manila bay yacht cruise dinner review

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• Metro Manila / Travel Journal

Manila Bay Dinner Cruise – Is it Worth Your Time and Money?

by Iza Sanchez ·

The Jetty Terminal on the west side of Mall Of Asia

On the ferry a staff took my seat number. I flashed my ticket and she led me to the upper deck. I was pleased to be seated up there rather than at the lower deck which was enclosed. Considering it was a weekday, I didn’t expect a full boat, but, on that day, a company booked a group tour and it was quite busy.

As we waited for the rest of the passengers caught in traffic it began to rain so, plastic curtains were pulled down on each side of the deck.

Manila Bay is well-known for its beautiful sunsets and despite the rain that day the sky was coated in warm palettes of orange, pink and blue.

I gazed at the horizon and saw the bright orange sun slowly sinking behind some thick dark clouds. On the other side, haze loomed above the city creating a dramatic skyline. It was what photographers call “the golden hour.”

I settled back at my table and there before me was dinner composed of a bowl of soup and a plate with a slice of pork with some kind of barbeque sauce, breaded fish with mayonnaise, a cup of rice, and some corn and carrots on the side.

Our ferry slowly navigated back to the wharf where we shortly disembarked, and so that concluded our 90-minute cruise.

Cruising is a rare activity for most Manila natives, but anything rare has something unique to offer, so even if you’ve seen Manila Bay countless times, a leisurely boat ride can still be a rewarding experience.

The main take away for me was the opportunity to enjoy a glorious sunset and savor the brilliant evening lights as our ferry swayed on the gentle waters of Manila Bay.

Take a historical tour of Corregidor Island, learn more here: 

Traveler’s Guide: Corregidor Island

If you enjoyed reading this article, please pass it on.

Photographs by Iza Sanchez

Tags: Philippine Attractions Philippine historical attractions

Iza Sanchez

Iza Sanchez is a freelance ESL Teacher, adventurer, and moderator of Take The Travel. She writes about solo-backpacking, travel saving tips and other awesome travel resources.

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16 responses.

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hi mam iza! I was browsing the net and I found your blog and fell in love with your adventures. I wish I have much time and have purchasing power as I go into a journey like this. Keep traveling and sharing your awesome adventures! 🙂

Hi Zee, thank you so much. I’m glad you enjoyed browsing my site. It’s always a pleasure to share a travel experience. I wish you many adventures too. Cheers!!

Hi ms. Iza. I enjoyed your article. I’m planning to go with some friends. I would like to ask if the lower deck is better or upper deck? Is there an irritating smell if we want to sit outside? Thank you.

Hi Nadia, the upper deck is better for sightseeing. The stench I mentioned was quite strong at the port but once you’re out in the open sea the air is okay. You might want to bring a shawl or a light jacket since it gets much cooler after sunset. Enjoy!!

Yes, I recommend seating at the upper deck. You’ll enjoy the views better. You won’t have to endure the foul smell at the wharf once you are out in the open sea. Have fun!!

happy new year ms. iza

i was looking for a date venue for our wedding anniversary, when i come across your blog. its really interesting to try this one out. do you think it will be worth to bring my wife here and experience this?

Thank you for visiting and I’m glad you like the article. I guess it depends on your wife’s preferences. If she likes being outdoors and enjoys sightseeing I think she’ll appreciate the experience. I must warn you, the food isn’t great but what I enjoyed the most was watching the sunset and the view of Manila’s skyline during twilight. After the tour you can walk to MOA and enjoy a hot cup of coffee and some dessert at some cafe near the bay. Hope that helps! Wishing you a happy anniversary. 🙂

How did you get the ticket? How much does it costs? Please let me know [email protected]

Are pets allowed

Hi Iza, I came across your page as I am looking for reviews about manila bay dinner cruise since my girlfriend and I will be celebrating our anniversary in October. As compared to Prestige Cruises, do you think Sun Cruises is good enough? Food tasting wise? Experience wise? Our chosen sailing time would be 6:15pm with Sun Cruises. Do you think we’d be able to see the sunset while sailing in the open sea? I’d really like to get an opinion cuz I don’t want my gf to be dismayed. Thanks for your response.

