Morehead City Ferry Service
Morehead City Ferry Service
Morehead City Ferry Service
5
7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Full view
About
Morehead City Ferry Service offers the Largest Ferry to Sand Dollar Island. Our Sand Dollar Island trip schedule vary with low tide times. The new Miss Morehead City is a 49-passenger Catamaran. We also offer Sand Dollar & Dolphin Watching Cruises and Sunset Evening Cruises. Reservations are required. BOOK ONLINE! Free parking!
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Morehead City Ferry Service
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
189 reviews
Excellent
172
Very good
11
Average
2
Poor
1
Terrible
3
Amy R
Houston, TX404 contributions
Sep 2020
We do the Sand Dollar Island trip yearly. We usually come at the beginning of the season but due to 2020 we were unable to. We did not find as many sand dollars this year as they are more prevalent in the beginning and ending of the season, October area. Never the less is was still a great time and plenty of space to lay out and just enjoy and get away from everything going on this year. Captain Dave and his deck hand did an amazing job, even giving out prizes to all the children and who ever had the biggest sand dollar. The reason I could not give 5 stars is due to social distancing on the boat. It was booked which was right around 42 people not counting the captain and deck hand. Everyone was wearing face coverings but you were leg to leg with others.
Written September 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much for your feedback, Amy! We require 100% compliance with face coverings. We are considered public transportation, which cannot practice social distancing on our vessel. We disinfect the vessels daily and our ferries in Beaufort, Morehead City and Harkers Island are the only ones requiring masks. We take this very seriously and want you to have a very good time.
Written September 25, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dennis S
29 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
We enjoyed the trip to sand dollar island. We found a few sand dollars to take home. We found alot of live sand dollar which cant take but super cool to find. The staff was really great and was worth just spending a few hours on a private island which is really a sand bar.
Written July 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review! We hope to see you again soon!
Written June 20, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Caytoncristy
New Bern, NC469 contributions
Jun 2020 • Family
Spent the best afternoon as a family that we have had in months. Staff was amazing, especially George who made us feel completely at home. Views were amazing. Live sand dollars we’re plentiful to see and put back. Found a few white ones we could keep. Five year old son loved running all over the island, swimming in tide pools, and building sandcastles...Mom enjoyed an afternoon of feeling away, very away! Peace can be found on Sand Dollar island...give it a try!
Written June 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are so glad you had a nice, relaxing trip to Sand Dollar Island! We hope to see you again soon!
Written June 12, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
JBRDU
Wilmington, NC2 contributions
Oct 2020
We had a great time on the boat and the information shared about the surroundings. I agree with another review posted that there was no social distancing. The boat ride itself for my family made it worth the trip.
However, the website is quite misleading about actually finding sand dollars. I think the biggest problem is the timing of the trip did not put us on the "island" at an optimal tide time. My kids felt the area should be called sand dollar sand bar. There was very little island visible when we got dropped off. This made it quite difficult to see anything in the water for the water was deep.. By the time we left almost 3 hours later, the tide had gone out a lot and the island was bigger and the water shallower. This would have been a much better time to have arrived. I had 3 people in my party and we only found 1 sand dollar. The boat was full and I would say well over 1/2 the passengers did not find a sand dollar.
I can't say we wouldn't go ahead but feel the website definitely needs to be changed. If the weather is great, you could spend the time swimming in the area. I also think they need to give each passenger that did not find at least one sand dollar a consolation sand dollar. As long as people understand what the experience will truly be like... I would recommend it.
However, the website is quite misleading about actually finding sand dollars. I think the biggest problem is the timing of the trip did not put us on the "island" at an optimal tide time. My kids felt the area should be called sand dollar sand bar. There was very little island visible when we got dropped off. This made it quite difficult to see anything in the water for the water was deep.. By the time we left almost 3 hours later, the tide had gone out a lot and the island was bigger and the water shallower. This would have been a much better time to have arrived. I had 3 people in my party and we only found 1 sand dollar. The boat was full and I would say well over 1/2 the passengers did not find a sand dollar.
