Xpert Sunset Jazz Cruise: Catamaran with Live Sax and Aperitivo, $90
Quick answer
The Xpert sunset jazz cruise is a 1.5 hour catamaran sail past San Marco and the Giudecca with live saxophone, one free drink and cicchetti, from $90 per person.
It is not a dinner, the listing gives no boarding pier or times, and GetYourGuide rates it 4.8/5 from 1,600+ reviews.
The Xpert sunset jazz cruise is a 90-minute evening sail on a sailing catamaran run by Xpert Travel, with a saxophonist, one included drink and a plate of Venetian cicchetti, priced from $90 per person (about €80).
The detail that changes the decision is the missing meeting point. The listing prints no pier and no departure times, only "check availability", so the real sunset slot, and how it falls against the clock-change, is something you confirm at checkout and on the voucher. The operator's own Google Maps listing sits on Riva dei Sette Martiri, but I treat that as a hint, not a fact about your boarding.
For other evening options start from the sunset cruise Venice guide, the Venice boat tours hub or the home page.
| Operator | Xpert Travel (sold through GetYourGuide); Google Maps name Venezia Catamaran Cruises |
|---|---|
| Boat | Sailing catamaran with walk-around space; "limited number of participants", no number given |
| Price | From $90 per person (about €80 at the 16 October 2026 rate) |
| Duration | 1.5 hours |
| Departure times | Not stated; shown at checkout |
| Boarding pier | Not stated on the listing; operator's Maps listing: Riva dei Sette Martiri |
| Route | San Marco Bay, Canale della Giudecca, then the lagoon towards the Lido |
| Food and drinks | One free drink and a selection of cicchetti; more drinks for sale; not a dinner |
| On board | Live saxophone, 2 toilets, wheelchair accessible per the listing |
| Languages | English, Italian, French, German, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese |
| Cancellation | Free until the day before |
| Rating | 4.8/5 from 1,600+ reviews on GetYourGuide |
What does the Xpert sunset jazz cruise include?
It includes the sail, live saxophone, one drink of your choice and a plate of cicchetti, and it excludes a full meal.
- Included: catamaran cruise, live jazz, one free drink, a selection of cicchetti, 2 toilets on board.
- Not included: dinner; the operator says this is not a dinner cruise, and cicchetti are starters, not a meal.
- Extras: Prosecco, Spritz and other cocktails are on the bar menu; one reviewer paid for extra drinks in cash.
- Rules: no shoes on the front deck or on the cushions, elegant-casual dress, no smoking.
Eat before or after: reviewers describe small sandwiches and snacks, not a plate that replaces supper.
Where does the Xpert sunset jazz cruise board?
The listing does not name the pier, so the voucher is the only reliable answer; the operator's Maps listing is on Riva dei Sette Martiri, the waterfront east of St Mark's.
If that is your boarding point, it is 450 m, a 6-minute walk, from the Arsenale and 1,195 m, 16 minutes, from Piazza San Marco by OpenStreetMap foot routing. Vaporetto fares come from ACTV/AVM, whose page I read but which does not publish amounts.
| From | To | Walk |
|---|---|---|
| Riva dei Sette Martiri | Arsenale | 6 min (450 m) · route |
| Riva dei Sette Martiri | Piazza San Marco | 16 min (1,195 m) · route |
| Operator's Maps listing | Overview | Venezia Catamaran Cruises |
What is the route, stop by stop?
The route runs from the St Mark's basin along the Giudecca canal and out across the lagoon towards the Lido, with short pauses for photos and talks.
| Section | What you see | Map |
|---|---|---|
| San Marco Bay | Skyline of the Doge's Palace and the campanile from the water | Piazza San Marco |
| Canale della Giudecca | Salute basilica and Giudecca waterfront at twilight | Basilica Santa Maria della Salute |
| Arsenale entrance | A reviewer in October saw the Arsenale entrance on the way | Arsenale |
| Lagoon towards the Lido | Open water, sunset and the southern tip of the islands | Lido di Venezia |
Reviewers say the boat stops at points for photos or brief talks and that commentary is light, so the focus is the music and the view, not a history lesson. One guest said the captain offered a short history talk in the last ten minutes.
