - Caught three sharks, red fish, sting ray, shrimp, and other types. - Boating Near Me - Bluffton, South Carolina

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Natalie S.

1

39

7

2 years ago

Y'all.... Captain Michael was fantastic! So personable and polite. We had a wonderful time and were able to see so many dolphins, on top of the beautiful sunset. Olivia was also very helpful in getting us booked same day for the tour. Highly recommend! read more

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Tara W.

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15

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1 year ago

Fred never fails to find dolphins!! He's an awesome tour guide and is very knowledgeable and fun to interact with. Highly recommend! read more

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Marshall C.

0

87

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1 year ago

Booked the Historic Tour at 10 am, excellent choice. Weather was threatening but held off for a full hour and half trip. Capt Fred knoes what he is doing and ptovides casual but very informative commentary. This trip is largely unscripted but does hit the high spots on the river: Oyster dock, riverside of Alljoy Rd, Palmetto Bluff. We got bonus coverage at nearly high tide, getting into some of the back waters around Bull Island and other private islands. Another bonus, or as we say in South Louisiana, lagniappe, river was full of dolphins, up close and personal. First raindrops hit on the way back to the car, perfect timing after a spectacular trip on the river. Thanks Capt Fred. read more

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Linda D.

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6

1

1 year ago

Our sunset excursion with Capt Chris and his sweet boy Marsh was incredible. We saw so many dolphins, and they were coming right up to the boat. The sunset was beautiful and we learned so many new things about the sea life in the water. I highly recommend this experience! read more

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Steve B.

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4

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2 years ago

Chris Shoemaker was the best guide we have ever had. At the first stop we caught redfish on a continuous basis. It was the most fun we have had fishing for the 10 + years we have been coming to Hilton Head. We took our redfish fillets to Hudson's to prepare for dinner. The fish was delicious. I highly recommend using Chris at May River Excursion. Steve Bertsch read more

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Diana S.

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2

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3 years ago

We've often taken guests on May River Excursions. This past time was the best ever. Our grandkids saw lots of dolphins and Captain Freddy was informative and kept the cruise interesting, many thanks for a great morning. Last year, we tried another company on Hilton Head and we were very disappointed and our grandkids were bored. May River Excursions will be our first choice going forward. read more

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Nick F.

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9

7

2 years ago

Branson was our guide and was great! Put us on trout, reds and a bonnet head shark. Took the time to answer our questions and explain how tide affects the fishing. read more

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Tracy C.

4

58

26

3 years ago

The only reason I'm giving this a 2 star rating instead of a 1 star is because of Emma. She was wonderful to deal with for the planning. Otherwise, I would say do not use this company. When we arrived at the pick up dock, it was raining a bit and it was low tide, which meant that we had to walk down an extremely steep gangplank with all of the stuff that 5 women would need for a 3-day weekend on a no-bridge island. It was inconvenient, dangerous and we all got wet, but it wasn't nearly as bad as our return trip at the end of the weekend. We were picked up early on Sunday morning by the transit company, as one of the ladies had an early flight out of Savannah. We arrived at the dock and it had already been raining and then the bottom dropped out of the sky. We had no choice but to leave at that time. Unfortunately, May River Excursions doesn't have an enclosed-cabin boat and not only were we all soaked to the skin, all of our stuff was soaked. It was a 30-minute ride back to the mainland and none of my clothes were even dry enough for me to change into them for a 5-hr drive back to Florida. I wrote to them to voice my concerns that in all the phone calls and emails I exchanged with May River Excursions did anyone ever mention that they only had small "fishing" type boats and none enclosed and that if it was pouring, we would be soaked. It wasn't on their website either. If I had known this, I would have booked another company. I never received any response from them to my email - not to apologize, offer a partial refund, nothing. I would NEVER use this company again nor recommend it to anyone. read more

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Ray G.

153

187

3404

7 years ago

May River Excursions was great from start to finish! I arranged a trip to Daufuskie Island with them, and was able to reserve water taxi service and golf cart rentals for the day via their website. On the day of the trip, the weather for the Daufuskie Island called for a thirty percent chance of rain that morning. A representative called and asked if I wanted to cancel and have the money for the trip refunded, or reschedule the trip at no extra charge. I really appreciated that gesture from May River Excursions. For the trips to and from the island, Captain Austin and Captain Buddy were on time and kept the trip interesting by talking about local points of interest while traveling. They even slowed the boat down a couple of times when we wanted to take pictures. Once on the island, the gold cart rental was painless, as another representative provided us with a map of the island along with advice on how to best utilize our time there. Overall, May River Excursions provided a great example of superior customer service. They are highly recommended for fishing or touring excursions. read more

May River Excursions - Exterior. Conveniently located about a block from the river in Old Town Bluffton. - Boating Near Me - Bluffton, South Carolina

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Melinda H.

