When its about New Year in Dubai, most people first think about Burj Khalifa fireworks and Downtown. But anyone who went there once will tell you that the crowd is too much, the roads get closed early and you have to stand for many hours just to see 10 minutes of fireworks. That is why from last few years the New Year cruise has become very popular among residents and tourists both. You sit on the boat with dinner and at 12 the fireworks are right in front of you.
Now the problem is that there are lot of operators and lot of packages, dhow cruise, mega yacht, private yacht, and all of them look almost same on the website. So people usually get confused which one to book. Here I am sharing the points which I think you should check before paying for any New Year cruise in Dubai.
1. Check the Route and Fireworks View
First thing is the location, since the fireworks you will see depends totally on where the boat is sailing. If the cruise is from Dubai Marina then mostly you will get the Atlantis and Palm Jumeirah fireworks and also the JBR and Bluewaters side. Dubai Creek dhow is different, there you get the old Dubai feel and Festival City fireworks, and Burj Khalifa will be visible but from far. So before booking just ask the operator where exactly the boat will be at midnight.
2. Select the Boat Type as per Your Budget
Now comes the Dubai New Year Cruise. Mainly there are three options. Dhow cruise is the traditional wooden boat and it is the cheapest, families mostly go for this one. Mega yacht is shared but more luxury, bigger deck, better buffet and DJ is there so its more party type. And private yacht means the full boat is only for your group, good for friends or office parties. The table below will give you a rough idea about prices.
| Cruise Type | Best For | Approx. NYE Price | Usually Included |
| Dubai Creek Dhow | Families, budget travellers | AED 250 to 450 per person | Buffet dinner, soft drinks, tanoura show |
| Dubai Marina Dhow | Couples, small groups | AED 350 to 650 per person | Buffet, live music, Marina and Palm fireworks view |
| Shared Mega Yacht | Party lovers, premium feel | AED 900 to 2,000 per person | Premium buffet, DJ, open deck, some drinks |
| Private Yacht Charter | Friends groups, corporate | AED 10,000+ for full boat | Depends on package, custom catering and decor |
These prices are approximate and every year it changes depending on the operator, so confirm before booking.
3. See What Is Included in the Package
Some packages give buffet dinner, soft drinks, live show and hotel transfer, some give only the cruise and dinner. Alcohol is served only on the licensed boats, so if that matters to you ask it clearly. Also check the timing, normally boarding starts around 8 pm and the cruise returns after 12:30 am.
4. Think About Who Is Going With You
Suppose you are going with kids or parents, then a dhow cruise with tanoura show and a calm route will be more comfortable for them than a loud party yacht. Couples usually like the Marina dhow or mega yacht with upper deck seats. If someone in your family gets seasick then my suggestion is to avoid the routes that go far into the open sea.
5. Do the Booking Early
New Year night is the busiest night for cruises in Dubai and the good boats are full by mid December itself. Rates also keeps going up as the date comes near. Many operators give early booking offers in October and November, which is a big plus point for groups.
6. Plan Your Travel to the Pier
On 31st night the traffic near Marina and Downtown is very bad, parking is almost not available and taxis are also difficult to get. Metro normally runs till late on New Year, so going by metro and then walking to the pier is the easier option for most people. Reach at least 45 minutes early because the boat will not wait for anyone once it leaves.
Other Things People Usually Ask
Kids are allowed on most dhow cruises and many operators give child rates also, but few party yachts are only for adults. For dress code, smart casual is fine on a dhow, while some mega yachts ask for party wear. And regarding refund, New Year bookings are mostly non refundable or have strict cancellation rules, so read the policy once before you pay.
At the end of the day there is no one best cruise for everyone, it depends on your group, your budget and which fireworks you want to see. If you are still not sure between dhow and yacht then better to speak with good tour operator in Dubai once, they can guide you as per your requirement.
