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

Pattaya after dark has a theatrical side. This 90-minute All Star Dinner Cruise combines a Thai teak boat, Shanghai-style decoration, an international buffet, unlimited beer and soft drinks, and a cabaret show by award-winning transgender performers. I like the mix of dinner and live entertainment, and I like that you can take photos with the performers after the show. The main concern is crowding, with some reports of poor organization, a rushed buffet, and a cruise shorter than the advertised 90 minutes.

At $45 per person, this is best viewed as a compact dinner-and-show package rather than a quiet sightseeing cruise. You get seafood, Indian dishes, international food, drinks, music, and views of Pattaya Bay in one outing, but the atmosphere can be loud and tightly packed.

Key points to know before booking

• The boat leaves from Balihai Pier E: Exchange your ticket between 6:00 and 6:15 pm, then board from 6:20 to 6:30 pm.
• The scheduled cruise runs from 6:30 to 8:00 pm: A recent complaint described only 60 minutes onboard, so keep your expectations tied to the advertised schedule, not a leisurely evening at sea.
• The meal is a broad buffet: You can choose from seafood, Indian food, and international dishes, but food quality and temperature may vary.
• The cabaret is the main event: The performers are transgender artists who have won Tiffany Beauty Contests, giving the show a clear Pattaya entertainment identity.
• Drinks are included: Unlimited beer and soft drinks add value, though beer may be served with ice rather than fully chilled.
• Expect a social, crowded setting: This is not designed as a quiet couples cruise or a refined fine-dining experience.

Boarding at Balihai Pier E in Pattaya

Your evening begins at All Star Cruise Pattaya, Balihai Pier E. You need to exchange your ticket between 6:00 and 6:15 pm, then board between 6:20 and 6:30 pm. That window is short, so I would arrive with your booking details ready rather than trying to sort everything out at the last minute.

The meeting point matters because Balihai Pier is a working departure area for boat trips around Pattaya. The experience does not include hotel pickup or drop-off, so you are responsible for reaching the pier and getting back afterward. Plan that part yourself, especially if you are staying away from central Pattaya.

The boat itself is one of the more distinctive features. Its Thai teak decoration is paired with a 20th-century Shanghai-style design, giving the vessel a decorative character rather than the plain look of a basic sightseeing ferry. That setting helps make the trip feel like an evening event, even before the food and performance begin.

The main practical issue is the boarding rush. One detailed complaint described a boat that felt too busy, with little room to move after people came aboard. If you want to avoid being caught in the tightest part of the crowd, arrive on time and get oriented quickly once you board.

Welcome dancing and the first moments onboard

After boarding, the cruise opens with a lively welcome dance and appetizers. This gives the evening an immediate party mood, rather than easing you slowly into dinner. If you enjoy music, stage costumes, and a social atmosphere, the opening should put you in the right frame of mind.

If you prefer calm scenery and quiet conversation, the start may feel loud or hurried. The boat packs several elements into 90 minutes, so the welcome performance, meal, cabaret, photos, and disco music all compete for your attention.

I would use the first few minutes to note where the buffet is located, where you can see the stage, and how easily you can move around. The boat may not offer equal sightlines from every position. A seat near the performance area could help you follow the show, while a position closer to the rail may be better for views of Pattaya Bay.

Seafood, Indian food, and international buffet choices

The dinner is served as a buffet with seafood, Indian dishes, and international options. That range is useful for groups with different tastes. You can try several kinds of food without committing to a single menu, and the Indian choices give the meal more variety than a basic Western buffet.

I like the flexibility of a buffet on a short entertainment cruise. You can take a small first plate, check what suits you, then return for more. That is especially helpful when you are dining with children or with people who have very different preferences.

Still, this is not the place to expect careful table service or a slow restaurant meal. The food needs to serve a large group quickly, and one complaint described several dishes as cold and low quality. Another described a rush to the buffet before everyone had properly boarded, with food being taken quickly and not always finished.

That problem is partly about organization and partly about timing. If the buffet opens before the crowd is ready, the first few minutes can become disorderly. I would avoid loading your plate immediately. Let the initial rush pass, then choose food when the serving area is easier to navigate.

The food is a significant part of the $45 price, but it should not be the only reason you book. If you want a memorable seafood dinner, this may disappoint. If you want a convenient meal included with a cabaret and drinks, the buffet makes more sense.

Unlimited beer and soft drinks

Unlimited beer and soft drinks are included in the ticket. That can improve the value, particularly if you plan to have several drinks during the cruise. It also keeps the evening simple, since you do not need to keep ordering and paying for each beverage.

There is one small but important quality point: beer may be served with ice rather than properly chilled. One French-language rating specifically praised the experience but felt the beer would be better cold without ice. If you are particular about beer temperature, this may annoy you more than it would on a casual party boat.

The drink package also shapes the atmosphere. Unlimited beer, music, and disco beats encourage a party crowd. Families, groups of friends, and people looking for a lively night may enjoy that energy. Anyone hoping for a quiet dinner with soft background music should choose a different kind of cruise.

The cabaret show and Tiffany Beauty Contest performers

The cabaret is the heart of the experience. The performers are transgender artists described as award-winning, including winners of Tiffany Beauty Contests. Pattaya has long been known for polished cabaret entertainment, and this show draws on that local tradition of costumes, choreography, music, and stage presence.

The performance gives the cruise its identity. Without it, you would have a short buffet boat trip with drinks. With it, the evening becomes a compact Pattaya show wrapped around a meal.

The advertised program also includes a chance to interact with the performers and take photos after the performance. That is a fun feature if you enjoy meeting entertainers and want a souvenir from the night. You should keep some Thai baht available if you plan to participate, since one complaint said the final 20 minutes focused heavily on paid photos at 100 baht.

