Experiences
The Assateague Island Boat Tour is one of our most popular trips! Once you board the Bay Hopper, we’ll cruise to the magical and elusive Assateague Island. This island is famous for its wild ponies, unicorns, and the gumdrops that fall from the sky!
How did the ponies get there? Did they swim? How many ponies live there? Can you pet the ponies? Can you feed the ponies? The answers to these questions, facts about the island, and the other amazing wildlife living on - and around - Assateague can be answered by your knowledgeable and wise captain.
This is a trip you will not forget. Oh, we should mention that if you have kids and you bring them on this trip that they will love you forever! Don’t be a bad parent. Book this trip now!
Please note that the part about the unicorns and gumdrops might be a very slight exaggeration.
Crabbing and eating these interesting creatures is a Maryland tradition. If you've ever wondered how to catch a blue crab or how to eat them then this is the trip for you! Likewise, if you grew up eating crabs and want a taste of the past or would like to give your kids some of the great memories you have then this trip is a must.
On this trip, your captain - a seasoned seaman and crabber – will guide you to some of the hottest spots on the Bay for catching crabs. Your sneaky captain will have already dropped some crab pots in his favorite crabbing locations so that by the time you reach them they'll already have a bunch of delicious creatures crawling around inside.
Once anchored, you’ll be recruited to help haul in the bounty! The captain will teach you everything you need to know about crabs – including how to cook and eat them. This is a great opportunity to get your hands dirty.
When you depart the boat at the end of the trip, your captain will divide up the bounty amongst all who want to devour them – which is typically everyone. This trip is a big hit with the kids!
What happens when you take pizza and you add that to a boat on the water? Mama mia - I'll tell you what happens - you get a great time!!!
If you're tired of getting pizza delivered and eating it on your couch or gobbling a hot slice while sitting in a car - then we have a solution. It's called the OC Bay Hopper Pizza Cruise.
We'll leave the dock at the Bay Hopper Kiosk on 118th street with some delicious pizza from Squarz Pizzeria on the boat for your cruise! You choose the type of pizza and maybe throw in a few sides… and feel free to bring any drinks that will make the experience even more memorable (adult beverages or otherwise!)
This 90 minute cruise will have you and your family or group of friends avoiding the lines at various restaurants and enjoying your meal with the incredible coastal bays as a backdrop.
A real memory-maker!
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If you’re looking for a great way to unwind then this cruise is it! You’ll board our Bay Hopper at either our West OC or our North OC location. We’ll then head out into the Assawoman Bay. The Bay in the evening slows down and gets calm and quiet. All you have to do is sit back, grab your favorite beverage, take a deep breath of the salty ocean air, and relax.
The Bay Hopper will glide you across the water giving you a front row seat to some of the Bay’s most amazing wildlife. At this point, you might reach for one of those delicious snacks you packed for the trip and notice the lights in OC start to pop on. Then, you simply watch the sun melt into the water. At this point you’ll feel so relaxed that you might not be able to keep your eyes open.
Once the sun sets, your captain will pilot the Bay Hopper back to our pier and you can start your evening on the town refreshed. Or, you have a couple of more drinks, look at the tv for a while and go to sleep. Either way, you’ll feel good.
This is the perfect trip for foodies looking for something other than the typical day at the beach. When embarking on this tour, you will receive a one-of-a-kind OC experience as you spend a few hours with Sandy Gillis. Sandy is an OC resident and an OC restaurant aficionado.
In addition to a tour of some of OC most popular waterfront restaurants, you will also spend some time on Gillis Island. Gillis Island is Sandy’s beautiful waterfront home which includes an epic, private beach bar! A cool drink on Gillis Island is something you won’t forget and it is part of this amazing trip.
On your tour of the OC restaurants, you'll sample delicious foods and some tasty cocktails. Depending on your departure point, you’ll stop at 2 of the following: Hoopers, 45th Street Taphouse, Tailchasers, Green Turtle. Sandy will fill you in on all the fascinating facts about OC and the restaurants you visit.
When this trip is over, you’ll have more than just a full belly – you'll have also learned a few things.
Ever hear the expression “tastes like heaven?” Do you think heaven has a taste? Well, if heaven was to have a taste and there was some way for you to put heaven in your mouth then we think we know what this taste would be like. If you’d like to find out, then get on our famous Ice Cream Cruise!
Yes folks, this is the one and only OC Bay Hopper Ice Cream Cruise! Get off the beach and take a one-hour trip on the beautiful Assawoman Bay to sample a variety of mouthwatering, award-winning, small-batch, gourmet ice cream.
