Treasure Island: Sunset Schooner Sailing & BYOB Shared Cruise

4.87

(247 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

You sort of wake up to it—the soft slap of water against the hull, that salty air curling around your face. I was already grinning before we even left the dock in Treasure Island. The Suncoast Horizon looks almost old-fashioned with its sails and all that wood; our captain (I think his name was Mike?) gave us this easy nod like we were all regulars. There were maybe ten of us, some couples, a family. Someone had brought a cooler full of local beer—BYOB is totally fine here—and the crew just handed over extra ice without fuss.

We set out about an hour before sunset, which I didn’t realize meant you get this long stretch where the sky goes from blue to every color you can name. The wind was gentle—nothing dramatic—so you could actually hear people laughing or just sitting quiet. At one point my girlfriend grabbed one of those thick blankets they keep stacked by the cabin door (it gets chilly fast on the water), and I ended up wrapped in it too because apparently Florida evenings aren’t always as warm as you’d think. Soda and water are free if you want them; honestly though, most folks seemed happy with whatever they’d brought along.

Our guide pointed out dolphins near the bow—just quick flashes in the gold light—and I swear everyone got quiet for a second. It’s not flashy or anything, but there’s something about watching the sun drop behind St Pete Beach from out on the bay that sticks with you longer than you expect. The schooner itself creaked every now and then; I liked that part. Felt real. There’s a restroom below deck if you need it (someone asked right away—good call). It’s a shared sailing trip so yeah, you’ll meet other people, but after a while it felt like we were all just floating together for a bit.