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

Pattaya’s All Star Cruise combines three very different treats in one short evening: a buffet dinner, a cabaret show, and drinks while the boat moves around Pattaya Bay. The most distinctive part is the performance by transgender entertainers who have won Tiffany Beauty Contests, followed by a chance to take photos with them.

I like the Thai teak and 20th-century Shanghai-style boat, which gives the outing more character than a plain party vessel. I also like the practical all-inclusive setup: seafood, Indian and international dishes, unlimited beer and soft drinks, and a return to Bali Hai Pier after 90 minutes. The main caution is organization. The boat can feel crowded, the buffet may be rushed, and one recent booking account reported only about 60 minutes on board instead of the advertised 90.

Key points to know before you book

• A compact 90-minute evening: Dinner, cabaret, photos, and disco music all share a tight schedule.
• Three buffet styles: You can choose from seafood, Indian food, and international dishes.
• A cabaret with a clear Pattaya identity: The performers are transgender entertainers, including artists linked to Tiffany Beauty Contests.
• Unlimited beer and soft drinks: The drinks are included, though beer may be served with ice rather than fully chilled.
• Bali Hai Pier is your responsibility: Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, and ticket exchange is at Pier E.
• Crowding is the main concern: The buffet and photo time may become disorderly when the boat is full.

What this Pattaya cruise is really selling

This is not a quiet sunset dinner with a refined restaurant menu. It is a short, social show boat aimed at people who want a lively night out without arranging separate meals, entertainment, and drinks.

For $45 per person, you are paying for several pieces at once. The price includes the boat ride, dinner, seafood and other buffet choices, a cabaret performance, unlimited beer, and soft drinks. If you would otherwise pay separately for a meal, a cabaret ticket, and drinks, the package can make sense.

The trade-off is polish. You should expect a busy group setting rather than a calm meal beside the water. The boat’s design adds atmosphere, but the experience depends heavily on crowd size and how well the evening is managed.

I would book it for a first visit to Pattaya if you enjoy stage shows, group nightlife, and a casual buffet. I would skip it if your main goal is good food, quiet conversation, or a long, leisurely cruise.

Arriving at Bali Hai Pier E

The meeting point is All Star Cruise Pattaya at Bali Hai Pier E. You need to exchange your ticket between 6:00 and 6:15 p.m., then board from 6:20 to 6:30 p.m. The boat leaves at 6:30 p.m. and is scheduled to return at 8:00 p.m.

These times are close together, so I would not arrive at the pier at the last minute. The important thing is to reach the correct pier section, complete the ticket exchange, and board before the boat leaves. Hotel transportation is not included, so you must arrange your own way to Bali Hai Pier.

Bali Hai Pier is a practical departure point for Pattaya’s evening boat trips, but it can be busy and confusing when several groups arrive at once. Keep your booking details ready and allow time to find Pier E. The supplied meeting-point information does not name a personal guide, so do not expect to look for a guide by name.

Boarding a teak boat with Shanghai-style details

The vessel is presented as a Thai teak boat with a 20th-century Shanghai-style design. That detail matters because the boat itself provides much of the evening’s setting. You are not simply eating inside a generic floating hall.

The traditional woodwork and Shanghai-inspired touches give the cruise a themed look, while the moving views provide a change from Pattaya’s usual restaurants and bars. You can look out across Pattaya Bay as the boat travels, though the supplied details do not promise a particular route or landmark-by-landmark commentary.

A welcome dance and appetizers begin the evening. This gives the cruise an immediate performance element before the main cabaret, but it also means the night starts at a fairly quick pace. You will not have much time to settle in before the food and entertainment take over.

How the 90-minute schedule unfolds

The advertised cruise lasts from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. That is enough time for a compact dinner show, but not enough for a slow meal followed by a full-length theater production.

