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Most people choose a Dubai Marina cruise by price and photo. That is how you end up on an open deck in August, or booking a dinner cruise for a sunset that was over before you reached the pier.
This guide comes from the booking team at Marina Cruise Dubai, and it uses the same timetable and prices we work with every day. It covers what you need to decide: which boat, which month, what it costs and how to find the right pier.
verified The short answer
- First cruise and best value
- Dhow Dinner Cruise, from AED 75 per adult
- May to September, or you simply want air conditioning
- Glass Boat Dinner Cruise, from AED 100 per adult
- Anniversary, birthday or parents visiting
- VIP Upper Deck Cruise, from AED 185 per adult
- A sunset, a swim or only your own group
- Private Yacht Charter, from AED 650 per hour
November to March is the best time for the open deck. Every shared dinner cruise sails after dark, and every boat leaves from Dubai Marina Walk. You can change or cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before departure.
What the evening is really like
A shared dinner cruise lasts 2 hours and follows a simple rhythm. Here is the Dhow Dinner Cruise on its 8:30 pm departure. The glass boat and the VIP deck run to the same pattern.
- 8:00 pm
Find your host at the pier
Give your name at the boarding point. The confirmation email on your phone is your ticket, so there is nothing to print.
- 8:30 pm
Choose your table
Go up for the open deck or stay below in the air conditioning. On the dhow you pick your own table, which is the real reason to arrive early.
- 8:45 pm
The boat pulls away
The towers slide past on both sides as you head down the canal and under the Marina bridges.
- 9:15 pm
The buffet opens
An international halal spread with vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Soft drinks and water are included.
- 9:45 pm
Tanoura and puppet show
The live entertainment starts as JBR, Bluewaters Island and Ain Dubai come into view, so keep your phone close.
- 10:30 pm
Back at Marina Walk
A slow last stretch for photos, then you step off beside the cafés with the metro and tram close by.
Booked the 10:30 pm boat instead? Everything moves later and the buffet opens at about 11:15 pm. That suits night owls and the hot months. If you are travelling with young children, take the earlier departure.
Which boat should you book?
The three shared boats sail the same route, so you are really choosing how you sit, what you eat and who is around you. A private yacht is a different kind of evening altogether.
Dhow Dinner Cruise
AED 75 per adult
schedule 2 hours · 8:30 & 10:30 pm
A traditional wooden boat with an open deck on top and an air-conditioned deck below, so you can move if the evening turns warm.
The catch: It is our most booked boat, so it is also the liveliest. Come early for a good table up top.
Glass Boat Dinner Cruise
AED 100 per adult
schedule 2 hours · 8:00 & 10:30 pm
A glass-roofed cabin, air-conditioned from start to finish, with a welcome mocktail and a live grill at the buffet. It is smaller than the big dhows and the mood is calmer.
The catch: Your view and your photos are through the glass, not in the open air.
VIP Upper Deck Cruise
AED 185 per adult
schedule 2 hours · 8:00 pm
A table kept for you on the open top deck, first in line at boarding, a 5-star buffet with a dessert bar and unlimited soft drinks.
The catch: One departure a night, at 8:00 pm, on a deck open to the weather. It suits October to April best.
Private Yacht Charter
AED 650 per hour
schedule 2–8 hours · 10:00 am, 1:00 pm, 4:00 pm, 6:00 pm & 8:00 pm
Only your group, plus the captain and crew. You choose the start time, the length and the route, and you can stop to swim when the sea allows.
The catch: You pay for the whole boat by the hour, with a 2-hour minimum. Dinner is not part of the standard charter, so tell us if you want food on board.
What it really costs
These are full prices for a typical booking, worked out from our current rates.
| Booking | Total |
|---|---|
| Two adults on the Dhow Dinner Cruise | AED 150 |
| Family of four on the Dhow Dinner Cruise (2 adults, 2 children aged 4–11) | AED 290 |
| Two adults on the Glass Boat Dinner Cruise | AED 200 |
| Two adults at a table on the VIP Upper Deck Cruise | AED 370 |
| Private Yacht Charter for 2 hours, whole boat | AED 1,300 |
Children aged 0–3 sail free on the shared boats, and children aged 4–11 pay the child price. Guests reserve online with no prepayment, receive confirmation by email and pay at the pier (cash or card).
A whole yacht sounds expensive until you divide it. AED 1,300 for 2 hours with 12 guests on board is about AED 108 each, which is close to one seat on the glass boat, although a shared cruise includes dinner and the charter does not.
The best time to go, month by month
The weather decides which deck you will enjoy. The table shows the usual daytime high, the night-time low, the sunset in the middle of the month and the seat we would pick. At 8:00 pm the temperature sits somewhere between the two figures.
| Month | Day | Night | Sunset | Our pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24°C | 15°C | 5:50 pm | Open deck |
| February | 26°C | 16°C | 6:13 pm | Open deck |
| March | 29°C | 19°C | 6:28 pm | Open deck |
| April | 34°C | 22°C | 6:41 pm | Open deck, later boat |
| May | 38°C | 26°C | 6:56 pm | Glass boat |
| June | 40°C | 28°C | 7:10 pm | Glass boat |
| July | 42°C | 31°C | 7:12 pm | Glass boat |
| August | 42°C | 32°C | 6:55 pm | Glass boat |
| September | 40°C | 29°C | 6:24 pm | Glass boat |
| October | 36°C | 25°C | 5:53 pm | Open deck, later boat |
| November | 31°C | 21°C | 5:33 pm | Open deck |
| December | 27°C | 17°C | 5:32 pm | Open deck |
- Every shared cruise sails after dark. The earliest departure is 8:00 pm and the latest sunset of the year is around 7:10 pm in July. You get the lit-up skyline rather than the sunset.
- November to March is open-deck season. From December to February nights drop to 15–17°C and it is breezier on the water, so bring a light layer.
- May to September belongs to the glass boat. Night lows stay between 26 and 32°C, which is uncomfortable on an open deck with a plate of hot food.
- Friday and Saturday fill up first. Reserve a few days ahead for a weekend.
If the sunset is the point, only a private yacht sails at the right hour. Charters start at 10:00 am, 1:00 pm, 4:00 pm, 6:00 pm & 8:00 pm. Choose 4:00 pm from October to January, when the sun sets before 6:00 pm, and 6:00 pm from February to September.
What you see from the water
You board at Marina Walk and head along a canal of about 3 km, with apartment towers rising straight out of the water on both sides. It is sheltered from the open sea, so the water stays calm and even guests who worry about seasickness tend to be fine.
Look out for these along the way:
- Cayan Tower. The 306-metre building that twists through a full 90 degrees from bottom to top.
- The Marina bridges. The boat passes underneath, and the towers close in on both sides.
- JBR. The beachfront towers of Jumeirah Beach Residence, seen from around the harbour mouth.
- Bluewaters Island and Ain Dubai. The 250-metre observation wheel is the landmark everyone reaches for their phone to capture.
A photo tip: phones struggle on a moving boat at night. Turn the flash off, use night mode and rest your hands on the rail. The slow last stretch before docking is usually your steadiest chance.
Food, shows and who it suits
- Food. Every shared cruise has an international halal buffet with vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. The glass boat adds a live grill, and the VIP deck has a 5-star buffet with a dessert bar.
- Allergies and vegan meals. Put them in the booking notes so the kitchen team can prepare.
- Entertainment. A Tanoura dancer and a puppet show are part of every shared cruise.
- Children. Families are welcome, and the calm water makes it an easy outing for grandparents and small children too.
- Celebrations. We can arrange a birthday cake, balloons or a proposal setup. Tell us in the booking notes or on WhatsApp.
Finding the right pier
"Meet at Marina Walk" is not quite enough. The promenade is about 7 km long and loops the whole canal, so starting from the wrong end can cost you the boat. Your confirmation gives the exact pier number and boarding gate. Check it before you leave your hotel.
- Metro: DMCC and Sobha Realty stations on the Red Line, then a short walk or tram ride.
- Tram: the Dubai Marina tram stops are a short walk from the promenade.
- Taxi: show your driver the pier details from your confirmation.
- Timing: boarding opens 30 minutes before departure. Please be at the pier at least 20 minutes early.
You can open Dubai Marina Walk in Google Maps, and every other way to reach us is on the contact page.
What to wear and bring
- Smart-casual clothes. Nothing formal is needed.
- A light jacket for the open deck from December to February.
- Comfortable shoes for the walk along the promenade.
- Photo ID, such as a passport or Emirates ID.
- Swimwear, if you are on a private yacht and want to swim.
When a private yacht makes more sense
A shared boat is the right call for most visitors. A private charter wins in four situations: you are a group large enough to fill it, you want to swim, you want the sunset, or you are planning a proposal and would rather not do it in front of a hundred strangers.
The captain and crew are included, up to 12 guests can come on board, and you can book from 2 to 8 hours. You can also play your own music.
Add a day on land
An evening on the water pairs well with a day out. We also arrange these tours with hotel pickup in Dubai:
Questions guests ask
Can I watch the sunset on a shared dinner cruise?
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No. The shared dinner cruises leave at 8:00, 8:30 & 10:30 pm, and the sun sets between about 5:30 pm and 7:10 pm depending on the month. For a sunset, book a private yacht with a 4:00 pm or 6:00 pm start.
Will I get seasick on a Dubai Marina cruise?
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It is unlikely. The canal is sheltered and the water inside the Marina is calm. A private yacht that heads out along JBR is on open water, so tell us if you are prone to seasickness and we will plan the route around it.
How far ahead should I book?
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Reserve a few days ahead for a Friday or Saturday, because weekends fill up first. For other days, message us on WhatsApp and we will tell you what is still available.
Do I need to print a ticket?
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No. Your confirmation email is your ticket. It also shows the pier number and boarding gate, so keep it handy on your phone.
Which boat is best with small children?
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The Dhow Dinner Cruise is the easy choice from October to April, and the Glass Boat Dinner Cruise from May to September. The water is calm, children aged 0–3 sail free and the puppet show goes down well with younger guests. Take the earlier departure if bedtime matters.
What happens if the weather is bad?
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If a cruise is cancelled because of the weather or instructions from the port authority, you can choose a new date or a full refund of anything you paid.
How do I pay?
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Guests reserve online with no prepayment, receive confirmation by email and pay at the pier (cash or card).