Bleu Wave Sunset Cruise Lake Tahoe: 2 Hours on a 1966 Classic Yacht with Drinks and Snacks

Lake Tahoe Bleu Wave Cruises, LLC

Lake Tahoe: Scenic Sunset Cruise with Drinks and Snacks

★ 4.7 (379) · from $125

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Prices and timetables checked 2026-10-17. This page contains an affiliate link, explained in the booking section.

The Bleu Wave sunset cruise is a two-hour evening sail on a 1966 classic yacht from the Tahoe Keys marina in South Lake Tahoe, priced from $125 per person with snacks, soft drinks and one beer, glass of wine or champagne included.

The rare attribute that changes the decision is the boat. The listing describes a vintage yacht with a fireplace, a private lounge, a stateroom, a fly-bridge, a party bow and heated indoor rooms, which means you can stay warm after dark at a lake that cools fast.

The trade-off is that the listing gives no departure times, so you have to match the slot to the sunset yourself. I explain how below, and the Lake Tahoe sunset cruise guide lists the other evening boats.

If you want the same operator by day, my Bleu Wave Emerald Bay cruise page covers it. The main Lake Tahoe boat tour comparison and the home page cover everything else.

What is the Bleu Wave sunset cruise and what do you see?

It is a two-hour evening cruise on the south end of Lake Tahoe, aimed at the Emerald Bay shoreline and the sunset behind the Sierra.

• The yacht: a 1966 vessel the listing says has travelled widely, with a fireplace, a stateroom and a fly-bridge.
• Emerald Bay views: the listing promises views of the bay; it does not say the boat enters the bay, which differs from the daytime listing that does.
• Sunset: reviewers describe the captain cutting the engine so the boat drifts while the sky changes colour.
• Wildlife: one September reviewer watched a bear paddling over the water near Emerald Bay, and the captain's stated policy, according to another, is to stop for bears.
• Music: reviewers mention the captain playing classic hits and a bartender making cocktails.

The route is where this listing is thinner than its daytime sister. It names Emerald Bay views but gives no stop list, so I treat the cruise as a drifting sunset sail towards the bay and not a guaranteed circuit of Fannette Island.

If the island is your priority, the daytime Bleu Wave trip is the safer pick.

Where does the Bleu Wave sunset cruise leave from?

You board at the Tahoe Keys Marina and Yacht Club, on the south shore of the lake.

The daytime listing calls the meeting spot the Rubicon Pier, while this listing says Tahoe Keys Marina and Yacht Club. Both carry the same coordinates, so I read them as the same place. Allow extra time for the car park: one reviewer of the daytime trip warns it can be packed.

When does the sunset cruise sail, and how long is it?

The cruise lasts two hours, and the listing publishes no departure time, so the sunset table below is the best guide to what to select in the calendar.

A sensible rule is to choose the slot whose two hours finish a little after the sunset time, so the sky colour comes in the middle of the trip and you are not left in the dark on the way back.

In October that means choosing a slot that ends around 6:30 PM or later. I cannot say which slots the operator runs, because the listing does not say, and the operator's own page gives no season dates either.

Reviews are dated May to October 2026, so late spring to early autumn is documented.

1. Open the GetYourGuide calendar for your date and note the start time.
2. Compare that start time plus two hours with the sunset time in the table.
3. Book the slot that ends within 30 minutes of the sunset.
4. Arrive 30 minutes before sailing and bring warm clothing; the listing asks for it.

What is on board and what is included?

The fare covers the boat, the crew, snacks, soft drinks and one alcoholic drink, and it excludes hotel pick-up.

The facilities list matters more than the snacks. The yacht has a fireplace, a private lounge, a stateroom, a fly-bridge, a large party bow and climate-controlled indoor areas, plus restrooms.

Eat before you go: GetYourGuide's own review summary says some travellers wanted more substantial food, and a September reviewer says the snacks were small chip bags.

How does it compare with the other sunset cruises on Lake Tahoe?

At $125 it is one of the cheapest sunset tickets on my list with a drink included, and the only one on a classic yacht.

The Dixie II dinner cruise adds a meal and live music for $45 more and half an hour extra. The Tahoe Tastings boat charges $25 more for a wine flight. If you want a quiet two hours with a drink in your hand, this is the cheaper way to get the sunset.

Is the Lake Tahoe sunset boat tour worth it versus the other evening boats?

I would book it for a couple or a small group who want the sunset and a warm cabin, and I would pick another boat for a meal or a wine flight.

The ratings back this up: 4.7/5 from 379 reviews, with sub-scores of 4.8 for the guide and for transportation and 4.6 for value.

Value is the lowest of the three, and one reviewer says the price felt a little high while adding that the drinks and chips were a nice touch. For $62.50 an hour you are paying for the boat and a captain who stops the engine at the right moment.

When is the best time to go on a sunset cruise at Lake Tahoe?

June to September gives the warmest evenings and the latest sunsets; October onwards needs a coat.

The average highs are for the shoreline in daytime, so after dark expect far lower temperatures on deck. The listing asks for warm clothing, and a June reviewer said the same: bring warm clothes.

Check the National Weather Service Reno forecast the day before. Wind and cloud change the look of the sunset, though one reviewer on a grey, breezy evening in late August says the sky "exploded with colour" at the very end.

April-May California State Parks closes Fannette Island in April and May because it is a wildlife breeding site.

That closure affects spring sunset cruises only if the captain plans to hold near the island; the listing does not promise it either way.

The Dixie II operator lists a costume dinner cruise on 31 October and a New Year's Eve dinner cruise on 31 December on its Zephyr Cove Resort site, which tells you that evening boats run into winter on the lake. This operator's winter schedule is not published.

What do passengers say about the sunset cruise?

All 20 reviews I can see are 5/5, so I read themes rather than scores, and the themes are the crew, the sunset, the information and a few practical gripes.

GetYourGuide's own review summary agrees: the crew is praised, and travellers want more substantial snacks.

Who should skip the Bleu Wave sunset cruise?

Skip it if you want a full meal, a live band, or a guaranteed visit to Fannette Island.

• Diners: the Dixie II dinner cruise serves a three-course meal with live music.
• Wine fans: the Tahoe Tastings sunset cruise offers eight tastings.
• Island watchers: choose the Tahoe Cruises Emerald Bay boat, which names Fannette Island in its route.
• Anyone with mobility limits: reviewers flag the walk and the listing does not mention a ramp.
• Non-drinkers who want a mocktail menu: the listing includes soft drinks, not specialty drinks.

How do you book the Bleu Wave sunset cruise?

Book through GetYourGuide, choose a slot that ends after sunset, and cancel free up to 24 hours before.

For season dates and the exact boarding point, call the operator on (775) 588-9283 or see its website.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: Lake Tahoe Bleu Wave Cruises (boat, fares); California State Parks, Emerald Bay (Fannette Island closure, April and May); National Weather Service Reno (forecast); Open-Meteo archive API (climate, 2016-2025); sunrise-sunset.org API (sunset times); Nager.Date (holidays); Zephyr Cove Resort events page (Dixie II winter cruises); GetYourGuide listing 475123 (price, rating, inclusions).