How long is the Xpert sunset jazz cruise and when does it sail?
It lasts 90 minutes, and the start moves through the year with the sunset time.
The listing says only "check availability to see starting times". Venice sunsets run from 16:29 in December to 21:02 in June, so a sail that ends around dusk starts at very different clock times. The table gives the sunset by month; the third column is my own arithmetic to show how much daylight remains 90 minutes before it.
| Month | Sunset | What it means for this trip |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 16:55 | Early sunset (90 min before sunset: 15:25), cold on deck |
| Feb | 17:38 | Cold, dark by 17:38; wrap up warm (90 min before sunset: 16:08) |
| Mar | 18:17 | Evening light is short; ask for the blanket (90 min before sunset: 16:47) |
| Apr | 19:57 | Sunset moves past 19:50 after the clock change (90 min before sunset: 18:27) |
| May | 20:35 | Long evenings; a sail can end after 20:30 (90 min before sunset: 19:05) |
| Jun | 21:02 | Latest sunsets of the year (90 min before sunset: 19:32) |
| Jul | 20:58 | Latest sunsets; warm evening air (90 min before sunset: 19:28) |
| Aug | 20:20 | Sunset slides earlier by about 40 minutes from July (90 min before sunset: 18:50) |
| Sep | 19:24 | Comfortable evenings, sunset before 19:30 (90 min before sunset: 17:54) |
| Oct | 18:27 | Cool on deck; a reviewer in October was given blankets (90 min before sunset: 16:57) |
| Nov | 16:42 | Sunset before 17:00 and cold (90 min before sunset: 15:12) |
| Dec | 16:29 | Sunset at 16:29; the shortest days (90 min before sunset: 14:59) |
The listing mentions that sold-out evenings can be checked at other times, and that the same operator runs a lagoon lunch cruise, a classical music tour and a night cruise. Search the operator's name if your date is full.
What is it like on board?
Expect a spacious deck, seats you choose on boarding, a saxophonist playing over backing tracks and a bar.
- Seating - one guest was welcomed individually and asked where to sit; GetYourGuide's summary notes some confusion over unreserved seats.
- Music - saxophone with background tracks between sets, per a September reviewer.
- Comfort - blankets were handed out on an October evening.
- Toilets - 2 on board, per the listing.
- Accessibility - wheelchair accessible per the listing; ask about boarding steps.
How does the Xpert sunset cruise compare with other Venice evening trips?
It sits in the middle on price and tops the group on rating, with the only live music.
| Trip | Price | Duration | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xpert catamaran sunset jazz cruise (this page) | $90 | 1.5 h | 4.8/5 · 1,600+ |
| Il Bragozzo Prosecco sunset cruise | $107 | 1.5 - 1.75 h | 4.8/5 · 280+ |
| Real Venetian Kayak guided tour | $63 | 1 - 1.7 h | 4.8/5 · 620+ |
| Bucintoro Viaggi shared gondola | $44 | 30 min | 3.9/5 · 7,000+ |
The Il Bragozzo wooden-boat cruise costs $17 more and serves Prosecco instead of music. For paddling, see the canal kayak tour.
Is the Xpert sunset jazz cruise worth it against the other sunset boats?
At $90 for 90 minutes I'd call it good value for couples and friends who want a drink, music and the lagoon at dusk, and poor value if you want a meal or a close look at palaces.
GetYourGuide's breakdown is 4.8 for the guide, 4.9 for transportation and 4.6 for value, with value the lowest of the three. Its summary praises the sunset views, the relaxed jazz and a friendly crew. The one repeated complaint is boarding: unclear seat reservations and queue guidance.
The cruise works out at $60 per hour against a $30.7 median, so you pay for the music, the drink and the evening slot, not for hours on the water.
70,176 ha is the area of the Venice lagoon World Heritage property, spread over 118 small islands.
When is the best time to go?