This cruise only serves Taharka Bros ice cream! If you don’t know Taharka – the best way to describe it is that it “tastes like heaven.” This is amazing ice cream made in Baltimore. You’ll try some very interesting flavors like the award-winning honey graham, mint flix and chillz, coffee oreo and more. If you want to score some points with your kids or find something to bribe them with then here it is!
The Maryland Coastal Bays Program has been protecting the pristine beauty of the coastal Ocean City region for more that 24 years. On this trip, you’ll be joined by members of the Maryland Coastal Bays Program as you tour the Assawoman and Sinepuxent Bays. You’ll have experts on the boat who will explain what the Maryland Coastal Bays Program is doing to preserve this natural treasure. You’ll also learn about the incredible wildlife inhabiting the coastal bay region.
A highlight of this trip will be a stop at the amazing Assateague Island! Here, you’ll see the famous wild ponies that occupy this island, and you’ll also have a hands-on opportunity to learn about the marine life inhabiting the waters around the island. Get ready for an amazing learning adventure. Don’t forget the camera and the kids! Kids love this trip!
PLEASE NOTE: a portion of profits from this trip will go to support the Maryland Coastal Bays Program.
At the OC Bay Hopper, we’re all about making things easy for our customers. With the Greene Turtle Lunch Cruise, we’ve done tons and tons of work to craft a unique experience for you that will make your head explode! And the only thing you need to do is gather some friends or family, buy a ticket, and get on the boat. (oh, and bring plenty of your favorite adult beverages to share!)
Each member of your group will also get their choice of some fantastic Green Turtle grub - specifically re-imagined for enjoyment on a boat. You’ll get your choice of one of the following:
- Chicken Bacon Avocado Sandwich (chicken, bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato)
- Crabby Melt (crab dip, bacon, tomato, cheddar cheese)
- Adult Grilled Cheese (bbq pulled pork, gouda cheese, pepperjack cheese, bacon)
- Jerk Chicken Tacos
- Grilled Shrimp Tacos
- Shredded Chicken Tacos
After selecting the cruise, you will be prompted to select your food order, which IS NOT included in the price of the trip.
Mix all this together and you get a boatload of fun.
Beer, Hard Seltzers and Canned Cocktail Drinks are available for purchase with your lunch.
Got a group of 6 people or less and looking for something different to do in Ocean City? Try our new Harborside “Orange Crush” Lunch Cruise… Experience the bay behind Assateague Island like the locals do: with a cold cocktail and lunch and head out for an exploration of Assateague Island (keep your eyes peeled for the ponies, and potentially dolphins!). The very best part? Each food order (must be > 21) will get an Orange Crush from the bar that invented the drink! (and we have cold water onboard for all passengers.) (additional Orange Crushes are available for an extra charge)
Great food, cold drinks, a friendly captain and some of Ocean City’s best natural scenery: This is a CAN’T MISS experience for your friends or family.
Please Note: The Trip Cost and Food/Drink Costs are separate. After booking the trip you will be prompted to select your food, drink and sides!
Are you a morning person? If so, join us at our West OC location for a great morning wake-up! By partnering with the One Love Smoothie Café, we’ll serve you up a 90 minute morning cruise that will rejuvenate you and prepare you for a full day in OC!
(Coffee and Smoothies cost separate, and are selected during trip purchase)
Let’s start with the coffee. One Love has some fantastic coffee made with Ethiopian Yirgacheffe beans. We’ll put a cup of this delicious brew in your hands to get your blood flowing. Then, how about a healthy and delectable smoothy to follow-up the coffee. You know you’ll need the vitamins and other nutrients that these all natural, hand-crafted smoothies can deliver.
You’ll have your choice one of 4 delicious smoothies:
- Mango Madness (mango, pineapple, banana, avocado, and honey
- Pina Colada (banana, pineapple, coconut milk, mango, and vanilla)
- Dreamsicle (vanilla soy milk, strawberries, bananas, fresh squeezed orange juice)
- One Love Signature Smoothie
With your coffee and/or smoothie in hand, the OC Bay Hopper will head out to tour Ocean City’s commercial harbor and on to beautiful Assateague Island! Get ready to see the wild Assateague ponies and enjoy the smooth beauty of the coastal bay region. By the time we get back to the Bay Hopper pier you’ll be ready to take on the world!
