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Historic Harbor Tour and Dolphin Watch

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Historic Harbor Tour and Dolphin Watch - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

WELCOME TO GALVESTON’S

BAYWATCH DOLPHIN TOURS

Call 832-859-4557

Baywatch Dolphin Tours

Winner of galveston.com’s, 2023 best of the island awards – galveston, tx.

Our Dolphin tours take you three miles though Galveston Harbor. The narrated tours give historical facts of the harbor and interesting facts about our Common & local Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins.

The tours depart every 30 minutes and check in is 30 minutes prior to departure time.

We are unable to offer refunds or exchanges without a 24-hour advanced notice.

NewsetGET TO KNOW US BETTER

Baywatch Dolphin Tours has been operating out of Galveston Harbor for over a decade. Our goal is to offer affordable fun for all ages on our 45-minute Dolphin watching excursion.

We’re located at Pier 21 in front of Harbor House Hotel. Just two blocks from the historic Strand District in downtown Galveston.

We have four vessels in our fleet that were built with Dolphin Tours, Burials at Sea, and private events in mind. We are now offering enclosed and heated tours, with a 360° view for the ideal dolphin watching experience.

We also offer “Galveston Party Boats” for your special occasion!

Our Newest Boat Addition

Our Address

2100 Harborside Drive

832-859-4557

Business Hours:

Open 7 days a week

9:00 am – 6:00 pm

Seasonal and weather permitting

Sunset Tours on sceduled date

The boat leaves every half hour so be there 30 minutes early to guarantee your choice of seating

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GALVESTON HARBOR TOURS

Galveston harbor tours, 2100 harborside galveston, texas 77550 phone: 409.763.1877.

See Galveston Harbor up close aboard  Seagull II , Texas Seaport Museum's 50-foot twin-engine motor vessel. Fast, stable and sheltered, she was built specifically for harbor sight-seeing excursions and education, and is a perfect platform for waterborne experiential learning. The boat is U.S. Coast Guard certified and her operators are fully licensed and knowledgeable about the history and lore of her home waters.  Seagull II  offers soft drinks and bottled water for sale, and has a comfortable main deck, sheltered from sun and rain. An open upper deck affords a full panorama of water and sky. Seagull II  offers:

Hours of Operation Harbor Tours aboard Seagull II are temporarily operating next to ELISSA at Pier 21.  Harbor tours depart at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 4 p.m.

Galveston Sunset Cruises

• 2 Hour Cruise

TWO HOUR SUNSET CRUISE

Join us for our two hour sunset tour of Galveston’s Harbor. Guests are welcome to bring snacks, beer, or wine (no glass) aboard to make the trip more enjoyable. Perfect for couples that want to sip champagne and watch the sunset or a group of friends just looking for something different to do, the trip will not disappoint. The tour is aboard Cruise-N-Time, our twin engine open-air tour boat.

Note: Hard liquor is not permitted. Beer and wine may be taken aboard. No children under the age of 18, as beer and wine will be present.

Galveston Sunset Cruise FAQs

Hours vary seasonally. Click here to check availability.   

Passengers must be at least 18 years old. The boat is wheelchair accessible.

Hard liquor is not permitted. Beer and wine may be taken aboard. No children under the age of 18, as beer and wine will be present.

Wear comfortable clothing. Bring a jacket, as it gets cool on the water after dark in the spring and fall.

Jet Boat Thrill Ride

Dolphin tours, private charters, we're hiring, email [email protected] for more info.

• 409-276-6116
• Sunset Cruises
• Dolphin Tours
• Jet Boat Rides
• Private Events

Galveston Island Guide

Harbor Tours: Take Time to See Some Dolphins

There are three harbor excursions that allow you to learn about Galveston’s port and, more than likely, see a dolphin or two. All tours depart from various docks on Pier 21 Downtown. These tours are:

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6 Great Dolphin Tours in Galveston

With easy access to the Gulf of Mexico and Galveston Bay, Galveston Island is the perfect place to book a dolphin-watching excursion.

The popular Texas vacation destination is known for its sandy beaches , the Strand Historic District, and the Historic Pleasure Pier boardwalk. However, it's also a prime locale for wildlife watching, especially when it comes to bottlenose dolphins, the only type of cetacean native to Texas bays!

You don't have to venture far out to sea to see these beloved marine creatures. Dolphins often swim through Galveston Bay and are easy to spot on wildlife-watching outings from Pier 21.

A dolphin-watching trip is a perfect excursion while staying at your Galveston vacation rental - unless you've been lucky enough to spot them from your beach or bay view deck!

