Charleston Boat Tour FAQs

All trips depart from Shem Creek at 100 Church St, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 — about 14 minutes from downtown Charleston. Free public parking is nearby; please arrive 15 minutes before departure.

Our smaller boats run private charters for up to 12 guests, and the Roamer IV hosts groups of 13 to 23. Shared tours are priced per seat; private charters give your group the whole boat.

Shared tours are priced per person on a public departure — you share the boat with other guests. Private charters reserve the entire boat for your group at one price by group size, with flexible departures.

Safety first. We only cancel for unsafe conditions, and you'll get a full refund or a free reschedule. Light clouds or a quick shower usually don't stop a trip.

Yes — BYOB and outside snacks are welcome on all charters. We provide the cooler, ice, and cups. No glass on deck, please.

Yes — all ages are welcome on our cruises and fossil hunts. Every child gets a Coast Guard–approved life jacket, and our captains are experienced with families.

Book online through any tour page, or call (843) 508-1600. For groups larger than 10, call us and we'll set up the Roamer IV.

LowCountry Coastal Excursions private charters start at $350–$375 for the whole boat. A 2-hour private sunset, dolphin, or Charleston Harbor cruise is $375 for up to 4 guests, then about $50–75 per extra guest up to 12. Party cruises (bachelorette, bachelor, birthday) are $350 for 2 hours, $450 for 3, or $550 for 4, covering 1–2 guests plus $50 per additional guest. Groups of 13–23 ride the Roamer IV at a flat $1,100–$1,200.

The Bachelorette Party Cruise — a private charter on Charleston Harbor with BYOB, a Bluetooth sound system, float mats, decorations welcome, and golden-hour photo stops at the Ravenel Bridge. From $350 for 2 hours, up to 23 guests, departing Shem Creek. There's a matching Bachelor Party Cruise with sandbar swim and fishing stops.

The fossil hunt and shark tooth tours are the family favorites — kids ages 4+ learn to sift on barrier island beaches, wade only in shallow water, and keep every shark tooth and fossil they find. In summer, the week-long Kids Fishing Camp on Shem Creek (ages 7–13) covers real fishing, boat safety, and conservation.

The best shark tooth hunting near Charleston is on the barrier islands and exposed fossil beds around Morris Island and Charleston Harbor, reachable only by boat. Tours from Shem Creek find sand tiger, mako, lemon, and bull shark teeth on most trips, and every guest keeps every find — most go home with 20–40 pieces.

Yes. The Lowcountry's rivers and barrier islands expose fossil layers 5–40 million years old, and Megalodon teeth wash out of them regularly. Finding one takes luck, but guests on Charleston shark tooth tours do find them — fall and winter low tides offer the best conditions.

The shared Charleston sunset cruise is $65 per person aboard the Roamer IV — you book seats on the nightly golden-hour departure. The private sunset charter is the same route with the whole boat reserved for your group, from $375 for up to 4 guests (up to 23 total). Couples and small groups usually book seats; proposals and celebrations book the boat.

Golden hour — roughly the last two hours before sunset — has the best light and the most dolphin activity; the shared sunset cruise departs around 6:30 PM for exactly that window. Mornings are cooler with calm water, ideal for shark tooth trips (which run on low tide) and family charters.

Usually, yes. Wild bottlenose dolphins live in Charleston Harbor year-round and use the waters off Mt. Pleasant as a nursery, so most cruises get at least one visit. The dedicated dolphin watching tour routes through their favorite feeding creeks.

About 14 minutes by car — cross the Ravenel Bridge into Mt. Pleasant and the dock is at 100 Church St, Shem Creek, with free public parking nearby. It's the closest departure point to downtown for harbor, sunset, and shark tooth tours.

Yes, weather permitting. Sunset and harbor cruises run nightly in season; fall and winter bring lower tides, fewer crowds, and the best Megalodon-hunting conditions; summer adds the Kids Fishing Camp. Trips only cancel for unsafe weather, with a full refund or free reschedule.

Shared seats start at $65 per person (plus a 3% card surcharge). You only pay for the seats you book — choose your guest count right in the calendar above.

We depart at 6:30 PM. The exact sunset shifts with the season, but 6:30 PM puts you on the water for the best light most of the year. Your date and time are confirmed in the calendar above.

It's a shared cruise aboard the Roamer IV, which seats up to 23. You'll share the deck with other guests — there's plenty of room and a clear view from every seat.

Yes — BYOB and outside snacks are fully welcome. We provide the cooler, ice, and cups. A bottle of champagne or a charcuterie board is the move.

Partly cloudy skies often make the most dramatic sunsets. We only cancel for unsafe weather, and you'll get a full refund or a free reschedule.

We board at Shem Creek, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464, about 14 minutes from downtown Charleston. Free public parking is nearby. Please arrive 15 minutes before departure.

It's one of Charleston's best. For a private moment, book the whole boat instead — see Private Sunset Charter at the bottom of this page.

Yes. If you'd rather have the boat to just your group, book a Private Sunset Charter (linked below) — same route, your party only.

