Best 10 Bangkok River Cruise: Price Comparison & My Experience.
Imagine experiencing the breathtaking beauty of the Bangkok skyline, lit with city lights, along with delicious food and some music playing in the background. That’s the kind of unique experience you’ll get if you embark on one of these Bangkok River Cruises. Bangkok is one of the most developed cities in the world with a river passing through the center of the city. The Chao Phraya River flows through Bangkok all year round. From a traveler’s perspective, the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok is mainly famous for its river cruises. At the end of this blog, you’ll get to know some of the best 10 Bangkok River Cruise and where to book them, and I’ll be sharing my personal experience as well.
Listed below are the best 10 Bangkok River Cruises with the highest number of bookings and the best Google reviews.
1)Chao Phraya Princess
The Chao Phraya Princess cruise is the most popular river cruise among tourists in Bangkok. They have a total of 8 cruises, the highest among other cruise operators in Bangkok. Founded in 1990, they have maintained their reputation as a leading brand in the floating restaurant industry to date.
Google Rating & Reviews count: 4.4 star rating & 2,400+ reviews.
Klook Rating & Bookings count: 4.6 star rating & 200k+ bookings.
Food Cuisine & Menu
The Chao Phraya Princess cruise offers 2 buffet programs:
- International Buffet Program:
The international buffet program is mainly focused on seafood. They serve Thai, Japanese, and Continental cuisines under the International Buffet.
- Indian Buffet Program.
The Indian buffet is a mix of both North Indian and South Indian cuisines. They serve both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes as well.
- Sunset buffet program.
The Sunset buffet can be availed only if you opt for the Sunset cruise. The Sunset buffet is essentially the International buffet with a few dishes missing out.
Entertainment: Live Music
In the Chao Phraya Princess cruise you’ll get to experience live music(not DJ) sung by local musicians while you are relaxing during your cruise. The genre of Live music depends on the buffet program you choose.
If you opt for an International buffet, they’ll perform some popular English album songs. If you choose an Indian buffet, it’s straightforward; they perform popular Indian film songs, mostly from North Indian films.
Timings & Duration
The dinner cruise timing is from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM. The total duration of the dinner cruise is exactly 2 hours.
The sunset cruise timing is from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM. The duration of the sunset cruise is exactly 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Boarding Point & Cruise Route
Chao Phraya Princess Cruise boards passengers from 2 boarding points in Bangkok. Similar to choosing the dinner buffet program, you’ll need to choose your boarding point as well.
- ICONSIAM Pier:
ICONSIAM pier is literally behind the famous ICONSIAM mall. If you opt to board from here, you can spend some quality time in the ICONSIAM mall before or after your cruise. You can plan accordingly.
- Asiatique Pier
Asiatique Pier is located at the famous Asiatique The Riverfront. Even here, you can plan to spend quality time before or after your cruise.
Even if you start your cruise from ICONSIAM Pier, the cruise goes until the Rama VIII bridge and then returns to the Asiatique Riverfront. However, the cruise won’t dock at the Asiatique Riverfront; it returns to ICONSIAM Pier where the 2-hour cruise ends. Essentially, you board and arrive at the same pier.
Price Comparison & Where To Buy
| Deck | Chao Phraya Princess Official Site | Klook | Headout | Viator by TripAdvisor |
| Lower Deck | 33.93 USD / 2,807 INR / 1,200 THB | 33.95 USD /2,808 INR /1200 INR | 33.88 USD / 2,804 INR / 1199 THB | 35.36 USD / 2,929 INR / 1251 THB |
| Upper Deck | NA | 42.40 USD/ 3,509 INR /1,500 THB | NA | 44.50 USD / 3,683 INR / 1,574 THB |
| View | View | View | View |
The price difference is more or less the same when compared to the Chao Phraya Princess official site, except for Viator. Reservations made using the official site are non-refundable.
When using travel platforms like Klook, Headout, or Viator, you can cancel the tickets up to 24 hours before the cruise begins and receive a full refund without any cancellation charges.
I booked using Klook along with a discount of up to 10% and got the tickets at the price of 31.10 USD / 2,574 INR / 1,100 THB. Feel free to use the discount codes ‘BetterOnApp’ and ‘BetterOnApp2’ to avail a 5% discount when booking through Klook.
