Captain Barry's BackBay Cruises
Captain Barry's BackBay Cruises
Captain Barry's BackBay Cruises
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About
Captain Barry's Back Bay Cruise is an INTERACTIVE HANDS-ON FEET-WET, floating classroom & research vessel. We’ll dig in the mud at a sandbar for sea creatures; identify and hold crabs WITHOUT GETTING PINCHED; head to Shell Island to collect shells; hunt jellyfish; haul in the trawler net and get a taste of Chincoteague’s famous Salt Oysters. And, along the way, we’ll identify the many birds that are found around the waters of Chincoteague. We use all of our senses to make our cruises informative AND FUN. You can relax, sit back on the boat, be the photographer. There’s never any pressure but, always lots of fun. This is the real deal to get your hands dirty and your feet wet and experience the life of a Chincoteague Waterman!
Chincoteague Island, Virginia
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2022
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Captain Barry's BackBay Cruises
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(62 reviews)
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
522 reviews
Excellent
517
Very good
3
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
2
Sunny
Manassas, VA2 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
Someone recommended Captain Barry’s tour to us when we were looking for things to do during our stay here in Chincoteague. We checked out the website and were pleasantly surprised to find a that a local news station had done a segment on his tour so we called the number and booked it for Saturday morning. Of course Saturday morning came and it was pouring rain so we were permitted to rebook for later that day. We did not regret it.
The rain cleared up and we were treated to blue skies and white clouds on calm waters. Captain Barry took us out and showed us five different types of birds in the bay.
We picked shells and saw different varieties of sea life. We even found, shucked, and ate a fresh oyster! After all that we parked it on a sand bar, tried some sea beans, did a little bit of walking around and dragged a net to check out some small fish and shrimp.
We weren’t done yet though. We hopped back on the boat and went in the other direction passing many of the local restaurants and bars on the water waving at everyone and having them wave back. There was a young boy and his mom on the tour with us and he looked like he had a blast helping the Captain out on the boat.
On the north end of the bay, we picked up some crab out of a pot and he taught us how to hold them without getting hurt.
I can’t tell you enough how much fun the wife and I had. It was also pretty obvious the young boy and his mom with us were also having a great time. We would definitely recommend Captain Barry’s tour to anyone looking to jumpstart someone’s enthusiasm into local marine life. He was engaging, funny, and informative. He really went the extra mile for us and it showed.
Take the tour. You’ll be happy you did.
The rain cleared up and we were treated to blue skies and white clouds on calm waters. Captain Barry took us out and showed us five different types of birds in the bay.
We picked shells and saw different varieties of sea life. We even found, shucked, and ate a fresh oyster! After all that we parked it on a sand bar, tried some sea beans, did a little bit of walking around and dragged a net to check out some small fish and shrimp.
We weren’t done yet though. We hopped back on the boat and went in the other direction passing many of the local restaurants and bars on the water waving at everyone and having them wave back. There was a young boy and his mom on the tour with us and he looked like he had a blast helping the Captain out on the boat.
On the north end of the bay, we picked up some crab out of a pot and he taught us how to hold them without getting hurt.
I can’t tell you enough how much fun the wife and I had. It was also pretty obvious the young boy and his mom with us were also having a great time. We would definitely recommend Captain Barry’s tour to anyone looking to jumpstart someone’s enthusiasm into local marine life. He was engaging, funny, and informative. He really went the extra mile for us and it showed.
Take the tour. You’ll be happy you did.
Written May 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.
Jeffrey R
Fairfax County, VA11 contributions
Aug 2021 • Family
We enthusiastically take this cruise each year during our annual trip to Chincoteague. Captain Barry never fails in providing an excellent adventure into the ecological wonders of Chincoteague Bay — a body of water which often gets overlooked compared to the nearby open ocean and Assateague Island. Captain Barry is funny, engaging, knowledgeable, and great with kids — especially when it comes to getting their feet wet and hands dirty.
The two-hour tour is well-paced and well worth the money. This is a “must do” for visitors to the island. Be sure to book as early as possible. Each tour only accommodates up to 6 people and fills up quickly.
The two-hour tour is well-paced and well worth the money. This is a “must do” for visitors to the island. Be sure to book as early as possible. Each tour only accommodates up to 6 people and fills up quickly.
Written August 19, 2021
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.
Lorena A
1 contribution
Apr 2023 • Family
We decided to go on Captain Barry’s cruise and we are so glad that we did . My kids are 8 and 11 and they had an absolute blast. As soon as we pulled up the boat we could tell we were in for a good time. Captain Barry was a wealth of knowledge. He showed us all the different birds, brought us to different little islands, had the girls pull up crab traps, gave the kids fresh oysters to try, showed the girls how to catch jelly fish, and made us laugh along the way. Thanks for a great experience!
Written April 12, 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.