We've rounded up top dolphin tours below, ranging from short group excursions on a pontoon boat to private charters for a few hours or a whole day of fun on the Gulf. There's even an insider tip for a free Galveston dolphin tour option.

Historic Harbor Tour and Dolphin Watch

• Book a Tour: galvestonhistory.org
• Tour Time: 1 to 2 hours, depending on the tour.
• Ages: All Ages

One of the most popular Galveston dolphin tours, the Historic Harbor Tour and Dolphin Watch, is managed by the Galveston Historical Foundation . Board the Seagull II, a twin-engine motor boat, for a fun cruise that lasts about an hour with a handful of departures throughout the day.

The outings offer an up-close view of the Galveston Harbor as you coast along in search of sea life, including bottlenose dolphins, with an expert tour guide. On board, you can shelter from the sun on the covered main deck or climb to the upper deck for open air and 360-degree views.

This tour is one of the best options for families with young kids touring Galveston, with children under five riding for free. The excursion runs year-round (with the exception of some holidays), and you can also book private charters for an exclusive experience.

Baywatch Dolphin Tours

• Book a Tour: baywatchdolphintours.com
• Tour Time: 45 minutes

Baywatch Dolphin Tours is another one of the most popular dolphin excursions on the island, taking guests out onto the Galveston Harbor on a fleet of four different pontoon boats with shaded seating and open sides for sightseeing.

The outings last 45 minutes and cover 3 miles of waterfront, so they're easy to squeeze in on a busy day of sightseeing in the Downtown Historic Strand Seaport Area.

As you cruise along, you'll be able to see Galveston's waterfront attractions, like Pier 21 and the 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA , while learning about some of the harbor's history. The narrated tour also includes info about the Atlantic bottlenose dolphins that are frequently spotted in this area.

Tours are priced per person, but you can opt for private charters that hold up to 39 guests. The outings run seven days a week at 30-minute increments starting at 10 a.m. and ending at 7 p.m., so there are many chances to book a tour, even in the busy season.

Galveston Water Adventures

• Book a Tour: galvestonwateradventures.com
• Tour Time: 1 hour
• Ages: All ages

Galveston Water Adventures offers everything from thrilling rides full of splashes and bumps on a speedy jet boat to peaceful and romantic sunset tours in the harbor. For the best chance to see wildlife, you'll want to book one of the Galveston Dolphin Tours departing from Pier 21.

Hosted aboard an open-air pontoon boat called the Cruise-N-Time , the one-hour tour floats through the Galveston Harbor in search of marine animals and birds. The boat holds up to 37 passengers, so you'll have company unless you book a private charter.

Fishin Addiction Charters

• Book a Tour: gulfoffshorefishing.com
• Ages: Depends on tour type.

Anglers interested in dolphin watching can combine the activities by booking a day out on the water with Fishin Addiction Charters. The company offers an array of fishing options near the shore or out on the deep sea that range from four to 12 hours, as well as a harbor dolphin tour that you can book by the hour.

Since their fishing outings are offered in half-day or full-day options, you'll have lots of time out on the water and a good chance of spotting dolphins, sea birds, and other wildlife. The charters include tackle, bait, and cleaning services for any fish you catch.

If you want to skip the fishing and stick to sightseeing, book the Sunset Cruise or Harbor Tour . The length of these trips can be customized for your crew, and you can focus on looking for dolphins that hang out near the island in the harbor.

GTX Charters

• Book a Tour: gtxcharters.com
• Tour Time: 3 to 6 hours
• Ages: Enquire with the charter captain.

While it can be a little pricier than some other options, GTX Charters offers a bespoke way to tour the waters surrounding Galveston on a private boat. If you want a full day of outdoor fun , this company will show you a little of the best local flora and fauna.

The company provides a few charter options ranging from three hours to overnight, including visiting some of the most active dolphin spots in Galveston Bay.

The most popular option, the Standard Charter , glides through the Galveston Channel with views of the 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA, the S.S. Selma Concrete Ship, and Pier 21 on a three-hour tour.

To spend longer on the water, you can book a four-hour Offshore Charter to head further into the Gulf of Mexico or the six-hour Everything Charter to sail the entire coastline, crossing under bridges, through the Yacht Basin, and across the Galveston Channel.

Since the outings are private for your party of up to six people, you can focus on dolphin and sea life sightings on any trip.

Galveston Port Bolivar Ferry

• Ferry Schedule: Texas Department of Transportation
• Departs From: Galveston Island Ferry Terminal

For those on a budget, the Port Bolivar Ferry provides a free option for dolphin spotting! The boat carries passengers and cars from the Galveston Island Ferry Terminal across the Galveston Bay channel and docks at Bolivar Peninsula.

