Charleston Harbor Tours · Charleston Maritime Center
A 90-minute narrated cruise on the 80-foot Carolina Belle from the Charleston Maritime Center, out past Fort Sumter and under the Cooper River bridges. Pick it for after a food tour: you sit down, and the city's history comes from the water side.
Charleston Harbor Tours sails the Carolina Belle, an 80-foot boat, from the Charleston Maritime Center at 10 Wharfside Street. The listing promises 90 fully narrated minutes along the Cooper River toward Fort Sumter National Monument, under the Cooper River bridges and past the USS Yorktown, with bottlenose dolphins and pelicans in the water. There are morning, afternoon and sunset departures.
No food comes with it; drinks, including alcohol, are sold on board. You board over a flat pier and a ramp of about 30 feet onto the top deck, with stairs to an enclosed, air-conditioned lower deck. Restrooms are on the top deck. The listing says wheelchair accessible, but one September 2026 guest found boarding hard with a disability.
The 4.4 rating from 3,290 reviews hides a split. Many guests love the captains' narration and the sunset; others call the boat dated, with dirty windows downstairs. Seats at the front of the top deck fill first, and the boat carries up to 185 people.
Arrive at 10 Wharfside Street early if you want a front seat on the top deck.
A flat pier and a 30-foot ramp take you onto the top deck.
The captain narrates the waterfront, the bridges and the USS Yorktown.
Out toward Fort Sumter; guests report dolphins on some trips.
The cruise returns to the Maritime Center after 90 minutes.
★★★★★This was a relaxing 90 minute narrated cruise down the river and into the harbor. This was an excellent overview of the history of Charleston's relationship with the water. The cruise passes by Fort Sumter and other historical sites.
★★★★★Enjoyed the harbor cruise!! It was educational, funny, and felt oh so short.. 1.5hrs went by so quickly, and our guide/captain explained so much of charleston's history to us. [...]
★★★★★This is a great informative tour! We also saw dolphins!! Highly recommend! The crew are very engaging and knowledgeable!
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90 minutes, leaving from and returning to the Charleston Maritime Center, 10 Wharfside Street.
No. Drinks, including alcohol, are for sale on board.
No. It passes Fort Sumter on the water; landing at the fort is a separate ferry trip.
Yes. There is a child price for ages 4 to 11, and infants ride on laps.
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Ninety narrated minutes on the harbor past Fort Sumter, with morning, afternoon and sunset sailings.
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