ShellIslandDolphin.toursSt. Andrews State Park Sunset Dolphin Cruise
The St. Andrews State Park sunset dolphin cruise is the state park's own 1.5-hour trip, sold on GetYourGuide at $29 per person with a 4.6 rating from 309 reviews. A tram carries you from the Pier Store to the ferry dock, then a double-deck motor catamaran takes up to 45 guests out onto St. Andrews Bay as the sun drops. It is one of several Shell Island dolphin tours on the coast, and on this page you can see what the $29 covers, where the park fee sits, and when a different boat would suit you better. Start with Shell Island dolphin tours compared.
About This Tour
St. Andrews State Park Adventures, the park's own adventure company, runs this 90-minute sunset dolphin cruise on a double-deck motor catamaran. You park and check in at the Pier Store inside the park, ride a tram to the ferry dock, and cruise St. Andrews Bay while the crew watches for wild bottlenose dolphins. Beer, wine and cold drinks are sold on board. The boat is marked wheelchair accessible and the cruise is listed as likely to sell out.
The listing states that dolphin sightings and sunsets are not guaranteed, and that tours depart in all weather except severe weather. The trip does not land on Shell Island and no snorkel stop is listed. Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before departure.
$29 per person on GetYourGuide, which the listing says is likely to sell out. Reserve now and pay later is available.
1.5 hours on the water. Starting times vary by date, check availability for the day you want.
Pier Store, St. Andrews State Park, 4607 State Park Ln, Panama City, FL 32408. The tram leaves 30 minutes before departure.
No island landing and no minutes on the island are stated, so treat this as a bay cruise only.
Double-deck motor catamaran, up to 45 guests, with an English-speaking host or greeter.
Cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
Check Dates and Availability
Starting times vary by date, and the listing warns the cruise is likely to sell out. Pick a date to see the departure that day.
Quick answer Quick facts
This St. Andrews State Park sunset dolphin cruise costs $29 per person, lasts 1.5 hours and leaves from the Pier Store inside the park, 4607 State Park Ln, Panama City. A tram takes you to the ferry dock 30 minutes before the boat leaves. It holds up to 45 guests on a double-deck motor catamaran and is wheelchair accessible. It does not stop at Shell Island.
Key takeaways
- See what the $29 includes and where the park entrance pass sits in What the Price Covers.
- The boat never lands on the island, so if you want beach time, look at the Shell Island shuttle or a trip with a stop such as the Footloose catamaran.
- Dolphins and sunsets are not guaranteed, and the rules for watching wild dolphins are in Dock, Dolphins and What to Bring.
- Prefer a sail or a smaller boat? Compare the Island Time sunset sail and the Good Jibez sunset pontoon.
What the Price Covers
The $29 covers the cruise, the tram and a tour guide. The listing is ambiguous about the park entrance pass, so read the fine print below before you go.
Included and Not Included
The listing's Includes line names the 90-minute sunset dolphin cruise, the tram ride from the Pier Store to the ferry dock, a personal tour guide, meals excluding onboard refreshments, and a park entrance pass if you do not already own one. The Know before you go section then says to purchase a park entrance pass if you do not have one. Those two lines pull in different directions, so treat the park pass as a possible extra at the gate and confirm with the operator before you book. The price is $29 per person and reserve now pay later is offered.
Not in the price: onboard refreshments (beer, wine and cold drinks are for purchase), snorkel gear, and any Shell Island landing, since none is listed.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 90-minute sunset dolphin cruise | Yes | Double-deck motor catamaran, up to 45 guests |
| Tram to the ferry dock | Yes | Leaves the Pier Store 30 minutes before departure |
| Host or greeter | Yes | English-language |
| Park entrance pass | Ambiguous | The Includes list shows it if you do not already own one, Know before you go says buy one if you do not have one. Confirm with the operator |
| Onboard refreshments | No | Beer, wine and cold drinks sold on board, no outside food or drinks allowed |
| Snorkel gear | No | Not included, no snorkel stop is listed |
| Gratuity | No | Not stated in the listing |
| Shell Island landing | No | No island stop is listed |
How the Trip Runs
The stages below come from the listing's own description. Only the tram timing is stated, the rest of the clock times depend on your departure date.
