We did the Rudee Flipper tour to see the dolphins. They had drinks and restrooms on board, which was nice. They go to a specific spot where the dolphins hang out, you see them in the water, and that's great for tourists who don't get to see these beautiful mammals in their environment. I think they could easily cut 30 mins off the tour - we were just sitting out there after passing the little dolphin spot, and didn't see another dolphin the rest of the time. With that being said, I'm a local who is spoiled by water access year round, so maybe it wouldn't be an issue for someone who really just wanted to be out on the water. read more

Had a great time on the Rudee Rocket! We picked the early bird 10 am time slot in order to save $5 per ticket. It was super hot waiting on the boat to leave, but once the boat got moving it was nice and cool. We had a great ride, and saw a ton of dolphins! They blasted fun music, some of us got a little wet (they let you know as you board which seats will get wet and which will stay dry), and we all had a great time. This was hands down my favorite tourist activity in VA Beach! read more

Rudee Tours - Tours Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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Hello everyone , we had a chance to go out on the 17 hour deep drop today 10/17/2023. we had a wonderful day of fishing. We didn't catch many tile fish but the black bass were hitting. I have gone on many fishing trips and never have I experienced mates like the ones on this trip. Kyle and Bobby were excellent, The others were too but Kyle and Bobby went above and beyond to assist to our needs, and they were happy to do it. Kyle even fixed my electric rod and switched out the rod so I could handle it better. I was the only female on board and they anticipated my needs before I asked,( lovely). Thank you guys for a beautiful day of fishing. Sherlie Newsome read more

You'll see a lot of ...wish I could say whales, but the fact is you'll be spending the majority of your tour staring at the back of human heads. So many heads. They sell too many tickets for this to be an enjoyable and worthwhile experience, unfortunately. We arrived 40 minutes before the departure and, after waiting behind hoards of people to get on the boat, we couldn't find seats. About 90% of the sightings were at "11:00" so there were about 12 people who had a great time while the other hundreds of us craned our necks hoping for a glimpse of something...anything. As we approached sightings, the crew turned the boat in the exact same angle every time, leaving most of us in the cold. I have been on several other whale watches around the world and this is the first to mindlessly neglect a majority of guests in this way. There are so many astounding things to learn about dolphins and whales but the narrator seemed unaware or disinterested in sharing, aside from her favorite facts about how whales poop, and how about nobody is doing research on how turbines affect marine mammals but she somehow knows that they don't. While trying to appreciate what I thought would be a nature experience, tinny dance music inexplicably played over the decades-old speakers. I wanted to love this, but it just did not measure up. If you do go, don't make it the main event of your trip, learn about dolphins and whales ahead of time, and get there hella early to claim one of the few spots with a view. read more

Rudee Tours - Tours Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

We had a great time. We got tickets to this through a time share with Diamond hotel. The time share was worth it. Staff was very professional and the boat was clean. We saw lots of dolphins and some saw sea turtles. Would do it again. read more

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For my birthday, I wanted to celebrate with something special and decided to go on a Dolphin Watch tour with Rudee Tours in Virginia Beach. I'm so glad I did!! I booked the tour online; it was very easy. Just in case, I took a Dramamine before the trip ; ) I arrived 30 minutes before the tour, checked in, received my pass, then walked to the boat! They took a souvenir picture and so glad they did - it was a nice picture to remember the day! The boat left the dock on time and off we went! Almost immediately we were seeing pods of dolphin mamas and babies! so exciting! The captains and crew were experienced, professional and seasoned in finding so many dolphin for us to enjoy! I sat just inside the upper cabin the perfect space to stay out of the sun but hang over the rail for picture taking. These pics are just from my cell phone. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you book a tour today! read more

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We thought it would be fun for the kids to do dolphin watching for an outdoor activities/excursion. It sound amazing on the site, particularly the photos from other past visitors and trips. There were only a few dolphins during the sighting. It was windy and difficult to see. A majority of the dolphin viewing tend to be on the left side of the boat. For some reason, the boat was always parked on the left angle for the sightings. Also, although social distancing was enforced; they do not monitor groups that sits on benches. A few groups stood way too close during the viewing. It was distracting since we had to keep moving to keep a distance from people on the boat. The tour staff promotes heavily on selling merchandise, concession from their stand/gift shop, drinks, donations, tips, etc. A photo is taken by one of their staff before you get on the boat. The photo purchase is optional at $10. Hub noted, the staff does target and put pressure on visitors to buy it. It was done mostly during a trip to the bathroom or to the concession stand. The overall presentation of the tour and staff were extremely organized and professional. Personally, we were disappointed as the sighting was limited. The boat departs for approximately an hour to the end of the boardwalk and back. Note: You can actually see some dolphins swimming back and forth at the beginning of the boardwalk without a boat ride. If we had known this, we wouldn't had purchase tickets for the tour. read more