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8

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2 years ago

Captain Chris tried his hardest to find us a pod of dolphins. Unfortunately, we only saw one loner. But its all good when you are on the May River in perfect weather! read more

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Tammy K.

2

10

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3 years ago

This was our second time going out with Captain Chris. He's so knowledgeable about the area, history etc... I picked this excursion because we wanted to bring the kids with us! Also you can bring your own snacks and drinks as well. If it's a hot day I would choose the 7 pm cruise because it's much more tolerable. My family really enjoyed this over a booze cruise because it was so intimate. You will see dolphins!!! I can't say enough about this excursion except give it a try! 5 stars!!!!! read more

May River Excursions - 6 year old grandson - Boating Near Me - Bluffton, South Carolina

May River Excursions - Daughters who came from out of town - Boating Near Me - Bluffton, South Carolina

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Courtney F.

Elite 26 All-Star

323

1388

524

5 years ago

I was looking for something fun to do with my nephews while we were in Hilton Head, and the crab trip popped up on Groupon for an amazing price, so I booked it. WHAT A GREAT SURPRISE. Check in was super easy, and we simply waited on the dock for our Captain. We all hopped on the boat, and away we went. I wish I remembered the captains name (young guy, curly light hair, from the area). Since we had little ones, the Captain made sure to look out for Dolphins which was cool! Then we went out in the crabbing waters, which was awesome. He talked to us the whole time and gave us some great history on the area, as well as discussed low tide vs high tide. He was super informative. He was also very interactive with the little ones, and eager to help us get some crabs. We got 8-9 crabs altogether (which was plenty) and were super happy about it! The little guys were interested the first few times, and terrified when one was on the deck, so I think they were entertained too. The boat ride was super smooth with beautiful views. Great trip! Highly recommend this company - great boats, great staff, great experience. read more

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Meghan D.

0

2

4

2 years ago

We had such a great time doing the shark tooth tour and seeing dolphins! my kids loved it and they were flexible with the length of the tour given my kids were younger. We will definitely use May River excursions again. read more

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Caroline M.

83

9

15

5 years ago

Sent this to the owner of May River Excursions on 3.29.21, NO RESPONSE On Friday, as Jennie (my sister) was coming out of the office of MRE, she fell stepping out of the store, on the steps out front. An employee Emma witnessed it and came out to help. My sister was hurt but continued with me on the ride to the island. Her pain increased to the point after an hour in, that we drove to the FMS on Daufuskie and they recommended we return and go to an emergency care for xrays and diagnosis. We called and Matt picked us up for the return trip back to Bluffton. We were unable to enjoy our tour Daufuskie Island. We have asked that he would refund our $170 investment, since we did not have a chance to enjoy what we paid for. NO RESPONSE. read more

$May River Excursions - my sister with her fractured fibula boot on after we visited ER Doctor Care. - Boating Near Me - Bluffton, South Carolina$

May River Excursions - ER care we had to go to on Bluffton - Boating Near Me - Bluffton, South Carolina

May River Excursions - SItting in golf cart waiting for ferryt to take us back to mainland. - Boating Near Me - Bluffton, South Carolina

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Mia C.

Elite 25

95

67

91

4 years ago

Originally purchased a Groupon online deal for the hand crabbing excursion. Upon trying to book the excursion, I was informed that there were no more crabbing boats to book for the season and that the Groupon was ending on 4/18. Found out later this wasn't the case and several boats went out that day, and that you had 90 days from the Groupon purchase to use the voucher. In turn we were scheduled for a inshore fishing trip vs the one we originally booked with a $400 value. This would have been for 3 stars, but they get a 4 only because our Captain Austin redeemed the day. He was easy to talk to, very informative on the in and out for fishing tips. It made for a good fishing trip. We were able to catch several bonnethead sharks, and whiting fish. The water was very choppy that day but Austin payed attention and made the ride smoother with properly handling the boat against the waves. All in all we had a good trip regardless of the voucher. read more

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Holly M.

0

5

0

2 years ago

Great shrimping trip! Captain Chris and Captain Fred are both great! This was our second excursion with May River Excursions and we have had such great experiences for our whole family. read more

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Abby A.

0

8

1

3 years ago

We had a great experience with our captain, Branson. He was very knowledgeable on fishing and fishing spots. He was very patient and kind teaching our family to cast their lines to fish. I know we will definitely do this again when we come back! Thank you for an amazing experience!! read more

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Ryan T.

2

0

3 years ago

Allen the boat captain expertly navigated and Anna our tour guide was superb. Highly recommend the eco tour.

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Kirsten S.

0

52

0

3 years ago

We had a great experience using May River as a water taxi to Daufuskie. Everyone was super friendly and helpful. It's a beautiful open boat ride, so pack and dress accordingly. We dodged a bullet with the rain, but had packed with everything important wrapped in trash bags just in case. Highly recommend this option for getting to DI. read more

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Kimberly D.

