A dinner cruise on Chao Phraya seems to be one of the most popular things to do in Bangkok. Although it was my third time visiting the city, I never got a chance to take a dinner cruise in Bangkok until I traveled with my boyfriend recently.
We decided to join the dinner cruise as it was our last day in Bangkok before flying out to Indonesia the next day. To be fair, we were quite lucky that we made it to join this cruise, given the idea our first class train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok had a technical problem that we arrived WAY later than scheduled.
In this post, I'm going to share my firsthand experience of the Chao Phraya dinner cruise with Royal Princess in Bangkok. Is it really the most affordable option for a dinner cruise in Bangkok? How was the experience? How was the food? Is it really worth the hype? Here's the complete review of the Royal Princess dinner cruise in Bangkok!
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Not to mistake it with the Royal Princess Cruise that is operated by Princess Cruise Ltd in Bermuda, the Royal Princess Cruise in Bangkok is a lot smaller and it seems like it only caters as a buffet restaurant on the Chao Phraya River rather than all-package services like all those fancy cruises.
Essentially, the Royal Princess Cruise in Bangkok sails twice every day as guests can book two different time slots for the buffet restaurant on the ship: the sunset cruise that typically starts boarding at 5 PM local time, and the dinner cruise, which starts at 7 PM.
The Royal Princess Cruise is a 3-story cruise ship with a capacity of around 500 pax, and they offer a wide range of food and beverage in their buffet services. They offer anything from Thai food to Western and even Japanese, as you can expect a sushi section in their buffet on the ship.
Asiatique the Riverfront is the embarkation point for the cruise with Royal Princess, and it can be a great option especially if you plan to do some other activities before or after the cruise at this.
Situated on the eastern bank of Chao Phraya River, Asiatique the Riverfront is famous for shopping. On top of that, it's also the venue for the Calypso Ladyboy cabaret show in case you want to include it in your Bangkok itinerary after the cruise.
In fact, you can also book a dinner cruise and ladyboy show bundle package for a better deal. However, for this bundle package, it seems like White Orchid Cruise is the only operator that offers this deal so you still have to book both the dinner cruise and the Calypso ladyboy show separately if you want to join the Royal Princess dinner cruise like we did earlier this year.
Royal Princess cruise on Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand.
Why Book a Dinner Cruise in Bangkok with Royal Princess
Royal Princess Cruise in Bangkok isn't the only operator that provides dinner cruise experience to enjoy the meals and immerse in the city light in the capital city of Thailand. Actually, not all dinner cruises in Bangkok sail from Asiatique the Riverfront pier as the starting point.
For instance, you can also book a dinner cruise with Saffron from ICONSIAM or Pearl Cruise from River City pier on the other side of the city. We booked the Royal Princess dinner cruise because we thought we wanted to get on the Ferris wheel when we had time. We didn't do that, but we definitely shopped for some souvenirs to bring home with us later after the cruise.
How Much is the Royal Princess Dinner Cruise in Bangkok?
Another reason why we ended up booking the Royal Princess dinner cruise is also because when we searched through Klook, when planning our trip to Bangkok, it just happened to be the cheapest dinner cruise in Bangkok available on the platform.
Plus, when we checked the details of the Royal Princess Dinner Cruise in Bangkok, we saw that one of the things that is included in the package was a free birthday cake on the birthday month. Well, we went there in February, which was my birthday month so I figured that maybe we could also celebrate it on the cruise ship with a real birthday cake, although technically I had my birthday (and cakes!) when we were in Chiang Rai.
Long story short, we ended up booking a dinner cruise with Royal Princess in Bangkok through Klook and we paid IDR 757,442 (around $50 USD) in total, including the no-show refund insurance. It's really affordable, considering we barely spent $25 USD per person for this dinner cruise.
Royal Princess boarding gate in Bangkok, Thailand.
We had to upgrade with the no-show refund insurance on Klook for a few reasons. First, our itinerary that day was pretty hectic since we were scheduled to arrive in Bangkok in the morning and maybe have a proper rest before leaving for the dinner cruise. We travel slow, so we figure if we don't feel like going, we can just cancel and we don't have to worry about losing money for nothing.
