House boat

The Cove - Houseboat Tranquility

Photo gallery for The Cove - Houseboat Tranquility

Outdoor dining
Terrace/patio
Marina
Living area
Dining

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6111.5 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Air conditioning
  • Kitchen
  • Outdoor space

Explore the area

Map
Wilmington, NC
  • Riverwalk
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Live Oak Bank Pavilion
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Wilmington Convention Center
    ‪11 min walk‬
  • Wilmington, NC (ILM-Wilmington Intl.)
    ‪6 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Living Room 1

1 Double Sofa Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Separate dining area
Dining area

About this property

The Cove - Houseboat Tranquility

Welcome to The Cove, Wilmington's most unique vacation rental community.

Floating atop the Cape Fear River, our Riverwalk Villa community offers an experience unlike any you've had before.

From the gentle rocking of the river, to the peaceful view of the sunset, your stay at The Cove is sure to leave you feeling refreshed, restored, and wanting to return again soon.

@thecove_wilmington (IG/FB/TT)

The space

After parking in our free lot and making the 4 minute stroll down onto the docks of the Port City Marina, you’ll arrive at The Cove, Riverwalk Villas. Secured with dock ties and connected to electricity and water, you'll quickly realize that a stay at our dockside community offers the perfect mix of adventure, luxury and relaxation.

Upon entering your villa, you’ll notice the spacious open concept kitchen/dining/living area and think to yourself, "I should have brought more friends!" (Don't worry, there's always next time.)

Cooking & Eating:
With a dining table that seats four, three benches along the island, and a kitchen stocked with everything you need to make a great meal, you could actually host your next Thanksgiving here. Complementary coffee, creamer and sugar are provided, alongside a drip coffee maker.

Living Room 1:
If cooking isn't your idea of fun, you may be more drawn to the beautifully decorated downstairs living space, where you can relax on the cozy couch surrounded by tall windows that overlook the Marina.

Bathroom 1:
Just past the common area is the first floor bathroom, which features a walk-in shower and full size washer and dryer. Complementary shampoo, conditioner and body wash are provided in each of the bathrooms, as well as laundry pods, dryer sheets, hair dryer and a steamer.

Bedroom 1 (Queen):
Connected by a pocket door is the downstairs bedroom with a Queen bed, large closet, ceiling fan, 40" Smart TV, and access door to the quaint back patio; a great spot for some quiet reading or alone time.

Living Room 2 (Sofa bed):
As you make your way upstairs, you'll discover another large living space with cozy furniture (with pull out sleeper), 60" Smart TV, and a beautiful view of the Cape Fear River through the sliding glass doors.

Upstairs Patio:
Just outside those doors, you'll find yourself on a large patio featuring an outdoor bar (sink & mini fridge), and a variety of comfortable furniture options. This patio is a fan favorite for everything from morning coffee, afternoon reading, evening spirits, or enjoying a meal. In the Summer months, you'll often hear live music coming from Marina Grill, our delicious on-site restaurant, or Live Oak Bank Pavilion Amphitheater, which is only a block away.

Bedroom 2 (King):
Back inside and beyond the living room is the second floor bedroom, featuring a King bed, dresser, large closet, ceiling fan & 55" Smart TV.

Bathroom 2:
The pocket door connects you from the bedroom to the second floor full bath.

Location:

The Cove is located in Port City Marina, which sits on the North end of the Riverwalk in Downtown Wilmington. Just a few steps from the Wilmington Convention Center and one block from both The Wilson Center, and Live Nation's Live Oak Bank Pavilion Amphitheater, a stay at The Cove offers the perfect solution for those wanting to avoid the chaos of parking, event traffic, and needing a DD.

Less than a mile away you'll find the heart of Historic Downtown Wilmington. Whether you choose to stroll along the Riverwalk, take the free trolley, or drive a few blocks down Water Street, getting there is easy. With many local shops, restaurants, breweries, live music, and events, Downtown offers something for everyone to enjoy. Check out our Guidebook or "Wilmington and Beaches" online for recommendations and events.

Beyond the borders of Downtown, a quick 8 minute drive or Uber ride will get you to the Wilmington International Airport (ILM), and within a 10 mile radius you'll find Wrightsville Beach, Jungle Rapids amusement/water park, UNCW (Go Seahawks!) and much more.

If you're interested in bringing your boat, our friends at Port City Marina would love to rent you a slip! Please reach out to them directly to coordinate that for the dates of your stay.

Check in method:
Specific directions including getting to the marina, gate & door codes and wifi information will be messaged to you the morning of your stay.

