Entire house boat·Private host

The Cove - Houseboat Bliss

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your current months are January, 2025 and February, 2025.
January 2025
February 2025

Photo gallery for The Cove - Houseboat Bliss

Interior
2 bedrooms, iron/ironing board, free WiFi, bed sheets
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Property grounds
Interior

Reviews

9.8 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire house boat

2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 4102 sq m

Popular amenities

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

Explore the area

Map
Wilmington, NC
  • Riverwalk
    1 min walk
  • Marina Grill
    1 min walk
  • Laura W. Padgett Bus Station
    12 min walk
  • Wilmington, NC (ILM-Wilmington Intl.)
    6 min drive

Room options

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 Bliss

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.

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:
As you make your way upstairs, you'll discover another large living space with cozy furniture, a 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.

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!

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.
During your stay at this houseboat, you're just a quick walk from Riverwalk. A water park is available.
  • Free WiFi
  • Splash around at the water park
  • Steps from Riverwalk and 5 minutes by foot from Live Oak Bank Pavilion
This houseboat offers its guests a water park.

This Wilmington houseboat is smoke free.

Property manager

Erin Robinson

Property amenities

Internet

  • Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • On-site parking

Kitchen

  • Fridge
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Dishwasher
  • Paper towels
  • Spices
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils
  • Ice maker

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided

Bathrooms

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Shower
  • Hairdryer
  • Shampoo
  • Toilet paper
  • Soap
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Smart TV

Outdoor areas

  • Patio
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Washing machine and dryer

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • On the river
  • On the waterfront
  • In the city centre
  • Near a health or beauty spa
  • Near a hospital

Things to do

  • Water park
  • Fitness facilities nearby
  • Golf nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Water tubing nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Power boating nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Marina nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby

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 installed (host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • First aid kit

General

  • Unit size: 1102 sq ft (102 sq m)

Policies

Check-in

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

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

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

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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
Onsite 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 there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
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
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions. You will also receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account which will enable you to manage your booking.

The Cove - Houseboat Bliss Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 14 out of 15 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 15 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 15 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 15 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 15 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Katie W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect family getaway
We stayed at this property for spring break. The property was docked in an awesome little spot on the water; conveniently located near restaurants, shops and activities. Peaceful and quiet with kind neighbors. Would definitely recommend for small groups looking for a unique getaway experience.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Barbara D., North Huntingdon

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful experience, staying on the houseboat at the cove in Wilmington, North Carolina
What a wonderful experience staying on the Bliss at the cove in Wilmington, North Carolina. Not only was the houseboat clean, but so well appointed. The location was great and close to everything. I would highly recommend this place to anyone and hope to return for another wonderful experience
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

MIKE H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Anniversary Trip
The wife was totally surprised by the place. She loved the house location and atmosphere. Conveniently located to everything you could need.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jeffrey S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing House / Even Better Hosts
When we walked in the door, we were amazed at how the house seemed brand new. Beautifully decorated, smelled nice, incredibly welcoming. The house had everything we needed and was a great location to spend a great time with friends for a long weekend. Even better, Marcia and Summer worked with us before we go there for a request and were incredible responsive when a minor issue came up while we were there (a TV issue). We plan on returning and would highly recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Stacey T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Trying something different
First time staying on a house boat. Will absolutely do it again. Super clean with up to date decor. Beautiful place!! Great communication with the owner! I would recommend having a cart if you pack heavy like me. I felt super safe and it was beautiful at night. Definitely recommend.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

John L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Best Experience 👌
Clean and well done! Home away from home and no neighbor interfierence. All and all an excellent stay!!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Traci F., Winston Salem, NC

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful Weekend on the Water
We just loved this property! It was so clean and tidy and well equipped with everything we needed! My husband and I went with friends to see a concert at the amphitheater and we had a fantastic time. The only negative thing I could say is the parking didn’t go as expected. The amphitheater uses the lot where we were instructed to park for concert parking and the lot was full when we arrived at checkin. The same thing happened Saturday night as well. It just made us park in the convention pay lot which wasn’t terrible but it would’ve been nice to have a guaranteed spot as that’s what I expected with the check in information. Otherwise, everything was exactly as promised! We would certainly visit again!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

John

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

6/10 Okay

Jennifer J.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing experience
The houseboat was amazing. Loved sleeping on the boat and the porch in the morning and evenings to see the sunrise and sunset on the river. Friday night we had the best seats for live music. Walking distance to downtown and all sorts of things to do… great cafes, restaurants, and breweries. Driving distance to the beach. We are definitely going to do this again for our next visit.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Corey C.

Liked: Cleanliness
A little piece of heaven
The houseboat was just amazing. It was quiet at night and full of excitement in the day. It was clean and the view was gorgeous. We'll be back.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tammy T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent!
We loved the houseboat! We had everything we needed and more! Thank you for sharing this lovely place with us. We'll definitely be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Eliazbeth R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beachy and Beautiful
Such a relaxing and peaceful stay on a charming houseboat in Wilmington Harbor. It was so relaxing to sit in the upper deck and watch the sunset and the water in the evenings. The entire house was much more spacious than I had envisioned and there was more than enough space for the four of us to enjoy time together and apart. Marina Grill is an easy 5 min walk away and had wonderful drink and food for all. Wrightsville Beach was a quick 20 min drive, so there is plenty to do. The kids are already asking when we can come back! A lovely, beautifully decorated getaway for anyone! I highly recommend staying here!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Debra D., North Topsail Beach

Liked: Cleanliness
Birthday celebration
My husband and I celebrated his birthday by spending two days in Wilmington on this beautiful houseboat on the Cape Fear river. The place was very clean, well stocked and in a great location right on the river walk. Clear directions for parking, and check in made the process very easy. We had a little trouble with the internet but communication with Marcia was great and the problem was solved early the next morning. Such a fun and unique experience and I would highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer W., Grayson, GA

Liked: Cleanliness
Second Stay
Another great weekend!! Would recommend adding the iron and ironing board along with coasters to ensure your tables are protected.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer W., Grayson, GA

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Experience
Everything from start to finish was great! Communication was stellar, the property was extremely clean and very well appointed and you can’t beat the location! We enjoyed it so much we have already booked our next weekend getaway.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022