Another reason is also because I booked our first Chiang Mai bungee jumping voucher on the wrong date. It was supposed to be in February, and I just happened to book it in January that the driver started calling me when I was still home in Bandung. Long story short, we wasted money for nothing because of my stupid mistake.
Thankfully, my boyfriend was really understanding that he said it was fine as long as I'd pay for the second voucher. So I ended up paying extra because of my own stupidity. But then I got quite traumatized that I didn't want to risk it all over, and that's why I told my boyfriend that this time we upgraded the voucher with the no-show refund just in case the stupid thing happened again. LOL.
Review: My Royal Princess Dinner Cruise Experience in Bangkok, Thailand
In this section, I'm going to share my full review based on my firsthand experience of joining the Royal Princess Dinner Cruise in Bangkok. Unfortunately, since I've never had any other Chao Phraya dinner cruise, I'm not sure if there's any other dinner cruise package that offers a better experience or even more affordable deal compared to Royal Princess.
Without further ado, here's my take on the dinner cruise on Chao Phraya river with Royal Princess Cruise in Bangkok!
My boyfriend and I, before leaving for our dinner cruise from Asiatique
What to Wear for Dinner Cruise in Bangkok
Since I've never gone on a dinner cruise before, I wasn't sure what to wear for the cruise, especially since in my head I always thought that dinner cruise would be full of posh people that maybe I had to make an extra effort for this. So I made one mistake for this: I wore a pair of high heels for the cruise!
My boyfriend was pretty laidback, so he just grabbed his polo shirt for the cruise, and I think most people weren't that dressed up either. So if you think that just because it's a cruise and it's time to dress up, maybe think again. Trust me, you'll thank me later!
Although to be fair, since it was supposed to be our so-called romantic date and it's not every day my boyfriend sees me in high heels, I thought it was worth the pain I had after.
But if you just go for the cruise just to get an experience for Chao Phraya dinner cruise in Bangkok, I would definitely recommend wearing comfortable clothes and footwear for your convenience. Remember, the dinner cruise is a buffet service, and people who join it are most likely hungry so you want to have a high mobility selecting all the food options. LOL.
What You Need to Know About Dinner Cruise in Bangkok
Since the Royal Princess Cruise's departure is from Asiatique the Riverfront, we took a Grab car from our apartment to Asiatique. Our Klook voucher already stated the details that we need to go to warehouse #7 to proceed with our dinner cruise in Bangkok. Although we arrived way early, we made sure that we knew where to go before taking a stroll around Asiatique.
It was pretty easy to recognize where we should go for the dinner cruise since this aisle seems to be dedicated as check-in spots for ALL dinner cruise operators in Bangkok. Since we got there early, we only found a few empty tables there, but when we asked to make sure it was the right place to check in, they said that the check-in time for the dinner cruise would start at 5.30 PM.
Check-In for Dinner Cruise in Bangkok
Although the check-in counter usually opens at 5.30 PM for the Chao Phraya dinner cruise that departs at 7.30 PM, the queue will start around an hour before for a few good reasons.
First, the cruise capacity could be up to 500 pax per trip, so imagine that many people will check in with you before the ship sails for dinner. And the warehouse #7 area isn't really big, not to mention that it's not outdoor either, the queue definitely creates a clout on its own!
We got in the queue around 5 PM, and it was already full of people and when the check-in counter opened… It was pretty chaotic, especially since the Royal Prince Cruise wasn't the only operator that opened their check-in counter at the time.
Before getting in line, make sure that you're queueing in the right spot for the operator that you booked. Otherwise, it's going to be super hectic and Bangkok's hot weather really didn't help in that situation. LOL.
When queueing, make sure to get your voucher ready. It doesn't matter whether you print it or just have it ready on your phone, you can always make the check-in staff's job easier when you already have it ready when they check you in.
Mind you, when we got on the dinner cruise with Royal Princess in Bangkok, the staff basically had to check your voucher manually in the printed manifest before they handed you your boarding pass. So your initiative would definitely help them in the process!
Boarding for Dinner Cruise in Bangkok
When you check in, pay attention to what the staff says about your boarding time and pier. In case they forget to inform you, take the initiative to clarify which pier the cruise will depart so you can get there on time.