Yes — BYOB is fully welcome. Bring whatever you like. We provide the cooler, ice, cups, and bottle opener. The boat is licensed for personal consumption.

We take groups from 8 up to 23 guests. If your party is smaller, we still give you the full private charter — no strangers added.

Absolutely. Bring banners, balloons, sashes — whatever makes it festive. We ask that nothing is glued or permanently attached. Arrive 20 minutes early to set up.

The 5:30–6:00 PM departure gives you golden hour on the harbour — the light is incredible and dolphins are usually feeding. Morning slots are cooler and great for larger groups.

Private 3-hour charter, USCG-licensed captain, cooler with ice, Bluetooth sound system, harbour and coastline route, and photo-worthy stops. You bring the drinks and the vibe.

100 Church St, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 — Shem Creek, 14 minutes from downtown Charleston. Free public parking nearby. Call (843) 508-1600.

Yes — BYOB is fully welcome for guests 21+. Bring cans or plastic (no glass on deck, please). We provide the cooler, ice, cups, and a bottle opener.

Groups up to 10 book instantly online. Got a bigger crew? Call (843) 508-1600 — our large-capacity Roamer IV hosts up to 23.

Absolutely. The 3- and 4-hour trips have time for a sandbar stop — swim, float, or cast a line. Tell the captain what the groom's into and we'll build the route around it.

We only cancel for unsafe conditions — and you get a full refund or a free reschedule. Light clouds or a quick shower usually don't stop the party.

Shem Creek in Mt. Pleasant — about 14 minutes from downtown Charleston. Free public parking nearby. Arrive 15 minutes early.

The whole boat, a USCG-licensed captain, fuel, cooler with ice, Bluetooth sound system, and a route built for your crew. You bring the drinks and the people.

Yes — every Charleston Harbor Cruise is a private charter. The boat is yours alone: $375 covers groups of 1–4, then +$50–75 per extra guest.

We cruise close for photos and the captain's history rundown, but this isn't a landing tour — that keeps it to a tight two hours with more sights covered.

Usually, yes. Bottlenose dolphins live in the harbor year-round and most cruises get at least one visit. It's a bonus, not a promise.

The harbor is protected water — far calmer than the open ocean. The boat has comfortable seating and shade, and the captain adjusts the pace to your group.

Absolutely — BYOB and snacks are welcome. We provide a cooler with ice.

Shem Creek in Mt. Pleasant, about 14 minutes from downtown Charleston. Free public parking nearby — arrive 15 minutes before departure.

Yes — every tooth, shell, and fossil you find is yours to take home. Most guests leave with 20–40 pieces. Reference guides help you identify each species on the spot.

Sand tiger, mako, lemon, and bull shark teeth are common. On lucky days guests find Megalodon — the largest shark that ever lived. The captain IDs every find.

Shared charters are priced per person on a co-chartered skiff with set departure times — great value for couples, solo guests, and small families. Private charters reserve the entire boat for your group (up to 23 guests) with flexible departures and a captain who tailors the trip to your party.

Absolutely — fossil hunting is a hit with kids. The walks are easy and we wade only in shallow water. All ages welcome.

Fall and winter are prime — fewer crowds, lower tides, and the best conditions for Megalodon finds. We run great trips year-round though.

We run tours in light rain — a little drizzle never stopped a good fossil hunt. Severe weather gets a full refund or reschedule. No questions asked.

100 Church St, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 — right on Shem Creek, 14 minutes from downtown Charleston. Free public parking nearby. Call (843) 508-1600.

None at all. Ages 4 and up can do this trip. The captain teaches everyone the sifting technique on the spot — most kids are pros within 10 minutes.

Yes — every tooth, bone, and fossil is yours. We pack everything in individual bags and give you a reference sheet to ID each species at home.

We've never left anyone empty-handed. Our Find-Something Promise means if your group finds zero fossils, the trip is free. We haven't paid out yet.

Water shoes or sandals that can get wet. Light clothing. Sunscreen. We provide everything else — sifting tools, reference guides, collection bags, and cold water.

Up to 23 guests per charter. Great for families, school groups, birthday parties, or any group that wants a genuinely unique Charleston experience.

That’s totally fine. Many campers are beginners. We start with the basics and keep the atmosphere relaxed and encouraging.

Basic water comfort is helpful, but every child wears a Coast Guard–approved life jacket and is closely supervised by captains and crew.

Comfortable clothes that can get wet, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, reusable water bottle, and a packed lunch Monday through Thursday. Closed-toe shoes or secure sandals are recommended.

We do our best to honor sibling and friend requests whenever possible. Mention it when you register.

Safety comes first. If a full day looks unsafe, parents are contacted about make-up options or a prorated refund. If storms pop up, campers move to a covered dock for land-based activities.

Yes. Camp tuition includes rods, reels, tackle, bait, life jackets, and the core fishing gear campers use throughout the week.

Seats are intentionally limited so captains can keep instruction hands-on, organized, and safe on the boat.

Yes, if space is available. Many campers enjoy returning because fishing locations, species, tides, and daily conditions change each week.