Add a Chao Phraya River Cruise Dinner to your Bangkok itinerary. It’s a fun way to end the day and one of the best things to do in Bangkok.
While living in Bangkok, we’ve done a few Chao Phraya river cruises. From Chao Phraya Sunset cruises to dinner cruises offering fine dining cuisine.
But one of the most entertaining and affordable river cruises that is more casual and also quite fun, is the sunset cruise. This cruise includes a buffet dinner and free-flowing beer.
Got some spare time in Bangkok?
Escape the bustling streets of Bangkok for 1 day. There’s a list of amazing day trips just outside the city!!
Chao Phraya Sunset Cruise
There are a few Chao Phraya sunset cruises that depart either from Icon Siam or from Asiatique the Riverfront. We chose the Chao Phraya Princess sunset cruise – one of the most famous Chao Phraya river cruises.
Not only did we experience some stunning views but also this Chao Phraya cruise has a buffet dinner. And it’s quite affordable too.
Honestly, before we had done any of these →cruises in Bangkok along the Chao Phraya River we had a few doubts about what to expect.
Firstly, we found quite a few reviews claiming they’re not worth the money and are just a tourist trap. While other reviews said the food and overall experience was really bad.
While certain reviews do have a point, the cruise we did only cost $21. And all in all our honest opinion is that it was well worth the price.
About the Chao Phraya Princess Cruise
The Chao Phraya Princess cruise offers 2 options: a sunset cruise and a dinner cruise. We booked the sunset cruise with free flowing beer (which is more a lot of ice topped with beer which is ok and now we even prefer to drink beer with ice while before it was unthinkable).
It’s a 90-minute cruise along the Chao Phraya River and departing from Asiatique the riverfront which includes food, drinks, live entertainment and amazing views of Bangkok city skyline and also a few famous temples.
Buying Tickets
Buying tickets can be done in person from the Chao Phraya Princess Cruise booth. The booth (actually just a table setup) is located inside Asiatique the riverfront, halfway through the main entrance.
However, we decided to buy our tickets online because we didn’t want to have to deal with any last-minute ‘fully booked” surprises. Remember, this is a very popular river cruise with both foreigners and even locals.
Booking online: if you bought your tickets online you need to register at the ticket booth inside Asiatique about 30 minutes before departure.
Once registration is done you’ll be given a seat number and a sticker to indicate your section: either upper or lower deck.
What To Expect on this Chao Phraya Sunset Cruise
Boarding
The Chao Phraya Sunset Cruise departs at 5:00 pm from Pier 1 in Asiatique. The boarding process raised a few red flags about what we were getting into because getting onboard the boat was a bit of a mess.
We were all placed in line and divided into lower-section and upper-section guests. And it seems that guests are divided by nationality. Locals (Thais) are in the upper section and foreigners are in the lower section.
Then everyone got photographed (you’ll have the option to buy the printed photo later on) and finally after at least about 15 minutes of standing in the sun (there is no shelter from the sun here) we were boarding the boat.
Departure
As the boat is departing, there is a short safety briefing and next the buffet and drinks are announced.
Food
There’s a large buffet section in the middle with various food options. From fish to chicken, pasta and rice and salads and soups. But the majority of food is Asian, or at least Asian fusion.
Is The Food Good?
In all honestly, considering the cruise costs about $20, and includes free beer, we weren’t that concerned about the food.
While the food wasn’t anything special, we didn’t complain, and quite enjoyed it.
After gulping down about 4 glasses of beer diluted with an unreasonable amount of ice, I went for a round of food. Some noodles, some fish, some fried things, something else (some sort of minced meat salad – Asian I guess). Oh yeah, there’s also a bar serving king prawns which I wasn’t expecting. I had 3 prawns, 2 were kinda good, 1 was….meh!
There’s also a desert section including tropical fruits, cakes and coffee.
Entertainment
Onboard entertainment is a singer on both the lower and upper sections. We Westerners sort of hold back from enjoying ourselves. But that’s not the case for Asians and Thais!!
While everyone was quiet in the lower section, upstairs there was a sort of party going on. The live singer was surrounded by old ladies, teens, kids, and men, everyone was just enjoying themselves and dancing and waving and obviously loads of videos and photos.
It didn’t take long for Jacqueline to join in the fun too.
If you do this tour and are assigned the lower level, have a drink, and grab a bite but then head upstairs.
Conclusion – The Big Question Gets Answered
So is a Chao Phraya Sunset Cruise worth it?
Yes, definitely. If you’re in Bangkok a Chao Phraya river cruise is worth it for sure.
It’s a great experience and you’ll also have fun – we did and so will you.
Off Topic – But Since You’re in Bangkok…
Bangkok Midnight Food Tour by Tuk Tuk
⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ DURATION: 4 Hours | ↳ BOOK NOW
Slightly off topic because it has nothing to do with this Chao Phraya sunset river cruise. But since you’re in Bangkok (the capital of amazing food) this unique culinary experience just seems fitting for one of your other nights in Bangkok.
Note: this tour starts at 7:00 pm, not midnight.
This evening tour throws you straight into Bangkok’s legendary street food scene as you ride the colorful city’s backstreets and hidden spots. And what better way than to do this on a fun Tuk-Tuk?
“Gimao was an amazing tour guide; funny, informative, and patient! The tuk-tuk experience at night was so cool. And the food was fantastic, especially the rice noodle dish at Ann Guay Tiew Kua Gai. I highly recommend you book this tour for a fun night out in Bangkok!”
Leah (Read more reviews)
Your Tuk-Tuk driver whizzes through the traffic and stops you at some incredible local restaurants to sample some of the best Thai cuisine. This tour is a complete package including all food and Tuk-Tuk transport. And the evening ends at a secret rooftop bar.
Note: You’ll get a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hour(s) before the activity starts.
Wondering where to Stay in Bangkok?
Bangkok is a huge City and is very diverse from 1 place to the other. With that in mind, it’s important to plan ahead and choose the right place or area to stay in.
Read this article for an overview about the areas to stay in Bangkok.
How We Efficiently Plan Our Trips.
Planning a holiday can be overwhelming, especially for those hands-on in the process. Thankfully, technology has simplified the task, making it easier to organize trips to destinations like Thailand. Here are the resources we swear by:
Agoda: Our go-to for booking accommodation. It’s user-friendly, offers the best prices*, and boasts the largest selection of online properties.
*After trying various methods to find the best prices, including direct booking, calling accommodations, and comparing with other sites, Agoda consistently provided the lowest prices and often there are huge price reductions on select properties.
Viator: Our go-to resource for tour booking in Thailand and around the world.. Here you’ll find a wide range of tours at great prices and most often have free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour.
It’s almost like shopping for something on Amazon and the prices are also really competitive.
HEY, just so you know…
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