Booking choice: The Spirit of Carolina dinner cruise, from $117 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
The Spirit of Carolina is often sold as a sunset dinner cruise, and in summer it is. Its Viator listing is more careful: "sunset views of the harbor during the summer months".
We calculated Charleston's sunset times for 2026 and lined them up against the 7:00 to 9:30 PM sailing.
The quick answer
The sun sets during the 7:00 to 9:30 PM cruise from about mid-March to late September, between about 7:05 and 8:30 PM. The best months are May to August, when it sets mid-dinner. By mid-October the sun has set before you sail, and from November to February the whole cruise is after dark.
What time is sunset in Charleston each month?
From about 5:15 PM in December to about 8:30 PM in late June, in local time.
Times below are calculated for Charleston on the given date in 2026, rounded to the minute. Daylight saving time starts in early March, which pushes sunset an hour later overnight.
| Date | Sunset | On the 7:00 PM cruise |
|---|---|---|
| January 15 | 5:36 PM | After dark |
| February 15 | 6:05 PM | After dark |
| March 1 | 6:16 PM | After dark |
| March 15 | 7:27 PM | Early in the cruise |
| April 15 | 7:49 PM | During dinner |
| May 15 | 8:11 PM | During dinner |
| June 21 | 8:30 PM | During dinner |
| July 15 | 8:28 PM | During dinner |
| August 15 | 8:04 PM | During dinner |
| September 15 | 7:25 PM | Early in the cruise |
| September 30 | 7:05 PM | Just after sailing |
| October 15 | 6:46 PM | During boarding |
| November 15 | 5:18 PM | After dark |
| December 15 | 5:14 PM | After dark |
Picked a summer evening? Check which nights still have tables.
Check dates for the Spirit of Carolina dinner cruiseWhich months are best for a sunset dinner cruise?
May to August, when the sun sets between about 8:00 and 8:30 PM, in the middle of the cruise.
April and early September work too, with sunset earlier in the evening. The golden hour before sunset is often the best light for photos of the Battery and the bridge.
Is a winter dinner cruise still worth it?
Yes, if you think of it as a night cruise: the Ravenel Bridge and the waterfront are lit up, and the dining rooms are climate controlled.
From November to February it is dark for the whole cruise, so you trade the sunset for city lights. Bring a warm layer for the deck.
Where on the boat do you see the sunset best?
From the open deck, as the boat turns back toward the city and the setting sun.
Arrive at 6:30 PM for a window table, then step outside between courses. The route loops the harbor past the Battery, Fort Sumter and the Ravenel Bridge, so the sun is on different sides at different moments.
Want the sunset with dinner? Go between May and August and step out on deck between courses.
Explore the Spirit of Carolina dinner cruiseWhat if it is cloudy?
The cruise sails rain or shine, so on a grey evening you still get dinner and the harbor, just not the colours.
Guests on the smaller sunset boats also report evenings with no sunset at all. Every cruise here cancels free up to 24 hours before on Viator, which lets you move a booking if the forecast looks poor.
Which sunset cruises follow the sunset time?
The sunset catamaran and the Shem Creek sunset sail are timed for sunset, so you see it whatever the month.
The Charleston Harbor sunset cruise rates 4.8 from 1,117 reviews and leaves from downtown; the catamaran sunset sail with a bar leaves Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant. Neither serves dinner, so book a restaurant for afterwards.
Sunset first, dinner ashore? The catamaran sails at golden hour from downtown.
Check dates for the sunset catamaran cruiseHow do you plan the perfect sunset evening?
Pick a Sunday to Thursday between May and August, book a few days ahead, and arrange your ride back before you board.
The dock is at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant and the cruise returns at 9:30 PM, after the last water taxi. See getting to Patriots Point and what to wear.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Charleston dinner cruise a sunset cruise?
From about mid-March to late September, yes. Outside those months the sun sets before or soon after the 7:00 PM departure.
What time does the Charleston dinner cruise leave?
Boarding is at 6:30 PM and the cruise sails from 7:00 to 9:30 PM.
Does the dinner cruise change times in winter?
SpiritLine lists the same 7:00 PM sailing. Check your booking for the exact time on your date.
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Choose your evening
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Spirit of Carolina Harbor Dinner Cruise
- 2.5-hour cruise, boarding 6:30 PM, sailing 7:00 to 9:30 PM
- Three-course dinner made to order on board, seated 4 to 6 per table
- Live music and climate-controlled dining decks
Charleston Harbor Sunset Cruise
- 2-hour sunset cruise on a 45-foot motorized catamaran
- Downtown departure from the Charleston Maritime Center
- Harbor landmarks, dolphins and sea birds
Sunset Sail on a Catamaran with Bar
A sunset sail with drinks before dinner at Shem Creek
