WORLDWIDE · BUFFET EXPERIENCES
Good buffet sailings sell their best seats weeks ahead. Below: the 15 to book early, what each fare includes and how they differ once you are aboard.
Spend three hours aboard a Vltava River dinner boat, departing near Čechův Bridge in Prague’s Old Town. You’ll receive a welcome drink, pass Charles Bridge, Petřín, Vyšehrad, Rudolfinum, Dancing House, and Prague Castle, then enjoy a buffet of Czech and international dishes with live music. Tables seat six and may be shared.
“Great, boat was clean, good was lovely. Great value for money”
Take a 75-minute cruise from Amsterdam-Noord along the IJ while eating unlimited Dutch pancakes. Choose plain, apple, or bacon pancakes, then add cheese, ham, fruit, jam, or eggs. The boat has a children’s ball pit and offers gluten-free, lactose-free, and vegan options, but drinks and a €2.70 tax cost extra.
“Wonder cruise with a difference to others! Well organised and spaced out tables! Great pancakes and a perfect variety of toppings! If and when we return to Amsterdam we will definitely be returning!”
Board at Newport Landing for a two-hour round-trip dinner cruise on the Ohio River. You get reserved indoor seating, a buffet, coffee, tea, iced tea, and water, plus music and skyline views of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Choose a date-night cruise or Sunday family sailing, with a cash bar available.
“The view was beautiful, the food was delicious, and the servers were very friendly. Fun music from the DJ!”
Sail from ICONSIAM along the Chao Phraya River for 90 minutes to two hours, passing Wat Pho, Wat Arun, the Grand Palace, and Rama VIII Bridge. Choose sunset or dinner, with an international seafood buffet, soft drinks, live music, and Thai dancing on the 7:45 pm cruise. English and Thai hosts welcome you, but no dedicated tour guide is included.
“I really like everything about this Cruise it was more than I expected and it was extremely lavish and organized I would recommend it to anyone and I would go on another one”
Spend an evening on the Saigon River with hotel pickup, a private table, Vietnamese buffet or set-menu dinner, and city lights from the deck. Guides such as Daniel, Joey, Barney, and Queenie have earned praise for friendly care. Expect 3 to 4 hours, drinks extra, and menu choice fixed at booking.
“Excellent and enjoyable cruise along Saigon river. Panoramic view with dinner cruise, enjoy the city lights along HCM city. Music was excellent but a bit disappoint about the meals. Portion was small compared with dining at local restaurant”
You’ll cruise the Waal River from Pannenkoekenboot Nijmegen for 75 minutes, passing Nijmegen’s bridges, skyline, and the Ooijpolder nature reserve. During the ride, help yourself to plain, apple, and bacon pancakes with cheese, ham, fruit, jam, and eggs. Gluten-free, vegan, and lactose-free options are available, and children can play in the onboard ball-filled playroom.
Spend about three hours on an evening Nile cruise from Cairo, with hotel pickup, an open buffet of Egyptian and international dishes, oriental sweets, live singing, Tanoura dancing, and belly dancing. Pickup is offered from downtown Cairo and the Pyramid Area. Confirm the boat type and departure time before booking.
“Amir was a wonderful chauffeur and the trip was well worth our money. Picked us up right at our hotel and dropped us back off with no implications 👍🏽”
Cruise Norfolk’s Elizabeth River for two hours with an attended buffet, coffee, tea, live narration, DJ entertainment, and views of Navy vessels. You’ll board at the Otter Berth beside Waterside Mall. Window seating is not guaranteed, and drinks cost extra.
“Had a wonderful time. Food and service was excellent. Will do again.”
Leave Hanoi for Hoa Lu’s tenth-century temples and Tam Coc’s limestone cliffs, caves, and rice fields. You’ll ride a small boat on the Ngo Dong River, eat a Vietnamese buffet, and may cycle to Bich Dong Pagoda. Guides such as Duc and Loan are praised for warmth and humor, though transport and lunch quality can vary.
“Brilliant tour, attentive helpful and kind guide. Duc did a fantastic job. Thank you very much. 😊 He was thoughtful of my family who are a little less able.”
You’ll be collected from a downtown Guilin hotel around 8:00 AM, driven to Zhujiang Pier, and spend about four hours cruising to Yangshuo. The boat offers indoor seating, an observation deck, and a Chinese or Western buffet lunch. There is no English-speaking guide, but a QR code provides commentary in several languages.
“Hello, thank you for your booking. I'm very happy to hear that you enjoyed your Li river tour .Wish you a great trip in China.Thanks!”
Spend two hours cruising from ICON Siam past the Grand Palace, Royal Temple, and Bangkok's lit-up skyline. Enjoy an unlimited Thai and international buffet, water, and live music for dancing. Soft drinks and alcohol cost extra. Collect your ticket at Pier 2, though one recent booking instruction directed guests to Pier 1.
“Belle découverte nocturne globale de Bangkok accompagnée par les jeux de lumière ! Un buffet copieux et varié Ambiance assurée À faire”
Spend an evening on the Nile with a two-hour cruise, open buffet, belly dancing, Sofi dancing, and live music. The activity starts around 7 pm and lasts about four hours with transfers. Drivers such as Omar, Baz, and Mohammad have earned praise, but boat condition, food temperature, drink prices, and show quality can vary.
“Our driver was punctual and got us to and from the cruise safely. He stayed with us throughout but also gave us space. The food was buffet style and there was some good choices even if you're a picky eater. There's a dessert table also. ThRead more”
Spend two hours aboard a City Cruises Sunday brunch boat on Norfolk’s Elizabeth River. Enjoy a freshly prepared buffet, coffee, tea, up to three mimosas, DJ music, skyline views, and glimpses of Atlantic Fleet vessels. The cruise leaves from Otter Berth and returns to the same dock.
“This was my first time and the experience was very good. The food was delicious and the crew was very nice and accommodating. Some entertainment would have been a plus such as karaoke, comedian or games. I will try the dinner/evening cruise also for the next experience.”
Cruise the Nile from Cairo with hotel pickup at about 6pm, a buffet dinner, Egyptian music, belly dancing, folk performance, and a whirling dervish show. English-speaking hosts such as Ahmed Maged, Ashraf, Yasser, and Migo have helped make the evening run smoothly. Expect roughly two hours aboard, with travel time included in the advertised three hours.
“was as expected. A brief but interesting cruise. Enjoyed Cairo scene at night from the boat. Good entertainment. Good guides from and to the hotel.”
Spend two hours aboard the White Magnolia, a three-deck dinner boat on the Chao Phraya River. You’ll eat Thai and international seafood, drink unlimited beer, juice, and soft drinks, and watch Thai dance and live music. Choose the 19:00 sailing for the cabaret show. Board at ICONSIAM or Asiatique.
“The dinner and show were value for money and the show was entertaining although a little short. The prior organisation to leaving Iconsaim was however nothing short of chaos. The staff directed the que to push back into a single line. In the dark and wet my partner was pushed back into the Iconsiam water feature, where her evening dress and leather bag and contents was soaked. She was injured on the knee and hip, oblivious to the staff. We quickly had to buy a new outfit. We were not happy!!!”
Pick a waterway, a city or a kind of evening.