We went on the speed boat tour. I was skeptical if we was really going to see any dolphins. I was like this is gonna be a waste of money. But boy was I wrong!!!! There was dolphins all over. The captain stop the boat to allow us to take awesome amazing pics. The tour guide gave us an ear full of history abt the dolphins, virginia beach, and the light houses. We got super wet n everyone was full of smiles n laughter! This is day 2 of our vacation. This was the perfect start for more awesomeness to come! This is a must go! read more

I couldn't believe the amount of dolphins that were out there, and just seeing them in the wild was well worth the trip. I would suggest wearing a light jacket when going out there, because that wind on the ocean was a bit chilly. The only issue was that near the end of the tour and on the website, they started pushing for tips. It seems everyone wants a tip these days and it's downright annoying! I'm glad that at least they didn't harass me for not tipping. read more

We did the 1-hour dolphin rocket tour. This was just fun. Riding at speed down the surf and getting to see the beach from an ocean view was just neat. We rode out a good ways and then spent a few minutes slowing down to just see dolphins come up for air and a couple show off their tails out of the water. On the way back, a few of the dolphins enjoyed swimming along with the waves created from the boat. The driver went at speed and we just cruised around. If you're sitting in a "window seat" you will get wet. This was my first time in a speed boat and I want to do it again! One tip, you are supposed to get there 30-min early and they start boarding 15-20 min before. 1. Get there early to get the seats you want! 2. You'll be sitting uncovered for at least 15-minutes, so bring water & wear sunscreen .. it got hit pretty quick (but you also cool off quick once the boat starts moving!) Have fun! read more

My boyfriend and I had a fantastic time on the whale tour this weekend. We were able to see a humpback whale from about 25 yards away! It was pretty chilly so be prepared when you're going out. We didn't have any issues with seasickness but there were a few people who were quite queasy. The tour was packed even for a cold Saturday morning. We showed up right at 10:30 as the website states (30 mins before the boat leaves) and it was already crowded. We sat near the back of the boat but that was honestly a great choice. Most of the sightings we saw were near the back and we were able to move freely around the boat. The tour guide was also great. Very knowledgeable and interacted with the crowd. read more

This was a fun trip. My family took me out today for Father's Day. The boat ride was nice and relaxing accept for when the chop sprayed soaking we. The captain was really cool and did his best to find us fish. The crew is awesome, very helpful and polite. We didn't catch much today and no keepers but still fun. Oh, and if you go bring cash, the crew work for tips and they deserve it. The have a snack bar onboard and tons of beer. The only thing I didn't like was that you were on board with about 40 other people. But for only $50 a head the trip was worth it. read more

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We took the dolphin tour on the Rudee Rocket. Wes and Casey were wonderful. We saw lots of dolphins and got very wet. I greatly appreciated the precautions that were taken for Covid 19. The social distancing and masks were followed well. read more

