Marina views
Evening cruises show Dubai Marina’s lit skyline, Bluewaters and Ain Dubai from the water.
Alexandra Dhow Cruise Dubai Marina
Dubai Marina
Alexandra Dhow Cruise is a floating restaurant running dinner cruises through Dubai Marina, pairing skyline views with an international buffet and live entertainment. It suits an evening out when you want sightseeing from the water alongside a meal, rather than a conventional restaurant setting.
Reputation Score
4.6
★★★★★
2,154 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Upper deck
The open upper deck is repeatedly praised for breezes, sunsets and clearer skyline views.
Live shows
The Tanoura performance and other live entertainment add a lively, interactive element to dinner.
Buffet variety
Reviews mention international dishes, salads, desserts and quick refills, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices.
Grilled favourites
Grilled beef and chicken were singled out as especially tasty, alongside salads and pastries.
Celebrations
The crew has arranged birthday songs, cakes and anniversary candle moments during cruises.
Smooth boarding
Several guests found the booking directions, boarding process and departure well organised and punctual.
Two decks
The lower deck is air-conditioned while the upper deck is open, giving guests a choice of setting.
What to Eat at Alexandra Dhow Cruise Dubai Marina How we choose these items We use AI to find praise and criticism of specific foods and drinks in a selection of Google reviews. For Alexandra Dhow Cruise Dubai Marina, this list is based on 50 reviews, not every review of the restaurant. We still have more reviews to analyze, so the scores may change. The score is positive reviews minus negative reviews. For example, two positive reviews and one negative review give +1. Each review counts once per item; neutral comments do not change the score. A zero score is not a positive recommendation. “Only neutral feedback” means there are no positive or negative votes. “Mixed feedback” means equal numbers of positive and negative votes. The quotes are examples of what people said, not every comment we counted. We use different reviews where we can. We normally show up to 10 foods and 5 drinks with non-negative scores. Items with the same score stay together. If a tied group would go past the limit, that group and the lower non-negative scores go into Honorable mentions. If an overflowing positive top tie would leave the list empty, we show up to 10 items from that tie and keep the rest in Honorable mentions. Foods and drinks with a negative score are under What to Avoid. Use this as a guide to what reviewers liked, not a guarantee that you will like it too.
These items at Alexandra Dhow Cruise Dubai Marina got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 5
-
Grilled chicken Net +2
“The food was actually really good for a boat cruise (the grilled chicken and salads were my favorites) and the staff were super friendly.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food was actually really good for a boat cruise (the grilled chicken and salads were my favorites) and the staff were super friendly.”February 2026
“Foods were incredible especially the grilled beef and chicken which were my favorite, they really taste superb.”June 2026
-
Fruit salad Net +1
“While enjoying the beautiful views through Marina, JLT and Bluewaters, the buffet was laid out, from salads and samosas at appetizers, with varieties of chicken, fish, pasta dishes, and vegetable rice at main course, and assorted pastries, Fruit salad and english cake for desserts. All the dishes were well cooked and tasted really good. Desserts were truly refreshing!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“While enjoying the beautiful views through Marina, JLT and Bluewaters, the buffet was laid out, from salads and samosas at appetizers, with varieties of chicken, fish, pasta dishes, and vegetable rice at main course, and assorted pastries, Fruit salad and english cake for desserts. All the dishes were well cooked and tasted really good. Desserts were truly refreshing!”April 2021
-
Grilled beef Net +1
“Foods were incredible especially the grilled beef and chicken which were my favorite, they really taste superb.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Foods were incredible especially the grilled beef and chicken which were my favorite, they really taste superb.”June 2026
-
Veg spring rolls Net +1
“We especially enjoyed the veg spring rolls, pasta, chicken, and the dessert.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We especially enjoyed the veg spring rolls, pasta, chicken, and the dessert.”January 2026
-
Yellow indian daal Net +1
“Food tasted very delicious! They had variety of food choices and it was cooked well and tasted good. Clearly chef Naeem khan did a good job! The yellow Indian daal was yummy!!!! I had two plates :)”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food tasted very delicious! They had variety of food choices and it was cooked well and tasted good. Clearly chef Naeem khan did a good job! The yellow Indian daal was yummy!!!! I had two plates :)”September 2021
What to Avoid (1)
Drinks 1
-
Dates coffee Net −1
“Sadly dates coffee was missing as was mentioned in the menu.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Sadly dates coffee was missing as was mentioned in the menu.”January 2025
Tips for a Better Visit
Request upstairs. Ask for an upper-deck seat when booking if views and breeze matter most.
Arrive early. Arrive early and board early to improve your chances of getting a better-positioned table.
Bring a jacket. For cooler winter evenings, bring a jacket; one January guest experienced temperatures around 12°C.
Check buffet. If the buffet is central to your decision, confirm the current menu and food offering before paying.
Choose lower deck. With a baby or when you prefer air-conditioning, the lower deck may be more comfortable.
Confirm directions. Keep the post-booking directions handy; guests found them accurate and helpful for reaching the departure point.
Plan the visit
Practical details
West Bay, Berth A11, Yacht Club
Marsa Dubai - Dubai Marina, Dubai
| Mon | 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Tue | 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Wed | 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Thu | 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Fri | 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Sat | 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Sun | 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
Common Concerns
Food inconsistency
Food feedback ranges from excellent to average or terrible, so buffet quality can be uneven.
Deck crowding
One guest reported people blocking the aisle, bumping chairs and leaving dirty dishes on tables during dinner.
Vegetarian choice
One review found that the vegetarian selection was limited.
Music quality
A solo diner enjoyed the dancer but felt the music could have been better for much of the cruise.
Missing item
A guest noted that the dates coffee listed on the menu was not available.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
180-195aed
international buffet
“The only downside was the FOOD! :( It was not international buffet, I did not eat much and thought that the 180-195aed price per person is not worth it (in my opinion, it should be 85-100aed)”Google review · December 2025
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Alexandra Dhow Cruise is a floating dinner restaurant moving through Dubai Marina, so the main draw is the combination of a meal, skyline sightseeing and live entertainment. Guests can expect a buffet dinner, a Tanoura performance and views towards Bluewaters and Ain Dubai. It feels more like an evening outing than a standard restaurant meal.
The upper deck is the place to aim for if you want sunset colour, reflected city lights and an open-air breeze. The lower deck is air-conditioned and may suit families with babies or anyone who prefers a more sheltered setting. Reviews also mention comfortable seating, clean presentation and generally smooth, punctual boarding.
Food feedback is mixed. Many guests enjoyed the variety, quick refills, grilled chicken, grilled beef, salads, spring rolls and desserts, while others called the food average or poor and one found the vegetarian choices limited. That makes checking the current buffet worthwhile, especially since one reviewer felt a 180–195 AED per-person price was not justified by the food.
For a better chance at a good table, arrive early and request upstairs seating. Winter evenings can be cool enough to need a jacket. Celebrations are possible too: reviewers describe birthday songs, cakes and anniversary candle arrangements.