The White Orchid: Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise Experience

Omg an absolute must do . Fantastic night out huge buffet, unlimited beer ,cheap cocktails ,incredible setting , entertainment is amazing

One unforgettable dinner cruise with family and friends. Did the sunset cruise with my family. The blend of the view with the music and sunset moment made the experience worthwhile. The dinner cruise with my friends was a blast. Dominated the dance floor! I wish they add pork grill or pork dishes to the buffet.

If you are looking for a relaxing evening with great food and views, keep looking. The White Orchid Dinner Cruise was a disorganized, claustrophobic "tourist trap" that failed on almost every level. The Chaos Starts at the Pier The lack of organization is staggering. We waited in line for two hours, only to watch latecomers cut the entire queue and board ahead of us while staff did absolutely nothing. There is zero crowd control or respect for those who show up on time. Zero Comfort, Zero Privacy Once on board, don't expect a "romantic" or "private" dinner. The tables are packed so tightly together that you can’t move, let alone have a private conversation. It felt less like a cruise and more like being crammed into a cafeteria. The "Buffet" Mess The boat is so overcrowded that the buffet becomes a total free-for-all. It’s messy, loud, and stressful. To make matters worse, the food was mediocre at best. For a cruise in Bangkok, there was almost no Thai food available except for some basic Pad Thai. A Sensory Overload (In a Bad Way) The noise level is unbearable. Between the so called "singer" and the general lack of acoustics, the music is so loud you can’t even hear yourself think. The atmosphere was so hectic and noisy that it was impossible to actually enjoy the beautiful river views. The Bottom Line: Save your money and your sanity. This is a poorly managed operation that prioritizes volume over value. Avoid at all costs.

As other reviews have said, the food was passable and the entertainment was okay-- there's so many people per boat that it gets quite loud and the buffet line gets hectic. The only reason to book this trip is the cruise -- which was quite a nice tour of a short segment of chaos praya river including the wat pho, wat Arun, and the grand palace. If there are cheaper boats you can take down the chao praya, do that instead of paying extra for this cruise and subpar food

I already going for dinner ,on the rooftop on the ship .Prices is 790 THB for 2hour Buffet.include beer and some alcohol ha hah so nice

Booked this evening dinner on the river to enjoy the sites with my wife. Having got to the venue quite early and into the queue, we watched the white orchid come in and looked forward to getting a nice table on the open top deck as looked lovely, but upon boarding we were taken by staff to a small wooden table in the middle of the middle deck, not at a window!! Pre allocated seating!! So….already disappointed, we joined the vast rabble for food as soon as the boat began to sail. We shouldn’t have bothered, the salad was warmer than the hot food!! Honestly, every item of ‘hot’ food was stone cold. So we decided on where to eat after, and just enjoyed a beer or two. Thankfully we were allowed to head out on deck to the front of the boat, and were able to take in the stunning views along the chao phraya river and some gorgeous photos. In short, don’t think you will sit in a seat of your choice, and have a nice dinner before you board. The sites up and down the river are beautiful for photos and this is the only positive….

The check-in process is so busy and only 1 person in the check in. The food was ok plenty off food . The staff were very polite and friendly

We were in Bangkok for a week and decided to do this excursion as part of our holiday in Bangkok. The cruise was rather crowded but getting on and off was not an issue. Entertainment was good and guest interactive, which is always nice to experience. Food was mediocre at best but lots of variety. Beer was flowing and included. A definite must do.