The evening generally moves through these stages:

• Boarding and welcome dance
• Appetizers and buffet dinner
• Cabaret performance
• Photos and interaction with performers
• Disco music before returning to the pier

The order and exact timing can vary, but the basic point is clear: several activities compete for your attention. If you want to eat comfortably, watch every part of the show, take photos, and enjoy the views, you will need to make choices as the evening moves along.

One important caution is the reported difference between the advertised and actual duration. The official schedule gives you 90 minutes, while one recent booking account described a trip of roughly 60 minutes. That appears to be an operational problem rather than the planned schedule, but it is worth knowing before you pay. If you have a later reservation, do not build a tight connection around the 8:00 p.m. return time.

Choosing from the buffet

Dinner is served as a buffet with seafood, Indian food, and international options. This broad mix works well for a group with different tastes. One person can choose seafood, another can select Indian dishes, and a less adventurous eater can stay with familiar international food.

The buffet format is also useful when you do not want to commit to a set menu. You can sample several dishes and go back for more if the service allows enough time. Seafood is one of the main selling points, but the available information does not specify particular seafood items, so I would not book this solely for one special dish.

Food quality and temperature are the biggest question marks. One recent account found much of the food cold and described it as very basic. That does not mean every departure will be the same, but it does set a realistic expectation: think functional group buffet, not destination dining.

There has also been a problem with the buffet opening before everyone was properly settled. A recent account described guests rushing to the food while boarding was still taking place, which created confusion and left some food being taken before it was eaten. The practical lesson is simple: eat early if the buffet opens, but do not expect a calm, orderly restaurant service.

If food is central to your Pattaya plans, I would choose a dedicated restaurant instead. If food is one part of a larger evening package, the range of seafood, Indian, and international dishes gives you enough choice to make the meal worthwhile.

Beer, soft drinks, and the value of the open bar

Unlimited beer and soft drinks are included in the $45 price. This can improve the value for people who plan to have several drinks during the cruise. It also keeps the evening simple, since you are not stopping to order each drink or watch a separate bar bill grow.

The beer service may not suit everyone. One recent booking account specifically preferred colder beer and disliked having ice used to chill it. That is a small detail, but cold drinks matter on a warm evening, especially when the cruise is built around a beer buffet.

I would treat the open bar as a useful bonus rather than the main reason to book. The value depends on how much you drink and how much time you have after eating and watching the show. Unlimited drinks do not help much if the boat is crowded or the operating time is shorter than expected.

Soft drinks make the package more suitable for mixed groups. You can enjoy the cruise without drinking alcohol, though the supplied information does not list specific soft drink choices.

The cabaret and the performers

The cabaret is the heart of the experience. The performers are transgender entertainers described as princesses, with some having won previous Tiffany Beauty Contests. The show gives the cruise a distinctly Pattaya style, mixing stage glamour, costumes, music, and audience interaction.

You should expect a lively popular show rather than a formal theater production. The performance is designed for a group dinner setting, so people will be eating, drinking, taking photos, and moving around while the entertainers perform.

After the main show, you can interact with the performers and take photos. This is a major draw for some people, especially if you enjoy meeting entertainers and keeping a personal souvenir of the evening. It is also the part of the night that requires the clearest understanding of costs and timing.

One recent account described the final 20 minutes as heavily focused on photo opportunities, with a 100-baht charge mentioned for pictures. The supplied package details do not list those photo costs as included. I would carry small Thai baht and ask about the price before taking a photo, rather than assuming it is free.

If you prefer to watch the show without participating in photos, you can simply remain an audience member. If you want a picture, be ready for a queue or a quick interaction, especially when the boat is full.

Pattaya Bay views and the disco finish

The cruise gives you views of Pattaya from the water, which changes the feel of the evening. Even a short boat ride can make familiar shore views feel different, and the open-water setting breaks up the buffet and stage show.

The scenic element is supportive rather than the whole purpose of the trip. There is no detailed route or promise of specific sunset viewpoints, so I would not compare this with a dedicated sightseeing cruise. You are buying a dinner show that happens to move through Pattaya Bay.

