We had the best time on Ship Island! From the moment you step onto the dock, you're treated like family. Every staff member was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and helpful, making the entire experience stress-free and enjoyable. This is an absolute must-do if you're visiting the Gulfport area! We had four kids ranging in age from 10 to 15, and every one of them had an amazing time. Days later, they're still talking about the ferry ride, the beach, and all the fun they had. We can't wait to come back! read more

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Let me say that the staff working on the boat are exceptionally nice. However, it was nice and quiet until, and we are on the turn around cruise, until they picked up way to many people from the island. I wish I would have knew or I wouldn't of booked it. There were a lot of kids, so if you like noise and people that don't care what their children do then book it, otherwise I say get the sunset cruise for people over 21...and yes, if you don't watch your children you should be asked to go sit indoors. Otherwise this boat ride was very scenic. read more

Listen up, Biloxi crew if you're just holing up in the casinos, stuffing your face at buffets, and never stepping foot on the sand or a boat, you're straight-up robbing yourself and disrespecting the good people of the Gulf Coast. Come on, y'all! This ain't what Biloxi is about. I rolled into town ready for some real adventure, and after chatting with locals (who know their stuff), they all pointed me straight to Ship Island Excursions. Best decision I made the whole trip. The boat ride out? Pure magic. About an hour across the sound, wind in my hair, and that captain man, what a character! He had us cracking up the whole way with his stories, pointing out dolphins like it was no big deal (spoiler: it was a big deal flipper squad escorted us like VIPs). The narration was gold: history, wildlife, tall tales, the works. Felt like we were in on some secret Gulf adventure. Once we hit Ship Island, it was game on. White sand beaches that look like they belong in the Caribbean, crystal-clear water way better than the mainland, and that old Fort Massachusetts to poke around in. I rented a chair and umbrella, plopped down, and let the sun do its thing. But let's be real I couldn't just sit still. Me and a couple new buddies from the boat got up to some harmless shenanigans: epic shell-hunting contests, splashing around like kids, trying (and failing) to build the world's saddest sandcastle before the tide won. One guy swore he saw a mermaid; I didn't argue. We were all just living our best lives, laughing our heads off. The whole vibe is chill but electric the crew keeps everything smooth, the people are friendly as heck, and you feel like you're part of something special. Pro tip: Pack snacks or hit the concession stand, but don't miss the ride back more dolphin sightings and that golden-hour glow over the water. If you're in Biloxi and you skip this, you're cheating yourself out of one of the top "had to do it" experiences on the coast. Casinos are fun, but this? This is the real deal. Boat cruise + beach escape + good folks + zero regrets. 10/10, do it every time you're here. Ship Island Excursions just earned a permanent spot on my Mississippi must-list. Can't wait to go back and cause more (friendly) trouble out there! read more

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Phenomenal staff from start to finish of our excursion! The captain was so friendly and welcoming to everyone, he was laughing about my toddler spilling popcorn, saying don't worry, it'll blow off for the birds. So kind. The tour itself was awesome, we saw dozens of dolphins!! There was plenty of seating on the boat, plenty of shade, refreshments. A very nice time with my family, especially for the price. Will definitely be back! read more

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We booked the fireworks cruise for the 4th of July while visiting. Getting there from the Beau Rivage was insanely crowded but hey it was the 4th! We left at 6pm and it took about 45 min. Thankfully there was plenty of parking at the marina but we knew it would be a mess getting out. They were already letting people on the boat when we got in line. Once checked in they actually had 2 boats (the party boat or family boat). We chose the family boat and we sat towards the back just where the covered section ended. There were lots of snacks and drinks for sale. We got a popcorn and water but we saw others with hotdogs, nachos etc. The first boat took off right at 7:30 and ours took off 15 min later. I was told that we would be traveling up the shore line towards Biloxi, turn around and then sit out to view the fireworks but it took us out and back towards the other side of the dock where they had the big shipping cranes. It was cool to see but not expected. Also the music was blaring from a DJ on the top deck and it got less and less crowded cause it was so loud. Not sure what made this the family boat cause they both had crazy loud music. We didn't move to lower deck because by then it was super crowded down there. We saw dolphins and everyone's personal fireworks on shore up the coast. I wish we were a little closer to the Gulfport fireworks so we could hear them better but the music y blaring. Because of the current they had to keep running the motor to keep us in place which after a bit my tummy was getting a little queasy and I was just anxious for it to end. But that's me, many others seemed to be having a great time, singing to the music, and cheering on the fireworks. I'm happy I went but not sure I would do it again. It was nice to not have to fight for a place to watch but we still dealt with traffic there and back. read more

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We went for the 4th of July fireworks cruise. The staff was good, and the DJ was awesome! I was very disappointed when it was time for the fireworks. We were on the port side, aft on the top deck. We couldn't see the fireworks very well, only the lower ones. I kept thinking the captain world turn the boat so all sides could see the show. He did not. Very disappointed. Would not recommend the fireworks cruise, but I'd return for another excursion. read more

Ship Island Excursions - Boat Charters Near Me - Gulfport, Mississippi

2nd time and I loved it!! friendly staff!! peaceful island the water and views are priceless

Absolutely worth it if you like the beach. Its a nice boat ride to the island. Its a super pretty island. I walked around one entire half of it and saw some super cool things. Youll see things you cant see on any random beach. I would go back to walk around the other half of the island. I also got a nice tan. Lots of wildlife to see (big crabs, pelicans, seagulls, the cool red and black beak seagull things, tons of hermet crabs, we also saw an alligator which was cool because Ive never seen one in the wild before). The sand is silver which is super pretty. If you go, I reccomend walking three something miles around the right half of the island so you can see some cooler things. read more

Ship Island Excursions - Boat Charters Near Me - Gulfport, Mississippi

My best friend and I book at least once a year sometimes twice. We've never had an issue. Our cruise experiences are always 5 stars. The crew, the ferry, and cleanliness are always on point. And safety is always their top priority. BUT...the staff member that takes pictures before embarking the ferry...-1 star. She was VERY rude to me and my friend. We went around the line that was taking pictures because we didn't want a picture. Her statement to us was "THAT was very rude." I don't think she thought I heard her. Other than that, our experience was 10/10! We love Ship Island and the ferry! We will always book an excursion. This one incident will not keep us from that. I just want to make the management team/owners aware. Thank you! read more

Ship Island Excursions - Boat Charters Near Me - Gulfport, Mississippi

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My friend & I had a wonderful trip. All the staff including the beach staff were all very helpful & friendly. Ship ran on time and even had a touch & go practice with the Coast Guard. Saw all kinds of dolphins. Highly recommend. read more

The ferry cruise to the island was great. Nice to be able to walkup the umbrella area and pick your seats. The only drawback of the trip was getting the iced drinks I ordered. Umbrellas were set up on the South side of the island. You had to go to the North side to pickup the cooler of drinks. I asked an attendant about the cooler. I was told I had to pick it up at the Snack Bar, which was a long way away. Had I known that I never would have purchased it. Thought it would be easier than bringing drinks. I was wrong. My husband and I are in our 80s too far a walk, plus having to lug a cooler with 10 waters back. Other than the cooler pickup issue, the cruise was very enjoyable. read more

This trip was awesome. The hosts were very informative and friendly. The ferry was nice and clean. Restrooms were working, stocked, and also clean. Plenty of seating. The island had lots of chairs and umbrellas. The food was good and reasonably priced. The little store was fully stocked. On my way! Plenty of shaded areas to sit under. Nice and maintained bathrooms available on the island. Lifeguards were attentive. Beach and the water was clear, beautiful, and CLEAN! My one gripe was that the fort itself was infested with mosquitoes. If they can find a way to somehow manage that a little bit, it would have been all perfect. read more

As a frequent visitor to the island, it would be helpful to inform your guest that chair rental is only being available on the North side of the beach, not the South side. This information was not readily available upon our arrival, causing significant inconvenience to my family and me. Consequently, had we known this prior, we would have brought our own chairs. Overall, the experience this time was definitely a 1 star. As many guests also were upset with the lack of information provided. read more

Third time was the charm! After days of rain/storms we were finally able to book and keep our reservation on the 3rd try. It did not disappoint! It was the highlight of my vacation! A special kudos to Kevin whom I emailed several times. He was so nice, patient, understanding and accommodating! The beaches were beautiful and the water was not murky. It was pretty clear. You could see the ocean bottom. Found lots of beautiful shells and even some broken sand dollars! Saw fish, crabs and hermit crabs. We even got to see some jumping dolphins on the ferry ride. Had the best time! The crew and lifeguards were also great. read more

100% worth the asthma attack! it was absolutely beautiful on Ship Island. I saw dolphins and so much other wildlife, even a small shark! I did end up having a small asthma attack and I forgot my inhaler, but the lifeguards took good care of me and made sure I was ok and feeling better. Shout out to Ryan, Matthew and Anna who were the amazing lifeguards and to Maddy, who was the best buddy for the day read more

