Fantastic experience!! Way better than the overcrowded sunset tourist cruises. This was an intimate, ambient, Vibrant and Romantic experience. Great value and a great Captain and deck team 👍

We sailed this evening and I can honestly say I have never had a sunset excursion more inviting, laid back, friendly, and accommodating. I have been on them all and this beautiful schooner and her crew are exceptional! Avoid getting herded on the big catamarans and enjoy a far better value and experience with the Independence! Lastly, we were still under sail well after all of the others had returned.

We had a great night out on this beautiful schooner! Captain and his crew were friendly and well experienced. A Favorite excursion and a must do in the Keys.

This was the most fun night of our stay and the sunset sail was the highlight of the week. The crew were so on their game. The boat was beautiful and docked up to Schooner Warf. The drinks flowed and the snacks were so good. This sail boat is perfect for small private groups. And the sunset view cant be beat!

We picked Spirit from many internet choices because they dont overcrowd. They tell you on their website that they cap the number of people well under what would be legal. This makes for a much better experience, more personal. This is not the crazy loud party boat. This is a lovely sunset sail with a family owned enterprise that cares about your experience. Booking was easy, the staff considerate and not yet jaded about the sunset. The schooner is big enough to be a smooth ride and small enough that you do know you are on a sailing vessel.We were served delicious sandwiches, wine and champagne, cheese and crackers. The sunset was also delicious and the crew came around and offered to take pictures with your own camera. I do recommend this sail. You have lots of choices. Spirit of Independence is a good one.

My Boy Scout Troop spent one week aboard the Spirit of Independence. There was 19 Scouts, parents and 4 crew. We sailed around the area fishing, snorkeling the reefs and a ship wreck site around the Key West area. Staying on the boat all day and all night. Cooking our meals aboard. The Spirit never felt over crowded. Some slept below, some slept on the deck. We either anchored in a safe area or a mooring. Sometimes we would stay in the dock overnight due to wind conditions but the good side of that is that the Marina has showers and bathrooms. The bar next to the dock sometimes has some good live bands and sometimes terrible ones. The Captains were Ricky, the owner of the ship. A wonderful story teller, full of information and lots of nautical experience. He has been sailing since he was 17 years old. He should really write a book about his life and experiences. I would buy it. He is very easy going and likable guy. Captain Andrew while much younger is soft spoken, easy going also has a ton of nautical experience. Andrew and Rickys personalities meshed together so well and complimented each other. Both Captains were very patient with our questions and lack of nautical skills and were very concerned about safety and regulations. The 2 other Crew were staff from the BSA Sea Base. Both ladies were very experienced sailors in their own right both working on their Coast Guard Captains license. They worked hard to make sure we had a good time while keeping us from harms way. Spirit of Independence does sunset cruises in the fall, winter and Spring. During the summer she does Boy Scout and Girl Scout multi day adventures. While we did a 6 night trip I would recommend this ship and crew to others.

My husband and I booked this last minute sunset cruise and had an awesome time! The crew was so friendly and accommodating! They had beer, wine, champagne, mimosas and awesome sandwiches. The sunset was incredible and the captain shared some stories about the different islands off the coast and points of interest on the island itself. It was a really great night!

Best Sunset Sail in Key West! Not your average boat trip. Crew is like family and treats guests the same. Captain Ricky is an incredible boat captain, story teller, and friend. All female crew raises the sails, tends the lines, and sails this beautiful 80 schooner. Enjoy delicious turkey focaccia sandwiches served fresh from Duettos Restaurant just down the street and drinks served by the crew.

Spent a week sailing with Captain Ricky and his crew on the Spirit of Independence. Great sail, great snorkeling, great stories from the Captain. An all around great trip. Captain Ricky has been sailing his whole life. Lots of fun.

This sunset sail is perfect for relaxing with a small group. It was calming & stress free. Captain Ricky & his crew were friendly, experienced & knowledgeable. I got to participate in hoisting the sail! Sandwiches were fresh & crew was attentive. They took many photos of us onboard & the sunset was amazing. Captain Ricky tailored his tour to the weather and sailed away from the other tour boats. Forget the party cruise & sail on the Spirit of Independence with its history & beauty like the sailors of Old Key West. Dont forget to go down below to see all the gorgeous wood. Would definitely do this again! FIVE STARS*****

Best Experience in Key West SAIL with Spirit of Independence. Crew and Captain were so fantastic. This is a top quality boat. Not packed in like other boats. Price is outstanding and the drinks and special sandwiches they serve are great. Not to mention the great cheeses and others that they serve. The Capt Rick took us to a great spot where you can really relax and watch the sunset. And did i mention the music that they play! You think you are in a movie - this was the BEST THING we did in Key West

Amazing evening with a great crew. Had a last minute booking and am so happy this is who we landed on. Professional, fun, and courteous. This crew and boat made our honeymoon unforgettable.

Excellent evening on the water with Captain Ricky and the crew. We got to hoist the sails, sail the ship, and enjoy excellent service. Highly recommended!

I recently was blessed by a beautiful sunset Wedding sail. Ricky and his crew are the best. There are not enough words to describe the beauty and love that was shown to me and my guests. I highly recommend ❤️❤️❤️

This is a great sailing trip, best thing we signed up for yet! Captain and crew are very friendly and knowledgeable. You can’t beat the views from this beautiful ship! Great experience and memories!

The crew was awesome and the trip was memorable. Captain Ricky and his crew provided a unique experience for my wife and I. Would recommend it to anyone.

My wife and I sailed the sunset cruise with Captain Ricky, Capt. Dianna and Lindsey. It was the best charter I have done. The boat is excellent condition, all services were excellent and Captain Ricky had some great stories. I am a sailor and former boat owner and know a good boat and crew when I experience one. We will go back.Bob Y.

Was hesitant with all the back and forth I heard on the Island all week, but this was one of our highlights... Great boat, crew, snack and drinks, and the best Sunset..... Would absolutely recommend!

Captain Ricky and the crew were fantastic, the sunset cruise was beautiful. Plenty of food and drink to go around. A lot of interesting guests on board. I always make sure I do the cruise when I’m down there every winter. Well worth it for the true Key West experience.

Rick and his crew were first class! The boat has been well taken care of and we had a really relaxing sunset cruise with snacks and drinks. Highly recommend this cruise

I can not say enough about how amazingly great the crew is. The captain is fun. No other sunset will compare to the one we experienced on the Schooner. It was definitely a time I wont forget.

Great night, great crew. Highly highly recommend. Thanks Captain Ricky!

Absolutely the best captain and crew. Awesome sunset trip on a beautiful sail boat.

After observing from the dock and watching how the captain and crew was interacting with the people that was about to set sail we knew we would have a good time. In fact our experience was so much more than a good time. It was definitely a time we will cherish.

Captain Ricky, first mate Dayana, and the whole crew really make you feel welcome and as though you are part of the family. Sandwiches and drinks are great. We went the week before Christmas and the schooner was decorated for the holidays. Lots of information about the history of the schooners in Key West Weve tried a cheaper catamaran option before. This is a little pricier than other sunset sail options but the people and the boat more than make up for it. We will definitely come back in the future, in fact most of the other guests were repeat customers!

What an amazing sail! Ricky and crew were amazing and entertaining! Even performed a wedding! Such an amazing ride! Thanks Captain Ricky and crew!

Captain Rickie was sooo awesome! A smooth sail and great mates (Rachel and Liz were very friendly and did great with the sails) I was onboard for a wedding—he performed the ceremony! It was awesome! Gorgeous views..I’ll be back!!If you come to the Keys, I highly recommend this boat!!💯💯

This was the best darn sail and crew. My nephew got married to his wife by the captain. So amazing!

Such a great experience! We came to a wedding on here and I dont think there is a better way to get married. Best crew ever too!!

Great ride on the Spirit of Independence with Captain Rick!

We were onboard for a wedding. The crew and Captain Rick were very friendly and professional. I would recommend them to anyone looking to sail.

What a great experience!!! Captain Ricky and his Crew were the perfect hosts for Boy Scout Troop 135. We had 20 people on the trip and experienced an outstanding adventure. The boat is the cleanest in town and the Captain and Crew were experts at sailing. Thank you Captain Ricky and the Spirit of Independence. We have memories that will last a lifetime!!!

This was an awesome trip. Captain Rick, Liz & Rachael are friendly, skilled & answer every question, taking time to talk with everyone. Captain Rick maneuvered us into the perfect sunset spot. Not a loud & raucous boat, but congenial & friendly. Champagne & good beer are available (not the typical Bud Light).

Had a great time. Not much wind but it was still fantastic just to be on the water. Friendly professional crew, boat is in excellent condition. Best way to see a sunset. Highly recommended.

Absolutely the best experience. Diana, Ricky, and Elizabeth make you feel like family, and have a such a cool boat! They also saved and iguana from the water haha! Too much fun. I would recommend them to ANYONE.

We had a great time with Capt Ricky and Capt Andrew. They know all about Key West and everything about the waters around Key West. When on board, take a few minutes to look at the ship - from the custom wheel house window frames to the stateroom etched windows, she is absolutely beautiful. If you are like me and love a good story teller, then you will enjoy listening to Capt Ricky share some wisdom and humor.

Was the best sunset trip ever. Great crew!!!

This was our THIRD cruise on Spirit of Independence and it never disappoints! I have book many sunset cruises over the years on an annual visit to Key West. Once I experienced this particular cruise, I would never opt to sail with anyone else!This is a real gem of a vessel, and the staff is very personable, attentive, and provides a much better experience than the “party boat”, over- crowded options. Great food, and plenty of champagne, wine, and beer are provided. Small group of maybe 20-24 guests allows for plenty of personal attention, and the opportunity to relax and enjoy the beautiful sunset.It is evident that Captain Ricky and his crew LOVE what they do, and their sole purpose is making sure their guests get the best experience possible!

Awesome sunset sail with a brilliant, very historically oriented captain. Good snacks too!

One word: amazing! We had such a wonderful time on this sunset sail! The crew was incredible! We even got a small history lesson on Key West which was awesome. Highly recommend sailing with this group, you wont be disappointed!

The crew was amazing and knew what they were doing. This is also one of the few schooners in Key West that has never had rats or bugs. Captain Ricky is a great story teller, too.

Crew was fantastic and accommodating. Trip was not crowded like the other boats we saw. The Captain had great positioning the whole sailing time. *Added bonus : the crew has two shipmate dogs with awesome personalities; Bubba and Grover.

We had such a great time and the staff is very friendly!

Captains Ricky and Andrew are some of the best and really helped the scouts learn how to sail. They have one of the best boats in the sea base fleet and the best crew too.

Took a sunset cruise was a beautiful and quiet trip. Food and drinks were provided, the staff were very friendly. I would definitely recommend.

We had a wonderful time, captain and crew were amazing! Definitely sail again with them!

Best schooner in Key West. Captain Rick and his crew are so nice and wok hard to make the trip great

This was a great cruise and so much fun with my girlfriends. Ricky, the Captain tells stories about Key West history and interesting facts. What a beautiful vessel and a lovely night. I highly recommend!

Absolutely amazing! Captain Ricky and the crew provide the very best hospitality and historical knowledge of the Keys. So glad I got to set sail on this beautiful vessel!

A must if you really want to enjoy Key West. I spent a week with Captain Ricky sailing around the keys. Not only is Captain Ricky a funny, experienced captain, but he also knows the best spots around Key West. Sailing on the Spirit of Independence was one of the most memorable experiences of my life, and I encourage you to sail on the Spirit of Independence as well!

Good company is a must to enjoy these types of boat cruises. The captain/crew certainly hold up their end of the bargain. Must less crowded than the part boats with 50+ people. Worth the price.

I had the pleasure of going out on the Spirit of Independence last night with my family and have nothing but praises about the boat and crew. It was a great time. A peaceful sail out into the harbor in Key West. They had drinks and snacks for everyone on board, and Ricky the captain and crew were a joy to be around.

What an amazing sunset cruise in Key West! If you want to be amazed and hear some local history and enjoy some drinks and a beautiful experience skip the tourist traps and book your trip with this Schooner. Ricky and his crew will take care of you!

This is a must if you are visiting Key West. To set sail in the sunset is one of the most beautiful sights in the world! Especially if you’re in the company of Cap’n Ricky and his wonderful crew, they have so much information on the history of the Keys and can answer any questions you may have about yachtmanship, plus they take the time to sit and talk with you.Best cruise ever!

Captain Rickey was the best there ever was as well as Andrew and it was a wonderful experience. Thank you!

Beautiful schooner hand built in Independence MO. BY JC Waters. RIPThank you Capt. Ricky and crew best sunset cruise in Key West!!!!

Capt. Rick and crew put their own brand on a Key West Sunset Sail.Bobbyb

What an Amazing Schooner and crew ! We will be back and we will sail with you again... Thank You !

Rick and his team are amazing. Best cruise in Key West!

Wonderful time! Captain Rick and crew are gracious hosts.

This boat is the best boat in the history of boats. 10/10 would recommend. Bring tha famsquad.

Awesome sunset with a Very accomodating crew. Lots of laughs with captain Rick. Looking forward for another sail on my next to Key West.

Very pleasant sunset sail w/ Captn Rick & his crew. Wonderful ship, great venue, & unparalleled experience! Dont miss it!

Great trip with Captain Ricky and 1st mate Diana

Fantastic sail at sunset! Great crew! We will return!

Amazing time, great crew, price was perfect, and the wine flowed!

Captain Rick and his crew are fantastic!

Best boat in Key West!

Amazing trip

Took this rental after coming in from a fishing excursion, I couldnt have been more pleased with the experience. Capt Ricky was awesome as well as the staff. Highly recommend.