0

2

0

2 years ago

I took both the sunset cruise and the dolphin cruise. Both were excellent with great views and lots of dolphins. Very relaxing and enjoyable. read more

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Carol J.

41

32

1

3 years ago

Another awesome boating excursion. Saw lots of dolphins, some right next to the boat, including a baby swimming with its mother. Beautiful views and very patient captain - Freddie - who had to grab the two items that my grandson threw overboard. Super nice guy and wonderful time. We'll be back! read more

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Nicole P.

27

3

1

4 years ago

Our trip with Capt Fred was so much fun! He was knowledgeable and helped our boys out so much! It was super exciting to catch sharks (even though we weren't trying). We would definitely go again if we are in the area!! Thank you for making our fishing trip a great family memory! read more

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Karl M.

0

8

0

3 years ago

Super easy check in, friendly folks. Captain Allen was/is the best. Fun day out on the island and May River Excursions took care of everything. read more

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Gina R.

0

1

5

3 years ago

Best fishing/sightseeing outfit in the area! The people on here complaining about the weather and such should be ignored. When on the water, anyone with experience will tell you...BE PREPARED! This company can't control the weather and they do an amazing job! Super friendly and extremely experienced! We caught our limit of Reds and even had the chance to chase down a school of Carvalle Jack. We didn't connect with one but it was super exciting and made my day! I will only use this outfit when in South Carolina! Being from the Pacific North West and an avid fisherman, Capt. Chris and his crew are the sh*t! read more

May River Excursions - Redfish - Boating Near Me - Bluffton, South Carolina

May River Excursions - The brothers. - Boating Near Me - Bluffton, South Carolina

May River Excursions - The other brothers - Boating Near Me - Bluffton, South Carolina

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Mimi C.

89

6

0

3 years ago

May River Excursions made our day so easy! Convenient signups right in town; water taxi pickup on Calhoun and amazing trip across the river and thru the marsh to adorable Daufuskie Island! We had so much fun exploring on our golf car, stopping for a treat or historic conversations with people in the know! We had an awesome day and thank Captain Freddy and Captain Chris for taking good care of us on our crossings! I'd definitely do it again! Thank you for an awesome day! read more

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Rhonda S.

60

44

2

3 years ago

Wonderful! Freddy provided a wonderful, informative, and comfortable cruise! Such a great day for 4 generations of moms on Mother's Day!!

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Morgan H.

0

2

4

5 years ago

I had a tour with Captain John and it was the best tour I have ever taken!! My group all enjoyed their time and Captain John was super nice and had lots of fun facts! He knew the area well and had a lot of personal experience to add to the tour. Would 100% recommend taking a trip with May River Excursions!! read more

May River Excursions - Captain John took a picture with my sister and me. We were doing a dead body meme, so that is why we were laying like that. Good guy. - Boating Near Me - Bluffton, South Carolina

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Juwan R.

0

9

11

4 years ago

I booked a Saturday morning 2 hour fishing excursion with my family and it did not disappoint! Clayton and Branson were awesome guides. We caught a redfish, 2 bonnethead sharks and a gar. The trip exceeded our expectations and we can't recommend May River excursions enough. 5 stars all the way read more

May River Excursions - My first ever Bonnethead shark - Boating Near Me - Bluffton, South Carolina

May River Excursions - Gar - Boating Near Me - Bluffton, South Carolina

May River Excursions - Redfish catch - Boating Near Me - Bluffton, South Carolina

May River Excursions - Second Bonnethead of the morning - Boating Near Me - Bluffton, South Carolina

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Jules B.

0

56

3

3 years ago

Took a noon Dolphin sightseeing tour mid week and my husband and I ended up as the only ones on it....it was awesome! We had Fred as our guide, he immediately started sighting dolphins for us as well as gave us a history lesson of the area. We discovered this company when visiting Old Bluffton and Im so glad. We wanted to avoid traffic and really didn't want to drive to HHI for a boat tour, this was so easy to to. We highly recommend Fred and May River Excursions, easy parking and very friendly staff. We definitely will be back. read more

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Katie W.

0

9

6

4 years ago

Best tour of our trip! Booked a crabbing excursion with the girls and had an absolute blast. Captain Chris was awesome and taught us about the wildlife. Our catches included 6 blue crabs (taken to Hudson's to be cooked), one hermit crab, one very tiny stone crab and a conch, for good measure. read more

May River Excursions - OMG crab! :) - Boating Near Me - Bluffton, South Carolina

May River Excursions - A very tiny stone crab - Boating Near Me - Bluffton, South Carolina

May River Excursions - Female blue crab - Boating Near Me - Bluffton, South Carolina

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More info about May River Excursions

81 Calhoun St
Bluffton, SC 29910
Directions
(843) 304-2878
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.mayriverexcursions.com

Hours

What time does May River Excursions open?

