Chao Phraya River Cruises: Dinner, Sunset and Luxury Boats Compared

Pick by budget

One row per sailing. “Adult” is the price of one adult read at the source in the last column, not a fare set by an authority; sellers change it and sometimes list a struck-through regular price. Where no price could be read the cell says checking.

Not shown because no 2026 sailing could be found: the Grand Pearl dinner (its Ayutthaya day trip does run), Wan Fah (a seller stopped selling it) and Apsara (no source).

Dinner, sunset or just the river?

• Dinner (about two hours, from 19:00). You eat on board and the boat turns around under the lit temples. Most start between 19:00 and 20:00 and run two hours.
• Sunset (one to two hours, 16:30–18:45). Cheaper and shorter, often with a buffet or a drink, and you see the Grand Palace and Wat Arun in daylight and then lit.
• Just the river. A Tourist Boat day pass or the commuter boats cost far less and let you hop off. See the river boats page for fares.

River boats: fares and piers →

What’s included

• Food. The budget and middle boats serve a buffet; the hotel boats serve a set menu (Manohra, Saffron, Supanniga); Horizon’s page does not say which.
• Drinks. Mostly extra. White Orchid sells unlimited beer in its dinner and twilight price (seller list). Manohra has a dearer set with wine and beer. Horizon includes one drink (hotel page).
• Halal. Faraya serves a halal buffet with no alcohol and a prayer room.
• Vegetarian. Saffron, Noah and Chaophraya Princess list a vegetarian option; ask when you book.
• Wheelchair. Noah lists a wheelchair lift. Other boats: ask the operator before paying.

Which pier?

Where you board decides how you get there. A boat can use more than one pier; the row in the table gives the pier the source names first.

• ICONSIAM. Meridian, Alangka, Saffron, Chaophraya Princess, Noah and others. From Sathorn Pier a boat to ICONSIAM costs ฿12 (since May 2023), runs about 09:00–22:50 every 15–20 minutes, then it is a short walk.
• Asiatique. White Orchid, Viva Alangka, Royal Princess, Faraya and Bangkok Chaophraya. A free shuttle boat runs from Sathorn Pier, 16:00–23:30, every 25–30 minutes.
• River City. Wonderful Pearl, Supanniga and Grand Pearl.
• Hotel piers. Shangri-La (Horizon), Anantara Riverside (Manohra) and The Peninsula (cocktail cruise) board at their own piers.

ICONSIAM mall →Asiatique night market →River boats →

Kids

Only rules a source prints are listed. The rest say checking.

Every other boat: checking. Ask when you book.

Special nights

• Vijit Chaophraya, 13 November – 13 December 2026. Lights on the river 18:00–22:00 and a drone show around 20:45. The big shows are on Saturdays (14, 21 and 28 November, 5 and 12 December), a smaller one on Fridays. Festival dinner sailings are listed at ฿888–2,000.
• Loy Krathong, 24 November. Dinner cruises are listed at about ฿899–3,500, the high end on Wonderful Pearl and Chaophraya Cruise. The seller’s own date labels disagree, so check the date on the booking page.
• New Year countdown. Listed from about ฿2,500 to ฿12,900 for adults, children cheaper on some boats; Manohra from ฿7,999.
• Royal barge procession. While the procession is prepared, some sunset sailings leave out the Wat Arun–Grand Palace stretch (Klook notice).

Whether alcohol is served on board on a ban day is checking: no source says. The ban days are on the alcohol page.

Loy Krathong →Christmas and New Year →Bangkok countdown →Alcohol ban days →

Booking

• Most seller tickets are not refundable; a date change is allowed for a fee (for example ฿200) or only up to 24–48 hours before.
• Where the hotel or operator takes bookings itself (Manohra, Horizon, Chaophraya Princess), the “Buy online” block at the bottom links it first.
• Dress: smart casual is the usual line on seller pages. The Peninsula cruise lists no shorts, flip-flops or sleeveless tops.

Before you go

• Boarding closes before the sailing leaves; check-in is often 30–90 minutes early.
• Sellers change prices and list different piers for the same boat; read the booking page before paying.
• The week of Loy Krathong and New Year sells out first.

Questions

What is the cheapest dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya?

The budget boats list about ฿888–990 for an adult (Meridian, White Orchid, Vela, Smile Riverside, Unicorn, Royal Princess), and a sunset sailing from ฿650. Prices are a seller’s on the day read.

Which cruise is the most luxurious?

The hotel and small boats: Manohra (฿2,900–4,900), Shangri-La Horizon (฿2,900), Saffron (about ฿3,350 at a seller), Supanniga (about 40 seats) and Loy Nava. Their prices are in the luxury table.

Are drinks included?

Mostly not. White Orchid lists unlimited beer, Manohra has a set with wine and beer, Horizon includes one drink, and Faraya serves no alcohol at all.

What is the dress code?

Seller pages say smart casual. The Peninsula cruise lists no shorts, flip-flops or sleeveless tops. Ask the operator if in doubt.

Is there a halal dinner cruise?

Faraya serves a halal buffet with no alcohol and has a prayer room (฿1,400 at one seller).

Can I just ride the river cheaply?

Yes. A Tourist Boat day pass or the commuter boats cost far less. See the river boats page.

Buy online

Where the operator takes bookings itself, that link comes first. The other two are affiliate links: the site earns a commission if you book, and the price does not change.

• Manohra (Anantara Riverside)not an affiliate link
• Shangri-La Horizonnot an affiliate link
• Chaophraya Princessnot an affiliate link
• GetYourGuide · Bangkok Chaophraya cruiseAffiliate link★ 4.8 · 5,154 reviews · from ฿1,550 per personseller page, 6 November 2026
• GetYourGuide · White Orchid dinner cruiseAffiliate link★ 4.4 · 5,476 reviews · from ฿1,130 per personseller page, 5 November 2026
• GetYourGuide · The Planet dinner cruiseAffiliate link★ 3.3 · 12 reviews · from ฿1,580 per personseller page, 5 November 2026
• Klook · Chao Phraya dinner cruiseAffiliate link★ 4.8 · 505 reviewsseller page, 5 November 2026

GetYourGuide and Klook links are affiliate links. Ratings and “from” prices are as printed on the seller’s page on the date shown.