Philadelphia: Buffet Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Cruise

Philadelphia looks different from the water, and that is the main reason to book this cruise. From Penn’s Landing, you glide along the Delaware River with views of the historic waterfront and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge while your meal, music, and evening plans all happen in one place. I like the reserved private table and the chance to move between the dining room, dance floor, and rooftop lounge without giving up the view.

I also like the choice of brunch, lunch, or dinner, since the best departure depends on your schedule and the kind of skyline you want to see. The main drawback is value: at $68 per person, the food may not satisfy diners expecting a high-end restaurant meal, and the early timing can disappoint if you want Philadelphia’s lights at night.

Key points to know before boarding

• The view changes with your meal: Brunch offers daylight and bottomless mimosas, while dinner gives you the best chance of seeing the waterfront after dark.
• Your table is reserved: You do not need to compete for a seat in the climate-controlled dining room, but one reservation is needed for your whole party if you want to sit together.
• The buffet is broad rather than fancy: Expect salads, vegetables, pasta, chicken, fish, meatballs, and desserts, with braised short ribs and extra dessert options at dinner.
• The boat is part restaurant, part party venue: An onboard DJ, dance floor, games, and rooftop lounge make this more than a quiet sightseeing ride.
• Brunch has the clearest drink value: Bottomless mimosas are included for adults age 21 and older, while alcohol, soda, and juice cost extra on lunch and dinner departures.
• Penn’s Landing can be confusing: The meeting point is 401 South Columbus Boulevard, so check the pier details carefully before you set out.

What the Spirit of Philadelphia cruise is really like

This is a dining cruise first and a sightseeing cruise second. You board the Spirit of Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing, settle at your reserved table, and spend roughly two to two and a half hours moving between a meal, river views, music, and open-air deck time.

The climate-controlled dining room matters more than it may sound. Philadelphia weather can shift quickly, and you can eat in comfort before stepping outside for photos or fresh air. You are not forced to choose between staying warm and seeing the river.

The route focuses on Philadelphia’s waterfront rather than a long list of narrated historic stops. The Benjamin Franklin Bridge is the headline sight, along with views across the river and back toward the city. I would not book this as a detailed history tour. Book it for the changing views, the relaxed pace, and the chance to combine dinner or brunch with a little sightseeing.

The mood depends heavily on your departure. Brunch and lunch tend to suit daytime plans, family outings, and visitors who want clear views. Dinner should appeal to couples, birthday groups, and anyone looking for music and dancing with a city backdrop. One practical warning comes from the timing: if you choose an early sailing but hoped to see Philadelphia illuminated at night, you may feel that the schedule misses the point.

Boarding at Penn’s Landing

The meeting point is Penn’s Landing at 401 South Columbus Boulevard. You will need to make your own way there, since hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Allow extra time to find the correct side of the pier. The departure area can be confusing, and incorrect directions could leave you walking around the waterfront in bad weather. One booking issue even involved someone being sent to the opposite side of the pier during heavy rain, so I would check the exact boarding instructions before leaving your hotel and avoid arriving at the last minute.

Bring a passport or ID card, especially if you plan to drink. Warm clothing is also wise, even for a summer cruise, because the outdoor decks can feel cooler once the boat is moving. Closed-toe shoes are required as part of the recommended preparation, and smoking is not allowed indoors.

The ship is wheelchair accessible. If you are bringing an infant, select the free infant ticket option when booking. An infant may be free, but leaving the child off the reservation could cause an admission problem.

Choosing brunch, lunch, or dinner

Your meal choice changes the character of the whole outing.

Brunch with bottomless mimosas

Brunch is the strongest choice if you care about drink value. Adults age 21 and older receive bottomless mimosas, and coffee, hot tea, and iced tea are included as well. Daylight also gives you the clearest look at the riverfront and bridge.

The tradeoff is that brunch is not an evening event. If your ideal cruise includes city lights, a nighttime atmosphere, and a later dance floor, brunch will feel too early. It is better suited to a weekend celebration, a relaxed morning activity, or a group that wants sightseeing without giving up much of the day.

Lunch with daylight views

Lunch gives you a middle ground. You still get daylight for seeing the waterfront, but you avoid the morning start of brunch. The buffet is the same general format, though some dinner-only dishes and desserts are not available.

Alcohol, soda, and juice are not included with lunch. You can buy drinks from the fully stocked bar, and seasonal cocktails, wine pairings, or beer are available for purchase. Coffee, hot tea, and iced tea are included.

Dinner with music and city views

Dinner is the natural fit if you want a social night out. The DJ, dance floor, rooftop lounge, and river views work together better after sunset, although the exact departure time matters. Check the schedule rather than assuming every dinner cruise will be a late-night sailing.

Dinner also brings a few extra buffet choices. Braised beef short ribs are listed as a dinner-only entrée, while red velvet and chocolate chip brownie are added to the dessert selection. These details help justify choosing dinner if you want the fullest menu, but they do not turn the cruise into a luxury dining experience.

The buffet: plenty of choice, modest expectations

The meal is described as a chef-prepared three-course buffet, with salads, main dishes, side dishes, and desserts. Seasonal ingredients are prepared fresh daily, but the format is designed to feed a broad range of tastes rather than deliver a carefully paced restaurant meal.

The salad section includes organic mixed field greens, organic spinach and kale salad, green bean salad, kidney bean, black bean, and chickpea salad, red beetroot salad, and bow tie pasta salad. That is useful for mixed groups, since you can build a lighter plate before choosing a heavier entrée.

