One of the best views we’ve ever had of Table Mountain is from this sunset cruise. The mountain glows in Golden Hour, and looks all the more striking rising out of the choppy ocean waters.
This experience is also a great bit of fun, the perfect romantic date or anniversary evening – especially when topped off with dinner at the Waterfront! We’ve put together all the information you need, along with our own experience of the champagne sunset cruise.
What you need to know
Cost: ~R570 – although there are sometimes off-peak specials, so keep an eye out!
Duration: 1.5 hours
Tickets: You can buy tickets here or in person at the Waterfront – both options cost the same.
Starting time: This depends on the season, as we are, after all, chasing the sunset!
Alternative options: If you prefer to go earlier you can join this day cruise – it’s also cheaper because champagne isn’t included; you also have the option of this dinner and cruise combo if you want to have a full date evening.
What to wear: Dress warmly and wear closed shoes! Even in summer, it can get really chilly when the sun goes down; particularly on a windy day.
Pros
- It’s a beautiful way to watch the Cape Town sunset
- The catamaran is sturdier than a normal sailboat, which means less sickness-inducing
- You can sit out on the front of the boat, or in an enclosed window-filled area
- Two glasses of bubbly are included
- They have a cash bar
- They have safety gear and blankets, so children can join
- There is a little bathroom on-board
- It’s well-priced for something that feels so luxurious and exciting
Cons
- If you go over the weekend, the boat can get quite full
- They play music (not too loudly) which can feel a bit frustrating if you want to hear the wind and the waves
- If you want to bring the whole family it can get a bit pricey
Our sunset champagne cruise Cape Town
We really loved this cruise. Starting off with a plastic glass of bubbly as we stepped on the boat, we found a spot to sit on the front of the catamaran, securing a perfect view. The catamaran pushed slowly out of the harbour, and then we were leaving the city center behind and sailing out on the ocean.
We rounded a bright red buoy covered with young seals sunning themselves. From this vantage point we also spotted a whale curving slowly out of the water! Unfurling the sails, the boat picked up speed and crashed through the waves, everyone laughing and enjoying getting a bit splashed. The guides topped up everyone’s glasses and gave a little safety briefing in case anything went wrong.
It all had a really laid-back, easy vibe, and everyone was chatting and taking pictures, getting that shot for the gram.
Watching the sunset from the boat
The sky slowly turned pink and the city glowed in the golden hour. It was incredible to watch the sunset from here – I come from a small Klein Karoo town surrounded by mountains, so we always watched the sun go down long before it really went past the edge of the world. But here, with nothing but ocean, you can watch its egg-like body slip down, ending with just a tiny line of light before that winks out too.
Sailing back to shore
After this the light quickly rushes out of the sky and things get chilly. The guides brought out blankets to keep everyone snug, and some of us bought one more drink from the cash bar.
As we edged back into the harbour, the moon glowed bright and the many Waterfront lights reflected beautifully in the water. It felt super peaceful after the excitement of the choppy waves and wild-rushing wind.
The disembarking was all very quick and efficient – the skipper brought us in, people on the shore tied us down, and we walked right off the boat and a few steps over to the restaurant we’d picked to continue the celebrations! Easy and terrific.
Boat cruise waterfront
So, now you have all the information you need to decide whether the sunset cruise is for you! We had such a lovely time celebrating our first six months married on board, and would definitely recommend it.
If you’re ticking off fun Cape Town activities, check out our post on snorkelling with the seals in Hout Bay or this round-up guide to the best Cape Town tours!
