Frequently Asked Questions

Tickets should be purchased online in advance.  Walk-up tickets are sold only if capacities allow within an hour of departure time at the ticket window.

Plan to arrive a minimum of 30 minutes before the trip departure time to check-in at the building for boarding passes. Late arrivals will have to forfeit their tickets due to high demand.

*If you purchased vouchers from an outside source, they are NOT tickets and must be redeemed for boarding passes at least 30 minutes prior to the trip at the Rudee Tours ticket booth. These vouchers do NOT guarantee you a spot on the boat.*

We accept cash, contactless pay, & credit cards.  We do NOT accept personal checks.

Yes, all of the boats have two restrooms with the exception of the Rudee Rocket which has one restroom.

If the trip is cancelled by the captain due to unfavorable boating conditions or another unforeseen circumstance, you will be given an option to reschedule your trip or issued a refund if that is not feasible.

Yes, and we would love to have your group join us! All of our boats are available for private charters for any events including weddings, birthdays, bachelor/ette parties, and more! Contact us for more information.

All of our vessels are ADA compliant.  Wheelchairs, including motorized ones, are able to be brought aboard our boats. Our crew will gladly set out our custom-built wheelchair ramp to ensure an easy board.  Please note that due to Coast Guard regulations, there is a raised doorway to the restrooms on board and also to access the cabins.

Here is a testimony from one of our customers:

“Rudee Tours dolphin watching is awesome!! I am disabled and in a larger wheelchair. Rudee Tours is 100% ADA approved. They have a 36″ ramp that made loading the boat a breeze. The staff was kind, considerate and helpful. The captain was excellent getting us as close to dozens of dolphins. The tour guide was amazing and pointed out landmarks along the Virginia Beach coastline. If you are reading this and are disabled and in a wheelchair, or use a walker do not hesitate to book your trip. It will be the adventure of a lifetime, It certainly was for me. I will be back again I’m sure. Thank you Rudee Tours for making a dream come true!!”

Our guests are like family to us, and we take the utmost pride in making sure that your excursions are safe and enjoyable. Safety is our top priority. Each vessel exceeds all standards and is licensed and inspected annually by the United States Coast Guard. Our team of owners, captains, and crew has over 40 years of experience operating head boats in the area. Our knowledge of the local waters and how to navigate them is unparalleled.

We undergo extensive training and are prepared to handle any situation. We also have a safety briefing at the beginning of every trip.

Dress appropriately for the weather!  It can be slightly cooler out on the water especially in the spring, fall, and winter. During the summer months, you may want to bring sunscreen and sunglasses.  We may have to cancel trips due to unfavorable sea conditions, but our trips will still be conducted when it is raining.

If you are prone to motion sickness or are concerned about it, it’s better to be prepared.  Taking preventative medications/supplements the night before the trip as well as the day-of can be very successful at preventing sickness. There are also medications and ginger supplements available for purchase on board.

Our vessels have an extensive ship store that includes many souvenir, snack, beverage, and bar options.  Please plan to bring your ID for our craft beer & spirit options.  Credit cards & cash are accepted on board.

*We have an ABC license to serve beer, wine, and liquor. Therefore, we cannot allow you to bring your own alcoholic beverages on board.

The team members on board work hard to make sure each trip is safe, enjoyable, and educational.  Gratuities make up a large portion of the crew’s salary, and are appreciated.  Generally, 15-20% of the trip cost in cash is recommended.

• Senior (65+)
• Adults (ages 12-64)
• Kids (ages 4-11)
• Infant (3 and under)

Note that ALL PASSENGERS must be accounted for and included in each reservation. Each visitor is required to have a ticket for safety purposes, including small children and infants.

Due to our extensive experience on the water, we are the ONLY company in Virginia Beach that offers guarantees on our whale & dolphin watching eco-excursions.

• Whales:  Guaranteed sightings from December through February.
• Dolphins:  Guaranteed sightings from March through October.
• If we are unable to locate wildlife during during the aforementioned seasons, you will be able to ride again for FREE!  No refunds will be offered.

Each eco-excursion is an adventure, which is part of the excitement!  Each trip course varies dependent upon the concentration of recent sightings of the targeted species.

For dolphin watching, we are primarily observing a coastal population of animals that tend to be found in fairly shallow waters.  For these trips, we generally cruise less than 1/2 mile offshore.

Our whale watching trips are longer in duration which allows us to travel up to 12 miles offshore.  We are typically well within sight of the beach, and tend to find animals fairly close to shore.

Our extensive experience and knowledge of the local waters and marine life help us to identify the most likely places to find our seasonal visitors. Our researchers work closely with other biologists in the area, and will also collaborate to share recent sighting locations and information.

Bottled water, beer, and spiked seltzers are available for purchase on board.

Souvenir photos are taken when you board the boat.  These can be purchased at the end of the trip, along with a variety of apparel & other merchandise.

The splash intensity varies by condition and seating location on the boat.  Swimsuits are recommended.

Feel free to a towel for after the trip, sunscreen,  & sunglasses.  Cameras are recommended, as you will want to capture the amazing dolphin activity.

Cash and credit cards are accepted on board for payment any purchases.

Your mates work hard to ensure your trip is enjoyable, educational, and safe! Gratuities make up a large portion of their salary, and tips are appreciated.

The dolphins LOVE the Rudee Rocket!  We are so confident in our ability to locate them that we offer a sightings guarantee on all departures.  If you do not see dolphins during your trip during this time frame, you ride again for FREE!

Yes, we have a restroom on board.

• Adults (ages 12 and up)
• Kids (ages 11 and under)
• All children must be at least 39 inches tall to ride the Rudee Rocket.  Passengers will be measured upon arrival to verify.

Everything is furnished for your fishing needs – rod, reel, bait, tackle, fish bags & fishing license.  If rods & reels are lost during a trip, you will be assessed to replace the gear.  Fish can be cleaned on board for a small fee.

You are welcome to bring your own tackle.  Please see individual trip types for specific gear recommendations.  Coolers with food and non-alcoholic beverages are permitted.

Please remember, the mates work extremely hard throughout the trip.  Gratuities are a large portion of their salary and are appreciated.  Generally, 15-20% of the trip cost is recommended.

DO NOT BRING:

ANY ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH GPS CAPABILITIES (INCLUDING WATCHES, CAMERAS, CELL PHONES, ELECTRONICS EMBEDDED WITH GPS OR ANY HANDHELD POSITIONING SYSTEMS) ARE PROHIBITED. WE WILL CONFISCATE ANY OF THESE DEVICES AND THEY WILL NOT BE RETURNED!

As each vessel has an ABC license, outside alcohol (including beer) are not allowed to be brought on board.

Yes, we offer a full snack bar on board. We also offer roomy, comfortable, air-conditioned and heated cabins. You can even enjoy DirecTV (sports: football, races & more) on our offshore trips!

You may also bring your own food and non-alcoholic beverages for your group if you wish.

Yes, we are available year-round for private charters and company events.

We have done (but are not limited to) private company fishing trips, bachelorette/bachelor parties, birthday parties, weddings, receptions, as well as scattering of ashes at sea.

There is a 15-20 percent gratuity added for all private trips.

Yes, phones can be brought on board for a trip.  As per our GPS agreement, those services must be disabled.