Schooner Spirit of Independence

Captain Ricky was really great. So enjoyable to sail with. The crew was fantastic. They had us precipitate in raising the sails. This something to absolutely do. It was so peaceful and the views were awesome. Oh by the way they served a delicious turkey sandwich.

Absolutely amazing experience!! The crew was wonderful, very personable and kind. We really loved how they don’t allow too many guest on board, makes it a more personal experience than the party boats or crowded schooners. The boat was really nice and clean, and we enjoyed being able to help hoist the sails, and the sandwiches were really yummy! We got really lucky with a beautiful sailing day, stunning sunset, and good wind too. We would 100% come back!!!

My husband and I went on Ricky’s sunset cruise with close friends of ours. This was our first time to Key West and Ricky and his crew made it an amazing experience. My husband and our friend got to pull the sails and it just made it a special experience. Ricky was very Informative throughout the ride. We captured some of the prettiest sunsets. We highly recommend Ricky’s sunset cruise.

Captain Ricky was very informative regarding the history of Key West and also a very nice and personable guy. His crew did an amazing job as well and interacted with the passengers with a lot of fun. Highly recommend booking with this awesome crew.

Best sunset sail ever! If you want to feel real  romance of Key West sunsets, you definitely should choose those guys. I've been to many sails down here, but mostly, it's all about just drinking with a huge crowd of people. The crew is what makes this sail special. They are super attentive. They make you feel special, like you are a part of their family. They are aware of a lot of facts and history of the island, which made the sail more entertaining. Highly recommend!

The sunset sail on Spirit of Independence was the highlight of our Florida Keys vacation. It was not a crowded, rowdy party boat ride, but a personal, authentic sailing experience -- you can even help raise or lower the sails if you want. Diana was the perfect host, serving tasty sandwiches and drinks, answering all of our questions about sailing & Key West, and taking photos of our group. There are an overwhelming number of sail options in Key West, and I'm glad I found this hidden gem.

We recently had an experience on this schooner. It was the highlight of our vacation! The staff was very friendly and the food was excellent. If you are looking for a unique view of Key West, this is it!

Several years ago my wife and I had the pleasure of a sunset cruise on the Spirit of independence. It was such a great memory, this time we took our children on board. In today’s electronic age any activity or experience that can hold the interest of teenagers for an extended time is worthy of note. Of all our experiences in Key West, the sunset cruise was the one most talked about during the 20 hour ride home and photos to show to their classmates at school. As a Dad I consider that money well spent. To the Captain and Crew thank you for the memory. On a more personal note after days in Key West I appreciated the smaller passenger number, and quiet. We could hear the wind,and each other, and my children could interact with the crew. Jerry

Unsure of which sunset cruise to take, we asked around and the Spirit of Independence was quickly and highly recommended. After being welcomed by Captain Ricky, Dayana and Bubba, Lizzo and the others, we set sail. The fun energy of the crew and other guests made this such a fun evening and one we'll remember for years to come. A very experienced crew who made us feel like family. If you get the chance to take a sunset cruise in Key West, you won't regret choosing the Spirit of Independence!

Another enjoyable Sunset Cruise with Captain Ricky and crew on the Spirit of Independence! This is our third year. Every year when we come to Key West this cruise is on our must do. We had just about 30 people on the cruise so everyone had room to relax and visit. Captain Ricky and crew welcome you on board like old friends and treat you like family the first time you meet them. There is free wine, beer, and Minosas- but this is in no way a booze cruise. Relax, and enjoy a nice group of people, a nice evening. And a great sunset. As a bonus we got to watch a couple dolphins swim along side us on the way back to port.

Great sail. Beautiful boat. Nice people. Perfect for a beautiful sunset sail without the crowds and noise on all the other charters.

This was one of the few sunset sails I could find that wasn't fully booked a few days before we left for our trip. I consider that very lucky because turns out this was one of the best things we did on our entire trip. The crew was so friendly and I was even able to move our booking up a day due to some changes in our scuba diving schedule. The weather cooperated better than we thought it would and despite the forecast we had a beautiful sunset. The crew offered to take everyone's photo at sunset. They also offered complimentary water, beer, wine and champagne. The real highly for me was when they offered Focaccia sandwiches! What a delightful and delicious surprise! There were nice bathroom facilities down below if you needed them. The captain also shared some great local stories before we set sail and during the trip. I appreciate that they don't overbook their boat so it's not crowded and they encourage guests to chat and get to know one another. I really just can't say enough great things about this experience. Highly recommended.