May River Excursions opens at 8:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

What time does May River Excursions close?

May River Excursions closes at 5:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Mon-Sun 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Indoor Amenities

Does May River Excursions allow dogs?

Yes, May River Excursions allows dogs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does May River Excursions have bike parking?

Yes, May River Excursions has bike parking.

Does May River Excursions have parking?

Yes, May River Excursions has parking options. Private Lot Parking

From the Business

Specialties

May River Excursions specializes in a variety of different excursions on the water for all ages and groups. May River Excursions offers Dolphin Excursions, Sunset Cruises, Historic River Excursions of Bluffton, Daufuskie Island Water Taxi, Palmetto Bluff Water Taxi, and private excursions. May River Excursions also offer Crabbing Trips and Inshore / Offshore Fishing Excursions year round as well as Shrimping Excursions in the fall months with born and raised local captains!

History

Established in 2011.

May River Excursions is based in Old Town Bluffton and operates guided boat tours throughout the May River and the back rivers and creeks around Daufuskie and Hilton Head Island. May River Excursions has several boats and can accommodate just about any type of water based excursion.

Meet the Business Owner: Chris S.

Chris Shoemaker is 100 ton Coast Guard Licensed Captain who was born and raised on the May River in Bluffton, SC. His Lowcountry roots date back to the 1600's, when his family came through the port of Charleston. He learned his trade from his father who was a commercial shrimper for over 25 years. From his father he was inherited a vast amount knowledge of the local eco-system and habitats surrounding Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, and Daufuskie Island.

Review Highlights - May River Excursions

“We had an awesome day and thank Captain Freddy and Captain Chris for taking good care of us on our crossings!”

Mentioned in 11 reviews

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Explore benefits

Salty Dog Cruise

4.7(19 reviews)

A large group from our community booked the Sunset Cruise on the Salty Dog boat. It takes off from…read morethe Salty Dog restaurant area. Our excursion set sail around 7:00 pm and returned at 8:30. Captain Phil did a great job. The soundtrack they use for music is well timed to the sites on the cruise including a beautiful sunset. There's food and beverages onboard all at reasonable prices. A local IPA for $6.00 and other beer for around $5.00. I had the Shrimp Fiesta which is a shrimp quesadilla with chips and salsa included for $15. Get there early to ensure parking. It sometimes gets challenging. There's an upper and lower deck area on the boat. For the most exposure, go to the top deck. Great views of Dafuskie Island and you can also see the Harbourtown Lighthouse as well as Tybee Island when going out onto the Calibogue Sound. We saw plenty of dolphins, a capsized boat in the channel, and a beautiful sunset on the way back to port. The weather was perfect. I highly recommend.

Great team! Good communication and easy to find. Boat was ready to push off when we arrived and…read morethey had a spot ready when we returned. Boat wasn't spiffy new but it served the purpose of a beautiful evening float.

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Island Explorer Dolphin & Nature Tours

4.8(97 reviews)

8.7 mi

Saw this tour advertised before we came down and I thought the kids would enjoy the dolphins and…read morefireworks. It was a perfect night on the water. Captain Cody was so cool and super informative. The kids really enjoyed all the information he shared. Seeing the dolphins up close was so awesome for our 4 year old, the fireworks on the water was the perfect ending to the evening! Highly recommend!

Our guide Kathy was knowledgeable, friendly and fun! We had a great day on the water with her. The…read moretrip is fantastic. We saw and learned about oysters, the tides and how they work. We were given ample time to wonder all over the large sandbar area finding lots of sand dollars and leaving behind anything still living, except the humans. Haha Highly recommend this trip if you are ever in the area.

Dolphin

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Hilton Head Yacht Charter

5.0(2 reviews)

Our experience on Top Shelf definitely 5 stars. I proposed on board this yacht and the crew made it…read morea magical experience. Of course the yacht itself is incredible but the crew made it even more special. They spent a lot of time with me in advance to plan the perfect night. The chef was 5 stars, we are still dreaming about the meal. Captain Ed went above and beyond arranging every detail for the perfect night. The stewardess, Carrie, was attentive, kind, fun, and always made sure we had more than enough. I give Top Shelf 10/10 and look forward to chartering it again in the future. They made a memorable experience even more magical!!

We chartered Top Shelf to celebrate my 60th birthday and it absolutely exceeded our expectations…read more The planning, the staff, service and food were exceptional. Captain Ed and Chef Joel were accommodating and hospitable. We all agreed that the experience was extraordinary and unique. The boat is luxurious and well equipped, with several indoor and outdoor areas to gather. We started with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres outside and move to the bow of the boat for sunset and then inside for a beautiful sit down three-course dinner. I am not sure how the night could've gotten any better. A heartfelt thank you to the Top Shelf crew that made my birthday so very special

Gourmet cuisine prepared by our on-board Executive Chef

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Sea Monkeys Watersports

4.4(75 reviews)

5.4 mi

Staff is welcoming, and takes special care of individuals new to the sport…read more Jim Link

DO NOT RENT FROM THEM!! I agree with the review about these guys being scammers. They over…read morecharged us and would not give our money back.

