Carolina Marine Group — Local services in Charleston

10/18/20: Carolina Marine Group did reach out and apologize. Due to the fact that the weather was not great we did not go out into the harbor which is why we didn't receive the history we were expecting. There seemed to have been a little bit of miscommunication. They did fully refund us for our trip which is very nice of them and it was not expected. They really want their customers to be satisfied. I changed the review because they did reach out not only apologize but go once step further and refund us.

10/13/20: I really think I am the only negative review. Which is unfortunate.. because I choose this company for their reviews. I just was soooo disappointed in the boat tour. I clearly had different expectations based on other boat tours I have experienced in the past. I was thinking more of a romantic boat tour where our tour guide was going to go over history and point out different things of Charleston. But this was not the case. The smaller more intimate boat was the boat we were suppose to have booked but it was having problems which Capt Dave did fully explain the day before the boat tour. The boat we did end up touring was much larger meant for bigger parties. It was very awkward and the seating of the boat was awkward for only two people. It was clearly meant for a larger group of people. We did the cigar and bourbon tour which would of been kinda cool if capt dave didn’t point out on multiple occasions how he had to run around and get everything. Which is great and we appreciated it. But don’t offer something then complain about it, it makes your customers feel like a burden for a service you’re suppose to offer?

Anyways, overall it felt like the biggest waste of money. He didn’t go over anything of Charleston other than restaurants when we asked at the end of the tour. I’m not sure if this is normally how his tours go but honestly just not want I was expecting .. extremely disappointed. We spent 460 dollars for a awkward 2 hour ride when he cleaned his windows of the boat. Biggest waste of money we spent...

I should have known from the very beginning that booking “Southern Comfort” was a terrible idea. We were obviously dealing with incompetent people when it took almost 3 weeks just to complete a simple reservation. Chris McIntire (the manager/owner) pawns everything off on someone named Angela and getting in touch with her proved to be next to impossible. Six friends and I booked “Southern Comfort” to celebrate a friend’s 40th birthday, in hopes of a fun and memorable weekend. But this trip was memorable for all the wrong reasons…no AC on more than half of the boat in August, water pressure was barely a trickle so we were forced to shower in the public bathhouse, the yacht was not “stocked” as promised, we never saw nor heard from Chris or the crew for the four days we were there, the yacht is in no way walking distance or a few blocks from downtown as stated, and (the worst part of all) we have still yet to receive our $500 deposit back after 8 weeks since our departure. Chris has promised on multiple occasions that the “check is in the mail” and apologized for it taking so long, but we have yet to see it. From the sound of other reviews and our experience, he is a con-artist and liar. He talks up the yacht, what’s included on the boat, and the experience of staying onboard, but all of it is grossly misrepresented. He makes promises he never intends to keep and says whatever sounds appealing to potential guests to get bookings. Phone calls, voicemails, texts and emails were rarely answered and if they were, it was days or weeks later. Also, found it interesting that he was so difficult to get in touch with until AFTER our departure, when his true colors came out: unprofessional games of he said/she said as well as a very smug, condescending, arrogant attitude and of course, more lies. Please take my advice and stay away from this yacht or any property owned/managed by Chris McIntire! Read the negative reviews and take them...

I read somewhere the Charleston was a great getaway. We have lived in the “South” now for 5 years having moved to Atlanta from Chicago, the in-laws followed last year. So suddenly the timing was right and the grandparents volunteered to watch the twins.

I found Southern Comfort on a google search and then couldn’t find it again. Ended up on VRBO and there it was. I called the owner and even though it was the off season (january) and late on a Friday he said he’d make it happen.

The drive to Charleston was long, stopped for dinner in Columbia and we didn’t get to the marina until well past 11 PM. I called the owner and he was more than helpful staying on the phone with me while I found my way to the boat. I’ve got to tell you the marina is dark, there are lights but its still dark. That at first seems like a big negative but it is not.

Once aboard it was awesome. The boat is huge, the photos don’t do it justice it is seriously so much bigger than I expected.

The crew had added nice touches, like flowers and a bottle of wine. We made coffee instead and at midnight grabbed a blanket, sat out on the front deck “bow” area and watched the stars marveling at the quiet. We sleep in on Saturday and found our way to the marina restaurant which was perfect late breakfast.

I could go on but let me just say we will definitely be back may bring the in-laws, then again maybe not.

The only negative was having to leave. Thank you Chris and Ellie for the very late check-out.

Nate and...