Bangkok Cruise

A Bangkok cruise is more than transport. It is a way to relax while the skyline or coastline unfolds around you. From short sunset sails to multi-hour voyages, cruises create an experience that blends leisure and sightseeing. MakeMyTrip has over 219 cruise experiences in Bangkok for 2025, offering both budget-friendly and luxury options. Onboard, travellers can enjoy dining, live music or cultural shows that make the journey just as exciting as the destination. Open decks are perfect for photography and sea breezes, while indoor lounges provide space to sit back in comfort. Cruise booking prices start from INR 401 on MakeMyTrip and give access to a variety of packages. This December, set out on a cruise trip in Bangkok and see the city from a completely new angle.

Bangkok Cruise: Temples, Skylines and the River of Kings

Introduction

Bangkok feels restless on the streets, but the river tells another story. The Chao Phraya moves slower, almost stubborn against the city’s rush, carrying barges heavy with goods, small wooden ferries, and bright boats strung with lights. From the deck of a cruise in Bangkok, you notice things differently. The hum of traffic fades, temples catch the last light, and bridges rise ahead one after another.

By day, the Bangkok cruise shows you Bangkok’s quieter edges. Houses lean over the water, narrow lanes open to small markets, and monks in orange robes sometimes appear on the banks. When evening comes, the atmosphere shifts. Wat Arun glows brighter than the buildings around it, the Grand Palace sits in a pool of light, and far behind them the glass towers start to blink awake.

No two Bangkok cruises feel the same. Some are simple sightseeing loops that end before dark. Others stretch into the night with buffets, jazz bands, or just a table by the rail. You can book a yacht for friends, take a dinner boat, or choose a short hop to see the lights. Whatever the choice, the river lingers with you afterward; calm, reflective, and always tied to the rhythm of Bangkok itself. So, simply embark on a memorable trip from a cruise port in Bangkok.

Types of Cruises in Bangkok

Chao Phraya Dinner Cruises: These are the classic evening boats. You eat while the city lights up around you: temples glowing, bridges lit in colour, and music drifting across the deck. Some have buffets, some add a live band, but the view is what stays with you.

Sightseeing and Day Cruises: Quieter Bangkok cruise trips that run before sunset. They pass the main sights like Wat Arun and the Grand Palace, but you also catch smaller moments, with kids playing on the banks, ferries crossing from one side to the other, narrow houses leaning over the water.

Luxury River Cruises: This type of Bangkok cruise feels more like floating restaurants. Wide decks, sit-down meals instead of buffets, sometimes even jazz in the background. A slower, more polished way to see the river.

Private Charters: Groups often hire a boat for themselves, sometimes for birthdays, sometimes just to escape the crowd. The Bangkok cruise route is flexible: circle near the temples, drift further downstream, or pause in the middle of the river to take photos.

Themed and Cultural Cruises: These nights are about the performance as much as the ride. You might see traditional Thai dance, hear live bands, or be on Bangkok cruise during a festival when the river is full of floating lanterns.

Popular Cruises in Bangkok

White Orchid Dinner Cruise

The White Orchid is one of the best-known dinner boats on the Chao Phraya, and stepping on board feels like walking into a floating celebration. The vessel itself is large, split across open decks and indoor dining halls, with lights strung along the railings so it glows even before it leaves the pier. Once the boat pushes off, the city slowly opens up around you. Temples and palaces stand out against the dark, bridges shine overhead, and in the distance the modern towers look as if they are blinking awake one by one.

The mood on this Bangkok cruise is lively. A buffet stretches along the hall with everything from Thai dishes to international favourites, and people move between food, music, and the views outside. Some guests crowd near the railings for photos, others settle into their seats and let the band set the pace of the evening. The boat glides past Wat Arun glowing gold, the Grand Palace lit softly in the background, and the long sweep of Rama VIII Bridge. It is not the quietest way to see Bangkok at night, but it captures the city’s energy and sense of spectacle better than almost anything else.

Duration: Around 2 hours
Timings: Boarding from 7 pm, sailing by 7.30 pm
Route highlights: Wat Arun lit at night, Grand Palace, Rama VIII Bridge, modern skyline along the river
Inclusions: International buffet dinner, desserts, live music and dance performances activities
Starting price: From INR 2,200 per person
Boarding point: ICONSIAM Pier

Meridian Dinner Cruise

Music drifts through the cabin, a guitar played slowly, though half the time it is covered by the buzz of conversation. People are busy with food, talking, or walking out to the deck, and the sound blends into the background. Outside, the river holds more attention. Wat Arun stands out on the far bank, its surface catching the light, and beyond that the Grand Palace glimmers faintly. When this cruise from Bangkok slides under Rama VIII Bridge, the lamps above ripple across the water and everyone seems to pause for a moment. Some clap for the music, some lean with cameras, others barely move from their seats.

Duration: The ride lasts close to two hours
Timings: Boarding starts around 7.15 pm, departure is at 7.45 pm, and the return is near 9.45 pm
Route highlights: Wat Arun at night, a glimpse of the Grand Palace, Rama VIII Bridge, and other riverside corners
Inclusions: Buffet spread with drinks, live music, indoor seating with access to the outdoor deck
Starting price: From INR 2,000 per person
Boarding point: ICONSIAM Pier

Chao Phraya Princess Cruise

The Princess is one of the most popular Bangkok cruises on the river, and it shows the moment you board. The dining hall is wide, with big glass windows and long rows of tables, while the top deck stays open for those who want the air and the view. It has a slightly more polished feel than some of the smaller vessels, but still carries the same mix of tourists, couples, and families that make river cruises in Bangkok so lively.