Took a sunset sail with captain Rick & his wonderful crew - just blissful. Totally recommend this if you like a glorious sunset.

Peaceful and enjoyable sail for sunset. We encourage you to experience the special hospitality and family atmosphere on the Spirit of Independence with Capt Ricky and his crew. Unlike the completion, there are no crowds, no hassle, just a uniquely relaxing time. I'd give him 6 stars if I could.

This boat trip is so much fun. Capt Ricky and his awesome crew make you feel like your family and treat you exceptionally good. Do not pass a sunset sail with this beautiful ship

We were so glad that we selected this sunset cruise. Ricky and his crew were amazing and very knowledgeable. We met great people. Wonderful experience

We just took our second sunset cruise on Spirit of Independence, the first time was such a great experience we took two couples with us this time around. Rick and crew did not disappoint. The crew was exceptional, those girls know their stuff. They are dedicated to sailing and have their captains licenses even though they are young. We thoroughly enjoyed Rachel's two pups. As dog lovers we felt it added another level of specialness to the overall experience. The wind and weather were a little off for the cruise but at the last minute Mother Nature put on quite the beautiful display, it was a fabulous sunset. The Spirit of Independence is a must do if you are visiting Key West! We will always make it a part of our agenda when we are visiting!

Excellent evening cruise with knowledgeable captain and fantastic crew. They answered questions, jokes and talked with everyone. Made sure everyone was happy and comfortable and just provided a great experience. Beautiful boat too with a couple of small very friendly dogs aboard. Would definitely do again if we were staying longer or if we make it back.

What a beautiful schooner... captain Ricky and his 2 gal crew were awesome.... it was so relaxing, they offer beer and wine, cheese and crackers and it's included in the ticket purchase ...we were out for about 2 hours and without a cloud in the sky we had the most beautiful sunset ... we looked at some other boats in the harbor and this was by far the nicest one. And we saw some boats that were just absolutely packed with (loud) people. This was a more intimate and sophisticated type of excursion... with about 14 people total (including crew) We will book again the next time we are in Key West

We went on Veterans Day (11/11) and it was amazing. What I like about this boat is that it is smaller than some of the larger, commercial operations. That meant that everybody on board had a seat and we all had unobstructed views of the sky and coastline. It felt like a private tour. When we were pulling out, some of the larger operations were going out and the large majority of guests had to stand because there isn't enough seating on a boat. Also, one of the big boats was blasting music very loud, so loud we could hear it very well on our boat and out captain had to wait until he was away from them to get the music going out the Spirit of Independence. This cruise includes a meal, some snacks, and wine. The captain does sail the boat the whole way around the island with Latitude and he did get close to the boardwalk area where the performers were. We got lucky that once the sunset, the moon was out and 1 day away from being full but it was very big that evening.

Exactly what I was looking for. A nice sunset cruise with a couple beers. The crew is great, very nice people and I didn't feel cramped like a lot of the boats I saw around us. We will do this again in the future.

This is a must for anyone visiting for the first time. This boat was amazing as was the crew. It was so much fun and definitely a highlight of a stay in Key West. Drinks flowed and the snacks were very good. The veiw of the sunset was unmatched. After you dock be sure to go to Schooner Warf for live music, dinner, and drinks.

Awesome trip with them! The captain is really nice, so does his daughter. They brought us out to the coolest place for sunset, with little story telling, drinks and sandwiches. They really take pride with sailing, which is really cool to me. Instead of $85 per person, like most other sunset tour, they charged for only $65 per person. Give them a try!

This was a wonderful experience. The crew was friendly and helpful. Smaller group so if you don't want a "booze cruise" this is the sunset cruise for you! Very cool boat and captain. He's been sailing for 49 years.

