Saffron Luxury Dinner Cruise: A Journey on the River of Kings
Description
The Saffron Luxury Dinner Cruise offers a refined and unforgettable dining experience along Bangkok's iconic Chao Phraya River, also known as the River of Kings. Set aboard a sleek and elegant vessel, this luxury cruise combines world-class Thai cuisine with stunning panoramic views of the city's illuminated landmarks. Guests are treated to a carefully curated multi-course menu featuring contemporary takes on traditional Thai dishes, all crafted with premium ingredients. As you savor each exquisite course, marvel at the sights of Wat Arun, Grand Palace, and the vibrant cityscape, beautifully lit against the evening sky. With its intimate atmosphere, impeccable service, and live traditional Thai music, the Saffron Luxury Dinner Cruise offers a perfect setting for romantic evenings, special celebrations, or simply a memorable night in Bangkok. Experience the ultimate blend of fine dining and cultural immersion on this journey along the River of Kings.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Iconsiam, is a mixed-use development on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand. It includes a large shopping mall, which opened to the public on 10 November 2018, as well as hotels and residences. Here is where you will depart for the Saffron Cruise.
Guan Yu Shrine, a historic shrine of the god of war and faithfulness in ancient Chinese beliefs, is one of the first significant places that the boat will pass during the dinner cruise.
Santa Cruz Church is another Catholic Church marking the legacy of Thai – Portuguese relations dating back to the 16th century. The Portuguese were the first Europeans in Thailand who were allowed to reside and trade in the country.
Bangkok's famous palace complex was built in 1782 and features several magnificent buildings including Wat Phra Kaeo (Temple of the Emerald Buddha). At night the compound is illuminated by floodlights resulting in the golden tiled rooftops sparkling beauty.
This temple is considered to be the most famous and photographed temple in Bangkok, which features a soaring 70-meter-high spire decorated with tiny pieces of colored glass and Chinese porcelain. Under floodlights at night it is a jaw-dropping sight!
The Holy Rosary Church, is a Roman Catholic Church built in 1769 by a resettlement of Portuguese Catholics and just further up is China Town which was founded in 1782.
The iconic and impressive bridge is a landmark in Bangkok. The cable-stayed bridge is a feat of modern Thai engineering and the best and closest way to see it is by cruising right underneath it.
Of all 14 forts that were built over 200 years ago to protect Bangkok, only 2 are still standing, including Phra Sumen Fort. The original cannon can still be seen mounted on the upper battlement
Just past the Rama VIII bridge is the Bank of Thailand Museum, which is housed in the Bang Khun Phrom Palace, the former residence of Prince Paribatra Sukhumbandhu, who was the 33rd son of King Chulalongkorn.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Table can be arranged to suit diners in wheelchairs. MUST advise I Asia (Thailand) at time of booking.
- Disembarkation at ICON Siam Pier 2 at 10.00pm
- 4 Course Set Menu changes every two months
- Children 11 and younger must be accompanied by a paying adult.
- All dining areas are smoke-free, however, there is a designated smoking area on the boat.
- Please advise at time of booking if you have any special dietary requirements so that Saffron Cruise can try their best to accommodate your needs.
- Dress code: Casual (flip-flops and athletic apparel are not permitted. Ladies are kindly requested not to wear denim shorts or hot pants).
- Please note that this is a food only menu. Beverages can be purchased on board and added to the master bill as per consumption.
- If there is a low or high tide, the cruise may not pass certain landmarks. This is beyond our control and for the safety of the guests and no refunds will be given.
- There may be a DJ on board the cruise every Friday and Saturday, depending on availability
Reviews(87)
Excellent sit down meal and service
Dear Kenand, Thank you for your kind words! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed our signature sit-down dinner and the service provided by our team. The 'River of Kings' offers a stunning backdrop, but we believe the culinary experience and attentive hospitality are what truly make the journey memorable. We look forward to welcoming you back on board for another elegant evening on the water. Best regards, Nick (IAsia Thailand Online)
Beautiful dinner boat with excellent service. FYI- be careful with ordering drinks and water. Those are not included in the price of the ticket and for the high price already paid for the ticket, the extra cost for non- alcoholic drinks makes it a scammy experience. Would not recommend for the overpriced experience.