From the Pier Store to the Bay
Park and check in at the Pier Store inside St. Andrews State Park, following the signs from the entrance gate. A tram leaves the Pier Store 30 minutes before departure and carries you to the ferry dock. Board the double-deck motor catamaran, then the boat cruises St. Andrews Bay and the Emerald Coast as the sun goes down, with the crew watching for wild bottlenose dolphins. The cruise returns to the Pier Store area at the end of 1.5 hours. No return time is stated in the listing.
One note on timing: the park and Shell Island sit in the Central Time Zone, so set your watch and your dinner reservations accordingly. A competing sunset cruise from Capt. Anderson's boards at its own marina at 5550 N Lagoon Drive with narration from the captain, so do not confuse the two boarding points.
| Stage | Where | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Check-in | Pier Store, 4607 State Park Ln, inside St. Andrews State Park | Not stated |
| Tram ride | Pier Store to the ferry dock | Leaves 30 minutes before departure |
| Boarding | Ferry dock, double-deck catamaran | Not stated |
| Dolphin search and sunset cruise | St. Andrews Bay | 1.5 hours total on the water |
| Return | Pier Store area, St. Andrews State Park | Not stated |
Who This Trip Rules Out
This cruise fits people who want a cheap, short bay trip from inside the park. Several types of traveler should book a different boat.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
If you want to set foot on Shell Island, this cruise is not it: there is no island stop. For beach time from inside the park, take the Shell Island Ferry from St. Andrews State Park instead. For a longer day with a stop and snorkeling, the Island Time Snorkel and Dolphin Catamaran Cruise runs 3 hours with about an hour on the island and gear included.
If you dislike crowds, the 45-guest catamaran is one of the bigger boats on the bay. The Good Jibez sunset pontoon carries up to 18 guests for $40 and welcomes your own snacks. No minimum age is stated for this cruise and no infant fee is listed, and the boat is shared with other groups. The listing does not state whether there is a restroom on board, so ask the operator if that matters to you. The private Shell Island tour is the option for a boat of your own. Wheelchair users should note this is the sunset cruise in the catalog marked wheelchair accessible.
Dock, Dolphins and What to Bring
Getting to the Pier Store is simple once you are in the park. The federal rules on wild dolphins and the island's barebones facilities are worth knowing before any trip on this water.
Getting There and Parking
Parking and ticketing are at the Pier Store inside St. Andrews State Park, 4607 State Park Ln, Panama City, FL 32408. Follow the signs from the park entrance, then board the tram to the ferry dock 30 minutes before departure. You will already be inside the park gates, which is why the park entrance pass question matters, see What the Price Covers.
What Shell Island Lacks
This cruise does not land on the island, but if you add a ferry trip another day, know what to expect. Shell Island is about seven miles of undeveloped shoreline with no concession stands, no restrooms, no picnic pavilions, no trash cans and no running water. Pack food, drinks and trash bags and take everything back with you.
The park side of the trip is covered in more detail in the St. Andrews State Park guide, and the island itself in Shell Island Florida.
The Rules on Wild Dolphins
The dolphins here are wild bottlenose dolphins, and a pod lives around Shell Island. NOAA recommends staying at least 50 yards (150 feet) away, limiting observation to 30 minutes or less, and never feeding or harassing them, which is illegal under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, with fines up to $100,000 and up to 1 year in jail. NOAA also asks people not to swim with wild dolphins.
Stay on the boat, let the captain handle positioning, and watch from where you are.
Weather, Season and What to Bring
Tours depart in all weather except severe weather, and the lower deck is open, so expect rain, sun and wind. Summer showers are usually short, often passing in 15 to 20 minutes, and the Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. Panama City sunsets run from 6:27 pm early in October to 5:56 pm at the end of the month, Central Time.
Bring sunglasses, a sun hat, a camera, sunscreen and clothes for the weather. Smoking, vaping, speakers and pets are not permitted, assistance dogs excepted.
Sources: Visit Panama City Beach on Shell Island, NOAA viewing guidelines, NOAA bottlenose dolphin species page, BeachGuide weather, NOAA hurricane climatology, sunset times.
