Dubai Marina Dinner Cruise — Mega Yacht

Dubai Marina from the middle of the water

Dubai Marina is a man-made canal nearly three kilometres long, walled on both sides by towers that light up after dark. Walking the promenade gives you one angle on it. Sailing down the centre gives you every angle, and that is essentially what this is: three hours moving slowly through the Marina and out toward Bluewaters Island while dinner is served.

The boat

This is a multi-deck motor yacht rather than a traditional wooden dhow. The lower deck is air-conditioned and laid out with tables; the upper deck is open, with seating and standing room along the rail. Most guests eat below and then move up as the boat turns back through the Marina, which is when the skyline is at full strength.

What is served

An international buffet opens roughly 45 minutes after departure — Arabic mezze, salads, grilled meats and fish, rice dishes, a live station that varies by night, and desserts. Vegetarian options are always available and all meat served is halal. Soft drinks, water, tea and coffee are unlimited and included. Alcohol is available to buy on board.

Entertainment

Live entertainment runs during and after dinner, typically a tanoura dance performance and background music. It is present without taking over; the deck and the view remain the main event.

The route

• Departure from Dubai Marina
• Along the canal past the residential towers and Marina Mall
• Out through the Marina mouth toward Bluewaters Island
• Views of Ain Dubai, JBR and the Palm Jumeirah shoreline
• Return through the Marina with the towers fully lit

Practical notes

• Boarding opens 30 minutes before departure and the boat leaves on schedule
• Smart casual dress. The upper deck gets breezy between December and February
• Suitable for families; children under 4 usually travel free
• The Marina is sheltered water, so seasickness is very unlikely
• Wheelchair access to the lower deck is possible but must be arranged in advance

When to book which sailing

Departures run nightly, and the time of year changes the experience more than the boat does. Between November and March the upper deck is the place to be for the whole three hours. In the summer months the air-conditioned lower deck earns its keep and most guests only go up once the sun is fully down. Sunset departures are the ones that sell out first, particularly Thursday to Saturday, so book several days ahead if you want the transition from daylight to lit skyline rather than arriving after dark.

If you want the boat to yourself

A dinner cruise is a shared sailing with a fixed departure and a set menu. If you would rather choose the timing, the route and who is on board, a private yacht charter hires the whole vessel by the hour. For a very different kind of boat, the Dubai Fountain lake ride is a 30-minute abra in Downtown, and the sunrise balloon flight covers the opposite end of the day.