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

Pattaya’s All Star Dinner Cruise mixes a buffet meal, bay views, and a cabaret show into one fast-moving evening. The most memorable part is the switch from dinner to the stage, where transgender performers, including previous Tiffany Beauty Contest winners, bring polished costumes and big theatrical energy to the boat.

I like the unlimited beer and soft drinks, which makes the $45 price easier to judge, and I like the boat itself, with Thai teak decoration and a 20th-century Shanghai-style design. The main caution is crowd control: some recent departures have felt packed, with buffet congestion, limited room to move, and a show that may finish with paid photos at 100 baht each.

Key points to know

• A 90-minute evening cruise: The scheduled sailing runs from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm, making it easy to fit into a Pattaya night.
• Three food styles in one buffet: You can choose from seafood, Indian dishes, and international fare rather than one narrow menu.
• Cabaret with Tiffany contest performers: The show features transgender artists who have won previous Tiffany Beauty Contests.
• Drinks are included: Beer and soft drinks are unlimited during the cruise, though one booking found the beer served with ice rather than properly chilled.
• Photos cost extra: After the performance, you can pose with performers, but the stated charge is 100 baht per photo.
• Plan your arrival carefully: Exchange your ticket at Bali Hai Pier E from 6:00 to 6:15 pm, then board between 6:20 and 6:30 pm.

A Pattaya evening built around dinner and cabaret

This is not a quiet sunset sail. It is a compact entertainment package aimed at people who want dinner, music, drinks, and a stage show in one place.

You begin at All Star Cruise, located at Bali Hai Pier E in Pattaya. Once aboard, the boat’s Thai teak decoration and Shanghai-style design give the setting more character than a plain party boat. The decor points to an old-fashioned dining cruise, though the evening itself is firmly modern and show-focused.

The cruise is scheduled for 90 minutes. That is enough time for a meal and a performance, but not enough time for a long, peaceful meal followed by a leisurely sail. I would think of it as a lively dinner event with some time on the water, rather than a sightseeing cruise with entertainment added on.

The scenery is Pattaya Bay, with the chance to look back toward the city from the boat. The exact views will depend on the route and the light, but the early evening timing gives you a useful change of scene from Pattaya’s streets and hotel dining rooms.

Getting to Bali Hai Pier before the crowd

The meeting point is All Star Cruise at Bali Hai Pier E. Your ticket exchange window is listed as 6:00 to 6:15 pm, followed by boarding from 6:20 to 6:30 pm. The cruise is scheduled to leave at 6:30 pm and return at 8:00 pm.

I would treat the exchange period as a firm deadline. The boat does not include hotel pickup or drop-off, so you are responsible for reaching the pier and finding the correct boarding point. That matters in Pattaya, where evening traffic can slow a short journey.

The narrow gap between ticket exchange and boarding also leaves little room for confusion. Have your booking information ready, identify Pier E, and avoid arriving at the last second. The boat’s departure time is early enough that this can work well as a planned evening activity, but it is not a good choice if you want to decide spontaneously after dinner.

Welcome dancing and the first look at the boat

After boarding, the cruise begins with appetizers and a welcome dance performance. This opening helps set the tone: you are not being eased quietly into the evening. Music, food, and stage entertainment begin close together.

The boat’s Thai teak details and 20th-century Shanghai-style design are worth noticing before the main show starts. Those touches give you something to look at while you find your place and wait for the buffet to become the focus.

The opening dance also gives you an early sense of the crowd. This is a shared entertainment boat, not a private dining room. If you prefer calm conversation, you may find the music and activity strong from the start. If you enjoy a festive setting, the quick start works in the cruise’s favor.

What the buffet means at $45

The buffet includes seafood, Indian food, and international dishes. That range is useful if you are traveling with people who want different things from dinner. You can sample more than one style of food, and the buffet format lets you choose how much time and food you want.

At $45 per person, the value depends on how much you use the meal and drinks. Unlimited beer and soft drinks make the package more appealing to people who plan to have several drinks. The included cabaret show also saves you from paying separately for dinner and a stage performance elsewhere.

The food is the less certain part of the value. Some recent bookings found dishes cold and described the quality as basic. Another account described a disorderly rush to the buffet before everyone had boarded, with food taken quickly and some of it left uneaten.

That means you should approach the buffet with sensible expectations. This is mass catering on a short cruise, not a restaurant tasting menu. I would take a modest first plate, check what is fresh and appealing, then return for more if the food suits you.

The range is still a plus. Seafood, Indian dishes, and international options give you a better chance of finding something enjoyable than a fixed meal with one main course. But the buffet can become crowded, and the experience may depend on how well the serving process is managed on your departure.

One practical point is timing. Since the cruise is short, you do not want to spend the first half of it waiting in a food line. If the buffet opens in an orderly way, dinner should fit comfortably into the evening. If many people rush forward at once, the 90-minute schedule can feel even shorter.

The cabaret show takes center stage

The main performance features transgender cabaret artists known as the princesses on board. The performers include artists who have won previous Tiffany Beauty Contests, giving the show a connection to Pattaya’s long-running cabaret tradition.

Expect costumes, choreography, music, and a highly visual performance designed for a large audience. This is stage entertainment rather than a small cultural presentation, so the emphasis is on spectacle and personality.