My Experience With Chao Phraya Princess River Cruise.
I chose the Chao Phraya Princess River Cruise mainly because it was popular and most preferred by tourists among the Bangkok River Cruises. The ratings and reviews were also factors in my decision. For your information, I booked the dinner cruise with the Indian buffet.
I boarded the cruise from the ICONSIAM pier. The departure time was 7:30 PM. I redeemed the ticket minutes before the departure. The redemption experience was quick; all you need to do is show the QR code, which you receive after purchasing online, and the representative will scan it to give you the physical tickets.
Klook.comRegarding my cruise experience, starting with the food and music: The food was served hot and fresh, and the taste was good. They served all the dishes mentioned in their menu. As I mentioned above, the songs were sung by local Thai musicians. Imagine a Thai person singing Hindi songs; that is what you can expect on these Bangkok River Cruise. Honestly speaking, it was not bad at all.
A mistake I made that you could avoid: Unknowingly, I booked the lower deck, where you can’t get a better view outside. This is a mistake that most people make. People often think that getting to the upper deck is based on a first-come, first-serve basis, but the reality is that you need to buy the upper deck ticket separately, which is comparatively more expensive. This confusion arises because most sites or agents don’t mention or inform the buyers about this.
But After having dinner, I was able to enjoy the breathtaking view of the Bangkok skyline from the outside, i.e the lobby area. The overall experience was really good. Honestly, I loved it.
Top Vlogs Featuring Chao Phraya Princess Cruise
2) White Orchid cruise
The White Orchid Cruise is the second most popular Chao Phraya River cruise in Bangkok based on the number of bookings. One of the major highlights of the White Orchid Cruise is that they feature Thailand’s famous cabaret show on board, which you can’t experience on the Chao Phraya Princess Cruise. While it’s not the same as the cabaret shows conducted in drama theaters, it offers a lighter version of the experience.
Google Rating & Reviews count: 3.9 star rating & 400+ reviews.
Klook Rating & Bookings count: 4.5 star rating & 80k+ bookings.
Food Cuisine
The White Orchid Cruise offers one buffet option, the International buffet. This buffet features a mix of both Thai cuisine and Western cuisine. While there is no official menu listed from the White Orchid Cruise, guests can expect a variety of dishes from both Thai and Western culinary traditions.
Entertainment: Cabaret Show, Thai classical dance, Live Music.
As mentioned, the White Orchid Cruise features the famous Thailand Cabaret show as one of its main attractions. In addition to the Cabaret show, you can also enjoy Thai classical dance and live music. The live music offers a mix of both Thai music and Western songs.
The classical dance performance showcases traditional Thai style, adding to the cultural experience onboard. With three different types of performances—Cabaret show, classical dance, and live music—the White Orchid Cruise guarantees entertainment for all guests, engaging you with a variety of engaging performances. This variety is a major highlight of the White Orchid Cruise experience.
Timings & Duration
The twilight dinner cruise timings are from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, with a duration of 2 hours.
The regular dinner cruise timings are from 7:45 PM to 9:45 PM, also with a duration of 2 hours.
Boarding Point & Route
The White Orchid Cruise boards passengers from 2 boarding points in Bangkok, which are commonly used by most Bangkok river cruises:
- ICONSIAM Pier
Located behind the famous ICONSIAM mall.
- Asiatique Pier
Located behind the famous Asiatique The Riverfront.
The White Orchid Cruise starts from their respective boarding points at either ICONSIAM Pier or Asiatique Pier, then proceeds along the Chao Phraya River until it reaches the Rama VIII bridge. After reaching the Rama VIII bridge, the cruise returns to where it started, either ICONSIAM Pier or Asiatique Pier, completing the journey.
Price Comparison & Where To Buy
| White Orchid Cruise Official Site | Klook | Headout | Viator by TripAdvisor |
| NA | 25.35 USD / 2,083 INR / 899 THB | 25.19 USD / 2,086 INR / 899 THB | 43.42 USD / 3,596 INR /1,545 THB |
All the prices mentioned above are for the Dinner cruise. If you book the White Orchid Cruise through Headout, the reservation is non-refundable.