The trip over to the island was super smooth and they whole way there an the whole way back thet gave us the history and ar brief background of the island. When we finally got there there were wascone main spot to eat and drink and it had a little concession stand as well as vending machines. The time that we were given to get back on the boat just enough to be able to eat lunch, explore the island and even relax a litte before it was time to take the ferry back. I highly recommend it to people who want learn more about the are and people who are just looking for something to do. read more

It was absolutely amazing. Everyone was very helpful and went above to help . The boat ride was great, the crew was amazing and the captain was so friendly. The boat was so clean. We can't wait to go back again!!! read more

You'll ferry in and out to the island. You can set up on either side of the island, but the restrooms and food stand are on the far side of the island (not nearest where you debark your ferry). There is a considerable amount of walking and it can get quite hot hauling your cooler / bags. All sorts of drinks, beer, and food are sold at the food counter / gift store. When walking around, shoes are strongly recommended. The black sand WILL burn your feet - although the black sand is only in certain places - but, you may have to walk through it to reach your destination. We rented a chair with an umbrella. That was great! Be SURE to check what you can and cannot bring onto the ferry. There is a limited amount of space so larger coolers, carts, etc may not be acceptable. Enjoy your visit. We did! read more

1. The ride started late. We were told to be there at 3:15, the didn't come in until well after 3:30, didn't leave for a while after. 2. No one told us that the ferry ride was to go pick up hundreds of people on the island. We had to wait for a long time for them to board and then the boat was very crowded on the way back. 3. Not one single crew member spoke to us, engaged us, nothing. 4. Super disappointed read more

Amazing! One of my favorite places. The boat ride over was super. Got to see many dolphins in the water. The beach was clean & the people that work on the boat and beach are super friendly! read more

very accommodating and knowledgeable crew! so much fun! A must try for residents and visitors!

What a fun trip! The crew was excellent and fun! I was disappointed the beach open with a life guard was the north beach which is just like on the main beach in Biloxi, nasty water. We were able to walk over the boardwalk to the south side where it was beautiful! Will do it again. read more

It was a great adventure!! We loved the ride to the island! The beach and area was so pretty! the staff was amazing ..We will be back read more

Ship Island Excursions - Boat Charters Near Me - Gulfport, Mississippi

Fantastic trip! Saw dolphins within 15 minutes of leaving harbor and continued to do so throughout the entire trip! Several even swam alongside the boat. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Will definitely do again!! read more

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The boat is nice restrooms on board The staff did excellent very informative The price is great/such a good experience Food on board boat and on the island A lot less people on Ship island The fort is a nice place to tour the gentleman was very informative also Don't miss this trip read more

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I just didn't like the fact that I expected the schedule to be that we depart back to Gulfport from Ship Island at 2:30pm but right when we arrived to the island, they announced that we can only depart 5pm. If only we were given that information sooner before departing Gulfport, I would've canceled or got a refund. The island quality wasn't that very great. Too many love bugs flying around. Smells bad. Food was unnecessarily expensive. Beaches weren't that great either. Didn't even see dolphins either. The whole "dolphin watching" is highly exaggerated. read more

Wonderful place to visit!!! So peaceful and quiet and the staff were super friendly and helpful. I truly hope they get the funding needed to restore the south side of the island. Has always been a fun day trip for my husband and I and the family. Thanks again Ship Island!!! read more

This group of people running Ship Island Excursions were super great all around. From the ease of buying tickets to their handing of a need to reschedule due to weather, everyone was really nice and easily access able to talk too. Even better was the trip itself. All the staff--ticket agents, snack bar workers to Captain and his assistants made the whole day pleasant. It's these these days to encounter businesses with people who seem like they care. Highly recommend. read more

The staff/owners are so kind helpful and friendly. Great trip get the chairs and umbrella ! Bring a floaty was a great day

It was the most amazing tour and was big fun! Our guide, Trey, was amazing and introduced us to several alligators. We will definitely return! read more

Ship Island Excursions - This is Man in the Hole! - Boat Charters Near Me - Gulfport, Mississippi

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Staff was amazing and would highly recommend. Found some amazing seashells, walking the island was so peaceful.

