Shashank Mishra
New member
If you have already done a dhow dinner cruise in Dubai on a normal night, you may think the New Year one is just the same boat with a higher price tag. Many people think like this, and then on 31st December they realise that the whole experience is quite different. Since the price jump is big, it is better to understand what extra you are actually getting.
1. It Is a Full Night, Not Just Dinner
A normal dinner cruise is around two hours, you board at 8 PM, eat, watch one show and you are back by 10 PM. A Dubai New Year cruise is more like an event. Boarding starts in the evening and the boat stays on the water till after midnight, so you are spending three to five hours on board with the countdown and celebration included.
2. The Fireworks Are the Main Reason
Let me tell you that on a regular night you only see the skyline lights, which are nice but nothing special. On New Year's Eve the boat waits at a point from where the midnight fireworks are visible. From Marina you see Atlantis, Palm and JBR, and from the Creek side you can see Burj Khalifa and Festival City from some distance.
3. Bigger Menu and More Entertainment
The normal buffet is simple with few starters, main course and dessert. On a Dubai New Year cruise the spread is bigger with more live stations and special desserts. Entertainment also continues for the whole night with DJ, live singer and Tanoura dance, instead of just one short show.
4. Price and Booking Is Different
Now if we compare, a regular cruise costs around AED 100 to 250 per person and you can book even one day before. Last year New Year dhow cruises were starting from around AED 400 to 600, and premium boats went up to AED 1,500 and more. The good boats get full by November, and most companies don't refund late cancellations, so booking early is important.
5. The Dressing and the Mood
On normal nights people come in casual clothes. For a Dubai New Year cruise most of the guests dress up since it is a party night, and the mood on the boat is much more lively. My suggestion is to carry a light jacket as December nights on the water are cool.
At the end of the day, the New Year Eve cruise is a full celebration and not just a dinner on a boat.
1. It Is a Full Night, Not Just Dinner
A normal dinner cruise is around two hours, you board at 8 PM, eat, watch one show and you are back by 10 PM. A Dubai New Year cruise is more like an event. Boarding starts in the evening and the boat stays on the water till after midnight, so you are spending three to five hours on board with the countdown and celebration included.
2. The Fireworks Are the Main Reason
Let me tell you that on a regular night you only see the skyline lights, which are nice but nothing special. On New Year's Eve the boat waits at a point from where the midnight fireworks are visible. From Marina you see Atlantis, Palm and JBR, and from the Creek side you can see Burj Khalifa and Festival City from some distance.
3. Bigger Menu and More Entertainment
The normal buffet is simple with few starters, main course and dessert. On a Dubai New Year cruise the spread is bigger with more live stations and special desserts. Entertainment also continues for the whole night with DJ, live singer and Tanoura dance, instead of just one short show.
4. Price and Booking Is Different
Now if we compare, a regular cruise costs around AED 100 to 250 per person and you can book even one day before. Last year New Year dhow cruises were starting from around AED 400 to 600, and premium boats went up to AED 1,500 and more. The good boats get full by November, and most companies don't refund late cancellations, so booking early is important.
5. The Dressing and the Mood
On normal nights people come in casual clothes. For a Dubai New Year cruise most of the guests dress up since it is a party night, and the mood on the boat is much more lively. My suggestion is to carry a light jacket as December nights on the water are cool.
At the end of the day, the New Year Eve cruise is a full celebration and not just a dinner on a boat.