Toast the Caribbean sun as it drops behind the hills of Charlotte Amalie, glass of champagne in hand and an open bar at your back. Every sunset cruise St. Thomas has to offer is compared right here, all top-rated, open-bar, and bookable with free cancellation.
Updated 2026-07-09
Quick answer
A sunset cruise from St. Thomas costs $95 to $149 per person and lasts about two hours, leaving around 5:00pm from Frenchtown, Sapphire Beach or Margaritaville. Every sail on this page pours an open bar, carries fewer than 40 guests, and cancels free up to 24 hours out.
Key takeaways
Popular Pick — 815 Reviews, 4.8★ Most Popular St. Thomas Sunset Cruise
Board a spacious catamaran at Margaritaville Resort in Smith Bay and sail out past St. Thomas to toast the sunset with a glass of champagne. Heavy appetizers, an open bar with cocktails, rum punch and painkillers, and island music included.
Pick your date for the Champagne Sunset Sail from Margaritaville and see real-time availability. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before you sail.
From a $95 open-bar catamaran sail to an intimate 12-guest luxury charter and a full harbor-lights dinner cruise, these are the best-reviewed sunset cruises sailing out of St. Thomas. Prices are per person unless noted.
from $110 Board a spacious catamaran at Margaritaville Resort in Smith Bay and sail out past St. Thomas to toast the sunset with a glass of champagne. Heavy appetizers, an…
from $95 A relaxed way to cap off the day aboard a brand-new catamaran. Sail the St. Thomas coastline with heavy appetizers and a full open bar — wine, champagne…
from $130 Depart Sapphire Beach Marina aboard the Breakaway and cruise past St. Thomas and the outer keys for the perfect sunset vantage point. Unlimited drinks from the open bar…
from $119 An intimate small-group sail capped at just 12 guests from Charlotte Amalie. Board a luxury power catamaran, enjoy a premium open bar and a charcuterie spread, and toast…
from $119 A dinner cruise timed for both the sunset and the glittering Charlotte Amalie harbor lights. Sail the 54-foot catamaran from Marriott's Frenchman's Cove, dine on tacos (Tuesdays) or…
from $149 The all-day option: snorkel with sea turtles, stop for fresh wood-fired pizza at the famous floating Pizza Pi boat, then finish with a relaxed sunset sail back to…
| Cruise | Price | Rating | Book | Reviews | Duration | Departs From | Food & Drink |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champagne Sail (Margaritaville) | $110 | 4.8 ★ | Check | 815 | 2 hrs | Margaritaville, Smith Bay | Open bar + appetizers |
| Sunset Sail, Cocktails & Apps | $95 | 4.8 ★ | Check | 658 | 2 hrs | Frenchman's Cove | Open bar + heavy apps |
| Cocktail Cruise (Breakaway) | $130 | 4.8 ★ | Check | 785 | 2 hrs | Sapphire Beach Marina | Open bar + appetizers |
| Luxury Semi-Private | $119 | 5.0 ★ | Check | 80 | 2 hrs | Charlotte Amalie | Premium bar + charcuterie |
| Harbor Lights Dinner Sail | $119 | 4.8 ★ | Check | 1,286 | 2 hrs | Frenchman's Cove | Full dinner + open bar |
| Turtles, Pizza Pi & Sunset | $149 | 4.9 ★ | Check | 429 | 6 hrs | St. Thomas | Lunch + open bar |
A classic sunset cruise in St. Thomas is a two-hour catamaran sail timed to put you on open water right as the sun drops. You board around 5:00pm, the crew hands you a drink before you have even found a seat, and the boat sails west along the coast toward the best light. Somewhere around the halfway point the champagne comes out for a toast, and after the sun sets most boats swing back past Charlotte Amalie so you catch the harbor lights coming on.
The format is remarkably consistent across operators: open bar, heavy appetizers or a full dinner, island music, and a relaxed, social vibe. What changes is the boat and the crowd. A big catamaran out of Margaritaville or Sapphire Beach is livelier and cheaper. A 12-guest luxury charter out of Charlotte Amalie is quieter and more polished. The table below sorts the six by what kind of evening you are after.
| If you want… | Book | Vibe | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| The best-value open-bar sail | Sunset Sail, Cocktails & Apps | Easygoing, social | $95 |
| A lively party-boat evening | Champagne Sail or Breakaway Cruise | Fun, upbeat, music | $110 |
| Something intimate and quiet | Luxury Semi-Private (max 12) | Calm, premium | $119 |
| Dinner on the water | Harbor Lights Dinner Sail | Relaxed, romantic | $119 |
| A full day plus a sunset | Turtles, Pizza Pi & Sunset | Active, all-day | $149 |
St. Thomas sunset cruises leave from four main areas, and where you are staying should shape which one you pick. On the east end, Margaritaville Resort at Smith Bay and Sapphire Beach Marina are the two big catamaran hubs. Both are an easy taxi from the east-end resorts and villas. Closer to the cruise port, Marriott's Frenchman's Cove and Yacht Haven Grande in Charlotte Amalie are the most convenient if you are on a cruise ship or staying downtown.