The ride makes a great day trip to Bolivar Peninsula , providing stunning views of the surroundings and an opportunity to see dolphins in their natural habitat.

While dolphin sightings are not guaranteed, the ride is free, and the destination makes a great day trip from Galveston. On the Bolivar Peninsula, you can visit Fort Travis Park to see historical bunkers and check out the sandy shores at Bolivar Beach .

The ride lasts about 20 minutes in each direction, but you may have to wait to board depending on how heavy the traffic is, as you can't reserve a spot in advance. The ferry runs all day and night, and at busier times, up to five ferries may be in service at once with staggered departures.

The Perfect Galveston Excursion

Whether you're looking for a quick outing to learn about bottlenose dolphins and spot marine life in the Galveston Harbor or to spend a half day floating with your crew on a private boat, Galveston has a little bit of everything under the sun.

Our cozy and quiet Galveston vacation rentals on the West End make the perfect base for all your adventures on the island and out to sea.

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Galveston Historic Seaport – Home of the 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA

PLEASE NOTE: ELISSA will be closed for public tours March 30 through April 22 and will reopen on April 23 rd . During this time, admission for Ship to Shore will be discounted to $14/adult, $9/youth, FREE/under 5 .

CLOSINGS: We will be closed on November 24, December 24 & 25, and January 1. The site will be closed until 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 20.

NEWS AND EVENTS

Ship to shore.

ABOUT THE 1877 TALL SHIP ELISSA

Galveston Historical Foundation brought ELISSA, an 1877 square-rigged iron barque, from a scrapyard in Piraeus Harbor, Greece to Galveston to begin restoration work in 1978. By 1982, GHF staff and volunteers completed restoration and transformed this rare, historic vessel into a floating museum that would actively sail. Today, the 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA is one of only three ships of her kind in the world to still actively sail and welcomes over 40,000 visitors annually. She also serves as the Official Tall Ship of Texas, a National Historic Landmark, and a symbol of the Gulf Coast’s historic beginnings as a seaport and active waterfront. The 1877 ELISSA, a Tall Ship for Texas, welcomes visitors at the Galveston Historic Seaport. Experience Galveston’s maritime history daily.

PLEASE NOTE | The Galveston Historic Seaport will be closed November 7-12, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. We will be open Saturday, November 2 from 10 am – 4 pm, and Sunday, November 3 from 10 am – 2 pm.

Galveston Historic Seaport

Elissa sail training orientation.

Our Galveston Immigration Database, located inside the Galveston Historic Seaport, allows visitors to search for information taken from ships’ passenger manifests pertaining to their ancestors’ arrival in Texas. For your convenience, the database is also available online. Click here to learn more and access it online.

500 on Elissa and museum site 300 for seated dinner on the pier

Fee includes access to the 1877 Tall Ship Elissa’s decks, galleries, officers’ quarters, and galley for use as a serving area or bar, as well as the museum’s pier, galleries, and restrooms. All functions must be catered; no kitchen facilities are available. Wheelchair accessible, except Elissa. For more information or reservations:

Lauraleigh Gourley , Rentals Manager of Historic Properties Galveston Historical Foundation 2002 Strand, Galveston, Tx. 77550 (409) 765-3402

ACCESSIBILITY TO THE GALVESTON HISTORIC SEAPORT

The museum galleries and restrooms are completely accessible by wheelchair. There are about 8 steps and a ramp to go aboard Elissa’s main deck, and a couple of steps (depending on the tide) to board Seagull II. Please call 409-763-1877 in advance so that we can try to accommodate any special needs.

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Incorporated in 1954, Galveston Historical Foundation is one of the nation's largest local preservation organizations. Over the last 50 years, the foundation has expanded its mission to encompass community redevelopment, public education, historic preservation advocacy, maritime preservation and stewardship of historic properties.

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Galveston Sunset Cruises

• Up To 6 Passengers

Galveston Fishing Charters » Sunset Cruises

About Galveston Sunset Cruises

Book a Galveston Sunset Cruise to experience the island in a totally different way, and leave the fishing gear at the marina. Set out on a private tour of Galveston for a sunset cruise or Galveston harbor tour for up to 6 people per boat. These trips are available any time of day and any day of the year.

Our sunset cruises are the most popular by far, no need to crowd your group onto a public boat with other groups. Relax and enjoy a boat ride to see some of our local dolphins while touring the scenic and historic Galveston harbor on the way to a gorgeous Texas sunset. As the sun sets on another great day on Galveston Island, it often gives way to an incredible display of colors across the entire sky. You’ll have a panoramic view of the show, along with plenty of opportunities for sunset photos too.

