An Amalfi Coast private boat tour is the day most couples remember longest: your own captain, the cliffs of Positano from the water, a swim in a cove the road never reaches. The same Positano supplier sells it two ways, and they suit very different trips. The Private Full-Day Boat Tour from Positano, Praiano or Amalfi is rated 5.0 across 254 reviews, from about $1,502 per group. The Private Sunset Cruise from Positano is rated 4.9 across 162 reviews, from about $267 per person.
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The verdict
If you can give the coast one whole day, book the full day. The Private Full-Day Boat Tour is our pick for an Amalfi Coast private boat tour: 251 of its 254 reviews give it five stars, and nobody has left fewer than four. Also, you get about seven hours on the water from 9:30, time ashore in Amalfi and a skipper who adjusts the route to you.
The Private Sunset Cruise is the better choice when the day is already full, or when the moment matters more than the mileage: a proposal, the last night of a honeymoon, a toast with the people you came with. In addition, it lasts 90 minutes and costs a fraction of the full day for two.
Both are run by Blue Star Positano, both are private (only your group on board) and both can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before the start.
Good to know before you book
Read this before you plan a proposal around it. Positano faces the sunrise side of the bay, so from the water you see the sky and the town change color, not the sun dropping into the sea. In fact, the supplier says so itself in its replies to reviews. So, on a clear evening, the colors run from gold to pink over the cliffs; on a cloudy one you get Positano lit up at dusk. However, if a sun-on-the-horizon photo is the point, the west-facing side of the Sorrento peninsula is where it happens.
I have done both of these boats out of Positano. If the forecast is clear and you can give the coast a whole day, take the full day, and ask your skipper to book lunch at a restaurant you reach by sea: that stop is the part people talk about afterwards. Then keep the sunset cruise for your last evening. And if you are planning a proposal, plan it for the colors over the town, not for the sun on the water. Tony lives in Rome and works as a guide across Italy.
Which one is for you?
Take the full day if
- You are traveling as a family or with friends: the price is per boat, so it falls per person as the group grows, up to 12.
- You want to swim, snorkel and stop for a long lunch on the water, not just look.
- You want to see Amalfi, the Emerald Grotto and the Furore fjord in one day without the coast road.
- You are celebrating something big and want the whole day to be the celebration.
Take the sunset cruise if
- You are two: at about $267 each, it is the most affordable way to have a boat to yourselves in Positano.
- You are planning a proposal or a honeymoon evening and want a quiet, short, beautiful moment.
- Your days are already booked with Capri, Ravello or Pompeii, and the evening is what is free.
- Someone in your party gets seasick: 90 minutes at no more than 25 knots is easier than seven hours.
Who should skip both
Travelers prone to seasickness, on the full day: both listings say they are not recommended for them, and the sea off the coast can be choppy outside summer. Travelers who use a wheelchair should contact the supplier before booking: the sunset cruise is listed as not accessible, and although the full day is marked accessible, boarding is from the beach in Positano. Finally, if the budget is the issue, a small-group Amalfi Coast boat tour gives you the same coastline for far less.
What each price covers
The private full day
Included: the boat for your party only, a personal skipper, drinks and bottled water, snacks, towels, a shower on board and snorkeling gear.
Not included: lunch, hotel pickup and drop-off, and entry to the Emerald Grotto, which is paid on the spot. Reviewers describe lunch at a beach restaurant reached by boat, booked for them by the skipper: budget for it separately.
The private sunset cruise
Included: a private boat of about 33 feet (10 meters) for up to 12 passengers, the captain, drinks including Prosecco, beer, soft drinks, water and fruit, snorkeling gear and towels.
Not included: gratuities, hotel pickup and drop-off, and dinner.
What a couple and a group of six pay
For two people, the sunset cruise comes to about $535 and the full day to about $1,502, before lunch and tips. However, for six people, the full day works out at about $250 each for a whole day at sea, less per head than the 90-minute cruise. As a result, families and groups of friends often book the full day.
