Cruise Charleston Harbor and tour the historic district by bus
90 minutes
90-min bus tour, 90-min cruise
Cover Charleston from land and water with a 90-minute narrated city bus tour and a 90-minute narrated harbor cruise aboard the Carolina Belle.
Food and drinks are not included and are not allowed on the bus. You cannot bring your own food or drinks on board the Carolina Belle; you can buy snacks and beverages from the onboard snack bar. The city bus tour cannot accommodate wheelchairs, and there is no restroom on the bus.
Non-refundable once purchased. You may reschedule with 24 hours notice. Activity takes place rain or shine. Operator may cancel due to severe weather, mechanical breakdown, or lack of participation; if canceled, your event will be rescheduled or your ticket refunded.
No. You can take the two tours on different days. Your combo ticket guarantees your spot on the harbor tour for the date and time you booked, and it also includes admission for the city bus tour (subject to bus tour availability).
Yes. Reserve your date and time for the ‘See It All’ city bus tour after you purchase your combo ticket, since bus tours have limited capacity.
No. Food and drinks are not allowed on the bus. You also cannot bring your own food or drinks on board the Carolina Belle, but you can buy items from the onboard snack bar and bar during your harbor tour.
Charleston Maritime Center, near Calhoun and Concord, Charleston, SC
Charleston Harbor Tours delivers a solid harbor cruise experience with genuinely friendly staff and knowledgeable captains who bring local history to life. Multiple reviewers mention spotting dolphins near the dock, and the onboard snack and beverage service gets consistent praise for being welcoming and helpful. The captains strike a balance between informative narration and entertaining storytelling, though a few guests found the jokes a bit corny. The 90-minute tours are smooth and comfortable, giving you good views of Fort Sumter and the surrounding waterways. The main thing to keep in mind is that this is a relaxed harbor tour rather than an action-packed adventure. Some guests felt there wasn't a ton to see beyond the fort and bridge, so set your expectations accordingly. A couple of reviewers had issues with customer service before boarding, particularly around timing and ticketing, though the crew on the actual boat consistently gets praised. One tip: arrive early to snag a good viewing spot up front, and consider bringing a hat and binoculars for afternoon tours. Overall, it's a pleasant way to spend an afternoon learning about Charleston's maritime history while enjoying the water.
This was a very nice, relaxing, informative harbor cruise especially on a warm, (not hot) sunny day. I feel it's a little overpriced and the snacks and bar items are very overpriced but you are in a tourist area and that's always expected, unfortunately. All in all, it's a great way to see Charleston from the water.
Meeko Depember
April 8, 2026
This was a very nice, relaxing, informative harbor cruise especially on a warm, (not hot) sunny day. I feel it's a little overpriced and the snacks and bar items are very overpriced but you are in a tourist area and that's always expected, unfortunately. All in all, it's a great way to see Charleston from the water.
Meeko Depember
April 8, 2026