Sydney Harbour Tall Ship Twilight Dinner Cruise

Great way to see the harbour. Crew were very friendly and helpful. Set sail on the way back, lovely and peaceful and you get plenty of time to take it all in. Simple but very nice dinner and a chocolate brownie straight out of the oven at the end. Most of what you pay goes into maintenance of the ship which is over 100 years old. Would definitely recommend.

We had a great time on the 100 year old ship! The views were unbeatable, food was delicious and we were even allowed to help with setting the sails.

Traveling with a teen and tween, I wanted them to appreciate the history and culture of Australia as well as the see the visually stunning harbor, not just 'go on a boat'. The ship is an authentic trading vessel and my children could hoist the sails and climb the mast (with safety equipment, of course). My daughter was atop the ship as we passed under the Sydney Harbor bridge in an unforgettable experience. We sailed around to Darling Harbor and paused for sunset and evening photographs around the harbor and Opera house. The staff were knowledgeable about the history of the trading routes and early colonies of Australia, also trained sailors who take out school groups. It was a perfect blend of sightseeing, education and the unique experience I was looking for. There's a lovely bar and dinner is served in the authentic ship's wooden galley - simple but tasty and nutritious. Definitely a step up from a ho hum touristy harbor cruise.

Advertised as 2 hours cruise, in fact just an hour. We were not brought to any places of interest just stop at the middle of the harbour and had some low budget food. And returned to Campbell cove. That is the entire journey for $90 per person.

This was our first time on a tall ship. The crew was attentive and pleasant. The weather wasn’t great, but we still got some beautiful pictures of the sunset behind the Sydney Bridge. We were very close to the Opera house which was gorgeous when lit up for the evening. The dinner was average. However the trip itself was worth it!!

Good value for money experience. Food was okay-just some buttered chicken with some greens but reasonable price for the experience so was worth it overall.

Very nice experience touring the harbor. The main guide, Jim, was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. We peppered him with questions and he answered them both accurately and with good humor.

A wonderful evening on Sydney Harbor. Crew was fantastic, food very good. We had a great time.

The cruise staff were very gracious, providing a tasty meal while sailed the harbor in their 100+ year old ship. Great views of Sydney from the water. Our only complaint was having to pay extra for beverages; this should have been disclosed at the time of booking the tour.

The crew was very fun, friendly and very welcoming to guests! The food was very good and filling! The experience was memorable and fun!

It was well below expectations, the crew appeared extremely inexperienced and haphazard, the food was like slop, and facilities were barely sanitary. Very poor

The setting was very nice and most of the experience was good. There were a couple of louder people though. Some of the food was good. The sunset was very nice.

Wonderful sunset trip on this beautiful old tall ship. Very relaxed, fun and informative crew, food was delicious and we enjoyed it very much.

The ship was fun but the food was not very good

The crew was lovely and enthusiastic. It was a very nice evening and we enjoyed every minute of this cruise.

Beautiful cruise. Not a dinner, but a buffet. Great food though. Crew were fantastic. Knowledgeable.

Excellent tour. The Crew were friendly. From appetizers to dessert the food was delicious. We took beautiful pictures of the sunset over Sydney. The history of the ship was amazing.

A fantastic way to experience Sydney harbour at sunset for all ages! We went with family spanning 3 generations and all enjoyed the time on board. Everything went smoothly, we enjoyed the food and the crew was friendly, knowledgeable, engaging and got our kids involved, which they loved!

Great experience. All got soaking wet when we first left the jetty as it started pouring rain. Didn’t spoil the trip at all. Stopped raining and the kids were able to hoist the sails and steer the ship. Captain was brilliant with the kids. Gave them a wonderful experience. The lady doing the commentary was great as were all the other staff. Absolutely loved it. Such a peaceful way to see the harbour. Highly recommend.

Great atmosphere onboard. Staff were fun and entertaining. Lots to see.

The wooden ship was nice, but it was the smaller ship due to a small group The crew was great and the food was AWESOME. The history was nice. Recommend booking the big ship and if changed to the smaller ship, then reschedule.

An awesome experience! Staff were excellent, food was great and views were amazing! Loved every minute. Highly recommend.