Tried to get on this before but was full so we went on the Chao Phraya Princess which was excellent we enjoyed it so much booked this this one for the following day. Left to stand for ages made as it was very late. Made to sit on inside so no chance to take photos. Drinks only beer included when it clearly states on their web site hard liquor is the only one you pay extra for, not true wine and soft drinks not included so kids don’t get a drink. Food ran out in ten minutes and was terrible. Seafood was on the upper deck only and was only prawns which I decided to avoid. Everything was self service which was a nightmare as they pack out all 3 decks! Beer was warm and flat as it was self service yet again from Kilmer jars. Entertainment last just over half an hour and was awful the reason for its sudden end they then moved to another deck to repeat it! Singing apart from one lady boy was dreadful. It was cringey they had audience up to sing wasn’t aware I’d paid for karaoke! They also had people up dancing which was not child appropriate as it was lewd and prerogative. Bar closed 45 minutes before the end. You are then frog marched to pay which they also got wrong so had to do this twice meaning two card fees. The whole thing was charros with people wondering around the whole night. Despite leaving late still went back at the same time. Leaving everyone was rushed. The difference between time on on Chao Phraya Princess the day before was unbelievable on there you got Excellent fast table service Yes you paid for drinks but they were extremely cheap had 6 large pitchers and a bottle of decent wine under £50. Food did not run out Loads of choice for seafood Sat outside able to take great photos Entertainment was fabulous and went on for about 1 and half hours Had the best night on the princess can’t say this about the White Orchard it was the worst evening out I have ever had if I could have left I would have!!!! No dress code either please save your money and go on Chao Phraya to have the best night out rather than this one which will be your worst. Everyone was complying Avoid

They did not have my tickets after I paid very stressful No reason was given why tickets were not available

I took my handicapped brother on this tour in a wheelchair. He can walk a little with assistance but for distances over 100m I mostly put him in a wheelchair. There are a lot of people on the wharf boarding these cruises and it can seem a little chaotic, but the boarding staff are really amazing. Really amazing. We got the ticket really quick and were put in a holding area to be boarded. I was expecting that we would sit on the lower level to avoid the stairs, but five crew members carried the wheelchair up three levels so that we could have a view from the top of the boat. As the cruise started, we were allowed to begin the buffet. My brother and I had a bit of a giggle because the mass of people behaved like they hadn't eaten in many days. Once the big rush was done, I was able to dish up for my brother from his wheelchair. As a chef, I can be a little picky over food, but I remind myself that this is a $50 cruise, and the buffet is very good value for money with plenty of choices all clearly labelled. Standout choices were the salmon, some really nice salads and the lemon fish. At the end of the cruise the five crew members arrived at our table with perfect timing and carried the wheelchair down again and back on to the wharf. All of this was done with in a very friendly, efficient and professional way. I cannot overstate how impressed I am with every member of staff on this cruise, and I hope that these wonderful people get to read how happy and grateful we are for this experience. People with handicaps have many limitations with what they can experience and days later my brother still recounts how he enjoyed the two hours on the boat. Thank you.

Trying to just get on the boat was a Zoo. No organization people running over people. The food was cold. People breaking in line for food. No coffee on first floor only on the 2nd floor. Very little seafood and the other food was some what ok

Food was good, views were amazing! The only thing are the tables are fairly close together (we didn’t mind but some people may).

Great fun, food, overall experience. Staff were friendly, helpful, and attentive. The views up and down the river were beautiful. We took the trip at sunset, for some great photos.

If you have not done this before, you need to do it. The hospitality, food and entertainment was excellent bar none.

Well, where do I begin? Let’s just say this dinner cruise left us more "meh" than mesmerized. The Boarding Chaos: It all started at “Asiatique The Riverfront,” a vibrant and modern riverfront development. Nice place, really. The problem? It’s also the epicenter for every river cruise in Bangkok. With multiple boats departing at roughly the same time, the whole area turns into a human traffic jam. Organized chaos might be a stretch—this was just chaos. Despite thinking we had our prepaid tickets ready to go, we learned (thanks to a helpful Russian couple) that we needed to visit the mysterious "ticket table" first. Would’ve been great to know this in advance. Once we secured our tickets, we waded through a sea of confused passengers to finally find the White Orchid’s line after a few wrong guesses. On Board the Glass Cage: Once aboard, we were escorted to the first floor, which I quickly dubbed “The Glass Cage.” This deck was encased in grimy 16” x 16” glass panes, which hadn’t seen a decent cleaning in who knows how long. The thick muntins between the panes made it even harder to appreciate the view. Hoping for a better vantage point, we asked to move to the upper deck, but alas, no dice. The Buffet Battle: In the middle of the "Glass Cage" was the buffet—a long line of lukewarm dishes and a token selection of beer. The options leaned heavily toward pasta and salads, and the food was as underwhelming as it was underheated. Honestly, it felt like the Health Department had taken the night off, because those trays weren’t even trying to stay warm. When they finally announced the buffet was open, it triggered a stampede of epic proportions. We waited for the frenzy to subside, only to find the food wasn’t worth the wait. Lukewarm noodles and uninspired salads aren’t exactly what you hope for on a "dinner cruise." The Entertainment (or Lack Thereof): Just as we were lamenting the food, the “entertainment” began—a mix of something vaguely resembling a Las Vegas revue. At first, it was fine, but then came the seemingly endless versions of “Happy Birthday.” Apparently, birthdays are a big deal on this boat. The song replayed so many times, I still hear it in my nightmares. The Saving Grace: We eventually escaped to the top deck, where the views of Bangkok’s illuminated skyline finally redeemed part of the evening. The scenery was breathtaking, and the cool night air made it a relaxing respite from the chaos below. Final Thoughts: Skip the "dinner" altogether. If you want a meal, pick a nice riverside restaurant. If you’re set on a dinner cruise, splurge on one with proper table service. For a pure sightseeing experience, find a quieter option that lets the views speak for themselves—no lukewarm buffets or endless birthday songs required. You’ve been warned.

