Pattaya: All Star Dinner Cruise, Cabaret Show & Beer Buffet

Pattaya’s All Star Dinner Cruise mixes three familiar holiday pleasures into one short evening: a buffet, free-flowing drinks, and a cabaret show on the water. The boat’s Thai teak decoration and 20th-century Shanghai-style design give the outing more character than a plain party vessel, while the sunset views across Pattaya Bay add a pleasant backdrop.

I like the wide food choice, especially the seafood and Indian dishes, and I like that beer and soft drinks are included rather than sold one glass at a time. The main catch is crowd control. The 90-minute schedule is tight, and poor buffet organization or a crowded boat can make the experience feel rushed.

Key points to know

• A short evening cruise: The advertised cruise runs from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm, with boarding shortly before departure.
• Three food styles in one buffet: You can choose from seafood, Indian food, and international dishes.
• Cabaret by award-winning performers: The show features transgender performers who have won Tiffany Beauty Contests.
• Unlimited beer and soft drinks: Beer is included, though it may be served with ice rather than properly chilled.
• Photo time costs extra: Photos with performers after the show are available for 100 baht.
• A busy, energetic setting: The atmosphere suits people who like music, crowds, and a lively group outing more than a quiet dinner.

What the All Star Cruise is really selling

This is not a refined restaurant cruise or a slow sightseeing voyage. It is a compact entertainment package aimed at visitors who want dinner, a show, and a drink in one booking.

For $45 per person, you are paying for the boat ride, buffet, cabaret performance, and unlimited beer and soft drinks. That can be fair value if you would otherwise pay separately for dinner and a cabaret show. The value weakens if your main goal is a peaceful meal, a spacious deck, or a long cruise through the bay.

I would think of it as a Pattaya night out with a view, not as a serious food tour or a romantic sailing trip. The boat gives you a change of scene from the city, but the heart of the evening is the performance and party atmosphere.

Getting to Bali Hai Pier before 6:20 pm

You need to make your own way to All Star Cruise at Bali Hai Pier E in Pattaya. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so allow enough time to reach the pier and find the correct boarding point.

Ticket exchange is scheduled from 6:00 pm to 6:15 pm. Boarding follows from 6:20 pm to 6:30 pm, with the cruise leaving at 6:30 pm. This is not a good activity for arriving at the last second. A busy pier, traffic, or confusion over the meeting point can eat up the few minutes available.

Have the meeting details ready on your phone. The stated meeting point is All Star Cruise Pattaya at Bali Hai Pier E. Since several boats and operators use the pier area, checking the boat name and pier section before you set out is sensible.

A Thai teak boat with a Shanghai-style look

The vessel is decorated with Thai teak and designed with a 20th-century Shanghai style. That gives the first part of the evening a little visual interest before the entertainment begins.

You can expect a boat built for group dining and performance rather than a small, intimate sailing experience. The seating and movement areas may feel tight when the boat is full. One operational complaint describes the vessel as too crowded, with little room to move after boarding. I would keep your expectations practical: this is a shared excursion, and personal space may be limited.

The design matters because it helps the cruise feel like an occasion. You are not simply eating in a room with windows. You are moving around Pattaya Bay on a themed boat, with the city and water providing the setting. Still, the boat’s decoration cannot make up for poor organization, so the boarding process matters.

Welcome dancing and the first buffet rush

The cruise begins with a welcome dance performance and appetizers. This gives you an immediate taste of the evening’s style: colorful entertainment, music, and food served in a social setting.

The buffet includes seafood, Indian dishes, and international food. That variety is useful for mixed groups. Someone wanting seafood can build a plate around it, while another person can choose Indian or more familiar international dishes. You are not locked into one menu or a formal sequence of courses.

The main practical issue is timing. The advertised cruise lasts 90 minutes, and a buffet takes time. Boarding, finding a place to sit, collecting food, watching the show, taking photos, and enjoying the final music all compete for the same short window.

You should not wait too long to look at the buffet. At the same time, a rushed first wave can create its own problems. The cruise needs a clear buffet opening and a sensible flow, but you may find the food area crowded shortly after boarding. If you are dining with a group, one person can secure the table while another checks the food.

Food quality appears to be uneven. Some people may find the selection useful and satisfying, while a poor service run could leave dishes lukewarm or make the meal feel inexpensive. This is a mass-market buffet, so I would choose items that look freshly replenished and avoid expecting restaurant-level cooking.

Seafood, Indian food, and international choices

The strongest food feature is choice, not fine dining. Seafood gives the meal a Pattaya flavor, while Indian and international dishes make the buffet easier for a mixed party.

That range can be especially helpful if you are traveling with children or with people who have different tastes. One person can try local-style seafood while another sticks with familiar dishes. You also have the freedom to sample a little before settling on a plate.

I would treat dinner as part of the entertainment package rather than the reason to book on its own. The $45 price includes several elements, so the meal does not need to carry the entire value of the evening. But if you are booking mainly for food, you may be disappointed by the basic buffet presentation and the risk of cold dishes.

The drinks improve the value for people who plan to drink. Unlimited beer and soft drinks are included, which means you do not need to watch every glass on the bill. One useful caution: beer may be served with ice instead of being properly chilled. If cold beer matters to you, ask how it is being served early in the cruise rather than assuming it will arrive from a refrigerator.

The cabaret show and Tiffany-winning performers

The central event is the cabaret show by transgender performers, described as winners of previous Tiffany Beauty Contests. Tiffany is one of Thailand’s best-known transgender beauty pageants, so this detail helps explain the polished, glamorous style promised by the show.

Expect costumes, music, choreography, and a stage performance designed for a broad audience. The show is not presented as a small theater production. It is part of a dinner cruise, so the room, tables, food service, and audience activity all share the same space.