Side dishes include roasted broccoli florets, creamed corn and cheddar cheese casserole, baked ziti pasta, and mashed potatoes. The main options are oven-baked Atlantic flounder filet, honey and sesame chicken, and Italian beef meatballs. Dinner adds braised beef short ribs.

Desserts include seasonal fruit, raspberry mousse, lemon pound cake with fresh strawberries, coconut vanilla cake, and carrot cake. Dinner adds red velvet and chocolate chip brownie.

I would set your expectations at solid buffet fare, not a destination meal. At $68, the price includes the cruise, reserved seating, entertainment, and the setting, so you are paying for the full outing. Still, one diner found the food poor value for the price, and that is a fair concern if your main goal is an excellent meal. If you want a special restaurant dinner first and a boat ride second, this may not be the right pick.

From table to dance floor

The entertainment is built into the evening rather than added as a formal show. An onboard DJ plays music, and you can move to the dance floor after eating. The ship also has games, which gives families and mixed-age groups something to do beyond sitting at the table.

Music is a personal matter. One request for more oldies points to a useful reality: the playlist may not suit everyone. If your group wants a quiet meal with soft background music, you may find the party atmosphere too active. If you like a casual celebration, the DJ and dance floor are part of the value.

The best approach is to treat the boat as a flexible space. Eat when you like, take a walk around the decks, check out the games, and return to your table when you want a break. You are not locked into a single view or activity for the whole two hours.

The rooftop lounge and Delaware River views

The open-air rooftop lounge is one of the better features of the cruise. It gives you a higher, wider view than the dining room, with a chance to see both the city and the river in one sweep. You can also step outside for photos of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and the waterfront.

The rooftop is weather-dependent in practical terms. Warm clothing is a smart idea, and you may prefer the enclosed dining room if wind or cold sets in. The ship gives you both options, which is more useful than an experience with only outdoor seating.

Do not expect a narrated sightseeing tour with a guide pointing out every building. The value here is visual and social. You get time on the water, a different angle on Philadelphia, and a moving backdrop for a meal or celebration.

Is $68 a fair price?

At $68 per person, this is not a bargain meal. It becomes better value when you use all parts of the experience: the river cruise, reserved table, buffet, included nonalcoholic hot and iced tea, DJ, games, and rooftop access.

Brunch offers the clearest financial advantage because bottomless mimosas are included for adults age 21 and older. Lunch and dinner are harder to price because alcoholic drinks, soda, and juice cost extra. If your group plans to order several drinks, the final bill will rise.

The price makes sense for a birthday, anniversary, family celebration, or group outing where convenience matters. You get a meal and an activity in one booking, with no need to arrange a separate dinner and evening entertainment.

The price makes less sense if you mainly want a river view. You could find a cheaper sightseeing option elsewhere, then spend your meal budget at a Philadelphia restaurant. Choose this cruise when the combined experience matters more than the food alone.

Who should book this cruise?

I would recommend it to you if you want a low-effort group activity with food, music, and scenery. It suits people who enjoy a social setting and like having several ways to spend the time. Families can use the games and open decks, while adults can make more of the bar and dance floor.

Brunch is best for adults who want the included mimosas and daytime views. Lunch works for a flexible sightseeing schedule. Dinner fits a celebration, but check the departure time if nighttime views are important.

I would be more cautious if you are a serious food lover, a quiet diner, or someone seeking detailed Philadelphia history. The buffet has variety, but the food is not the sole reason to pay the fare. The sightseeing is pleasant, but it is not a guided city tour.

The overall rating is 4.2 from 122 ratings, with especially strong praise for the fun and general experience. That matches the way I would frame it: this is a well-liked outing when you see it as a floating celebration, not as a fine-dining cruise.

Practical booking advice

Make one reservation for your entire group. Separate bookings do not guarantee that everyone will sit together, even if you enter the same date and departure.

Check the exact meeting instructions and allow time for Penn’s Landing. Bring identification, warm clothing, and closed-toe shoes. If you need wheelchair access, the cruise is listed as wheelchair accessible.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and reserve now while paying later if that option is offered for your booking. That flexibility helps when your Philadelphia schedule is still changing.

Should you book the Spirit of Philadelphia?

Book it if you want a social river outing with a meal, DJ, dancing, games, and a rooftop view. Brunch is the best value for adults who will use the bottomless mimosas, while dinner is the better fit for a celebration and evening atmosphere.

Skip it if your top priority is gourmet food, a quiet meal, or a detailed history lesson. At $68, you are buying the whole package. For the right group, that package is easy and fun. For a food-first diner, it may feel expensive.

FAQ

Where does the Philadelphia dining cruise depart?

The cruise departs from Penn’s Landing at 401 South Columbus Boulevard in Philadelphia.

How long is the Spirit of Philadelphia cruise?

The cruise lasts about two to two and a half hours.

What meal options are available?

You can choose a brunch, lunch, or dinner cruise. Each option includes a buffet meal.

Are bottomless mimosas included?

Bottomless mimosas are included with the brunch option for adults age 21 and older.

Are alcoholic drinks included with lunch or dinner?

No. Alcoholic drinks, soda, and juice are available for purchase. Coffee, hot tea, and iced tea are included.

Can my group sit together?

To help ensure that your group is seated together, make one reservation for the entire party. Separate reservations do not guarantee shared seating.

Is the cruise wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.

Can I cancel my reservation?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.