A Day on the Water: Key West Boat Trips and Cruises

You can see most of Key West on foot, but you have not really seen it until you have been out on the water around it. Snorkeling the reef, a sunset sail, a day trip to the Dry Tortugas: these are among the main reasons people come to the island.

There are dozens of operators and hundreds of trips, and they change every season. So rather than a catalog, this is a guide to the kinds of Key West boat trips on offer: what the difference is, roughly what each costs, how long it takes, and who it suits.

Once you know which you want, we are happy to book it for you.

Where do Key West boat trips leave from?

Most leave from the Historic Seaport, the harbor at the foot of William, Margaret and Grinnell Streets, about a ten-minute walk from Marrero's. The Dry Tortugas ferry leaves from the ferry terminal at 100 Grinnell Street at the far end of the Seaport, about 15 minutes away. A few operators, Fury among them, depart from the marinas beside Mallory Square, also about ten minutes on foot. There is no need for a car or taxi, and parking at the harbor is expensive and scarce.

Snorkeling and dolphin trips

The Florida Keys reef runs parallel to the island a few miles offshore, and a snorkel trip is the easiest way to see it. Most trips go out on a large catamaran, anchor over one or two shallow reef sites, and give you an hour or so in the water with the fish, coral and the occasional turtle or ray.

Gear, instruction and flotation vests are included, and many trips add drinks once everyone is back on board. Trips take around three hours and run in the morning or afternoon.

Dolphin-watch trips head into the shallower waters near the island, where wild bottlenose dolphins live year-round, and often combine a dolphin search with a snorkel stop. If someone in your party would rather stay dry, a glass-bottom boat shows you the reef through the hull from an air-conditioned cabin.

Good examples: Sebago Watersports and Fury Water Adventures both run daily snorkel and dolphin trips by catamaran, and Fury operates the island's glass-bottom boat.

Sunset sails: catamaran, schooner or tiki boat?

Watching the sun go down from the water is the Key West ritual, and there are three quite different ways to do it.

Catamaran sunset sail

A large, stable, twin-hulled sailboat with plenty of deck space, an open bar of beer, wine and champagne, and often live music. It is sociable, comfortable and good value. Good for groups, families and anyone who worries about seasickness. Sebago and Fury both run them nightly.

Schooner sunset sail

A traditional tall-masted sailing ship, where you can watch the crew raise the sails by hand and, on some boats, take a turn at the wheel. It is quieter and more romantic than a catamaran, and the experience is more about the sailing itself.

The one most people know is Classic Harbor Line's Schooner America 2.0, a 105-foot replica of the yacht that won the first America's Cup in 1851, which sails from beside Schooner Wharf Bar in the Seaport. Sebago also runs a schooner champagne sunset sail.

Tiki boat

A small motorized raft topped with a thatched tiki hut and a bar, which putters slowly around the harbor rather than sailing out to sea. It is less about the view than the party, and ideal for birthdays, bachelorettes and small groups who want a boat to themselves. Shared tiki cruises, for example Sebago's Hula Hank's Tiki Sunset Cruise, and private tiki boats can be chartered for a group; some are BYOB.

Whichever you choose, keep an eye on the horizon at the moment the sun disappears. On clear evenings you may see the green flash, a split-second burst of green light just as the sun drops below the water.

Day sails

If sunset is booked or you would rather sail in daylight, most schooners and catamarans also run shorter afternoon sails of 90 minutes to two hours, past Mallory Square, Fort Zachary Taylor and out into the harbor. They are typically cheaper than the sunset departures and a relaxed way to see the island from the water.

A full day at the Dry Tortugas

The biggest trip from Key West, and the one to plan before you arrive. Dry Tortugas National Park is a cluster of seven small islands about 70 miles west of Key West, in the open Gulf. On Garden Key stands Fort Jefferson, a vast 19th-century brick fort surrounded by a moat, turquoise water and white sand. The snorkeling off the fort's walls is excellent, and the islands are a famous stop for migrating birds.

There are two ways to get there.

By ferry

The Yankee Freedom is the park's official ferry, a fast catamaran that leaves daily from the ferry terminal at 100 Grinnell Street, about 15 minutes' walk from Marrero's. Check-in is early in the morning and the crossing takes a little over two hours, so you have the middle of the day on the island, with a guided tour of the fort, time to snorkel and swim, and lunch, before the afternoon return. Adult tickets include the park entrance fee, a breakfast snack, a box lunch and snorkel gear. Check the current timetable and fare when you book, and bring photo ID.

The ferry sells out weeks ahead, so book as soon as your dates are fixed. If you want to camp on Garden Key, the few camping places on the ferry go many months in advance.

By seaplane

Key West Seaplane Adventures flies ten passengers at a time from Key West International Airport, a 40-minute flight low over the flats and shipwrecks. A half-day trip gives you about two and a half hours on the island and a full day about six and a half, at a good deal more than the ferry, with the park entrance fee charged on top. With so few seats, it books up well in advance.

How far ahead should you book?

For the Dry Tortugas, as early as you can: weeks ahead for the ferry, months for the seaplane, most of a year for camping.

For snorkel trips and sunset sails, a few days' notice is usually enough outside the busy months.

From January to April, when Key West is at its fullest, reserve a particular evening's sunset sail as soon as you know which night you want, especially for weekends and holidays.

What to bring

Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, a towel and a light layer for the ride home, because it can be surprisingly cool on the water after dark. Many operators ask for photo ID. Gratuities are not included in most ticket prices, so bring some cash for the crew.

Let us book it for you

Our innkeepers book these trips for guests and can help you pick the one that suits, whether that is a first snorkel, a quiet evening under sail, or a boat to yourselves for a group of eight. Tell us what you have in mind when you book your room, or ask at the front desk when you arrive.

You will find more of what they can arrange on our See & Do page, and if you want to spend time in the water without a boat, our honest guide to Key West beaches covers where to swim from Old Town.

We look forward to hosting your next Key West stay.

The Marrero's Team