Chao Phraya Princess Cruise: Piers, Prices & Tips

Featured image: TomaszSwatowski, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Chao Phraya Princess Cruise at a Glance

Chao Phraya Princess runs a buffet dinner on a large river vessel, with live music and an open-air deck. Standard night sessions check in between 17:30 and 19:00, depart at 19:30 and return about 21:30. A sunset session leaves Asiatique earlier, at 17:15. Vessels generally carry 300 to 500 guests, so expect a busy dining room rather than an intimate table. Times vary by seller and date, so your voucher is the final word.

• Duration: about 2 hours on the water
• Standard night: check-in 17:30-19:00, departs 19:30, returns about 21:30
• Sunset: check-in 15:30-17:00, departs 17:15, returns 18:30-18:45
• Landmarks: Wat Arun, Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew, Rama VIII Bridge, King Taksin Bridge
• Meal: international buffet, or an Indian buffet on the Terminal 21 Rama 3 session

What the Dinner Cruise Includes and What Costs Extra

Your ticket covers the cruise, a buffet dinner, a welcome drink and live music. Reserved seating and accident insurance appear on some listings. One seller also includes unlimited drinking water, tea and coffee. Alcohol is sold onboard at extra cost. Hotel transfers, gratuities, personal expenses and special-occasion add-ons such as cake or decorations are not included. Outside food and drink are not allowed on board.

• Included: cruise ticket, buffet, welcome drink, live music
• Extra: alcohol, hotel transfer, tips, cake or decorations
• Not allowed: outside food and drink

Which Departure Pier Should You Choose?

Three boarding points appear on listings. ICONSIAM check-in sits in the Sooksiam Zone on the G floor, next to the Naraya shop. Terminal 21 Rama 3 check-in is at Charoennakorn Soi 61 Pier and carries the Indian buffet session. Asiatique The Riverfront hosts the sunset session at Pier 1. Sellers disagree on the Asiatique counter: one says Warehouse 7-8, another says Warehouse 3. Follow the location printed on your own voucher. Pick the pier closest to your hotel, then choose the session that fits your evening.

Sunset Session vs Standard Night Cruise

Sunset is earlier, lighter on the wallet and finishes by about 18:45. You see the river in daylight and dusk, but Wat Arun and the Grand Palace are less lit than on a night sailing. The standard night session departs at 19:30 and returns about 21:30. It suits couples who want illuminated landmarks. It also costs more, at ฿1,200 against ฿950 for sunset on reseller listings. Tide can change the route, so no session promises every landmark. For other river options, see our Chao Phraya dinner cruise comparison.

Ticket Prices, Child Rules and Cancellation Terms

Prices and hours checked November 2026. Resellers list the standard adult ticket at ฿1,200, with ฿1,500 shown as the struck-through list price. The sunset ticket is listed at ฿950. A child ticket on the standard listing is also ฿950. Age rules: 0-3 years ride free on a lap, 4-10 years pay the child rate, and 11 or older pay the adult rate. One seller adds a 120 cm height test for the child rate, and another labels adult as 12+. Cancellation windows differ by seller. Some allow free cancellation up to 48 hours before, others 24 hours. Operators and resellers set these terms separately, so read yours before paying.

Getting to the Pier and Timing Your Evening

Hotel transfers are not included, so arrange your own ride. Arrive at least 30 minutes before the start time. One seller treats guests more than 10 minutes late as a no-show, and another says late arrivals may miss the cruise without refund. Bring your voucher and a passport or other ID for check-in. Plan on the return running past 21:30, because river traffic, weather and tide can delay disembarkation. Avoid booking a 22:00 onward plan on a night sailing.

• 17:00: arrive at your pier and find the check-in counter
• 17:30-19:00: check-in window on night sessions
• 19:30: departure
• About 21:30: scheduled return, with allowance for delay

What to Expect Onboard: Food, Seating, Music and Weather

This is a large-vessel buffet and sightseeing evening, not fine dining. Seats are assigned, and window and upper-deck seats are limited. You can sit in air-conditioned seating or step onto the open-air deck for photos near Rama VIII Bridge. Rain may close the open deck, though cruises generally run in most weather. Smoking is allowed only in designated areas. Dress smart casual. Leave beachwear, slippers and sleeveless shirts at the hotel.

Is It Right for You? Couples, Families, Groups and Who Should Skip

Couples get the best mood from the 19:30 night sailing. Families benefit from the child rates and the free lap seat for ages 0-3. Groups and celebrations suit the large dining room, though cake and decorations cost extra. Solo travelers can book a single seat at the adult rate. Skip it if you dislike live music, want a quiet table, or are uneasy in a room shared with hundreds of guests. Dietary needs are a question for your seller. Ask about halal and vegetarian options in writing before you book.

Chao Phraya Princess vs Other Bangkok Dinner Cruises

Pick Chao Phraya Princess for a large vessel, a choice of three piers and an Indian buffet option. Look at the Wonderful Pearl Dinner Cruise: Vessel, Pier & Seats if you want a different vessel and pier. A resort-style boat is covered in our White Orchid River Cruise Bangkok: Piers, Times & Tips guide. Prices, piers and meals differ, so compare the full evening cost before choosing.

Booking Tips, Peak Dates and Loy Krathong

Loy Krathong falls in November, and demand rises around it. One seller excludes its rate on Loy Krathong Day, 24 and 25 December, and 31 December to 1 January. Book early for those dates and ask the seller what the festival schedule includes. Do not assume a krathong ceremony or fireworks. Before paying, check that the voucher names the operator, the pier, the cancellation window and the weather policy.

• Voucher: operator or reseller?
• Pier and counter named on the voucher
• Cancellation window: 24 or 48 hours
• No-show cutoff and ID needed at check-in
• Weather policy for the open deck