St Thomas: Harbor Lights Dinner Sail & BBQ from Marriott

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.77 (1,322 reviews) 87% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/11

Duration2h

GroupUp to 65

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Sunset sailing, BBQ dinner and harbor lights in St Thomas

You’ll sail out from Marriott’s Frenchman’s Cove as sunset colors hit St Thomas, then relax on deck with cocktails while Charlotte Amalie’s harbor lights appear. Enjoy a freshly cooked BBQ or taco dinner (depending on night), chat with friendly crew, and soak up sea breezes before returning to shore with that salty calm still lingering.

Step-by-step itinerary

Harbor lights dinner sail experience

Travel to Marriott Frenchman's Cove
Check in with The VI Cat's crew
Board the 54-foot sailing catamaran
Meet captain and crew
Relax on deck as sails are raised
Sail into open sea around Charlotte Amalie
Dine on BBQ dinner aboard The Cat
Watch harbor lights and passing vessels
Enjoy views and dancing on return sail
Return to Marriott Frenchman's Cove dock
Tip the crew

The Experience

I’ll be honest, I signed up for this Harbor Lights Dinner Sail mostly because I’d never eaten BBQ on a boat before. There was something about the idea of drifting out from Marriott's Frenchman’s Cove as the sun started to slip behind the hills — it just made me curious, you know? When we got to the dock, the crew from The VI Cat greeted us with these easy smiles and a kind of relaxed energy that instantly made me feel like I could stop worrying about… well, anything.

The catamaran itself is bigger than I expected — 54 feet but it feels even more open once you’re out on deck. Our captain cracked a joke about “the best seat in the house” (I still think mine was right by the rail), and someone handed me a rum punch that tasted like vacation in a cup. The breeze picked up as we left the cove; you could smell salt and something faintly sweet — maybe from the rolls warming in the galley. It wasn’t loud, just some soft music and people chatting quietly while Charlotte Amalie started lighting up across the water. At one point I caught myself just staring at those city lights flickering on, feeling oddly calm.

Dinner was honestly better than I expected for a boat kitchen — pulled pork with this tangy sauce, mac-n-cheese that tasted homemade (maybe too much cheese but who complains?), and Caribbean chicken with rice and beans. They had veggie options too; my friend went for hummus and pita. The crew kept checking in without hovering, making sure everyone had what they needed. Someone tried to teach me how to say “thank you” in Spanish but I probably butchered it — lots of laughter anyway.

We sailed around for two hours but it felt shorter. There was this moment after dinner when nobody said much — just wind and water sounds, city lights stretching out ahead of us. A few people danced near the bow but mostly we just watched cruise ships drift by, drinks in hand. Coming back to Frenchman’s Cove felt almost too soon. Still thinking about that view now.

What’s included

Your evening includes a two-hour catamaran cruise departing from Marriott’s Frenchman’s Cove with all beverages—cocktails, beer, wine or soft drinks—and a full scratch-made dinner (tacos or BBQ depending on day). Vegetarian options are available if requested ahead of time; just check in with The VI Cat crew at the dock before setting sail into Charlotte Amalie’s glowing harbor lights.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcome

Operated by The VI Cat