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Pirates of Hilton Head

4.8(67 reviews)

7.1 mi

Thoroughly entertaining and professionally executed pirate-themed boat ride for kids. My…read morefive-year-old granddaughter is more of a unicorns-and-mermaids girl, but she absolutely loved the interactive play (particularly firing water cannons at Stinky Pete), swashbuckling storyline, and theatrical elements (face paint, temporary tattoos, pirate names, complimentary costume vests to use on board). We sprung for the extras--bandana, foam sword, eye patch, flag--because she doesn't have pirate gear at home, but you're free to bring your own costumes/accessories. Sure, it's pricey, but if you're looking for one special, memory-making excursion to share with your child or grandchild--particularly ages 4-7--I'd highly recommend this pirate cruise.

My 3 year old grandson had the best time on the pirate ship. Of course his favorite part was…read moregetting to shoot the water cannon at Stinky Pete! The crew did a great job with the kids before and during the adventure. You can buy your pirate gear once you arrive at check in or bring your own. We chose to bring our own. Each child got a fun pirate name, a tattoo and face paint. Definitely worth trying!

Harbor Town Lighthouse

Treasure after winning our spoils!

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The spirited crew leading the kids

Savannah Riverboat Cruises

3.2(530 reviews)

17.0 mi

We did the sightseeing riverboat cruise and overall had a really enjoyable experience. It was a…read morerelaxing way to see Savannah from a different perspective while learning about the riverfront and the Port of Savannah. The narration was informative, and seeing the massive cargo ships and waterfront activity was a unique experience. The boat was spacious, with both indoor seating and outdoor viewing areas. We ordered the chicken tenders and fries, and they were surprisingly good--definitely above average for food on a sightseeing cruise. We also opted for the 42 oz souvenir drink, which was well worth it if you plan on enjoying a few drinks during the cruise. It lasts the full three-hour experience, and the bartender was fantastic--friendly, personable, and made a great drink. Unfortunately, it rained during part of our cruise, which likely impacted the experience since we couldn't spend as much time outside taking in the views. Of course, the weather isn't something the company can control, and there was plenty of indoor seating to stay comfortable. Overall, this was a fun and worthwhile experience that I'd recommend to first-time visitors, couples, and families. Between the scenic views, interesting narration, better-than-expected food, and excellent bar service, it was an enjoyable way to spend a few hours on the Savannah River. I'd definitely return--hopefully on a sunny day next time.

Had a good time on the Savannah Riverboat Cruise…read more Honestly, the best part was being able to get out on the water, walk around the boat, and see Savannah from a different perspective. There was some history mixed in along the way, which was interesting, and the whole experience was relaxing. The food was probably the weakest part for me. It was served buffet style with fried chicken, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and gravy, plus fruit. It wasn't bad, but it was all pretty lukewarm and just didn't leave much of an impression. That said, I don't think people are booking this for the food anyway. You're booking it for the views, the boat, and the experience. We had fun, enjoyed the ride, and I'm glad we did it.

Paddles don't run, but a fun concept. 6/5/24

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Southern Drawl Outfitters

4.0(10 reviews)

3.2 mi

Nice selection of everything from tackle to clothing also they are my go to for live bait!read more

What a cool fishing tackle shop. The staff there were very helpful and friendly. They had…read moreeverything you need for a day of fishing. Had a great conversation with the staff/boat captains about the fishing in my hometown and what they were catching in their area. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!

Another great new shirt

Gotta love big reds on the fly

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Hogy baits!

Bluewater Adventure

4.8(41 reviews)

came to visit the island for the weekend with my boyfriend and decided to do…read moresomething fun. we LOVEEED this! JT our tour guide was awesome and super small group making it personable. would definitely book again!!

4th of July Pre booked online…read more So hubby is so excited with living here that he arranges for us to go out on a two person boat. Being it is a holiday we get there early and have breakfast within walking distance so we can get parking. Must have been our lucky day as we got the best parking space in the lot. We were instructed to arrive 45 minutes before the tour. Since we were there and checked in early as was the other group of six we left actually a few minutes early. The weather was perfect and we had on plenty of sunscreen. JD led the boats to different spots on the island so that we were able to see Dolphins. I was surprised that in the middle of the day that we were able to see so many. JD was kind and took pictures and sent them to everyone through What's App. What a great way to spend the day as well learn the island. The entire length of the trip was 2 1/2 hours. Definitely a must do on anyone visiting the Island. Just be warned you will get wet so plan accordingly. You are given a small cooler with ice and bottle waters

Coming down from the DMV to visit, love everything about this event GREAT tour guide JT your the man !