They call it a dinner cruise, but the boat is so small. You would have to sit along the edge with your plate in your lap to be able to eat. There was no place to be inside that would fit even half of the people on the boat. They baited and switched us by showing a picture of a large boat and then saying there weren’t enough people and switching us to a small boat. Then 30 people showed up for that tiny little boat. Then they told us we could call for a refund but there was absolutely no phone number that you could reach a human. Terrible experience! Go with a different company!! Viator should not be offering this one!

Fabulous, beautiful & relaxing way to see the magnificient Sydney Harbour. Very knowledgeable & friendly crew

We had a great time on the Southern Swan! Jim, our “guide,” entertained us with stories and anecdotes about the voyages of the Swan as well as pointing out and telling about sites seen from the ship. James also had some great stories to share from his 40+ years of sailing tall ships. The food was fresh and tasty. It was a great experience.

This cruise was booked through our travel agent at Go Way tours for our last excursion in Sydney on our 2 week tour of Australia. I will start by saying it wasn't at all what we were expecting. There were probably 30-40 people crammed on this ship that probably could comfortably accommodate half that number. There was very limited seating mostly 2 x 12 planks affixed the to the insides of the boat hull and not everybody had a seat. The alternative was to sit at table in the bowels of the ship where the bathrooms were located and btw the bathrooms were filthy. The appetizers were as stated, 3 slim slices of chorizo on a toothpick and a small wedge of spanakopita. The meal was watery butter chicken of which we got 2 or 3 small chunks of chicken and a little sauce for very dry basmati rice and curried veg. If you didn't like the Indian fair there was also a pre-dressed lettuce salad or potato salad, all which were served on a flimsy paper plate. Dessert was a small 1 x 2 inch slice of brownie. Clearly the selling point of this cruise was the alcohol and not the dining experience. There were no non-alcoholic beverages offered so we're not sure they were even available. The tour itself was boring and there was little dialogue or commentary offered. All in all, would not recommend.

We had a good time sailing Sydney harbor in the tall ship. The food was surprisingly good. Make sure you know what you are signing up for…this is not a sit-down dinner…it’s a rolling sailboat ride. The crew was helpful and we enjoyed bouncing around in waves around the harbor looking at the city. Bring a warm jacket as it is windy out there. The boat is from 1925 or so and is in dire need of maintenance and repair. Ropes were frayed and wood rotted in places. Otherwise this was a great way to end our trip to Sydney!

Ship goes under sail and engine as they need to be away from the busy ferry traffic before unfurling those sails. Good commentary from Howard who was able to give a fair bit of history. Food was hot and well cooked but not to everyone’s liking. We really enjoyed it

Seating is limited Toilet worst filth I’ve ever seen No commentary or atmosphere For a Saturday night it was dull However ship was impressive

We booked this cruise because it sounded distinctive and it was. We had been notified that we would-be going on the smaller tall ship. While not as majestic looking as the larger ship, it had advantages. The ship was easy to get around, uncrowded with plenty of seats and a table set up inside for dinner. The smaller number of participants reated anice group feeling. We cheered fir the passengers who climbed the mast. This was exciting and added to the dynamic. The cruise offered so much that the dinner while delicious was not really needed. The ship was beautiful, the crew p,leasant and energetic, the commentary memorable, and sights iconic. Although we missed hearing some of the commentary due to the wind,the crew were everywhere and happy to answer questions ranging from historical facts to detailed advice on transportation. Thanks to the hard working crew on creating a memorable experience.

Well worth the $. Really enjoyed the tour and those aboard. Food great and atmosphere awesome. Loved

