Sunset Sail, Day Sail or Eco Sail on a Key West Schooner
Sunset, day or eco sail on a Key West schooner: the times, what each includes and costs, the full moon sail and the kayak and snorkel trips to the refuge.
Sail at sunset for the evening: two hours with the drinks and the food included and the sun going down over the Gulf, from about $99 to $123 an adult. Sail by day for less money, brighter water and children’s fares, from $54. Take an eco sail if you want to get in the water: five hours or more on a schooner to the mangrove islands of the Key West National Wildlife Refuge, with kayaking, snorkelling and lunch, from $119. Prices per adult on Viator (checked October 2026).
For a first schooner sail, America 2.0 at sunset is the easy choice: $123 on Viator (checked October 2026) or $123 on GetYourGuide (checked October 2026):
Side by side
| Sunset sail | Day sail | Full moon sail | Eco sail | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time on the water | 2 hours | 90 minutes to 2 hours | 90 minutes | 4.5 to 6.5 hours |
| Leaves | 4:00 to 6:30 pm, by season | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | After dark | 9:00 to 10:30 am, or 2:00 to 3:30 pm |
| Drinks | Included: beer, wine, champagne, cocktails on most | Two drinks, or a full bar on the Appledore | Two drinks | Beer, wine and soft drinks after the activities |
| Food | Hors d’oeuvres on America 2.0 and the Appledore | None listed | None listed | Snacks or lunch |
| In the water | No | No | No | Kayak and snorkel |
| Children | On most; child fares | Free on America 2.0’s afternoon sails | 13 and up | Yes, child fares |
| From (Viator) | $99 | $54 | $84 | $125 |
Prices per adult on Viator (checked October 2026); they change by date.
The sunset sail
The classic. Every schooner in Key West sails at sunset, leaving between about 4:00 pm in early winter and 6:30 pm in late spring so that the sun sets while you are out: America 2.0 with plated hors d’oeuvres, the Appledore with cocktails and shrimp, When and If with a champagne toast, the Jolly II Rover under red sails, and Danger Charters’ Wind and Wine tasting for ages 13 and up. It is the dearest sail of the day, and the light is the reason to go.
If you would rather compare every sunset sail in Key West, the catamarans with bands and dinner as well as the schooners, key-west-sunset-sail.com covers them boat by boat, with sunset times for every month.
The day sail
Cheaper, brighter and quieter. America 2.0’s 90-minute day sail leaves between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm with two drinks for adults, and children sail free on the afternoon departures; the Appledore’s afternoon sail leaves at 1:30 pm for two hours with a full bar, from $54 (checked October 2026). By day you see the turquoise of the shallows, which goes grey at dusk. Take a hat and sunscreen.
The full moon sail
America 2.0 goes out for 90 minutes by moonlight on a few evenings around each full moon, ages 13 and up, with two drinks included, from $84 (checked October 2026). Classic Harbor Line also runs a stargazing cruise.
The eco sail
Theodore Roosevelt created the Key West National Wildlife Refuge in 1908: the Marquesas Keys and 13 other islands across 375 square miles of open water west of Key West, mostly mangrove, reachable only by boat. Camping on the islands and pets on the beaches are not allowed. Two operators sail schooners out to it:
| Trip | Operator | Hours | Included | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backcountry eco tour | Key West Schooners, on the Appledore Star | 5, from 10:30 am | Guided kayak and snorkel, lunch, beer, wine and sangria after | $119 |
| Half-day trip | Danger Charters | 4.5, morning or afternoon | Kayak, snorkel gear, fruit and snacks, beer, wine; the afternoon trip sails back at sunset | $125 |
| Full-day trip | Danger Charters | 6.5, from 9:30 or 10:00 am | Kayak, snorkel, a buffet lunch, beer and wine; a sandbar stop when the weather allows | $159 |
Prices per adult on Viator (checked October 2026). Danger Charters’ afternoon trip costs more than its morning one on Viator.
On the Appledore Star all the snorkelling is done before anyone drinks, and you climb back aboard from a platform just below the waterline and up a ladder, so a moderate level of fitness helps. Danger Charters provides wetsuits in the winter months; bring your own towel.
Check dates for the sunset sail
Which one for you
Key West Sunset Sail on the Schooner America 2.0
America 2.0 at sunset: two hours, beer, wine and champagne, and a plate of hors d'oeuvres each.
Check dates →Key West Day Sail on the Schooner Appledore with Open Bar
The Appledore's two-hour afternoon sail with a full bar, and the turquoise water in daylight.
See the day sail →Key West Schooner Eco Sail with Kayaking and Snorkelling
Five hours on the Appledore Star: kayak, snorkel and lunch in the wildlife refuge.
See the eco sail →Prices, ratings and review counts from the Viator listings (checked October 2026). Operators price by date and season, so treat the figures as the shape of the market, not a quote.
Other Key West Sails with Open Dates
More Key West Boat Trips with Open Dates
Sunset sails, schooners and snorkel trips, with live availability. Times and cancellation terms are on each listing.
Start with the Sunset Sail
America 2.0's two hours at sunset from Schooner Wharf, with beer, wine, champagne and a plate of hors d'oeuvres each.
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