Excellent boat handling and crew. Beer, wine, soft drinks and Great sandwiches. Definitely recommend

I enjoyed a nice sunset cruise with my boyfriend and our friends when we came to visit last weekend. The views were amazing and the captain was entertaining with his Key West quirkiness, whether it was genuine or part of the spiel that's for you to decide, but I definitely laughed when they started playing the Gilligan Island theme song as we pulled out of the dock. We picked this tour because we wanted a sailing experience instead of just a party boat and it was definitely cool to see the crew pull together to sail the boat. The best part was when a bunch of dolphins started playing alongside the boat and the crew seemed just as excited as I was. The cruise comes with wine, beer, and champagne and I enjoyed both the white wine and champagne. They also served a cheese plate, melon and turkey sandwiches. The sandwiches were pretty tasty with ciabatta bread and luckily there were enough for seconds because I was quite hungry. The cheese plate was a little disappointing with only cheddar and pepper jack and triscuits. I would have appreciated a little extra effort to class it up. Overall it was a beautiful view and a fun night, but on the way out, I was scolded for taking a bottle of water to go from the cooler, as I had forgot to hydrate all night. They thought I was sneaking a beer out with me. That kinda left a sour note at the end of the night.

Schooner Spirit of Independence is a fantastic sunset cruise! Very friendly staff, knowledgeable about the area and very talented with the schooner. Unlimited drinks and food was delicious! Couldn't have asked for anything more!

As the owner/operator of Suite Dreams Inn by the beach, I focus on creating an outstanding experience for my guests. This is why we recommend a sail on the Spirit of Independence. Captain Rick and his all-female crew make every guest feel special as he focuses on creating a truly magical and authentic Key West experience for every guest on his boat. Romantic music appears at just the right moment. Focaccia sandwiches, mimosas, wine, beer, and soft drinks enhance the great friendships you will make on your Spirit of Independence sailing experience.

We just took a sunset cruise on 2/15/19 with Captain Rick and crew. What a great night, started off by Rick giving us some history of the area then doing some cruising out to see one the best sunsets I have ever seen. the crew was nice and served some drinks and good food. Will use him and his crew again!

Captain Ricky and Diana and Rachel took great care ! Their sailing expertise was genuinely appreciated by 5 women from Chicago. We are so happy to have found them and we will definitely return the next time we are in the Keys! Even the refreshments were amazing ... From the best ever foccia bread to the well selected Italian wines, we were in heaven.

I can't say enough nice things about this sailing trip we had a wonderful 2 hour sunset trip the crew was so nice and accommodating they served drinks and food the whole trip and everyone aboard was nice. The feel of Key West was for sure best from the water.

We've literally done every sunset cruise in Key West. This is, by far, the best. They keep the number of people on board lower than the rest so it's more relaxing. They took us around the back of Sunset Key which no other sail did that before. Below deck was MUCH cleaner than any other ship we've been on too. We would definitely recommend!!!

My son went on a Boy Scout Sea Base High Adventure with Captain Ricky. He loved every minute of his trip and would recommend this experience to everyone. Thanks for giving our Minnesota Boy Scouts such a great adventure!

OMG! Take about having a great time!!! I've had the pleasure of taking a sunset cruise aboard the Spirit of Independence on 10/20/18. It had been 10 years since my last sailing adventure, and I have to admit, this by far was the best. Captain Ricky is very knowledgeable about the history of Key West, he's very funny, and makes you feel right at home on his 80' schooner. His crew is very polite and they make sure you want for nothing. The food is very fresh and delicious, and they are very generous with the beverages. We stayed out to well past sunset and enjoyed very relaxing music on our return trip to port. The boat itself is very clean, sails exceptionally well, and the ride is very smooth. All in all..... I would highly recommend this sunset cruise to anyone!!!! Well worth the experience.

The ship is beautiful and the crew is super friendly. Great view, fun, drinks and super chill. Not a loud party boat. We loved it!

If you want to take a peaceful, beautiful sunset cruise, look no further. This ship is a jewel, and you will be able to experience Key West at its very best.

We loved the smaller number of people on the cruise and the individual attention. It was very peaceful. I was even more aware of the stark difference each time a large boat with blaring music passed us. We were offered wine, mimosas, delicious toasted panini style sandwiches. Wonderful and we would sale with them again.

We went on a sunset cruise in February, and it was too notch! The sail was gorgeous, the sunset breathtaking, and the crew beyond kind and attentive! Will be back!

Gave our entire family (10) a night to remember. Great and knowledgeable crew; very accommodating. Will do it again - soon!