During check-in, the staff will give you a boarding pass and a sticker that you can paste on your chest with your seat number. The boarding information wasn't written on the boarding pass, that's why staying informed about the boarding time and gate is important if you don't want to miss the ship!
The boarding pass for Royal Princess Dinner Cruise in Bangkok, Thailand.
In our case, we boarded from Pier 1 at Asiatique the Riverfront at 7 PM. I'm not sure if it's the pier for Royal Princess Cruise only or if they take turns with other cruise operators that depart from Asiatique, but that's why it's important to keep informed about the boarding pier for your dinner cruise in Bangkok.
Since we still had time after checking where Pier 1 was located, we got a chance to stroll around the waterfront and even managed to have a few drinks at Bla Bla Bali cafe while waiting for our boarding time.
The good thing about booking a dinner cruise in Bangkok from Asiatique is that you won't get bored when you have to wait since you'll have plenty of things to do. Whether you get on the Ferris wheel or just sip a drink or two at the cafe nearby. Watching the sunset from the waterfront is quite great too!
As the boarding time was at 7 PM, we reached the pier half an hour before and it was already crowded with people queueing! Another thing that we noticed is that the pier was split into two sections since there's another queue for another cruise operator, so it's important to ask around which cruise operator they were queueing for to make sure you get to the right line.
When it's close to the boarding time, the staff will also start rising the sign with the cruise operator brand. We also saw Royal Princess Cruise sign to get closer before they started allowing us to board the ship.
The boarding process was quite straightforward, although you can expect the chaos here and there too. There will be a staff checking your boarding pass to ensure that you board the right ship, and once you're in you can ask the staff to pinpoint your seat based on the seat number sticker given by the check-in staff.
The Dinner Cruise Experience in Bangkok with Royal Princess
We were already aware that our seat was on the first floor as it was written on our boarding pass. However, I'm not sure if we even had the option to choose which floor we would be seated on when we booked the ticket via online travel agencies like Klook, GetYourGuide, or Viator.
Based on our experience, the seat assignment could be a hit or miss when we booked the experience online through these platforms. When we booked the Calypso Ladyboy show, we got a front seat which was basically the best view to see the performance. But our seat for the dinner cruise with Royal Princess in Bangkok was pretty lousy.
Seat Assignment for Royal Princess Dinner Cruise in Bangkok, Thailand
We didn't get direct access to the nightlight view of Bangkok from Chao Phraya River, which was basically the point of us joining the dinner cruise in the first place. However, the good thing is that we were close to the buffet table so it was pretty easy for us to take the food as we enjoyed the dinner.
If you could choose the seating arrangement when booking a Chao Phraya dinner cruise in Bangkok with Royal Princess Cruise, I'd personally recommend a seat on the second floor. Even better if you can get a window seat!
As we sat on the first floor of the cruise ship, I had to admit that the vibe was no different from when we had dinner in a buffet restaurant. Maybe it would've been better if we got seated on a window seat, but we didn't so… We definitely didn't get the full experience from this Royal Princess dinner cruise in Bangkok!
The Buffet Menu at Royal Princess Dinner Cruise in Bangkok, Thailand
When it comes to the buffet menu, I think Royal Princess Cruise offers a wide range of delicious food that's really top-notch, considering we didn't pay too much for this experience. Honestly, I'd pay $25 USD for a similar buffet experience!
As we got seated, the welcome drink was already served. I think it was a mocktail rather than a cocktail since it didn't taste alcoholic. But it was pretty nice, I don't usually drink the colorful drink but I had it with no issue so it wasn't bad!
The MC also announced that the steak section was located on the second floor, while each floor should have the same type of buffet menu from Asian, Western, and seafood. That's also the reason why I think the seat on the second floor will be better since you'll most likely be near the steak section!
The menu varies from salad and Thai buffet, to sushi and oysters! For desserts, they also serve sliced fruits and cakes. If you're a vegetarian or vegan, you can still book this Royal Princess dinner cruise and add a note to make sure that they'll be informed about your diet so you'll get the special meals accordingly. However, I'm not sure how effective it would be if you book through platforms like Klook or Viator.
My reasoning is that I added a note about the fact that we came on my birthday month, and since they advertised the “free birthday cake” on the birthday month, no one seems to be aware of my additional note. So if you're a vegan or vegetarian considering Royal Princess for your Chao Phraya cruise experience, you may want to confirm it first before making a reservation!
