Ship Island Excursions
4.7(1.6K)google
4.6(252)yelp
Water Activity
Overview
Ship Island is a barrier island off the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, one of the Mississippi–Alabama barrier islands. Hurricane Camille split the island into two separate islands (West Ship Island and East Ship Island) in 1969. In early 2019, the US Army Corps of Engineers completed the first stage of a project rejoining the two islands and recreating one Ship Island.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration4-8 hours
Best TimeBest experienced from May to October. You must book the morning's first 9:00 AM ferry departure from the Gulfport harbor (arriving 45 minutes early is advised); morning waters are generally glassy and smooth, maximizing your chances of spotting wild dolphin pods surfing the boat's wake.
Getting ThereDeparts from the Gulfport Small Craft Harbor inside Jones Park. Drive to the intersection of US-90 and US-49, then turn south straight into the beachside parkway. The marina terminal provides an enormous free public parking lot situated just a 2-minute walk from the ferry boarding pier.
Travel Tips
- Ferries depart on the minute from Gulfport Small Craft Harbor; weather and sea state cancellations are decided at 6:30 AM daily and posted straight to their official web notification banner.
- Motion sickness countermeasures must be ingested 30 minutes prior to boarding; deep-water cross swells cause severe pitching. Standing on open gunwales or running in seating aisles is illegal.
Photo Tips
Photo Rules
- Strict structural sizing limits apply to carry-on baggage due to ferry deck layouts; large hardside rolling luggage, rigid pet crates, and heavy commercial media jibs are legally barred.
Reviews
Positive
- The ferry cruise to West Ship Island is visually stunning; pods of dolphins frequently leap alongside the waves, maximizing the fun.
- The island beach is pristine, and the water is noticeably clearer and greener than mainland shores—a true Mississippi oasis.
- The ferry interior is spacious with clean restrooms and a snack bar; crews deliver highly professional safety briefings with warmth.
- Conveniently located with the boarding pier at Gulfport Harbor; a huge dedicated lot sits right next door with clear signs.
Heads up
- The ferry tickets plus island umbrella rentals aren't cheap; if bad weather cancels departures, the refund process can be long.
- Peak summer runs heavy visitor density; boat cabins get crowded and stuffy, forcing you to line up early to grab window seats.
- West Ship Island features near zero natural shade trees outside the historic fort; the scorching sun leaves you nowhere to hide.
- Multilingual service and signs are severely lacking; island announcements are in English, raising anxiety for non-English guests.