Check-in is almost always 30 to 45 minutes before departure, and boats leave on time whether you are aboard or not. If you are coming by taxi, book the return leg in advance, because taxis thin out after dark at the marinas.
Because the U.S. Virgin Islands sit close to the equator and stay on Atlantic Standard Time all year, sunset in St. Thomas never swings very far. It runs from about 5:45pm in December to roughly 7:05pm in June. Operators shift their departure times with the season so you are always on the water for the main event.
For conditions, April through June brings the calmest seas and the most reliable clear-sky sunsets. December through March is peak tourist season with beautiful weather but busier boats, so book ahead. Late summer into autumn is hurricane season; most evenings are fine and mornings clear, but keep an eye on the forecast and the free-cancellation window.
| Season | Months | Sunset Time | Seas | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calmest & clearest | Apr – Jun | 6:45–7:05pm | Calm | Medium |
| Peak season | Dec – Mar | 5:45–6:25pm | Light chop | High |
| Hurricane season | Aug – Oct | 6:20–6:50pm | Variable | Low |
| Shoulder | Jul / Nov | 6:15–7:00pm | Calm | Medium |
Every sunset cruise on this page includes an open bar, and on most boats that means a genuinely full one: rum punch, painkillers (the unofficial USVI cocktail), mixed drinks, beer, wine, and a glass of champagne for the sunset toast. Non-alcoholic options and bottled water are always on board too.
Food ranges from heavy appetizers on the standard sails to a full barbecue or taco dinner on the Harbor Lights Dinner Sail. The luxury semi-private charter leans upscale with a charcuterie spread. Gratuities are usually suggested rather than included, so bring a little cash for the crew, who tend to work hard to keep your glass full.
The six cruises split cleanly by what kind of night you want. If you just want the classic experience at the best price, the $95 Sunset Sail with cocktails and appetizers is hard to beat, and the 4.8-star rating across hundreds of reviews backs that up. If you are celebrating something or want space and quiet, the semi-private luxury catamaran caps the group at 12 and is the only one rated a perfect 5.0.
Couples looking for a romantic evening usually love the Harbor Lights Dinner Sail, which combines the sunset with a real dinner and the lit-up Charlotte Amalie skyline. Families and anyone who wants more than an evening should look at the full-day Turtles, Pizza Pi and Sunset combo, which pairs turtle snorkeling and the famous floating pizza boat with a sail home at dusk.
St. Thomas evenings are warm, so the dress code is beach-casual: shorts, a sundress, a light top. The one thing people forget is a thin layer for after dark, when the breeze on open water can feel cool even on an 84-degree night. Flat, non-slip shoes or sandals are smart on a moving deck, and many people simply go barefoot once aboard.
Bring your phone or a real camera for the sunset, plus a little cash for tips. If you burn easily, the late-afternoon sun is still strong for the first hour, so wear reef-safe sunscreen. Leave anything you cannot afford to drop in the water at the hotel.
If you are visiting St. Thomas on a cruise ship, a sunset sail is very doable, but timing is everything. Most ships in Charlotte Amalie stay until the evening on port days, and the cruises departing from Frenchman's Cove and Yacht Haven Grande are only a short taxi from both the WICO (Havensight) and Crown Bay cruise docks.
Before you book, confirm your ship's all-aboard time, which is usually 30 to 60 minutes before departure. A two-hour cruise leaving at 5:00pm returns around 7:00pm, so you need a ship that sails at 8:00pm or later to be comfortable. When in doubt, pick a downtown departure over an east-end one to cut the taxi time, and tell the operator you are a cruise passenger when you book.
Honestly, yes, and it is one of the few island activities that almost never disappoints. Even on a partly cloudy evening the light over the water is beautiful, the open bar keeps the mood up, and the crews on these boats are genuinely good at their jobs. The recurring theme across thousands of reviews is that the sunset cruise turned out to be the highlight of the trip.
The honest caveats: sunsets are weather-dependent, so you might get clouds, and the bigger party boats can get rowdy if a large group is aboard. If that is not your scene, spend a little more on the semi-private charter. Either way, at $95 to $149 for two hours with an open bar and a Caribbean sunset, the value is hard to argue with.
Evenings stay warm all year and sunset never strays far, so cruises run daily. The real differences are how calm the seas are and how busy the boats get.
This map shows every departure point for a sunset cruise in St. Thomas, from the east-end catamaran marinas at Smith Bay and Sapphire Beach to the cruise-port-convenient docks at Frenchman's Cove and Charlotte Amalie. Tap any pin for what sails from there.
This was the highlight of my trip. The staff was amazing, they had light refreshments and unlimited drinks, and the view was beautiful. It's a must do in St. Thomas!
