Every sunset cruise Fort Lauderdale sells runs the Intracoastal and the New River rather than the Atlantic: Millionaires Row, the yacht basins, fares from $30.
Updated 2026-08-07
Quick answer
Sunset cruises in Fort Lauderdale run the Intracoastal and the New River rather than the ocean, passing Millionaires Row and the yacht basins. Shared trips last 1 to 2 hours and cost $30 to $129: a $30 speedboat run at the bottom, a $129 champagne catamaran at the top. A private charter for your own group is $430 for 2 hours.
Key takeaways
Best Rated — 701 Reviews, 4.8★ Most Popular Sunset Cruise in Fort Lauderdale
A 2-hour champagne sunset cruise aboard the Spirit of Lauderdale catamaran — past Millionaires Row mansions and Port Everglades, then out to the Atlantic Ocean as the sails go up and the sun sets over the water.
Real-time dates and prices for the Sunset Catamaran Cruise — book directly.
You'll confirm the exact date and time on the secure booking page.
Six sunset cruises, one intracoastal. These tours cover the full range — from a $29.99 Sea Rocket speedboat to a $430 private charter. Every option includes sightseeing past Millionaires Row, Las Olas mansions, and Port Everglades. Pick the vibe that fits.
from $129 A 2-hour champagne sunset cruise aboard the Spirit of Lauderdale catamaran — past Millionaires Row mansions and Port Everglades, then out to the Atlantic Ocean as the sails…
from $55 A 2-hour party-boat cruise through downtown Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades, and Las Olas Boulevard with your own drinks, party music, and a stop at the legendary sandbar in…
from $32 Fort Lauderdale's most-reviewed cruise: 90 minutes aboard the famous Carrie B paddlewheeler along the New River, Intracoastal Waterway, and Port Everglades — past yachts, mansions, and cruise ships…
from $29.99 A fast, affordable 1-hour intracoastal cruise aboard the Sea Rocket speedboat — past Fort Lauderdale beaches, city landmarks, and Port Everglades at sunset, with narrated commentary throughout.
from $430 An exclusive 2-hour private sunset cruise for your group only — past Fisher Island and Millionaire mansions, with a personalized experience away from crowded tour boats.
from $59.99 A 2-hour evening cruise through the calm waterways of downtown Fort Lauderdale, watching the city lights come on over 165 miles of waterway — the Venice of America…
| Tour | Price | Rating | Book | Reviews | Duration | Boat Type | Drinks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunset Catamaran | $129 | 4.8 ★ | Check | 701 | 2 hrs | Sailing catamaran | Champagne + cash bar |
| Evening Party Boat | $55 | 4.5 ★ | Check | 945 | 2 hrs | Party boat | BYOB (coolers on board) |
| Carrie B Paddlewheeler | $32 | 4.5 ★ | Check | 2,205 | 90 min | Historic paddlewheeler | Cash bar on board |
| Sea Rocket | $29.99 | 4.5 ★ | Check | 185 | 1 hr | Speedboat | Not included |
| Private Charter | $430 (whole boat) | 5.0 ★ | Check | 26 | 2 hrs | Private boat | BYO or arrange custom |
| Venice Evening Cruise | $59.99 | 4.5 ★ | Check | 7 | 2 hrs | Open-deck boat | Not listed |
Fares here run from a $29.99 speedboat to a $430 private charter. The right choice depends on your budget, your group size, and what kind of evening you want. Prices and what each one covers are broken down further in our Fort Lauderdale evening boat trip prices guide.
The boats below cover every angle of a Fort Lauderdale sunset cruise: sightseeing cruises past Millionaires Row and the Las Olas waterfront mansions, BYOB cruise party boats with music and dancing, a champagne sunset cruise Fort Lauderdale catamaran sailing out to the Atlantic, a sunset catamaran cruise Fort Lauderdale-style aboard the Spirit of Lauderdale, a private sunset cruise Fort Lauderdale couples love for proposals and anniversaries, and a sunset dinner cruise Fort Lauderdale-style aboard the historic Carrie B paddlewheeler.
| If you want... | Best pick | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Most romantic — sails up, champagne, Atlantic | Sunset Catamaran (tour-2) | From $129 |
| Ft Lauderdale boat party — great music, dancing, BYOB | Evening Party Boat (tour-1) | From $55 |
| Best-value guided boat tour — top-rated 90-minute narrated cruise | Carrie B Paddlewheeler (tour-6) | From $32 |
| Cheapest option — quick, scenic speedboat | Sea Rocket (tour-5) | From $29.99 |
| Total privacy — couples, proposals, groups | Private Charter (tour-3) | From $430 (whole boat) |
Las Olas Isles, the finger islands locals call millionaires' row, is the centrepiece of every sunset boat cruise here. These islands along the intracoastal waterway hold some of the most expensive waterfront homes in South Florida, and the only way to see them properly is from the water. We walk the whole route landmark by landmark in our guide to what you actually see along Millionaires Row.
