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

Pattaya’s All Star Cruise combines three classic evening entertainments in one floating package: a buffet dinner, a cabaret show, and views across Pattaya Bay. The boat’s Thai teak decoration and 20th-century Shanghai-style design give the short cruise more character than a plain dining boat.

I like the seafood and Indian choices, which give the buffet more range than a standard Western spread. I also like the chance to see award-winning transgender performers and take photos with them after the show. The main drawback is crowd control: the boat can feel tight, and the buffet may become chaotic if everyone heads for the food at once.

Key points to know

• The cruise runs from 6:30 to 8:00 pm, so the schedule is fixed and fairly brisk.
• Balihai Pier E is the meeting point, with ticket exchange from 6:00 to 6:15 pm.
• The buffet includes seafood, Indian food, and international dishes, plus unlimited beer and soft drinks.
• The cabaret performers have won Tiffany Beauty Contests, adding a familiar Pattaya stage tradition to the evening.
• Photo opportunities cost extra, with one report specifically noting a 100-baht charge for photos with performers.
• The price is $45 per person, which is fair if you want dinner, entertainment, and drinks together, but less attractive if you mainly want a quiet meal.

Starting at Balihai Pier before sunset

You’ll meet at All Star Cruise Pattaya, at Balihai Pier E. The ticket exchange window is from 6:00 to 6:15 pm, followed by boarding from 6:20 to 6:30 pm. There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so you need to arrange your own way to the pier.

That timing matters. You are not simply arriving whenever you like for an evening boat ride. If you reach Pattaya late, you could miss the ticket exchange or boarding window. I would aim to be at the pier before 6:00 pm, especially if you are unfamiliar with the area or need time to find Pier E.

The meeting point is easy to identify by its name, All Star Cruise Pattaya, but the pier area can be busy. Keep your booking details ready and allow enough time to exchange your ticket. This is one of those experiences where a calm start makes the whole evening easier.

The cruise ends back at the pier at 8:00 pm. That gives you plenty of time for a later dinner, a walk, or another Pattaya activity, but it also means this is a compact evening rather than a long night on the water.

A boat with Thai teak and Shanghai style

The All Star boat is part of the attraction. Its Thai teak decoration gives the interior a distinctly local touch, while the 20th-century Shanghai-style design adds a theatrical feel before the cabaret even begins.

I would not book this cruise expecting a silent, intimate dinner. The design and entertainment are meant to create a showy night out. You are there for movement, music, food, and stage performance, not for a quiet table beside the sea.

The boat gives you views of Pattaya Bay during the cruise. These views are best treated as a pleasant setting for the evening rather than the main sightseeing event. The cruise lasts only 90 minutes, and much of that time is filled with dining and entertainment.

Welcome dancing and the first taste of dinner

After boarding, you can expect a lively welcome dance performance and appetizers. This gets the evening moving quickly, which suits the format. There is little wasted time because the boat needs to serve dinner, stage the cabaret, and return to the pier within its scheduled window.

The buffet is built around international food, with seafood and Indian dishes included. That range is useful for groups with different tastes. One person can choose seafood, another can look for Indian food, and others can stay with more familiar international options.

I like this variety because it gives the $45 price some practical value. You are not paying for a single fixed plate. You can choose from several styles of food and combine dinner with the show and drinks.

Still, you should set your expectations carefully. The food is served in a busy buffet setting, and quality can vary from dish to dish. One particularly negative account described much of the food as cold and inexpensive. That does not mean every dish will disappoint, but it is a good reason to serve yourself selectively rather than pile your plate high before checking what looks freshest.

How to handle the buffet without the rush

The most useful dining tip is simple: do not rush to the buffet the moment you board. The boat can become crowded around the food stations, especially when a large group moves at once.

A report from one evening described people reaching the buffet before an official opening and carrying away more food than they could eat. The problem was not just manners. It made the dining area harder to use and left some people with less space to move.

If you are traveling with children or anyone who dislikes crowds, wait for the initial rush to ease. Take a small serving first, see which dishes suit you, and return later if needed. This approach also helps you avoid wasting food if a dish is not to your taste.

The dining area may not provide much room for relaxed movement when the boat is full. One account described the cruise as too busy, with poor organization during boarding and little space to move around. I would treat this as an active group dinner rather than a spacious restaurant experience.

Seafood, Indian dishes, and unlimited drinks

The food selection is the strongest practical feature for mixed groups. Seafood gives the meal a Pattaya feel, while Indian dishes add welcome variety. The international selection helps if you are eating with people who prefer familiar flavors.

The drinks include unlimited beer and soft drinks. This can improve the value of the package, especially if you plan to have more than one drink during the 90-minute cruise. It also means you do not need to keep ordering each beverage separately.

There is one small but important point about the beer: it may be served with ice rather than properly chilled. One person specifically wished the beer were colder instead of having ice added. If you care about beer temperature, this could affect your enjoyment.

At $45 per person, I would judge the price by the full package. Dinner alone may not justify it for someone seeking high-end food. Dinner plus unlimited drinks, a cabaret show, live music, and a boat ride makes the price more reasonable, particularly for first-time visitors who want several Pattaya experiences in one booking.

The value drops if you want only a scenic cruise or a serious gourmet meal. This is entertainment dining, and the show is as important as the plate in front of you.