Hi Manuel, so sorry for the delayed reply. The cruise was fine, I enjoyed it. Although, at the port the breeze can smell really bad. But, like I mentioned in the article above, once you are out in the open sea, the air smells fine. The sightseeing was fun, take the 5:30 p.m. trip if you’d like to enjoy the sunset. The food was not impressive, so I suggest do the cruise then take your girlfriend to a fancy restaurant in MOA afterwards. There are a lot options at the mall. Hope that helps. Thanks and have fun! 🙂

How did you get the ticket? How much does it costs? Please let me know [email protected]

Hey Gemma, you can visit Sun Cruises’ website for more info or just go to their ticketing counter at the port along Seaside Blvd behind MOA. Cheers.

Do i need mke réservation for tomorrow dec 28 4 adult 1 kid 12 yr old

I want to book a Sunset cruise for 3 people this Sunday 18th September 2022.

We need info please. We are planning a reunion cruise by Manila Bay. Please give us details Thanks.

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Manila Bay Dinner Cruise

Activity schedule, key highlights.

• Inclusions & Exclusions
• Meeting Point Pick up from your hotel. (Please mention your hotel name and address at the time of booking. If you do not have this information now, our customer service executives will get in touch and confirm the details)

Same as the start point

• Embark on a serene dinner cruise on Manila Bay
• Choose between the Sunset, Mid-Evening or Night Cruise
• Behold the world famous sunset of Manila Bay
• Enjoy a scrumptious dinner on board the yacht

Feast your eyes on the incredible and world famous Manila Bay sunset as you embark on a relaxing dinner cruise along the Manila Bay. Your evening starts with a lovely cruise along the shorelines of Manila Bay on board a dining yacht so sit back, relax and immerse yourself in the Philippines and in one of the best places to see the beautiful and romantic Manila Bay sunset.

Onboard, be treated to a sumptuous dinner featuring delectable Philippine cuisine while enjoying live entertainment. Exhilarating views of Manila Bay and the cityscape top off the night. Enjoy a truly unforgettable evening in the Philippines’ capital!

Board your cruise at One Esplanade terminal beside the Mall of Asia and choose from one of the following cruises:

The Sunset Cruise – Board the yacht just in time to catch the world famous Manila Bay sunset.

The Mid-Evening Cruise – Sail the bay and view the scenic lights of Roxas Boulevard.

The Night Cruise – Enjoy a night cruise and watch as the city settles down.

Know Your Guide:

Gray Line Philippines is the largest escorted sightseeing tour operator in Manila and covers Cebu, Bohol, Davao, Coron, and Puerto Princessa. Gray Line is a trusted travel experience provider and is truly the local expert in the world’s most sought after sightseeing destinations. With thousands of tours in over 700 locations spanning six continents, Gray Line’s global network of elite providers operates day tours, airport transfers, hop-on, hop-off tours, multi-day packages, walking tours and other specialized destination services that you just can’t miss!

• Hotel pick up & drop off
• Admission & entrance fees
• 1.5 hour cruise

Please note

The confirmation voucher includes the local activity operator’s contact details. They’re a nice bunch, and will happily answer any logistical questions you may have. Pick-up times are approximate. Please give them a call at least 24 hours before your organised activity to reconfirm.

Voucher information: No need to print! You can show your voucher on your smartphone or other device

So there’s no last-minute rush please arrive at the start point 20 mins early.

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Don’t be late for the Manila Bay Dinner Cruise by Sun Cruises

Manila Bay is a natural harbour in Manila that’s been facilitating trade and commerce between the Philippines and its neighbouring countries. It also serves as a jumping-off point for Corregidor and other nearby islands ripe for adventure . A growing number of locals and tourists prefer to end a day of sightseeing or shopping around the area to catch a spectacular view of the sunset. A unique way to do this is through the Manila Bay Dinner Cruise by Sun Cruises. 

