FAQ

Rates vary based on season and or special events. View our schedule for up-to-date pricing.

We highly recommend making reservations at least 48 hours in advance. Our boats book up frequently, especially during the busy summer months.

We are Destin’s original dolphin cruise, family-owned and operated for 25 years. Our boat is the largest and most comfortable dolphin cruise vessel in the Destin Harbor, and you will find that the standard of service we provide is well worth the extra little bit you spend.

We begin with a narrated tour of the Destin Harbor. The captain will point out some of Destin’s local spots and tell you about the history of the area. We then head out to the East Pass of the Gulf of Mexico. If seas are calm enough, we cruise into the Gulf to watch the dolphins in their natural habitat. If the waters are too choppy to cruise comfortably in the Gulf, we cruise under Destin’s Marler Bridge and into the Choctawhatchee Bay in search of the local dolphin pods. Once we spot the dolphins, we spend time watching, observing, and encouraging the dolphins, as well as educating you about the area pods. The captain also takes time to let the kids aboard have their turn driving the boat and earn their Junior Captain Award. The mates assist guests in feeding the seagulls from the back of the boat.

The glass bottom is an added feature of our dolphin cruise since we do not have any reef in this area. We sail out into the Gulf of Mexico and the sandy bottom of the water is not the same as you might find in more tropical areas. The glass bottom on our boat is a viewing area with 8 glass panels and not a floor completely made of glass with seating around it. Sometimes we do see a school of fish or beds of seagrass, but the dolphins are the main feature and they typically play on the sides of the boat rather than underneath.

Any time is a great time. We have a 98% success rate with dolphin sightings, so the best time to go is really up to your personal preference and schedule. The water is typically clearer during the high tide (before about 2:00 p.m. in the summer). That is when we have the greatest chance of seeing other sea life such as sharks, stingrays, turtles, etc. We still see dolphins and other varieties of sea life in our afternoon cruises as well, but once the tide changes, the water turns brackish and the dolphins can be observed when they breach the surface.

We cannot guarantee dolphin sightings because they are wild animals, and we are observing them in their natural habitat. However, they are native to this area and we have a 98% success rate seeing them year-round, and our captain and crew are well-trained at spotting dolphins.

The Southern Star is an 80-foot double-deck, glass-bottom boat, and is U.S. Coast Guard approved for a maximum of 149 passengers. We have two restrooms, a covered upper deck with a drop-down enclosure, and a climate-controlled cabin for your comfort.

Strollers are welcome aboard, and we recommend using the brakes once on board. Please remember children ages 3 and younger must be included in your reservation, as they are included in the total headcount reported to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The main deck is accessible to manual wheelchairs only. Scooters and motorized wheelchairs are too large and too heavy to accommodate on our vessel.

We have a galley that offers hot dogs, chips, sodas, smoothies, and other small snack items available for purchase.

We sell sodas and smoothies. Water is complimentary. Beer and wine are available for those 21 and over. We are a family cruise, and as such we ask that you please enjoy in moderation and responsibly. Coolers and outside alcohol are not permitted on board.

Any place is a great place. Feel free to walk around once the boat leaves the dock.

If you purchase your tickets at one of the ITT Centers on Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Air Force Base, NAS Pensacola, or Whiting Field, they will honor the discount for the entire party. We are under contract with ITT and will only be able to honor the discount for the Active Duty Personnel at the window.

We do not go far enough offshore that you lose sight of land, and if the Gulf is too rough, the captain will cruise in the Choctawhatchee Bay, where it is calmer. If you tend to get motion sickness riding in the backseat of a car, we suggest you take something like Dramamine in advance. We sell MotionEaze onboard, which is a natural oil rubbed behind the ears to alleviate the symptoms of motion sickness. It is fast-acting and has no side effects, so the crew highly recommends it. If you do get nauseated on board, notify the crew and they will know what to do for you.

There are life jackets for the kids on board, but they are for emergency use only. The rails are 42” high as required by the USCG for passenger vessels.

If there is just a light rain, we will still sail because there is plenty of cover. If there is thunder or lightning, we will not sail (subject to captain’s discretion). If we have to cancel the cruise due to weather, we will notify you, but we make those decisions closer to cruise time and on a cruise by cruise basis. In the event of inclement weather, only rainchecks will be issued after the boat leaves the dock.

Reservations made by phone will be secured using a Visa, MasterCard, or Discover card. We use it to hold your seats; nothing is charged to your card when you book over the phone. You may pay how you like when you arrive. Online bookings are charged at the time the reservation is made.

If you need to cancel, we require 3 hours’ notice prior to your cruise departure; otherwise, the card may be charged 50% of the total.

We are located in the HarborWalk Village Marina, about ¼ mile east of the Destin Bridge. We are in a red ticket booth located downstairs to the left of Margaritaville.

Trained service dogs that are able to perform a specific task to aid those with a disability are permitted aboard. Companion and Emotional Support Animals are not considered Service Animals.

We recommend bringing sunscreen, a camera, a hat, sunglasses, and cash (for snacks and for tipping the mates). During spring and fall months, you may want to bring jackets as our sunset cruises tend to be cooler in temperature.

We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and cash. We do not accept American Express or personal checks.

HarborWalk Village charges $10 per vehicle to park in the on-site parking lot or the parking garage of the Emerald Grande condo. Cash and cards are accepted. Alternative parking options include the City of Destin’s two paid public parking lots at the intersections of Highway 98 and Marler Street, Calhoun Avenue, or Zerbe Street. Limited street parking is available along Stahlman Avenue on the north side of Highway 98.

We strongly recommend arriving one hour prior to boarding to allow time for traffic, parking, and checking in. Boarding begins 30 minutes prior to departure.