Sunset Cruise Package Summary
From $599 for up to 6 guests. $809 for 12. Each guest over 6 is $35.
Price is per boat, not per person. Captain, ice, coolers and water are included. Gratuity is not included.
Captain
Ice & CoolersHave more than 12 guests? Twelve is the Coast Guard limit for one boat, so a popular option is two boats. We run both on the same route, to the same islands and the same waterfront bars, and anchor alongside each other at the stops, so a group of up to 24 stays together all day. It is priced as two charters at the normal rate, with no group surcharge. See large group charters for how it works.
Cancellations: more than 7 days before your charter, you get a full refund or a credit. Inside 7 days it is a 50% refund, and inside 48 hours the booking is non-refundable. If we have to cancel for weather, you always get the full amount back or a credit. Give us a call to cancel or to ask about one. Full details are on our FAQs page.
Paying in instalments: Afterpay is available at checkout if you would rather split the cost.
Not sure which trip fits? Compare all our Tampa party boat charters in one place: 4, 6, and 8-hour trips, the sunset cruise, and the Wave Rave night charter.
The sunset cruise Tampa keeps coming back for: your own boat, your own captain, and the best seat on the bay.
Three hours on the water with up to 12 of your people and nobody else on board.
Gone are the days of crusty captains and underwhelming pontoon boats. Our sunset cruise runs on Adventure I, a deck boat over 26 feet with premium sound, color-changing lights and faux-leather seating, and it leaves from the Davis Island Boat Ramp, a few minutes from downtown Tampa. Your USCG-licensed captain is included, so nobody in your group has to stay behind the wheel while the sky does its thing.
What you see on a Tampa sunset cruise
We head out along Bayshore Boulevard and its waterfront sidewalk, with the mansions on one side and open water on the other. From there the downtown Tampa skyline lights up behind you as the sun drops, and we anchor off Davis Islands for the main event. It is the sunset view locals drive to Bayshore for, except you are the only boat in your photo. Dolphins like the wake at this hour, so keep a camera handy.
The best months for a sunset cruise in Tampa
There is no bad season. October through April brings cooler evenings, drier air and the clearest skies, which is why fall and winter sunsets here tend to be the sharp orange ones. Summer sunsets land later, a little after 8:30 PM in June, and they often come with towering clouds that catch the light for a long time after the sun is gone. In December the sun is down not long after 5:30 PM, so the earliest departure is the one you want. Whatever the month, we pick the departure that puts you at anchor for golden hour.
Private sunset cruise vs a group boat
A shared sunset cruise means a fixed route, a line for the bar, and a boat full of people you did not invite. A private sunset charter means your group of up to 12, your playlist on the sound system, your drinks in the coolers, and a captain who will stop for a dolphin pod, line up a proposal, or keep the music low for a quiet anniversary. It is also why the sunset trip is the one our guests book for date nights, birthdays and every other occasion.
What to bring
Whatever you want to drink (every charter is BYOB, and there is cooler space with ice under every seat), snacks or a charcuterie board, and a light layer for the ride back, because the bay cools off fast once the sun is down. Water and sunscreen are already on board. Swimming is allowed but most sunset groups skip it, so a towel is optional. Our full list of what is included and what to bring has the rest.
Crank up the music and crack open a cold one on our sunset cruise.
Watch the sky change color with your friends and a great playlist. You can bring any alcoholic beverages you want on our sunset cruise to help get the party started. Please just drink responsibly and of course, you must be at least 21 years of age or older. Music is also a major part of our sunset cruise. Our captain will have a curated playlist of every genre ready for you to choose from. However, if you want to play your own music, just send us a playlist on Spotify and we will play it during the cruise. We can crank the music up loud if you want to jam out, or turn it down a little if you want to talk, just let us know your preference.
You will likely see an abundance of marine life on our sunset cruise.
More than likely, the sunset will not be the only thing you see. The Tampa Bay waters are filled with sea life, and oftentimes we get to see some of these animals up close while on our cruise. We often see pods of dolphins who love following boats and jumping in the wake they leave behind. We also frequently spot sea turtles, sting rays, manatees, schools of fish, and many different species of birds.
The sunset cruise Tampa books for date nights, anniversaries, and proposals.
Not every trip we run is a party. The sunset cruise is the one couples book: date nights, anniversaries, and more than a few proposals have happened at anchor off Davis Islands. If you are celebrating something, mention it when you book so the captain knows. You can see everything we host, from birthdays to corporate evenings, on our occasions page.
Departure times, pickup docks, and extras.
Sunset cruises depart at 4:30, 5:30, or 6:30 PM, any day of the week. Pick the start time that lines up with sunset in your season: usually the latest one in summer and the earliest in winter. The trip is three hours either way. We pick up at public docks around Tampa, including Davis Island Boat Ramp, Armature Works, and Channelside; all the options are on our pickup areas page. Want more than the standard evening? A live DJ, a photographer, and bottle service are on our add-ons page, and our FAQs cover BYOB rules, guest limits, and the weather policy.
Sunset Cruise FAQs
How long is the sunset cruise and when does it leave?
Three hours, timed around the sunset itself. Departures are at 4:30, 5:30 or 6:30 PM, any day of the week, year round. Pick the start that lines up with golden hour in your season: usually the latest one in summer and the earliest one in winter.
Where do we watch the sunset from?
We cruise past Bayshore Boulevard and the downtown Tampa skyline, then anchor off Davis Islands for the sunset itself. You watch it go down from the bow with a drink in hand instead of from a parking lot or a crowded pier.
Is this a private sunset cruise or a shared boat?
Private. The whole boat is yours for up to 12 guests, with a USCG-licensed captain included. There are no strangers on board, no fixed route and no bar tab: every sunset charter is BYOB, and cooler space with ice is under every seat.
What should we bring on a Tampa sunset cruise?
Your drinks, any snacks you want, a light layer for the ride back, and a playlist. Water and sunscreen are on board already. Most groups skip swimming on the sunset trip, so a swimsuit is optional. Dogs under 20 lbs are welcome.
Book your private sunset cruise in Tampa.
Get off the sand and out onto the water to see the sunset the way it should be seen. Book online in a couple of minutes, or send us a note if you have a question first. Sunset dates go quickly, especially Friday and Saturday evenings in the cooler months, so lock in your evening as early as you can.