The 5 Best Dinner Cruises in Dubai to check out
Dining with a nice view is one way to cap off a wonderful and fun-filled evening. As such, it’s no surprise how popular dinner cruises are in Dubai and other nearby cities.
Whether you want a nice, hearty lunch out over the waters of the Dubai Marina, or a romantic dinner under the city skyline by the sea, here’s some of the best dinner cruises in Dubai to go on:
How Much Does a Dinner Cruise Cost in Dubai
The price of a dinner cruise will vary greatly depending on how luxurious the experience is. One thing’s for sure, you can expect it to cost more than a standard restaurant since you’ll be paying for the ride too most of the time.
Here’s a small table showing how much you might expect to pay for a meal in some of the dinner cruises in Dubai:
Choosing the Best Dinner Cruise in Dubai to check out
Ready to go on your first dinner cruise? As for us, we’ve taken a look at the following factors in order to find our favorite dinner cruises in Dubai:
1. Alexandra Dhow Cruise
| RATING | |
| FACILITIES | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| CRUISE EXPERIENCE | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| FOOD | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| AMBIANCE | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| PROFESSIONALISM | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| WAITING TIME | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| ACCESSIBILITY | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
The Alexandra has been serving as a floating restaurant and event venue since its establishment in 2008– playing host to everything from dinner cruises to weddings and business events.
The cruise offers an international buffet, featuring a wide variety of salads and a live grill station. Guests are also treated to a complimentary welcome drink of Arabic coffee, though there are other options available.
Guests have given praise to the professionalism of the staff on the cruise, from going through the boarding procedures to the actual sailing of the dhow. The staff remain very attentive throughout the cruise, always ensuring every customer’s needs are met.
The Alexandra also provides live entertainment during the cruise. These range from live music performances and dances, with a special light show carried out by drones on offer as well.
This show perfectly accompanies the views from the dhow, which are a particular highlight of the cruise. Alexandra Dhow Cruise’s route takes it through the Dubai Marina, allowing guests to take in the area’s best sights.
That being said, the dhow used in the Alexandra Dhow Cruise has been noted to be on the smaller side. This results in a smaller seating and dining space for guests, so it’s best to book in advance to avoid losing out on seats.
Overall, the Alexandra Dhow Cruise would be one of our reliable picks for anyone looking to try out a dinner cruise, or even just want to get a good view of the Dubai Marina from the waters that surround it.
Pros
- Excellent views from the boat
- Great live entertainment on board
Cons
- Dining space is a little small
- Takes time to finish service
Customer Reviews
The service was top-notch
“I had an amazing time on the Alexandra Dhow Cruise Dubai Marina. Booked through capture desert. The service was top-notch and the entire experience was well organized.” – Harris Harry
Had a wonderful experience
“Had a wonderful experience. Booked a slot at 9pm. Weather was good. Had the opportunity to sit on the upper deck to enjoy nature’s weather. Food was great with a variety of mix of western, indian and russian.” – Sandeep Goel
2. Al Wasl Dhow
| RATING | |
| FACILITIES | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| CRUISE EXPERIENCE | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| FOOD | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| AMBIANCE | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| PROFESSIONALISM | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| WAITING TIME | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| ACCESSIBILITY | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Al Wasl Dhow is a charter specializing in providing dinner cruises, giving guests the choice of cruising down the Dubai Creek or the Dubai Marina. The cruise features live, onboard entertainment and an international buffet menu.
The buffet includes a wide variety of dishes, focusing mostly on a blend of continental, Indian and Arabic dishes– including a good amount of biryanis and even an Arabic mixed grill platter.
The menu is also host to a few rotating dishes, such as their Soup of the Day specials and bread baskets– though some customers have also noted that their vegetarian options can be a little limited.
To wash the meal down, the Al Wasl Dhow cruise offers unlimited drinks for the guests, as well as a complimentary welcome drink of chilled juices and Arabic tea, served with dates.
Finally, the Al Wasl Dhow cruise also has quite a wide seating area, with seating available on both the lower deck and the upper deck. Guests are especially encouraged to try and get seats on the upper deck to fully take in the views.
Some customers have mentioned, however, that the departure time for the dhow has a tendency to fluctuate, and the large number of guests can make the venue quite loud at times.
All in all, Al Wasl Dhow is a good choice for a dinner cruise. The choice of venue and its lower price point compared to other charters make it a reliable choice for newcomers to the hobby.
Pros
- Excellent selection of dishes
- Unlimited welcome drinks
Cons
- Venue can be quite loud at times
- Limited vegetarian selection
Customer Reviews
Enjoyable cruise with tall buildings with sparkling lights
“Visited the place in the last week of November. It is a Dhow cruise with buffet dinner. Enjoyable cruise with tall buildings with sparkling lights is a sight. Dinner was also enjoyable.” – Joseph George D. Costa
Well organized and very much hygienic
“The view was amazing, the ambience was good and the food tasted so delicious. Well organized and very much hygienic as per standards. Overall everyone loved it.” – Bilal Masood
3. Madiba Dhow Cruise
| RATING | |
| FACILITIES | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| CRUISE EXPERIENCE | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| FOOD | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| AMBIANCE | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| PROFESSIONALISM | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| WAITING TIME | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| ACCESSIBILITY | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
The Madiba Dhow Cruise is a charter that takes routes along some of Dubai’s top destinations for aquatic attractions. With multiple boats available for booking, customers may cruise at their own comfort.
With 2 hours to cruise down the waters, all guests are guaranteed beautiful views and a tantalizing international buffet. Arabic flavors are also incorporated into the menu, featuring varied options for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike.