But if you have no issue when it comes to your diet, I'm pretty sure that Royal Princess Cruise experience will be quite satisfying for you since the food was delicious… My personal favorite was the sushi, although I have to be honest that their oysters and prawns weren't as good as I imagined.
Their dessert was also pretty nice, although I strictly only eat chocolate dessert and nothing else. The steak was pretty small per portion, it was okay but it wasn't really worth going back and forth to the second floor.
The Night View at Royal Princess Dinner Cruise in Bangkok, Thailand
Since we were seated on the first floor with no direct access to window, the only way for us to truly enjoy the night view of Bangkok from the cruise was to go upstairs to the third floor. Some lucky guests also got their seats on the third floor, but I imagine it wouldn't be convenient if it were raining. LOL
But then again, always expect the crowd since you won't be the only one thinking that the best view to enjoy the Bangkok city light from the cruise is to get to the upper deck. We couldn't even enjoy as much on the third floor, but we found a nice spot on the deck on the second floor where we got a chance to take a few photos of Bangkok city lights.
FAQ About Chao Phraya River Cruise
In this section, I'm going to answer some of the frequently asked questions about Chao Phraya River Cruise in Bangkok that I found on the internet based on my firsthand experience with Royal Princess Cruise. So, here we go!
Is Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise worth it?
Since there are a lot of cruise operators that offer Chao Phraya River Cruise in Bangkok, you may want to consider which one you want to go for based on your budget and other factors that you may want to prioritize.
As for my boyfriend and me, we just did it for the sake of the experience so choosing the most affordable Chao Phraya River Cruise option, like Royal Princess, sufficed. It wasn't too expensive and the food was edible while we could still enjoy the night view of Bangkok from the ship as every other cruise operator that probably sells thrice the Royal Princess Cruise's price!
Considering we only paid $25 USD per pax, it was really a good deal and I'd say it was worth the experience indeed!
How long is Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise?
Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise usually lasts around 2 hours. When we took the Royal Princess Dinner Cruise in Bangkok, we finished at around 9.30 PM.
It's really up to you whether you want to enjoy the buffet first or you want to take some snapshots of Bangkok city light when everyone's eating. However, keep in mind that some food served is limited so if you prioritize snapshots when the crowd is low, you're risking not getting to try all the buffet menus they serve on the cruise!
How Much Does a Dinner Cruise Cost in Bangkok?
Given there are a lot of cruise operators offering dinner cruise in Bangkok, the price varies from around $25 to even $100 USD. I think the type of cruise also matters since there are some ships that look quite fancy, and I imagine the cost to get on a dinner cruise there would be much more expensive!
While Royal Princess Dinner Cruise is considered to be an affordable dinner cruise on Chao Phraya, it's not the cheapest in the market. When I checked online travel agencies like Viator, I found the River Star Princess Dinner Cruise, which seems to be slightly cheaper than Royal Princess.
If you're looking for a more luxurious experience, you can also consider the Manohra Luxurious Dinner Cruise that departs from Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort.
Conclusion
Chao Phraya River Cruise probably appears in every post about traveling to Bangkok, and I can understand why. The river is the largest watershed in Thailand, which is often called the river of kings.
In addition, joining the excursion for dinner cruise on Chao Phraya in Bangkok also allow you to enjoy the city view from afar while enjoying the buffet meals. It's definitely a great way to experience Bangkok at its finest!
With so many cruise operators that offer this service, Royal Princess Dinner Cruise in Bangkok excels in a way that it offers an affordable service with top-notch quality when it comes to the food and beverages served in the buffet.
Have you tried Chao Phraya dinner cruise in Bangkok, Thailand? Or maybe you tried a dinner cruise elsewhere? Share your experience in the comment below, and cheerio!
Marya The BeauTraveler
I am the founder and main editor at The BeauTraveler. I spent 4 years working in the aviation industry but ironically got to travel more right after quitting the industry in 2015. Born and raised in Indonesia, I started working remotely in 2017, and while I stay at home most of the time, I also regularly spend 2-3 months living a semi-digital nomad life elsewhere every year.
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We considered doing this but didn’t have time. Regrets!
What a wonderful experience! Beautiful phots too!