Catalog leader
★ 4.8 (244)2 hoursfrom $47
Dolphin Spotting and Wildlife Eco Cruise
Check availability →Free cancellation listed
Savannah Boat Tours & Water Activities
Riverboat downtown, dolphins near Tybee, or a sunset cruise on the river. Pick the water and dock first; ratings can wait.
Written by Alex H., Travel editor and researcherUpdated October 2026
In short: Downtown without a car? Take the River Street riverboat. Driving toward Tybee? Choose a two-hour wildlife cruise. No car for the coast? Book the day trip with transport. The catalog leader is Dolphin Spotting and Wildlife Eco Cruise (4.8★ from 244 reviews, from $47).
Savannah's downtown boat is a riverboat, not a coastal cruise. It leaves from River Street, passes the working port and Old Fort Jackson, and returns to the same dock. Sightseeing, sunset and meal sailings all use that waterfront base. If you only want a quick view from the water, the Belles Ferry crosses to Hutchinson Island for free.
Dolphin boats leave much closer to the coast, from the marsh side around Wilmington Island or from a river dock. That turns a two-hour cruise into a coast-day commitment unless you book the one trip that includes transport from downtown. No responsible captain promises dolphins; the route goes through their habitat and federal guidance keeps boats at least 50 yards away. Pick the dock first. A glamorous rating is no help when the boat leaves 18 miles from your lunch reservation.
Pick your water, then your boat
The downtown riverboat
A 90-minute narrated trip past the working port and Old Fort Jackson, with no car required. The same River Street dock also runs sunset and meal cruises.
Best for: A city day, families, downtown hotels
Tybee with transport
A 5.5-hour day trip with the ride from downtown, a lunch stop, dolphin cruise and photo stops. It solves the car problem, but most of the day is on land.
Best for: No car, a first look at Tybee
Dolphin and sunset cruises
Drive out to the marsh or the river dock for two hours on the water. No responsible captain guarantees a dolphin sighting.
Best for: Wildlife, a beach day, dusk
Private boats
A two-hour sunset boat for up to 14, priced for the whole vessel. Divide the total by your headcount before comparing it with per-person tickets.
Best for: Groups, celebrations, privacy
Savannah boat tours compared
Current catalog prices, ratings and review counts. Check the dock before anything else.
| Tour | Duration | Price | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Dolphin Spotting and Wildlife Eco Cruise Catalog leader | 2 hours | $47 | ★ 4.8(244) | Check dates |
 Tybee Island Dolphin Tour | 5.5 hours | $80 | ★ 4.7(383) | Check dates |
 Sightseeing Lunch Cruise | 2 hours | $63 | ★ 4.6(894) | Check dates |
 Monday Gospel Dinner Cruise | 2 hours | $78 | ★ 4.8(102) | Check dates |
 Riverboat Cruise & City Tour Combo | 3 hours | $81 | ★ 4.4(586) | Check dates |
 Sunset Dolphin Watching Eco Tour by Boat | 2 hours | $53 | ★ 4.7(66) | Check dates |
Read the boat details first
Price, duration, tradeoffs and booking link:
How the ranking works
No operator pays for position. Ratings are weighted by review volume, because a 4.7 from a thousand guests tells you more than a 5.0 from three. Prices come from the current catalog and can change at checkout.
Choose the water before the boat: downtown river, Tybee coast, marsh creeks or the free ferry. A dock that requires a car changes the whole day.