Rudee Tours - Tours Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

Never would I have dreamed we could have made this fun evening become a reality in the length of time my daughter-in-law accomplished. 4th of July fireworks had been looking like a weather wash out until almost mid afternoon. We had missed the Ocean Park Civic League fireworks on the 3rd due to a tired three year old. Amazingly she found a boat excursion to watch the fireworks at the oceanfront offshore. Tickets at $15 per person were first come and had to be purchased on site. The $20 on-site parking was also first come with with rates not guaranteed as the event time approached. How quick could we make this happen? The plan was to drop my Grandson, sister and me off at Rudee's to reserve a table for dinner while my son and his wife bought tickets and parked. Then they would walk the long block back to the restaurant, allowing just enough time for a quickie, but fabulous dinner. Then came the hard part. Still walking with a cane, I had to make the long trek from the restaurant to the boat dock. I started before everyone else and did pretty well if you discount the huffing, puffing and moaning noises. Boarding had already started when we reached the boats. But the friendly, clean cut, nicely attired employees (should I call them mates) took one look at my cane and leg and sent us to a ship right away. Rudee Tours had a number of boats they were using for the fireworks tour. They offer dolphin watching, whale watching, fishing cruises, winter wildlife cruises, and even the Rudy Rocket speed boat tour that is guaranteed to get you wet. We boarded, much to the delight of my three year old Grandson, and awaited the trip into the Atlantic Ocean. The boats, although filled, were quite comfortable with seats for all. At 8:45 the journey out of Rudee Inlet began in anticipation of the 9:30 fireworks show, launched from a barge in the ocean. The sunset, coupled with the lights from the hotels on the resort strip, proved a beautiful setting. How far out would we travel? And where was the fireworks barge located? The hotels kept getting smaller and smaller. And the sea kept getting choppier. You could tell that those without sea legs might be regretting the voyage. But the winds blew a cool and anticipation grew. When the fireworks began we saw that the small fleet of boats bobbing in the ocean were far beyond, but positioned perfectly, for the fireworks show. There was a continuous chorus of "Wow" as each burst seemed to exceed the beauty of the last. It was the perfect spot to watch the patriotic display. Rudee Tours' boats were modern and clean. Pricing was excellent, especially considering the holiday weekend. Information on tours can be easily obtained from the excellent Web Site. Questions by telephone are readily answered. Winter Whale Watching sounds great. Dolphins also sound like a fun cruise. I'll definitely be using Rudee Tours again. read more

Rudee Tours - Tours Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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Really enjoyed our time on the speed boat. The hostess was entertaining and fun. They slowed down, and made waves, so that we had the optimal opportunity to see the dolphins. Speed was fast and music was cool. Definitely a good trip to include in your stay at VA beach. read more

Rudee Tours - Tours Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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Took my kids on the dolphin tour. The staff was great. Very knowledgeable of the dolphins. I would have gave the tour 5 stars if the tour was longer. We were lucky and were able to see many dolphins. I brought my GoPro but was able to snap a shot of a dolphin. read more

Rudee Tours - Tours Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

Today we went on a fishing tour. Mates Tyler and jack were amazing. It was our first family fishing trip and we all caught fish! Not only were Tyler and jack supportive, they were patient. One of the best tours ever! read more

Rudee Tours - Tours Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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Disappointed... the best I can say. Watch out if you get a gift certificate from this company. As a result of several attempts to reserve the whale watch tours (some of which were canceled due to weather, which we understand), they decided to reimburse the credit card (I specifically told them I did not want that, the tickets were given to us as gifts). Unfortunately, that card is now closed, and we cannot get our tickets back. And no way to find the money... DO NOT buy gift certificates from them! read more

Kaylee was the best of the best. Our group booked originally 12 people. We we're looking forward to it. Could not was to get there. Unfortunately one of our group broke her arm. So 4 of us could not go due to being at the hospital. I called and Kaylee was so understanding. She gave us a refund immediately and I can't wait to rebook because she was so kind. read more

Many dolphins. Tour guide was informative. Boat had a good Miami Vice. Liked that they had a bathroom on the boat.

Best service they have something for everyone. Speed boat which is only during summer months, winter cruises. Best company to go by never a bad experience with them. They respect the wildlife and give ample time for everyone on board to see wildlife. Winter months you see whales and winter migratory birds and the local dolphins that stay year round. And bonus you see lighthouses from a different point of view. They occasionally get baby goats to come on board. Occasionally sunset cruises. Every trip is different so plan accordingly if you don't spot wildlife you get to go again for free and Fourth of July is always fun on the water with the company. And they do 24hr trips some days they care for the customers read more

The Rudee Rocket tour was a blast. It offers speed, adrenaline, loud upbeat music, dolphin sighting and a bit of a history lesson as well. We had so much fun on this ride with Capt. Skip and his very friendly crew. I believe in some parts of the seating areas you have the chance to get wet but I think it depends on the wind direction. We sat in the front and didn't get wet although we wanted to The price surprised me too. A really good value and this was on 4th of July weekend (2017). This is a great adventure for singles, couples and families. read more

Rudee Tours - Great Views - Tours Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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The dolphin tour was great! Seen lots of dolphins and the announcer was very good at pointing out the different areas where the dolphins were swimming around the boat. Also very informative on different fun facts about the dolphins! read more

So much fun for the family and for very reasonable prices. We did the Rudee Rocket one hour speed boat. My 6 year old wanted to do it again the next day. We saw a few dolphins from 25-50 yards away so don't expect to be right next to the dolphins, unless maybe you get lucky. Sit in the front for wind in your face and best unobstructed view. Sit in the 5th row and back to get sprayed, which the kids love and is worth it on a hot day. Highly recommend. read more