The idea of a dinner cruise is often tagged as “expensive”. It is also romantic, intimate, and truly special. I remember my brother-in-law proposed to my sister aboard a cruise ferry, also along Manila Bay, and I once celebrated an anniversary on a houseboat…

So, when I received the invite from Sun Cruises to experience a dinner cruise aboard the M/V Spirit of Manila, I was ecstatic… I was overjoyed on the day of the cruise… And a little late for boarding!

IN THIS POST

☑  Boarding ☑  Buffet Dinner ☑  Fireworks Display ☑  Rates and Schedule ☑  Reservations

Don’t be late!

The boarding time is at 5:30 PM. The ferry sails at 6 PM sharp.

In my experience, it is better to arrive at 5 PM at the Esplanade Seaside Terminal so as to avoid getting stuck in traffic along EDSA going to SM MOA Global Rotonda.

My first mistake was to arrive at MRT TAFT station at 5PM. I should’ve known better than anyone else never to brave EDSA during the rush hour… My second mistake was not reading carefully (or maybe understanding) the exact location of the ferry terminal. So this oversight led me to run 1.2 km in heels to make it to the sailing time.

(You don’t want to follow this schedule unless you want to end up ruining your curls and wedge shoes)

5:00 PM Arrived at MRT Taft Station

5:27 PM Stuck in traffic by the SM MOA Global Rotonda

5:46 PM Got off at the bus stop

5:52 PM Called the group I was near Seafood Island

6:02 PM Called the group I was near Vikings

6:10 PM I FINALLY boarded***

***My apologies to the other passengers on board

[message] Boarding

If I were a regular passenger, I wouldn’t have been able to make it since cruisers need to check-in before the boarding time just like in any other ferry rides.

Again, you should be at the Esplanade Seaside Terminal at around 5PM. Proceed to the Check-in counter, pay the cruise fee and a PHP 30 terminal fee. The staff will give you an identification sticker that should be placed on your chest all throughout the cruise. Do not lose this to avoid any problems.

At 5:30 PM, prepare to board the ferry. Follow signs and staff members to board your Sun Cruise ferry right away.

You may choose to settle in the lower deck of the ferry with chairs and tables close to the buffet station and also close to the restroom. But I recommend you stay on the upper deck for the best view and rather cooler experience. The live band is also on the upper deck serenading the guests during the one and a half hour cruise.

While waiting to sail, make the most of the golden hour and take photos with the Manila skyline as your backdrop. You can also enjoy the changing hues of the horizon with a cool drink on your hand as the sun slowly sets down.

Sail we go…

As soon as we started sailing, the ambience in the upper deck transformed. The music turned up. The lights became softer. I also felt it got cooler. Well, I was out of breath when I boarded so the breeze must have calmed me down.

I’ve always loved the wind breeze on my hair and against my face. Not only that it refreshes but also it reminds me a great deal of my childhood. Those times I was on top of tall trees, jumping from one branch to another like a proper monkey; or several rollercoaster rides with my sister. We were sitting in the front row. Those were ultimately fun memories…

Although I am fond of blasting speed, I still appreciate a slow cruise. That said, I thought you’d wanna know the ferry moves very subtly. It’s obviously unlike that speedboat I took in the Maldives wherein one passenger literally threw it all out because of its speed. This cruise won’t in any way make you feel seasick. In fact, you can move around (even in high heels), take photos, grab your food from the lower deck, take a short trip to the comfort room, and back to your table no sweat.

If in case you experience any difficulty moving around, the crew are all prepared to give a hand and assist you. Speaking of the staff, I must commend all the crew for being helpful, professional and courteous at all times.

[message] Dinner Buffet

The dinner might not be gourmet, but decent courses were served. The selections during our cruise: fish fillet with zesty lime sauce, baked chicken with pepper sauce, callos, roast pork with balsamic glaze, local salad, onion soup, steamed rice, bread, cupcakes.

If you have a big appetite, you can eat as much as you want. In my case, I loved (and ate much of) the fish fillet, salad, and cupcakes.

The drinks served were water and iced tea. You can request for soda in can or wine. I had a glass of red wine.