Expect large yachts and private vessels moored at the docks, and architectural styles running from Venetian palazzo to modern glass. Your captain narrates the route as you go. The Carrie B paddlewheeler gives the most detailed narrated history; the catamaran and the BYOB party boat give you longer on the water; the Sea Rocket covers the most ground in the least time.
Any of these boats delivers the waterfront, but the catamaran is the one that pushes out through Port Everglades Inlet to the Atlantic for a different view of the city skyline.
Beyond millionaires' row, every Fort Lauderdale sunset cruise boat ride passes several key landmarks. This is a guided tour of the city from the water — a vantage point most visitors never reach:
Fort Lauderdale sunset boat tours split into two categories: shared group cruises and fully private charters. Here's how they differ:
Shared group boat cruise ships you out with other travelers, gives you a guided run past the homes and the port, and charges per person. The mood ranges from a relaxed sightseeing cruise on the Carrie B or the Sea Rocket to an all-out party with BYOB and dancing on the Evening Boat Cruise.
A private charter puts your group alone on the boat, with the captain adjusting route and pace to suit you. The private sunset cruise (tour-3) is a two-hour charter for your party only; its exact meeting point is confirmed in your booking email. At $430 for the whole boat, that is $107.50 each for four people and $71.67 each for six, which is a fair trade for having the deck to yourselves.
Fort Lauderdale sunset cruises run year-round. The route does not change with the season: Millionaires Row, Port Everglades and the same intracoastal waterway in every month. What changes is the clock and the crowd.
Sunset here moves from about 5:28 PM in early December to about 8:17 PM in early July, close to a three-hour swing across the year, per the US Naval Observatory tables. Boats are timed to it, so a December departure can be mid-afternoon by feel while a June departure runs late into the evening. Take the exact departure time from your own booking confirmation.
Crowds are highest from December through March and again in July. The full month-by-month picture, including rainfall and hurricane season, sits in our guide to the best time of year to go.
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Crowds | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| December | 5:31 PM | High | Earliest sunsets of the year; early departures |
| January | 5:51 PM | High | Driest stretch of the year begins |
| February | 6:14 PM | High | Driest month on the NOAA normals |
| March | 7:29 PM | Very high | Clocks go forward March 8; spring break |
| April | 7:44 PM | High | Warm, dry, long light |
| May | 8:00 PM | Moderate | Rain picks up late in the month |
| June | 8:14 PM | Moderate | Wettest month; hurricane season opens June 1 |
| July | 8:15 PM | Moderate | Latest sunsets; hot decks |
| August | 7:56 PM | Moderate | Most days with rain on the normals |
| September | 7:25 PM | Low | Statistical peak of hurricane season |
| October | 6:53 PM | Low | Quiet boats, warm evenings |
| November | 5:31 PM | Low | Clocks go back November 1; sunset jumps early |
Most of these trips run one to two hours and leave from Bahia Mar on the beach or from the New River downtown, so you do not need to pack heavily. A few things that make the evening better, and the full dock-by-dock rundown is in our guide to where the boats leave from and where to park:
We list every major sunset cruise in Fort Lauderdale — not just the ones paying the highest commission. Compare boat type, price, inclusions and real reviews in one place.
Every boat shows its actual traveler rating and verified review count, more than 4,000 reviews in total. No paid testimonials and no star-padding.
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801 Seabreeze Blvd, on the beach side. Sea Experience publishes parking at $7 for the first 7 hours; Sea Rocket points guests at the Bahia Mar hotel lot at about $10 and leaves from C Dock, west of Marina Village.
440 North New River Drive East, off Las Olas Boulevard on the New River. This is downtown, not the beach and not the cruise port.
City of Fort Lauderdale public garages are $3.00 per hour. The North Beach lot at 725 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd is $4.00 per hour for non-residents and open 24 hours. The city uses PayByPhone for cashless payment.