Hour by Hour
The listing gives one fixed clock time, the tram departure. Everything else follows the start time you pick.
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Check-in
Arrive at the Pier Store
Park and check in at the Pier Store, St. Andrews State Park, 4607 State Park Ln, Panama City. Follow the signs from the entrance.
-
30 minutes before departure
Tram to the ferry dock
The tram leaves the Pier Store 30 minutes before the ferry departure and carries you and your group to the dock.
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Dolphin search
Cruise St. Andrews Bay
The double-deck motor catamaran heads out onto the bay with up to 45 guests. The crew watches for wild bottlenose dolphins as the light drops. Sightings are not guaranteed.
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Sunset
Bay cruise at golden hour
The boat cruises the bay as the sun goes down. Beer, wine and cold drinks are sold on board, and the sunset itself is not guaranteed either.
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Return
Back to the Pier Store area
After 1.5 hours on the water the cruise returns to the Pier Store area inside the park.
Pros and Cons
An honest look at what this listing does well and where it falls short against the other sunset boats on the bay.
What we genuinely like
- The cheapest sunset cruise on the catalog at $29 per person for 1.5 hours
- Wheelchair accessible, the only sunset cruise in the catalog marked so
- 4.6 rating from 309 GetYourGuide reviews
- Tram from the Pier Store to the dock, so no long walk with your things
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, with reserve now pay later
- Beer, wine and cold drinks sold on board
The honest downsides
- No Shell Island landing, the trip stays on the boat
- No snorkel gear and no snorkel stop
- Onboard refreshments cost extra, no outside food or drinks allowed
- Up to 45 guests, so a bigger crowd than the pontoons
- The park entrance pass is ambiguous in the listing, treat it as a possible extra at the gate
- The listing does not state whether there is a restroom on board
- Dolphin sightings and sunsets are not guaranteed
- Likely to sell out, so book early
Who it's NOT for: Not for travelers who want to set foot on Shell Island, snorkel, or avoid a 45-guest boat.
FAQ
What happens on a sunset dolphin cruise?
You park at the Pier Store inside the park, ride the tram to the ferry dock 30 minutes before departure, then a double-deck motor catamaran cruises St. Andrews Bay for 1.5 hours while the crew watches for dolphins. Details are in How the Trip Runs.
How long is the sunset dolphin cruise?
The listing gives the duration as 1.5 hours, the cheapest 90-minute sunset trip in the Shell Island dolphin tours compared list.
Do you have to pay to go to St. Andrews State Park?
The listing is contradictory: the Includes list shows a park entrance pass if you do not already own one, while Know before you go says to buy one if you do not have one. Treat it as a possible extra at the gate and confirm with the operator, as explained in What the Price Covers.
Is there a bathroom on board?
The listing does not state it, so treat it as not stated and ask the operator before booking if a restroom matters to you. The tiki boat option, the Shell Island Sunset Tiki Boat Tour, states a restroom on board.
Are dolphins and the sunset guaranteed?
No. The listing states plainly that dolphin sightings and sunsets are not guaranteed, and tours depart in all weather except severe weather. Wild dolphins are common in the bay but each trip varies, see the background in Dock, Dolphins and What to Bring.
Does this cruise stop at Shell Island?
No, there is no island landing and no snorkel stop is listed. For beach time from inside the park, the Shell Island Ferry from St. Andrews State Park crosses to the island instead.
What is the best season for the cruise?
The listing says to check availability for starting times, with no season dates given. A competing sunset cruise from Capt. Anderson's runs March through October 31 and daily from May 1 to September 1. Panama City sunsets run from 6:27 pm to 5:56 pm across October, Central Time.
What Travelers Said
Had a great experience! They were very informative and knowledgeable of the waters and saw tons of dolphins. It was a small group so he let our teenagers steer the boat. Which was above and beyond our expectations. Would definitely do it again.
It was amazing. There were dolphins all around the boat. The captain was very knowledgeable and nice.
Captain and crew were amazing. Got to see the dolphins and the sunset was unbelievable! Definitely recommend and would do again!!
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