The cruises compared here
In many cities the evening cruise is a separate product with its own price. In Seville it is mostly a matter of which departure time you tick.
That makes the decision cheaper than usual, but it also means you have to check the timetable yourself. Here is what the listings and operators state.
1There is no sunset ticket
None of the five Civitatis listings has 'sunset' or 'night' in its name, and none charges extra for a late slot. The one-hour cruise from the Torre del Oro costs from €17 at any hour.
The operator, Cruceros Torre del Oro, says as much on its own page: you choose between seeing the sights by day and taking a night cruise by reserving the last departure of the day.
2How late the boats run
Cruceros Torre del Oro publishes hourly departures from 11:00. When we checked, the last one was at 21:00 from May to September and at 19:00 from October to April, with a 20:00 boat for a few weeks in between. The ticket office opens at 10:00.
Whether the last boat sails in daylight, at dusk or in the dark therefore changes with the month. Look up the sunset time for your date and compare it with the departure list before you choose. Timetables change, so trust the times shown at booking over ours.
The solar boat and the guided small-boat tour do not print a timetable in their listings. The times on offer appear once you select a date.
3What you gain and lose after dark
The gain is atmosphere, and the photo captions on the listings lean on it: the Triana Bridge lit up, a sunset from the deck. The Torre del Oro cruise keeps its audio guide at any hour, so you do not give up the commentary.
The loss is detail. Much of what the commentary describes is architecture set back among trees: the 1929 pavilions in María Luisa Park, the Expo 92 buildings on Cartuja. The listings make no promise about how any of that looks at night.
Our view is that a first cruise belongs in daylight and a second one, if you want it, at the end of the day.
4Dinner on the river
One listing turns the evening into a meal. The boat trip from the New York pier has a lunch or dinner option that lasts two and a half hours, with a tasting menu of three cold dishes, two hot dishes, dessert and a glass of cava. Water, soft drinks, beer, wine or rebujito are unlimited until dessert is served.
Keep the price straight. The €15 starting price on that listing is for the one-hour ride with no food. The aperitif and meal options cost more, and the figure appears when you select them. The boat lists no commentary, only music.
A middle path is the 90-minute aperitif option on the same boat: Jabugo ham, Manchego cheese and one drink.
5Which to pick
For sightseeing, book a daytime slot on the guided small boat or the Torre del Oro cruise. For a cheap evening ride, book the last Torre del Oro departure. For an evening out with food, the New York pier boat is the only candidate, and free cancellation there closes 48 hours ahead.