Departure PointsKing Street Wharf, Darling HarbourPlease refer to your booking confirmation for your exact wharf number. It is important that you proceed to the correct wharf for boarding 15 minutes prior to your departure time.
Description
Cruising daily, take a 1.5 hour evening cruise on Sydney Harbour to experience the Vivid Sydney annual light festival from the water. This is a great way to see the city and its foreshore transformed into a canvas of light, including landmarks like the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
Book one of the following sessions to experience aboard one of our nightly dinner cruises and witness Sydney's iconic landmarks transformed by the lights of Vivid festival.
Tour Options
Vivid Sydney Cruise
Vivid Sydney Cruise - Late: 1.5 hour Vivid Festival cruise Witness Sydney's iconic landmarks transformed by Vivid light shows Spacious indoor and outdoor viewing decks
Itinerary
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Pass by
Witness the iconic "coathanger" - Sydney Harbour Bridge, transformed by the lights of Vivid
Sydney Opera House
Pass by
Cruise by the Sydney Opera House with 3D projections bringing her "sails" to life.
Circular Quay
Pass by
Experience Circular Quay and the entire Sydney city skyline illuminated in vibrant colour.
Luna Park Sydney
Pass by
The smiling face of Luna Park, along with illuminated rides, form part of the stunning landscape of Vivid Sydney.
Walsh Bay
Pass by
See the historic finger wharves of Walsh Bay magnificently transformed by the lights of Vivid.
The Rocks
Pass by
Cruise by The Rocks as it comes alive with colour and creativity during Vivid, as heritage buildings glow with art, music and magic.
Barangaroo
Pass by
See Barangaroo transform into a glowing playground during Vivid—where cutting-edge light installations meet stunning harbour views.
King Street Wharf
Pass by
King Street Wharf lights up for Vivid with dazzling reflections, vibrant crowds, and waterfront vibes that keep the party going long after dark.
Vivid Sydney
Pass by
city illuminated with awe-inspiring art installations and 3D light projections, casting a magical glow upon Sydney’s iconic buildings and urban spaces.
What's included
Included
Witness Sydney's iconic landmarks transformed by Vivid light shows
Indoor unreserved seating
Spacious indoor and outdoor viewing decks
1.5 hour Vivid Festival cruise
Tea, coffee and chocolates
Cash bar for beverages
Restroom on board
Buffet-style menu
Excellent photo opportunities of Vivid
Vessel may be subject to change based on availability and demand
Not included
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
Other beverages (cash bar available)
Traveller Ratings
3.4
36 reviews
5
16
4
4
3
4
2
3
1
9
Important Information
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Cancellation
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
0+ days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Vivid Sydney Dinner Cruises take?
Vivid Sydney Dinner Cruises lasts about 1h 30min. The itinerary has 9 stops.
How much does Vivid Sydney Dinner Cruises cost?
Prices start at $46 per person for this Sydney experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel Vivid Sydney Dinner Cruises for free?
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Departure Points. King Street Wharf, Darling Harbour. Please refer to your booking confirmation for your exact wharf number. It is important that you proceed to the correct wharf for boarding 15 minutes prior to your departure time. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 200 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Specialized infant seats are available Children must be accompanied by an adult
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Vivid Sydney Dinner Cruises worth it?
Travellers rate it 3.4 out of 5 across 36 verified reviews; it is run by Vagabond Cruises.
Reviews(36)
7
726shanel
June 7, 2026
Extremely disappointed
Extremely disappointed with this company.
Over 30 people in our group had booked and paid for a buffet dinner cruise and were really looking forward to seeing the Sydney Vivid lights. This was a special occasion for many of us, and we had been excited about the experience for weeks.
Unfortunately, after waiting to board, the company chose to let passengers from a previous cruise disembark while leaving our entire group stranded without any communication, updates, or explanation. We were left standing around wondering what was happening, with no staff providing clear information or assistance.
The lack of communication and customer service was completely unacceptable. When people spend their hard-earned money on an event like this, they expect professionalism and respect. Instead, we were left frustrated, disappointed, and feeling completely ignored.