That detail is worth understanding before you board. The photo opportunity may feel like a friendly extra, but it can also become a sales-driven part of the evening. If you do not want a photo, you can simply enjoy the show and the music without joining in.

The show may also be affected by the crowd. One account described children interrupting the performance, which suggests that the entertainment area may not remain fully controlled in a busy sailing. I would not book this expecting the polished silence of a theater. Think of it as cabaret in a party setting, with audience movement and noise around the stage.

Pattaya Bay views during a short evening cruise

The boat gives you a moving view of Pattaya Bay while you eat and watch the entertainment. This is a pleasant change from seeing the city from a restaurant or beach, and the evening light can add atmosphere to the trip.

The scenery is a supporting feature, not the entire purpose of the cruise. At 90 minutes, the route is short, and much of your attention will be inside the boat. You may spend more time watching the stage, visiting the buffet, and taking photos than looking outward.

If the views matter most to you, keep an eye on the weather and choose a place where you can step toward the outside viewing area when possible. The information does not promise a specific route or landmark, so I would treat the bay scenery as a pleasant part of the package rather than a detailed sightseeing tour.

The cruise is scheduled to end back at the pier at 8:00 pm. That timing can work well if you want to continue your evening in Pattaya, but allow extra flexibility in case boarding or disembarkation takes longer than expected.

Disco music and the final part of the evening

After the cabaret and photo opportunity, disco music carries the cruise through its final section. This gives you time to relax with a drink, listen to music, take in the views, or join the social atmosphere.

The program is active from beginning to end. There is no long quiet stretch built into the schedule, so the experience suits people who want dinner with entertainment rather than a slow meal. The compact format is convenient, but it also means the evening can feel rushed.

One serious complaint said the actual cruise lasted only about 60 minutes instead of the promised 90. That is not a minor difference when the entire activity is short. The published schedule is 6:30 to 8:00 pm, so I would expect the operator to honor that full period. Still, if you are making an important dinner reservation afterward, do not leave yourself a narrow gap.

Is $45 a fair price?

At $45, the ticket bundles several separate costs: the boat ride, buffet dinner, seafood and Indian choices, unlimited beer and soft drinks, a cabaret show, live music, and the chance to take photos with performers. For a visitor who wants an easy night of food and entertainment, that bundle can be good value.

The calculation changes if you care most about food quality, spacious seating, or a quiet cruise. A $45 ticket is less appealing if you receive cold dishes, feel trapped in a crowded dining area, or lose 30 minutes of the advertised sailing time.

I would compare this with the cost of paying separately for a buffet meal, drinks, and a Pattaya cabaret. The cruise has an advantage in convenience and variety. You do not need to arrange transport between dinner and a show, and you get scenery along with both.

The downside is that the package is built for volume. It aims to entertain a large group at one time. That can mean less personal space and less control over the meal than you would have at a restaurant and theater booked separately.

Who will enjoy this Pattaya cruise?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• First-time Pattaya visitors who want several classic evening activities in one booking
• Friends and families who enjoy music, stage shows, buffet dining, and group entertainment
• People who plan to drink beer or soft drinks and want those costs included
• Visitors who want a photo with cabaret performers
• Anyone who prefers an easy, prearranged night rather than planning dinner and entertainment separately

I would be more cautious if you are looking for:

• A romantic, quiet dinner
• High-end seafood or careful restaurant service
• Plenty of room to move around
• A precise, unhurried schedule
• A cabaret show with strict theater-style audience control

The experience is also better for people who understand what Pattaya party entertainment can be. It is colorful, social, and direct. It is not subtle, and the paid photo interaction may feel uncomfortable if you prefer no-pressure encounters.

Practical advice for making the evening work

Arrive at Balihai Pier E in time for the 6:00 to 6:15 pm ticket exchange. The boarding period is only 10 minutes, from 6:20 to 6:30 pm, so do not treat the pier arrival time as a loose suggestion.

Keep your booking details accessible, and remember that hotel pickup is not included. You need to arrange your own route to the pier and your return journey after the 8:00 pm finish.

Once onboard, identify the buffet, stage, and outside viewing area before settling in. If the food area is crowded at first, wait a little rather than joining the first rush. Take modest portions until you know which dishes you want to return for.

Bring enough Thai baht if you may want performer photos. The listed price includes dinner, the performance, beer, and soft drinks, but paid photo interactions are a separate matter.

Finally, leave some flexibility after the scheduled end. The published cruise time is 6:30 to 8:00 pm, but one account described a much shorter sailing. That report does not change the official schedule, but it is a sensible reason not to book another fixed activity immediately afterward.

Should you book the All Star Dinner Cruise?

Book it if you want a lively Pattaya night that combines a boat ride, buffet, unlimited drinks, and cabaret in one $45 package. The performers, the unusual boat design, and the chance for photos give it more character than a simple dinner buffet.

Skip it if you want quiet dining, generous personal space, or a high-quality seafood meal. The biggest risks are crowding, uneven food service, beer served with ice, and the possibility that the actual sailing may feel shorter than advertised.

My practical verdict: this is a reasonable choice for an entertainment-first evening, especially for first-time visitors and groups. Go for the show and the all-in-one convenience. Treat the food and bay views as supporting parts, and arrive prepared for a busy, noisy boat rather than a refined cruise.

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 do I exchange my ticket?

Ticket exchange is scheduled from 6:00 pm to 6:15 pm at Balihai Pier E.

What time does boarding take place?

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

How long is the cruise?

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

What food and drinks are included?

The package includes an international buffet with seafood and Indian food options, plus unlimited beer and soft drinks.

Is hotel transportation included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you must arrange your own transport to and from Balihai Pier E.