Tall Ship Sunset Sail on the Schooner Bay Lady: Two Hours from Pier 66, $80
Quick answer
The tall ship sunset sail is a 2-hour evening trip on the schooner Bay Lady from Pier 66, $80 per person on GetYourGuide, with a bar on board.
The operator's season ends on 31 October, the cruise runs rain or shine, and GetYourGuide rates it 4.8/5 from 267+ reviews.
The tall ship sunset sail is the only sailing-boat sunset trip in my Seattle data that is sold per seat, and it uses a real schooner, the Bay Lady, which leaves from Pier 66 on the downtown waterfront. It lasts two hours, costs $80 on GetYourGuide, and earns a 4.8 average from 267 reviews. Guests can help raise the sails.
The detail that changes the decision is the calendar. Seattle's Tall Ship states a sailing season from 26 April to 31 October, so on 17 October you have two weeks left, and the price on the operator's own site is $65 for adults against $80 here. My Seattle sunset cruise guide and my Seattle sailing page compare the other evening boats, and the home page lists other harbors.
| Operator | Seattle's Tall Ship (sold through GetYourGuide) |
|---|---|
| Boat | Schooner Bay Lady, a traditional sailing vessel; deck seating and two restrooms |
| Price | $80 per person here; the operator's site shows sunset sails at $65 adults and $55 children, with holiday prices varying |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Departure time | Moves with sunset through the season; the operator lists no fixed times and the slot shows at checkout |
| Pier | Bell Harbor Marina, Pier 66 |
| Season | 26 April to 31 October, per the operator |
| Food and drinks | On-board bar sells cider, beer, wine, champagne, soda and water; snacks for sale |
| Languages | English |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before, full refund |
| Rating | 4.8/5 from 267+ reviews on GetYourGuide |
What does the tall ship sunset sail show as the light fades?
It shows the downtown skyline from the water, the Olympic Mountains turning dark behind the sound, and on clear days the snow of Mount Rainier.
- Skyline: the listing names the Space Needle and Smith Tower as the landmarks as the city turns its lights on.
- Olympic Mountains: the sun sets behind them, so the west side of the boat gets the colour.
- Mount Rainier: visible only on clear days, per the listing.
- Under sail: the engine is not the point; the listing says the wind decides the direction.
Guests report being asked to hoist sails and take a turn steering. A May guest called it an icebreaker for a group, and a September guest said the sail was romantic. Nothing on the listing promises a particular route, so treat the landmarks as what you may see, not a fixed itinerary.
Where does the Bay Lady leave from?
The Bay Lady checks in at the Seattle's Tall Ship ticket booth beside Anthony's Restaurant, at Bell Harbor Marina on Pier 66.
The group walks down to the schooner together and boards about five minutes before the departure time. The listing includes "hotel pickup and drop-off" in its inclusion box, but the meeting point is a dock booth with no pickup mentioned, so I trust the meeting point and plan to get there on my own.
| From | To | Walk |
|---|---|---|
| Pike Place Market | Pier 66 | 9 min (655 m) · walking route |
| Westlake light rail station | Pier 66 | 15 min (1,152 m) · walking route |
| Pier 66 | Overview | Bell Harbor Marina on Google Maps |
How does sunset time change the Bay Lady's evening trip through the season?
The sail moves with the sun: sunset is 9:10 PM in mid-June but 5:55 PM on 31 October, so the same trip leaves more than three hours earlier by the end of the season.
| Date | Sunset | What it means on deck |
|---|---|---|
| 26 April | 8:16 PM | Season opener; cool air after dark |
| 15 May | 8:41 PM | Long light, still a layer needed |
| 15 June | 9:10 PM | Latest sunset of the year |
| 15 July | 9:04 PM | Warm, driest month |
| 15 August | 8:23 PM | Comfortable deck, lit skyline at the end |
| 15 September | 7:23 PM | Earlier dusk, cooler |
| 15 October | 6:22 PM | Colder, more rain |
| 31 October | 5:55 PM | Last day of the season, dark by 6:30 PM |
The listing says the trip departs to fit the sunset but gives no offset, so I cannot tell you how many minutes before sunset the Bay Lady casts off. Compare the slot at checkout with these times: a sail that straddles sunset gives you golden light first and the lit skyline last. Daylight saving ends on 1 November, after the season closes.