FLL sits close to both the beach marinas and the downtown river dock, a short rideshare either way.
Port Everglades is on the intracoastal, so the beachside departures are a short ride from the terminals. Give the operator your ship name and re-boarding time when you book.
Three travellers filmed their own evening on the water in Fort Lauderdale — a honeymoon sail, a catamaran at golden hour, and a slow run up the Intracoastal.
A couple who cancelled Mexico and came here instead, filming the boat, the light and the wind on the deck.
Video: Charday CiaraThe catamaran leg starts partway in: sails up, drinks out, and the yacht basins sliding past.
Video: Marissa KandalaftAn unhurried record of a full evening sail, from boarding to the last of the light.
Video: Apple & RobVideos load from YouTube only when you press play.
The Sunset Catamaran Cruise (tour-2) is consistently the highest-rated option — 4.8★ across 701 reviews, with champagne included, sails-up on the Atlantic Ocean, and the full Millionaires Row route. It's the most complete sunset experience. The Carrie B Paddlewheeler (tour-6) is the most-reviewed at 2,205 reviews and offers the most detailed narrated history, while the Evening Party Boat (tour-1) is the best value for groups who want music and BYOB. Read the catamaran cruise guide for a full breakdown of what's included and how to book.
Shared trips run from $29.99 per person for the one-hour Sea Rocket speedboat to $129 for the two-hour catamaran with champagne. The Carrie B paddlewheeler at $32 is the best value for a narrated 90-minute run. A private charter is $430 for the whole boat, which works out to $107.50 each for four people. What drives each fare, and the costs the ticket does not cover, are laid out in our Fort Lauderdale evening boat trip prices guide. Last verified: August 2026.
On some boats. The Evening Boat Cruise (tour-1) is BYOB, with coolers on board; bring what you like, and operators here commonly ask for no glass and drinks to stay aboard. The catamaran (tour-2) includes a complimentary glass of champagne on the return and runs a cash bar with beer and wine at $5 each, and outside alcohol is not permitted on it. Whether a boat allows BYOB is the operator's own policy rather than Florida law, which we unpack in our guide to drinks and BYOB rules on the water.
Most tours run 90 minutes to 2 hours. The Sea Rocket is the shortest at 1 hour; the Carrie B runs 90 minutes; the Catamaran and Party Boat both run approximately 2 hours. Private charters are typically 2 hours and can be customized.
Every tour passes some combination of: Millionaires Row and Las Olas Isles (celebrity and billionaire waterfront estates), Port Everglades (cruise ships up close), Las Olas Boulevard, the downtown Fort Lauderdale skyline, Bahia Mar Marina (megayachts), and the Fort Lauderdale Intracoastal Waterway canals. The Carrie B also covers the New River. The Catamaran goes out to the Atlantic Ocean for the sail and sunset.
Most of these trips are family-friendly. The Carrie B paddlewheeler and the Sea Rocket are the calmest. The catamaran goes out through Port Everglades Inlet where there can be swell, so it suits older children better. The Evening Boat Cruise is a lively adult atmosphere. On life jackets, Florida law (statute 327.50) requires children under 6 to wear a US Coast Guard approved flotation device on vessels under 26 feet while under way; anything stricter on a particular boat is that operator's own policy. For the whole boat to yourselves, see the private sunset charter guide.
Most tours depart from Bahia Mar Marina at 801 Seabreeze Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316, close to Fort Lauderdale Beach. The Catamaran departs from the Spirit of Lauderdale dock — check in at the Tropical Sailing kiosk inside the Market Deli, one hour before departure. Exact meeting points are confirmed in your booking email.
Yes. Port Everglades handled 4,773,873 cruise passengers in fiscal 2025 and describes itself as the third-busiest cruise homeport in the world, and it sits right on the intracoastal. The beachside departures at Bahia Mar are a short ride from the terminals; the Carrie B is downtown on the New River rather than at the port. Addresses and parking for each are in our guide to where the boats leave from. Give the operator your ship name and re-boarding time when you book.
Yes — the Sunset Catamaran Cruise (tour-2) includes a complimentary glass of champagne on the return sail. It's the only shared tour that includes champagne in the base price. The catamaran also has a cash bar with beer and wine for $5 each. Private charters can arrange custom catering including premium bottles on request. The champagne catamaran cruise guide covers what's included, the sailing route, and how it differs from the party-boat experience.