The best part of this excursion was the beautiful weather - full sun in the mid 70's with a light cool breeze. Uneventful 1 hour cruise each way with open air upper level seating and A/C in the closed area on the main level that was too cold to sit in! Disappointed that the Fort was closed due to staffing shortages. There were 2 large dead turtles on the beach, that was disconcerting, and should have been removed. We brought our own beach chairs and umbrella, but can be rented for $30. Friendly, knowledgeable crew, but I felt I could have had a similar experience at the beach in Gulfport and not paid $89 RT for 2 after senior and military discounts. read more

Went on the sunset cruise on 2025 memorial day weekend!! It was great..glad my wife and I could get on board. Booking was easy. They have an onboard bar and snacks to purchase. The upper deck had the DJ for dancing, etc. read more

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super kind crew and saw a lot of dolphins! my kids and us had a great time! We felt very safe and taken care of.

What an incredible experience going to Ship Island! The customer service and top notch crew at Ship Island Excursions aim to please. The ferry ride round trip experience is amazing on its own. When you get to the island that's when the trip goes into over drive. Beautiful beach and very peaceful. Definitely recommend that everyone needs to book a trip today! read more

Ship Island Excursions - Boat ride back - Boat Charters Near Me - Gulfport, Mississippi

We had a great time. We seen dolphins hermit crabs..stingrays... Very nice trip. Captiian was very freindley

My husband, our 3 small children (ages 7, 5, and 2) and myself took a dolphin watching cruise this evening. It was fantastic! The crew told us they guarantee people will see dolphins and they weren't lying. We were maybe 20 minutes into the boat ride and they were already spotting dolphins to point out to all of us. Then, they spotted a shrimp boat a little ways out from us and got us positioned over by it, because as the shrimp boat would throw their "trash fish" overboard, the dolphins and seagulls would hang around. We saw easily 50+ dolphins. They did say meeting up with a shrimp boat like that isn't the norm, but it certainly worked in our favor and our kids were so excited to get to see that many dolphins! We would definitely cruise with them again in the future! read more

Ship Island Excursions - Boat Charters Near Me - Gulfport, Mississippi

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The first time that I went to Ship Island was a few weeks before Hurricane Camille hit as a child. Last week I returned for about my 4th or 5th trip and not a lot has changed since then. The island and fort are still there and Ship Island Excursions has taken me there every time (except for one visit on a private boat). All of those visits were pleasurable. This company does a very good job of transporting patrons to the island for the day. Their boats offer plenty of room onboard for the 55 minute trip each way. They offer outside seating and air conditioned inside seating with a snack bar that sells food and drink at reasonable prices. The crew is friendly and on my trip last week I talked to Captain Doug frequently as he was very personable. Unless you have a personal boat, they are the only way to get there. Here is some info and tips: When you reach the island the fort is right there but you have about a 400 yard walk to the gulf side beach. That walk is all on an elevated wooden walkway. Remember this if you are going to carry a lot of stuff or pull a small cooler on wheels. Travel as light as you can and read their website for what's allowed and what isn't. The island is about 12 miles offshore and while on the island you can barely see Gulfport and Biloxi but only by their tallest structures. You will be out of cellphone range but they have a short range booster at the snack shack. I think it reaches to the part of the beach where the recliners and umbrellas are and the fort so you will have connectivity in that area. Your best bang for the buck is to catch the morning departure (9 am) and if it's during the busy season then you will have two options on when to come back (2:30 or 5 pm). Don't bring your chairs or umbrellas and instead rent theirs. Bring a towel or beach blanket to lay on if you want. They serve food there (burgers, hot dogs, chicken wraps) and snacks and drinks. Bring your own food to save money. Drinks can be heavy to carry so consider buying theirs. They also sell hats, t shirts, sunscreen, bug spray, etc. Bring your own. At least visit the fort for a walkthrough (15 minutes) but better yet attend one of the two NPS ranger led tours (one when you arrive and another in the early afternoon) which are interesting and educational. That little fort has seen a lot of history. They have outdoor showers to rinse off with and two covered pavilions if you need to get out of the sun or if it rains. The snack shop is air conditioned but is small with no seating inside. Your best protection from the weather if it gets bad is inside the fort. Ship Island is really a cool and different way to go to the beach. Being so far out from the mainland is a different experience which makes it a fun day time activity. Remember you have to be on that last boat that leaves. If not po po comes looking for you. read more

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This is our 2nd time taking this cruise and I know it won't be our last. The ferry ride to the island is the best.

Went on the sunset cruise. Music and service was 10/10! They do have food and drinks on board too.