How long is the sail and what is the route?
The sail lasts two hours, which includes boarding and the return to Pier 66.
- Length: 2 hours on the listing; the operator's rates page does not state a duration.
- Route: the Seattle Harbor and Elliott Bay, per the listing; wind and tide decide the track.
- Boarding: about five minutes before departure, after the group walk from the booth.
I would plan on being at the Bell Harbor booth 20 minutes early so the walk to the boat is not rushed. The listing says the tour runs rain or shine, which matters in October.
What is on board and what is included?
Your ticket covers the sail, the crew and two restrooms, while drinks and snacks are bought at the bar.
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| 2-hour sunset sail | Included |
| Captain and crew | Included |
| Two restrooms | Included |
| Drinks (cider, beer, wine, champagne, soda, water) | For sale at the bar |
| Snacks | For sale; a guest praised the catering |
| Hotel pickup | Not included; meet at Pier 66 |
| Blankets | A May guest says blankets were offered; the listing does not promise them |
The listing says to wear weather-appropriate clothing. A July guest warns that it gets much colder on the sound, so bring a jacket even on a warm day. The listing gives no maximum number of guests, so ask the operator how full the deck gets on your date.
How does it compare with other Seattle sunset boats?
It is the only sailing option sold by the seat, and the other sunset boat on my list has ended its 2026 season.
| Trip | Price | Length | Rating | Pick it for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tall ship sunset sail | $80 | 2 h | 4.8 (267) | Real sails, hands-on crew |
| Argosy Seattle Sunset Cruise | $51 | 1.5 h | 4.5 (48) | Cheaper motor boat; season ended |
| Sail Bainbridge private sail | $445 | 2 h | 5.0 (5) | A private boat, price per group |
| Waterways dinner cruise | $149 | 2.5 h | 3.8 (60) | A seated meal on Lake Union |
Argosy's own page for its sunset cruise says the 2026 season has closed and the cruise returns in May 2027, so the tall ship is the open evening option through October. The Seattle boat tours hub covers the rest.
Is the tall ship sunset sail worth it against the motor-powered sunset cruises?
It is worth it if you want to touch the ropes and feel the boat move under sail, but not if you only want the skyline for the lowest price.
- For it: a 4.8 average, sub-scores of 4.8 for the guide and 4.9 for transport, and an activity few harbor boats offer.
- Against it: $80 on GetYourGuide against $65 on the operator's own price list for the same sunset sail.
- Use case: couples, small groups and anyone who likes to be asked to help rather than only watch.
Operator prices change with holidays and events, so I'd check seattlesailingship.com for your date before paying the $15 difference. Booking here keeps the free-cancellation window of 24 hours.
When is the best time to go?
June to September gives the driest decks and the latest sunsets, while October is the last month of the season and the wettest.
| Month | Avg high 2025 | Rain days | Sunset (15th) | On the water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44 °F | 9 | 4:47 PM | Dark early; heated indoor seats |
| Feb | 46 °F | 15 | 5:34 PM | Cold and wet; dress in layers |
| Mar | 53 °F | 20 | 7:16 PM | Wettest month; rain gear |
| Apr | 59 °F | 11 | 8:00 PM | Showers; layers on deck |
| May | 65 °F | 11 | 8:41 PM | Mild; a jacket on deck |
| Jun | 72 °F | 3 | 9:10 PM | Dry and bright; light jacket |
| Jul | 79 °F | 1 | 9:04 PM | Driest month; sun on deck |
| Aug | 77 °F | 5 | 8:23 PM | Warm; sunglasses |
| Sep | 71 °F | 5 | 7:23 PM | Dry and mild; sunset gets earlier |
| Oct | 58 °F | 16 | 6:22 PM | Wet; sunset before 6:30 PM |
| Nov | 53 °F | 16 | 4:34 PM | Dark by 5 PM; dress warm |
| Dec | 50 °F | 19 | 4:20 PM | Coldest and darkest; indoor seats |
- Season: 26 April to 31 October, so winter trips are not offered.