Each morning and afternoon our West OC Bayhopper will make a planned run between our West OC location, a drop off at the north end of Assateauge Island, pickups at the Glen Riddle Community and Ocean Pines Community, and a final stop at the brand new Embers Retail Center on 24th Street (with easy access to the north end of OC’s iconic Boardwalk!)
This trip is considered a “shuttle” run and is priced accordingly: Just $15/pp (one way) and $25/pp for a round trip. Get connected with our regularly scheduled shuttle between 118th street and Embers and move around Ocean City on the water!
We know you work hard and if you're in OC then you're probably here to relax. So, we have created this cruise for you.
Join us for a stress melting, special cruise on the Assawoman Bay. Board one of our Bay Hoppers at our 118th street location in Ocean City OR Downtown at our new location next to Jackspot (307 Dorchester); our USCG Licensed captains will take you on a soothing cruise and show you OC by water. You'll find yourself gliding across water that looks like glass while enjoying an ice cold adult beverage. All your stress will float away. Before you know it, you'll be laughing it up with a bunch of new friends and contemplating how you can quit your job and start a new life in OC.
This cruise will be stocked with some fine brews, twisted teas, and alcoholic seltzers. And, because we want you to enjoy yourself - your first beverage is on us! This is an adults only cruise so, you MUST BE 21 OR OLDER TO TAKE THIS TRIP.
Just want to get out on the water, and off the beach, for some day drinking and bar hopping? There are over 23 bars and restaurants on the coastal bays waterfront that are accessible on the water. On this Bay Adventure, you will stop at 3 of them and get to see the entirety of Ocean City by water! The bar hopping will start in West OC's Commercial Harbor (Have an Orange Crush at Harborside!) and then continue on to Fish Tails... A final stop will be Ocean City's most famous location: Seacrets!!! Find a spot you love? No worries, you can skip the rest of the trip at any time...
Looking for a fun way to get up close and personal with Assateague Island's wild ponies? Then hop aboard the Assateague Island Swim Cruise, where you'll have the chance to see these majestic creatures in all their glory - from a safe distance, of course!
But the real highlight of this 3-hour excursion is the opportunity to take a dip in the calm, shallow waters behind the island. Just be sure to keep an eye out for any curious ponies who might be tempted to join you for a swim!
This adventure takes place every Tuesday from 12pm to 3pm, departing from the OC Bay Hopper North OC location at 118th street in Ocean City. So don't miss out on the chance to get wet and wild with some of Maryland's most famous four-legged residents!
The brand new Jackspot Restaurant, which is right next to our downtown location, offers lunch and dinner with an incredible view of the bay- but we think we can top that: How about ordering through the OC Bay Hopper App and taking your lunch on a fabulous tour of Assateague Island and the West OC Harbor!
Lunch on a boat, wow!
This lunch cruise is offered daily AND THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE lunch: you order that separately through our app.
But you will get a great boat ride, an incredible view, and that Jackspot Lunch is an added bonus.
What if OC Bay Hopper decided to take their two best trips and combine them? Oh wait, WE DID!
Imagine this: You kick back and relax - on a boat - with some mouth-watering, gourmet ice cream while soaking in the breathtaking beauty of Assateague Island.
Join us on a one-hour cruise departing from our Downtown location, where you can indulge in some serious bird watching, with a very good chance of getting a close up view of some wild ponies and maybe even some playful dolphins! Got little ones (or just kids who need a bit of distraction)? We've got you covered with binoculars, bingo cards, and bubbles - that's right, the triple Bs!
And the cherry on top? We serve only award-winning Taharka Bros ice cream on this cruise! If you haven't tried Taharka yet, get ready for a treat that "tastes like heaven." This Baltimore-made ice cream is amazing - with unique flavors like Honey Graham, Mintflix and Chillz, Coffee Oreo, and more. Want to earn some major brownie points with your kids? Look no further!
As we cruise to this enchanting island, keep your eyes peeled for the famous wild ponies. Did they swim here? Do they secretly moonlight as lifeguards? Your knowledgeable and wise captain will unravel these mysteries, sharing fascinating facts about the island and its incredible wildlife. Spoiler alert: you can’t pet or feed the ponies, but they sure do love posing for your photos!
But wait, there’s more! Our cruise offers a selection of delightful alcoholic drinks for sale, and guess what? Your first drink is on us! So, grab a cocktail, relax, and let the magic of Assateague Island wash over you. Sip your drink as you marvel at herons gliding gracefully above, and maybe even spot a dolphin or two playing in the waves.