Millionaire's Row From the Spirit of Lauderdale, Champagne in Hand
Two hours on a catamaran from Bahia Mar past waterfront mansions and the cruise port; in October the sun sets mid-sail.
The Spirit of Lauderdale, a sailing catamaran the operator lists at 50 feet, leaves Bahia Mar, follows the Intracoastal Waterway past the waterfront homes the operator calls Millionaire's Row, and heads out by the cruise ships at Port Everglades to the Atlantic. The trip runs two hours.
The operator's outline has the sails going up once the boat reaches open water, and travelers describe motoring through the waterway first, with the crew telling stories about the houses. Whether the sun goes down while you are on the water depends on the month you book.
One booking covers the two-hour sail and one complimentary glass of Champagne. Drinks beyond that come from a cash bar on board, and the listing does not allow any alcohol brought aboard. A single booking takes up to four travelers.
Sunset Catamaran Cruise in Ft. LauderdaleTwo-hour sail on the Spirit of Lauderdale from Bahia Mar past Millionaire's Row and Port Everglades, with a complimentary Champagne toast.www.viator.comMillionaire's Row, the Drawbridge, Then Open Water
The first stretch is the calm one. From Bahia Mar the catamaran runs the Intracoastal Waterway past waterfront mansions and moored mega-yachts, and travelers say the crew has a story for many of the houses.
To reach the ocean the boat has to pass the 17th Street Causeway bridge, which the listing says opens for it on the way out. The bridge runs on its own schedule, and travelers have written about it sticking. One writing in May 2025 said it broke and the group missed the sunset. The operator's FAQ ties the strict start time to the same bridge: leave late, miss the opening, and the whole trip can slip by up to an hour.
Past the bridge come the cruise ships at Port Everglades, then open water off Fort Lauderdale Beach, where the sails go up.
The Month Decides Where the Sunset Lands
As of October 13, 2026, every open date on the booking calendar through December 31 shows a single 6:00 PM departure, and the operator's own reservation system lists 6:00 PM for nearly all of them. The U.S. Naval Observatory puts Fort Lauderdale sunset at about 6:52 PM on October 15 and 6:39 PM on October 31, so an October boat is out on the water when the sun drops behind the beach.
After clocks change on November 1, sunset moves to about 5:30 PM, ahead of a 6:00 PM departure. A traveler writing in November 2022 said the sun had already set by the time the boat got out, and one writing in December 2024 described Christmas lights along the waterway. Another, writing in November 2024, said the app showed 6:00 PM but the boat left at 5:00 PM, as the emailed instructions said. The departure time in your confirmation email is the one to plan around.
One Glass Is Included, the Rest Is Cash
The complimentary Champagne is a single glass for the toast, and the operator's site limits it to guests 21 and up. Beer, wine and other drinks are sold at the bar. The operator's booking notes say the boat takes cash only. Its FAQ adds a cooler of free ice water. The operator's own pages disagree with each other on whether light snacks and soft drinks are free or for sale, so bring small bills either way. You can carry on your own food and soft drinks; glass bottles are not allowed, and the operator discourages coolers. The operator lists a shaded bar and lounge, covered seating and two restrooms on board.
Parking is separate. The operator's parking page lists a ten-dollar flat rate, paid through a QR code the captain hands out after the trip. Its booking notes also say on-site parking is unavailable October 6 to November 7, without naming a year; for those weeks, the rideshare drop-off at the Marina Marketplace that the operator already recommends is the simpler plan.
Check-In Happens Inside the Market Deli
Check-in is the Tropical Sailing kiosk inside the Market Deli at Bahia Mar, 801 Seabreeze Boulevard; from there you walk south to the boat at Dock A. The listing asks you to check in 45 minutes before departure, sign the passenger manifest and waiver, and show a credit card with matching ID. Anyone not checked in 15 minutes before departure can lose the seat with no refund. The gate closes five minutes out. Travelers have written that the check-in office took some finding, so leave a few spare minutes.
The trip needs eight guests to sail. If it falls short, the operator contacts you with alternatives, and the listing offers a reschedule or a refund; it also asks you to confirm at least two hours ahead that the minimum has been met.
For families: the operator does not recommend the trip for infants under 12 months, children under 30 pounds need their own life jacket, and children 12 and under wear one on the upper decks while sailing. The listing ticks stroller access and all fitness levels, but the operator says the boat is not wheelchair accessible and guests need to be able to step from the dock onto the boat, with crew helping where it is safe.
📍 The map pin marks Bahia Mar Resort and Yachting Center at 801 Seabreeze Boulevard; check-in is the kiosk inside the Market Deli there, and the boat ties up at Dock A.
Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund through the listing. The operator sails in light rain, can hold departure up to an hour when conditions are unsafe, and on days when the ocean is too rough can keep the whole trip inside the Intracoastal; one traveler writing in November 2024 said the group stayed in the inlet for wind. Several travelers mention choppy water and seasickness once outside, and one recommends taking motion-sickness medicine beforehand if you are prone to it. The operator also notes it gets breezy after sunset, so bring a light layer.
Then take a spot on the forward nets and let the crew name the houses as the waterway slides past.