Sea Rocket sunset cruise review
Why the rating matters
Sue loved it: “So fun; perfectly casual evening cruise. Drinks available but it’s not that sort of party boat. Totally chill ride out to sea to watch the sunset”. Lill from Norway called it “very nice boat trip with John and Don. Can be recomanded”. Kimberly found it “a good way to get the overview of the city at sunset”. Then Katie on 11 August wrote: the captain spent the first half of the ride with friends aboard, turned around talking rather than looking ahead. A guest said she felt unsafe and the captain answered “I do this all day, everyday. Do you see any other boats?” Katie ended it “Super disappointing tour. Go somewhere else.” A 3.7 is the average of both those truths.
What the tour is like
The listing says one hour; it also says 75 minutes. I’ll write it both ways and move on. Departs Bahia Mar Yachting Center, daily. The 65-foot boat has a restroom and a full bar. Professional photos included, plus a 6×8 group photo. Seating is first-come first-served within the zone you booked (Middle Bench or VIP Bow). Under-18s need a parent or guardian aboard. Not wheelchair accessible.
The Atlantic run is the catch: weather permitting, you leave the Intracoastal and head out to sea, which means you’re looking back west at the city skyline as the sun goes down — the only cruise here that gives you that view. No other boat here does this.
Caitlin noted: “No liquor for purchase as advertised though” — but the listing says full bar included, so that’s worth confirming ahead of the trip. Carol on 10 March wrote that she “couldn’t understand voices on microphone—all garbled”.
What works
- Only cruise here that goes out into the Atlantic, weather permitting
- You look back west at the skyline, not sideways at the Intracoastal
- Full bar and professional photos included
- Lowest price on the site at $35
- Good reviews from Sue, Lill and Kimberly on the actual experience
- Casual vibe that works for low-pressure evenings
Worth knowing
- Lowest rating on the site at 3.7 from 52 reviews
- Duration listed two ways: 1 hour vs 75 minutes — confirm on the listing
- Seating is first-come within your zone, not reserved
- No published departure times; you check the calendar for your date
- Katie’s experience was genuinely poor on a critical safety call
- Not wheelchair accessible
If you go out to the Atlantic, bring a light layer — it’s cooler on the open water. Confirm the full bar is available on the date you book. Ask about published departure times when you book, since they’re not shown on the listing.
Know your date?Departure times are fixed but sunset moves by nearly three hours across the year, so the calendar is the only place to confirm a boat is still out when the sun goes down. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before.
Check dates and timesWho it suits
Visitors who want the Atlantic view of the skyline — the only boat here that goes that direction. Sunset chasers willing to accept the lowest sample size and the lowest rating as the trade for a different experience. If the 3.7 worries you, the $36 Millionaire’s Row cruise is more booked at 4.4 from 496 reviews. If you want the highest rating with a real sample, the $55 downtown evening cruise rates 4.7 from 61 reviews.
Other cruises to consider
Most bookedFort Lauderdale: Millionaire's Row Cruise with Drinks
Best ratedEvening Boat Cruise through Downtown Ft. Lauderdale
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is the 3.7 rating?
It’s the average across 52 real reviews. Some people loved it and said the Atlantic run was fantastic. Some had genuinely poor experiences with the captain’s attention. A 3.7 is lower than the other evening cruises here, and the sample size is small enough that a few poor reviews move the average more. But it is real data.
What’s different about the Atlantic route?
Most boats stay in the Intracoastal or the New River, looking at the waterfront and mansions. The Sea Rocket heads out to the open Atlantic, weather permitting, so you’re looking back west at the Fort Lauderdale skyline as the sun goes down. That’s a different sunset than you get from the Intracoastal docks.
Is the full bar actually included?
The listing says so, but Caitlin’s review specifically notes ’no liquor for purchase as advertised.’ That’s a discrepancy worth confirming when you book. See what else is typically included on board, especially if the bar matters to your evening.
Should I book this or the Millionaire’s Row cruise?
Pick by what you value. The Sea Rocket is cheaper at $35 and does the Atlantic run. Millionaire’s Row is $36, rated 4.4 from 496 reviews, and stays on the Intracoastal. Both leave from Bahia Mar. If the Atlantic skyline view is your thing, the Sea Rocket is worth the risk. If you want the safer bet, go with Millionaire’s Row.
What should I bring?
Sunscreen, sunglasses, a camera. If you’re heading to the Atlantic, bring a light layer because it’s cooler out on the open water. The light lasts about 25 minutes past sunset if you want to photograph the afterglow.