- Rain: October 2025 had 16 rain days, but the sail goes ahead rain or shine.
- Wind: check the National Weather Service Seattle marine forecast for Puget Sound.
$8.8 billion was the record visitor spending in Seattle in 2024, with 2.4 million international visitors.
That volume explains why summer evenings sell out first. For October, book a weekday and a clear forecast.
What do passengers say?
Passengers praise the crew and the sunset, and the one repeated suggestion is for more commentary.
- Crew: friendly, professional and attentive in most of the ten reviews I read.
- Participation: guests mention raising sails and steering as a highlight.
- Cold: a July guest says to dress in layers because the sound is colder than the street.
- Commentary: the AI summary of 14 reviews says some guests wanted more information about the surroundings.
The sample I could read is all five-star, dated from September 2025 to September 2026, so it leans positive. With 267 reviews and a 4.8 average, the pattern looks solid, but the AI summary rests on only 14 reviews.
Who should skip the Bay Lady sunset trip?
Skip it if you want shelter from the rain, need a sail after 31 October, or prefer a narrated tour of the city's history.
- Narration: the Argosy harbor cruise has a live guide for $43.
- Winter: the season ends on 31 October.
- Dinner: the dinner cruises serve a seated meal.
- Accessibility: the listing gives no accessibility details, so ask the operator about boarding.
The hub lists drier options if the forecast looks poor.
How do you book the Bay Lady sunset trip?
Pick a date on GetYourGuide, choose the sunset slot, and meet at the ticket booth next to Anthony's Restaurant on Pier 66.
$80 per person buys a 2-hour sunset sail on the schooner Bay Lady with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check availabilityI earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
- Choose a date before 31 October and compare the slot with the sunset table above.
- Arrive at the booth 20 minutes early.
- Bring a jacket and a hat.
- Buy a drink at the bar and take a turn at the helm if the crew asks.
Seattle's Tall Ship FAQ
What is the best sunset cruise in Seattle?
For an open evening option, the tall ship sunset sail at $80 and 4.8/5 is the best-rated, since Argosy's sunset cruise has finished its 2026 season.
What is the best boat tour in Seattle?
For a sailing experience this schooner leads at 4.8 from 267 reviews, while the Argosy harbor cruise at $43 is the cheapest narrated option.
How long is the sunset sail?
The sail lasts 2 hours, and boarding is about five minutes before departure.
Where does the sunset sail leave from?
It leaves from Pier 66 at Bell Harbor Marina; check in at the booth beside Anthony's Restaurant.
What time does the sunset sail leave?
The departure moves with sunset, which falls at 5:55 PM on 31 October and 9:10 PM in mid-June; the slot shows at checkout.
When does the season end?
The operator states a season from 26 April to 31 October.
Can I buy drinks on board?
Yes, the bar sells cider, beer, wine, champagne, soda and water, and snacks are for sale.
Do I help sail the boat?
You may be invited to help raise the sails or steer, according to the listing and several guests.
What if it rains?
The tour runs rain or shine, per the listing, so bring weather-appropriate clothing.
Is the price cheaper with the operator?
Possibly: the operator lists sunset sails at $65 for adults, against $80 here, so compare both for your date.
Sources: GetYourGuide listing 416591 (read 2026-10-17); Seattle's Tall Ship rates and schedule; Argosy Seattle Sunset Cruise page; Sound Transit fares; National Weather Service Seattle; Visit Seattle, 2024 visitor data; Open-Meteo and sunrise-sunset.org APIs.