After the cabaret and photos, disco music keeps the boat lively until the return to the pier. This works best if you want to dance, listen to music, or continue the social mood after the formal performance. It works less well if you are hoping for a quiet final course and a peaceful ride back.

Crowding, timing, and what can go wrong

Crowding is the clearest practical weakness. A recent booking account described the boat as too busy, poorly organized during boarding, and short on room to move. Another account described children interrupting the show and buffet service becoming disorderly.

That does not make the cruise unsuitable for everyone, but it tells you what kind of patience you need. You may have to wait for a place at the buffet, move around other diners to see the performers, or accept that not every moment will feel controlled.

The short schedule makes crowding more noticeable. On a three-hour cruise, a slow buffet opening would be annoying. On a 90-minute cruise, it can take up a large part of your evening.

I would also keep your expectations flexible about the advertised duration. The scheduled times are clear, but at least one recent account reported a much shorter trip. If your evening depends on a prompt return, have a backup plan and avoid booking another activity immediately afterward.

Who will enjoy this most

I think this cruise suits you best if you want:

• A single package combining food, drinks, entertainment, and a boat ride
• A playful cabaret rather than a quiet cultural performance
• Seafood, Indian dishes, and international food in one buffet
• An open beer and soft drink arrangement
• A social evening with photo opportunities
• A short activity before more nightlife in Pattaya

It is less suitable if you want:

• A calm, spacious dinner
• Restaurant-level food quality
• A carefully timed theater performance
• A private or romantic cruise
• Guaranteed food temperature and smooth buffet service
• A fully reliable 90-minute operating time

Families should think about the show format and the group atmosphere before booking. The supplied information specifically notes disruption from children during one performance, so this is not necessarily the best choice if you want a quiet family dinner.

Is $45 good value?

At $45, the cruise can be fair value if you use several parts of the package. Seafood, buffet dinner, cabaret, unlimited drinks, and a boat ride would cost more if purchased separately, especially for someone who plans to drink beer.

The value drops if you mainly want a good meal. Cold or basic buffet food, a rushed schedule, and a crowded dining area would make the price feel high. It also drops if you do not drink and have little interest in photos or disco music.

My way of judging it is to count the experience as a package, not as a restaurant. You are paying for a fun, slightly chaotic night with many elements packed together. That can be enjoyable when the group energy is right. It can feel poor value when organization slips.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity and the option to reserve now and pay later reduce the risk of committing far in advance. Still, those booking benefits do not change the basic question: are you looking for a polished dinner, or a lively show with food attached?

Should you book the All Star Cruise?

Book it if you want a compact Pattaya night built around cabaret, drinks, and social energy. The Thai teak boat, Shanghai-style decoration, bay views, buffet range, and transgender performers give it a clear personality. The open bar is a useful addition, and the photo opportunity will appeal to many people.

Skip it if you are fussy about food temperature, personal space, or exact timing. The most serious concerns are the reported crowding, buffet disorder, possible photo charges, and one report of a cruise lasting only about 60 minutes.

My advice is to book this as a casual entertainment package, not as a special gourmet dinner or a serene cruise. Arrive early at Bali Hai Pier E, keep small baht available for photos, eat promptly, and leave room in your evening schedule in case the return timing shifts.

FAQ

Where does the All Star Dinner Cruise depart from?

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

What time should I exchange my ticket?

Ticket exchange is scheduled from 6:00 to 6:15 p.m. Boarding is scheduled from 6:20 to 6:30 p.m.

What time does the cruise run?

The scheduled cruise time is 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., for a total of 90 minutes.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to make your own way to Bali Hai Pier E.

What food is included?

The dinner is an international buffet with seafood, Indian food, and other international dishes.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Unlimited beer and soft drinks are included in the activity.

Can I cancel or pay later?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The activity also offers reserve now and pay later booking.