The Fun Boats run out of Bayou Road near Perdido Pass, and they’ve been at it long enough to be the default answer when someone asks us where to take the kids to see dolphins. Two identical boats work from the same marina, which in practice means more departure times and less “sorry, we’re full” in July. The dock is in the Perdido Pass marina district, a short hop from the bridge whether you’re coming from Orange Beach or over the state line from the Key.
The cruise
Daytime and sunset trips both run two hours. The day version is dolphin watching plus a sea-life demonstration plus, in their own words, a water fight — the water part is entirely optional, and there’s a dry cabin for anyone who’d rather stay that way. The boats can run out into the Gulf when conditions allow, which is where the back-bay operators can’t follow. The sunset cruise trades the water fight for the view over the pass, and it’s the one to book if the group skews adult. There’s inside and outside seating, restrooms on board, life jackets for everyone, and drinks and snacks for purchase, so nobody’s white-knuckling it with a toddler.
Who it’s for
Families with young kids, first-timers, and anyone who wants a boat ride without committing a whole afternoon or a charter-sized budget. Serious wildlife photographers will want a smaller boat; this is a fun cruise, and the name is the disclosure.
Good to know
This is one of the cheaper tickets on the island — check their site for current rates. Bad weather gets you a refund or reschedule, not a shrug. Book online, and read your confirmation before you leave the condo: the two boats load from different parking lots, and the email or text tells you which address is yours. For the other options along this stretch, see our dolphin cruise roundup.