Yes — the Carrie B Paddlewheeler runs a 90-minute narrated cruise along the New River, Intracoastal Waterway, and Port Everglades for $32 per person. It's Fort Lauderdale's longest-running boat tour and its most-reviewed cruise with 2,205 verified ratings. For a shorter option, the Sea Rocket speedboat runs a 60-minute intracoastal cruise from $29.99. Both are great for cruise-ship passengers who want a quick, affordable Fort Lauderdale sightseeing experience.
Yes — the Evening Boat Cruise (tour-1, from $55) runs as a full boat party with BYOB drinks, party music the entire trip, and a high-energy atmosphere that includes dancing. Guests sip cocktails of their choice while cruising past downtown Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades, and Las Olas. Afternoon departures stop at the legendary sandbar in front of Millionaire's-mile for a swim. If you want a calmer guided tour, the Carrie B paddlewheeler or the sunset dinner cruise are better fits for a more relaxed evening on the water.
Most are. Every boat on this page carries 4.5★ or higher across thousands of verified traveler reviews. The Sunset Catamaran (4.8★, 701 reviews) and the private charter (5.0★, 26 reviews) rate highest. The Carrie B is the most-reviewed at 2,205 reviews and 4.5★. Every trip here includes free cancellation, so booking ahead for your date carries no risk.
Yes, though most boats on this page are sunset and drinks cruises rather than served-meal sailings. The formats, prices and which boats actually feed you are compared on the Fort Lauderdale dinner cruise page, including the riverboat dinner-show option.
Departures are pinned to the sun, so they move nearly three hours across the year. Sunset falls around 5:28 PM in early December and around 8:17 PM in early July, per the US Naval Observatory tables for Fort Lauderdale, and most boats put you on the water shortly before it. Month-by-month sunset times, rainfall and the hurricane-season picture are in our guide to the best time of year to sail. Always take the exact time from your booking confirmation.
All of them run some version of the route along the Las Olas Isles. The Carrie B paddlewheeler adds the New River leg past Stranahan House and the Riverside Hotel with live narration, and the champagne catamaran is the one that continues out through Port Everglades Inlet and raises sail on the Atlantic. Landmark by landmark, we cover the whole route in what you actually see from the water.
It depends on which dock your boat leaves from. At Bahia Mar, Sea Experience publishes parking at $7 for the first 7 hours and Sea Rocket points guests at the hotel lot at about $10. City of Fort Lauderdale garages are $3.00 per hour and the North Beach lot is $4.00 per hour for non-residents, both payable through PayByPhone. Downtown trips on the Carrie B leave from 440 North New River Drive East instead. Full details are in our guide to docks and parking. Last verified: August 2026.
This excursion was the highlight of our trip! Ross was hilarious and very knowledgeable. The 2 hours went by way too quickly! We went on the sunset cruise and adored the warm and breezy weather that accompanied the gorgeous sunset and cityscape from our vantage point on the water. Overall was our Ft. Lauderdale fave!
Evening Party Boat
This was amazing. Justin and Captain Joe were the best. We met some fellow MN residents on this excursion. Captain Joe spent time showing a girl sailing tips. She was beaming and that was fun to watch. Justin was awesome with his knowledge of the area. Highly recommend. The sunset was perfect. Thank you!!
Sunset Catamaran
The cruise was outstanding, cruising the ICW and all the way into downtown, very affordable and great value, and BYOB is great, crew was great and entertaining, the sunset and night cruise downtown was nothing short of spectacular. I would highly recommend to anyone for an excellent boat trip on a budget.
Evening Party Boat
Being on the water especially at night is wonderful. All the lights on the properties make for a beautiful scenic experience. The crew is funny and engaging while providing interesting facts about different properties and their owners.
Evening Party Boat
Dive deeper into every cruise type — what's included, who it suits, and exactly what to expect.
Sunset in Fort Lauderdale swings from 5:28 PM in December to 8:17 PM in July. Month-by-month conditions, hurricane season, and when to book.
Read guide →
The Evening Boat Cruise is BYOB with coolers provided; the catamaran runs a $5 cash bar and bars outside alcohol. What's legal, what's operator policy.
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Millionaires Row is the Las Olas Isles waterfront along Fort Lauderdale's Intracoastal. The actual route, landmark by landmark, from the water.
Read guide →Plan the evening
Short, specific guides to the questions that come up once you have picked a boat.