Cruise St. Andrews Bay at sunset and look for wild dolphins
+/- 90 minutes
Dolphin search, Sunset cruise
Step aboard a double-deck motor catamaran for a sunset cruise on St. Andrews Bay and the Emerald Coast of Panama City Beach. Enjoy coastal views as you search for wild dolphins, with refreshments available for purchase onboard.
You need a St. Andrews State Park entrance pass to access the tour. This is an open boat, so prepare for rain, sun, and wind. Pets are not allowed except legal service animals; no smoking, vaping, or portable speakers onboard.
Cancel more than 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Inside 24 hours, you may rebook to alternate availability. If the operator determines it is not safe to depart, you may rebook or receive a full refund. If the boat departs, weather cancellations may rebook. No-shows pay full amount.
Yes. If you do not already have a St. Andrews State Park entrance pass, you need to purchase one to access the tour.
Go to the Pier Store for parking and ticketing (follow signs from the entrance gate). You will ride a tram to the ferry dock; the tram leaves the Pier Store 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time.
You can bring your own refreshments, but alcohol can only be purchased onsite. Beer, wine, sodas, and bottled water are available for purchase during the cruise.
4607 State Park Ln, Panama City, FL 32408
This outfit delivers consistently excellent experiences, especially thanks to their standout crew. Captains like Ryan get mentioned by name for being knowledgeable and entertaining, while guides like Sierra earn praise for engaging with kids and sharing details about the sea life they discover. The staff comes across as genuinely friendly and professional, making trips feel personalized rather than rushed. Dolphin sightings seem to happen frequently, with captains going out of their way to position boats for the best views. Shell Island itself is beautiful with crystal-clear water perfect for spotting sand dollars, crabs, sea urchins, and other marine life. The ferry service gives you plenty of time to explore without feeling hurried. Beyond the basic island trips, they offer sunset dolphin cruises that reviewers rave about, plus snorkeling tours, kayaking, and paddleboarding. One visitor even highlighted their glamping tents at the state park as surprisingly comfortable and well-appointed. A couple reviewers felt the island didn't have as many shells as expected or questioned the value, and one boat showed some wear with cushions needing replacement. Overall though, families particularly appreciate how accommodating the crew is with children of all ages.
While visiting Shell Island, we unfortunately missed our ferry—but the customer service team (especially Dennis and Tracy) truly went above and beyond. They were understanding, accommodating, and helped us resolve everything quickly, including assisting with our 3rd party purchase.Their kindness and professionalism made a stressful situation with 2 kiddos so much easier. Our day turned out to be one of the best days of our vacation. Thanks again you are one of a kind! -The Martinez Family
Rocio “Roci” Martinez
April 3, 2026
While visiting Shell Island, we unfortunately missed our ferry—but the customer service team (especially Dennis and Tracy) truly went above and beyond. They were understanding, accommodating, and helped us resolve everything quickly, including assisting with our 3rd party purchase.Their kindness and professionalism made a stressful situation with 2 kiddos so much easier. Our day turned out to be one of the best days of our vacation. Thanks again you are one of a kind! -The Martinez Family
Rocio “Roci” Martinez
April 3, 2026