A Sunset Cruise in Clearwater, Florida

One of the best ways to explore beautiful Clearwater is via a relaxing cruise. Tropics Boat Tours on Florida’s gorgeous Gulf Coast offers a variety of entertaining options throughout the year, including: dolphin, sunset, party, and specialty themed cruises. We opted for the sunset cruise as we thought it would be a nice way to enjoy the scenery without suffering directly in the intense summer sunlight. I can’t imagine paying for an uncovered boat ride in the middle of the day! We have been to this beach a number of times since moving here, and although it’s gorgeous, it’s also always jam packed with tourists.

Fortunately, there are many different cruise options for those who prefer to do a little more than simply sunbathing and swimming. A night tour is a great alternative for those tired of sweating in the hot Florida sun and dealing with chaotic crowds at the beach. We figured this would be a great change of pace as we were tired of sweating in the sun. Although it was still extremely hot and muggy at the start of the cruise, the temps cooled down tremendously as the night went on. An impending thunderstorm brought forth a nice cool breeze as well as a drastic drop in temperatures. I would guess that the temperature dropped from the mid 90’s to the lower 80’s! In Florida, this is a big deal.

Cruise highlights

Along the way, your energetic tour guide will point out a variety of sights, including: Clearwater’s downtown, celebrity homes (we saw the homes of Tom Cruise, John Travolta, and Hulk Hogan), and other major architectural attractions in the area. It’s a very beautiful cruise – we had a great time sightseeing and seeing the area from a different viewpoint. We also learned a lot about the history of the area.

To be honest, the downtown won’t be winning awards anytime soon (it is a bit empty and devoid of tourist traffic), however, there are a few good local restaurants including Clear Sky Cafe. We have stopped here for breakfast several times (I recommend the burritos).

Tom Cruise’s house (to the right). As expected, it is huge. If you follow celeb news, you will know that Cruise is huge into scientology and obviously chose to buy a house in the scientology headquarters of Clearwater. What a gorgeous house – the landscaping is amazing! On a side note, Cruise looks really fantastic for his age so I guess that strict Scientology diet is working!

Almost every beach and park in the Gulf is great for birdwatching. Many sites in the Bay are part of the Great Florida Birding Trail. On the cruise, you will pass Bird Island which is a sanctuary for all types of birds. It’s only accessible via boat or kayak.

The beach from a distance (the large pink building is the Hyatt Regency). The thing I love most about this area are all the colorful hotels and businesses. It really makes the area feel extra happy and vacation-y. They are quite pricey, but if you feel like splurging for direct beach access, go for it!

How cool is this Jaws themed boat?! You will see lots of cool boats on the water including this really cool shark themed cruise. Boat watching itself is pretty entertaining.

A pirate themed cruise passing us by. I took a pirate cruise in nearby St. John’s Pass in Madeira Beach this summer. Clearwater also offers a popular pirate themed cruise which is great for families.

Overall, the ride is relaxing: a fresh change of pace from the intensely hectic atmosphere on the beach. I recommend booking a ticket if you are looking for something new to to do. It’s a great value and a great way to sightsee without putting up with the tourists.

The boat

The boat features both an upper and lower level. Views from both levels are fantastic, however, I preferred the lower level as the top unfortunately allowed smoking. Why does every cruise in the area allow smoking? This is so disappointing to me as I absolutely hate the stench of cigarette smoke. To get a seat on the upper level, plan on getting in line early or you may have to stand up (seats on the top level fill up faster!).

Don’t worry if you do not get your preferred seat as you can move around once you get on board. I recommend checking out the view from both settings. There is no air conditioning, however, the lower deck is covered and once you get moving, the fresh ocean breeze will offer much relief.

An amazing sunset destination

The sunset on this particular night was not overly spectacular. Unfortunately, it was pretty cloudy with a thunderstorm on the way. I imagine the views are spectacular on a clear evening. We were able to capture a few quick pictures in between the cloud coverage. While the sunset was just mediocre, we did appreciate the cooler temps.

Summer Thunderstorm Season

On our return route, an unexpected thunderstorm dampened the experience for a bit, as all upstairs passengers proceeded to come in to the lower deck. As you can imagine, it got pretty hot and noisy! However, the scenery was pretty spectacular. As anyone who lives in or visits the Bay area regularly, daily storms during the summer months are pretty much guaranteed. No matter what the forecast calls for, the skies can switch from completely sunny to thunderstorm weather rather quickly. We have been caught in our share of storms since moving here.

As soon as the rain led up, we proceeded to check out the upstairs level. We took advantage of the empty spaces and smoke-free environment (no one wanted to sit on the wet seats) and enjoyed the beautiful night views of the city as we made our way back. Overall, I enjoyed this cruise, although I wasn’t a fan of the smoking at all. Honestly, I would not book again for this reason alone. Anyone looking for a fun, scenic alternative to the beach is sure to be pleased with their experience (assuming smoking is ok with you).

Cruise details

Our cruise lasted about 1 hour and 45 minutes. After your cruise, there are lots of attractions in the immediate area including: restaurants, bars and the nightly “Sunsets at Pier 60” festival featuring live entertainment and vendors.

Pricing: The cruise is priced at $32 for adults and $20 for children (4-12). This price includes a champagne toast at sunset for adults 21+. For an additional cost, you can purchase a wristband good for unlimited beer, wine, and soda. I am not a big drinker so I opted out of this deal. Pricing current as of 2025 – check website for current deals.

The vibe: The cruise felt more like a party cruise with the majority of passengers purchasing the wristband. The staff set the tone early on with a free specialty cocktail for one lucky passenger. Add in: energetic music, reduced priced drinks before departing, and on-going shot and drink specials throughout the night. If you are seeking a more family friendly experience, you may prefer a morning sightseeing cruise.

Location: Tropics and all other cruise lines in the area are located at 25 Causeway Blvd. Slip #5. You can reserve your tickets online on the Tropics website. In terms of parking, you will need to arrive at least an hour early to secure your spot in the small marina lot. Also, there are a number of parking garages in the area. Tropics recommends parking downtown and taking the free ferry over. They operate Thursday-Sunday.

Tips for a fun cruise

*Bring your camera. There are plenty of fantastic photo opportunities.

*Bring with water bottles. That 1/2 hour or so wait to board the boat is much hotter than you think.

*Check Groupon for discounted rates.

*Arrive early to guarantee a parking space or take the ferry from downtown.

*If possible, book your cruise on a less crowded weekday, preferably during the off-season (December-March). Both traffic and parking will be less hectic. Plus, the temps will be much cooler.

*Check the weather forecast. Obviously, a clear night would be your best bet, unfortunately summer storms are quite unpredictable. Summer nights can be considerably hot and stuffy, so I would book your trip during the spring or fall months if possible.

Where to Stay

• Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach
• Pier 60 House Marina Hotel
• Hilton Clearwater Beach

Where to dine

• Marina Cantina – Nice upscale Mexican restaurant featuring great waterfront views.
• Salty’s – Fun beachside restaurant featuring seafood, frozen cocktails, and a scenic deck.