At the end of our trip

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Hilton Head Boat Rentals and Sales

5.0(2 reviews)

Rented a pontoon boat while visiting my mom in Sun City. We had 4 and a baby and none of us had any…read moreexperience with driving a boat. The guy we worked with was great and put our minds at ease. My mom and daughters have not stopped raving about what a great day we had on the water. Definitely plan on returning!

We had a great time! We reacted a deluxe pontoon for 4 hours for our party of 9 and my infant. Boat…read morewas clean and nice. Staff was friendly and professional. Would rent from them again.

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Kathie B.

0

2

0

2 years ago

My husband, daughter and I decided to go on a dolphin excursion when she came down for a visit. The weather all morning was rainy but when I called the office, they assured me we could call close to the time we'd be leaving to see whether the cruise was on. It was! We were very comfortable on the boat with a total of 6 passengers and Captain Freddy was very informative about the wildlife and other info on the region. We saw several different pods of dolphins, even had one jump 100% through the air! A final touch was a brief glimpse of a small shark fin! The boat had a nice canopy to help shade from the sun, but it was also breezy so the 90 minute trip was very comfortable. read more

Haley W.

0

1

5

6 years ago

I was referred to May River Excursions from my family that lives in Hilton Head, SC. These are all local captains, raised on the May River. I wasn't sure of what type of trip my family wanted to do so I called up May River excursions and the sweet girl at the store, Molly, recommended a day of crabbing. Captain Chris even threw the cast net for the kids to show them how to shrimp. Our trip was very hands on and extremely interactive for all ages. Everyone had a blast. Afterwards, we got dropped off in Old Town Bluffton, just in time for the local Farmers market and lunch at Cahills! We all can't wait to book our next trip with May River Excursions!! read more

Nancy S.

0

1

0

4 years ago

Three in our family took the 3 hour fishing tour with Captain Chris and another Branson. We all thoroughly enjoyed the tour, both the captain and Branson were great and a lot of fun. They were as excited as we were. After catching live bait, Chris took us to a great spot where we reeled in many redfish, most too small to keep, but that did not matter. Then on to two more spots before returning. Chris then cleaned and fileted the fish, Branson bagged the remaining shrimp. This is our second trip with May River Excursions. We will book again. FYI.....grilled the fish for dinner, so good. Thank you Chris and Branson! read more

Jesse G.

96

2

8

8 years ago

Had a great dolphin tour tonight with Matt C. My niece and parents are visiting from Texas and really enjoyed the trip. Niece is 5 years old and was very excited to see dolphins up close. Matt took care to make sure we were cruising slow enough that she got a great view of them. He was also knowledgeable about the area and full of information about the wildlife. Will definitely be back for another excursion, hopefully before summer is out. Thanks for helping make my parents vacation awesome! Way up. Jesse G. read more

Brian F.

0

2

1

3 years ago

We booked a Dolphin Cruise with May River Excursions on 3/17. We have used them several times before and always have a great time, 3/17 was no exception. Even though it was windy and the water was a little bumpy Captain Fred navigated with skill and found several bottle nosed dolphins making for a great trip. Highly recommend them for their knowledge of the river and the wildlife that resides in it. read more

Laura W.

0

2

12 years ago

This was the highlight of our trip! Not only did we have a great time out on the water, we were able to enjoy a great dinner with what we brought home. Captian Matt shared his experience of being a local which gave us such a greater appreciation for the low country and its beauty. PS Bring a cooler or plastic bags if you plan on bringing your catch home. read more

Lynn T.

0

2

0

4 years ago

Thank you to our guide, Freddie, for a great tour of old town Bluffton via the May river. I wanted history , my granddaughter wanted dolphins. Everyone was delighted!! We saw lots of dolphins and Freddie shared! great info on Bluffton's vast history!! Fun!! read more

Lora M.

0

1

0

4 years ago

Took the Sunset Cruise and it was great! Austin was our Captain, and he was extremely kind and shared some interesting information and stories. The scenery is beautiful, and we were able to catch several dolphins playing in the water. Highly recommended! read more

Kathy G.

1

0

4 years ago

Fantastic river tours. The boat captains are so knowledgeable about the area and waterways. Love cruising with Steven and his lovely dogs. Highly recommend. It's one of the first places we head when we have out of town company. read more

Gail S.

0

2

0

3 years ago

Our group went on an ecological boat tour with May River Excursions. It was a perfect day for it and Captain Fred was wonderful. He was very knowledgeable about the ecology and history of the area, Highly recommend! read more

James S.

0

3

0

11 months ago

What a wonderful experience we had yesterday on our excursion on the May River. It was breathtaking out in the water and we loved seeding the dolphins. Our captain, Fred was amazing and made the trip so enjoyable! read more

Sara B.