Dear Josh, Dear [Guest Name], Thank you for your feedback. We are pleased to hear that you found the Saffron boat beautiful and the service from our team excellent. Regarding the cost of beverages, we would like to clarify that drinks and bottled water have never been included in the base ticket price for this specific fine-dining experience. To ensure our guests can make an informed decision, this is explicitly mentioned on our website and the booking platform prior to purchase under the 'Exclusions' section. The Saffron Cruise is a premium Banyan Tree experience, and while we understand that additional costs can be a disappointment, we aim to be as transparent as possible about our pricing structure from the start. We value your feedback on the overall value of the experience and will continue to work with our partners to ensure these details are as clear as possible for all future travelers. Best regards, Nick (IAsia Thailand Online)
It's more accurate to say it's a fine restaurant that moves rather than cruises. I focus on cooking. It's all, "Oh!" You will hear a voice saying, "What are you doing?" Welcome drinks, oshibori, commentary on each dish, service and taste are all top notch. I was not sure if I would be satisfied with the amount at first, but I was very full. They also serve half-course meals and show us traditional Thai dance. Dancers can also come to all tables and take pictures with us. The staff are always happy to take pictures, even at other times. There are plenty of cruises that cost about $20, but I hope you don't mind the restless all-you-can-eat clutter, and the loud pop music that makes customers dance in the second half. However, for those who want a proper dinner, this is the more expensive one. However, once dinner starts, you can't go out and enjoy the view until the end. The view will be seen through the window. When I go over a bridge with a low sleeve, I'm in the middle of dinner, so I stay air-conditioned. If you want that kind of thrill, you should still go on a cheaper cruise. That said, dinner is almost over on the return trip, and as soon as dessert is over, you can go out on deck and enjoy the view outside. It stops in front of Wat Arun and you can fully enjoy the outside. If you have a special occasion, such as a birthday or anniversary, you can tell them at the time of booking, and they will also serve you a special dessert. The response of the staff, the email confirmation of the reservation, the food and the cruise ship facilities were all satisfactory. It was a good memory.
Dear Guest, Thank you for such a thoughtful and detailed review. We are delighted that you appreciated the distinction of our "moving restaurant" and that the service, from the oshibori to the commentary on each dish, met your expectations. It is wonderful to hear that the traditional Thai dance and the special stop at Wat Arun added to your memories. We strive to provide a proper, refined dinner atmosphere, and we are so glad you found it a worthwhile experience for a special occasion. Regards, Nick (IAsia Thailand Online)
We booked the Saffron River Cruise a few weeks in advance before our trip to Thailand. There were four of us, myself being vegetarian and they were happy to accommodate. Upon boarding we were provided with a complimentary drink and seated upstairs in the bar area. After the ship departed the pier we were all asked to go down to the dining area, staff were very friendly. The food was very well presented and we enjoyed most of it, some was just not to our taste which is fine as there were multiple courses. Our only complaint was that our service was slightly delayed compared to the rest of the diners with the main course being warm rather than hot and for dessert we were served last when most of the diners had gone back up to the bar area, it then felt like we were being urged to leave the dining area when we had barely started eating dessert. Staff were also very helpful taking photos of the group on the upper deck and we were provided a photo they had taken at the end as a souvenir which was lovely. Overall it was a good experience but, there could be some improvements.
Dear Guest, Thank you for choosing IAsia Thailand and for sharing such a detailed account of your evening on the Saffron. We are delighted that our team could accommodate your vegetarian preferences and that you enjoyed the group photos and the souvenir gift—those are the special touches we love to provide! However, we sincerely apologize for the delay in your main course and dessert service. On a premium cruise like the Saffron, the pacing should be seamless, and you should never feel rushed, especially during the final course. We want every guest to enjoy their meal at their own pace while taking in the views of the River of Kings. We have shared your feedback regarding the food temperature and the service timing with the Banyan Tree culinary and service teams. We use comments like yours to ensure we maintain the five-star standards our guests expect. We are glad that, overall, it was a good experience for your group, and we hope to have the chance to provide you with a truly "flawless" evening on your next visit to Bangkok. Warm regards, Nick (IAsia Thailand Online)
…. any of the poor reviews featured. As our experience was actually far better than expected. Sure this river dinner cruise is more expensive than many of the others available but the experience is also better. Many of the neon lit 300 + passenger boats are based on a buffet service. Whereas Saffron is a waiter service meal if really good quality. The boat is smaller and there less touristy but I accept this style of dining will always be focused on the experience offered, which along the river is the same for most boats, except when it comes to food. We enjoyed drinks on the upper deck before taking our window table to dine. We were able to get great photos along the trip, we enjoyed our meal and service was efficient and friendly. Everything you would expect from a Banyan Tree product.
