Hamptons Sunset Cruise From Shelter Island
Your Boat. Your Sunset. Your Hamptons.
There is a stretch of about twenty minutes out here when the sky turns and everyone on the boat goes quiet. That is the reason a sunset cruise is our most asked about trip.
We are Charters in The Hamptons, cousins running a family charter out of Shelter Island. A trip with us is private. Your group, your captain, your route. No ticket line and no strangers on the boat.
When To Go
We push off about ninety minutes before sunset. That gives us time to get out into Peconic Bay and find a good spot before the light turns. Sunset times shift through the season, so here is a rough guide. We confirm the exact push off time when you book.
Earlier in the summer the light lingers longer, and the air stays warm well after the sun is down. By September the show comes earlier and the colors run deeper. Both are worth it. Tell us your date and we will tell you the plan.
Where The Best Light Is
The best light is to the west, out over Peconic Bay. Robins Island sits in the middle and makes a clean shape against the sky. Off to the sides you get the Greenport waterfront and the low Shelter Island shoreline, both lit up gold as the sun drops.
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Because Shelter Island sits between the two forks, your captain can read the sky and pick the better side that night. A boat that can move means we chase the good light instead of sitting in one spot. If the clouds stack up on one side, we run to the open part of the sky.
Private, Not Packed
Most sunset cruises out here pack thirty strangers onto one boat on a fixed schedule. We do not do that. Ours is your group only. Bring your own food and drinks. We will handle the music, or you can play your own.
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That privacy is why people pick this trip for a date, an anniversary, a birthday, or a quiet hour with friends. It is your evening, not a shared tour.
Make It Dinner
Want to turn it into dinner? We can run the evening into a dock and dine stop at a waterfront restaurant. We drop you at the dock, you eat, and we bring you home when you are done. Ask about restaurants when you call and we will help you plan the route.
What To Bring
Bring a layer. It cools off fast on the water once the sun is down. Bring a camera too. The pink light over the bay is the photo everyone wants. A small cooler with drinks and a few snacks rounds it out.
Pickup And How To Book
We run out of 63 S Menantic Rd, Shelter Island, NY 11964, with pickup at Greenport on the North Fork and Sag Harbor on the South Fork. That means we can meet you on your side, with no long drive to the island.
Every captain holds a USCG (US Coast Guard) license. Our cousins, Mike and JT, earned their licenses in 2019 and have run more than 200 charters since. Call (631) 251-1777 or email captain@chartersinthehamptons.com to book.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is the Hamptons sunset in summer? It runs late. June sunsets are around 8:25 PM, and they slide back to about 7:00 PM by September. We push off about ninety minutes before, and we confirm the exact time when you book.
Is the cruise private or shared? Private. It is your group only, with your own captain. We do not pack strangers onto a fixed schedule trip.
Do you pick up at Greenport on the North Fork? Yes. Greenport is one of our pickup points, along with Sag Harbor. Just tell us where you are staying when you book.
Can we bring our own food and drinks? Yes. Bring what you like. Tell us what you are planning and we will let you know what works on your boat.
Do you pick up at Sag Harbor? Yes. Sag Harbor on the South Fork is one of our pickup points, along with Greenport on the North Fork. Just tell us where you are staying.
Is the evening good for a date or anniversary? It is one of the most popular reasons people book. The trip is private, the pace is slow, and the light does the rest. Tell us the occasion and we will help make it special.
How long are you out on the water? Most trips run two to three hours. We push off about ninety minutes before sunset so you are out on the bay for the best part of the light.