If this Villa is not available during your preferred time frame, please check out the listings for our other Riverwalk Villas at The Cove, and don't hesitate to reach out for assistance. We would love to have you Stay Afloat!

Property manager

Erin Robinson
Premier Host

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Water view

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
-No flushing of anything other than natural waste and septic safe toilet paper(provided) -Children younger than 12 must be accompanied 24/7 for safety
-Absolutely no swimming allowed - the current in the Cape Fear River is strong and dangerous -No smoking or illicit drugs allowed in the marina
-Failure to return the front door key upon check-out will result in a $300.00 fee

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Wilmington

Located on the waterfront, this houseboat is in Downtown Wilmington, a neighbourhood in Wilmington. Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Wilmington Railroad Museum and Children's Museum of Wilmington. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College or Legion Stadium.
Map
Wilmington, NC

What's nearby

  • Riverwalk - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Live Oak Bank Pavilion - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Cape Fear Community College - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Wilmington Convention Center - 11 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Battleship North Carolina - 5 min drive - 4.3 km

Getting around

  • Wilmington, NC (ILM-Wilmington Intl.) - 6 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Half - ‬16 min walk
  • ‪Mellow Mushroom Wilmington - Downtown - ‬14 min walk
  • ‪Edward Teach Brewing - ‬12 min walk
  • ‪Cape Fear Wine and Beer - ‬15 min walk
  • ‪Marina Grill - ‬1 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is The Cove - Houseboat Tranquility pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at The Cove - Houseboat Tranquility?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Cove - Houseboat Tranquility?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The Cove - Houseboat Tranquility located?

Located in Downtown Wilmington, this houseboat is within a 5-minute walk of Riverwalk and Live Oak Bank Pavilion. Cape Fear Community College and Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College are also within 10 minutes.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 32 out of 32 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 32 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 32 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 32 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 32 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Dawn K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

So unique!

This is our second time staying at the cove. We absolutely loved it. The properties were decorated for the Xmas holiday and there was even a beautiful fully decorated tree in our unit. Walk to so many restaurants so you can’t beat the convenience. Parking was easy and they have wagons available if you need help with luggage. We will definitely be back
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

THOMAS R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect

This stay was one of our top three all time. The property was immaculate well kept and location was perfect.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tracee P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Hidden Gem

absolutely love this property… I exceeded our expectations on every level. The host was very communicative and accommodating. this houseboat was well-maintained and super clean… Love the overall atmosphere and would definitely come back to stay in the future! Would recommend a place to any of my friends and family
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Antwan

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
I would like to say. The Cove was an Excellent place for my wife and I to spend our Anniversary which was on that Monday that we arrived. It was everything I expected it to be. I will tell everyone how excellent this place was. I will be coming back soon. I would like to thank the Cove Riverwalk villas for making my wife and I stay welcoming.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dawn K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Loved it

The most unique accommodations with outstanding attention to detail and ensuring you had everything you would need. Great views. Great location. Highly recommend
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Marc H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing

Awesome place! Very clean and close to downtown.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tony S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Yolanda B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nothing Short of Amazing

My family and I stayed here for my mom’s birthday weekend and it was absolutely amazing. Very peaceful and relaxing. Walking distance to a few restaurants and a short drive to many more. Our host was always in communication with us about things we needed to know and did so in a timely manner. The houseboats are close to each other but everyone was respectful of their neighbors. We will definitely be returning in the near future. Great experience!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mike C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Local Staycation

Incredible and very cool
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ginger G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Surprisingly Quiet Location

We were reluctant to book this villa because my husband is sensitive to noise pollution and I'm sensitive to light pollution. Our friend's son, who lives nearby, convinced us that this location would be better than the hotel we had originally booked, so we decided to take a chance. We are so glad we did! It was such a great experience for our whole group. It is close enough to local restaurants and things to do that we didn't need our car the entire time we were there except to go to the beach. Communication with management was excellent from start to finish, including when we had an issue with someone who was smoking on an adjacent villa. They did confirm that smoking is not allowed anywhere on the pier, including on the decks. Clean-up was easy, we just had to start the dishwasher, take the trash and recycling out to the dumpster and put the towels in the hamper. We've already recommended these villas to friends and would absolutely stay here again. The only thing I would recommend to the owners are light blocking shades in the bedrooms and pull strings on a few of the taller shades on the bottom floor. It was awkward pulling them down and up given their location and how tall they are. If you don't like to walk, or have someone in your group who has difficulty doing so, I would not recommend staying here. There's a ramp leading down to the dock that rises and lowers depending on the tide and can be quite steep.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Andrew M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing. Nice walking location, shops and restaurants

Excellent. Very impressive.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Amy V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing stay

The houseboat was clean and fully stocked. There was plenty of room for the two of us. We enjoyed the deck during the day. It was nice to walk to restaurants in the evening.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brooke C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Best Bachelorette!

