Sawasdee Chaophraya: Luxury Dinner Cruise from ICONSIAM
Highlights
- Sail past Wat Arun, the Grand Palace and the Rama VIII Bridge lit up after dark
- Buffet of more than 120 dishes, the largest spread on the Chao Phraya
- Seafood counter with river prawns, Chilean mussels and scallops
- Live band and traditional Thai dance performance during dinner
- Air-conditioned glass-walled deck plus an open-air skydeck for photos
- Departs from ICONSIAM Pier 4, on the BTS Gold Line
Description
Bangkok looks completely different from the water after dark. The Sawasdee Chaophraya sets off from ICONSIAM Pier 4 at 18:45 and spends two hours on the Chao Phraya, taking in the stretch of river that holds most of the city's landmarks: the Temple of Dawn with its floodlit spires, the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, the Rama VIII Bridge, and the riverfront at Asiatique.
Pricing
Adult
Age 11+
THB 1,295Child
Age 4-10
THB 995Infant
Age 0-3
Free
- Step 1
Check in at ICONSIAM Pier 4
Check-in opens at 17:30 at the Sawasdee Chaophraya counter at ICONSIAM Pier 4 and closes at 18:30. ICONSIAM sits on the Thonburi bank and is easy to reach on the BTS Gold Line or by free shuttle boat from Sathorn (Saphan Taksin) pier. Arriving early gives you a better pick of table.
You are shown to your table on the air-conditioned main deck, behind floor-to-ceiling glass. The boat leaves the pier at 18:45 sharp and the buffet opens once you are under way, with the live band starting shortly after.
Work through a buffet of more than 120 dishes while the boat heads upriver: a seafood counter with river prawns, Chilean mussels and scallops, Thai signatures like tom yum goong and pad thai, and live stations for sushi, sashimi and carved roasts. Outside, Wat Arun, the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew pass by floodlit, then the Rama VIII Bridge before the boat turns back.
Partway through the cruise a traditional Thai dance set is performed on the main deck. The open-air skydeck stays open the whole time, so you can head up between courses for photos of the temples and the city skyline.
The boat docks where it started, at ICONSIAM Pier 4. The mall and its riverside restaurants are right there if you want to carry on, and the Gold Line and shuttle boats run from the same spot.
Included
- Two-hour dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya
- International and Thai buffet dinner, over 120 dishes
- Live music and traditional Thai dance performance
- Reserved seating on the air-conditioned main deck
- Access to the open-air skydeck
- 7% government tax
Not included
- Hotel transfers to and from ICONSIAM Pier
- Alcoholic drinks and soft drinks
- Private VIP lounge, available on request at extra cost
- Gratuities
- Smart casual clothing
- Camera or phone for the skydeck
- A light layer for the open-air deck
- Booking confirmation, printed or on your phone
This tour starts at a fixed meeting point. Please make your own way there.
ICONSIAM Pier 4
ICONSIAM Pier 4 is on the riverfront terrace behind ICONSIAM mall in Khlong San, on the Thonburi bank. Take the BTS Gold Line to Charoen Nakhon, which exits straight into the mall, or use the free ICONSIAM shuttle boat from Sathorn Pier at Saphan Taksin BTS. Walk through to the river and follow the signs to Pier 4. Check in at the Sawasdee Chaophraya counter between 17:30 and 18:30; the boat leaves at 18:45, so allow for Bangkok traffic.
This is a big-boat night out rather than an intimate dinner. The vessel carries up to 650 guests across two decks, so the main deck is a lively, sociable dining room with a live band playing throughout. If you want quiet and space, the open-air skydeck is where to go between courses.
Tables are allocated at check-in rather than reserved in advance, so where you sit depends on when you arrive. Turning up near 17:30 rather than 18:30 gives you a far better chance of a window seat on the main deck.
Your ticket covers the cruise and the full buffet, including the 7% government tax. Drinks are not included and are paid on board. Halal, vegetarian and vegan meals have to be requested when you book rather than on the night, and the private VIP lounge for up to 10 guests is a separate charge arranged in advance.
Dress is smart casual, so no beachwear or flip-flops. The main deck is air conditioned and the skydeck is open to the weather, so a light layer is worth carrying. The operator can alter the route if conditions on the river require it, and the boat leaves at 18:45 whether or not the traffic has been kind, so build in extra time getting there.
FAQs
You can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before the cruise departs and receive a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours of departure, and no-shows, are non-refundable. If the operator cancels for any reason, you get a full refund or a free reschedule.
The boat leaves from ICONSIAM Pier 4. Check in at the Sawasdee Chaophraya counter between 17:30 and 18:30, and the cruise departs at 18:45. Arriving closer to 17:30 gives you a better choice of table. ICONSIAM is on the BTS Gold Line and has free shuttle boats from Sathorn Pier.
A buffet of more than 120 dishes, which the operator bills as the largest on the Chao Phraya. It covers a seafood counter with river prawns, Chilean mussels and scallops, Thai signature dishes such as tom yum goong and pad thai, and live cooking stations for sushi, sashimi and carved roasts. Halal, vegetarian and vegan options can be arranged if you request them when booking. Drinks are not included and are paid on board.
The route takes in Wat Arun (the Temple of Dawn), the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, the Rama VIII Bridge, ICONSIAM and the Asiatique riverfront, all lit up after dark. The operator can change the route if water conditions require it.
Smart casual is the expectation, so no beachwear or flip-flops. Children are very welcome: the child rate covers ages 4 to 10, and infants aged 3 and under travel free. At least one adult must travel with any child booking.
You might also like these Bangkok tours
Chao Phraya Princess: Sunset or Dinner Cruise on the Chao Phraya
1-2 hoursNewfromTHB 850Free cancellation