However, if you book through Klook, it is refundable without any cancellation charges.
Top Vlogs Featuring White Orchid Cruise
3) Royal Princess Cruise
The Royal Princess is a stunning 3-deck cruise that graces the Chao Phraya River. It offers you the opportunity to experience the traditional Thai classical dance show and enjoy live duo singing performances.
Google Rating & Reviews count: 3.1 star rating & 100+ reviews.
Klook Rating & Bookings count: 4.4 star rating & 40k+ bookings.
Food Cuisine & Menu
The Royal Princess Cruise offers a single buffet option, which is the International & seafood buffet, available for both the sunset and dinner cruises. However, there are some variations in the menu between the sunset and dinner cruises.
- Dinner – International & Seafood buffet
The dinner menu, featuring the International and seafood buffet, mainly consists of Continental, Indian, Thai cuisine dishes, and more.
- Sunset – International & Seafood buffet.
The sunset menu providing the International buffet & seafood buffet mainly consist of mix of Continental, Chinese, Thai cuisine dishes etc.,
Entertainment: Thai Classical Dance & Live music
In the Royal Princess Cruise, you will have the pleasure of enjoying both Thai classical dance and live singing performed by local Thai performers.
Additionally, a talented duo will entertain you with international hits, mainly in English, creating a delightful atmosphere onboard.
Timings & Duration
The Royal Princess Twilight dinner cruise timings are from 5:15 PM to 7:15 PM, with a duration of 2 hours.
The Royal Princess Dinner cruise timings are from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM, also with a duration of 2 hours.
Boarding Point & Route
Unlike other Bangkok River Cruises, the Royal Princess Cruise boards passengers exclusively from one boarding point, which is the Asiatique Pier. Both the boarding and arrival occur at the Asiatique Pier, situated behind the renowned Asiatique The Riverfront.
The cruise embarks from the Asiatique Pier, journeys along the Chao Phraya River until it reaches the famous Rama VIII bridge, and then returns to the Asiatique Pier, completing the round trip.
Price Comparison & Where To Buy
| Royal Princess Cruise official site | Klook | Headout | Viator by Tripadvisor |
| NA | 27.65 USD / 2,290 INR / 990 THB | 27.65 USD / 2,292 INR / 990 THB | 33.61 USD / 2,786 INR / 1,202 THB |
All the prices mentioned above are for the Dinner cruise. If you book the Royal Princess cruise through Headout, the reservation is non-refundable.
However, if you book through Klook, it is refundable without any cancellation charges.
Top Vlogs Featuring Royal Princess Cruise
4) Meridian Dinner Cruise
The Meridian Cruise is one of the cruises where you can enjoy live singing from Filipinos, as mentioned on their official site, along with a Thai classical dance show. Personally, during my trip, I’ve seen the Meridian Cruise along the Chao Phraya River and didn’t find it to be a visually appealing cruise. First impressions do matter, right?
Google Rating & Reviews count: 3.6 star rating & 100+ reviews.
Klook Rating & Bookings count: 4.4 star rating & 50k+ bookings.
Food Cuisines & Menu
The Meridian Cruise provides a single buffet option, which is the International & seafood buffet.
- Dinner – International & Seafood buffet
For dinner, the International and seafood buffet offers a variety of dishes, mainly consisting of Thai, Indian, and Continental cuisine.
- Sunset – International & Seafood buffet.
The sunset menu on the Meridian Cruise is also based on the dinner menu but with a reduced number of dishes.
Entertainment: Thai Classical Dance & Live music
Similar to the Royal Princess cruise, the Meridian cruise also provides entertainment to engage you through traditional Thai classical dance by Thai locals and live singing sung by Filipinos.
Timings & Duration
Meridian Sunset cruise timings are from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM, with a duration of 2 hours.
Meridian Dinner cruise timings are from 7:45 PM to 9:45 PM, with a duration of 2 hours.
Boarding Point & Route
The boarding point for the Meridian cruise is only at ICONSIAM Pier; there is no boarding at Asiatique Pier.
Similar to other cruises, the Meridian cruise starts at ICONSIAM Pier and travels until the Rama VIII bridge. The cruise ends back at ICONSIAM Pier.