The cruise up and down the river and views where good. The food on the cruise should have been better for the price paid. We got caught out, as the price advertised was not in local currency instead it was in USD and had this been more prominent, I would not have booked.

The experience of the White Orchid cruise was the most memorable part of our trip. We booked the evening cruise starting at 5:30 PM and queued up near the designated pier at Iconsiam Mall. It’s advisable to reach the pier early, considering the crowded area and the time it takes to navigate through the mall. The staff on the ground was extremely helpful, guiding us at every step until we boarded the cruise. Within the first five minutes of the cruise, the food was served, and the beer counter was open. I particularly loved the dessert corner with its variety of choices, but my favorite was the chocolate pastry. My mother, who gets seasick, had ice cream and fruit salad. She complimented the inclusion of dragon fruit, which is her favorite. The food served was mainly Asian-style, and it was extremely delicious. The best part was that the food was abundant and restocked throughout the cruise. My father truly enjoyed the unlimited supply of beer, and my sister delighted in her ice cream. The scenic beauty, as the warm sun slowly submerged into the horizon and the glittering lights of the city filled the sky, will be a memory engraved in my mind. The cruise showcased the entire city on its journey, with the most dramatic scene being the rays of light illuminating Wat Arun. For entertainment, we were serenaded by a beautiful singer. Her voice and stage presence lit up the entire cruise. I loved how she included members of the audience as well. I also got to celebrate my birthday on deck, which was the highlight of my year. The cruise ended, but as we made our way back from the pier, I witnessed a mesmerizing performance by Zee (a Thai actor). This is definitely a great way to experience the city and should be on every tourist's list.

Viator were correct in recommending plenty of check in time. I would like to say that Asiatic pier was organized chaos, but in fact, it was just chaos!!! The White Orchid desk was just a trestle table hidden by hundreds of tourists 200m down one of the walkways. Here you were supplied with a sticker and a ticket with your table number on. You then went back to the quayside to join a long queue for the boat! Once we stepped abord the boat we experienced excellence. We were immediately shown to our individual table with water and aperatif. The buffet was comprehensive and of high quality. The entertainment was professional and enjoyable. Altogether a good night and very good value, would recommend.

The cruise portion of this dinner cruise was very nice. The view from such boats is simply incredible, especially after dark. The food available on this particular dinner cruise was subpar. Most everything was a shade of brown, fried, and not particularly flavorful. Although we are in Thailand, nothing had any spice at all. It says if they cooked to the lowest common denominator. For this reason, while I recommend taking such a cruise, I don’t necessarily recommend taking this particular one.

Really enjoyed the cruise. The views were amazing. 5pm is the perfect time as you can see the city in daylight and dark. Beautiful sunset over Bangkok. Entertainment was good. Food was cold but still tasty.

The cruise is not bad. You get the experience of enjoying the radiant riverside of Bangkok. Stage performance was not bad also, they presented local songs as well as English songs. Food taste was pretty average. They provided Rice/ noodles/ fish/ chicken- two types of each, salad and deserts. Beer was unlimited. Did not taste it. The most important is considering all the goods and bads , the cruise seems quite overpriced. 50-55 USD /person. Not gives the value for money. 30 USD/ person could have been a justifiable price. I would not recommend it to anyone.

