Dolphin Watching - Tours - Virginia Beach

DOLPHIN WATCHING aboard the rudee flipper

Looking for the longest running and most experienced dolphin cruise company at the Virginia Beach Resort area? You have found it at Rudee Tours! A dolphin cruise aboard the Rudee Flipper is the essential trip for the both the aquatic enthusiast and the fun seeking vacationer. Each 90-minute tour is narrated by our marine experts who are ready to share their knowledge and answer your questions about the dolphins and the Virginia Beach coastline.

Our cruise boat features upper and lower sightseeing levels and interior windows that provide a 360 degree range for the ultimate viewing experience. The Rudee Flipper is a 65-foot long, 28-foot wide South Sea Catamaran. The Flipper is equipped with such amenities as two restrooms, climate controlled cabin with ample seating, handicapped accessibility, a snack bar with hot and cold food offered, and a full bar serving an array of adult beverages. 

What could be more fun than watching dolphins jump and splash in the beautiful Atlantic Ocean from on board the Rudee Flipper? As winners of the Year of Excellence Award from Trip Advisor for the last six years, you can trust there is no better dolphin cruise in Virginia Beach than with Rudee Tours!

Schedule: 

Daily Departures:  9AM, 11AM, 2PM, 4PM

Sunset Cruise Daily:  7PM

The Details

Adults: $23.00

Children 11 and under: $17.00

Children 3 and under: Free

Duration: 1.5 Hours

Dress for the weather!  It can be slightly cooler out on the water especially in the spring, fall, and winter.  We may have to cancel trips due to high winds, but our cruises will still go when it is raining.

Departs: Rudee Inlet at the Virginia Beach Fishing Center (Parking is free while you are on the trip).

Please remember your crew members work hard for and appreciate tips! 

Questions? Check out the FAQs

The Rudee Tours Advantage

Guaranteed Sightings

We sincerely care about your experience and do everything that we can to ensure sightings.  As the longest running ecotour in the area, we are so confident in our abilities to locate wildlife that we are the ONLY company that offers a sightings guarantee on our trips.  While we understand that wildlife can be somewhat unpredictable, if our expert team is unable to locate any dolphins on your 9am, 11am, 2pm, and 4pm trips aboard the Rudee Flipper from Memorial Day - Labor Day, you can ride again with us:  FREE! 

Most Experience On The Water

With over 40 years of experience, our team of experts on board have the most extensive knowledge of our coastal waters and marine mammals of any along the Mid-Atlantic.  Each member of our team undergoes extensive training each year to make sure that we are on the cutting edge of information on our flippered friends and safety.  

Research and Conservation: Our Mission

At Rudee Tours, we are committed to protecting the animals and their homes.  Not only do we showcase this by following all responsible whale & wildlife watching guidelines, but we also collect information on each trip.  Our ecotours serve as platforms to learn more about the marine environment while simultaneously educating and spreading awareness about the species that inhabit it.  Sightings on marine mammals, sea turtles, and birds are combined with environmental data to help us learn more about the species and how they are using our coastal habitat.  By collaborating with other regional researchers, we provide information that helps protect and conserve the animals we love! 

Longest Time On The Water

Being located only a few hundred yards inside the inlet from the ocean, you are on the search for dolphins within 3 minutes of leaving the dock aboard the Rudee Flipper. Our location is arguably the best location in all of Virginia Beach, and is also the only Inlet like it on the whole East Coast! As you will see, we are docked at the Virginia Beach Fishing Center alongside the largest charter fishing fleet on the East Coast. Our fishing friends believe in our mission and devotion to the ocean so much that they not only often ride along with us, but also send along any sightings that they may see, just to ensure we get you to the animals as quickly as possible.

Largest, Most Modern Fleet

While the Rudee Flipper is our main dolphin and whale watching boat, we are fortunate that we have an entire fleet of vessels run by experienced and committed captains and crew.  With larger capacities and the ability to run multiple boats at a time, we are able to accommodate the needs of all of our guests. Our vessels is annually inspected and licensed by the USCG, insured, and regularly updated.  Each boat is ADA certified, equipped with a climate-controlled indoor cabin, and offers 360-degree views of the water from the multiple viewing levels.   

Full Snack Bar and ABC License Aboard

Your comfort is a priority!  The Rudee Flipper wants to ensure that all of our passengers feel at home on the water and have everything they could need right at the tip of their fingers. Whether you want to enjoy a cold adult beverage (don’t forget to bring your ID!) while watching the dolphins play, or to purchase a memento to remember the trip, the Rudee Flipper has it all inside the climate-controlled cabin and ship store.