Price Comparison & Where To Buy Tickets
| Meridian Cruise official site | Klook | Headout | Viator by Tripadvisor |
| NA | 25.09 USD / 2,079 INR / 899 THB | 24.64 USD / 2,043 INR / 880 THB | 30.60 USD / 2,537 INR / 1,095 THB |
Free cancellation can be done up to 24 hours prior to the start of your cruise in both Klook and Headout.
There is an official website for Meridian Cruise, but I couldn’t reserve tickets due to unknown reasons.
Top Vlogs Featuring Meridian Cruise
5) The Chao Phraya Cruise
The Chao Phraya Cruise company has 2 cruises in its fleet. Both cruises have 2 decks; the lower one is air-conditioned, and the upper one is open-air. It is one of the familiar cruises in Bangkok.
Google Rating & Reviews count: 4.3 star rating & 500+ reviews.
Klook Rating & Bookings count: 4.5 star rating & 20k+ bookings.
Food Cuisines & Menu
The Chao Phraya Cruise provides a single buffet option: the International & Seafood buffet. The dinner menu consists of a variety of dishes, with most of them originating from Thai and Continental cuisine.
Additionally, there is no mention of the sunset cruise menu on their official site or other travel platforms.
Entertainment: Thai Classical Dance & Live music
You’ll get to immerse yourself in live entertainment through Thai classical dance and live music performed by local Thai musicians. Regardless of which deck you cruise on, you will experience both the Thai classical dance and live music one after the other.
Timings & Duration
The Chao Phraya Dinner cruise operates from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, with a duration of 2 hours.
Boarding Point & Route
You can board the Chao Phraya Cruise at the Asiatique pier, located behind the famous Asiatique The Riverfront. There is only one boarding point for the Chao Phraya Cruise.
The cruise route starts from the Asiatique pier, goes to the Rama VIII bridge, and then returns to the Asiatique pier.
Price Comparison & Where to Buy tickets
| Chao Phraya Cruise official site | Klook | Headout | Viator by Tripadvisor |
| 39.06 USD / 3,238 INR / 1,400 THB | 27.59 USD / 2,197 INR / 990 THB | 33.61 USD / 2,785 INR / 1,200 THB | 72.95 USD /6,047 INR / 2,610 THB |
In Klook, you can cancel your booking up to 24 hrs prior to your cruise starting time, without any cancellation charges.
Headout & Chao Phraya cruise official site does not provide this flexibility.
Top vlogs featuring Royal Princess Cruise
Other Popular Bangkok River Cruise
Apart from the top 5 picks I’ve listed above, here are some of the other popular cruises in Bangkok:
- The Opulence Cruise – Special Mention
If you prefer a cruise that is not too crowded with tourists and you desire ultra-luxury, then I’d suggest The Opulence cruise. However, it’s worth noting that most people don’t choose this option due to its nearly double price compared to other Bangkok river cruises.
Google Rating & Reviews count: 4.0 star rating & 20+ reviews.
Google Rating & Reviews count: 2.8 star rating & 80+ reviews.
Google Rating & Reviews count: 4.1 star rating & 100+ reviews.
Google Rating & Reviews count: 1.0 star rating & 0 reviews.
Google Rating & Reviews count: NA
Among the five cruises mentioned above, The Opulence cruise stands out as the most luxurious and visually appealing option. However, its pricing is notably higher compared to the other cruises.
Perks of Booking Bangkok River Cruise online.
Booking the cruise online provides you with the flexibility to choose from multiple available options. Additionally, using travel platforms like Klook, Headout, etc., will give you the option to cancel your booking if needed without incurring any cancellation charges.
In contrast, if you book tickets in person or at the last moment, you may not secure a ticket since these cruises have limited seats and are typically pre-booked. Alternatively, local travel agents may try to charge you more, knowing that you are desperate to obtain a ticket, and thus, you may end up paying whatever they quote.
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Final Suggestions
Personally, I found the Chao Phraya Princess Cruise to be enjoyable, particularly with its live music entertainment. However, the White Orchid Cruise offers a more diverse range of entertainment options, including live music, a cabaret show, and Thai classical dance. In terms of value for money, the White Orchid Cruise appears to provide a more comprehensive experience. Feel free to leave a comment if you find this blog helpful. Thanks.