I can't say we wouldn't go ahead but feel the website definitely needs to be changed. If the weather is great, you could spend the time swimming in the area. I also think they need to give each passenger that did not find at least one sand dollar a consolation sand dollar. As long as people understand what the experience will truly be like... I would recommend it.
Written October 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your feedback. We schedule our trips around low tide. Once the tide stats coming in, we make sure that we have everyone off the island as it fills up quick. We carry thousands of people a year to the island, and there are times when conditions, whether it be tide or wind, affect affect the sand dollar pickings. However, these days are few and far between. Thank you again for your feedback, and we hope to see you again.
Written October 6, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lisa
15 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
Went to sandollar Island. Feel very misled. First of all we weren't prepared clothing wise. Nowhere does it say you'll have to wade up to your knees or more into the water for your search. Being a chilly day, we didn't wear swimsuits. Second no one on the sandbar found any dead sanddollars and they had to dig deep in the sand to even find live ones. Photos on the ferry website show folks collecting buckets of sanddollars but beware. Of the 18 or so people searching no dead sanddollars were found. What a misleading tour. Site made it look like you'll step off the boat and the island will be practically covered with them. Perhaps it's the wrong time of year or something but the company certainly doesn't tell you that. Most expensive of the ferry rides and definitely not worth the price. Totally disappointed as we extended our vacation just for this experience. What we learned...go to Bird Shoal instead and just swim over to Sand Dollar Island if you want to go there. It's very shallow and you can stay all day if you'd like.
Written October 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We regret to hear about your experience at Sandollar Island. It appears there were some misunderstandings regarding the conditions and expectations of the tour. It is noted that the attire required for wading into the water was not adequately communicated beforehand. Additionally, while we strive to showcase the natural beauty of the sandbar, we acknowledge the variability in the quantity and visibility of sanddollars at different times. We appreciate your feedback and will consider how we can better manage expectations in the future. Thank you for bringing these concerns to our attention. Please consider visiting us again.
Written June 20, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
OC_Travelers_2010
Sugarcreek, OH135 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
We had an awesome time on the sand dollar island trip. Very nice captain and crew. Nice tip to the island. We found over 30 sand dollars that morning. A lot of fun and I would highly recommend.
Written August 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are glad to hear you had a good time! We hope you are able to see us again soon! Thank you!
Written June 20, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Joy
22 contributions
Aug 2019
The trip was very organized, safe and beautiful! We could not find out much online about what to expect. I hope this will help you plan. Keep these things in mind:
* You'll spend 30 min on the ferry each way, and two full hours on the island.
* You'll be more comfortable if you bring a sand chair or at least a blanket to sit on.
* Pack drinks. If it's a hot day, you will need hydration. There is no shade on the island.
* Wear a bathing suit because you will need to be out in the ankle-to-knee-deep water to look and dig for the sand dollars. You may have to walk quite a ways to find the sand dollars. We found no sand dollars in the sand on the dry part of the island.
* In case you're wondering, this is a private, secluded island so there are no restrooms.
* Reserve ahead of time in the summer as it gets booked up fast.
* Sand dollars are very fragile. Bring a bucket or a container to put them in. I saw a lady with ziplock bags and bubble wrap to protect her sand dollars. They will break very easily and it will break your heart.
* Water shoes would be a plus for this trip!
It is a beautiful trip and a wonderful experience! I hope these tips help you plan so you get the most out of your time there!
* You'll spend 30 min on the ferry each way, and two full hours on the island.
* You'll be more comfortable if you bring a sand chair or at least a blanket to sit on.
* Pack drinks. If it's a hot day, you will need hydration. There is no shade on the island.
* Wear a bathing suit because you will need to be out in the ankle-to-knee-deep water to look and dig for the sand dollars. You may have to walk quite a ways to find the sand dollars. We found no sand dollars in the sand on the dry part of the island.
* In case you're wondering, this is a private, secluded island so there are no restrooms.
* Reserve ahead of time in the summer as it gets booked up fast.
