Schooner Spirit of Independence
Schooner Spirit of Independence
Schooner Spirit of Independence
5
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Full view
About
We're sailing out of Key West bringing a lifetime of History and Adventure aboard. The focus will be a fun safe unforgettable sail. Sail Key West with us on a ship builder's masterpiece the Spirit of Independence. Sunset Sails, also available for special events.
Key West, Florida
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2023
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingSimilar Experiences
Schooner Spirit of Independence
Booking unavailable on Tripadvisor
Want other options you can book now?
Show optionsTravelers talk about
(135 reviews)
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
714 reviews
Excellent
697
Very good
11
Average
3
Poor
1
Terrible
2
K J
4 contributions
Feb 2020
We enjoyed a perfect sunset cruise! Capt Rick was informative and fun! The crew handles all the sails going up, passing out drinks and snacks. We walked the docks the day before to view all boats sailing and this is the one you want for an uncrowded, relaxing sail. Other boats had persons "packed" in and really loud music playing. The sails went up right off the harbor, sailed out by the islands, perfect position for the sunset and then a sail back close to town docks before returning to the harbor. We would choose this again! Thank you!
Written March 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KJ1968 Thanks for this excellent review, and for mentioning many of the details we try to achieve during our sunset sail. captain Ricky
Written March 6, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
cindyhemphill
Lake Dallas, TX15 contributions
Oct 2021
This was our fourth time sailing with Captain Ricky and his lovely daughter, Dayana, aboard the Spirit of Independence. They and crew member Elizabeth made us feel very much at home while we were aboard. We brought along another couple who had never experienced a sunset sail, and they were blown away by the experience. While Cap'n Ricky manned the helm, the ladies served up delicious freshly-made sandwiches, along with beer, wine, and drinks made with champagne and fruit juice. Nice! When the crew asked for volunteers to help haul sail, I grabbed a line to the mainsail while my wife took pictures. It's great to be allowed to participate! As usual, the boat looked wonderful. The crew keeps her in top condition. All required safety equipment is close at hand, and the first thing the crew does is tell everyone where it's located. There are always friendly passengers aboard to share vacation stories with. Though the boat is licensed to carry up to 49 passengers, they choose to limit it to a max of 26 passengers so that no one feels crowded. This trip was during the slow season, so there were only 12 guests aboard. The cost is on par with other providers, and we've sailed with a few of them. They're good, but we keep coming back to Spirit of Independence because we enjoy it the most!
We are... Dean and Cindy H. from Lake Dallas, Texas
We are... Dean and Cindy H. from Lake Dallas, Texas
Written October 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Don& Cindy Thanks for this very very excellent review and for being repeat passengers / part of our schooner family . We have been having some way above average trips lately, glad yours was one of them. Thank You captain Ricky
Written October 18, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
imbrod00
Philadelphia, PA7 contributions
Apr 2021 • Couples
I did a lot of research on this and ended up booking a private sunset cruise for my wife’s birthday based on the many excellent and accurate reviews on the Schooner Spirit of Independence....which were spot on by the way!
Captain Rick and his crew Dayana & Joanne were so nice, friendly and knowledgeable. They helped me plan out which night was best to go based on the weather, helped customize the food and drink menu to make it personalized and delicious and also just helped build the whole overall experience for us to enjoy.
Both the ship, captain and crew are all rich with uniqueness and personality. Sailing out to sea Rick had the good oldies playing like Frank Sinatra’s “Summerwind” while dining on some fresh shrimp cocktail and sipping moscato. This was the right decision and a feel good trip my wife and I loved. Relaxing, romantic and something we will cherish forever! Thank you ❤️
Captain Rick and his crew Dayana & Joanne were so nice, friendly and knowledgeable. They helped me plan out which night was best to go based on the weather, helped customize the food and drink menu to make it personalized and delicious and also just helped build the whole overall experience for us to enjoy.
Both the ship, captain and crew are all rich with uniqueness and personality. Sailing out to sea Rick had the good oldies playing like Frank Sinatra’s “Summerwind” while dining on some fresh shrimp cocktail and sipping moscato. This was the right decision and a feel good trip my wife and I loved. Relaxing, romantic and something we will cherish forever! Thank you ❤️
Written April 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
imbrod00 Your very lucky, you & your wife have a romance most people can only dream of !!! The crew & I were so impressed by you both, your love of each other, and your kindness to us. Thank You captain Ricky
Written May 3, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jerry
Woodbury, MN13 contributions
Mar 2022 • Family
Everything about my experience with Captain Ricky and his crew, from the phone call to book the Sunset Cruise to our golf cart ride back to our hotel and seeing Captain Ricky driving next to us on his motorcycle, was fun and just cool!