What an absolutely magnificent experience. Even with the rain gently setting the scene, Marion and I had an unforgettable time aboard this beautiful historic sailing vessel. From the very first moment, it was clear that this was going to be something truly special. As a former Navy sailor myself, stepping aboard instantly brought back a flood of memories — the smells, the sounds, the rhythm of the ship — and those feelings were only amplified by the generosity and warmth of the crew. James, the captain, went above and beyond: he invited me to take the helm and even allowed me to assist during the docking process. That moment alone was priceless and deeply personal, rekindling memories from my time in the Navy that I will treasure forever. We spent the entire sail sharing stories and experiences, making the journey feel incredibly human, genuine, and alive. Adding even more magic to the atmosphere were the sea shanty songs sung onboard during the tour. They were perfectly chosen and beautifully performed, echoing across the deck and harbour, and they tied the entire experience together in the most authentic way. Those songs transported us straight back to another era and made the sail feel not just historical, but alive and deeply emotional. This sail was also a birthday gift from my wife, which made the experience even more meaningful. It couldn’t have been more perfect. Despite the weather, the crew transformed a rainy day into a truly memorable adventure. Ruth and the onboard team looked after everyone impeccably, serving delicious food that exceeded all expectations: a gorgeous chicken curry with rice, a fresh potato salad, a delightful starter pastry, and an indulgent chocolate brownie to finish — all accompanied by a great selection of drinks. Comforting, generous, and exactly what you want while sailing historic waters. The ship itself is breathtaking — a 104-year-old Danish sailing vessel with an incredible history, once a cargo ship that even carried goods to Greenland. Being aboard such a vessel is like stepping back in time. Guests are encouraged to truly take part in the experience: helping to set the sails, learning the ropes, and even having the opportunity to climb the mast if you wish. This level of engagement makes the sail feel authentic and immersive rather than passive. Every single member of the crew contributed to an atmosphere of warmth, passion, and professionalism. Their enthusiasm and love for the ship and for sailing are infectious, and they genuinely care about creating an experience people will remember. Rain or shine, this was one of the highlights of our trip and a memory that will stay with us forever. I cannot recommend this experience highly enough — it is history, adventure, music, hospitality, and heart all rolled into one extraordinary sail. Thank you, Captain James Parbery, Host Mrs Ruth Kunde, and the entire crew, for turning a rainy day into something truly magical.

Nice experience on the Sydney Harbour at sunset. Along with the included dinner, you also get the chance to climb up the ship mast for an extra fee.

After a frantic time trying to find the wharf, we enjoyed our sail. Motor driven. Authentic boat & ride. Not enough seats for us all. Friendly crew. They did hoist a sail. Let some help. Food was a bit skimpy. No sign of twilight or sunset. Full sun.

What an adventure !! Even in the Sydney downpour !! Captain James and Ruth made our sail unforgettable…. Paolo loved the hands on experience and we both thought the food was very good… what a beautiful old Tall Ship !!

Great experience on a different sort of cruise. Staff amazing and the dinner was set up in a really simple but great way. Views amazing.

The history and love shared about the Southern Swan was informative and entertaining. Very relaxing. The views were amazing and gave us the history of the area as well. Very knowledgeable, warm, and Inviting. The food was not to our taste but was well prepared.

100% recommend !! Loved this experience ! Crew and food were great! I would highly recommend while in Sydney

Booked at the last minute on our final evening in Sydney. I have a bit of a nautical background and I enjoyed immensely boating around the Harbor... I mean Harbour. Meal service was sufficient and acceptable. I would have preferred a free cocktail or two. The guide was entertaining but I would appreciate him keeping his opinions of American politics to himself. Truly excited upon my return to the US to see the very spot we sailed on in Sydney Harbour featured on the American TV series rerun .. NCIS Sydney. It was a good experience!

Really fun way to spend an evening as a date or with friends. The crew was so nice and knowledgable!

The captain and crew did an amazing job. 2 hours was the perfect amount of time around the harbor and the dinner was good.

We had the perfect weather for this last night! ☀️ The tall ship cruise was just the right amount of time (about 2 hours), the dinner was yum and the Prosecco and beer was only $10! The commentary was awesome too - great crew! Lots of fun 🤩 Thoroughly recommended!! ❤️

Was cool to go out on the harbour on a sailing yacht. Didn’t get to see much of the harbour. The elderly gentleman guide was interesting to listen too from history perspective but injected too much of his lefty political rhetoric into his talk which was really unnecessary so I left to explore the boy and take photos.

Wonderful people running an awesome tour!! I couldn’t recommend this enough. Excellent service and so much history to be learned!

What an experience and what a wonderful crew onboard Southern Swan. This beats any sunset cruise you’ll find in Sydney. The atmosphere, the ship, the sails and the peace and quiet…truly wonderful!

Staff were friendly. The food was just ok and not hot. I would not recommend. There are orher options for a river view.

Was a wonderfull experience i think 2 hours was a bit to long as the kids were getting restless the last half an hour. But the dinner was amazing and filling The tour guide was funny knowledgeable.

Well worth paying for the drinks package. Maybe take a coat as it gets a little breezy however blankets are supplied. Buffet dinner very tasty, host was great fab time had by all.

Perfect way to view the Oprah house, Sydney Harbour Bridge & the beautiful surroundings. Beautiful buffet meal onboard & calm peaceful cruise.