What made the situation even more disappointing was that it was not this company that stepped up to help. The teams from Legend Cruises and Aussie Cruises at least showed some compassion and felt sorry for all of us. They went out of their way to accommodate our group and took us out on one of their boats so that we could still experience the Vivid lights. Without their assistance, the night would have been a complete disaster.
This company should be issuing full refunds to all affected passengers and seriously consider additional compensation for the inconvenience, wasted time, and disappointment caused. Based on our experience, I would not recommend this company to others.
Very poor customer service, terrible communication, and a highly disappointing experience.
Operator response
Thank you for your feedback, Shane.
We are sorry to hear of your disappointment and appreciate the opportunity to clarify what occurred on the evening in question.
This cruise departed from King Street Wharf 9, with the boarding location detailed in booking confirmations and pre-cruise communications sent to guests prior to departure. Our crew were present at the designated boarding location, where passengers were successfully checked in and boarded before the vessel departed as scheduled.
During Vivid Sydney, Darling Harbour can be extremely busy, with multiple vessels and operators boarding from different wharves throughout the evening. We understand that this can sometimes cause confusion and are sorry to hear that your evening did not go as planned.
We do appreciate the assistance provided by other operators on the night and are pleased that you were still able to experience Vivid Sydney from the water.
Kind regards,
Vagabond Cruises
L
Linda_G
June 3, 2026
Terrible Experience
Horrible you never recommend. I have always booked through viator. This was a terrible experience!
Over crowded, not boat was supposed to be, horrible food. The view we were supposed to see… the lights.. were better viewed from walking the harbor.
Operator response
Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry to hear that the experience did not meet your expectations. We appreciate that Vivid Sydney is a special occasion for many guests and are disappointed to learn that you did not enjoy the cruise, food and overall experience.
Due to operational circumstances, a substitute vessel was used on this departure. While we strive to provide a comparable experience, we understand that this may not have aligned with your expectations.
We value all feedback and will share your comments with our team for review.
Kind regards,
Vagabond Cruises
C
Cristina_P
June 27, 2024
Vivid Sydney is Amazing!
We were somewhat confused as to where exactly we should board, but we figured it out. Maybe send passengers a slot # day of ? We had a spot on the back of the boat outside--great views, but it was cool and windy. There were other areas that appeared open, but a few passengers were "saving" big chunks of space for others. Later, these spots were open as they moved to another area for viewing. Annoying. Maybe assign bookings a location to sit in.
The food was great! A lot of selection and very plentiful! The staff was attentive, kind, and helpful! Vivid is such a neat idea! So many buildings are lit up and the vibe is festive.
C
Cara_s
June 9, 2024
it was really child...
it was really child friendly which was such a relief !! was worried about taking 2 toddlers but it was a great experience for them. the food was good and the boat wasn’t too busy. all the staff were so lovely as well
J
Junn_M
June 2, 2024
excellent
good food, vivid lights is OFF because of bad weather, they should post it early in social media so people will be aware
J
Julie C
May 31, 2024
Fabulous cruise on the harbour for vivid
This recent cruise was just excellent!!! Booking was easy on line, staff were excellent when I had to call office re query!
Crew on board were above & beyond fabulous!!! They helped with carrying drinks upstairs, checking we were okay after a Little Rock & roll turbulence, finger food was plentiful & served hot , plenty of variety!!
Definitely didn’t need to go to dinner after 6pm cruise!!!
Just a wonderful 1 & 1/2 hours on our beautiful harbour all for $60 pp!!
Great job Vagabond!!
L
Lorraine_B
May 27, 2024
Cancelled
You cancelled it the day before my bookingI'm still waiting for refund . Please refund ASAP. Thank you
S
st_phaniel199
June 15, 2023
On top
Beautiful time spent on a cruise to discover the lights of VIVID on the monuments of SYDNEY as on the opera, the harbour bridge....
The meal was very good.
The team was smiling and pleasant.
J
Josie_T
June 13, 2023
Vivid Cruise
We love the food. And the crews are very accomodating. We love the tour so much.
We have so much fun viewing all the lights of vivid
S
Sarah
June 10, 2023
Disappointed
Would've booked this if there was a picture of the boat, unfortunately one of the oldest smallest looking boat, compared to the other company boats at the Wharfe. Doing the same vivid sightseeing cruises for alot cheaper
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