0

1

0

3 years ago

Went on our first excursion today-FABULOUS experience! Our Captain Allen was very knowledgeable and accommodating. Molly was amazing with our reservation. I would highly recommend May River Excursions to anyone! read more

Christine Fruehwirth

0

1

0

5 months ago

My friends, who were visiting from out of state, and I went on a dolphin excursion with Fred and saw so many dolphins! Fred was a wonderful captain and very knowledgable of Bluffton history. I highly recommend! read more

Ethel B.

0

3

1

2 years ago

Easy to schedule, everything was on time! Captain Fred was fabulous, knowledgeable friendly and made it fun for our 3 different generations! We saw tons of dolphins and learned a lot about the area. read more

Will L.

0

1

0

4 years ago

Absolutely amazing excursion with Capt John! History, ecology and best sightseeing on the May River. If you live here or just visiting, you owe yourself a May River Excursion!!! read more

Alison H.

0

1

0

3 years ago

So easy so kind can't wait to book again! Our captain was efficient and on time. He even stopped to let us watch the dolphins! Highly recommend read more

Angie P.

0

1

2 years ago

I highly recommend the May River for a water taxi to and from Daufuskie Island! it's much better than the ferry. We saw so many dolphins too! read more

Bridget B.

0

1

0

4 years ago

Fabulous time on the May River fishing and exploring with our captain Freddy who was wonderful and super knowledgeable. We will be back!

Joseph P.

0

1

0

3 years ago

Chris was top notch. He went above and beyond for us. Highly recommend him and will definitely use his services again.

Anthony P.

0

2

0

3 years ago

Always a great excursion with May River. Learned a lot of history from Freddie. Would recommend this excursion

May River Excursions - boating - Updated August 2026

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Dolphin Discoveries

(23 reviews)

Great time. Captain Paul was knowledgeable and gave us a fantastic tour. Loved all of the dolphins…read moreand enjoyed the sunset. His narration was fact filled and on point. I highly recommend this tour and Captain Paul. Our two granddaughters, ages 7 and 9, thoroughly enjoyed, along with the four adults.

Unfortunately, our excursion did NOT live up to what was advertised. The trip was promoted as…read moreincluding shark fishing, "GUARANTEED DOLPHINS" and seashell collecting. We did NOT experience any of this. We completely understand that weather and wildlife can be unpredictable, but I had discussed my concerns regarding the weather with a representative from the company prior to our arrival to the pier and was reassured a 100% money back guarantee if there was a weather-related cancellation and was reassured by Nadine and the website that there was a 100% refund if dolphins were not seen. THIS IS A SCAM. The only dolphin we saw was one near the pier that appears to be there regularly--not a dolphin sighting as part of the excursion. Due to weather, the trip was cut down to only one hour on the boat. There was also an additional 20-minute delay because of the boats was broken, further reducing our already limited time. After about an hour on the boat, we had not seen a single dolphin or shark and storms were headed our way so the captains made the right decision to return to the pier. To me the disappointing part was that I paid for two boats for nine people and at the end was still charged for a third of the cost as the owner claimed that we got "an experience", two shark teeth souvenirs for my kids and about 4 cans of soda in total that we should pay for a full hour of the boat ride and "experience" even though none of the "guaranteed" experiences were provided. I offered instead to tip the captains of both boats and pay for fuel costs but the owner insisted on charging me for the full hour of "experience" which I think was absurd. In all, we paid about $400 for an uneventful boat ride for 9 people. The experience and Captain Heath's response to our concerns was very disappointing. I would not recommend this cruise unless the weather is guaranteed to not include storms. If there's a storm and your trip is cut short, expect to still pay for your ride!

Kayak Hilton Head

(150 reviews)

It was AWESOME! Our guide, Darren, was excellent. One of the people in our group asked if he…read moregraduated with a marine biology degree. Nope, just a contractor that loves Hilton Head and knows his stuff. Have a Bob Dillon sing ready to ensure you see the dolphins.

We were in Hilton Head for a wedding and were looking for something fun that we could all do…read moretogether the day before, so we booked the early morning kayak tour and had such a great time! Our guide, Mike, was incredibly sweet, friendly, and made the whole experience really enjoyable. We were lucky enough to see a few dolphins during our tour! They stayed a little farther out on our trip, but it was still really neat getting to see them while we were out on the water. The kayaking itself was beautiful, relaxing, and ended up being the perfect group activity before the wedding. We had such a fun morning together, and Mike definitely made the experience even better. I'd absolutely recommend it if you're looking for something fun to do in Hilton Head and a chance to see some local wildlife!

Native Son Adventures

5.0

(16 reviews)

Our family went fishing with Captain Will and had a great time! Will went above and beyond to make…read moresure our boys had an adventure, with one of our sons saying "I'm going to remember this for the rest of my life" after we caught a few black tips and a spinner shark. The boat was very comfortable and safety was kept in mind throughout. We also got a nice historical tour of the island, spotting dolphins and rare birds along the way. Thanks Will!

