What an amazing journey - we didn't realize it was the last sunset tour of the season but Captain Scott and Captain Ken gave us the best night! Peaceful views, education of the area and best of all - new friends both human and aquatic! They found a pod of dolphins that ran with us for nearly ten minutes! What a bonus! We can't wait to return! read more

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What a great time out on the sound. Captain and mate did a great job with the group. Beautiful weather and views. read more

The Downeast Rover - View of the sun setting over the sound. - Boat Charters Near Me - Manteo, North Carolina

Bottom: A fun and relaxing two-hour cruise on a 55-foot sailboat for which you can bring your own festive drinks and snacks. Having vacationed in Nags Head for the past 40+ plus I feel like I've done it all so when my husband mentioned taking a sunset cruise on Downeast Rover I was curious. I also vaguely recalled that I had seen this excursion featured in Our State magazine earlier in the summer. With the forecast looking favorable we signed up for a Friday evening sail in mid-August. We booked about 10 days in advance and at that time there were only a handful of spots left on the sailboat so next time I'll be mindful to book earlier. Downeast Rover does daytime trips as well but I suspect the sunset cruise is the most popular. I was worried that sailing on a sailboat with 20+ people would feel cramped and chaotic but it didn't at all. The group in the stern was very chill and the group in the bow was tastefully having a good time with their cooler of Trulis. My husband and I sat mid-ship and just quietly relaxed and took in all of the sights. We probably seemed disenchanted but we were just soaking it all in. About those Trulis . . . Downeast Rover welcomes passengers to bring food and drinks. Most groups brought something festive to drink and perhaps a snack. The nature of the sunset cruise is that it squarely goes through the dinner hour. I think we had to be on the Manteo waterfront at 5:30pm and we didn't return until after 8pm. We didn't take much in the way of drinks or snacks onboard with us because we hoped to get a nice dinner afterwards but by the time we got back to the slip most restaurants we wanted to try were closed. Sooo, in hindsight, maybe we should have taken some sandwiches from Poor Richard's to enjoy on the sail. And as a side note, we encountered an epic sunset so we lingered out on the sound a bit longer than planned which is why we didn't return until after 8pm. Also, the departure time for the cruise changes a bit to accommodate the sunset time. Chris was our Captain and he diligently steered us into the sunset. Mate Ethan kept us all entertained. Ethan shared a lot of interesting history and stories about the Outer Banks. Having spent a good bit of time studying the history of the barrier islands I thought I knew a lot but Ethan's knowledge really impressed me and was shared in an entertaining way. He also sang us a sea chanty or two which was fun. Which reminds me, be sure to bring cash to thank the crew for a safe and fun adventure. Regarding the Downeast Rover, I was expecting it to be a romantic historic wooden sailboat but it is straight out of the 80s! The steel 55 foot topsail schooner has been retrofitted and certified to accommodate 25 passengers. There is a head on board but its probably not very glamourous so I was sure to skip it. We were fortunately to have decent winds so we were able to get under sail after leaving the Manteo waterfront. read more

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we did the sunset cruise.the captain and staff were very knowledgeable . the weather was perfect. the 2 hour sail was very relaxing. I highly recommend ! read more

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What a magical sunset sail! The staff were incredible from booking to dock - and Ethan was an amazing amazing Captain singing sea shanty ballads, telling funny stories, versed in history of the Lost Colony and ships, and kind and friendly. We saw dolphins and an incredible sunset with mild and steady winds- my three year old loved it!!! They have great shirts too and we picked one up! Highly recommend this special cruise in such a special place! read more

The Downeast Rover - Sight off the boat of the Elizabeth 2 - Boat Charters Near Me - Manteo, North Carolina

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This was an amazing sunset ride. Staff was interactive and fun. Recommend bringing a bottle of wine and a jacket

Just finished a great sunset sailing trip in Manteo, NC upon the Downeast Rover. Highly recommend this sailing adventure read more

The Downeast Rover - Great sunset while on the sail - Boat Charters Near Me - Manteo, North Carolina