Great tour and guaranteed dolphin slightings! We probably saw maybe 20-30 dolphins minimum! Peaking is great during the earlier months of the year. Free parking and an 9 dollar souvenir photo! Can't beat the price! Dress warm though it can get chilly and make sure you have a device to photograph the amazing dolphins The only thing that could be improved is the seating. I understand everyone is trying to see but people stealing each others seats can get ugly fast. And the tipping system, the captain claims the deckhands work for tips and comes around with a jar to collect your tip for the deckhands. Other than that it was a great time. I will definitely be back! Thanks rudee tours! read more

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This particular tour was amazing for the suttle minds. I didn't too much like the dolphin cruise, we stayed in one spot and actually watched the dolphins a bit close to the beach and it was weird sitting in front of a residential beach for 30 minutes. Food is expensive on the boat so bring your own snacks. And make sure you go on a pretty cool day because it was about 98 with a small air conditioned cabin. BUT the boat was nice. read more

Rudee Tours - The tip of the boat - Tours Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

Everybody I met Jet Ski section was cool. Harder than it looks but they get you going

We did the rocket boat ride and parasailing. Both were fun and great service, but the boat ride was my favorite. Seeing the dolphins up so close is a great treat and the fast paced ride makes it comfortable despite the weather. Great team running these tours, we look forward to going again. read more

I'm not exactly sure how many stars to give this review. Three is fair. Our family of four took the dolphin tour this morning at 9 and this was our experience. It wasn't too crowded and the employees were nice. The sights were great - we got to see the whole coast of hotels and private houses. We saw a few dolphin fins far out - not very exciting. This was more of a pelican tour than a dolphin tour - watching those birds crash land was great. So those are the positives - if you can call them that. A half hour into the tour my entire family was nauseated from the rocking of the boat. All except for me tossed their cookies. My husband spent most of the ride in air conditioning waiting for the ride to be over. My son threw up twice and fell asleep. But that's not all. I watched many of the tourists on the boat, mostly men, throwing up over the side of the boat. One guy spent most of the ride hanging his head over the side. Many people of all ages were nauseated. Some were sleeping, some sat with their eyes closed, some hung their heads over the side, etc. An employee walked around offering meds and barf bags. It was a nauseous tour rather than a dolphin tour. Many of us women joked about how the barfing men would never make good pregnant women. That part was amusing. When the boat docked, I can't tell you how many people were thrilled at the sight of land. We were like the pilgrims coming to America. read more

Rode the rocket. Affordable and fun! I recommend the earliest one. I also recommend you bring a poncho because you will get wet. So fun! Saw dolphins riding waves! One hour was just perfect. Bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunblock. read more

OMG--my husband & I had the most AMAZING time. We were able to see three juvenile humpback whales yesterday on our tour & you could actually hear them making noises. It was such a breathtaking experience! I'd highly recommend anyone to check you guys out. The staff was excellent, knowledgeable, pointed out where the whales were, gave us tidbits of information about them & their way of life, the boat was clean & comfortable, etc. We couldn't have asked for a better trip yesterday!! read more

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Pretty pricey and I didn't catch one fish. Maybe I'm sour because my girlfriend caught two, but I've been on a trip before and was pulling the creatures of the sea in two at a time. But neh... The fish hated me this day. The idea of doing a fishing pool is cool and they do sell normal beers on there and some microwave foods. It's not all that fancy but they get the job done. How else are you supposed to eat when you have squid and fish all over ya? I thought at one point in the trip that someone passed out in the men's bathroom. (There's only one can for each gender so it may be slim pickings at times). The inner cabin is nice though and plenty of room for those that don't want to hang off the side of the boat to relax and spend time away from the commotion. The poles are okay. Maybe I'm just a bit uncoordinated when it comes to placing my thumb on a reel when you cast and somehow manage to create a huge nest in your hand. The staff was friendly and helped me fix my situation. The outer deck is a bit crowded but and the lines tend to go under the boat a great deal, but people still pulled in a couple of fish. Sadly, we didn't win the pool but it was still a good trip. read more

Their boats are very well maintained and clean. Snacks and drinks are available onboard. Their tours allow you to see dolphins, whales (during certain times of the year), or to go ocean fishing. A running narrative tells you where to look and interesting facts about the birds and sea life. read more