Captain Ricky was very kind, professional and passionate about sailing, while we spoke on the phone. I was very excited to hear that his boat doesn't max out passengers and is more of a relaxed and intimate experience, which I was looking for, for my family of 6. This is our 4th visit to Key West in the last 6 years, leaving the frozen tundra of Minnesota.
On the day of our Sunset Cruise, the weather was perfect with a light breeze and clear! Ricky's crew was very outgoing and took time with the passengers to talk, learn some things and make sure everyone was good. It was cool that the crew allowed passengers to help hoist the sails The adult beverages (wine, beer, champagne and mimosas) were flowing and they always made sure you had a drink if you wanted one. The focaccia sandwiches from Duetto's that were served on-board were amazing!
Ricky told stories about the rich history relating to the waters around us and Key West, from pirates to politics, and all were true and entertaining!
Then the main event...the sunset! We had an amazing view of a beautiful sunset, which was a perfect finale to our experience on the Spirit of Independence with Captain Ricky and his crew! Thank you for helping create great memories! My family had a great time!
Captain Ricky was very kind, professional and passionate about sailing, while we spoke on the phone. I was very excited to hear that his boat doesn't max out passengers and is more of a relaxed and intimate experience, which I was looking for, for my family of 6. This is our 4th visit to Key West in the last 6 years, leaving the frozen tundra of Minnesota.
On the day of our Sunset Cruise, the weather was perfect with a light breeze and clear! Ricky's crew was very outgoing and took time with the passengers to talk, learn some things and make sure everyone was good. It was cool that the crew allowed passengers to help hoist the sails The adult beverages (wine, beer, champagne and mimosas) were flowing and they always made sure you had a drink if you wanted one. The focaccia sandwiches from Duetto's that were served on-board were amazing!
Ricky told stories about the rich history relating to the waters around us and Key West, from pirates to politics, and all were true and entertaining!
Then the main event...the sunset! We had an amazing view of a beautiful sunset, which was a perfect finale to our experience on the Spirit of Independence with Captain Ricky and his crew! Thank you for helping create great memories! My family had a great time!
Written March 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jerry THANK YOU for this great review !!! Thank you for the fantastic gifts you gave Dayana & I . What a surprise on a dark stretch of A1A stoping at light on the Harley next to you and your beautiful family !! Thanks for making the world a better place, and keeping us all safe Captain Ricky
Written March 18, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Robert G
1 contribution
Feb 2020 • Couples
Our experience cruising on the Spirit of Independence with Captain Ricky was outstanding. The schooner was well maintained, safe and operated by an exquisite crew. Captain Ricky took great pride in telling us his crew, Diana and Elizabeth, performed their duties as if it were a ballet. He was absolutely right! From snacks and drinks, a friendly crew and a wonderful cruise on beautiful FL waters, our experience was unforgettable. Our only wish is to return to the Spirit of Independence for another sunset cruise.
Written March 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RobertG Thanks for excellent review, and kind words about Dayana & Elizabeth. They are both licensed captains, and the greatest friends & family a ship could ever have. captain Ricky
Written March 6, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Britney pugh
Santa Rosa Beach, FL130 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
We had never been on a sailboat before, so we decided to book this one based on the amazing reviews on trip advisor. The sunset cruise definitely didn’t disappoint… we got to help raise the sail, which was fun feeling like you’re part of the crew for a second and it wasn’t easy! They work hard and are very kind. Seeing the other boats around were so crowded and packed compared to our intimate group of people. We had about 16 people plus the crew so it was pretty amazing. The captain was just the sweetest and we loved his playlist. Like they put in their description… if you’re looking for a booze cruise, this is not for you. This cruise is laid back, romantic, intimate, quiet and we loved his playlist. Would highly recommend!
Written May 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Britney Thank You for this awesome review, and for very kind words about our awesome crew !!! I'm glad you joined us on an above average cruise. Thank You captain Ricky
Written May 22, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
tim F
1 contribution
Jun 2021
My youngest son and I ust got home from a week's long sailing adventure aboard "Spirit of Independence" w/Capt. Ricky and 1st mate Andrew and we could not have been more pleased with our trip! Inspite of uncorporative weather conditions, Capt Ricky & his crew made the necessary adjustments to our original "plan" such that were able to sail and snorkle our way through the challenging weather conditions and ultimately experience a week of sailing adventures which thankfully my son and I will remember forever! Capt. Ricky, Andrew, Ashley & Lauren, you guys are "The Best"!
Written June 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tim Our voyage had some bad weather , but thanks to a great crew we juggled routes and had a great !!! week Thanks Tim & crew . captain Ricky
Written June 16, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Andy B
1 contribution
Jun 2022 • Family
The Spirit of Independence was fantastic. Just spent a week on the schooner with our scout troop and the crew went out of there way to make sure everything went well. The vessel was custom made and provides great space. We had a group of 16 that ate drank and slept on the Spirit of Independence. We snorkeled at every reef available, visited all the recommended (by Capt. Rick) restaurants and attractions in Key West and they did not disappoint. Captain Rick has unique stories to share and entertain, during the travel from point to point for all ages. This was a trip we will never forget. If you are in Key West I recommend making time for a Trip with Capt. Rick and his Crew.
Written June 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andy Thanks for this very excellent review. We provide the best voyage we can, often adapting to weather and circumstances , but its the scouts themselves that make our voyage awesome or not. Thank You troop for making our voyage awesome !! Keep in touch captain Ricky
Written February 25, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
gohstninja
Key West, FL9 contributions
Sep 2021 • Friends
Well, as someone who has lived here for about ten years one thing that we have to deal with is friends visiting. That's can be fun or a bit of a pain when your friends expect you to entertain them. That's what happened to me last week. But what a relief when they asked to go on a Sunset Cruise. This was a no brainer. I took them on my favorite. The Schooner The Spirit of Independence. They asked me about the Catamarans with live bands and some of the other Schooners that they thought must be popular because so many people were on board. I explained that that was like sitting on a bus. Captain Ricky could pack the people in also but he will only take so many passengers to make it more comfortable and personal. My friends loved it and they were so impressed with the First Mate, Dayana who is also a certified Captain. The beer, great wine and champagne which was included. Also the awesome Foccia Sandwiches. My friends loved the whole experience. They can't wait to come back and go again.
Written September 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gohstninja Thank You for this very excellent review, and for making our cruises so fun. Your very lucky to have such nice friends ,, that love you so much. Key West Royalty !!! accompanied by your beautiful entourage Thank You captain Ricky
Written October 18, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Weezieyat
Weezieyat25 contributions
Feb 2023 • Couples
Excellent choice. Loved every minute of it! Captain Rickey and his crew are laid back and very competent!
We were excited that it was not a very crowded boat. We saw many party boats packed with people. If you're in Key West for a party, those boats would work for you! We much preferred the relaxed, serene sail we had with this s/vessel . We thought the two small puppies playing on the deck added to the authenticity of the sailor, his family, crew, and furry mates!
Thank you. Would recommend to anyone who wants a peaceful sail, wine, champagne, beer, snacks, and sunset without the loud music and crowd.
15 people on board plus crew members. Almost like a private charter with personal attention to details.
We were excited that it was not a very crowded boat. We saw many party boats packed with people. If you're in Key West for a party, those boats would work for you! We much preferred the relaxed, serene sail we had with this s/vessel . We thought the two small puppies playing on the deck added to the authenticity of the sailor, his family, crew, and furry mates!
Thank you. Would recommend to anyone who wants a peaceful sail, wine, champagne, beer, snacks, and sunset without the loud music and crowd.
15 people on board plus crew members. Almost like a private charter with personal attention to details.
Written February 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shannon THANK YOU sooo much for this super excellent review. Our sunset sails are not just a job ,its our life 24/7 When passengers tell us what a great time they had it means a lot to us. THankYou captain Ricky
Written February 25, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
rebeccadtn
Kingsport, TN391 contributions
Hello. Are you limiting the number of passengers aboard the sunset sail due to Covid? We'll be down at the end of March.
Rick S
Key West, FL11 contributions
Yes we are sailing with less then half our license capacity
Rachel S
Highland Mills, NY3 contributions
Do you take single travelers or just groups?
Rick S
Key West, FL11 contributions
Singles are very welcome aboard Spirit, our decks are roomy for walking around while sailing, our passengers friendly to include you in conversations, we often have singles, hope to see ya. Captain Ricky
Times and cost?
Rick S
Key West, FL11 contributions
65 $ per person + tax , we are currently sailing 5:30 to 7:30 these times change as sunset changes
Schooner Spirit of Independence - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Schooner Spirit of Independence Information
Excellent Reviews | 625 |
|---|---|
Very Good Reviews | 11 |
Schooner Spirit of Independence Photos | 566 |