Get the best view of the festival of light aboard a Vivid Sydney harbour cruise for as low as $15.
Spreading from Darling Harbour and Barangaroo, under a lit-up Harbour Bridge, to The Rocks and Circular Quay, many of the Vivid Sydney festival’s displays take on a whole new perspective from the water, and joining a Vivid Sydney cruise is a great way to see the event’s displays without the walking and crowds.
Whether you're looking for the cheapest option, one that includes a buffet dinner, or the longest sailing possible, we've listed all the cruises bookable online that we could find so you can compare your options.
All available cruises
| Cruise Name | Departs from: | What's included? | Length | Price | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vivid Sydney cruise | King St Wharf 6, 7, 8 or 9 |
| 1.5 hours | $15 | Book now |
| Vivid cruise with Magic Cruises | King St Wharf 6, 7, 8 |
| 2 hours | $19 | Book now |
| Vivid Sydney cruise with Thunder Jet | Jetty 1, Circular Quay |
| 45 minutes | $29 | Book now |
| Vivid Sydney cruise Supercat Cruise | King Street Wharf |
| 2 hours | $30 | Book now |
| Vivid Harbour cruise with Sydney Pearl Cruises | Towns Place East or West Millers Point |
| 1.5 hours | $32 | Book now |
| Vivid Sydney BYO Catamaran cruise | Sydney Harbour |
| 1.5 hours | $32 | Book now |
| Vivid Sydney Cruise with Aboriginal Performance | Pyrmont Bay |
| 2 hour | $35 | Book now |
| Vivid cruise with Starship Sydney | King St Wharf 4 | 1.5 hours | $36 | Book now | |
| Vivid Cruises on Nevaeh | Towns Place Wharf |
| 1.5 hours | $39 | Book now |
| Sydney Vivid Lights Cruise | King St Wharf 1 | 1 hour | $39 | Book now | |
| Vivid Sydney luxury cruise | The Rocks |
| 1.5 hours | $49 | Book now |
| Vivid Sydney Catamaran cruise | Sydney Harbour |
| 1.5 hours | $49 | Book now |
| Vivid cruise with Starship Sydney | King St Wharf 4 |
| 1.5 hours | $49 | Book now |
| Vivid cruise on a glass boat | Wharf 9 |
| 2 hours | $55 | Book now |
| Vivid cruise | King St Wharf 1 |
| 2 hours | $55 | Book now |
| Vivid tall ship cruise | Ives Steps Wharf |
| 1.5 hours | $59 | Book now |
| Vivid Sydney Harbour Tall Ship | Ives Steps Wharf |
| 1.5 hours | $59 | Book now |
| Vivid Cruises on Jerry Bailey | Casino Wharf |
| 1.5 hours | $90 | Book now |
| Vivid Sydney dinner cruise | King St Wharf |
| 2 hours | $270 | Book now |
| Vivid Cruises on La Dolce Vita | Various |
| 1 hour | $400 | Book now |
| Vivid Sydney private cruise | Sydney Harbour |
| 1.5 hours | $450 | Book now |
| Vivid Cruises on Salute | City wharf |
| 2 hours | $700 | Book now |
| Vivid Cruises on Neptune | Various |
| 1.5 hours | $650 | Book now |
Our top picks:
Best for overall experience:
Vivid Sydney Catamaran cruise from RedBalloon
Highlights:
- 1.5-hour catamaran cruise on board Kirralee or Neaveh
- With sandwich and wrap platters and one non-alcoholic beverage
- BYO drinks
- Price from $32
Best for price (cheapest):
Vivid cruise with Proclaim or Royale from Groupon
Highlights:
- 1.5-hour cruise
- A glass of sparkling wine
- Price from $15
Best for a unique experience:
Vivid cruise on a glass boat from Cudo
Highlights:
- 2-hour cruise on a glass boat
- With cocktail-style standing buffet and one complimentary beer, win eor soft drink
- Price from $65
Best for length:
Vivid cruise from Experience Oz
Highlights:
- 2-hour cruise
- Includes standing buffet dinner, one beer, wine or soft drink
- Price per person: $55
Best for extra inclusions:
Vivid Sydney cruise + Luna Park pass from Groupon
Highlights:
- 90-minute cruise with Starship Sydney
- Includes one Luna Park entry with unlimited rides
- Price per person: $49
What Vivid dinner cruises are available?