Great experience overall this past weekend. Made reservations the day of for the evening sunset cruise. Highly recommend for a casual evening on a boat. Come early to explore Manteo! It's a lovely place. Wish we explored more. Street parking was plentiful. Ethan was awesome and met us to board us. We loved his enthusiasm and the nuggets of information he was sharing about the area. Water is fairly shallow (less than 6ft) incase anyone was curious. Towards the end, we were fortunate enough to catch some fantastic cloud formations before the rain storm which was a great addition to our relaxing experience. read more

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This was a great day cruise. Captain Kim and Captain Tim were wonderful. We highly recommend taking this excursion. read more

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Very friendly crew, beautiful views, and a great experience; what better could you ask for. read more

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My extended family ended up booking all 25 seats on last nights sunset sail (across a few reservations). When we arrived, the dock was bustling with activity from nearby shops and a separate boat tour. Mate Ethan was relaxed on the bow and Captain Kim greeted us. We introduced ourselves and explained we were unsure of where to check in. "You just did" he causally replied. Captain Kim and Mate Ethen had just set the very relaxed feel for the evening. Once we boarded, Mate Ethan gave us the safety run down which was the most serious part of the adventure. From there, our group passed snacks and the rum punch we brought and enjoyed the beautiful sights and sounds of the bay. Captain Kim and Mate Ethan were able to quickly locate a school of dolphins playing and we sailed around them for a while. The whole experience was absolutely magical And so relaxing. You'll never see a harder working Mate than Ethan - in between shuffling around the boat adjusting **insert boat terms here**, he was helping the captain eye the shallow channels of the bay and telling us awesome stories about the area and past sails. What to know: - it's a proper sail boat and you'll not be able to stand up and wander around for the 2 hour cruise (low sides and moving jibs **insert more boat terms** are moving around and you don't want to slide off or be knocked off) - there is a bathroom on board (marine bathroom. Read: you're not going to want to hang out in there) - kids are safest in the front of the boat, so adults should be aware that's where they'll be sitting - the bay is really (REALLY) shallow so not many other boats operate there. It'll be a very uncongested cruise - there are nearby public restrooms in a public pavilion - Travel FYI: if you happen to be in Currituck county, plan for a 1 hour ride from Corolla to the dock - In August (80F weather) I went at sunset wearing shorts and a tank top and felt very comfortable read more

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We had such a delightful experience viewing the sunset, Manteo and the Roanoke sound yesterday evening while sailing on the Downeast Rover. We were comfortable and had no nausea as I have on smaller boats sometimes. My son and I are grateful we came upon this opportunity while spending time together. Thank you Kim and Kim for your hospitality and cheerfulness. read more

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Thank you so much for a lovely sunset cruise! Could not have asked for a better way to end our trip to the Outer Banks. Pictures say a thousand words. Great job everyone! Kim and Ed West Chester, PA. read more

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A+! We were very pleased with our 3:30pm charter. Captain Kim and First Mate Watson provided *top notch* service and were highly accommodating as we celebrated a special occasion!! When booking the charter, I had a few questions about safety and provisions for the two 3 year olds and 1 year old in our group. Captain Kim quickly put my concerns to rest by assuring me of the availability of life jackets for the wee ones and amble space in the salon should the children wish to be out of the sun. I would absolutely book another charter with Captain Kim on the Downeast Rover! read more

5 Stars, Took the sunset cruise and everything was perfect. EXCELLENT crew - fun times read more

The Downeast Rover - Boat Charters Near Me - Manteo, North Carolina

My family and I have been coming to Outer Banks for years, and taking a private charter on the Downeast Rover is my favorite thing we've ever done while on vacation. We just went a few weeks ago and had the best time. The Captain (Kim) and first mate (Tim) couldn't have been more awesome. Tim had a wealth of local information and stories (take him up on his offer to take pics of your group!) and it was fun talking about our old hometown of St. Marys, GA with the Captain! Worthy of note, not only can you BYOB, but you can BYOD (bring your own dog) too! While we would have loved to do that, knowing ours' they would have jumped in the water. Still, I think it's awesome that they allow dogs in private parties. While we were out sailing a small pod of dolphins started swimming beside us and it was magical. They came so close to the boat I could have reached out and touched one. It was really the best time, worth every penny. We're already planning our trip for next summer! (Also, just a side note: Manteo is the cutest town!) read more

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We had an excellent sunset sailing experience this evening. The captain, and his first mate were well experienced, very knowledgeable and answered all questions. We definitely recommend them for your sailing experience. You won't be disappointed. On the way back in we got the added bonus of seeing some dolphins. Thank you for making our anniversary amazing. We will be back for another sunset cruise soon. read more

Fun afternoon sailing trip. Definitely bring snack and drinks. Sweatshirt a must as well. Thanks for a fun trip!