For the historic harbor tour, we will embark on a discovery of the Galveston harbor, some of the amazing history it has to offer and also the wildlife that call it home. More than likely, we will have some dolphins cruise by to say hello as we make our way through the port. Depending on the day, cruise ships, big ships, other boats, barges and more can also be seen. This is a unique experience to see galveston from a different perspective, while also enjoying the privacy of being with your own group rather than a crowded tour boat.

We depart and return from our slip at the Galveston Yacht Basin and Marina on the east end of Galveston Island for our 1 hour tour. While on the tour, please feel free to ask questions and learn more about Galveston as well.

Or use the calendar below to select your date

More Galveston B oat Trips

• Up to 6 Passengers

Birding TOURS

Explore the incredible birding opportunities on this private, guided birding boat tour in Galveston!

DOLPHIN TOURS

Join us for a dolphin tour of Galveston Harbor, taking in the sights and scenery in an up close and personal experience on the water.

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Galveston’s Haunted Harbor tours cruise through the paranormal

The halloween-week cruise through the waters of the oleander city explores its ghostly history..

The Tall Ship Elissa is the first stop for ghost stories during the Haunted Harbor Tour Saturday, Oct.16, 2021, in Galveston, Texas.

Every October, Galveston’s Seagull II becomes the spookiest boat in town.

The rest of the year, the 50-foot twin-engine vessel plies the island city’s waterfront several times a day as host of the Galveston Historical Foundation’s Harbor Tours. But the last two weekends in October, the final tour of the day is 90 minutes long, compared to 45, and devoted to ghost stories and other otherworldly happenings.

These are known as the Haunted Harbor Tours.

Here, “you don’t get the historical information that you get from a harbor tour,” says Brian Leadingham, the Seagull II’s captain for the past six years, “but you do get a paranormal tie-in to some of the things you may be familiar with seeing on our harbor tour.”

The Haunted Harbor Tours are quite popular; in fact, this year’s are nearly sold out. Galveston’s appetite for spooky stuff is no secret: The city is often ranked among the nation’s most haunted, especially in the South. It supports not one ghost-tour outfit, but several. One haunted Segway outing labels Galveston “a cemetery with a beach.”

“It’s always been a thing since Galveston’s been Galveston, really,” Leadingham says. “There’s always been ghost stories here.”

When: 4:30 p.m. Oct. 22, 29-30

Where: Pier 22, Galveston

Details: $25 (Oct. 30 sold out); 409-765-7834; galvestonhistory.org

The haunted tours pre-date Leadingham’s coming aboard, but when he arrived the content was “similar to stories you’d hear (while) camping around a fire as a kid,” he says. Since then, he and his colleagues have remade the tour through talking to locals and incorporating their first-hand accounts, family legends and other hair-raising experiences.

Plus, “it’s a lot of fun cruising around talking about ghosts,” he adds.

Leadingham is careful not to disclose too many details about the tour’s various sites, which include a grain elevator that exploded in December 1977; the famous “face” on the side of a building on the UTMB campus; various Civil War-era buildings on the Strand; and the lighthouse across the bay at Point Bolivar. Also figuring prominently is the 1900 hurricane that still ranks among America’s deadliest natural disasters, claiming more than 8,000 lives.

“Whether or not you believe there are ghosts, it doesn’t matter because what we’re talking about is maybe somebody’s uncle or grandfather from the past that was actually involved in these (events),” says Leadingham.

“It’s important to stay, I think, at least respectful of that and keep that in mind: that these are not just made-up stories,” he adds. “This is stuff that actually occurred, and now people are experiencing paranormal things after the fact.”

And then there are the people who just come for the dolphins. The marine mammals are a highlight of any harbor tour, poking their noses out of the water and leaping in the wake of passing ships. But the Haunted Harbor Tours offer Leadingham an opening to highlight the animals’ more otherworldly associations — messengers to and from the underworld in Greek and Roman mythology, for example.

“There’s also stories that we tell on tour about people trying to claim their own lives at sea and being rescued by dolphins,” he says. “It’s hard to tell: Is that because they’re getting ready to usher them to the afterlife, or is it because they have this special connection (to humans) with no way of knowing?”

It’s no myth that October is one of the nicest months to be outdoors in Galveston, and sunset is an ideal time for a harbor cruise, ghosts or no ghosts. But Leadingham confesses that even in such idyllic conditions, he’ll sometimes get the willies.

