Entire house boat

The Cove - Houseboat Serenity

Photo gallery for The Cove - Houseboat Serenity

Relax on the elevated deck with comfortable seating and take in the surrounding views.
Relax in this stylish living room with a sofa, coffee table, and armchair, offering a view of the city from the balcony.
Enjoy cooking in this well-equipped kitchen with a large island, stainless steel appliances, and ample workspace.
Relax in this inviting living room with a sofa, armchairs, and a coffee table, surrounded by natural touches and a beautiful view.
Relax in this stylish living space with a sofa, coffee table, and accent chair.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire house boat

2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Air conditioning
The current price is AU$1,171
includes taxes & fees
13 July - 14 July

Explore the area

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

Room options

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About the area

Wilmington

This houseboat places you steps from Riverwalk and within a 10-minute stroll of Live Oak Bank Pavilion. Highlights at this houseboat include a washing machine. .Attractions within a 20-minute drive of this Downtown Wilmington houseboat include University of North Carolina at Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach.

What's nearby

  • Riverwalk - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Live Oak Bank Pavilion - 4 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Wilmington Convention Center - 6 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Cape Fear Community College - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Battleship North Carolina - 5 min drive - 4.6 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 - ‬13 min walk
  • ‪Cape Fear Wine and Beer - ‬15 min walk
  • ‪Marina Grill - ‬1 min walk

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire house boat to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

The Cove - Houseboat Serenity

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 5 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 a sectional couch (with pull out sleeper), 60" Smart TV, desk and chair, 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

Similar properties

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the accommodation: WiFi

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Towels provided

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Unit size: 1,200 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age - 21

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

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
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 not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business. On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited.

Frequently asked questions

Are there any beaches close to The Cove - Houseboat Serenity?

The closest beach to The Cove - Houseboat Serenity is Wrightsville Beach (14.5 km).

How much does it cost to stay at The Cove - Houseboat Serenity?

As of 12 July 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Cove - Houseboat Serenity on 13 July 2025 start from AU$1,170.69, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Does The Cove - Houseboat Serenity have a pool?

No, this houseboat doesn't have a pool.

Is there a free airport shuttle available at The Cove - Houseboat Serenity?

No, The Cove - Houseboat Serenity does not offer an airport shuttle service.

What time are check-in & check-out at The Cove - Houseboat Serenity?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM. Check-out time is 10:00 AM.

Are pets allowed at The Cove - Houseboat Serenity?

No, pets are not allowed.

The Cove - Houseboat Serenity Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 4 out of 4 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 4 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 4 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 4 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 4 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Kathy B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Excellent Accommodations

Everything was top quality, very clean, and very convenient to restaurants and shops. The view from the upper deck was amazing.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Taylor B.

Liked: Cleanliness

We will be back!

We got away for 2 nights, but next time I believe 3 would be better. Ive been looking at these houseboats on Instagram, and was a much easier mini vacation, then trying to make it all the way to the West Coast to Sausalito (on bucket list). My 5 year loved going to see the battle ship (direct view end of dock) a few times a day. We toured it as part of this adventure. Lots of walkable dinner spots! A few surprises - they had a lot of kitchen stuff (salt pepper, olive oil, sugar, pam, ect). The pull out couch was VERY comfortable. Never laid on one like that! I meant to check the brand of the sectional/pull out bed! We all had our own bedrooms, but the 5 year deemed the pull out couch his room. During moving night, we all fell asleep on the couch bed!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Patty J., Apex, NC

Liked: Cleanliness

Serenity at The Cove - Awesome Property & Experience!

We made it a 3 day weekend & booked a trip to Wilmington as we had family coming to NC to visit/vacation with us & thought a trip to the coast would be fun & a stay on a boathouse would be a treat & Serenity at The Cove was exceptional. The property is outstanding, so well kept, the boathouse was stylishly decorated, there was 5 of us, 4 adults and a child, and we had plenty of room. We really enjoyed the upstairs deck, sitting out on the deck on the water in the evening was a highlight. The boathouse was stocked with everything you need and more- there's nothing that they don't cover. Summer, was our point of contact and she was fantastic, very helpful. Will 10/10 recommend - it's different from renting a house or staying at a hotel and made the experience so fun for adults and child in our party. We're ready to go back!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Corynne J.

Liked: Cleanliness

Amazing time& stay

We came for Grizmas in July which was located just down the street from the houseboat location. We could not have asked for a better stay and experience. Cozy and stylish decor, super clean, and had every amenity we could ask for. Would 100% come back!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023