A fantastic experience begins with the crew. The sights were beautiful and pinch-yourself worthy, the food was very good, and the painkiller cocktail was outstanding. An unforgettable evening.
Loved the personalized experience with only twelve of us aboard. Captain Joe was very skilled, Katie anticipated everything, and the champagne sunset toast was beautiful. Best cruise on the island.
Every sunset cruise here comes with a full open bar — rum punch, painkillers, cocktails, beer, wine and a champagne toast for the sunset. No drink tickets, no surprise tabs, just a glass that never seems to empty.
There is no better vantage point for a Caribbean sunset than the open water off St. Thomas, with nothing between you and the horizon. Crews position the boat for the light and know exactly where to be as the sun drops.
Lively party catamaran, quiet 12-guest charter, romantic dinner sail or a full day on the water — six well-reviewed cruises mean you can match the boat to the night you actually want.
Most cruises swing back past the harbor after dark, so you get two shows in one: the sunset out at sea and the lights of Charlotte Amalie climbing the hillside as you sail home.
With departures at Smith Bay, Sapphire Beach, Frenchman's Cove and Charlotte Amalie, there is a marina close to wherever you are staying, and the downtown docks are perfect for cruise passengers.
Two hours on the water with an open bar, appetizers and a sunset toast starts at $95. Few island experiences deliver this much for the money, which is why the reviews keep calling it the highlight of the trip.
Standard open-bar sunset cruises in St. Thomas run from $95 to $130 per person for about two hours, including drinks and appetizers. The luxury semi-private catamaran and the Harbor Lights dinner sail are around $119, and the full-day Turtles, Pizza Pi and Sunset combo is $149. Kids' rates are discounted on most boats, and private group charters are also available at higher prices. For the full breakdown, see our guide to what a St. Thomas sunset cruise costs.
Most St. Thomas sunset cruises depart between 5:00pm and 5:30pm, with check-in 30 to 45 minutes earlier. Operators adjust the exact time by season because sunset shifts from about 5:45pm in December to roughly 7:05pm in June. Boats leave on time, so arrive early — most crews cannot wait for late arrivals.
There are four main departure areas. On the east end, Margaritaville Resort at Smith Bay and Sapphire Beach Marina host the big catamaran sails. Near the cruise port, Marriott's Frenchman's Cove and Yacht Haven Grande in Charlotte Amalie are the most convenient for downtown hotels and cruise passengers. Pick the marina closest to where you are staying to keep the taxi short.
Every cruise on this page includes an open bar — typically rum punch, painkillers, mixed cocktails, beer, wine and a champagne toast for the sunset — plus heavy appetizers or, on the dinner sail, a full barbecue or taco meal. Bottled water and soft drinks are included too. Gratuities for the crew are suggested rather than included, so bring a little cash.
It depends on the evening you want. For best value, the $95 Sunset Sail with cocktails and appetizers is the pick. For an intimate, upscale night, the semi-private luxury catamaran caps the group at 12 and is the only cruise rated a perfect 5.0. For a romantic dinner, choose the Harbor Lights Dinner Sail, and for families or an all-day outing, the Turtles, Pizza Pi and Sunset combo. Still deciding? Read our honest look at whether a sunset cruise is worth it.
Dress beach-casual: shorts, a sundress or a light top, plus one thin layer for after dark, when the breeze on open water can feel cool. Wear flat, non-slip sandals or go barefoot on deck. Bring a camera for the sunset, reef-safe sunscreen for the first hour of strong sun, and a little cash for tips. See our full guide to what to wear on a sunset cruise.
Yes, as long as the timing works. The cruises leaving from Frenchman's Cove and Yacht Haven Grande are a short taxi from the WICO and Crown Bay cruise docks. A 5:00pm sail returns around 7:00pm, so book one only if your ship's all-aboard time is 8:00pm or later, and tell the operator you are a cruise passenger when you reserve. We cover the timing in detail in our guide to planning a sunset cruise on a cruise-ship day.
Yes. St. Thomas sunset cruises operate all year because the weather is warm and sunset times stay fairly steady. April through June brings the calmest seas and clearest skies. During hurricane season, roughly August to October, most evenings still run, but keep an eye on the forecast and note that every cruise here offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. See the best time of year to sail and what happens if weather cancels your cruise.
Many are. The larger catamaran sails welcome children and offer discounted kids' rates, and the full-day Turtles, Pizza Pi and Sunset combo is especially good for families thanks to the snorkeling and pizza stop. Be aware that the standard evening sails are open-bar and can have a livelier adult crowd. For a calmer family outing, an earlier or dinner-style cruise is the better fit.
Sometimes. The green flash is a brief burst of green light right as the sun disappears below a clean ocean horizon, and St. Thomas's open western views give you a real chance to catch it on a clear evening. The semi-private charter crews in particular watch for it. It is never guaranteed, but a cloudless sunset out on the water is the best place to try.