Christmas Day Dinner Cruise

Every holiday season, many families and visitors come to sunny Miami hoping to spend Christmas Day sailing along Biscayne Bay — dreaming of a festive cruise under the stars, with skyline views and a delicious feast. This year, though, our holiday offerings have changed. There will be no Christmas Day dinner cruise. Instead, we invite you to join a sightseeing-style cruise for a relaxing and beautiful way to enjoy the holiday in Miami.

🎄 What’s New This Christmas Day

Rather than offering a dinner buffet, we are focusing on delivering a tranquil sightseeing cruise experience. While the dinner portion isn’t available, you’ll still get to savor the magic of Miami waters on Christmas Day — with scenic views, great company, and the city’s skyline shimmering in the evening light.

This is especially a good option if you’re traveling with family or friends and want a low-fuss, memorable way to spend the holiday.

What You Can Expect on the Sightseeing Cruise

• Scenic Biscayne Bay & Miami skyline: Glide through the calm waters of Biscayne Bay and take in panoramic views of Downtown Miami, its towering skyline, and the shimmering coast of Miami Beach.
• Celebrity-home and mansion-lined islands: You’ll cruise by iconic islands and waterfront neighborhoods — including areas such as Star Island, Fisher Island, Palm Island, Hibiscus Island, and the Venetian Islands, giving you a glimpse into Miami’s celebrity-home coastline.  
• Guided narration & local insight: A bilingual (English/Spanish) live guide will share stories about Miami’s history, its waterfront development, and interesting facts about the celebrity-home districts and landmarks along the route.  
• 360° panoramic views from the deck: Whether you prefer the air-conditioned lower deck or the open-air top deck, the cruise offers excellent vantage points to snap photos — perfect for holiday memories, social media, or just gazing at the cityscape.  
• Flexible departure options: Sightseeing cruises operate throughout the day — choose from morning, afternoon, sunset, or evening/night sailings. Sunset and night cruises are especially magical, when the skyline glows and the water mirrors city lights.  

••Family-friendly and inclusive: Sightseeing boat tours are popular with visitors of all ages — from families traveling with kids to couples wanting a romantic skyline ride, and even those traveling with pets (when permitted by the operator). 

Why a Sightseeing Cruise Might Be Better This Year

• No meal stress — just enjoy the ride. Without a dinner buffet to coordinate, you and your group can relax, enjoy the water, the breeze, and the skyline, without worrying about seating arrangements, meal service, or table rotations.
• More flexibility for groups large or small. Because seating is on a first-come basis (not assigned), groups of all sizes — couples, families, or friend groups — can enjoy the cruise together or individually as you prefer.
• Stunning lighting and photo opportunities. Especially around sunset and at night, the reflections on the water, skyline lighting, and Miami’s waterfront architecture make for postcard-perfect scenes.
• Affordability and accessibility. Sightseeing tours in Miami tend to be more budget-friendly than formal dinner cruises, often starting at modest ticket prices — making them a good option for both visitors and locals. 

Important Note — No Christmas Dinner This Year

While we’ve historically offered a festive dinner cruise on Christmas Day, we regret to inform you that there will be no Christmas Day Dinner Cruise this year. Our team decided to shift focus to providing sightseeing-only cruise options, given demand for flexible, relaxed holiday experiences.

If you were looking forward to the holiday buffet — turkey carving station, mashed potatoes and gravy, fire-roasted vegetables, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and cheesecake — we’re sorry for the disappointment. Instead, we encourage you to treat yourself to a lovely evening cruise and perhaps enjoy a cozy holiday meal on land before or after the cruise.

How to Book & What to Know

• Reservations recommended — Cruises tend to fill up quickly during the holidays, especially at sunset and evening times. We strongly suggest booking early to secure your preferred time slot.
• Check-in procedures — As with other sightseeing boat tours in Miami, plan to arrive 30 minutes before departure to check in, receive your boarding pass, and line up for boarding. Boarding typically begins about 15 minutes before departure.  
• Seating & comforts — Seating is first-come, first-served (no assigned seats), and you’ll have your choice between an air-conditioned lower deck or the open-air top deck for panoramic views. 
• Drinks & amenities onboard — Depending on the operator, some sightseeing cruises offer a cash bar (for cocktails or drinks) onboard. Note that food is generally not provided on sightseeing-only cruises.  
• Bilingual narration & local insight — Guides usually speak English and Spanish, providing fun facts, history, and local stories to make your cruise more engaging.  

Is a Sightseeing Cruise Right for You?

If you — or your group — are looking for a hassle-free, beautiful, and memorable way to spend Christmas Day in Miami,  Miami Architecture Cruises is an excellent choice. It offers the best of Miami’s waterfront — skyline, celebrity homes, islands, and coastal views — without the pressure of a formal dinner. It’s especially well-suited for:

• Families seeking a relaxed holiday experience
• Couples or friends wanting a romantic or scenic outing
• Travelers on a budget or looking for flexible plans
• Anyone wanting to enjoy Miami from a unique vantage point on the water

Final Thoughts

This holiday season, you might arrive in Miami expecting a Christmas dinner cruise — but consider this: a sightseeing cruise could give you something even more memorable. Picture yourself cruising under a Miami skyline painted by sunset — lights of Downtown reflecting on the bay, elegant waterfront homes passing by, gentle breezes, and the sounds of the city floating across the water.

So this Christmas Day, whether you’re a visitor or a longtime resident, trade the traditional dinner table for an open-air deck, the crowds for panoramic ocean breezes, and the routine for something magical. The holidays in Miami are still here — just sailing in a new direction.

Enjoy the journey!