Great staff and trip! We didn't see whales the first time, but the second time around was easy with their guarantee. Highly recommend their Irish coffee in the cold months too. read more

Rudee Tours - Tours Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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The boat ride was great, friendly staff, great narrator, so this review is for those who are trying to maintain some semblance of COVID precaution if they venture to Virginia for vacation (masks, social distancing, etc...). If you don't care about COVID precautions, stop here and book a tour, you won't be disappointed, 4.5/5 stars all day. BUT...if you do take it a bit more seriously, read below; So, unfortunately Rudee Tours seems to have ZERO regard for encouraging or enforcing COVID social distancing, or usage of face coverings. Staff did not wear face coverings, and the vast majority of patrons did not either. I realize Virginia only requires face coverings indoors in crowds at this time, but people were on top of each other during the boat ride. The ticket both and gift shop were also not complying with any COVID prevention. We stayed in Sandbridge and found merchants there were taking precautions more seriously, so our tour with Rudee was a disappointment in this regard. read more

After seeing countless brochures and being approached by a tour guide, we decided to stop by and check out the different tours they offered on our last day in VA Beach. We settled on the Rudee Rocket... a speedboat that has 2,000 horsepower. It costs $23 an adult. They guarantee that you will see dolphins, or you can ride again for free. So I figured, what's there to lose? We had so much fun and are glad we went! We arrived at 1:30 and got our tickets for the 2pm boat. They loaded us on at around 1:45 and we departed at 2pm! They countdown to the moment that they start up the speedboat, and they play good music! We had so much fun hitting the huge waves and you could really feel it! Sit in the back if you want an easy, wet ride. Sit in the front if you want a bouncy, dry ride! We also got to see TONS of dolphins! They were everywhere! Staff was super friendly and made sure we were all having a good time! We also bought our souvenir photo that they took before boarding the boat, which was $8.00. They have slower boats where you can go see Dolphins (dolphin flipper or something), an angler boat where they provide bait, rods & reels, fishing license and you can go fish, sounded like a lot of fun! They also had a building where you could rent jet skis, a banana boat, kayaks, and parasailing. We looked into it, but they were only doing the parasailing and kayaks. I think due to the high wind. They also said we had to make reservations for those. Overall, highly recommended that you do stop by and do at least one of their tours, they aren't out to get your money, I promise! And it's loads of fun for everyone! read more

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Rudee Tours has so much to offer, my favorite surely being the Rudee Rocket! So many options to choose from, from fishing, speed boat tours, or dolphin watching tours! Definitely should be a place to check out during your vacation here in Virginia Beach. read more

My family & I had a great time on the Rocket for this past Father's Day. I've always seen it go by when I'm on the beach, but had never looked into it until I wanted to something different for my Dad this year. Living in a vacation town, I expected the prices to be higher than what it was worth, but I was pleasantly surprised & thought the price was very reasonable. $88 for 4 adults for our 12pm cruise. Yay! We arrived a 1/2 hour early because it's first come first serve. Our boat wasn't sold out though. It's free parking if you're doing any of the tours as well which is nice. We boarded at 11:30 & took off at 12pm. They play fun music while you're on board & seeing the oceanfront skyline was a cool experience! I've lived here my whole life & have never seen it from that far out in the ocean. I thought we may see a few Dolphins, but I was shocked to see as many as we did! Once we got down to the end by Cape Henry the boat came to a stop & we were able to see at least 20 dolphins swimming around. The guide said it was good a time of the year for it. My family & I had a blast & we're planning on bringing my out of town wedding guests when they arrive in a few months. A great way to see Virginia Beach!! read more

Rudee Tours - So much fun! - Tours Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

Our group of five took the slower dolphin tour and thoroughly loved it. It lasted for an hour and a half and we saw a large group of dolphins including babies! There wasn't a bad seat anywhere on the boat as the driver made sure to circle to give everyone the opportunity to see the adorable mammals. The dolphins even swam alongside the boat at a couple points to the delight of the crowd. I highly recommend this tour as part of your trip. For those that are more adventurous, check out the speed boat tour. It's only an hour long, but you get soaked in a wild boat ride while still visiting the dolphins! In the later months, they provide whale tours! I can't wait to go back for that! read more

The Rudee Dolphin Sunset Cruise was amazing!!!!! We booked this on a whim and it was awesome! We'd highly recommend!! The mates were great and really educational on our trip. We got to see a bunch of dolphins and even a few babies! It was the highlight of our trip to VA Beach! read more

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