About Sandlapper Water Tours
Sandlapper Water Tours has been voted the number-one harbor tour company in Charleston multiple times, operating from the Charleston Maritime Center on Wharfside Street just steps from the South Carolina Aquarium. Their fleet of comfortable, covered tour boats departs daily for narrated cruises through one of America's most historic harbors, passing Fort Sumter, the Battery, the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, and the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point.
The tour roster ranges from classic harbor history cruises with live narration to dolphin-spotting nature tours, sunset cocktail cruises, and ghost-story evening excursions that recount Charleston's supernatural legends as the city skyline glows in the distance. Private charters are a major part of the business — Sandlapper hosts bachelorette parties, corporate events, birthday celebrations, and wedding rehearsal dinners aboard their vessels, with custom routes and onboard catering options. Every public tour lasts approximately ninety minutes and includes bottled water, with a licensed captain and knowledgeable guide on every departure.
Sandlapper's edge is the combination of downtown convenience and storytelling quality. The Maritime Center location is easy to reach from the French Quarter, King Street, and the Market, and metered parking plus nearby garages make logistics painless. Guides are Charleston history enthusiasts who bring centuries of port-city drama to life — from the Civil War's opening shots to modern-day container-ship operations — turning every cruise into an engaging, educational experience.