Hubs wanted a full day on the water to fish and see the fireworks, kids wanted to look for shark…read moreteeth and also wanted to go fishing, I just wanted an experience to remember. I found recommendations for Native Son Adventures on a Facebook group, looked at what they had to offer, and decided to call and check availability. We ended up not scheduling a full day on the water, but scheduled a morning tour and an evening tour. The morning tour included shark tooth hunting (the kids found 3!), fishing, (we caught 2 sharks), dolphin sightings, and cruising around the area. Our evening tour included a visit to shell island, some more fishing (we caught another shark), and a sunset cruise, and a stop to watch the fireworks. Both tours were on a tiki boat that had couch seating for 6 and bar seating for 6, so our family of 5 had plenty of space to move around and stretch out and relax. We were all very happy with the time we spent with Captain Will and Captain Byron. Both Captains made our tours a memorable experience for our family.

Commander Zodiac

(28 reviews)

I can't wait until we're back on the island to book with the Commander Zodiac team again! Janna…read morewas awesome about communicating the changes with the weather and helped us rebook our tour so we wouldn't miss out on seeing dolphins. We also had the best captain on the island, Captain Todd! I cannot say enough about this wonderful gem of a man. We had booked a private tour since it was originally supposed to be the entire family, but because of changes not everyone was in town yet. It ended up just being four of us on the small boat and it was worth it. Captain Todd was so knowledgable about the island, the dolphins and the tides. Our 4.5 yo is very curious and Captain Todd answered every questions like a pro! After she told him that she loved seashells he made a special excursion to shell island (I never even knew all those banks were shells and not sand!) and found her the most amazing shells to take home. We saw so many dolphins! The dolphin tour was equal parts exhilarating and relaxing and we were so happy it worked out even with the impending storm. Both my 4.5yo and 9mo loved the tour and neither were afraid at any point even though it was there first time on a speed boat. We will definitely be back!

We had the best ride with Captain Mark at the end of the August. It was a perfect summer afternoon,…read moreand he was able to start a bit earlier since we arrived ahead of time. We saw TONS of dolphins and jellyfish, and he took us to shell island! Mark was super knowledgeable about the island and the nature around us. Highly recommend doing a tour with Commander Zodiac - it feels like such a personalized experience with people who know their stuff and care about the environment.

Gullah Gal Fishing

4.0

(12 reviews)

Was Captain Mike a little rough around the edges? Yes. But he is incredibly knowledgeable, took…read moregreat care of us and warmed up as time went on. We had a 2 year old with us and he was caring throughout the entire trip and made sure to let us know when he was going to change speeds or anything so we could keep my daughter safe. We caught a couple of good size sharks during the trip which made us very happy. The boat was nice, he had a bathroom available just in case, and it rained pretty heavy at one point on the trip so the canopy was great at keeping us all dry. Overall we really enjoyed ourselves and we thank Captain Mike for the journey.

Possibly the worst fishing charter we've had and at $640, it was definitely not with it. First of…read moreall it was as if the captain didn't want to go out in the first place. He asked me to look at the weather right away and when I did, as well as my wife, it showed a 10% chance in 3 hours. This seemed reasonable to us since we were there anyway but said to him that we are up for it if he is and he responded with "if you say so" and turned around like he wasn't happy with that decision. I completely get it if he didn't want to go because he thought the weather was going to be bad but he didn't say that and just proceeded with the trip with passive aggressive negativity. We go out and he takes us barely out of the channel when this trip was advertised as a 1-3 mile offshore trip which was obviously Incorrectly advertised or he just didn't want to be out there. He took us to a place where he set several lines on the bottom and when there was a shark bite the kids could reel them in. This was not advertised as a shark trip at all and my son has fished many times and was very bored with this. If I knew that this was the type of trip as opposed to what was advertised we would not have booked it. We called the trip with an hour left as we could all tell he didn't want to be out there and it was very awkward. It was the first trip we had brought my wife and other son and I'm quite frustrated with how the trip worked out I messaged the charter company and received no response about the issues either.

Bayrunner Fishing Charters

(16 reviews)

Went out with Captain Jason with five of us on the Phantom for four hour charter…read more We killed it, had great weather and he put us on fish. Highly recommend !!

10/10 Experience shark fishing with Captain Dave aboard the Finatic out of the Shelter Cove Marina…read more This was our second time out with Dave and we had another great time! Our group consisted of 11 family members, all over 21, and two disabled. Dave has been so welcoming to our crazy family and helped us catch an 80lb fine toothed shark this time. He said it was the biggest for the boat this year! I really can't recommend Dave and the Finatic any more highly, it's a great excursion with tons of dolphin sightings too!

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