What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 6:30pm Tuesday 9am - 6:30pm Wednesday 9am - 6:30pm Thursday 9am - 6:30pm Friday 9am - 6:30pm Saturday 9am - 6:30pm

Southern Star Dolphin Cruise

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United States
Destin, FL
Southern Star Dolphin Cruise

Come aboard Destin's Original Dolphin Cruise, the Southern Star! Come aboard Destin's Original Dolphin Cruise! Visit us online for more details. in the summer).
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With over 25 years of service in the Destin Harbor, and the most awarded dolphin cruise company, you and your loved ones are sure to experience a quality, family-friendly eco-tour! Celebrating over 25 years of family fun and more than 10,000 dolphin sightings! Enjoy a 90 minute relaxing, fully narrated tour of Destin Harbor and the pristine beaches of the Emerald Coast. Witness a variety of sealif

e and observe Coastal Bottlenose Dolphins in their natural habitat as you cruise the sugar-white sand beaches and emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Children can feed the seabirds alongside our Crew, and are given the opportunity to meet our Captain. Sunset cruises offer breathtaking views of our glorious sunsets. You are sure to see something extraordinary aboard our 80' Glass Bottom Boat! Also available for groups, weddings, private parties, and special events. Come have fun with us! FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
For a complete list of all Frequently Asked Questions and Answers, please visit this link to our website: https://southernstardolphincruise.com/faq/

What do you do on the cruise? 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. The mates will assist guests in feeding a variety of sea birds on our way out of the harbor. 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. When is the best time to see dolphins? 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. 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. Are we guaranteed to see dolphins? The dolphins we observe are wild animals, and we are observing them in their natural habitat, so nothing is guaranteed. 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. How big is the boat? 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. How far offshore do you go? Do people ever get seasick? 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. Are strollers allowed? 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. Do the kids need life jackets? 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. Are you wheelchair accessible? The main deck is accessible to manual wheelchairs only. Scooters and motorized wheelchairs are too large and too heavy to accommodate on our vessel. Is there food? We have a galley that offers hot dogs, chips, sodas, smoothies, and other small snack items available for purchase. Do you serve drinks? 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. What should we bring? 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.

06/16/2024

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there who work hard for their families! If you're looking for a fun way to show Dad a chill day, join us for a Dolphin Cruise and his first 2 rounds of beers are on us! 🍻 Cheers Dads!

06/11/2024

The view from where the captain sits 😍 Get your photo taken right here as soon as you step on board with us at the !

05/22/2024

Sunset tours, fireworks cruises, midday cruises.. we’ve got them all! 🐬

Book your seats with us today on !

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05/16/2024

We are thrilled to be celebrating 30 years of the Southern Star Dolphin Cruise this year! We'd love to invite all former employees to connect with us -- Please send your best contact info to [email protected] to be included in our upcoming festivities 🐬

05/15/2024

Gorgeous day for a dolphin ride! 🐬

Join us on the water at !

05/08/2024

Join us on the Southern Star for Mother's Day! Every Mother will enjoy 2 complimentary Mimosas while on board with us 🥂

Book your seats now! 🐬 www.southernstardolphincruise.com

05/05/2024

Ready to hit the water and cruise! 🐬 Are you joining us soon?

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05/03/2024

Ready to cruise and see all those playful dolphins! 🐬✨

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05/01/2024

Our dolphins love to play! Keep your eyes peeled while on board with us to spot as many as possible!

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04/29/2024

The most family friendly dolphin cruise on the ! Fun for all ages 😍

📸: Jose Quezada

04/27/2024

Capturing sunsets and watching dolphins on board the !

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04/24/2024

We had a blast on the water for the Miss Destin pageant!

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04/13/2024

Our sunset is a great way to see our friendly locals AND a gorgeous sunset!

Book yours today 🐬🐬

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03/29/2024

Our cruise is great for families and kids - Fun for all ages! 🐬

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03/27/2024

Moments you'll never forget 🐬✨ Nature's grace in motion! Join us as we sail and look for our friendly dolphin locals!

03/26/2024

We’ve got your Easter plans covered! Come join us for an Egg Hunt on board the Buccaneer Pirate Ship OR the Southern Star Dolphin Cruise, meet Easter Bucky our Pirate Mascot, and have family fun at HarborWalk Adventures!

Book a seat with us online : www.southernstardolphincruise.com

03/25/2024

Watch the sun set over the water while seeing dolphins on the !

Book a sunset dolphin cruise online at www.southernstardolphincruise.com 🐬

03/23/2024

Southern Star Selfie! We love to see your photos from our cruises.. give us a tag 😉

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03/21/2024

Family friendly spring break activity? We've got you! Come on board the !

