By Rowan Ellis · Updated · Affiliate links, explained in my disclosure
Lake Tahoe Bleu Wave Cruises, LLC
Lake Tahoe: Scenic Sunset Cruise with Drinks and Snacks
4.7 (379) · from $125
A sunset cruise on Lake Tahoe is a 2 to 2.5-hour evening boat trip, and the four I compared cost $125 to $170 per person. All four leave from the South Shore, and each one pairs the sunset with something different: a drink, a wine tasting, a set dinner or appetizers. If you want to see the other Lake Tahoe trips first, my guide to boat tours in Lake Tahoe compares all 12. Prices are in US dollars, checked in October 2026, and the booking links are affiliate links, as I explain on my about page.
My pick for a first Lake Tahoe sunset cruise is the Bleu Wave scenic sunset cruise at $125, rated 4.7 from 379 reviews. If wine matters more than the boat, I’d book the Tahoe Tastings sunset wine cruise at $150, rated 5.0 from 83 reviews.
A boat cruise on Lake Tahoe by day and by evening covers the same water, so what changes is the light and the crowd. The standard daytime Emerald Bay cruise from Bleu Wave, $125 for 2 hours, rated 4.8 from 1,032 reviews, says on its listing that you can choose a sunset option. That makes it the one trip where the same ticket works for both, and it is worth a look if you cannot decide. The four sunset cruises in Lake Tahoe below are sold as evening trips only, so they keep their time slot.
The trips are short, and they are mostly about Emerald Bay. The Tahoe Keys Marina, where two of the four leave from, is about 5.8 miles in a straight line from Emerald Bay State Park, using the coordinates of both. That leaves time to circle Fannette Island, see Vikingsholm and be back near the lake’s South Shore as the light changes. The listings do not state the exact route for each sunset, so I’d read the booking page for the stops.
The Bleu Wave scenic sunset cruise is the one I’d start with for a sunset boat tour on Lake Tahoe. It is $125, 2 hours, and boards at Tahoe Keys Marina and Yacht Club. The boat is a classic 1966 yacht, and the listing names a fireplace, a private lounge, a stateroom, a fly-bridge, a large party bow, restrooms and climate-controlled indoor space. Snacks, soda, juice and water are included, plus one beer, a glass of wine or a glass of champagne.
Reviewers describe a friendly crew and a captain who tells historical and funny stories, and one said it was worth every penny. The cancellation window is 24 hours, the shortest of the four. This is the sunset cruise in Lake Tahoe I’d book for a mixed group, since the drink is included, the boat has an indoor space for cold evenings and the price is the lowest of the four sunset boats.
Lake Tahoe Bleu Wave Cruises, LLC
My pick: My first sunset: $125, 2 hours on a 1966 yacht with a fireplace and indoor lounge, a drink and snacks included, 4.7 from 379 reviews.
Most Lake Tahoe sunset cruises leave from the Tahoe Keys, but the biggest boat leaves from Nevada. The MS Dixie II sunset dinner cruise is $170 for 2.5 hours, rated 4.4 from 230 reviews, and the listing says it is the largest cruising vessel in South Lake Tahoe. It is the only sunset trip here with a set meal: you choose a cowboy ribeye, roasted chicken, broiled salmon or a mushroom ragu at least 24 hours before departure by contacting the operator.
Soft drinks, coffee or tea, an audio guide and all fees and taxes are included. Alcohol and parking on site are not, and the listing puts parking at $12 a day. Reviewers mention live music, a singer and narration of local history, and one found the meal good rather than outstanding. The boat has climate-controlled indoor seating, so you can eat inside and step out on deck for the sunset. Cancellation needs 2 days’ notice.
Aramark Destinations: Zephyr Cove Resort
My pick: The only sunset dinner: $170, 2.5 hours on the MS Dixie II, four mains to choose from and live music, 4.4 from 230 reviews.
For a South Lake Tahoe sunset cruise with wine, I’d choose between two boats that are very different. The Tahoe Tastings sunset cruise is $150, 2 hours, rated 5.0 from 83 reviews, on The Golden Rose, a 1953 Chris-Craft Venetian water taxi. The ticket covers the cruise to Emerald Bay and a tasting of 8 boutique California wines, with soda and water free. Food is not included, but the listing suggests the Pirate’s Chest at the marina for cheese, dips, charcuterie and other grab-and-go items.
The listing says it operates from May to October, with up to 4 cruises a day, seven days a week, and the boat starts at the Tahoe Keys Marina, where the address is 2435 Venice Dr E. I’d take this one for a couple or a small group of friends, because the host introduces each wine and the group is small. The other wine boat, the Aramark appetizers cruise, is described in the section on the best sunset cruise below. A 5.0 rating from 83 reviews is strong, though the listing is the operator’s own description, so check recent reviews.
Tahoe Tastings
My pick: The wine sunset: $150, 2 hours on a 1953 Chris-Craft, 8 boutique wines, 5.0 from 83 reviews; May to October.
