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Wilmington Water Tours

Daily Cruises on the Cape Fear River, NC

Upcoming Speciality Cruises

These cruises sell out quickly!

Local Film History River Cruise – July 27 and August 10
  • OUR NEWEST CRUISE
From $40

Local Film History Cruise aboard The Wilmington Water Tours

There’s nothing quite like the Wilmington film industry, and its story is one made for the big screen. Join Wilmington Water Tours and film/TV writer Hunter Ingram for a cinematic river cruise through the history of local film, with behind-the-scenes insight into local projects like “Firestarter,” “Dawson’s Creek,” “One Tree Hill,” “Sleepy Hollow,” “Iron Man 3,” “The Conjuring,” “Scream,” “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” and the newest addition to ILM’s Hollywood legacy, Netflix’s “The Waterfront.”

Black Water Adventure – 1st Saturday of the Month – June through October – August 2 & September 6
From $30

This morning, two-hour cruise goes up the Northeast Cape Fear River to the upper reaches of the black water system of this storied river. Captain Doug Springer will share his extensive knowledge of the history of the area while you take in the flora and fauna along the river banks. We will cruise through the Castle Hayne Aquifer and by the bluffs of the Rose Hill Plantation. Visit our full bar for a freshly brewed cup of coffee or the best Bloody Mary on the river.

This is a great cruise for photographers, birders and nature buffs. Bring your camera to capture the untouched beauty of this early morning adventure.

Outlander in the Cape Fear – August 9 at 10 am and 12 noon From $40

Do You Love Outlander?

Come aboard Wilmington Water Tours for a presentation of Outlander in the Cape Fear with Hunter Ingram, Asst. Dir. at Burgwin-Wright Museum. In conjunction with “Burgwin-Wright Presents…Outlander in the Cape Fear” and based on the books and TV series, Hunter will share how Wilmington played a role in the series–all while cruising the Cape Fear River. Our full bar offers snacks and refreshments for all ages. This is a popular cruise and will sell out, $40. There is a second cruise at Noon on this day as well.

Customers Love Our Cape Fear River Cruises!

a hand holding a glass of orange juice
Fun Day

Our family did the Eagles Island tour. We enjoyed smoothies while the tour guide shared some neat facts. Perfect weather and the tour was entertaining. Our kids enjoyed it and my husband and I as well. We would definitely go back. It was a pleasant want to end our stay in Wilmington.

– Angelina | TripAdvisor
a small boat in a body of water
Loved It

The guide was very knowledgeable and the entire staff was friendly and courteous. We're already planning on going back next summer and doing the trip north. I would highly recommend to anyone. Not only will you learn about the area, but it is a very relaxing and enjoyable ride on the river.

– Carrie S. | TripAdvisor
a bench in front of a sunset over a body of water
Great Cruise

What a nice way to wind down the day. The operators are truly welcoming and very knowledgeable. It was a very hot day and we had some time to kill before dinner and this was perfect. We got to watch the sunset from the river and we learned more about the city we visit often.

– Loveforty | TripAdvisor
a small boat in a body of water
Relaxing

We really enjoyed the ride and seeing the working port of Wilmington. We even got to see a couple ships coming in, so that was a bonus. The narrator/captain was friendly and made the cape river cruise fun and interesting. It was a perfect way to pass the time on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

– Andrea D. | TripAdvisor