Holiday Lights Cruise
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September 2026
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Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.0/5
Based on 4 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Holiday Lights Cruise worth booking?
Holiday Lights Cruise is a 1-hour experience in Wilmington, United States, from $25 per person. It scores 55 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4/5 rating across 4 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 55 / 100
- Rating
- 4/5 (4)
- Duration
- 1 hours
- From
- $25 per person
Enclosed heated catamaran decorated for the holidays. Welcomed by our friendly staff and Local musicians playing familiar holiday tunes. Enjoy comfortable seating while cruising along the Wilmington Waterfront "dressed u
What you get
About this experience
Enclosed heated catamaran decorated for the holidays. Welcomed by our friendly staff and Local musicians playing familiar holiday tunes. Enjoy comfortable seating while cruising along the Wilmington Waterfront "dressed up" for the holidays. Our full-service bar includes non-alcoholic & alcoholic beverages and holiday treats. We accept cash, debit, and credit cards. ~ Wheelchair accessible for single-size non-motorized wheelchair. Clean bathroom onboard. Parking on the street, Orange, Ann & Front St. at the meter $3/hr Free after 6:30pm. Private lots located corner of Water & Orange Street (enter between Dok & Water St.$7/hr. City Parking deck located on Market St. between Second & Front St. First hour free then $1/hr. Parking deck 3 blocks from boat landing.
What's included
Included
- Holiday treats
- Live Music, Capatin, Mate, Bartender
Not included
- Not a guided Tour.
What you'll see and do
Spirit of the Holidays Cruise on the Cape Fear River, enjoy the sights, sounds, and tastes of the Holidays with live local musicians. Friday & Saturday nights. November 24th through December 30th. Featuring festive tasty cocktails & treats
Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Wilmington
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Returns to the starting point
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Fri, Sat
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Wilmington Water Tours
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 4 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
1 mentionReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Food and drink
1 mentionThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Good for families
1 mentionReviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
Traveler reviews
4 verified traveler reviews for Holiday Lights Cruise. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
The experience itself was...
The experience itself was good. The four star rating was due to a very limited bar selection. Their special holiday drinks where not available due to not having the liquor in addition to some standard wine choices. I'm not a big drinker but if you're going to advertise a boat with a bar seems you should have it stocked especially at holiday time. That was disappointing.
Response from the operator: Thanks for cruising with us and for writing a review! We are a 49 passenger boat that offers 9 different wines, including 2-3 reds, whites, rose, champagne, cava, sustainable organics, 8-10 different beers including domestic, imports, local craft, 16 different alcohols. We had our busiest weekend in 17 years, and holiday drinks (all 8 of them) were extremely popular. In North Carolina businesses have to order & pick up alcohol through ABC commission. They aren't open on the weekends. So terribly sorry you we unable to enjoy our popular holiday libations. We'll be ready for you this year! :) Cheers! Diane
via Viator
This cruise was a big disappointment.
I learned of the Wilmington Water Tours Holiday Lights cruise from an article that I read on-line that said that this boat tour was a great way to see downtown Wilmington's festive holiday lights AND see the weekend drone show over the Cape Fear River. The tour provider's website said to "enjoy holiday tunes from our local musicians". That sounded like so much fun! I booked the 12/27/25 7:00 p.m. cruise for my family of 9 so that we would be on the boat for Wilmington's drone show from 7:30-7:45. I did not see one drone. The 3 members of our family sitting at the front of the boat could see part of the show. The 6 of us at the back of the boat could not see any of it. We were sitting by the bar and their cooler was leaking water on the floor right by where we would have had to walk to stand at the front of the boat to see a glimpse of the drone show and we didn't want to walk through the possibly slippery puddle to stand up front. While the musician's music was nice - it was not holiday tunes! He played music like "American Pie"! Oh my. He played one holiday tune - Elvis's "Blue Christmas". I was quite disappointed. I do not recommend this Holiday Lights Cruise. I'm sure they are a good tour provider but this tour was not as it was advertised.
Response from the operator: I'm sorry to hear you thought the cruise was a big disappointment. We will share your post with our employees for improvement. Sitting on the stern, where it sounds like most of your family was is the "full view" of the 1.7 mile riverwalk from the Historic District, Market Street, Downtown Christmas Tree, and beyond, it was splendidly lit up for the holidays. We hope you enjoyed the views.
via Tripadvisor
Fun
We loved every minute of it, and the staff was wonderful. The captain was very accommodating and told us special things about the history and the musician played perfectly wonderful music. We had a ball.
Response from the operator: Thank you for cruising with us and for taking the time to write a review. So glad to know you enjoyed your time on our festive holiday cruise :)
via Tripadvisor
Holiday Lights Cruise
Fun Holiday Lights boat cruise. It rained on and off during our voyage but the staff did their best to still try make the ride fun. We rode on the 7pm cruise which lasts a little over an hour. Loved the musician on the boat playing and singing live Christmas music. There were not any boats lit up on the water probably due to the rain except the Henrietta but were alot of lights on from Riverwalk and other Wilmington buildings. We still enjoyed the actual atmosphere of the boat, kind staff, and the Rum Punch!
Response from the operator: So glad to know you enjoyed our Holiday Lights Cruise! Thank you for taking the time to write a review
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 1 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Fri, Sat
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 1
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 55
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Holiday Lights Cruise: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Wilmington.
How much does Holiday Lights Cruise cost?
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Prices start at $25 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Wilmington usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Holiday Lights Cruise take?
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Plan for about 1 hour from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Wilmington is not rushed.
Is Holiday Lights Cruise worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 55 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4/5 across 4 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Wilmington, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Holiday Lights Cruise?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Holiday Lights Cruise suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 1-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Holiday Lights Cruise?
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Around 1 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Wilmington can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Wilmington and add a light layer if any part of the 1-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Holiday Lights Cruise start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Wilmington within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Wilmington?
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Wilmington runs riverfront history and ghost walks, Battleship North Carolina visits, film-location tours, and boat trips out to Wrightsville Beach and Masonboro Island. On Outty we rank every Wilmington experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include History and Architecture Walking Tour, THE Wilmington History, Haunts & Breweries E-Bike Tour (4 hr), Sailing Charters in Wilmington. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Wilmington?
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April to June and September to October. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Wilmington?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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