That setting can be fun, but it also brings distractions. A busy dining room makes it harder to focus on every number. Children moving around, people collecting food, and guests taking pictures may interrupt the performance. If you want the clearest view, try to settle near the performance area before the main show begins.

The performers are also part of the photo experience. After the show, you can interact with your favorite performer and take pictures. The listed extra charge is 100 baht per photo opportunity, so bring small cash if you plan to join in. This fee is separate from the cruise price and should be treated as an optional add-on, not a surprise part of the ticket.

Pattaya Bay views between the performances

The water is the calm counterpoint to the indoor entertainment. During the cruise, you can look across Pattaya Bay and see the city from a different angle. The view gives you a break from the buffet and stage, especially during the short periods between performances.

The cruise is scheduled in the evening, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. That timing should give you changing light as the boat moves through the bay, although the exact view depends on the weather and the route used that night.

Do not book this as a dedicated sightseeing cruise. The main attention stays on dinner and the show. You may get attractive views, but the experience does not promise a detailed tour commentary or a series of sightseeing stops. It is better for enjoying the setting than for learning about Pattaya’s waterfront.

Music, photos, and the last 20 minutes

After the main cabaret, the cruise shifts toward music and dancing. Disco beats carry the final part of the evening, making the boat feel more like a floating party than a dinner venue.

This is where the activity divides people. If you enjoy joining a group atmosphere, taking pictures, and moving to familiar music, the ending may be the most relaxed part. If you prefer a quiet finish, the music and crowd may feel too much.

The photo period deserves special attention. The final 20 minutes can become heavily focused on pictures with the performers, with the 100-baht fee attached to each photo opportunity. That can be enjoyable if you have chosen this kind of entertainment. It can also feel like valuable cruise time is being redirected toward paid photos, especially when the full evening is only 90 minutes.

Keep an eye on the clock. The boat is due back at the pier at 8:00 pm, and the short schedule means the last part of the cruise can pass quickly.

How the price compares with the experience

At $45 per person, the package is easiest to justify when you value several inclusions at once. Dinner, seafood, Indian and international food, unlimited beer and soft drinks, a cabaret show, and a boat ride would cost more if purchased as separate activities.

The price is less attractive for a person who drinks little, eats lightly, or mainly wants scenery. You are paying for the full package, including the social energy and stage entertainment. The buffet does not appear to be positioned as luxury dining, and the cruise is not long enough to feel like a full evening on the water.

I see the best value for couples who want a simple night out, groups looking for a shared activity, and visitors who have not yet seen a Pattaya cabaret show. It can also work for people who want plenty of drink included in the ticket.

I would hesitate if you dislike crowded venues, need a quiet meal, or care deeply about food temperature and service order. A 3.6 rating from 85 reviews reflects that mixed picture: the concept is appealing, but the execution may vary.

Who should book the All Star Dinner Cruise

This cruise suits you if you want:

• A convenient combination of buffet dinner and cabaret
• Seafood, Indian food, and international choices in one meal
• Unlimited beer and soft drinks included in the price
• A lively group setting with music and dancing
• An easy way to add a Pattaya Bay boat ride to your evening
• Photo opportunities with the performers after the show

You may want another activity if you want a quiet, spacious dinner or a carefully served meal. The boat can feel crowded, and the buffet may not open or flow as smoothly as you would like. You should also allow for the possibility that the evening may feel shorter than expected. The official schedule is 90 minutes, but one reported experience lasted closer to 60 minutes.

The cruise is also not ideal if you want a serious cabaret theater production. The show is part of a meal and party package, with people moving around and eating nearby.

Timing, refunds, and useful booking details

The meeting point is All Star Cruise Pattaya at Bali Hai Pier E. Exchange your ticket between 6:00 pm and 6:15 pm, board between 6:20 pm and 6:30 pm, and expect the cruise to run from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm.

Hotel transportation is not included. The listed price is $45 per person. Dinner, the cabaret performance, the international and seafood buffet, unlimited beer, and soft drinks are included. Hotel pickup, hotel drop-off, and paid performer photos are not included.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available, which helps if your Pattaya schedule is not fixed.

Should you book this Pattaya cruise?

Book it if you want a busy, all-in-one evening with food, drinks, cabaret, photos, and water views. The unusual boat design and Tiffany-winning performers add more character than a standard dinner buffet, and the unlimited drinks can make the $45 price reasonable.

Skip it if your priorities are excellent food, calm surroundings, or generous time. The 90-minute schedule leaves little room for delays, and crowding, buffet management, or paid photo time may reduce the pleasure.

My practical advice is to book this as entertainment first and dinner second. Arrive early at Bali Hai Pier, expect a shared and energetic boat, and decide in advance whether performer photos are worth the extra 100 baht. With those expectations, you can enjoy what the cruise does well without asking it to be something it is not.

FAQ

Where does the All Star Dinner Cruise depart from?

The meeting point is All Star Cruise Pattaya at Bali Hai Pier E in Chonburi Province, Thailand.

How long does the cruise last?

The scheduled duration is 90 minutes. The listed cruise time is from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm.

When do I exchange my ticket?

Ticket exchange is scheduled from 6:00 pm to 6:15 pm at All Star Cruise Pattaya, Bali Hai Pier E.

When does boarding take place?

Boarding is scheduled from 6:20 pm to 6:30 pm.

What food is included?

The dinner is an international buffet with seafood and Indian food options.

Are drinks included in the ticket?

Yes. Unlimited beer and soft drinks are included.

Is the cabaret show included?

Yes. The cabaret performance is included in the cruise package.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

No. You must make your own way to and from Bali Hai Pier E.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.