The cabaret show and its performers

The cabaret is the centerpiece. The performers are transgender artists, described as award-winning and linked with previous Tiffany Beauty Contests, a well-known part of Pattaya’s cabaret tradition.

You can expect costume, music, dancing, and stage presentation rather than a long theatrical story. The show is designed to be immediately accessible, with familiar disco energy and a focus on visual performance.

I like the fact that the cabaret is part of the cruise rather than an entirely separate ticketed event. You can eat, watch the performance, and enjoy the water without arranging several evening bookings. For a short Pattaya visit, that convenience has real value.

The timing is also important. Since the cruise lasts 90 minutes, the show cannot take up the entire night. It fits into a compact program alongside the welcome dance, dinner, and music. If you want a full-length cabaret production with elaborate staging, you may find this format too brief.

The atmosphere can also be affected by the crowd. A report described children interrupting the performance, which suggests that the show may not always receive uninterrupted attention. If you are hoping for a polished theater experience, the cruise setting may feel less controlled than a dedicated cabaret venue.

Photos after the performance

After the show, you can interact with the performers and take photos. This is a memorable part of the experience for many people, especially if you appreciate the performers’ costumes and stage work.

You should know that photo opportunities may involve an extra fee. One account specifically referred to paying 100 baht to have photos taken with the performers. The supplied tour details do not list photo charges as included, so carry some Thai baht if you want to participate.

This is also where expectations matter. The final part of the cruise may shift from stage performance to photo-taking and disco music. One harsh account said the last 20 minutes focused heavily on paid photos. If you do not want a picture, you may prefer to enjoy the music and the remaining bay views instead.

I would consider the photos optional, not an essential part of the ticket. Ask about the charge before posing, and do not feel pressured to buy a photo. The performers are part of the entertainment, but your $45 ticket does not automatically cover every interaction after the show.

Music, bay views, and the final 20 minutes

Once the main performance is finished, disco beats continue for the rest of the cruise. This gives the evening a party feel rather than a formal dinner atmosphere.

Pattaya Bay provides the backdrop. You can look out over the water, take photos of the coast, and enjoy the changing evening light while the boat moves. The views will be most appealing to anyone who wants a different angle on Pattaya, though the short duration limits how far the boat can travel.

The final portion can feel either fun or repetitive, depending on your interests. If you enjoy music, performers, and a social setting, it is a chance to keep the energy going. If you have already eaten and watched the show, you might find the remaining time less engaging.

One negative account said the boat lasted only about 60 minutes instead of the advertised 90. The scheduled cruise time is 6:30 to 8:00 pm, but this possibility is worth keeping in mind if you are planning another activity immediately afterward. I would not book a nonrefundable show with a tight connection after this cruise.

Who will get the most from this cruise

I think this experience suits you if you want a single, easy evening package that combines food, drinks, music, a cabaret show, and a view of Pattaya Bay. It works especially well for visitors who want to sample Pattaya entertainment without spending time arranging separate reservations.

It may also suit groups with mixed food preferences. Seafood, Indian dishes, international food, beer, and soft drinks offer more choice than a fixed menu. The short 90-minute format is useful if you have limited time.

Families can attend, but I would not assume the show will feel quiet or carefully managed. The boat can be crowded, and children may find it difficult to sit through the performance without distraction.

I would be more cautious about booking if your priorities are gourmet food, a peaceful atmosphere, generous personal space, or a carefully controlled theater show. The dining and entertainment are packaged together, which makes the night convenient but can also make it feel busy.

The overall rating of 3.6 from 85 reviews reflects that mixed appeal. The experience has enough variety to satisfy some people, but organization, crowding, food temperature, and the extra photo charge can change how much value you feel you received.

Practical details that affect the value

The listed price is $45 per person. That includes the dinner cruise, international buffet, seafood, cabaret performance, unlimited beer, and soft drinks. Hotel transportation is not included, so add your own cost and travel time to the pier.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Pattaya schedule is still changing.

The official schedule is:

• Ticket exchange: 6:00 to 6:15 pm
• Boarding: 6:20 to 6:30 pm
• Cruise: 6:30 to 8:00 pm

There are no guide names provided for this activity. The entertainment is led by the onboard performers rather than described as a guided sightseeing tour.

My best practical advice is to arrive early, keep your expectations focused on entertainment rather than fine dining, and carry cash for optional photos. If the buffet is crowded, wait a few minutes instead of joining the first rush.

Should you book the All Star Cruise?

Book it if you want an energetic Pattaya night with food, unlimited drinks, cabaret, and bay views in one ticket. The package is convenient and offers enough variety to work for a mixed group.

Skip it if you want quiet dining, generous space, premium food, or a polished theater production. The boat may be crowded, some food may not be served at its best temperature, and photo-taking can involve an extra charge.

For the right audience, $45 is a fair price for a compact evening of Pattaya entertainment. Just arrive on time, expect a busy boat, and treat the buffet and photos as parts of a lively package rather than luxury extras.

FAQ

Where does the All Star dinner cruise depart from?

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

What time should I exchange my ticket?

Ticket exchange takes place from 6:00 to 6:15 pm.

What time does boarding take place?

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

How long does the cruise last?

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

What food is included?

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

Are drinks included?

Yes. Unlimited beer and soft drinks are included.

Is the cabaret show included in the price?

Yes. The cabaret performance is included with the dinner cruise.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to arrange transportation to and from Balihai Pier E.