* Sand dollars are very fragile. Bring a bucket or a container to put them in. I saw a lady with ziplock bags and bubble wrap to protect her sand dollars. They will break very easily and it will break your heart.
* Water shoes would be a plus for this trip!
It is a beautiful trip and a wonderful experience! I hope these tips help you plan so you get the most out of your time there!
Written August 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review and great tips for the other readers! Sand Dollar Island is a great place to spend time and we are so glad you enjoyed your trip! We look forward to having you join us again soon!
Written August 9, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Shelley G
Mechanicsville, VA25 contributions
Aug 2015
The ferry to Sand Dollar Island was great. We took the smaller ferry with a very friendly Captain. This trip is scheduled by low tide time only, so it changes daily. We left at 11:00 with the ride at about 20-25 minutes, mostly because much of the trip is in a "no wake" zone so you travel at a much lower speed. We arrived on this huge sand bar and spent a spectacular 2+ hours with a small group of people. As the next ferry arrives for drop off, it takes back another load, so it's never very crowded. The sand dollars are abundant, but by August they are pretty picked over and what you find are mostly live ones. I would suggest reading about them before you leave, especially if you are taking young children. For one, they are extremely interesting creatures to learn about but it will also teach you how to tell which ones are alive and shouldn't be taken. We also discovered many live conchs, hermit crabs, etc. A trip to this Island earlier in the season is on our agenda for next year ... but is a really awesome day trip anytime! No bathrooms or food, but water, sunscreen and a hat is all you need. We liked this ferry service a lot very and thought it was really well run ... a total steal for the price of this trip!
Written August 12, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Megan
2 contributions
Jul 2019 • Family
The trip was okay. Not what we expected. From the description we expected a ferry tour and various stops to get off and collect sand dollars. However that was not the case. They dropped you off for 2 hours on a sand bar in the middle of the ocean to come back empty handed. Kind of disappointed but there's no guarantees with nature. Note to others, wear your suits, take your towels, sun screen, water snacks etc. It wasn't horrible just not as expected.
Written July 8, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jnew56
8 contributions
Jun 2019 • Family
We were a group of 10, ages 2 to 66, and EVERYONE had a blast! Sand dollars were plentiful that day, our group found 52 PERFECT ones. Our 8-year-old said it was "the best field trip EVER". We brought chairs and a cooler for water, which worked well. Be prepared for no shade. Highly recommend!
Written July 1, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your great review! This is one of our most popular trips and the kids especially love it! The gentle tide pools are great for the kids to play in and the parents can relax and little more! We are so glad it was the best field trip ever and we look forward to having you sail with us again soon!
Written July 2, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Denise
Swansboro, North Carolina
Is the water too cold for comfort on sand dollar island May 1st, 2021
Written April 13, 2021
I am a Residential manager of a local group home in New Bern. We provide services to six individuals that are physically and mentally disabled. My question is of the six, three of them are wheelchair bound, is your ferry accessible to accommodate wheelchairs?
Written June 13, 2018
Hello...I think if you go to their website and use the contact us email, they would be able to let you know.
Written June 27, 2018
How easy is it to get on and off the ferry at Morehead City and the island. Have bad knees and would like to do it but not sure I can.
Written January 17, 2018
The boats are very easy to get on and off, ramps, etc. Captains are always very helpful if you need any assistance. We had my 80+ year old grandmom on a trip to sand dollar island and she had no issues at all
Written January 17, 2018
Just one question, if we reserved the 9:45 am trip to Sand Dollar Island, what time would we arrive back in Morehead City? Larry S.
Written July 30, 2017
It's a three hour trip so if you left at 9:45, you'll be back at 12:45. It takes about 1/2 hour to get there and a 1/2 hour back. The captain is great too. We just took this trip a couple weeks ago and we were searching at the wrong end (we didn't find one dead one -- they were all alive and you can't take the live ones), so when you get off the boat, trudge on to the other side of the island closest to the sea because that's where most people found the dead sand dollars. They are good about not leaving you, but bring a watch so you can keep an eye on the time since the boat comes back to get you (at 12:15 p.m.). Hope that helps.
Written July 30, 2017
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