Dinner is laid out buffet style and the choice is broad, with Thai curries and stir fries, sushi, grilled meats, desserts, and plenty of fruit. Once the boat leaves the pier, the music begins, a mix of live singing and recorded tracks that keep the crowd entertained. Outside, the Chao Phraya becomes a stream of light. Wat Arun appears first, glowing on its own stretch of bank, then the Grand Palace, and finally the long sweep of bridges linking one side of the city to the other. Some guests spend most of the night eating and chatting, others drift back and forth between the buffet and the railings, but everyone turns when the boat glides past the lit towers of central Bangkok on this Bangkok cruise ship tours.

Duration: Around two hours on the water
Timings: Boarding from about 7 pm, sailing until 9 pm
Route highlights: Wat Arun, the Grand Palace, Rama VIII Bridge, Bangkok’s skyline at night
Inclusions: Large buffet dinner with both Thai and international dishes, live music, indoor and outdoor seating
Starting price: From INR 2,300 per person
Boarding point: ICONSIAM Pier

Wonderful Pearl Dinner Cruise

The Wonderful Pearl is hard to miss at the pier. It is one of the largest dinner boats on the river, bright with coloured lights, and often draws a crowd even before boarding begins. Inside, the scale is clear: a sweeping dining hall, wide windows, and a stage set up for live performances. The upper deck is open, giving you the best chance to see the skyline without glass between you and the water.

The evening begins with a buffet that stretches across several counters, offering Thai favourites alongside international dishes. Families move in groups from table to table, while couples step out onto the deck after their plates are filled. A live band sets the mood, sometimes soft, sometimes lively enough to get people clapping along. Outside, the boat passes the main landmarks of Bangkok’s riverfront. Wat Arun glows across the water, the Grand Palace stands illuminated behind its walls, and the Rama VIII Bridge arches brightly overhead. The boat feels less like a quiet dinner and more like a floating event, busy, colourful, and designed to show the river as a stage rather than just a backdrop.

Duration: The cruise runs for about two hours
Timings: Boarding begins around 7 pm, with departure shortly after, and return near 9.30 pm
Route highlights: Wat Arun, the Grand Palace, Rama VIII Bridge, city lights along the Chao Phraya
Inclusions: Extensive buffet dinner, desserts, live music and performances, indoor and outdoor seating
Starting price: From INR 2,700 per person
Boarding point: River City Pier

Loy Nava Dinner Cruise

The Loy Nava does not look like the other dinner boats lined up on the Chao Phraya. Instead of glass and neon it is built from dark teak, a converted rice barge that moves at a slower pace. Boarding feels quieter too, with fewer tables, more space between them, and soft music playing before the boat even leaves the pier.

Once it drifts into the river the mood settles further. Dishes are served one after another at the table, not rushed, and the flavours lean heavily into traditional Thai cooking. The sound of the river is always present, mixing with the low notes of classical instruments in the background. Outside, familiar sights pass by, with Wat Arun lit gold, the Grand Palace glowing faintly behind its walls, and bridges strung with lamps, but without the noise and bustle of the bigger ships.

People come for that difference. Some sit close together on the deck, talking quietly as the boat moves on. Others eat slowly, stepping out between courses to watch the city in silence. The Loy Nava is not about scale or spectacle. It is about taking the same river that carries so much noise and letting it move at a calmer rhythm.

Duration: The trip runs for roughly two hours, enough time to enjoy dinner and see the riverfront lit up.
Timings: Guests usually board around 7 pm, the boat leaves shortly after, and it returns close to 9 pm.
Route highlights: The cruise passes Wat Arun glowing on the riverbank, the Grand Palace behind its walls, and the long arc of Rama VIII Bridge, along with smaller temples and houses along the water.
Inclusions: A full Thai dinner served in courses at the table, soft drinks, and gentle live music played in the background.
Starting price: Tickets begin at about INR 3,500 per person.
Boarding point: The departure is from River City Pier, one of the main cruise hubs in Bangkok.

What to Consider When Booking

Itinerary

Traffic in Bangkok can be unpredictable, especially near the river in the evening. If you are aiming for a sunset or dinner cruise, plan to arrive early at the pier so you do not risk missing the departure.

Budget

If you only want a short look at the river, daytime sightseeing cruises are usually the lightest on the wallet. Evening dinner boats cost a little more because they come with buffets and entertainment. The polished luxury vessels and private charters sit higher in price, but when a group shares the cost it often feels less expensive than booking several separate tickets.

Deals and Packages

MakeMyTrip often combines cruises with city tours or hotel bookings. Many family and honeymoon packages already include a dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya, so it is worth checking if yours does before booking separately.

Amenities

An air conditioned cabin makes a difference on humid nights. Families may want to confirm whether strollers are allowed on board. If you are booking a private yacht or luxury cruise, it is useful to ask in advance about catering, music, or decorations that can be arranged.

Where to Book on MakeMyTrip

• MakeMyTrip is the go-to for these cruises, whether you open the app on your phone or use the website on a laptop.
• The list is broad, dinner cruises, quick sightseeing rides, even private charters show up together, so it helps to know the mood you’re after.
• Each option spells out the basics like timings, inclusions, and the pier. Prices appear in INR, which makes comparing easier.
• Payment feels straightforward, no different from booking a hotel room or a flight. There are different methods available like UPI, debit/credit cards, and net banking.
• A confirmation mail comes through within minutes, so you can easily keep up with your bookings.