Dear Guest, Thank you for your wonderful review! We are delighted that your experience with Saffron exceeded expectations. You’ve perfectly captured the essence of our cruise: while the river views are shared by many, the Banyan Tree standard is found in the intimate atmosphere, the fine-dining quality of our waiter-service meals, and the elegance of our vessel. We are so glad you enjoyed the upper-deck drinks and captured great photos. It was a pleasure to host you on the River of Kings!" Thanks, Nick (IAsia Thailand Online)
Dismal experience. It's not worth it. Bad food and dinner with 200 people in the same boat. 110€ per couple. A scam. There are many more good quality or street places in the city to enjoy a good meal or get to know Bangkok
Dear Guest, Thank you for your review. We’re sorry to hear that the experience did not meet your expectations. We do find it a little surprising that no concerns were raised with our team on the evening of your cruise. Our staff are always available and would have been very happy to assist or clarify any issues before or during the sailing. As you enjoyed the full 4-course meal and did not mention any dissatisfaction at the time, it makes it difficult for us to address your concerns after the fact. We always encourage guests to let us know immediately if something isn’t right so we can resolve it on the spot and ensure an enjoyable experience. Kind regards, Paul
This was such a great experience despite the rain. We had just landed in Bangkok earlier that day, explored a little bit of IconSiam and then did this boat cruise. The food was so delicious, and it accommodated for my daughter being a vegetarian. The staff were so awesome about taking photos. It rained the majority of the cruise but luckily stopped briefly when we were in front of Wat Arun and so the staff made sure to get beautiful photos for all visitors. Minor detail but it was a little annoying as we received the ticket with scan bar from TripAdvisor but there was no communication from either Trip Advisor or Saffron Cruise that we had to get a number ticket on the pier. We still got on board but were just one of the last ones despite arriving early, and it we still had a great table next to a window.
Dear Mae, Thank you for your thoughtful review! We’re so pleased to hear that you had a wonderful time on the Saffron Luxury Dinner Cruise, even with the rainy weather. It’s great to know that you enjoyed the delicious menu, with vegetarian options available, and that our staff helped capture such memorable photos for you and your family — especially in front of Wat Arun. We appreciate your feedback regarding the ticketing process and will work to make this communication clearer in the future. We’re glad it didn’t take away from your overall experience and that you were still able to enjoy a beautiful evening with a great view. We hope to welcome you back on board again soon! Thanks, Nick (IAsia Thailand Online)
❌ One time and never again Food was served cold and extremely slow. Drink menu unclear — got charged 300 THB PER bottle of water without warning (900 THB total for 3 bottles!). Ordered 0% beer from the menu — not available, never brought. Ordered sparkling drink — never arrived. Staff looked rushed and unprepared. Thai snack was rock-hard with barely half a teaspoon of dip. Very disappointing for our family and many tourists onboard. Definitely not the “luxury dining experience” promised.
Dear Guest, Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that your experience did not meet expectations, particularly regarding food temperature, drink availability, and service speed. We are, however, curious as to why these concerns were not raised with your server or the manager during the evening. In most cases, issues like these can be resolved immediately on the spot to ensure a much better experience for you. Regarding drink charges, these are clearly listed on our printed menu, including bottled water prices. Nonetheless, we will share your comments with our team so they can review and improve both service quality and guest communication. We do appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts, even though many of these concerns could have been addressed during your visit. Kind regards, Paul
This is an absolute must do experience whilst in Bangkok! The whole trip was unforgettable and the food was top notch!!!
Dear Andrew, Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear you had such an unforgettable experience on the Saffron Luxury Dinner Cruise and enjoyed the delicious food. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back on board again in the future. Thanks, Nick (IAsia Thailand Online)
What an amazing way to see Bangkok from the river and at the same time have a beautiful meal. We booked the cruise via the Banyan Tree website and while that was seamless the email itself led to a lot of confusion which Pier we had to catch the cruise at it did make the arrival slightly stressful as what was on the booking email could be read as Pier 4 and not Pier 2: Dinner Cruise: ICONSiam 2 Pier 4: 7.00PM – 10.00PM In any case once we arrived onboard we were warmly welcomed with a welcome drink on deck before setting off and being invited to the comfortable and luxurious restaurant. We were sat at our table and introduced to the server and menu, the only minor point was it took some time to get our drinks and by the time we got them we had had the appetisers but it was only minor. The food was delicious and was as much of a treat as the views along the river and after dinner we were invited on deck and the staff kindly took photos for us. Overall we would recommend this cruise, the food is amazing and was one of the highlights of our stay in Bangkok
Dear Robert, Thank you so much for your detailed and thoughtful review! We’re delighted to hear that the Saffron Luxury Dinner Cruise was a highlight of your time in Bangkok. Cruising the river while enjoying a delicious meal is truly a magical way to experience the city, and we’re so glad you enjoyed both the food and the stunning views. We appreciate your kind words about the warm welcome, attentive service, and overall experience onboard. Thank you also for your helpful feedback regarding the pier information and the timing of the drinks—we’re already reviewing how to make those details clearer and ensure a smoother start for future guests. Thanks, Nick (IAsia Thailand Online)