Todd
2 contributions
May 2021
You absolutely must book a Bay Back Cruise with Captain Barry! Captain Barry is an awesome dude. He provides non-stop fun and learning for the whole family - if my kids (5 & 8) had their way we would have taken Captain Barry's cruise everyday during our stay on Chincoteague Island - it was that awesome! Everything he says in his add he delivers on: from letting my kids raise a crab pot so we could hold baby crabs, playing fun music while we zipped across the water, to the exploration of shell island; and all the while teaching us about the history and ecosystem of Chincoteague Island and it's waters. We already plan on taking another cruise with Captain Barry upon our next visit to Chincoteague Island. And even if you don't have kids, you should still book a cruise with Captain Barry. You'll be glad you did!
Written March 15, 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.
Joe Than
10 contributions
Apr 2021
Captain Barry's tour was the single best part of our Chincoteague trip and I can't recommend it highly enough! Captain Barry has instant chemistry with kids and adults alike, and genuinely cares about teaching the ecology of the bay. Everyone had a great time. Bring tall boots and a jacket / windbreaker of course.
Written April 20, 2021
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.
Venture274540
1 contribution
May 2021 • Family
We took a tour with Captain Barry on a cold, wet and windy day. My toddler was crying because he didn’t want to get on board. My older kids were complaining about the weather. But as soon as they met Captain Barry, who was wearing a ski cap with a smiley emoji, my daughter said, “I like his attitude!!!!”
He showed us wildlife and taught us about the life of a waterman. His favorite phrases were “This isn’t a YouTube video!” and “No one said this was safe!”
Despite the weather, we all had a blast and learned a lot. The kids were proud they were tough enough to withstand a Captain Barry tour. And the toddler kept asking for him long after the boat ride ended.
He showed us wildlife and taught us about the life of a waterman. His favorite phrases were “This isn’t a YouTube video!” and “No one said this was safe!”
Despite the weather, we all had a blast and learned a lot. The kids were proud they were tough enough to withstand a Captain Barry tour. And the toddler kept asking for him long after the boat ride ended.
Written May 31, 2021
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.
Teresa C
Washington DC, DC7 contributions
Aug 2020
How does our family know it is summer? Because we are cruising the bay with Captain Barry. It has now been over 10 years running that we book a cruise in August for our family and we always book 2 - no trip is ever the same twice. This year we ate oysters fresh out the of bay, hauled up crab traps to catch them as the scurry around the deck, traipsed around a newly emerged island and yelled our heads off as we went under the bridge.
Captain Barry is a treasure. He knows more about the waters and the way of life on the island and always shares stories of the happenings. He is also an accomplished painter and is happy to show some of his newest paintings which are hard to come by - they sell quickly or he gives them away to the people he paints.
Captain Barry is a treasure. He knows more about the waters and the way of life on the island and always shares stories of the happenings. He is also an accomplished painter and is happy to show some of his newest paintings which are hard to come by - they sell quickly or he gives them away to the people he paints.
Written October 3, 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.
carriebethstew
Chicago, IL2 contributions
Jun 2022 • Family
A month after our trip with Captain Barry and my 6 year old daughter is still telling everyone about it. She loved every aspect of this trip - the crabs, the birds, the water, the jellyfish, the music, and most of all Captain Barry himself. What a memorable time!
Written July 20, 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.
Matt Bski
Rochester, NY11 contributions
Jun 2020 • Family
Quite simply put, Captain Barry is a real-life lovable cartoon character who shows you the beauty, life, and elegance of a wonderful place. We have taken trips with him for about 10 years now and he never fails to entertain and educate. Thanks, Captain.
Written June 25, 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.
mary
Rochester, NY2 contributions
Aug 2021 • Couples
We have been taking Captain Barry’s cruises since our children were small and this year, everyone was over 21 and able to enjoy the sunset Cruise. Very different from his fabulous eco tours during the day, this sunset Cruise was so much fun that we would definitely do it again. Captain Barry is dedicated to showing you a good time and he didn’t disappoint!! Great music, nice champagne to toast with and a beautiful sunset, what more could you want. If you are going to visit Chincoteague Island, book your day eco cruise or your sunset cruise as soon as possible! Like us, I bet you will be coming back to cruise with Captain Barry again and again and again!
Written August 17, 2021
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.
Mack A
Rockville, MD1 contribution
How many people fit on the boat?
Scott Knowles
Baltimore, MD27 contributions
Apologies for the late reply, but I believe the boat can safely hold 6 people (I am not sure if that has changed because of COVID).
hopesmith7844
Hackettstown, NJ
Do you see ponies on these boat tours?
Michelle K
5 contributions
Depends time of year time of day but is possible.
Diane R
Leesburg, VA10 contributions
Are you open for tours (2seniors) Thanksgiving week? Can we not play loud music? One client has mobility issues...is there any way she could participate, with your assistance, or would she just stay in the boat during the mud-hopping part?
AdventuresWithMommy
107 contributions
Do they have life preservers for the kids to wear while the boat is in motion?
thegman1975
Rochester, NY47 contributions
Yes, before starting out, Captain Barry goes over the safety features in the boat and has life jackets available for children to wear.
mermaidlover736
Virginia1 contribution
I am interested in finding konk shells while visiting Chincoteague.
Ned111
Chantilly, VA8 contributions
Yes, Capt may be able to help, although I don't think real big ones are to be found in these waters
Captain Barry's BackBay Cruises (Chincoteague Island) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Captain Barry's BackBay Cruises Information
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