ST PETERSBURG, FL • ADULTS ONLY

Sunset Cruise St Pete

Two hours on calm Gulf water as the sky turns gold. Not a party boat — the most intimate sunset cruise in St. Petersburg. BYOB, dolphins at dusk, nightly year-round.

From $69 per person

$299 for private charter.

Adults Only BYOB Welcome Dolphins at Dusk $69pp Small Group $399 Private Group
Book Your Sunset Cruise Text 727-742-2277
2900+
TRIPADVISOR 5-STAR REVIEWS
2 hrs
ON THE WATER
1000+
GOOGLE 5-STAR REVIEWS
6 max
GUESTS PER BOAT
2013
FAMILY OWNED SINCE
Romantic sunsets on the Gulf are special.
THE EXPERIENCE

St Pete’s most intimate sunset cruise

Most sunset cruises in St. Petersburg put you on a boat with 40 or 50 strangers. Loud music. A crowded bar. Someone else’s bachelorette party. That’s not what we do.
Island Ferry’s sunset cruise is intentionally intimate — a maximum of six passengers per boat, led by a local captain who knows these waters like his own backyard. The atmosphere is calm, unhurried, and genuinely private-feeling, even on a shared cruise.
As the sun drops toward the Gulf, you’ll cruise through sheltered waterways near St. Pete Beach and Tierra Verde, passing through quiet channels and open coastal water as the sky turns gold, pink, and deep orange. Dolphins surface at dusk. Shorebirds settle for the evening. The Pinellas Bayway glows in the fading light.
It’s the kind of evening you’ll still be talking about a year later.

Adults-only atmosphere

Designed for couples and adult groups — quiet, romantic, and unhurried from departure to dusk

BYOB — your evening, your way

Wine, champagne, cocktails — bring what you enjoy. Ice-filled coolers provided, no bar tab, no markup

Six guests maximum

Never crowded. You’ll always have a real railing spot, a real view, and a captain who can actually talk to you

USCG-licensed captains

Local knowledge, light narration — there when you want it, respectfully out of the way when you don’t

The difference

Six guests maximum —
why that matters

When you book a sunset cruise in St. Pete, you’re choosing between two genuinely different experiences. Here’s what that difference actually looks like.
LARGE COMMERCIAL CRUISE
40 – 50 passengers on board
✗ You wait in line for a drink at the bar
✗ You compete for a railing spot to see the sunset
✗ The captain is managing a crowd, not guiding an experience
✗ When dolphins appear, the front of the boat sees them
✗ Loud music whether you want it or not
✗ It feels like a ticketed event, not an evening out
ISLAND FERRY SUNSET CRUISE
Six guests maximum
✔ A real railing spot — every time, no waiting
✔ Your captain talks to you, answers questions, shares local knowledge
✔ Quiet enough to have a genuine conversation
✔ When dolphins appear, everyone sees them
✔ No forced entertainment — the evening is yours to set
✔ The sunset cruise St. Pete locals recommend to their friends
THE ROUTE

Sunset cruise route — Tierra Verde to the Gulf

Every cruise is shaped by conditions — your captain picks the best route for calm water and the clearest view of the sunset. No two evenings are exactly alike.

Depart Tierra Verde Marina

198 Madonna Blvd — minutes from St. Pete Beach. Meet your captain and you’re underway within minutes. Free parking at the marina.

Intracoastal waterways

Cruise through the sheltered residential canals of Tierra Verde past waterfront mansions, sailboats, and mangrove shorelines as the day slows down.

Boca Ciega Bay — open Gulf views

Out toward open water as the sun nears the horizon. The sky goes amber, coral, violet — reflected across calm bay water. Dolphins are frequently seen here at feeding time.

Return at Last-Light

Back to Tierra Verde Marina as sundown settles in. A short walk to Island Grille Restaurant or the Marriott rooftop lounge if you’d like to extend the evening.

shorebirds fly past our view of the sunset on St Pete Beach
ON THE WATER

Dolphins, wildlife & the Gulf at golden hour

Evening is the most active time along the St. Pete coastline. Dolphins move inshore to feed, birds settle into the mangroves, and the light turns everything gold. Wildlife is never guaranteed — but it’s frequent.

Dolphins

Feed actively at dusk in the channels near St. Pete Beach — frequently surfacing alongside the boat or stern-riding in the evening light

Manatees

Common in the calmer intracoastal waterways and bays during the warmer months — often surfacing close to the boat in the shallows

Brown Pelicans

Settling in to roost in the Mangroves of the Intracoastal as the sun goes down — in the air, on the water, diving for their last meal of the day

Osprey

Active hunters in the final hours of daylight — watch for dramatic dives into the shallows along the intracoastal

Roseate spoonbill

Striking pink wading birds spotted along the mangrove shorelines near St. Pete Beach, particularly in warmer months

The high and medium clouds create a dramatic scene for our sunset on the Gulf.
Shorebirds often forage the waterline at sunset.
The sunset colors are vibrant over the Gulf on our St Pete sunset cruise
Often the colors after sundown are just as vibrant and fascinating.
PRICING

Sunset cruise pricing —
semi-private or full private

Both options depart nightly from Tierra Verde Marina and follow the same route. The only difference is who’s on the boat with you.
$69 PER PERSON
Semi-Private

$69

per person – up to 6 guests total
Share the boat with up to five other guests. Quieter and more intimate than any large commercial cruise — just not exclusively your group.
  • Up to 6 passengers total per boat
  • Adults-only experience
  • BYOB — ice coolers provided
  • Approx 2 hours · departs nightly year-round
  • Blankets provided in cooler months
Book Your Sunset Cruise Text 727-742-2277
MOST POPULAR FOR COUPLES

Private Charter

$299

for the entire boat – just your group
It’s your boat. No strangers, no shared experience. Perfect for anniversaries, proposals, date nights, and any evening where the company matters most.
  • Entire vessel — exclusively your group
  • 2–6 guests, no one else onboard
  • Captain’s full attention to your group

  • Same BYOB policy · ice coolers provided
  • Ideal for anniversaries & proposals
Book Your Sunset Cruise Text 727-742-2277
TOUR DETAILS

Everything you need to know

DEPARTURE
Tierra Verde Marina · 198 Madonna Blvd · Minutes from St. Pete Beach
SCHEDULE
Every evening, year-round · ~1 hour before sunset
DURATION
Approximately 2 hours
GROUP SIZE
Maximum 6 passengers per vessel · Adults-only
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Ice coolers · Bottled water · Blankets in winter · Free parking
CANCELLATION
No refunds within 48 hrs · Full refund if we cancel for weather
Advance reservations strongly recommended for weekends, holidays, and special occasions — evenings fill quickly.
COMMON QUESTIONS

Sunset cruise FAQ

Is this cruise really adults-only?

Yes — the sunset cruise is designed for couples and adult groups who want a quiet, romantic evening on the water. For family-friendly options, our dolphin cruise to Shell Key or kayak tours are the better choice.

Can we really bring our own drinks?

Absolutely — BYOB is fully welcome. Wine, champagne, cocktails, beer — whatever you enjoy. We provide ice-filled coolers on board. You can also bring food and snacks. There’s no bar onboard and no markup — the evening is yours to set the tone.

Will we see dolphins?

Dolphin sightings are very common on this cruise — especially in the evening when they’re actively feeding in the channels near St. Pete Beach. They’re seen on the majority of sunset cruises. Wildlife is never guaranteed, but dolphins are a consistent part of the experience. Manatees, herons, osprey, and pelicans are also regularly spotted.

What time does the cruise depart?

Departures are approximately 1 hour before sunset, which changes throughout the year. When you book online, the actual departure time for your selected date will be shown. The cruise runs approximately 2 hours, returning just after dusk.

How do I book a private charter?

Select the Private Charter option in the booking flow — it’s a dedicated FareHarbor item at $299 for the entire boat. No strangers onboard. This is the most popular option for anniversaries, proposals, and date nights. Text us at 727-742-2277 if you’d prefer to arrange directly.

How is Island Ferry different from other sunset cruises in St. Pete?

Most sunset cruises near St. Pete Beach operate large commercial vessels with 40–60 passengers. Island Ferry carries a maximum of six guests per boat. Our smaller vessels reach the dolphin feeding areas and quiet intracoastal channels that larger tour boats can’t access. The experience is intimate throughout — not just technically small.

What happens if the weather is bad?

If Island Ferry cancels due to unsafe conditions, you receive a full refund — no questions asked. If you cancel within 48 hours of departure, we’re unable to issue a refund. We communicate as early as possible when weather is a concern, usually the morning of the cruise.

Make it an evening to remember

Your sunset cruise end at the Tierre Verde Marina Resort  — no need to go elsewhere for the night.

Vista At The Top

Head up to Marriott’s rooftop lounge for another round with sweeping Gulf views. Open to everyone, no hotel stay required.

Island Grille and Raw Bar

Fresh Gulf seafood, a full tiki bar with great drinks, and live music – right on the water where you just docked.

Cool off before or after

Grab a wristband at the restaurant hostess desk for $7 per person and use the marina pool with tiki bar service any time on your visit.

The Sky Won’t Wait.
Neither Should You.

Spots fill fast on weekend and holidays. Book online or text us and we’ll help you find the right date.

Book Your Sunset Cruise Text 727-742-2277