Book the cruise from May to September for warm evenings and sunset between 19:24 and 21:02; in winter the same cruise happens in the dark.
| Month | Avg high 2025 | Rain days | Sunset (15th) | On the water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9 °C | 11 | 16:55 | Dark and cold; blankets matter |
| Feb | 10 °C | 6 | 17:38 | Cold evening air |
| Mar | 15 °C | 15 | 18:17 | Chilly after sunset; 15 rain days in 2025 |
| Apr | 18 °C | 10 | 19:57 | Mild, add a jacket |
| May | 21 °C | 14 | 20:35 | Warm evenings, 14 rain days |
| Jun | 29 °C | 4 | 21:02 | 29 °C highs and 4 rain days: the driest month |
| Jul | 28 °C | 14 | 20:58 | Warm, with some storms |
| Aug | 28 °C | 9 | 20:20 | Warm evenings |
| Sep | 24 °C | 12 | 19:24 | Pleasant; 12 rain days |
| Oct | 18 °C | 7 | 18:27 | Cool evenings; a blanket was given in October |
| Nov | 13 °C | 8 | 16:42 | Cold and dark early |
| Dec | 10 °C | 7 | 16:29 | Coldest, sunset 16:29 |
Weather on the lagoon changes quickly, and the listing does not say what the operator does in a storm; ask Xpert Travel. For how the lagoon is protected, see UNESCO's Venice and its Lagoon page.
What do passengers say about it?
In 20 sampled reviews, all five-star, this cruise draws the same praise: music, crew and relaxed pacing.
- Music - 11 of 20 mention the music.
- Crew and owner - about 10 praise the crew or the owner greeting guests.
- Value - 3 call it good value for money.
- Drinks and snacks - 7 mention them, one noting extra drinks cost cash.
The only critical note in the data is the boarding and seat-reservation comment in GetYourGuide's summary. The sample is positive-only, so read it as tone rather than a score.
Who should skip the Xpert sunset jazz cruise?
Skip it if you want dinner, history commentary, a private boat or a daytime view of the palaces.
- Hungry guests: cicchetti are small; eat first.
- Private groups: the private boat tour Venice guide covers boats for your party alone.
- Budget travellers: the shared gondola costs half as much, at 30 minutes.
- Anyone who needs exact times and pier before booking: the listing publishes neither.
The gondola ride Venice guide shows the other way to see the canals at dusk.
How do you book the Xpert sunset jazz cruise?
Book the 90-minute catamaran sunset cruise with live jazz, a free drink and cicchetti from $90 per person, free cancellation until the day before.
Check availabilityI earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
Xpert sunset jazz cruise FAQ
How much does a boat tour cost in Venice?
The cruise costs from $90 per person, about €80; shared gondolas start near $44 and Murano and Burano boat trips from $22 to $28.
What are the best tours to take in Venice?
For an evening on the water I'd book this catamaran jazz cruise, for the islands the Murano and Burano boat trips, and for a short classic the shared gondola.
Is the Xpert sunset cruise a dinner cruise?
No, the operator says it is not a dinner cruise: you get one drink and a selection of cicchetti, which are small appetisers.
Where does the catamaran leave from?
The listing does not say; the operator's Google Maps listing is on Riva dei Sette Martiri, so check your voucher.
What time does it sail?
The listing gives no times; the slots appear at checkout and shift with the season, since sunset ranges from 16:29 in December to 21:02 in June.
Is the cruise wheelchair accessible?
The listing marks it wheelchair accessible; ask Xpert Travel about boarding steps before booking.
Can I wear shoes on board?
Not on the front deck or the seat cushions; the operator also asks for elegant-casual dress.
Are extra drinks included?
No, one drink is free and others are paid; a reviewer says extras were taken in cash.
When is the worst time to go to Venice?
For this cruise, the cold dark months from December to February are the weakest; Venice's driest recorded month in 2025 data was June with 4 rain days.
Can I cancel the cruise?
Yes, with a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours ahead.
Sources: GetYourGuide listing 432266 (read 2026-10-17); UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Venice and its Lagoon; ACTV/AVM; Open-Meteo; sunrise-sunset.org, Frankfurter, Nager.Date and OSRM APIs; Comune di Venezia access-fee portal.
