Schooner Appledore - Key West

My husband and I really enjoyed this sunset cruise. Each visit to Key West, we’ve taken a sunset cruise with a different provider. This was by far the best. It was a smaller, intimate group, which made the sail more enjoyable. Drinks and food provided were outstanding—much better than we received in the past. The crew was extremely friendly and went out of there to ensure everyone had a blast. We’ll definitely be back on the Appledore!

My friends and I are in Key West for a few days and this was a last minute decision. We are so thankful we did. The crew was amazing and helpful throughout the 2 hours sailing. The snacks were perfect and there was plenty of non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a relaxing and not crowded (we had 9 people but I believe the boat can hold 22) time on the water.

Such a peaceful sunset cruise. And Jared the Capt was efficient and proficient. Told us great stories and history on the water. I’ve lived here 27 yrs and I took my bff out for one of the better experiences. Enjoyed the intimate venue. Great job.

We thoroughly enjoyed our sunset cruise with Captain Jared & First Mate..Tom? I feel so bad I can't recall his name..he was SO nice and helpful, the drinks and snacks were surprisingly fresh and delicious! This boat is epic..thank you to everyone involved in keeping her beautiful and making this happen 💙

This experience was so fun for us. We had never been on a schooner and the Appledore was beautiful! The crew was so skilled, professional, but also a blast at the same time. They were funny, helpful, and all committed to us having a great time.

The mangroves were so interesting to kayak through; the guide was knowledgeable and taught us as we tucked into mangrove pickets.

The food was really good! I loved the brisket (?) sandwich, pasta salad. The crew was amazing at attending to us and giving us all the great drink choices (alcoholic and alcoholic).

The snorkeling was fun, but we are just over sea grass. My husband saw a fish; I saw grass. Still fun to be in the ocean and snorkel again as I hadn’t done it in an over a decade.

The ride back was probably my favorite. Enjoying g the breeze, the beauty of the ocean, appreciating the skill of the crew as they navigated through some weather, and taking the beauty of the ocean. The whole day was amazing!

Such an awesome trip! These guys are super nice, fun, and very knowledgeable. They care about their guests, unlike some of the bigger companies nearby. This is a small group experience which makes for a more personal setting. Maximum of 17 people versus up to 80 on the bigger guys. We will book with Jared, Thomas, and Michael on the Schooner Appledore every time going forward. Such a memorable trip. Thanks guys!!!

We had an amazing time on our sunset cruise. The drinks were great, the food was outstanding, and Captain Jared and shipmate Thomas were awesome they were more than happy to take pictures for everyone, they let us steer the boat. They just seemed to be happy to be there. The view was breathtaking and my wife and I were there to celebrate our anniversary and she was so happy. We highly recommend this sunset cruise.

If you're looking for a chill, laid-back sunset sail in Key West, you need not look any further. The crew was fantastic, the snacks and drinks were delicious and we had an amazing experience. I loved that it wasn't crowded, there were about 15 passengers on our trip, everyone had space to lounge and move around. We made some new friends and got to se an incredible sunset! Loved it and look forward to another sail the next time we're in Key West!

Great atmosphere! Crew was very engaging and accommodating. The Captin ensured each couple had great photos to share from the experience. We would definitely book this excursion again!

Our Bugeye Backcountry Eco Tour was excellent! The crew were very friendly and kept us informed of the days plans. All the necessary snorkeling gear and kayaks were provided, and assistance was given to ensure our safety at all times. The reef was beautiful and the lunch provided once we returned from exploring the nearby mangroves was delicious! We highly recommend this trip.

We had a fantastic time! The crew thought of everything! We had plenty of time to snorkel and explore. We learned some pretty cool facts on the kayak tour through the mangroves. Lunch and drinks were delicious. The crew was warm and friendly, took their job, our safety as well as protection of the environment and ecosystem seriously and paid attention to all the details so we could enjoy ourselves. Highly recommended. We hope to return again! Thank you!!

Best KW tours! We took 2 tours w/Appledore, Sunset cruise, Eco Tour. Jared & Thomas were hospitable & provided all the guests with superb service & an enjoyable informative tour, felt as though we were sailing with friends. The Sunset cruise had beautiful views, an assortment of drinks & tasty hors d’oeuvres. The Eco tour included snorkeling, kayaking, swimming & a filling lunch; you will not be hungry afterwards.
100% Recommend their KW tours!

We had an absolutely wonderful time on the sunset sail boat cruise with Jarod and Thomas! The views were breathtaking, and the crew’s hospitality made the experience even more memorable. The boat was comfortable and well-maintained, and the complimentary drinks and snacks were a delightful touch. I highly recommend this cruise for anyone looking to enjoy a beautiful, peaceful sunset on the water! 🌅

My mom and I felt truly blessed to be able to have such a special experience taking in the beauty of the ocean and sky at sunset.

The crew, Jared and Thomas, were very attentive, knowledgeable and professional which made the experience that much more enjoyable.

I would definitely take this cruise again. :)

The 2 hr sunset cruise on the Appledore Star was the highlight of our trip to Key West! Jared and Mario were absolutely wonderful. They handled the boat seamlessly. Their customer service top notch. The snacks and choice of drinks was great. We would definitely take this cruise again and recommend it. We liked that it was a small group of people, no loud music, just the sound of the boat skimming through the water. She's a beautiful boat and being amature sailors we loved that we could participate in raising the sails, and steering. Five out of five for the crew and the boat! Thank you!

A spectacular adventure with fun for all ages. Excellent knowledgeable, safety, but fun-focused crew. Thank you Captain Jared, Mario and Renee for making our last day in KW the best! My 15 yo was finally excited about something and is seriously considering earning his captain credentials and has opened a whole new world for him to consider for his future. I relaxed, got some exercise (kayaking), and enjoyed the best Sangria ever! Lunch was delicious ending with a huge freshly baked choc chip cookie. They were able to accommodate my son who needs a gluten free diet (call in advance and confirm if you need this). Thanks for the great tunes Mario and indulging a play of Southern Cross by CSNY! I hope to be back.

The Bugeye Backcountry ECO Tour was so awesome! Our crew was Bradley and Justin. They were so fun and knowledgeable about the area. It was a smaller boat which meant for a small group experience! This was exactly what we were looking for! Bradley took us on the kayak tour through hidden cuts into the mangroves and it was such a cool experience! We saw some dolphins and a small angel shark!

So much fun! We did the two hour sunset cruise and it was so peaceful and relaxing! The crew was super attentive on bringing drinks and offering blankets. The staff was also great about answering any questions and were very knowledgeable! We highly recommend taking a cruise on the Appledore Schooner! It was definitely a highlight of the trip!

The Schooner Appledore is a fine vessel. Captain Joe and First Mate Dakota are skilled sailors and barmen, and they were excellent hosts. Though the winds were calm, it was a nice time to be on the water. I appreciate the smaller group experience compared to the larger capacity craft, which to me seemed overcrowded beyond my tolerance. Several on board were returning guests who have sailed multiple times. I hope to do likewise.

My first sailing experience and it was exhilarating! Andy and Max were excellent crew members in personal service and "pulling the ropes". It was an excellent REAL experience. The captain sailed through many parked boats with ease, out into the open ocean and returned in time to catch the colorful sunset! He is a very skilled sailing captain, demonstrated on an evening of high winds. Very thrilling and highly recommended.