Meteor showers occur annually; however, I have yet to see the “shooting stars” for myself.
From a young age, I’ve always admired the night sky. Anytime we were traveling at night, my mom would recite an old English poem: I see the moon, and the moon sees me; God bless the moon, and God bless me. Naturally, the moon and the stars became synonymous with my inner peace.
While I’ve experienced solar and lunar eclipses, being surrounded by light pollution is one of the main reasons I have not experienced this spectacular celestial phenomenon. Mid-August is peak season to view the Perseid meteor showers, which are known to produce up to 100 of the brightest meteors per hour.
I knew if I wanted to see the most dramatic amount of extra-bright glowing trails, then I’d need to be under an open sky and away from the light pollution of Myrtle Beach. This is when I discovered that Hurricane Fleet, a local fishing and dolphin cruise company, offered themed cruises to experience events such as this.
Boarding the Perseid Meteor Shower Cruise
Upon reserving the tour, our email confirmation notified us to arrive at the departure location in Calabash, NC, a charming fishing town located about 30 minutes North of Myrtle Beach. Check-in lasted roughly an hour to ensure everyone was accounted for, so I’d recommend arriving at least 45 minutes before departure. Watching the boats arrive as the sun set over the Calabash River made the wait time more enjoyable.
Meteor Experience Aboard Hurricane II
Hurricane II is a 95-foot boat that is commonly used for dolphin, sunset, and themed cruises. This vessel offers open seating with plenty of walking space, an air-conditioned main galley fully equipped with a snack bar, and on-board bathrooms. As we boarded, I couldn’t help but notice that over 100 people had the same idea: to view the most dramatic astral event in the most unique way possible.
Knowing my party and I wanted to take full advantage of the pre-star show snack bar, we chose to sit in the main galley area while we waited for departure. As we cruised down the Intracoastal Waterway and through the barrier islands that divide North and South Carolina, a gentle wind kissed my cheek, and the breathtaking view of shimmering stars created an experience unlike anything on land.
The captain announced we would be “going dark,” and the lights on the boat began to dim. According to the National Park Service, one hoping to get the most out of stargazing should “spend enough time outside away from bright lights to allow your eyes to adjust.” This adjustment could take approximately 30 minutes.
People began finding their own space to view the meteors, as the boat offered a 360-degree view of the sky. Drifting towards the edges of the deck, families nestled in small groups, as their voices were softened by the sound of the waves beating against the boat.
After the long-awaited anticipation, I finally saw a flash as the glowing streak painted the night sky for only a split second. And then, another, and another. We stood there, gazing in wonder from the vast sea as the cruise perfectly positioned the view of the night sky away from the city lights.
Keeping our gazes upward, for the next hour, we began to see more meteors streak across the sky like paint on canvas made of glitter. Initially, I expected that having over 100 people aboard would feel tightly cramped. Surprisingly, the atmosphere was calm. The spaciousness of the boat, with the top deck and open seating all around, provided a sense of tranquility, only adding to the enjoyment of the 2-hour tour.
The crew of Hurricane Fleet was delightful in accommodating the number of people with ease. I greatly look forward to booking another excursion, whether it’s a themed cruise, a dolphin cruise, or a fishing trip.
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