Captain Mark’s Dolphin Cruises Aboard the Holiday
Narrated dolphin and sunset cruises on the Holiday, a big, shaded, family-owned tour boat that leaves Shelter Cove Harbour.
Visitors keep calling this cruise the highlight of their trip.
Book Captain Mark's Dolphin Cruise
Live availability for each cruise.
Captain Mark’s Dolphin Cruises
Dolphin Watch Sunset Cruise
Seasonal: next dates not posted yet
From$36
Check availabilityCaptain Mark’s Dolphin Cruises
Fireworks Sunset Cruise w/ Dolphins
Seasonal: next dates not posted yet
Booked through FareHarbor, the island operators’ own booking system. HHI.com may earn a commission.
- Boat
- the Holiday
- Cruise
- about 1¾ hours
- Runs
- Monday to Saturday
- Infants
- free
Captain Mark’s Dolphin Cruises is a family-owned company with one boat, the Holiday, which leaves from Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina. It is a large, steady, slow boat with covered seating and open rails for 360-degree views, so it suits grandparents and small children as well as anyone who worries about a bumpy ride. Every trip is narrated by the captain: the dolphins first, then Hilton Head Island’s history and the marsh, with the waterfront homes and yachts of Broad Creek and Calibogue Sound, the Harbour Town lighthouse and Daufuskie Island along the way.
Dolphin Cruises on the Holiday
Dolphin watch cruise: the daytime trip, about 1¾ hours, looking for Atlantic bottlenose dolphins along with herons, pelicans and osprey.
Dolphin watch sunset cruise: the same trip timed for sunset over the sound, so the departure time moves with the season.
Fireworks sunset cruise: two hours on Tuesday nights from June to August, ending on the water for the HarbourFest fireworks.
Cruises run Monday to Saturday, several times a day, and the regular dolphin and sunset trips run from March through October. Tickets are sold per person, with a children’s fare for ages 3 to 12 and infants free. Other dolphin boats leave the same harbour: Dolphin Seafari is a smaller family-run boat, and Salt Marsh Sailing does private dolphin sails.
More Boat Trips at Shelter Cove
Salt Marsh Sailing at Shelter Cove: private dolphin, sunset and fireworks sails for up to six on a 27-foot catamaran on Broad Creek, from $359.
Dolphin Seafari at Shelter Cove Harbour: a family-run 90-minute dolphin cruise on Broad Creek from $40, plus donut mornings, sunset and fireworks trips.
Bluewater Adventure at Shelter Cove: guided two-hour tours where you drive your own two-seat catamaran, $135 for adults, plus sunset and fireworks tours.
Captain Kidd at Shelter Cove Harbour: a family crabbing boat with 1 hour 45 minute catch-and-release trips from $39, plus Tuesday fireworks nights.
Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina: HarbourFest, Tuesday fireworks over the water, free family shows, dolphin tours, fishing charters, kayaks and boat rentals.
Hilton Head fireworks: Tuesday shows at Shelter Cove in summer, the Fourth of July displays, New Year's Eve and fireworks cruises, with 2026 dates.
What reviewers say
Visitors keep calling this cruise the highlight of their trip. Captain Mark narrates with local history and dad jokes, and most trips see plenty of dolphins, with the sunset cruise the favorite. The boat has shade and a restroom and heads further out than many. Communication before the trip is praised. Dolphins are never guaranteed, and one group saw few.
Frequently Asked Questions
Updated
How long is Captain Mark’s dolphin cruise?
About 1¾ hours for the dolphin watch and sunset cruises. The Tuesday fireworks cruise in summer is two hours.
What days does Captain Mark’s Dolphin Cruise run?
Monday to Saturday, with several departures a day and a sunset cruise in the evening.
Does Captain Mark’s have a fireworks cruise?
Yes. On Tuesday nights from June to August a two-hour sunset cruise finishes on the water for the HarbourFest fireworks over Shelter Cove.
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