3 Hour Destin Dinner Cruise: Solaris Yacht in Miramar Beach

The 125-foot Solaris yacht turns dinner into an evening out on the water, with three decks, panoramic windows, live music, and a plated three-course meal. You begin at Baytowne Marina, settle into a reserved table, then step outside for breezes and wide water views before dinner is served.

I like the combination of good food and live entertainment, since the evening does not end when the plates are cleared. I also like that coffee, tea, taxes, and gratuities are included in the $65 price, which makes the total cost easier to judge.

The main drawback is that alcohol costs extra, and this is not specifically sold as a sunset cruise. The boat leaves promptly at 6 p.m., so you need to arrive with enough time to walk through the marina and board without rushing.

Key points to know before boarding

• Three decks give you several ways to spend the evening: Choose from indoor dining rooms, outdoor areas, and the open-air sky deck.
• Dinner is a plated three-course meal: Expect salad, your choice of chef-prepared entrée, and dessert, with seafood, prime beef, and Southern classics among the choices.
• Live music continues after dinner: The in-house entertainment can be heard across all three decks, and the mood may shift toward dancing and singing later in the cruise.
• The cruise lasts about three hours: The boat leaves Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort at the scheduled 6 p.m. departure and returns to the same marina.
• The $65 price includes several extras: Coffee, tea, taxes, fees, and gratuities are covered, but alcoholic drinks are purchased separately.
• Weather can affect the sailing: If poor weather cancels the cruise, you can receive a different date or a full refund.

Boarding the Solaris at Baytowne Marina

Your evening begins at 8330 Mike Hayes Drive in Miramar Beach, at Baytowne Marina within the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. You walk down the marina to reach the Solaris, so allow a little extra time rather than arriving at the last minute.

The boat leaves promptly at 6 p.m. After you board, the captain greets you and a server escorts you to your reserved table. That reserved seating matters: you can settle in right away instead of spending the first part of the evening trying to find a place to sit.

The Solaris is a 125-foot yacht built for dining and entertainment, not just a short harbor ride. Three decks give you room to change your view and your pace. You can begin inside, head outdoors for the breeze, or climb to the sky deck for a more open setting.

The boat accommodates up to 149 people. That is a sizable group, so you should expect a social evening rather than a quiet private meal. The layout helps by spreading people across several levels, but the live music and dancing make this better suited to an upbeat night than to a hushed dinner.

The first 30 minutes: water views before dinner

Once the Solaris leaves the dock, you have about 30 minutes before the meal begins. This is a useful part of the schedule because you are not asked to sit through dinner immediately after boarding.

Head to the open-air sky deck if the weather is comfortable. You can enjoy coastal breezes, look across the water, and possibly spot dolphins. A possible dolphin sighting is not guaranteed, but the outdoor deck gives you the best chance to notice wildlife and enjoy the setting beyond the dining room windows.

The indoor rooms have panoramic windows, so you do not lose the view if you prefer air conditioning or need a break from the breeze. This flexibility is one of the Solaris’s stronger features. You can take in the scenery without treating the entire evening like an outdoor activity.

The cruise is described as year-round, but the experience may feel different by season. In warm weather, the sky deck should be a natural gathering place. In cooler or unsettled conditions, the indoor dining rooms become more important, and weather may affect whether the boat sails at all.

One detail deserves attention: this is not a sunset cruise. The boat may offer attractive evening light depending on the date and conditions, but you should not book it solely for a guaranteed sunset view. The scheduled start is 6 p.m., and the main promise is dinner, music, and time on the water.

A three-course dinner with Gulf and Southern choices

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

The menu includes fresh Gulf seafood, prime beef, and Southern classics. That range gives you a practical choice between a coastal meal and a more familiar land-based entrée. I would think of this as upscale event dining rather than a casual seafood shack meal. You are paying for the food along with the boat, service, entertainment, and setting.

The supplied information does not list the exact entrée selections or dessert options, so check the current menu when booking or boarding if dietary details matter to you. The same applies to special requests. Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate, but specific meal substitutions are not stated.

Coffee and tea are included. Alcoholic drinks are available for separate purchase once you are on board, and you must be at least 21 to purchase and consume them. Since gratuities, fees, and taxes are already included, the main additions to the advertised price are alcoholic drinks and any personal spending connected with them.

A prior customer gave the food especially high marks and also singled out the service. That matches the structure of the evening: a server brings you to your reserved table, dinner is plated, and the meal is part of a planned entertainment program rather than an informal buffet.

Live music changes the mood after dinner

The Solaris is not only a meal with scenery in the background. Live, in-house entertainment is part of the fare, and music can be heard from all three decks.

Before dinner, the music helps set the tone while you watch the water. After the meal, the evening becomes more active. You can dance under the stars, return to the sky deck, or stay near your table and listen.

The atmosphere may become lively after dinner, with dancing and singing taking over some of the boat. That makes the cruise a good fit for birthdays, date nights, reunions, and visitors who want a full evening rather than a quiet restaurant meal.

If you want a peaceful conversation all night, this may not be your best choice. The appeal is the mix of food and entertainment, and the music is meant to be part of the event. You can move between decks, but you should not expect a silent corner once the entertainment gains momentum.

You can also visit the captain in the pilothouse. The activity description does not promise a formal behind-the-scenes tour, so treat this as an added opportunity rather than a scheduled presentation. It is a nice detail for anyone who enjoys boats and wants something beyond the dining room.

Why the three-deck layout matters

Many dinner boats give you one main dining room and perhaps a small outside deck. The Solaris offers more room to change the experience as the evening unfolds.

The indoor dining rooms with panoramic windows are useful when you want a clear view without sitting outside. They also keep the meal comfortable if the breeze becomes strong or the weather turns cool.

The open-air sky deck is where you go for the strongest sense of being on the water. It gives you a place to look for dolphins, watch the sky, and enjoy the air between courses. After dinner, it can also serve as a spot for dancing or stargazing.

The multiple decks spread out the evening’s activities. You can eat downstairs, listen to music elsewhere, and then spend a few minutes alone with the night sky. The maximum capacity is 149 people, so this is not a small yacht experience, but the deck arrangement gives you more breathing room than a single-room boat might.

Is $65 a fair price?

At $65, the cruise is not the cheapest dinner option in Destin. It is also not simply a restaurant meal. Your price covers about three hours on the water, a plated three-course dinner, live entertainment, coffee or tea, taxes, fees, and gratuities.

That bundled price makes the value easier to understand. If you already planned to pay for dinner and live music, the boat ride and waterfront setting add something meaningful. The included gratuities also reduce the surprise at the end of the evening.

The value depends on what you want. If your priority is the lowest-cost seafood dinner, you can probably find less expensive meals on land. If you want a special evening with a set schedule, reserved seating, music, and views, the $65 price is more reasonable.

Alcohol can push up the final bill. Since alcoholic drinks are not included, set a spending limit before boarding if you want to keep the evening close to the advertised price.

One strong point is that the cruise is designed as a complete outing. You do not need to arrange a separate activity after dinner. The boat returns to the same meeting point, and the live music continues after the meal.

Who will enjoy this cruise most?

I would recommend the Solaris to you if you want a celebratory evening with several elements in one package: a boat ride, a proper dinner, live music, and open-air views.

It suits couples who want more than a standard restaurant reservation, families celebrating a special occasion, and groups looking for a planned night out. Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed.

It is less suited to you if you dislike scheduled events, loud music, or group dining. The 6 p.m. departure is fixed, the meal begins according to the cruise schedule, and the boat may become energetic after dinner.

The cruise also works best when you value the setting as much as the food. The menu sounds substantial, but the exact dishes can change, and the boat’s main appeal comes from the combination of dinner, movement, views, and entertainment.

Practical details that can save you trouble

Bring your mobile ticket and arrive early enough to walk down Baytowne Marina. The boat leaves promptly, so a late arrival could be a serious problem.

Plan around the weather. The cruise requires good conditions, and poor weather can lead to a cancellation. In that case, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Inside that 24-hour window, you receive no refund, and changes are not accepted.

The cruise ends back at the original meeting point. That makes planning easier because you do not need to arrange a second pickup location.

The experience has a 21-year minimum for purchasing and consuming alcohol. That does not mean the entire cruise is restricted to people over 21, but it does mean younger passengers cannot buy or drink alcoholic beverages.

Should you book the Solaris dinner cruise?

Book it if you want an evening that combines a plated dinner, live music, and time on the water. The high points are the three-deck layout, reserved seating, included gratuities, and the way the mood continues after dinner with dancing and music.

Skip it if you are seeking a guaranteed sunset, a low-cost meal, or a quiet and intimate boat ride. This is a scheduled group experience with alcohol sold separately and entertainment that can become lively.

For most visitors, the best way to judge the $65 price is to compare it with the cost of dinner, live music, and a waterfront setting purchased separately. If those are all on your wish list, the Solaris offers a convenient evening in one package.

FAQ

Where does the Solaris dinner cruise depart?

It departs from 8330 Mike Hayes Drive in Miramar Beach, Florida, at Baytowne Marina within the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.

What time does the cruise start?

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

How long does the dinner cruise last?

The experience lasts approximately three hours.

What food is included?

The cruise includes a plated three-course dinner with a fresh salad, a chef-prepared entrée of your choice, and dessert. Menu choices include fresh Gulf seafood, prime beef, and Southern classics.

Are drinks included?

Coffee and tea are included. Alcoholic beverages are available for separate purchase on board.

Is live entertainment included?

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

Does the cruise guarantee a sunset?

No. The experience is specifically noted as not being a sunset cruise, so you should not book it for a guaranteed sunset view.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted and are not refunded. If poor weather or an insufficient number of bookings cancels the cruise, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.