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03/19/2024

Get a front row seat to dolphins! The runs daily, spotting dolphins on our ride!

03/17/2024

Did you know you can feed the birds on board with us? It's always an opportunity off the back deck!

03/15/2024

Spring Break is here and we can't wait to welcome everyone! Our locals 🐬 are ready to show off, jump on board the and get on the water with us 🌊

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03/13/2024

Two tickets to paradise.. 🎟️ on board the ! We'd love to have you join us. Book online anytime!

📸: To Do In Destin

03/04/2024

Spring Break is officially here and we are excited to be on the water! The dolphins were lovely today and ready for some visitors 🐬

Book direct online | Link in our bio!

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02/14/2024

The perfect V Day sunset 😍🩷

Happy Valentines Day!

02/13/2024

We still have Valentine's Day seats available! 💕 Come see our friendly local dolphins with the ones you love 🐬

https://southernstardolphincruise.com/cruises/special-holiday-events/

02/09/2024

Spend your Valentine's Day with us on the water! 💕

https://southernstardolphincruise.com/cruises/special-holiday-events/

02/06/2024

Prepare early for Christmas, and give the gift of dolphins all year long! Our Annual Pass is a great gift idea for your friends and family who love to experience our beautiful waters all year long. Here’s What You’ll Get:

+ Unlimited cruises aboard Southern Star from one year from date of purchase
+ 15% off any additional guests
+ 10% off Food and Beverages purchased on board
+ 10% off Select Merchandise purchases
+ Discounted tickets aboard our sister ship, the award-winning Buccaneer Pirate Cruise®

Buy online anytime ➡️ https://southernstardolphincruise.com/specials/annual-pass/

02/02/2024

We love being a family friendly activity! Bring the whole family for an afternoon on the water 🐬

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01/31/2024

All shined up and ready for ! Who's coming to visit us this year?

Address

100 Harbor Boulevard
Destin, FL
32541

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 6:30pm
Tuesday	9am - 6:30pm
Wednesday	9am - 6:30pm
Thursday	9am - 6:30pm
Friday	9am - 6:30pm
Saturday	9am - 6:30pm

Telephone

+18508377741

Website

https://linktr.ee/southernstarbuccaneer

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Southern Star Dolphin Cruise posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Videos

We know the feeling… but we usually don’t wait long before they show up! 🐬💙

Your ride to dolphins awaits! 🤩 Jump on board with us at the #SouthernStarDolphinCruise for a fun filled dolphin watching cruise!

Happy New Year! We would like to wish you a Blessed and Prosperous 2023! #nye2023 #nye #nyefireworks #newyearsevefireworks #happynewyear #newyearseve #destinflorida #destinfl #fireworks #fireworkscruise #familyfun #familyfunDestin #lovefl #todoindestin #hwvdestin #harborwalkvillage

Time's almost up!

Don't miss your chance to save 20% when you purchase Gift Certificates for 2023 cruises! #cyberweek #deals #sale #cyberweeksale #cyberweekdeals #experiencegifts #giftsforkids #giftsforthefamily #giftideas #holidaygiftguide #destinfl #destinflorida #adventures #pirateadventures #hwvdestin #destinfwb #todoindestin #hey30a #buccaneerpiratecruise #piratecruise #pirateship #destinpirateship #destinpiratecruise #pirates #familyfun #familyfundestin #memoriesmade #memorablemoments #vacationmemories #treasuredmemories https://buccaneerpiratecruise.com/specials/gift-certificate/

Southern Star being transported by the lift

We are back in the water and ready to cruise Saturday at 3:30! #southernstar #destinsoriginaldolphincruise #southernstardolphincruise #dolphincruise #destindolphincruise #maintenance #boatmaintenance #maintenanceseason #offseason #howto #diy #shipyard #drydock #shipyardvideos #marinemaintenance #pensacolashipyardmarina #psmc #behindthescenes #destinfl #destinflorida #hwvdestin #destinfwb

Want to see the Southern Star coming out of the water? We've got some behind the scenes footage from Capt. Jason at the shipyard! #southernstar #destinsoriginaldolphincruise #southernstardolphincruise #dolphincruise #destindolphincruise #maintenance #boatmaintenance #maintenanceseason #offseason #reels #howto #diy #videos #shipyard #drydock #shipyardvideos #marinemaintenance #pensacolashipyardmarina #psmc #behindthescenes

Sunset Dolphin Cruise in Destin

We have been seeing a lot of dolphins along with some gorgeous sunsets lately aboard the Southern Star Dolphin Cruise! Come join us this week before the season ends! #dolphincruise #destindolphincruise #ecotour #dolphinwatching #dolphinsighting #dolphinlovers #southernstardolphincruise #destinfwb #hwvdestin #lovefl #visitfl #destinfl #destinflorida #familyfun #faminlyfundestin