Best part of our sunset cruise was Watson. What a intelligent and knowledgeable young man. Thanks Watson for taking care of us. Bill&Dianne

Great evening sunset cruise. Captain Kim and first mate Tim were very enjoyable with their local knowledge and stories. Easy to to chat with and a very enjoyable evening. We would sail with them again. Highly recommended. read more

We had a lovely time from beginning to end! Winston and Captain Winslow were amazing. Professional, personable and fun! Winston provided our crew of 9 with tons of information on the island and helped us capture many memories by taking photos we'll cherish forever! Captain Winslow was informative and knowledgeable and took great care of us and the boay. We loved our sunset tour and will definitely be returning for more adventures!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you Captain Winslow and Winston!!! -the Burda Crew read more

Hi fellow sailors! I took my small family out on a sunset cruise on 09/17/19. It was unfortunately while the Outer Banks was experiencing the effects of Hurricane Humberto! That evening was marginal for sailing so we basically motored both out and in without raising the sails. The waves in the sound were pretty choppy so my group, myself wife, son and daughter-in-laws had been seated in the stern or back of the schooner. for that we were very grateful! The larger groups that were up front got a pretty healthy soaking! But since they were celebrating (read that drinking! lol) they were hooting an hollering like it was great. The wind was stiff, the seas were rough, but he Capt and the first mate made sure we were all OK. Beautiful schooner and we saw large pods of Dolphins which was a definite plus! Highly recommend the trip but try to pick a nice weather day! As we were vacationing we did not have much choice. Thanks to Capt and crew, Cheers read more

We had a good time aboard the Downeast Rover. We wanted a private cruise for the 10 of us and booked for Monday night. Captain Eric called on Monday and said the wind was a bit too high and we would likely enjoy it more another day. We moved the tour to Tuesday. We were to arrive at the dock at 5:15 and at 4:50 I received a phone call that the boat was broken and we could not sail that day. We were annoyed but the owner called and said she wanted to make it right with a free sail the next night. In addition to that, since we were already in the area, she bought us all a drink at a neighboring bar. That was a very nice gesture. Wednesday went off without a hitch. Our group went aboard with two other couples (not a private cruise) on Wednesday. I enjoyed the sail but the first 45 minutes were insanely slow as you sail into the channel. Being from the midwest and having been on numerous speed boats and loving the wind in my hair, this was a bit boring. Even when we finally had the sails up, it felt very slow to me. The views are gorgeous and I enjoyed the trip but you do need to expect to just relax, socialize and enjoy the view for two hours. This is what we were prepared for and why we enjoyed it. We brought our own wine and snacks and had a good time. Bottom line - the owner is super-reasonable and accommodating, the boat is nice, and the cruise is slow. Just relax and enjoy it! read more

Tim was wonderful in his role as first mate. He got to know each of us and soon everyone was talking to each other and enjoying the experience even more. Disappointed at first the sunset cruise was booked weeks in advance but it truly didn't matter. read more

Great way to spend some time on the water. Captain and crew couldn't have been nicer. The boat was comfortable and the views from the bay were superb. Highly recommended for all ages! read more

We had a great time out on the boat to watch our friend propose to his girlfriend. The captain and first mate were very friendly and accommodating, we were able to bring a decent sized cooler both for food and for "drinks". Would definitely recommend this for any time of the day! read more

The Downeast Rover - Boat Charters Near Me - Manteo, North Carolina

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A very relaxing sail! The captain and first mate were very pleasant and knowledgeable about the local area. You can bring your own food, wine, etc on board to enjoy during the sail. It's a great activity for those looking for something low key and relaxing. read more

