10% OFF ADULT TICKETS

With the best views around and the quickest access to dolphins, Paradise Dolphin Cruises is committed to offering you one of the most amazing experiences of your life! Climb aboard the Kokomo, our 40-passenger catarmaran and the area’s newest dolphin boat­, with a canopied top, cushioned seats and restroom.

Sunset Dolphin Cruises runs daily and departs from the Wanchese Docks on Roanoke Island. Get ready to see some of the most beautiful wildlife you have ever seen!

Reservations are required so please book ahead of time to be sure space is available.

Book Now!

A family of passengers aboard Paradise Dolphin Cruises

The Kokomo boards in Wanchese on the Outer Banks and cruises the scenic Roanoke Sound in exploration of the magnificent paradise we call home. Our North Carolina shores offer breathtaking beauty that becomes a serene portrait aboard the Kokomo. Our goal for our guests is to search for bottlenose dolphins and local species of birds while taking pleasure in the splendid scenery along the way.  

A family of passengers aboard Paradise Dolphin Cruises

Bottlenose dolphins are well known for their intelligence, friendly disposition, and “smiling” faces. Dolphins have been interacting with humans for centuries and seem to have as much interest in us as we have in them. They often swim near the Kokomo, lifting their heads out of the water to get a glance at all the people onboard. As you embark on our 2 hour journey into the inland waters, we will witness some of the most spectacular scenes ever seen.  

The Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse on the east side of Roanoke Island stands watch over the quaint Manteo Waterfront. The Bodie Island Lighthouse is a majestic view from the Kokomo as we cruise south on the Roanoke Sound in search for dolphins.

The Osprey, also known as the fish hawk is always a welcomed sight from the Kokomo. Many say that the Osprey rule the Outer Banks, being a constant presence as they fly over our waters in search for their next meal.  The OBX is home to a wide variety of birds of prey, waterfowl, wading birds, terns and gulls, and shorebirds. The spectacular Outer Banks sunsets make our sunset cruises a fabulous way to end your day and begin your evening.

Dolphin sighting from Paradise Dolphin Cruises

Dolphin sighting from Paradise Dolphin Cruises

See what others are saying about us!

A view of Bodie Island Lighthouse from Paradise Dolphin Cruises

Passengers spot a dolphin from a Paradise Dolphin Cruise

Reservations are required so please book ahead of time to be sure space is available. A credit card is required to hold your reservation. Book Now!

Times:
Sunset Cruise times can vary.
Please call 252.573.0547 for more information.

Monday – Friday – 4 cruises including the Sunset Cruise
10:00am   1:00pm   3:30pm   6:30pm

Saturday – 2 cruises
10:00am   6:30pm

Arrival:
You MUST arrive 30 minutes prior to the cruise time.
If you arrive past the time of your scheduled cruise you could miss out.
If you are running late, please call us so we will know how to handle the reservation.

Questions? Click on the FAQ link!

Wanchese
Hours
*Off-season hours may vary*
Call 252-573-0547 for current hours.
  • Monday10:00am-6:30pm
  • Tuesday10:00am-6:30pm
  • Wednesday10:00am-6:30pm
  • Thursday10:00am-6:30pm
  • Friday10:00am-6:30pm
  • Saturday10:00am-6:30pm
Victory Beach Vacations

Visitors who are on the hunt for the postcard-perfect vacation rental in the heart of the Carolina Beach or Kure Beach area will find an enticing selection and plenty of friendly customer service when they rent through Victory Beach Vacations. Based in Carolina Beach in the coastal Cape Fear region, Victory Beach Vacations has more than 100 vacation rentals in all shapes and sizes to ensure that every vacationing family can find their dream home away from home on the beach.   When you book your Cape Fear getaway with Victory Beach Vacations, the fun doesn’t end when you leave the beach, it continues with an array of privately-owned properties outfitted with all of the amenities needed for a fabulous beach vacation.   Jenna Lanier, General Manager, explains that her family first opened the rental and property management business in 2002. At the forefront of Victory Beach operations is Lanier’s mother, Caroline Meeks. Meeks is both the Broker in Charge and co-owner with husband, Buck Meeks, who manages the Field Services team with Lanier’s husband, Scott.   For nearly 20 years, the Victory Beach team has worked tirelessly to establish a network of top-of-the-line rental properties for Cape Fear visitors to enjoy. “As far as our properties go,” explains Lanier, “they are all updated, well-furnished and appointed. “We have always performed post-cleaning inspections and since the pandemic, have put freshly laundered duvets over all of the comforters between rentals.”   Lanier emphasizes how important the guests experience is “we strive to give our guests a relaxing, stress free, memorable vacation.” This emphasis on customer service has led to Victory Beach Vacations having a 4.8 Google rating with over 300 reviews by happy owners and guests.In addition to Victory Beach’s superior sanitation practices, the company offers properties for every type of visitor. Choose from luxury oceanfront houses and condos to more reasonbly priced 2nd row properties with oceanviews. Many properties include pools and hot tubs as well, perfect for outdoor entertaining, and many are dog friendly.   Lanier also notes that all properties are within walking or driving distance to Pleasure Island’s main attractions – Carolina Beach and Kure Beach. The former, as described by Lanier, is the more commercialized of the two destinations and features a boardwalk, outdoor dining options and a plethora of weekly activities including fireworks, live music, amusement park pop-ups, and movies under the stars. Kure Beach offers a more residential feel with its fishing pier, intimate restaurants and family favorite, North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher.More water fun awaits, too. “There is a harbor and a canal that feed into the intercoastal. We have several properties on the harbor so guests can bring their boat, kayak, [or jet ski] and travel between islands,” says Lanier.   A stay with Victory Beach Vacations is an annual pilgrimage for most. “A large percentage of guests are previous guests. Some even reserve the same property for the next year as they’re checking out,” Lanier says. “It’s almost like it’s their personal vacation home.”   Even before guests arrive at their vacation destination, the Victory Beach Vacations’ website greets them with a live beach cam and exquisite aerial footage of both Carolina and Kure Beaches. See for yourself by scanning the QR code and call Victory Beach Vacations at 910.458.0868 to book your Cape Fear getaway. Start making your memories today! —Grace Silipigni