| Cruise Name | What's on the menu? | Vegetarian/Vegan friendly options? | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vivid harbour cruise with Sydney Pearl Cruises |
| Limited | Book now from $32 |
| Vivid cruise on a glass boat |
| Yes | Book now from $55 |
| Vivid all ship cruise |
| Yes, and gluten free options. | Book now from $59 |
| Vivid cocktail dinner cruise with Vagabond Cruises |
| Yes. | Book now from $49 |
| Vivid Sydney dinner cruise |
| N/A | Book now from $270 |
Latest deals on Vivid Sydney cruises:
Vivid Sydney cruises
Every year, dozens of boats sail the harbour aglow with brightly coloured lights and become part of the Vivid Sydney display. Sydney Harbour Ferries get in on the action too. If you're hoping to join a boat tour during Vivid that participates, these are the official operators that have joined the festivities in the past.
- Tribal Warrior Aboriginal Culture Cruise
- Magistic Dinner Cruise
- Sydney Showboat Dinner Cruise
- Showboat Paddlewheel
- Oz Jet Boating
- Manly Fast Ferry
- Sydney Cove Water Taxis
- Sydney's First Fleet Ferries
- Captain Cook Cruises
- Sensational Sydney Cruises
- Fantasea Cruising Sydney
- Shadow Charters
Vivid Sydney cruise review
What can you expect from a Vivid Sydney cruise? We sat down with Naseem Hemmati, who sailed on this Starship Sydney Vivid Cruise in 2019 for a quick chat about his experience.
Q: What did you like about your Vivid cruise?
What I loved most about the cruise was the live performance from the band and the dancers. It amplified the atmosphere and was an entertaining way to complete the cruise as guests were encouraged to join in. The food stalls were another aspect I loved - there was always something to eat or do when you weren't enjoying the view.
Q: What didn't you like about it?
The lack of seating is the only aspect of the cruise that I didn't enjoy however throughout the night as people moved around more became available.
Q: What advice would you give to anyone going on a Vivid cruise?
Dress warm so that you are able to enjoy the view.
What do I need to know about Vivid Sydney and Vivid Sydney cruises?
How long does Vivid Sydney go for?
The festival runs for 23 days from 24 May - 15 June 2019.
What time does Vivid Sydney start?
The Vivid Sydney light displays will be turned on at 6pm each night during the festival.
Do Vivid Sydney cruises go to Darling Harbour?
Yes. Most of the sightseeing cruises during Vivid depart from Darling Harbour or King Street Wharf, so you'll get the chance to wander around the area before and after your cruise. It's best to check with the operator you've booked your cruise with to see where and when you need to meet the boat.
Do you have any tips on how to photograph Vivid Sydney?
If night photography isn't your forte, especially from a moving boat, consider joining a night photography class prior to or during the festival to capture the best images.
Night Photography Course from finder.com
Perfect your nighttime photography skills and use the brilliantly coloured Vivid displays as your inspiration.This three-hour lesson meets in The Rocks at 5:30pm each Friday and will help you master composition, shoot in manual mode, control ISO, aperture and shutter speed.
View details
When does the Vivid Festival run from for 2018?
Hi Kath!
The announcement left on Vivid Sydney website is they will be opening later this year.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jonathan
Hi wanted to know what cruises they have for vivid that is buffet dinner and dance floor DJ on board???
Hi Sam,
Thanks for your questions.
All the cruises we have listed above except for 90-Minute Cruise with Sparkling Wine on a Sunday, Friday or Saturday and 2-hour cruise with canapés and drinks from LivingSocial, offer buffet dinner.
However, upon checking the details, only the 2-hour cruise with cocktails and canapés which costs $29.00 offer buffer dinner and DJ. For more details, simply click the “view details’ button above.
Cheers,
Anndy