Big win this weekend? Wear your NFL or College Team Logo on Saturday or Sunday, and grab a complimentary beer to celebrate with us aboard Southern Star! 🏈 #football #footballseason #flippinforfootball #footballfans #nfl #collegefootball #freebeer #budlight #destinfl #destinflorida #familyfundestin #hwvdestin #dolphinwatching #dolphinlovers #dolphincruise #destinsoriginaldolphincruise

Grab your front row seat!! Tomorrow night at 8:15 PM, join us aboard the Southern Star for an up close view of Fireworks over Destin's East Pass! #fireworks #fireworkscruise #eastpass #destinharbor #hwvdestin #destinfl #destinflorida #todoindestin #fallinflorida #fallatthebeach #familyfundestin #destin #southernstar #destinsoriginaldolphincruise #beachvacation #familyvacation #destinvacation #lovefl #destinfwb

🐬Have you ever heard a dolphin talk? We have! And we can actually speak dolphin too!👏👏 #funfact #factfriday #funfactfriday #dolphins #dolphinfacts #didyouknow #ecotour #ispeakdolphin #echolocation #clapyourhands #dolphinlovers #dolphinwatching #dolphincruise #destinsoriginaldolphincruise #southernstar #boattour #sightseeingcruise #destinfl #destinflorida #destin #familyfundestin #todoindestin

We are jumping into another week of fun aboard Southern Star! Jump on board with us! In addition to our award-winning dolphin cruises this week, we are offering our most popular cruises from Summer: Dolphins & Donuts on Wednesday morning, and Fireworks on Saturday night! https://bit.ly/3BAEgne #jumponin #jumpintofun #destinfwb #destindolphinlovers #destin #crabisland #eastpass #gulfofmexico #southernstar #dolphincruise #destinsoriginaldolphincruise #dolphinlovers #dolphinwatching #destinfl #destinflorida #familyfundestin #ecotour #destindolphins #hwvdestin #todoindestin

Smaller species of Dolphins may only live up to 20 years, while larger species have a lifespan of up to 80 years! #funfact #factfriday #funfactfriday #dolphins #dolphinfacts #didyouknow #ecotour #dolphinlovers #dolphinwatching #dolphincruise #destinsoriginaldolphincruise #southernstar #boattour #sightseeingcruise #destinfl #destinflorida #destin #familyfundestin #todoindestin

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?! Flippin' for Football today and tomorrow, grab a FREE BUD LIGHT if you wear your NFL or College Team Logo on one of our cruises! #football #footballseason #flippinforfootball #footballfans #nfl #collegefootball #freebeer #budlight #destinfl #destinflorida #familyfundestin #hwvdestin #dolphinwatching #dolphinlovers #dolphincruise #destinsoriginaldolphincruise

🐬Flipper Fun Fact Friday!🐬 Did you know Dolphins are not fish, but Marine Mammals! Just like humans, they give birth to live offspring and they breathe air, through their blowholes. #funfact #factfriday #funfactfriday #dolphins #dolphinfacts #didyouknow #ecotour #dolphinlovers #dolphinwatching #dolphincruise #destinsoriginaldolphincruise #southernstar #boattour #sightseeingcruise #destinfl #destinflorida #destin #familyfundestin #todoindestin

We're jumping into fun this week aboard the Southern Star! Come join us! https://bit.ly/3BAEgne #jumponin #destinfwb #destindolphinlovers #destin #crabisland #eastpass #gulfofmexico #southernstar #dolphincruise #destinsoriginaldolphincruise #dolphinlovers #dolphinwatching #destinfl #destinflorida #familyfundestin #ecotour #destindolphins #hwvdestin #todoindestin

Introducing... Flipper Fun Fact Friday! (WHEW! Say that 5 times fast!) We'll be sharing fun facts about our favorite "Flipper" on Fridays! #funfact #factfriday #funfactfriday #flipperfunfactfriday #flipper #dolphinfacts #dolphinlovers #dolphinwatchers #dolphinwatching #dolphins #southernstar #destinsoriginaldolphincruise #dolphincruise #destindolphincruise #destindolphins #coastalbottlenosedolphin #bottlenosedolphin #destinflordai #destinfl #dolphincruise #dolphinstagram

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Our Story

Come cruise aboard The Southern Star, Destin’s Original Dolphin Cruise as seen on CNN and National Geographic Explorer, and enjoy the pristine emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico along the world’s most beautiful sugar-white sand beaches of Destin, Florida and experience up close viewing of dolphins, seabirds and a variety of other marine life. Our 2-hour cruises offer affordable, relaxing fun, and sightseeing for the whole family! We even do a sunset cruise.