We had an amazing time here! The food was incredible, the service was top-notch, and the view was just stunning. It's a total must-see. And if you come at night, be sure to check out the night market outside - it's really cool.

The food is nothing special at all but the super loud music including 5 roaring loud “Happy Birthday” segments literally gave us a headache. If you wish soft drinks or ice cream you need to go down 2 flights of stairs. The views along the river were stunning but I recommend seeking out a quieter boat.

I bring my dad sibling to river cruise. They all are 75 years old and above. They all enjoy the sightseeing along the river. Food is not so fantastic but ok. I prefer rooftop seating. They have live band too. Its a new experiences for them. So its worth it.

A must do! We read a few negative reviews, but we decided to go for it Anyway - Best value for money EVER! Totally worth it! It’s not possible to have everything piping hot on an open deck boat so obviously from reviews you need to temper your expectations there, but the food and service was fenomenal! The scenery alone was worth the price of admission. Food and entertainment was a bonus! Everyone on board really enjoyed it! Highly recommend!

just refer to posted pics, or shall I amuse you with a bit of broken english talk? Opps, I need 100 characters, yup that's about it!

The food was terrible (as expected). The rest OK. Show ok, scenery and overall atmosphere good. Not a waste of time. Crowds everywhere because of the holiday which is normal.

The food and smooth cruising. The staff was great. ONE THING. You need better signs. VERY hard to find you if you are not familiar with location. Tell us on website that metting place is behind mall at riverfront.

The cruise ship was beautiful and comfortable. The view was the best! The food was of poor quality and taste. Bland and tasteless. Go for the cruise but avoid the dinner.

The pros - the views along the river are spectacular. The top deck doesn’t have a covering, so you get to see all the sights with no obstruction. Truly stunning. The performance was ok, the singing was good. It takes 2 hours, plenty of time to see and take as many photos as you want. The cons- the food is barely average, it’s edible though. The “unlimited beer” is served at the bar which is on the middle floor (?) so you’ll have to walk with your glass from your table, down the stairs, to get a refill each time. Pro tip- don’t be in a rush to get to the buffet. They’ll refill the food, so avoid the rush and crowd by waiting 15-20minutes.

We booked this through our hotel and paid 1800 baht per person, which I thought was slightly steep. We were picked up from our hotel and dropped back off (Pullman hotel). We had requested top deck seating which we were given - right next to the stage so it was very loud. People kept pushing past us to take pictures behind our table which eventually got a bit annoying. However the views were lovely. Unfortunately we didn’t get to see the grand palace/temple as the river level was high so the ship couldn’t pass under the bridge. The food was… interesting. The fries were cold and hard. The fish was okay. I asked if the chicken was halal and was told it was but I was unsure if it was or wasn’t so didn’t eat it. We don’t drink alcohol so avoided that, but were given one drink, not sure what it was but it was non alcoholic. There were about 3 tables of food laid out which contained rice, chicken, fries, noodles(?), salad and some desserts. The lady singing was average but the ladyboys show was good and they allowed you to take a pic with them afterwards (for a tip). The staff were welcoming as we got onto the boat and were directed to our table. This was a nice experience, but if you do book it do it for the experience and the views and not for the food. Definitely request a table on the top deck.

This White Orchid Cruise was epic! We cruised down the Chao Phraya River at night, gorging on a buffet of yummy Thai food and other stuff. The Bangkok lights were insane, and there was even a live band which was fun. Definitely recommend grabbing a table outside for the best views (and breeze!). Great Value too

A complete waste of money. Better doing a long boat cruise and getting dinner at one of the many local restaurants. Buffet was described as “Thai and international”. There were about 6 or 7 dishes - the international dish being fries!! We were on the open deck which is great for photographs but the food got cold quickly. Watching people rush to get their food was like watching ants eat a dropped ice cream. Horrific.

Excellent through out. Best food, best entertainment. Had a wonderful evening dining onboard and getting entertained and taking in the sights, all in one.