The show is one of the strongest reasons to choose this cruise. You get dinner and a live performance in the same place, with no need to arrange transport between a restaurant and a cabaret venue. For a first evening in Pattaya, that compact format can be convenient.

The tradeoff is that the performance takes place in a crowded boat environment. One booking described little room to move around, especially during boarding. Children and audience noise may also affect your view or concentration. You should expect a public show with a mixed crowd, not a quiet theater with carefully controlled seating.

Photos after the performance

The program allows you to interact with the performers and take photos after the show. This can be a fun, personal finish, especially if you have a favorite performer or want a souvenir from the evening.

The important detail is the cost. One recent booking described a 100-baht charge for each photo. I would carry small Thai baht notes and ask about the price before posing, particularly if you are with a group and expect several pictures.

The photo period also appears to take up part of the final stretch of the cruise. One account said the last 20 minutes focused mainly on photos. That will feel worthwhile if meeting the performers is one of your reasons for booking. If you mainly want more cruising time or music, you may find the ending too sales-focused.

After the photos, disco beats continue for the rest of the sailing. This gives the cruise a party finish rather than a quiet return to the pier.

Drinks, views, and the short sailing window

Unlimited beer and soft drinks are included. That is a clear benefit for people who want to relax with a drink while watching the show or looking out over Pattaya Bay.

Do not assume the beer will always arrive in the way you prefer. One recent booking found it served with ice instead of being properly chilled. That is a small detail, but it matters when drinks are one of the main parts of the package.

The bay views are best treated as a pleasant layer around the meal and entertainment. You will have chances to look at Pattaya from the water, but the schedule is too short for this to be a major sightseeing voyage. The boat’s design and the evening light add atmosphere, while the music and stage program remain the focus.

If your ideal cruise means sitting outside in silence and watching the coast, this may not be the right fit. If you want a moving venue with a view, a drink, and a show, the balance makes more sense.

Handling the crowd and the schedule

The biggest practical weakness is organization. Some recent departures have been described as too busy, with poor flow during boarding and not enough room to move around. Buffet crowding can add to that feeling.

I would arrive on time rather than early enough to create a long wait at the pier, but I would not cut the exchange period close. Keep your ticket details handy, go directly to Pier E, and expect the boat to be active from the moment you board.

The scheduled 90 minutes also deserves a note. The advertised timing is 6:30 to 8:00 pm, but one booking reported a cruise of only 60 minutes. That may not happen on every departure, yet it is a real reason to avoid booking this as a tight connection to another event.

The score of 3.6 from 85 ratings reflects that mixed picture. The concept is appealing, and the show and drinks can deliver a good night. Food temperature, crowd control, photo charges, and the actual sailing length can decide whether the evening feels like good value or a rushed package.

Who will enjoy this Pattaya cruise

I would recommend it most to people who want several kinds of entertainment in one booking. It suits couples, groups of friends, and first-time Pattaya visitors who would like to see a cabaret show without arranging a separate venue.

It also works for anyone who values choice at dinner. The seafood, Indian, and international buffet gives you more flexibility than a single set menu, and unlimited beer and soft drinks may make the price reasonable for a social evening.

Families should think about the show and crowd before booking. The performance is theatrical and the boat can be noisy. A recent account also described children interrupting parts of the show, so the atmosphere may not be ideal if you want a calm, tightly managed family event.

I would skip it if food quality is your top priority, if you dislike crowded buffets, or if you want a long scenic cruise. You may also prefer a separate cabaret venue if you do not want paid photo opportunities to take over the end of the night.

Is the $45 price fair?

The price is fair when you use the package as intended: dinner, seafood and other buffet choices, unlimited beer and soft drinks, live cabaret, music, and a short cruise for $45.

The value drops if you eat little, do not drink, or mainly want open-water views. In that case, you are paying for features you may not use. The buffet quality and possible crowding also mean you should not book this expecting polished restaurant service.

The strongest value is convenience. You get a complete evening at one pier, with no separate dinner reservation, show ticket, or ride between venues. The weakest value is the limited control you have over the meal, seating atmosphere, and pace of the final photo session.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Pattaya plans are still changing, but they do not change the need to arrive during the stated ticket exchange window.

Should you book the All Star Dinner Cruise?

Book it if you want an energetic Pattaya night with cabaret, buffet food, and unlimited drinks in one package. The Tiffany contest connection, boat design, and bay setting add interest beyond a standard dinner.

Go in with realistic expectations. Allow time to reach Bali Hai Pier E, expect a crowded setting, check the buffet before taking a large plate, and keep 100 baht per photo in mind if you want pictures with the performers.

I would call it a reasonable choice for entertainment-first visitors, especially groups who enjoy music and a social atmosphere. I would not choose it for a quiet cruise, high-end dining, or a carefully timed 90-minute sightseeing experience.

FAQ

Where does the All Star Dinner Cruise depart from?

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

How much does the cruise cost?

The listed price is $45 per person.

How long does the cruise last?

The scheduled duration is 90 minutes, 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, Bali Hai Pier E.

When does boarding take place?

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

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to reach Bali Hai Pier E yourself.

What food is included?

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

Are drinks included?

Yes. Unlimited beer and soft drinks are included during the cruise.

What does the entertainment include?

The cruise includes a cabaret performance by transgender performers, including artists who have won previous Tiffany Beauty Contests. Afterward, you can take photos and interact with the performers, with a stated charge of 100 baht per photo.