Where each one starts
- Full day: from Positano (walk down to the beach to meet your skipper), or from Praiano or Amalfi, with details sent after booking. Start at 9:30 and back to the same point.
- Sunset cruise: the Blue Star info desk on Positano’s main beach, opposite the Chez Black restaurant (Via Grado 14). Back to the same point.
Side by side
| Private full day | Private sunset cruise | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5.0 from 254 | 4.9 from 162 |
| Five-star reviews | 251 (99%) | 153 (94%) |
| Price | from about $1,502 per group (up to 12) | from about $267 per person |
| Length | About 7 hours, from 9:30 | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Format | Private boat, your group only | Private boat, your group only |
| Drinks on board | Yes | Yes, Prosecco included |
| Lunch | Not included | No meal |
| Start | Positano, Praiano or Amalfi | Positano main beach |
| Booked ahead, on average | 109 days | 69 days |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before | Free up to 24 hours before |
What travelers say
On the private full day
My wife and I had the best day of our honeymoon on the private boat with Vincenzo. Secluded swimming in caves, fruit and snacks on the boat with a glass of champagne, and the perfect amount of interaction to learn more about Vincenzo while enjoying our full day on the boat!
Chad_S, August 2026, via Viator
Perfect day! Celebrated my husband’s 50th birthday on the boat. Had our favorite day in Europe in our two week trip.
Maggie_S, July 2026, via Viator
On the private sunset cruise
The views of the coast are absolutely stunning. Nothing compares to seeing Positano lit up during golden hour-it is magic.
Amanda_L, July 2026, via Viator
Beautiful views, my fiancé and I did the sunset tour and it was breathtaking.
Kevin_C, September 2025, via Viator
Honeymoons, anniversaries and milestone birthdays come up again and again in the reviews of both. Even so, one recurring caution is worth repeating: one full-day reviewer found the boat smaller than in the photos, and several sunset reviewers point out that you watch the colors, not the sun itself.
More on the Amalfi Coast
For a private boat around the island itself, compare our Capri private boat tour. On a smaller budget, the Capri boat tour from Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast boat tour share the boat with other travelers. On land, an Amalfi Coast cooking class fills a slow afternoon.
For more ideas at this level, see our guide to luxury experiences in Italy. To plan the rest of the trip, read our guide to Amalfi Coast ferries.
Questions travelers ask
How much is a private boat tour on the Amalfi Coast?
On October 1, 2026, the private full day from Positano was listed on Viator from about $1,502 per group of up to 12, and the 90-minute private sunset cruise from about $267 per person. However, lunch, gratuities and the Emerald Grotto entry are extra.
Is the sunset cruise good for a proposal?
Many couples use it for one, and it is private, so only your group is on board. However, in Positano the sun sets behind the mountains: you see the sky and the town change color, not the sun on the horizon. So tell the supplier your plan when you book.
Is lunch included on the full day?
No. Drinks, snacks and water are on board, but lunch is not included. Reviewers describe a lunch stop at a restaurant reached by boat, which the skipper can book for you.
How far ahead should I book?
Early. Viator shows the full day is booked 109 days in advance on average, and the sunset cruise 69 days. So, for June to September, book as soon as your dates are fixed; cancellation is free up to 24 hours before.
Can we leave from Amalfi instead of Positano?
For the full day, yes: you can choose Positano, Praiano or Amalfi when you book. However, the sunset cruise leaves only from Positano’s main beach.
Can I cancel?
Both offer a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start, as shown on Viator on October 1, 2026. Check the terms again when you book.
Book the full day if you want the coast to be the whole story of your trip; book the sunset cruise if you want one perfect hour and a half, and a glass of Prosecco, to remember it by.
Editorial assessment by Italy2Love, October 2026. Inclusions and exclusions, meeting points, itineraries, prices, ratings, review counts and cancellation terms read on both Viator product pages (product codes 6439P4 and 6439SUNSET), October 1, 2026. Reviews quoted with attribution to their authors and to Viator. Next review April 2027, or sooner on any change to either option.