Pawan Tripathi
New member
Every year from November we start getting the same type of calls from people who are visiting Dubai for the first time in December. They already booked the hotel, flights are done, and now they are stuck on one thing which is where to be at 12 o'clock on New Year Eve. Most of them have seen the Burj Khalifa videos on Instagram and they think that is the only option. It is not, and for a first visit I feel a new year dinner cruise Dubai is much easier to handle than going to Downtown.
The main reason is simple. When you don't know the city, you don't know which roads are close, which metro station is too crowded or how long it takes to reach from your hotel. On the cruise you just need to reach the jetty in Dubai Marina, usually between 7 and 8:30 PM, and then dinner, music and the fireworks view is all arranged by the crew. Nobody is standing in front of you, you have your own table, and when the Atlantis fireworks starts you just go up to the deck and watch it over the water.
What about Downtown then
Downtown is good if you have done Dubai before and you know what you are getting into. On 31st December people started taking their spots near Dubai Mall from afternoon, the roads gets blocked by evening and after midnight getting a taxi is almost impossible. I have seen families with small kids sitting on the footpath at 2 AM waiting for a cab. On a cruise this problem is less, although you still need to plan the return because Marina also gets busy after the boats come back.
Price wise the Marina dhow New Year packages usually comes between AED 600 and AED 1,500 per person and the upper deck is the costly one. Creek cruise is cheaper, around AED 350 to AED 800, but the view is not that great.
Something people don't expect
Many first timers thought they would see the Burj Khalifa from the boat. From the Marina side you won't, you will see the Atlantis and Palm side fireworks, which are also very nice but it is a different show. So if Burj Khalifa is a must for you, ask the operator before booking, don't assume. Also it gets cold on the water at night, around 17 or 18 degrees with wind, so carry a jacket for the deck.
The cultural part is a bonus. The dhow is a traditional wooden boat and most cruises have Tanoura dance and Arabic music with the buffet, so you get a small taste of Emirati style along with the party, which you don't get in a normal hotel restaurant.
If you are coming with family or it is your first time in the city, my suggestion is go for the cruise and book it by November. For new year dinner cruise Dubai packages you can check BookToursinDubai.com, better to speak with their team and confirm the deck and timings before paying.
The main reason is simple. When you don't know the city, you don't know which roads are close, which metro station is too crowded or how long it takes to reach from your hotel. On the cruise you just need to reach the jetty in Dubai Marina, usually between 7 and 8:30 PM, and then dinner, music and the fireworks view is all arranged by the crew. Nobody is standing in front of you, you have your own table, and when the Atlantis fireworks starts you just go up to the deck and watch it over the water.
What about Downtown then
Downtown is good if you have done Dubai before and you know what you are getting into. On 31st December people started taking their spots near Dubai Mall from afternoon, the roads gets blocked by evening and after midnight getting a taxi is almost impossible. I have seen families with small kids sitting on the footpath at 2 AM waiting for a cab. On a cruise this problem is less, although you still need to plan the return because Marina also gets busy after the boats come back.
Price wise the Marina dhow New Year packages usually comes between AED 600 and AED 1,500 per person and the upper deck is the costly one. Creek cruise is cheaper, around AED 350 to AED 800, but the view is not that great.
Something people don't expect
Many first timers thought they would see the Burj Khalifa from the boat. From the Marina side you won't, you will see the Atlantis and Palm side fireworks, which are also very nice but it is a different show. So if Burj Khalifa is a must for you, ask the operator before booking, don't assume. Also it gets cold on the water at night, around 17 or 18 degrees with wind, so carry a jacket for the deck.
The cultural part is a bonus. The dhow is a traditional wooden boat and most cruises have Tanoura dance and Arabic music with the buffet, so you get a small taste of Emirati style along with the party, which you don't get in a normal hotel restaurant.
If you are coming with family or it is your first time in the city, my suggestion is go for the cruise and book it by November. For new year dinner cruise Dubai packages you can check BookToursinDubai.com, better to speak with their team and confirm the deck and timings before paying.