“Being out on the water, you do experience stuff: strange feelings that you get, tingling or movement on the back of your neck,” he says. “Stuff like that does actually happen when you’re telling the stories.”

Even so, ever mindful of his audience, Leadingham does his best to keep the tours as “kid-friendly” as possible.

“We don’t want to absolutely terrify a child that may be experiencing (a) boat ride for the first time,” he says. “We want to come out here and tell the stories, tell them the facts, but also do it in a way that makes it a fun experience that people would want to come back for — not terrify them and make them not want to come to the island anymore.”

Chris Gray is a Galveston-based writer.

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Dare To Visit The Haunted Side of Galveston

Galveston, Texas - home to the deadliest storm in U.S. history - welcomes thrill seekers this spooky season.

The season for thrills and chills is here and Galveston Island’s ghostly history makes it one of the top destinations in the country for “haunted” travel. From an over a century old “haunted” hotel to Galveston’s storied harbor, cemeteries and Victorian mansions, this October the island will be bustling with visitors seeking to be spooked by numerous ghost stories that stem from the country’s deadliest natural disaster and other tragedies.

I once doubted the haunted nature of Galveston. Surely, ghosts don’t roam island streets and hotel hallways. All that changed one recent afternoon during lunch at what is now the Grand Galvez . While among some writers and some hotel staff, I noticed the knife on my bread plate vibrating out of control. I checked for shaking legs under the table. Nope. I checked overhead to see if the fan could cause this movement. Nope. And, our conversation at the time centered around the haunted stories that abound at this site. So, now I’m a believer.

Whether you’re a doubter, believer or someone on the fence, it’s the season for thrills and chills in Galveston. The island’s ghostly history makes it one of the top destinations in the country for “haunted” travel. Chief among them is the island’s 110-year-old Grand Galvez , which has been featured on the Travel Channel’s Ghost Stories and on the Discovery Channel’s Ghost Lab for its paranormal significance.

The hotel, which offers special ghost tours during October, is said to be haunted by a “Ghost Bride” who reportedly has been seen in room 501 and in the hotel’s west turret. Legend has it that the bride hanged herself in the west turret during the mid-1900s after hearing reports that her fiancé had died at sea. Tragically, her fiancé eventually returned to the hotel looking forward to a marriage that would never be.

Explore Galveston's Haunted Grand Galvez

Galveston has many other sites that are considered haunted, including an 1867 building that served as a morgue after the 1900 Storm – still the deadliest storm in U.S. history having killed an estimated 8,000 Galveston residents. The building now houses Haunted Mayfield Manor – a year-round haunted house attraction in downtown Galveston. The haunted house embraces the spooky history of the building’s past while providing guests with a psychologically thrilling experience. The Galveston Historical Foundation , which manages many of the island’s well-preserved historical sites and Victorian mansions, also offers ghost tours throughout October. Many of the island’s historic places have ghost stories attached to them as Galveston has been home to epidemics of disease, war, fires, storms and many merciless pirates, including the infamous Jean Laffite whose lavish and lawless den of thieves was the island’s first European settlement. This year, visitors can enjoy Haunted Harbor Tours in Galveston Bay and Galveston Ghost Stories in the city’s oldest home, the 1838 Menard House .

Many, many people have lived and died by these waters, and perhaps some of the dead still reside here. We invite our guests to listen to the stories and decide for themselves. But you don't have to believe in ghosts to know that the dead are a presence on this island. Dwayne Jones, executive director of the Galveston Historical Foundation

Discover the darker side of Galveston on a ghost tour. Pass by mansions and historical sights where spooky and mysterious things are said to have happened, and hear about the island's secrets, paranormal events, and haunted history on these year-round ghost tours:

• Tours with Author Kathleen Maca
• Historic Galveston Ghost Tours
• Ghost City Tours
• Galveston Graveyard Tours
• Galveston Lantern Tours
• Spooky Galveston

Historic cemeteries are a big draw for visitors seeking the supernatural. Indeed, Galveston has been described as a cemetery with its own beach. Several companies offer tours of the oldest burial places on the island. And there are several tour operators offering haunted tours throughout the island.

Galveston Cemetery Tours

Where the Texas Coast begins.

Posted 4/18/2024 by Visit Galveston

Posted 4/16/2024 by Galveston Historical Foundation

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Posted 3/8/2024 by Visit Galveston

Mary Beth Bassett Director of Public Relations

Mary Beth is the Public Relations Director for the Galveston Island Convention & Visitors Bureau and Galveston Park Board. She handles CVB public relations efforts for Galveston and manages the Austin, national and international markets. An Islander by Choice, she and her family moved to Galveston from Colorado in 2005.

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