Dinner Cruises

Dinner Cruises

Though they're definitely a very touristy endeavor, lunch or dinner cruises on the Chao Phraya River are worth considering. They're a great way to see the city while enjoying a good meal. Two-hour cruises on modern boats or refurbished rice barges include a buffet or set-menu dinner and often feature live music and sometimes a traditional dance show. Many companies also offer a less expensive lunch cruise. Reservations are a must for some of the more popular cruises; in general, it's wise to reserve a few days in advance for all dinner cruises.

Horizon (Shangri-La Hotel, 89 Soi Wat Suan Phu, New Rd., Silom. 02/236-7777) departs each evening at 7:30 PM and costs B1,400 per person. There's also a daylong lunch cruise to Ayutthaya and back for B1,600. It departs at 8 AM and returns around 5 PM. Manohra Song (Marriott Royal Garden Riverside Hotel, 257/1-3 Charoen Krung Rd. (New Rd.), Thonburi. 02/476-0021. www.manohracruises.com) has both lunch and dinner cruises. This is the most beautiful dinner boat on the river, a refurbished old rice barge with wood so polished you can almost see your reflection. However, it's smaller than most of the others, with less space to walk around. Dinner is B1,400 per person. Yok Yor (Wisutikasat Rd. at Yok Yor Pier, across from River City Shopping Center, Thonburi. 02/863-0565) departs each evening at 8:30. The boat ticket costs B70; food is ordered à la carte.