Alexandra Sea Lounge Dinner Cruise in Dubai

Alexandra Sea Lounge is an evening dinner cruise in Dubai Marina aboard a 100-foot, two-deck catamaran, with an international buffet, a live grill station and live music as the towers of the Marina and JBR slide past. It is the younger sister of the long-running Alexandra Dhow Cruise, run by the same team, but swaps the traditional wooden dhow for a more modern catamaran with a fully equipped kitchen on board.

Boarding is at 8.15pm, the boat sets off at 9pm and returns at 10.45pm, so the whole evening from boarding to return takes about two and a half hours, with roughly an hour and three-quarters on the water.

How the evening runs

Boarding opens at 8.15pm, when you take your table on your chosen deck. That 45 minutes before departure is a good window to settle in, take photos from the berth and get drinks ordered. At 9pm the catamaran pulls away from the berth and makes its way along the Marina, with dinner, the singer and the DJ filling the cruise. By 10.45pm you are back at West Bay, early enough to carry on along the Marina Walk or head home.

Catamaran or dhow?

If you have seen the Alexandra Dhow Cruise, the difference is mainly the boat. A dhow is a traditional wooden sailing vessel of the Gulf, and dhow cruises lean into that heritage feel. The Sea Lounge catamaran is broader and more modern, with two full decks, a proper galley kitchen and a choice between open air and air conditioning, so it feels more like a floating restaurant than a heritage boat trip.

Choosing your deck

When you book, you choose a table on either the upper or the lower deck, and it is the main decision to make:

• Upper deck: open air, with the best of the views and the breeze off the water. In the cooler months from November to March this is where most people will want to be.
• Lower deck: air-conditioned and enclosed, which makes it the more comfortable choice on warm or humid evenings, and for anyone who prefers a calmer, indoor setting.

Both decks have the same buffet and soft drinks. Guests are asked to stay at their assigned table rather than gathering elsewhere on board, so pick the deck you would be happy on for the whole cruise.

Dinner on board

Dinner is a full-course international buffet with live grill cuisine, cooked in the catamaran’s own kitchen. No dish list is published, so the spread can change, but the combination of buffet counters and a live grill gives a good range for mixed groups.

Soft drinks and water are included. Alcoholic drinks are available on board at an extra charge, as the boat has a licensed bar. Outside food, drinks, glassware and alcohol cannot be brought on board.

Music and atmosphere

Entertainment comes from a live female singer and a DJ, keeping the mood relaxed while you eat. This is a dinner cruise rather than a party boat: dancing is not allowed on board, and the operator discourages guests from photographing or posting images of other passengers. The result is a calm, sociable evening that suits families and couples as much as groups of friends.

The route through Dubai Marina

The cruise loops through Dubai Marina, one of the world’s largest man-made marinas, a channel lined by some of the city’s tallest residential towers. At night the skyline is lit up on both sides, and the views of the Marina and JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residence) are the highlight. Some operators also mention Ain Dubai on Bluewaters Island, the giant observation wheel just off JBR, among the sights on the way.

The operator describes the cruise as suitable for people of all ages, including expectant mothers, which makes it an easy pick for a mixed group of generations.

Who it suits

• Families: tickets are split into children aged 5 to 11 and adults aged 12 and over, and the no-dancing, table-based format keeps things easy with children.
• Couples: an upper-deck table after dark is a simple date night without needing to leave the Marina.
• Visitors: an easy introduction to the Marina skyline from the water, finishing before 11pm.
• Groups and colleagues: everyone eats from the same buffet, so there is no ordering to manage.

Before you go

• Booking: online booking is mandatory, and all bookings are final and fully non-refundable.
• ID: every guest must carry valid photo ID to board.
• Dress code: smart casual. Beachwear is not allowed.
• Boarding point: West Bay, Berth A11, Yacht Club, Dubai Marina. Aim to arrive for the 8.15pm boarding so you are seated before the 9pm departure.
• By Metro: get off at DMCC station, then walk a short distance or take a taxi.
• By car: there is parking near the yacht club. Most taxi drivers know the location.
• Transfers: hotel and residence transfers are not included.

For more ideas on the water and after dark, browse our dinner and brunch guide, nightlife picks, more attractions and the full list of things to do in Dubai.