Party Lunch Cruise, 3 Hours

London: Christmas Party Lunch Cruise. Rated 4.7 across 17 reviews. Runs 3 hours. From $99.

Overview

A welcome glass of sparkling wine as the boat leaves Westminster Pier sets the tone for this 3-hour Christmas lunch cruise on the Thames. You take a seat at a shared table, and the kitchen serves a traditional festive menu: a salmon starter, roast turkey with all the usual trimmings, and a chocolate dessert to finish. Unlimited tea and coffee come with the meal.

A live vocalist sings festive songs and carols, and one traveller describes a dance floor that filled as the party got going. The boat glides past the London Eye, The Shard, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf, all seen from the water. The upper deck is the spot for photographs with the skyline behind you.

The cruise suits friends, families and work groups celebrating together. It is pitched as a boat party, and one reviewer points out that it works best as an overview of London while you celebrate rather than a way to learn about the sights. The boat docks back at Westminster Pier at the end of the sailing.

What's Included

Included

Welcome glass of sparkling wine
3 course traditional festive lunch menu
Unlimited tea or coffee
Live music entertainment
Scenic River Thames views
Full-bar available
Duration 3 hours

Not Included

Additional drinks (Available to purchase)
Hotel pickup

Itinerary

Board at Westminster PierMake your own way to City Cruises Westminster Pier, Victoria Embankment, London SW1A 2JH. Staff at the pier direct you to the correct boarding point before departure.
Pass the London EyeThe London Eye is the first landmark on the route, seen from the water as the cruise gets under way. This is a pass-by with no stop.
Pass The ShardThe Shard is viewed from the water, again with no stop.
Pass the Tower of LondonThe Tower of London passes by on the river route toward Canary Wharf. No landing is made.
Pass Tower BridgeOne of the landmarks travellers photograph from the upper deck. Pass-by only.
Pass Canary WharfCanary Wharf is the last landmark passed before the return leg.
Return to Westminster PierThe cruise ends where it began, at City Cruises Westminster Pier.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical details, drawn from the listing and from recent traveller reports, will help you decide whether this party format suits your group.

Festive set menu. Lunch is a fixed 3-course menu: salmon to start, roast turkey with the usual trimmings, then a chocolate dessert. The food draws positive comments from travellers who have taken the cruise. If anyone in your group has strong dislikes, be aware there is no choice of menu mentioned in the listing.
Live vocalist. A live singer performs festive music and carols, and several reviewers single out the vocalist for praise. One traveller describes a dance floor that filled after the first guests got up. Expect entertainment rather than quiet background music.
Dress code. The cruise operates a smart-casual or festive dress code, stated in the booking details. Treat it as a Christmas party rather than a casual boat ride when deciding what to wear.
Shared tables. Guests are seated at tables of 10 placed in very close proximity to each other, and bookings of fewer than 10 people share with other parties. It is a communal, party-style layout rather than a private table for two.
Drinks beyond the fizz. The welcome glass of sparkling wine and unlimited tea or coffee are covered by the ticket. Anything else comes from the licensed bar on board and is paid for separately, so budget accordingly.
Upper deck photos. The upper deck is where the listing suggests posing for photos with the Tower of London, the London Eye, The Shard and Tower Bridge behind you. Guests are invited to head up there with their friends to admire the landmarks from that spot.

Common issues. Additional drinks are not included and must be bought at the licensed bar, where one reviewer found the wine expensive. Seating is at shared tables of 10 set close together, and one traveller described bench seating that made getting up mid-meal awkward. The atmosphere can vary: a reviewer on a quiet sailing found it flat, while another traveller describes a dance floor that filled and stayed busy, and one reviewer also wished more staff were taking drinks orders.

What To Decide Before You Go

Is hotel pickup included?

No, pickup is not included. You make your own way to City Cruises Westminster Pier, Victoria Embankment, London SW1A 2JH, where staff direct you to the correct boarding point. The cruise finishes back at the same pier.

What does the ticket include?

A welcome glass of sparkling wine, a 3-course festive lunch of salmon, roast turkey and a chocolate dessert, unlimited tea or coffee, live music entertainment and the river views. The full 3-hour cruise is covered. Additional drinks are the main extra.

Can I buy drinks on board?

Yes, there is a licensed bar on the boat. Additional drinks are not included in the ticket and are paid for on board, and one reviewer found the wine on the expensive side.

What should I wear?

The dress code is smart-casual or festive, as stated in the booking details. The cruise is billed as a Christmas party on the water, so plan an outfit along those lines.

Will our group have its own table?

Tables seat 10 and are positioned in very close proximity to each other. Bookings of fewer than 10 people share a table with other guests, so smaller parties should expect a mixed, sociable table.

Is this a sightseeing cruise with commentary?

It is primarily a party cruise. A live vocalist provides the entertainment while the boat passes the London Eye, The Shard, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf, and one reviewer notes it is not the right choice for learning about the sights in depth.