While we were enjoying our dinner, the live band played acoustic hits. They also invited anyone who would like to join them singing or dancing. Some passengers danced. It was entertaining.

Personally, I feel proud of the fact that we have this kind of cruise to offer to people visiting Manila. For one, the night scene surrounding the bay is amusing. Actually, the lights from the infrastructure and establishments plus the February breeze reminded me of the time we took a  yakatabune or Japanese houseboat and had a dinner cruise in Tokyo . I’m happy to say I could enjoy this cruise as much as I did aboard that foreign houseboat…

Sun Cruises has been working on improving their cruise over the past three years and until now they continue to make their facilities and services better for the satisfaction of their guests. And they are doing a great job!

[message] Fireworks Display

Before the fireworks display, I already thought the dinner, the ambience, and the view from the ferry were already amazing. But the fireworks happened!!! Wow! What a romantic way to start the love month !!!

I really love that this dinner cruise gives a spectacular view of fireworks on Saturdays. I was able to capture decent photos as you can see below:

[message] Cruising Schedule

REGULAR SAILING:

PHP 1,499 per person

SAILING SCHEDULE: Mondays-Sundays 6-7:30PM | 8-9:30PM

(Boarding time is 30mins before the start of sailing)

For PHP 1,499 per person, passengers can enjoy:

✓one and a half hour cruise along Manila Bay

✓premium buffet dinner and drinks

✓live acoustic serenade

CHINESE NEW YEAR SAILING:

PHP 1,300 per person

SCHEDULE: FEBRUARY 5, 2019 6-7:30PM | 8-9:30PM

(Boarding time is 30mins before the start of sailing)

For a special rate of PHP 1,300 per person, passengers can enjoy:

✓live acoustic entertainment

SPECIAL V-DAY CRUISE RATE:

PHP 2,550 for 2 persons (instead of PHP 2,998)

SAILING SCHEDULE: FEBRUARY 14, 2019 6-8PM | 9-11PM (Boarding time is 30mins before the start of sailing)

Inclusions:

✓ Two-hour cruise along Manila Bay

✓ Premium buffet dinner and one round of drink

✓ One round glass of red wine

✓ special token for couple

3-HOUR PYRO CRUISE 2019:

PHP 2,999 per person

SAILING SCHEDULE: FEBRUARY 16, 23, MARCH 2, 9, 16, & 23  6PM -9PM

✓ Three-hour cruise along Manila Bay

✓ Cocktail Food bar

How to get to the Sun Cruises terminal address

Esplanade Seaside Terminal is located at the Seaside Boulevard SM Mall of Asia (MOA) complex Pasay City, Philippines. If you are getting off MRT/LRT Taft Station, take a cab straight to the terminal.

• Book your Manila Bay Dinner Cruise by Sun Cruises

Parting Words

What a cruise I’ve just had! And what a run in heels before that! My experience has me agreeing the Manila Bay Dinner Cruise is indeed pleasant, safe, and so much fun; I’ll do it again. But next time, I’ll definitely take the cab!

Have you ever been on a dinner cruise? What do you think of the Manila Bay Dinner Cruise by Sun Cruises? Do you want to try it? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below! If you know someone who’d be interested to try this, remember to share this post! Thank you!

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Hack the Climate: Push for Clean Technology in Leyte

In commemoration of  Typhoon Haiyan’s  3 rd anniversary, Hack the Climate stages its first ever Clean Technology Hackathon and Training in Palo, Leyte and Tacloban City. 

It is part of the 8 th NICP ICT Summit 2016, in partnership with the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP), DOST Region 8, Philippine Science High School – Eastern Visayas Campus, Seed4com, Move.ph, Millenia Suites, ThinkLab and Unionbank of the Philippines.

Hack the Climate is a climate change themed Hackathon that is born out of the desire of two Princeton University College Students, Michael Lanchanski and Jacob Scheer to help the Philippines in their battle for climate change through Technology and Innovation. Hand in hand with their Filipino counterparts, Elaine Cedillo , Diego Jose Ramos and Rizzel Jill Dy , they launched Hack the Climate in June 2013.