Picking the best Lake Tahoe sunset cruise depends on what you want on the plate or in the glass. The Aramark wine tasting and appetizers cruise is $127 for 2.5 hours, on a double-decker yacht, rated 4.3 from only 28 reviews. It pours Albariño, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Rosé, Pinot Noir and Syrah, with artisan cheeses, charcuterie and smoked salmon crostini. The theme is how Lake Tahoe’s water connects to California’s wine country, so the commentary leans on wine more than on local history.
With a small review count and a rating below the Bleu Wave, I would not call it the best on numbers alone. What it does offer is the longest wine trip at the lowest wine price: $127 with food, against $150 without food on the Golden Rose. The listing gives no meeting point in the data I have, so confirm where to board before you go. Cancellation needs 2 days.
Aramark Destinations: Zephyr Cove Resort
My pick: Wine and food on a double-decker yacht: $127, 2.5 hours, cheese and charcuterie included, 4.3 from only 28 reviews.
If you want a sunset sail on Lake Tahoe, none of the four cruises here is a sailboat. The Sail Tahoe Blue cruise is a 40-foot monohull, $153 for 2 hours, rated 4.8 from 21 reviews, and its listing offers morning, afternoon and evening cruises and mentions the alpenglow as the sun settles over the mountains. It is not tagged as a sunset trip in my data and the listing gives no sunset departure time, so ask the operator for evening slots. It caps the boat at 18 passengers, and it leaves from Ski Run Marina.
The clear kayak tour from Sand Harbor is the other evening option outside this page: its listing says it runs in the morning, at midday or at sunset, for $139. I compare both in my Lake Tahoe boat tours guide.
Here are the four sunset cruises on Lake Tahoe side by side.
| Operator | Price | Duration | Boat type | Rating | Cancellation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bleu Wave | $125 | 2 hours | 1966 yacht with indoor lounge | 4.7 (379 reviews) | Free up to 24 hours |
| Aramark Destinations (dinner) | $170 | 2.5 hours | MS Dixie II, large cruise vessel | 4.4 (230 reviews) | Free up to 2 days |
| Tahoe Tastings | $150 | 2 hours | 1953 Chris-Craft water taxi | 5.0 (83 reviews) | Free up to 2 days |
| Aramark Destinations (wine) | $127 | 2.5 hours | Double-decker yacht | 4.3 (28 reviews) | Free up to 2 days |
The table gives sunset on the 15th of each month in 2026 for the lake’s coordinates, in Pacific time, calculated with the free sunrise-sunset.org service. The last column is simple arithmetic: for a 2-hour cruise to end at sunset, it would leave about 2 hours earlier. The listings do not give fixed departure times, so the booking calendar decides the real slot.
| Month | Sunset on the 15th | A 2-hour cruise ending at sunset would leave about |
|---|---|---|
| May | 8:07 PM | 6:05 PM |
| June | 8:29 PM | 6:30 PM |
| July | 8:26 PM | 6:25 PM |
| August | 7:56 PM | 5:55 PM |
| September | 7:09 PM | 5:10 PM |
| October | 6:22 PM | 4:20 PM |
| November | 4:47 PM | 2:45 PM |
Clocks go back on 1 November, which is why November drops so sharply. Since Tahoe Tastings says its season ends in October, that is also the month when evening trips are most likely to stop, and I’d check the calendar before I booked an autumn sunset. Evenings on the water are cold at 6,200 feet even in summer, so bring a jacket, and I’d take the indoor-seating boats, the Bleu Wave and the MS Dixie II, for a cold October evening.
Here is how I’d choose among the Lake Tahoe sunset cruises, and the rest of the lake is in my guide to every Lake Tahoe boat trip I compared.
Back to the Harbour Advisor home page for other destinations.
The four sunset cruises I compared cost $125 to $170 per person. The Bleu Wave yacht is $125 for 2 hours, the Aramark wine and appetizers cruise is $127 for 2.5 hours, the Tahoe Tastings wine boat is $150 for 2 hours, and the MS Dixie II dinner cruise is $170 for 2.5 hours. Tips and extra drinks cost more.
On the 15th of each month in 2026, sunset is about 8:07 PM in May, 8:29 PM in June, 7:09 PM in September and 6:22 PM in October, Pacific time. After the clocks go back on 1 November it is about 4:47 PM on the 15th. A 2-hour cruise that ends at sunset leaves about 2 hours earlier.
For a first sunset I'd book the Bleu Wave scenic sunset cruise: $125, 2 hours, rated 4.7 from 379 reviews, with a drink and snacks included. For wine, the Tahoe Tastings sunset cruise is rated 5.0 from 83 reviews at $150. For a full meal, the MS Dixie II dinner cruise is the only one.
I couldn't confirm it. Tahoe Tastings says it operates from May to October, and the other three listings state no season in their text. Sunset is about 4:40 PM in mid December, so evening trips would be short. I'd check the booking calendar for your dates before planning around a sunset cruise.
Yes, on all four. The Bleu Wave scenic sunset cruise gives a full refund up to 24 hours before departure. The MS Dixie II dinner cruise, the Tahoe Tastings sunset cruise and the Aramark wine and appetizers cruise all need 2 days. That is the booking-platform text, so I'd read the policy on the page before paying.
My full review of each one, in the order I rank them: