3 Hour Destin Dinner Cruise: Solaris Yacht in Miramar Beach

The best part of the Solaris dinner cruise is the way a simple meal becomes a full evening out. You stroll from Baytowne Marina onto a 125-foot yacht, settle at a reserved table, then move between three decks for food, music, breezes, and wide water views.

I like the three-course plated dinner, which gives the evening a proper restaurant feel rather than a casual snack cruise. I also like the freedom to move around after the meal, from the open-air sky deck to the pilothouse, while live music carries through the yacht.

The main thing to watch is the timing. The cruise leaves at 6:00 p.m. and is not sold as a dedicated sunset cruise, so you should not book it solely for a guaranteed sunset. At $65, the value is strongest if you want dinner, entertainment, and a special setting in one package.

Key Points Before You Book

• Three decks and panoramic windows: You can choose between indoor dining rooms, outdoor areas, and the open-air sky deck.
• Dinner is plated and three courses: Your meal includes salad, a chef-prepared entree, dessert, and coffee or tea.
• Entree choices suit different tastes: The menu includes fresh Gulf seafood, prime beef, and Southern classics.
• Live music continues after dinner: The yacht shifts from dinner setting to a more social evening with singing and dancing.
• The cruise leaves from Baytowne Marina: The meeting point is 8330 Mike Hayes Drive in Miramar Beach.
• The $65 price includes the basics: Fees, taxes, gratuities, dinner, coffee or tea, and entertainment are covered, but alcohol costs extra.

Boarding at Baytowne Marina at 6:00 p.m.

Your evening begins at Baytowne Marina, part of the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort area. From the meeting point at 8330 Mike Hayes Drive, you walk down the marina to the Solaris yacht. The cruise departs promptly, so allow enough time to reach the dock and board before the scheduled start.

The first impression is more yacht dinner than sightseeing boat. The Solaris is 125 feet long, with three levels and indoor dining rooms fitted with panoramic windows. That layout matters because you are not locked into one view or one mood for three hours.

After boarding, the captain greets you and a server takes you to your reserved table. This removes one common worry with dinner cruises: you do not need to rush around looking for a seat. Your table is the base for the meal, while the other decks give you room to walk, take in the water, and listen to the entertainment.

The group can be as large as 149 people. That makes this a social event rather than an intimate private yacht outing. If you want a quiet dinner for two with no crowd, you may find the setting too active. If you enjoy music, movement, and a shared evening atmosphere, the size helps the yacht feel lively.

The First Half Hour: Get Outside Before Dinner

Once the boat leaves the dock, you can head to the open-air sky deck. This is the best time to get your bearings, feel the coastal air, and look for changing views across the water. The yacht offers outdoor space as well as indoor areas, so you can move inside if the breeze or weather turns uncomfortable.

A dolphin sighting is possible, but it is not promised. Treat it as a pleasant extra rather than the purpose of the cruise. The main attraction is the changing view from the water and the chance to see the coast from a different angle.

Live, in-house music begins as the cruise gets underway. The entertainment can be heard from all three decks, which means you do not have to sit at your table to enjoy it. I like this setup because it lets you choose your own pace. You can remain near the dining room, find a spot outside, or walk around while still hearing the performance.

The cruise information describes sunset views, yet it also clearly notes that this is not a sunset cruise. That distinction is important. Since the departure is at 6:00 p.m. and the trip runs year-round, the exact light and sunset conditions will vary. You may catch attractive evening colors, but no one should treat a specific sunset as guaranteed.

A Three-Course Dinner With Coastal Choices

About 30 minutes into the cruise, you are asked to return to your table for dinner. The meal is plated and served in three courses: a fresh salad, your choice of chef-prepared entree, and dessert. Coffee and tea are included.

The entree choices cover the main styles you would expect from a coastal Southern dinner. You can select fresh Gulf seafood, prime beef, or another Southern classic. The menu gives the cruise broad appeal, especially for a mixed group in which one person wants seafood and another would rather order beef.

A plated dinner also sets this experience apart from a simple buffet cruise. You remain at your table while the meal is served, which creates a more polished rhythm for the middle part of the evening. The tradeoff is less flexibility than a casual meal. If you prefer to spend most of the cruise outside, you will need to return to your table when dinner service begins.

The meal is the part of the evening most likely to decide whether the $65 price feels worthwhile. A strong dinner, live music, yacht access, and included gratuities make the cost easier to justify. Alcohol is not included, and drinks are available for purchase onboard, so your final bill can rise if you add cocktails, wine, or beer.

One especially positive account of the experience praised the food, service, and music, then described the atmosphere becoming more active after dinner, with people singing and dancing. That gives you a useful picture of the evening’s arc: the cruise begins as a sit-down dinner and later becomes a more energetic music event.

After Dinner, the Solaris Changes Character

When dinner ends, you are free to keep exploring the yacht. The live music continues, and you can dance, sing along, or head outside for a quieter stretch on the sky deck.

I like this second phase because it prevents the cruise from feeling like a meal followed by an immediate return to shore. You have time to let the evening unfold. Couples can step outside for a calmer view, while groups can stay near the music and join the dancing.

The sky deck also gives you a chance to look up at the night sky. Stargazing is part of the experience, although the quality of the view will depend on weather and conditions. The captain’s pilothouse is another unusual feature. You are encouraged to visit the captain there, giving the cruise a little more character than a standard restaurant with a view.

The three-deck design spreads people out. You can enjoy the music without being forced into the center of the activity, and you can return indoors if conditions change. Panoramic windows in the dining rooms help preserve the water views even when you are inside.

What the $65 Price Really Covers

At $65, this is not the cheapest way to eat in Destin. You can find less expensive dinners on land, and you will have more control over the menu and timing at an ordinary restaurant.

The value comes from combining several separate elements:

• A three-hour yacht outing
• A plated three-course dinner
• Live in-house entertainment
• Access to indoor and outdoor decks
• Coffee and tea
• Fees, taxes, and gratuities

That last point is useful. You do not need to calculate a separate service charge or tip for the included dinner. Alcohol remains extra, so budget for that separately if it matters to your evening.

I would view the price as reasonable for a special occasion, provided you want the full package. It works well for a birthday, anniversary, date night, holiday gathering, or a night when you want to do something beyond a restaurant meal. It is less compelling if your main goal is a guaranteed sunset, a quiet meal, or a low-cost way to see the coast.

Who Will Enjoy This Dinner Cruise Most

The Solaris suits people who want several kinds of entertainment in one outing. You can eat, listen to music, walk outside, watch the water, and dance without arranging separate activities.

It is a good match for:

• Couples seeking a more memorable evening than dinner on land
• Families and groups with different food preferences
• Visitors who like live music and a social atmosphere
• Anyone wanting an evening activity that lasts about three hours
• People who appreciate both indoor comfort and outdoor views
• Special-event groups, including weddings and private celebrations

The experience may not suit you if you dislike scheduled departures, group dining, or live entertainment. The maximum capacity is 149 people, so this is not a small private sail. You also need to be comfortable with the fact that weather can affect the cruise.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. Alcohol purchase and consumption require you to be at least 21. Those details make the cruise fairly accessible for a broad mix of adults, families, and groups.

Weather, Timing, and Practical Planning

The cruise requires good weather. If poor weather cancels the outing, you are offered a different date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of bookings is not reached and the experience is canceled.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the 6:00 p.m. start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund. Since cut-off times use local time, check your clock carefully if you are changing plans.

Bring a plan for both indoor and outdoor time. The yacht has indoor dining rooms and panoramic windows, but the sky deck is part of the appeal. Weather may influence how long you want to stay outside, and the cruise is more enjoyable when you are ready to use both parts of the boat.

Do not arrive expecting a hop-on, hop-off sightseeing trip. The vessel leaves the Sandestin dock at the scheduled time and returns to the same meeting point at the end. The evening has a set structure: board, cruise, listen to music, eat, enjoy the later entertainment, and return to shore after roughly three hours.

My Take on the Solaris Experience

I see the Solaris as a dinner event first and a sightseeing cruise second. The yacht, water views, outdoor deck, and possible dolphin sighting add the setting, but the meal and live music give the evening its shape.

The strongest features are the good range of entree choices, the plated three-course format, and the shift from dinner to dancing after the meal. The service also matters. Having a server escort you to a reserved table makes the first few minutes easy, and gratuities are already included.

The main caution is the sunset wording. If you have one night in Destin and want a guaranteed sunset cruise, confirm the timing before booking or choose an experience specifically sold around sunset. Here, the 6:00 p.m. departure may offer lovely evening light, but the cruise is not presented as a dedicated sunset sailing.

Should You Book the Solaris Dinner Cruise?

Book it if you want a polished three-hour evening with dinner, live music, yacht views, and room to dance afterward. At $65, it offers fair value when you would otherwise pay separately for a meal and entertainment.

Skip it if your priority is a quiet, private dinner, a budget meal, or a guaranteed sunset. For everyone else, the Solaris gives you a simple way to turn dinner in Miramar Beach into a full evening on the water.

FAQ

Where does the Solaris dinner cruise begin?

The cruise begins at 8330 Mike Hayes Drive in Miramar Beach, Florida, at Baytowne Marina near the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.

What time does the cruise start?

The scheduled start time is 6:00 p.m. The Solaris leaves the dock promptly at the scheduled departure time.

How long does the dinner cruise last?

The experience lasts approximately three hours and returns to the original meeting point.

Is dinner included?

Yes. The price includes a plated three-course dinner with salad, a chef-prepared entree, and dessert. Coffee and tea are also included.

Are alcoholic drinks included?

No. Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase onboard but are not included in the tour price.

Is this a sunset cruise?

No. The experience information specifically says it is not a sunset cruise. You may see evening or sunset views depending on the date and timing, but a sunset is not guaranteed.

Is live entertainment included?

Yes. Live in-house entertainment is included, and the music can be heard from all three decks.

What happens if bad weather cancels the cruise?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund. You can also receive a full refund when canceling at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time.