A good piece of advise would be if you are heading for hot food , wait until they refill the container when empty as that has been sitting there a while , bring ear defenders for the singer, and avoid the chaotic rush to board. Dont expect flowing beer taps its made quite difficult.

Ok, this is a mixed bag. First the boarding process is absolute chaos. Although they managed to get us on the right boat, the process was crazy and uncomfortable standing in a huge line. The entertainment was mostly good. The guy who was singing should never be allowed to sing in public again. It was like the worst karaoke you can imagine. The female singer was good and the traditional Thai dancers were beautiful. The crowd highlight was the ladyboy show. The show was good and they really went out of their way to take pictures and be welcoming to guests. The food was disappointing. The Larb was good, but as reported by others, most of the food was cold and inedible. The sushi and shashimi was just ok. The crowd swarmed the buffet like locusts and getting food is a downright unpleasant experience. If you sit on the upper deck you will see some amazing sights, but if you sit inside, although the air conditioning is nice, you will miss most of the sites while eating. The top deck is where you want to be for sightseeing, because there is no need to be there for the food. I would do another dinner cruise but nothing this big, chaotic, and with a buffet. There are cruises that offer sit down table service dinners. Do yourself a favor and book one of those.

Horrible food, we couldn’t even eat it. Worst pad Thai ever. Lower desks are super loud and unpleasant. We couldn’t wait to get off the boat. They played “happy birthday” for 10 minutes straight. Do yourself a favor and skip. I wouldn’t wish this on our worst enemy. Horrible. I’m sure all the boats are the same.

I had a blast dancing with the 40 year old Asian ladies also I don’t remember reading there was FREE BEER I sucked back like 9 of those puppies

I had a blast dinner time with my friends. They loved it too! The food was good, the musical band played so well & she had a good voice. Food was a lot and they kept on filling it out. This his a budget cruise and so worth the money.

All round poor, poorly organised, impossible to get to buffet Terrible singer, too noisy. Insufficient staff Couldn't wait to get off

I chose this cruise for sights from open upper deck. Seats were assigned. This was not explained. I was in middle of lowest deck next to buffet line Could see nothing Went to top deck after dinner not really even anywhere to stand. Food was good. Entertainment. Very loud all night all 3 floors. Would recommend if you can ask for top deck. Otherwise spend money on nice rooftop bar with view of major landmarks. Also. Booked once through. GetYourGuide.com for night of arrival. Flights delayed and they did nothing to allow us to reschedule

Very efficient staff. Clean boat. Nice entertainment. Good food and a wide variety to choose from. Great value for money.

The pros are the magical views from the top tier of the boat along the way and the entertainment which was spectacular and very well done. The cons were the buffet which was very lacklustre and we struggled to find something we wanted to eat. The organisation of getting to and on the boat very haphazard and confusing.

The food was OK. But I didnt go gor the food. The entertainment was great. Especially the ladyboy dancing and the traditional Tai girls with the traditional outfits. I bought a bottle of wine for 1500 TLB then found out the beer was free. It was clean and the service was stellar. BUT BE WARNED. There is a very good chance you will miss this. We got there just on time. We could not find the nplace to get the tickets. We couild not download them. We were sent on a wild goose chase. Had to take a water taxi then found out it was going in the wrond direction. The online meeting points led to nowhere. We found the sales desk and they could not give us a ticket. They sent us somewhere we could not find. I had almost given up and went back to sales desk and insisted on help as we had 20 minutes to departure. She brought us to another ferry that would take us to the boat. So I suggest to get there 2 to 3 hours early just to find out where you need to go.

Enjoyed the cruise and the shows. Had a great time. Food was average but everything else was wonderful.

Very poor buffet, little choice, plain food mainly cheap cuts of chicken, almost no seafood . Waste of money Boarding complete cahos

I had a magical experience during the cruise. The staff were friendly and helpful regardless of whether I was travelling solo. The food tasted good and the music excellent. A great night.

One of the best way to spend an evening with your partner while cruising through some of the majestic attractions of Bangkok along the Chao Phraya River. The variety of food was excellent and there is so much choice. The soup was excellent and they made more when I asked! On the night they had free beer which was nice and drink as much as you can. Overall a fantastic night on this budget cruise. You must try this when you visit Bangkok.