The trips, dock first
The riverboat guide unpacks the downtown sailings; the dolphin guide handles the coastal ones.
| Dock | What leaves from it | Know first | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 East River Street, downtown | A 90-minute narrated sightseeing cruise past the port and Old Fort Jackson, plus sunset, lunch, brunch, gospel and dinner cruises on two boats; the riverboat guide compares them | One level below Bay Street; use the elevator at Bull and Bay streets | Riverboat Narrated Harbor Sightseeing Cruise (from $42 · 1.5 hours · ★4.3 (1,324)) Riverboat Sunset Cruise (from $55 · 2 hours · ★4.3 (799)) |
| Downtown, with transport to Tybee | A trolley or bus ride to Tybee, a lunch stop, the dolphin cruise and ocean-view photo stops, about five and a half hours | The only water trip that includes the transport; whether lunch is in the fare shows at checkout, and gratuities are extra | Tybee Island Dolphin Tour (from $80 · 5.5 hours · ★4.7 (383)) |
| The coast, with your own car | Two-hour dolphin-spotting and wildlife eco cruises, and a narrated sunset dolphin cruise on the river; the dolphin guide compares every one by dock and inclusion | The marsh side or a river dock; your confirmation names yours | Dolphin Spotting and Wildlife Eco Cruise (from $47 · 2 hours · ★4.8 (244)) Sunset Dolphin Watching Eco Tour by Boat (from $53 · 2 hours · ★4.7 (66)) |
| Waving Girl Landing, River Street | The Savannah Belles Ferry to Hutchinson Island and back, every ten minutes, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week | Free; City Hall Landing is closed for repairs until further notice | Public transit; nothing to book |
Prices are the catalog's current figures as of September 1, 2026.
Every current Savannah boat tour
17 tours in this category.
★ 4.6 (894)2 hoursfrom $63
Sightseeing Lunch Cruise
Check availability →Current terms shown at checkout
★ 4.4 (586)3 hoursfrom $81
Riverboat Cruise & City Tour Combo
Check availability →Current terms shown at checkout
★ 4.7 (66)2 hoursfrom $53
Sunset Dolphin Watching Eco Tour by Boat
Check availability →Free cancellation listed
★ 4.3 (1,324)1.5 hoursfrom $42
Riverboat Narrated Harbor Sightseeing Cruise
Check availability →Free cancellation listed
★ 4.4 (136)1.5 hoursfrom $78
Savannah Riverboat: Sunday Brunch Sightseeing Cruise
Check availability →Free cancellation listed
★ 4.3 (799)2 hoursfrom $55
Riverboat Sunset Cruise
Check availability →Current terms shown at checkout
★ 5.0 (21)2 hoursfrom $75
Dolphin Spotting Eco Tour with Experienced Captain
Check availability →Free cancellation listed
★ 4.2 (1,106)2 hoursfrom $93
Buffet Dinner Cruise with Live Entertainment
Check availability →Current terms shown at checkout
★ 4.0 (17)from $79
Harbor Cruise and Historic Trolley Tour Combo
Check availability →Free cancellation listed
★ 5.0 (1)2.5 hours$395 / group of 4
Savannah Marsh: Private Dolphin Tour for Up to 6 Guests
Check availability →Free cancellation listed
★ 5.0 (1)2 hours$427 / group of 14
Private 2-Hour Sunset Cruise for Up to 14 Guests
Check availability →Free cancellation listed
2 hours$1177 / group of 35
2-Hour Private Sunset Cruise for Up to 35 Guests
Check availability →Free cancellation listed
★ 3.2 (3)1.5 hoursfrom $69
Savannah River: River Street Karaoke Cruise
Check availability →Free cancellation listed
Which boat fits your day?
Best for couples
Take the downtown sunset cruise if you want to walk aboard; drive coastward for dolphins in the last light.
Best for families
The riverboat is a contained 90 minutes. Coastal eco cruises trade convenience for more wildlife watching.
Best for wildlife
Drive to the tidal creeks for a two-hour dolphin cruise. The 50-yard viewing rule makes binoculars useful.
Best without a car
Stay downtown for the riverboat or free ferry. For Tybee, choose the one day trip with transport.
Best for groups
Book a riverboat meal cruise. One reservation covers the boat and dinner for everyone, and the buffet avoids splitting a restaurant check.
Best value
The Belles Ferry is free and crosses every ten minutes. Pay for sightseeing when you want narration and the fort.
