Party Dinner Cruise, 4 Hours

London: Christmas Party Dinner Cruise. Rated 4.3 across 16 reviews. Runs 4 hours. From $126.

Overview

The evening starts at Tower Pier, where you board a City Cruises boat and receive a welcome glass of sparkling wine. From there the vessel sails toward Canary Wharf, gliding past the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the London Eye and The Shard, all lit against the night skyline. It is a sightseeing stretch first, so bring a camera and use the deck while the light and the views are at their best.

Once the boat has covered the landmarks, everyone moves into the heated saloon for a festive three-course dinner. The menu runs from a Madagascan prawn and crab croquette starter to roast turkey with sage and onion stuffing, Vichy carrots, rosemary-onion potatoes and bordelaise sauce, with a vegetarian alternative available. Tea or coffee follows, and each guest gets a half bottle of wine with the meal. A full bar stays open for anything extra.

After dinner the DJ takes over, mixing Christmas classics with contemporary tracks, and the rest of the four hours belongs to dancing. This suits anyone who wants a Christmas celebration with a meal, a river and a party in one ticket. Solo travellers and couples are welcome too, though smaller bookings share tables with others. There is no hotel pickup: everyone makes their own way to Tower Pier.

What's Included

Included

3-course Traditional Festive Dinner menu followed by tea or coffee
4-hour Thames River cruise
Welcome glass of sparkling wine
Half bottle of wine per person
DJ entertainment and dancing
Full-bar available
Dress code: festive smart casual

Not Included

Additional drinks (Available to purchase)
Hotel pickup

Itinerary

Board at Tower PierArrive at Tower Pier and board the boat for the evening, where a welcome glass of sparkling wine is served.
Sail toward Canary WharfThe boat departs Tower and cruises toward Canary Wharf, passing the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the London Eye and The Shard along the way.
Festive three-course dinnerSeated in the heated saloon, guests are served a starter of Madagascan prawn and crab croquettes, a roast turkey main with all the trimmings or a vegetarian alternative, and tea or coffee to finish.
Wine with the mealA half bottle of wine per person accompanies dinner, and the onboard bar sells additional drinks.
DJ and dancingThe onboard DJ plays Christmas hits and contemporary tracks for the remainder of the cruise.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you plan the evening, from the dress code to how the seating works.

Dress code. The cruise asks for festive smart casual attire. Think Christmas jumpers or something a step above everyday wear, and plan the outfit in advance.
Shared tables. Bookings of fewer than ten people share a table with others, and all tables seat ten in close proximity. Come expecting a sociable, group-style evening rather than a private dinner for two.
Food and drink. Dinner is a set festive menu with a vegetarian alternative, plus a half bottle of wine per person and tea or coffee afterwards. Extra drinks from the onboard bar are not included and must be purchased separately. Some reviewers found the food good, while others reported dishes arriving cold, so expectations on the kitchen should be moderate.
Music and dancing. Two travellers singled out the DJ and the music as great fun. One reviewer was surprised by an hour of Turkish disco rather than Christmas songs, so the playlist is not guaranteed to be festive all night.
Photography. The outbound stretch past the illuminated landmarks is the best photo opportunity of the night. Head out on deck before dinner, since the sightseeing happens while the city is lit up.
Timing and arrival. The cruise runs four hours with no pickup included, so travellers make their own way to Tower Pier. One reviewer mentioned confusion over the arrival time between the operator and the booking page, so confirm the boarding time on the live booking page before setting off.

Common issues. The seating is communal: every table seats ten, and smaller parties are placed with others, so this is not the right pick for an intimate dinner. Some reviewers reported food arriving cold, particularly the main course, and one was served coffee in a paper cup rather than at the table. One reviewer ended up with an hour of Turkish disco rather than the Christmas music they had in mind, after a group on board claimed the music. Additional drinks beyond the included wine cost extra, and there is no hotel transport, so arrival at Tower Pier is each guest's responsibility.

What To Decide Before You Go

Where does the cruise start and is pickup included?

Boarding is at Tower Pier. Pickup is not included, so you need to make your own way there. One reviewer noted confusion over the arrival time, so double-check the boarding time on the booking page before you travel.

How long is the cruise?

The full experience lasts four hours. That covers the sightseeing stretch toward Canary Wharf, the seated dinner, and the DJ and dancing afterwards.

What food and drink are included?

A three-course festive dinner is served: a Madagascan prawn and crab croquette starter, roast turkey with sage and onion stuffing, Vichy carrots, rosemary-onion potatoes and bordelaise sauce, with a vegetarian alternative, followed by tea or coffee. A welcome glass of sparkling wine and a half bottle of wine per person are also included. Anything further from the onboard bar is an extra purchase.

What should I wear?

The dress code is festive smart casual. The listing asks for it explicitly, so leave very casual clothing at home and lean into the Christmas theme.

Will we have our own table?

Only if your booking is for ten or more people. Smaller parties share tables of ten placed close together, which makes for a lively, communal atmosphere rather than a private meal.

What is the boat like inside?

The saloon is fully heated, so you can eat and dance comfortably. The deck is open for sightseeing and photos during the landmark stretch, so bring a coat for that part of the evening.