I went here with my family including 4 kids from 4-10 years old, along with our friends with a 9 month old. Had a great time. We lucked out and were the only passengers so basically had a private cruise. Captain and crew were friendly from the very start. Pricing was very reasonable, especially since you can bring your own food and booze (though drinking on the boat was much easier than eating). Definitely recommend attraction in the Outer Banks. read more

My husband and I had a wonderful time on the Sunset Cruise on 7/1. It was an incredibly beautiful 2 hour tour. Throughout the cruise, the Captain and Watson provided a very interesting history of Roanoke Island. They were both very personable and enjoyed answering our questions. We were able to take some outstanding pictures of the gorgeous sunset. The sailboat was very nice. This is a classy and very friendly business. We would definitely take this cruise again! read more

It was so much fun and so peaceful! We took the 4:00pm boat and had 6 people and ended up having the boat to ourselves! It was a great time and the crew was kind and professional 12/10 would do again in a heartbeat! And you can bring your dog! Just make sure to ask first so they can make sure the other passengers are cool with it read more

The sunset cruise was better than expected! We were originally scheduled to sail on the weekend of Hurricane Florence. We were notified that it was cancelled and received a full refund. We booked the sunset cruise the following weekend and we could not have been happier. There were only two other guests on board in addition to my our party of two but the crew was nice enough to still take us out. The crew on board were very friendly and gave us lots of tips on where to go and what to do on our stay. The sunset was beautiful! We highly recommend this company as the staff was amazing and the sailing was perfect. We'll definitely do this again on our next visit! read more

The Downeast Rover - Boat Charters Near Me - Manteo, North Carolina

My newlywed wife and I took a cooler on a sunset cruise on the Downeast Rover. We were the last in and sat on the bench in the bow (I think we got the best seats). The mate was helpful with moving my cooler on the boat and offered corkscrews, cups, ice, and even their bathroom. He was conversational about local history and sailing and made us feel right at home, even offering my cold-natured wife a blanket to stay warm. Very relaxing and beautiful, even on a very windy evening. read more

Very nice day cruise, friendly staff and a beautiful boat. They will allow you to hoist the sails and steer the boat which is a great experience to have. Unfortunately for me I was unable to experience the boat too much after opening the sails. Because it was so windy they had to motor the boat out which was fine but once those sails came out it was over for me. I spent the rest of the trip below deck. I will not let that experience effect my rating as that was a personal problem. But it was a learning experience for sure. read more

Lovely! We went last night with a cooler of wine and beer. It was a lovely boat and we had such a quiet and relaxing time. The guys were very helpful- brought our cooler to us, offered cups and even a blanket for when the sun went down. Highly recommend for an adult evening! read more

The sunset sailing cruise was a lovely and relaxing experience on a well-maintained sailboat. The captain and first mate were knowledgeable and friendly as well as committed to a ensuring an enjoyable experience for their passengers. The boat was comfortable and sight of the sun setting over the water was unforgettable. Highly recommended. read more

I made a reservation for a 2 hour sunset sail on the Downeast Rover while visiting the OBX. There were 27 sailing and what a great adventure it was. Sailing across the calm waters was so soothing and even saw a Dolphin while out. The icing on the cake was watching the sunset as we headed back towards the shore. The Captain and second mate were both great, very friendly and very informative while sailing. I highly recommend this adventure. read more

The Sunset Cruise was a great experience! Captain and First Mate were amicable, friendly and knowledgable. I would book this cruise again on a return visit. read more

We were scheduled to go on the 2:00 sail but because of the weather we were moved to the sunset sail free of charge. Had a great time, the crew was very welcoming and you could bring your own wine. I would highly encourage taking a trip on the Down East read more

Beautiful ship. Great, friendly, knowledgeable crew. Helpful and friendly office staff. Everything was great on a nice windy day. The ride was tamer than the expected. But, the crew used the time to reach the kids about the rigging, sails, and operation of the boat. I recommend this for first time sailing and families with kids. read more

The captain and first mate were very kind and offered a relaxing, evening sail. They ask if anyone would like to raise the sails or steer the sailboat. Such a lovely, peaceful time. I enjoyed relaxing and having our picture taken with the sunset. read more