Before you go to the dock
Book the scarce trips first
Reserve the all-day Tybee trip and weekend meal cruises first. Riverboat and eco-cruise timing can usually follow the forecast.
Read the dock address
Riverboats leave downtown; coastal boats leave from the marsh side, such as Wilmington Island, or from a river dock. The confirmation settles the exact dock.
Park for the right water
Use a downtown garage for River Street. The coastal docks sit off Tybee, so a dolphin boat does not need a Tybee parking pass.
Pack for exposure
Bring water, a hat, a sunset layer, binoculars for dolphins and cash for the crew.
Tip the people
The captain and deckhand share the boat work. The Tybee day trip also has a driver, and gratuities are extra.
Watch, then wait for the call
Check the coastal forecast and tides the night before. The operator—not the app—decides whether the boat sails.
Wildlife and weather make their own plans
Boats stay at least 50 yards from dolphins and cannot pursue them. The operator makes the weather call on the day. Bring water and a hat.
Questions before you book
Which Savannah boat tour should I choose?
Stay downtown for the 90-minute riverboat at $42. With a car, drive coastward for the two-hour wildlife cruise at $47; without one, the Tybee day trip at $80 includes transport.
Is the riverboat worth it?
Yes if you want the working port, Old Fort Jackson and a compact downtown outing. If all you want is water and skyline, the Belles Ferry is free.
Where do boat tours leave from?
Riverboats leave from 9 East River Street. Coastal trips leave from the marsh side or a river dock; the Tybee day trip starts downtown, and every confirmation gives the exact point.
Are dolphins guaranteed?
No. Federal guidance keeps boats at least 50 yards away and bars pursuit, so the trip visits dolphin habitat without promising an appearance.
Which trip includes transport?
The 5.5-hour Tybee Island day trip includes the ride from downtown, lunch stop, cruise and photo stops. Most of those hours are on land; check meal and gratuity exclusions at checkout.
Is there a free boat ride?
Yes. The Belles Ferry crosses between River Street and Hutchinson Island every ten minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Use Waving Girl Landing while City Hall Landing is closed.
Are there dinner cruises?
Yes. The downtown riverboat runs lunch, brunch, dinner and Monday gospel buffets, plus a sunset cruise with food for sale but no included dinner.
How do you get to Little Tybee?
By boat only; the undeveloped island has no road. Private charters and guided kayak trips go there, though none appears in this catalog.
Can I book a private boat?
The catalog lists private sunset cruises for groups of up to 14 and up to 35, priced per boat rather than per person. Neither has the 15 reviews we require before ranking or linking a product, so we don't recommend one yet. For a group today, a riverboat meal cruise is the better-reviewed way to put everyone on the water in one booking. If you do book a private boat, divide the price by your headcount before comparing it with per-person tickets.
What happens in bad weather?
The operator makes the final call on the day. Read the forecast, tides and cancellation cutoff before leaving for the dock.
How much do boat tours cost?
Current per-person prices run from $42 for sightseeing to $80 for the Tybee day trip, with coastal cruises in between.
Primary sources
Checked September 1, 2026. Schedules, fees and policies can change, so recheck a linked source when the detail will affect your visit.
- GetYourGuide: Savannah activities — current catalog fields
- Savannah Riverboat Cruises: cruises — downtown dock
- Visit Tybee: Back River Beach — Lazaretto Creek marina
- Georgia DNR: Little Tybee Island — boat access only
- Chatham Area Transit: Savannah Belles Ferry — free ferry
- National Weather Service: Tybee forecast — current coastal conditions
- NOAA tide predictions — official station predictions
Put the right boat in the right day
Put the riverboat between lunch and dinner downtown. Make a coastal cruise the morning of a Tybee day, then head for the beach. The parking guide handles both sets of logistics.
Catalog leader
Dolphin Spotting and Wildlife Eco Cruise
Disclosure: booking links go to GetYourGuide and may earn this site a commission at no extra cost to you. Commission never changes the rankings; see how Alex chooses.