Crab Island Pontoon Boat Tour Destin: 3-Hour Small Group Charter

Swim and float at Crab Island in three hours, then step back on the dock with the afternoon still ahead

A three-hour pontoon boat tour to Crab Island in Destin carries a maximum of six guests with a U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain. You swim and float in the clear emerald waters using a floating lily pad, paddleboards, or floating chairs, with cooler, ice and water provided. The small group size and personalized pace set this charter apart from crowded party boats operating the same waters.

Step-by-step itinerary

Three hour Crab Island boat tour

• Board small-group boat
• Relax and enjoy emerald waters
• Swim and float at Crab Island
• Use paddleboards and floating chairs
• Listen to music on Bluetooth stereo
• Bring your own alcohol if desired
• Return to dock after three hours

The experience

The boat leaves Destin with just six people aboard. You, whoever came with you, and room to move. A floating 10-foot lily pad, two paddleboards and six floating chairs go in the water so everyone finds their own way to spend the three hours. The cooler holds ice, cups and bottled water. If you're 21 or older, you can bring your own drinks since Crab Island itself doesn't sell alcohol. The captain is licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard and the boat runs on a schedule that fits your group, not a fixed timetable that rushes you through the day.

Crab Island sits in shallow, clear water where you can see the bottom. The emerald color is what people come for, and the shallowness is what makes floating and paddling work without a strong current. The lily pad floats low enough that kids can climb on and off easily, and the paddleboards let you move around if you want to explore. Most of the day you're in the water or on the water, so bring a swimsuit and sunscreen. The boat has a Bluetooth stereo so you can play your own music while you're drifting.

Three hours is long enough to swim, float, paddleboard and eat a snack without feeling rushed, but short enough that you have the rest of your Destin day open. Families with children as young as two come on this tour. The shallow water and small group mean kids stay in sight and the pace stays calm. Couples and groups of friends book it for the same reason: space to relax without the noise and crowd of larger charters.

What’s included

• Three-hour pontoon boat charter with U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain.
• floating 10-foot lily pad, two paddleboards and six floating chairs.
• cooler with ice, cups and bottled water.
• Bluetooth stereo for your own music.

Information

Lasts 3h, from US$ 75 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 6 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesNext departure: 1 Mar 20279 departing soon ›

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (12 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 90 years) · Youth (2 to 11 years)

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPets welcomeNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Cruise Destin Bay

Is this one for you?Three hours leaves your afternoon free, which is the point. You get a full float at Crab Island without losing the rest of your Destin day to a boat tour. The six-person limit and personalized pace mean you're not waiting for a crowded boat to move or sitting through a fixed schedule that doesn't match your group's speed.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (2 to 11 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's actually in the water at Crab Island, is it a beach or just a sandbar?

Crab Island is a shallow sandbar in emerald water where you can see the bottom. It's not a developed beach with facilities. The appeal is the clear water and the space to float and swim in a calm, shallow spot without a strong current or undertow.

Can I bring food and drinks on the Crab Island pontoon boat?

You can bring your own food. The boat provides cooler, ice, cups and bottled water. Alcohol is welcome if you're 21 or older: Crab Island itself doesn't sell drinks, so BYOB is the setup.

How many people fit on the pontoon boat, and will it feel crowded?

The tour is limited to six guests maximum, which is why it doesn't feel like the party boats that carry dozens. Everyone gets space to move, sit or float without jostling for room.

Is the captain there the whole time, or does the boat anchor and leave?

A U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain runs the boat for the full three hours. The tour is personalized to your group (no fixed schedule, no rushing), so the captain stays with you and adjusts the pace to what your group wants.

What should I bring for a three-hour float at Crab Island?

Bring a swimsuit, sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat or visor. The boat provides water and ice. You can bring snacks and drinks. Towels are not provided, so bring one if you want to dry off before heading back to shore.