No trip to the beach is quite complete without a boat ride out into the ocean to experience the spray of the water, the beauty of the shoreline from the deck of a boat and the opportunity to see the dolphins. Recently, my family spent some time down on the Emerald Coast and once again took a dolphin cruise on the Southern Star. Just like before, we were treated to a show from more dolphins than we could count and an opportunity to enjoy the waters of Destin, Florida!

Making Memories on the Southern Star Dolphin Cruise

There are many options for dolphin cruises when you head down to the beach, but there’s only one choice for me and my family. We love cruising on the Southern Star – a locally owned and operated boat that has been cruising the waters of the Gulf Coast for 20 years. This is truly a family friendly cruise that operates by the slogan “Expect a Miracle”. The captain and crew are dedicated to making sure your cruise is a memorable experience.

Why choose the Southern Star?

Being able to see the Atlantic Coastal Bottlenose Dolphin swimming beside the ship is a truly memorable experience. On both of our cruises aboard the Southern Star, we have been treated to a show by the dolphins. The captain takes great care to make sure everyone gets the opportunity to enjoy the dolphins on their side of the ship.

As soon as the dolphins are spotted, the captain slows down the boat and makes sure the guests have plenty of time to enjoy the swimming dolphins.

About halfway into the cruise, the kids get the chance to steer the ship and take over as junior captains. This is a fun experience for the parents as well as the kids and gives you a great opportuntiy to meet the captain and ask one on one questions. Once the junior captains finish steering the ship, they are given a certificate with their name and then a prize from the treasure box at the end of the cruise.

Another highlight of this cruise is the opportunity to feed the sea gulls on the ‘poop deck’. We didn’t think to bring crackers or chips, but the crew had it in hand. They were there to hand out food so we could all enjoy feeding the birds.

Where to find the Southern Star

The Southern Star cruise ship is located in HarborWalk Village, Destin, Florida.

Marina Level
100 Harbor Blvd, Suite A
Destin, FL 32541

Local: 850.837.7741
Toll free: 888.424.7217

Connect with Southern Star Dolphin Cruises on Facebook and Twitter.

A Few Things to Know

• This is a family friendly cruise: no smoking or drinking allowed on board ship.
• There is a tip jar at the end of the cruise.  You are encouraged to leave a tip to thank the crew and captain.
• The Southern Star is an 80 foot boat with an air conditioned cabin and seating areas.
• You are allowed to take your own drinks and snacks but there is also a snack bar available.
• The top deck is covered, making this a great option even on the hottest of days.
• There are steps down into the bottom of the boat where you can look through the glass windows to see the water below.

Have you ever taken a dolphin cruise?  What is your favorite memory watching for dolphins on vacation?  I’d love to hear!

Hobbies on a Budget received discounts or tickets for the purpose of this review. Thanks to Nicole and the crew of Southern Star for this amazing family adventure.