The Madiba Dhow Cruise also presents three cruise routes for booking, allowing customers to cruise down the waters of the Dubai Creek, the Dubai Water Canal, or the Dubai Marina in their ship of choice.
Each cruise route also features live entertainment, consisting of puppet shows for younger passengers to traditional dances. The traditional Tanoumah dance is a particular stand-out among guests.
All of this comes at a fairly low price point compared to other charters, making the Madiba Dhow Cruise a popular pick for those wanting to have a relaxing evening out without breaking the bank.
Those hoping to book a cruise with Madiba Dhow Cruise should look into booking and arriving early, however– the lower decks can get quite crowded, and some customers have mentioned that the availability of buffet food can fluctuate as a result.
With all of the above in mind, we would recommend the Madiba Dhow Cruise for anyone looking to spend a relaxing evening exploring some of Dubai’s top aquatic destinations– bundled with dinner and a show.
Pros
- Varied destinations
- Excellent live entertainment showcase
Cons
- Lower deck can be quite crowded
- Limited buffet selection
Customer Reviews
It was an unforgettable evening
“I recently had the pleasure of experiencing the Dhow Cruise in Deira, and let me tell you, it was an unforgettable evening!” – Joslyn Dsouza
The dinner was awesome
“I really enjoyed the cruise. The dinner was awesome. There were some performances as well, included in the package as a bonus.” – Lalit Pandey
4. Dhow Cruise Tour
| RATING | |
| FACILITIES | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| CRUISE EXPERIENCE | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| FOOD | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| AMBIANCE | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| PROFESSIONALISM | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| WAITING TIME | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| ACCESSIBILITY | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
The Dhow Cruise Tour has guests step upon a traditional wooden dhow in order to experience a well-curated mix of Arabic and Continental dishes. All of it while cruising down the creek in the heart of the city.
In our experience, the tour is a very elegant and romantic package that’s perfect for couples. For one, you get to observe the beautiful scenes on the creek all the while set to a relaxing atmosphere with soothing background music.
While there, we highly recommend trying out the international buffet, which gives you plenty of mouthwatering dishes to choose from in one go.
The Dhow Cruise Tour has a great mix of meat and vegetarian dishes so you shouldn’t have too much trouble picking out a dish. You can find fresh seasonal fruits, fried fish and even chicken for the kids, as well as some refreshing desserts.
Portion sizes are a bit smaller, at least when we compare it to other cruises we’ve been on. However, we think the good value for money offered did allow us to savor a wide variety of food to make up for it.
In our experience, while the cruise is technically available pretty much any time, we did face some difficulties finalizing our reservation at times. We definitely recommend having some patience here.
Still, the Dhow Cruise Tour truly delivers on the sights and live experience offered. We definitely recommend adding it to your list of favorite dinner cruises in Dubai!
Pros
- Very relaxing and romantic ambiance
- Great value for money
Cons
- Some portion sizes are quite small
- Takes time to finalize reservations
Customer Reviews
We had a good time cruising
“We had a good time cruising. Food, music and entertainment was top class. Got to witness beautiful view of Dubai eye and also Atlantis.” – Abraham Sael
Great hospitality and extremely professional
“Had a lovely evening yesterday. Great hospitality and extremely professional. A welcome drink will add to the toast. Thank you. Wishing you the very best.” – Ligi Thomas
5. Al Faris Floating Restaurant
| RATING | |
| FACILITIES | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| CRUISE EXPERIENCE | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| FOOD | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| AMBIANCE | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| PROFESSIONALISM | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| WAITING TIME | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| ACCESSIBILITY | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
As a luxury cruise charter, the Al Faris floating restaurant specializes in stunning views of the Dubai Water Canal and live cooking stations. With a strategic location at the Dubai Festival City mall, Al Faris is a favorite destination for dinner cruises.
Al Faris’s menu includes a good mix of cuisines, featuring favorites from Indian meat dishes to French pastries. They also boast a live pasta station and a good amount of noodle dishes, ensuring something for every palate.
The dhow is kept well-maintained by the crew at all times, also allowing ease of access for those in wheelchairs. The views from the cruise are famed among guests, providing a good look at the Dubai skyline.
These views add to the already luxurious and relaxing ambiance at the restaurant. The decor is cozy, with comfortable seating and rugs calling to mind traditional Middle Eastern rooms.
Lastly, Al Faris strives to maintain professional service, from the staff on the dhow to the live entertainment provided– from the shows provided while cruising to the La Perle performance upon docking.
However, its reputation as a luxury cruise does ensure that it stands at a higher price point than other dinner cruises offered by other charters.
Overall, anyone looking for a luxury dinner cruise will definitely want to try checking out the Al Faris Floating Restaurant– guaranteeing over 90 minutes of luxurious views and stunning entertainment.
Pros
- Breathtaking views of the Dubai skyline
- Engaging entertainment and ambiance
Cons
- Can be quite expensive
- Fixed seating arrangements
Customer Reviews
Great experience
“Great experience! A representative met us in our car and walked us to the boat. The food was delicious. The pasta was amazing, thank you to the chef! We were seated inside for dinner, which I prefer.” – Zakeisha Smith
The food options were amazing and tasty
“It was the best experience I ever had in Dubai. My whole family was happy and enjoyed it a lot. The food options were amazing and tasty. The staff are very polite and professional. Clean and tidy service, highly recommend.” – Prajilesh Pv
FAQs about Dinner Cruises in Dubai
We hope you were able to have a fun time on some of the best dinner cruises in Dubai! For other memorable experiences related to food and dining, check out our list of unique restaurants in Dubai too!