We loved our stay!!! The boat was gorgeous, spacious, clean and had literally anything you might need! A bunch of gals on this trip and everyone one of us wants to book the boat to come back! The owner was simply great too!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Beth S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Son’s Wedding Weekend

What a fabulous weekend! Our son got married at a nearby venue and we thought that we deserved a special stay on a houseboat in downtown Wilmington! We were not disappointed! Evenings were best, sitting outside looking at the reflection of lights on the river. We even laughed with our neighbors about our remote controlling their ceilings fan and lights! Would definitely recommend to a friend!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tracy P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The ultimate in tranquility

This was an amazing experience! The houseboat was awesome - even better than the pictures. All of the furnishings from floor rugs to bed linens were so soft and luxurious. The inside of the boat felt so peaceful and tranquil. The beds were incredibly comfortable. The kitchen was well-stocked with all the tools we needed for breakfast each morning. We spent a lot of time in the cozy upstairs living room. It was nice to look out the door and see water right there. We were a little concerned about the 4-minute walk to the houseboat in the VRBO listing, but it's a pleasant walk from the gravel parking lot down the sidewalk to the marina and then down through the marina to the boat. That was one of our favorite parts actually. And the dock is gated, which made us feel very secure. The check-in was super easy and came with helpful instructions so there was no guessing about where to park or how to get there. This section of downtown Wilmington was very peaceful and quiet. We saw a lot of walkers and dog walkers nearby. It is very close to restaurants and things to do and there's also a water taxi that runs in warmer months to get you closer to some of the restaurants by boat. The host was really kind and super fast to respond to our email. I was a bit worried about whether the boat would rock a lot. I do get motion sick, but it was fine. It moved some which was nice, but nothing dramatic. It was a relaxing and peaceful retreat for us and we will definitely be back.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sarah M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Dreamy and unique!

We have never stayed at a boathouse before and absolutely loved our stay here! This property felt so inviting was beautifully decorated. We were pleasantly surprised the bed was comfortable which can be a bit of a gamble when you’re renting. Washer and dryer was a big plus. My only suggestion is for wider curtains downstairs as they do not cover the front sliding door completely when closed. You can still see people walking by. We have already shared the property with many of our friends and I would come back in the future!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sherri N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful experience

My husband and I stayed here, and it could not have been a better choice. The property was in a great location, in perfect condition, and the owner was very attentive. The beds were very comfortable and the kitchen had everything we needed. We will definitely be coming back.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Katherine M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

This place is lovely

This place was absolutely perfect. Very clean and spacious. You cannot feel the boat rocking on the water. The upper deck is gorgeous with the water. This was a great trip. The property manager answered all my questions. Will definitely book again.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Katie H., Cary, NC

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Run course on a house boat!

Perfect location for IMNC right on the run course by t-2 clean, fun experience
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Laura K., NC, USA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautifully decorated houseboat!

The houseboat is so comfortable- the beds, soft furnishings, back patio with nice view of the Cape Fear. Feels tucked away but at the same time right in the action and in walking distance of some yummy restaurants. Great communication with the property manager.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Melissa D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay!

The hosts were responsive, the place was wonderful and the location was awesome!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great time had by all!

Beautiful property! Great communication with the host!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jorie D., Apex, USA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

We can’t wait to go back!

We enjoyed our stay! It’s decorated beautifully. The location is the best in the marina, and it’s easy walking distance to restaurants, shops, and the amphitheater.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rebekah K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Finally a clean place to stay

The villa river cove houseboat was an amazing and unique experience. When we arrived the instructions on how to get to the villa were very clear and easy. The villa smelled brand new. All furniture was comfortable. Kitchen well stocked. So many extras were provided which kept us from having to pack so much. Good communication with the owner. And it was clean!! Loved hearing the live bands on the riverfront at the marina. Toured the battleship and shopped down town. Romantic and cozy place to stay. We truly enjoyed it! Thanks so much for a great time!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Megan H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Mother/Daughter Weekend

My mom, sister, and I could not have asked for a better weekend together on the house boat. The home was stunning-beautifully decorated and exceptionally clean. It was very spacious and had everything we needed. Located just minutes from shopping, dining, and other activities made it even better. We appreciated the host always having quick and friendly communication with us. We hope to visit again soon!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

About the host

Hosted by Erin Robinson

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Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests