Sunset cruises in Miami: prices, departure times and the winter timing catch
Miami sunset cruises from $28.99 to about $114: what each Bayside boat costs, when it leaves, and why winter sailings start after sunset.
En corto
- Cheapest: Miami Skyline Cruises sunset sailing, $28.99 adult, 90 minutes.
- Classic: Island Queen sunset cruise, $35 adult, 90 minutes, 6 pm from Bayside.
- With drinks: Miami Aqua Tours champagne sunset from $45; open-bar cruises from $75.
- Splurge: Vizcaya sunset cruise with wine, 2 hours, $113.91 from Miami Beach Marina.
- The catch: In November and December the sun sets about 5:30 pm, before most 6 pm boats.
For one sunset on the water, book a 90-minute Bayside cruise; in November to February pick the earliest sailing that still says sunset, because a 6 pm boat in December gives you dusk and city lights, not the sun going down.
Lo que cuesta
90 minutes from Bayside; children 4 to 12 $22.99, 3 and under free
90 minutes, bilingual narration, 6 pm daily; children 4 to 12 $25, 3 and under $5
90 minutes on a double-decker, guided in English and Spanish
2 hours from Bayside, a bottle of champagne for two included
2 hours with unlimited drinks
2 hours on Mizner's Dream from Miami Beach Marina, four wines and charcuterie included
The timing catch: sunset moves, boat schedules barely do
Miami's sunset swings by more than an hour across the season. On October 27, 2026, the sun sets at 6:43 pm; by November 15 it sets at 5:32 pm, and it is still 5:32 pm on December 15, per the Sunrise-Sunset times for downtown Miami.
The Bayside boats do not move nearly as much. Miami Skyline Cruises lists its sunset sailing at 6:30 and 7 pm in summer and 6 pm in winter. Island Queen's sunset cruise page lists one daily departure at 6 pm. That works in late October. From mid-November to February, a 6 pm departure leaves about half an hour after the sun has gone down: you get the afterglow over the skyline and the city lights coming on, which is pretty, but it is not a sunset.
If you want the sun itself in winter, check the operator's booking calendar for the departure closest to sunset on your date, or take an earlier sightseeing sailing. Island Queen's winter Millionaire's Row schedule, November 1, 2026, to March 14, 2027, runs until 5 pm on weekdays and 6 pm on weekends, so a 5 pm boat covers a December sunset.
Island Queen Cruises & Tours
Island Queen's sunset cruise is a 90-minute, fully narrated tour in English and Spanish past the skyline, the Port of Miami, Fisher Island, Miami Beach and Millionaire's Row. Adults pay $35, children 4 to 12 $25 and infants $5. The boats have an air-conditioned lower salon and an upper deck with an awning.
The rules matter: you get an e-voucher by email and must swap it for a boarding pass at a ticket booth inside Bayside at least 45 minutes before departure. Miss that and the ticket counts as a no-show, with no refund. Soft drinks, cocktails and light snacks are sold on board; no coolers or outside food.
Miami Skyline Cruises
A reservations-only operator whose sightseeing cruises all last 90 minutes. The sunset sailing is $28.99 for adults and $22.99 for children 4 to 12; children 3 and under ride free. Groups of seven or more can call for a lower rate.
Check in at the window marked for Bayride Tours, behind Victoria's Secret on the waterside of Bayside, at least 30 minutes before departure. Its winter sunset slot is 6 pm, with a 7:30 pm night cruise at $29.99 if you would rather see the lights.
Miami On The Water
This Bayside seller lists a 90-minute sunset cruise from $35 on a double-decker boat, guided in English and Spanish, and a 2-hour sunset cocktail cruise from $75 with unlimited drinks. It also sells a 2-hour Vizcaya sunset cruise from $120, capped at 20 guests, with wine and hors d'oeuvres.
Its site marks both sunset cruises as likely to sell out and shows departure times only once you pick a date.
Miami Aqua Tours
The operator behind the El Loro pirate ship also runs a Sunset Champagne Experience from $45: two hours on the bay with a bottle of champagne for two. Its site says departures run daily, six a day, but does not print the sunset times.
Its two-hour open-bar night cruise, also from $45, sails after dark and is 21 and over. Call the office for the sunset slot on your date.
Dónde están
Sunset cruise departure points and rules
| Cruise | Leaves from | Check-in | Dress or ID rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| Island Queen sunset | Bayside Marketplace booths, 401 Biscayne Blvd | Swap the voucher at least 45 minutes before; boarding 15 minutes before | Casual; no coolers or outside food |
| Miami Skyline Cruises sunset | Bayside, waterside window behind Victoria's Secret | At least 30 minutes before | None listed |
| Island Queen Vizcaya sunset | Miami Beach Marina, 300 Alton Rd, Dock A | Shown at booking | Photo ID; casual but neat; men in sleeves; no beachwear, athletic wear or cut-offs |
| Miami Aqua Tours champagne | Bayside Marketplace, 401 Biscayne Blvd | Not listed; call ahead | Night open-bar cruise is 21 and over |
Island Queen, Miami Skyline Cruises, Miami On The Water and Miami Aqua Tours sites, checked October 2026
The Vizcaya sunset cruise: the one that is different
Every other cruise here is a narrated loop out of Bayside with open seating. Island Queen's Vizcaya Sunset Cruise is the exception: two hours on a boat called Mizner's Dream, leaving Miami Beach Marina at 300 Alton Road, with four wines, beer, soda, charcuterie and hors d'oeuvres included and a restroom on board. Adults pay $113.91 and guests under 21 pay $91 on Island Queen's page.
It is the only cruise here with a real dress code, listed in the table above. Departure times appear only once you pick a date, so check them against the sunset before you pay.
If you only want to watch the sun go down and the boats go out, South Pointe Park at the tip of South Beach is free and open from sunrise to sunset, per the City of Miami Beach.
Antes de ir
- Compare the departure time with the sunset time for your date before you buy
- Arrive at Bayside 45 minutes early for Island Queen, 30 minutes for Miami Skyline Cruises
- Drinks are extra on the $28.99 to $35 cruises
- For parking at Bayside, see our Bayside Marketplace parking guide before you drive
Lo que pregunta la gente
How much is a sunset cruise in Miami?
From $28.99 for an adult on Miami Skyline Cruises' 90-minute sunset sailing, $35 on Island Queen, from $45 with champagne on Miami Aqua Tours, and $113.91 for Island Queen's 2-hour Vizcaya cruise with wine, all checked in October 2026.
What time is the sunset cruise in Miami?
Island Queen lists 6 pm daily, and Miami Skyline Cruises lists 6 pm in winter and 6:30 or 7 pm in summer. Sunset is about 5:30 pm from mid-November to mid-December, so winter 6 pm sailings leave after sunset.
Where do Miami sunset cruises leave from?
Most leave from Bayside Marketplace, 401 Biscayne Blvd, downtown. Island Queen's Vizcaya sunset cruise leaves from Miami Beach Marina, 300 Alton Rd, Dock A.
Are drinks included on Miami sunset cruises?
Not on the standard 90-minute cruises; drinks and snacks are sold on board. Miami Aqua Tours includes champagne for two, Miami On The Water sells a cocktail cruise with unlimited drinks, and the Vizcaya cruise includes wine and food.
Is a sunset cruise worth it in Miami?
Yes, if the departure matches the sunset on your date. In late fall and winter a 6 pm boat is a dusk and city-lights cruise.
Más guías
Paseos en barco en Miami: el crucero por la bahía, la lancha rápida y el tour nocturnoDowntown · Paseos en barco · Bayside · 6 min de lecturaBayside Marketplace: paseos en barco, restaurantes, horarios y estacionamientoDowntown · Downtown · Boat tours · 5 min de lectura
South Pointe Park: the pier, the playground, parking and when to goSouth Beach · Parks · South beach · 3 min de lecturaPrices, schedules and rules from islandqueencruises.com (sunset, Vizcaya and Millionaire's Row pages), miamiskylinecruises.com, miamionthewater.com and miamiaquatours.com; sunset times from sunrise-sunset.org; South Pointe Park hours from miamibeachfl.gov; checked October 2026.