Bottlenose dolphins live year-round in the bays, sounds and passes of the Emerald Coast, and seeing them up close is one of the easiest wins of any beach trip. You can do it from a big glass-bottom boat on the Destin Harbor, a quiet electric boat on Santa Rosa Sound, a WaveRunner tour or a small charter. Here’s how to choose a dolphin cruise in Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Panama City Beach, and what to know before you go.
Quick answer
- Classic family cruise: Southern Star Dolphin Cruise from HarborWalk Village in Destin.
- Quiet and small: Electric Island Cruises on Santa Rosa Sound in Mary Esther.
- Panama City Beach: Capt. Anderson’s Marina on the Grand Lagoon.
- By WaveRunner: guided dolphin tours from Gilligan’s Watersports in Destin or Sunshine Watersports in Panama City Beach.
Destin
Southern Star Dolphin Cruise has carried visitors out of the Destin Harbor for more than 30 years and bills itself as Destin’s original dolphin cruise. Its boat, the Southern Star, is an 80-foot double-decker with a glass bottom, so kids can watch the water below while adults take in the harbor and the Gulf from the open upper deck. It departs from the marina level at HarborWalk Village, so it’s easy to pair with lunch on the boardwalk.
For something faster, Gilligan’s Watersports on Harbor Boulevard runs guided WaveRunner tours along with pontoon rentals and parasailing. If you rent a pontoon instead, Crab Island and the pass are good places to watch for dolphins.
Fort Walton Beach and Mary Esther
- Electric Island Cruises: small, all-electric boats styled like classic wooden launches, departing from Native’s Cove in Mary Esther. With no engine noise, it’s easy to hear the captain point out dolphins, otters and birds along the shoreline. Sunset cruises are available.
- Blue Water Escape Charters: a family-run, six-passenger boat out of the Fort Walton Beach Yacht Basin, running dolphin watching cruises and deep sea fishing trips.
- Xtreme H2O of FWB: dolphin tours, jet skis and parasailing from the foot of the Brooks Bridge.
For a guaranteed look at dolphins, the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park on Okaloosa Island has dolphin habitats and paid encounters.
Panama City Beach
- Capt. Anderson’s Marina: a Grand Lagoon institution since 1935, running dolphin cruises alongside its fishing fleet.
- Catch It Fishing Charters & Tours: dolphin tours and deep sea fishing charters.
- Sunshine Watersports PC: WaveRunner rentals and dolphin tours from a calm bay-front dock near the Hathaway Bridge, with a route out toward Shell Island.
- AAA Jet Ski Rentals and Tours: jet ski rentals and guided dolphin tours on U.S. 98.
Many Panama City Beach dolphin tours head toward St. Andrews State Park and Shell Island, where the pass between the Gulf and the bay is a favorite dolphin feeding area.
Which kind of tour is right for you?
- Big boats are the easiest with young kids and grandparents, and they often have restrooms, shade and railings.
- Small boats and electric cruises are quieter and more personal, and good for couples and photographers.
- WaveRunner tours are the most exciting, but check the minimum age and driver requirements before booking.
Tips for a dolphin cruise
- Go early or late. Morning and late afternoon trips are cooler, and the water is often calmer.
- Bring sunscreen, a hat and polarized sunglasses. They cut the glare and make it easier to see into the water.
- Watch, don’t feed. Feeding or touching wild dolphins is illegal under federal law, and good operators keep a respectful distance.
- Book ahead in summer. Popular departures sell out, especially around holidays.
Dolphin cruise FAQ
Will we definitely see dolphins? Sightings are very common in local waters, but they’re wild animals, so no tour can guarantee them. Ask the operator about their policy if you don’t see any.
What’s the best time of year for dolphins? Bottlenose dolphins live here year-round, so cruises run in every season, though schedules are shorter in winter.
Which dolphin cruise is best for kids? A larger boat like the Southern Star, with its glass bottom, is usually the easiest with little ones.
Planning more time on the water? See our guides to Destin fishing charters and Grand Lagoon fishing charters.
Featured photo: Southern Star Dolphin Cruise.