“ Hack the Climate in Leyte is our 5 th since we started and we hope that we can bring this project across the country, ” said Elaine Cedillo, the lead project coordinator for this leg.    

“ Hack the Climate is more than just a hackathon, it is our advocacy. Educating the students and young professionals about the adverse effects of climate change while challenging the developers to create a solution for climate change adaptation or mitigation, and through that, the participants are empowered to do something to help our environment,” she added.

THE CLEAN TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS AND THE HACKATHON

This year’s Hackathon is dubbed as “Hack the Climate Cleantech-Loban”. It will be a three-part event: FIRST is the  launching of a solar e-Learning facility for Alternative Learning System; SECOND is a Solar Night Lamp Assembly livelihood training program for the out-of-the school youth and partner NGO’s; T HIRD is a conference – hackathon about Climate Change Mitigation and CleanTech .

The hackathon,  a coding marathon, happening on November 9-10, 2016 at Philippine Science High School in Palo, Leyte, involves a specific theme where participants will be creating web or mobile applications, or hardware solutions. 

The conference happening simultaneously with the hackathon features speakers  to educate and enlighten the audience to what is happening with our environment and how it affects each and every one of us, and different technologies which can be used to help in creating solutions .

CLEANTECH BENEFICIARIES

Philippine Toy Library located at Palo District 1, Barugo Leyte with more than 100 learners and at Pambujan, Samar with more than 90 learners will be the beneficiaries of an e-Learning set-up consisting of laptops from Huawei Philippines powered by solar panels which will be donated by Unionbank of the Philippines through their Go Beyond CSR. The Solar Night Lamp that will be produced during the training will be donated to a fishing community in and around Tacloban.

Clean Techloban is supported by the Ramos Peace and Development Foundation, Inc. and the OML Center for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management Foundation, Inc. and organized by Redwizard Events Management. 

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Dinner Date - Manila Bay Cruise by Sun Cruises

• Asia    
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• Manila Bay Cruise by Sun Cruises

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Dinner Date

When with boyfie for a dinner date, do not expect too much, its not the fancy dinner cruise you might think of, just fair enough for the price. Nothing special for the food, just simple fish fillet, buko salad and stuff. Also nothing extravagant about the cruise you'll just see the night view of the city. I advise everyone to go on a weekend, you might catch the fireworks on MOA. We planned to do this during the pyrolympics so we can have dinner and watch the fireworks, but its a major fail since the pyrolympics started late than its scheduled time.

This tour runs for about an hour to an hour and a half around Manila Bay going near SM Mall of Asia where you can see the lighted boulevard which is a bit nice. Boat is a bit fast so eating and going back to the buffet table is a bit of a challenge. Food is average. Nice especially if you've got discounted tickets.

then avoid doing this ----food quality is poor and the one hour cruise at night around the inside of the harbor is about worthless the water is trash laden and not really worth the time or expense --we should have tried the eelier cruise --the food may have been fresher and maybe seen some sights of the city but it is just not worth the price

Upon entry to the vessel, we were ushered into tables which we had no liberty to choose. We booked online, hours in advance and was frustrated to learn about the "seat assignments" which we weren't even aware of. We decided to go ahead and sit where we opted to be anyway and kindly asked the staff to just make the necessary arrangements. We waited for more than 30 minutes floating in the dock, very late from the published time of cruise. Not sure if it was because they were waiting on for more passengers. Food was so-so. Tables were too near each other. The band had to sing a set first at the inner cabin before performing to us at the upper deck. Anyway, expecting that the glorious view of the sunset will be the redeeming factor of the cruise, we actually had a cloudy late afternoon (despite being warm and sunny earlier) and didn't get to see the sun at all. It was also about to drizzle so they had to roll down a murky plastic covering which just covered the entire view. Seems like the staff also forgot to put it up when it was no longer needed. We ourselves had to request for them to put it up again.

Having some prior experience with bay/river cruises in another country, I was left with a very good impression and was looking forward to another one here in Manila with my old friends. However, going on this cruise was a major disappointment and as mentioned above, a truly excruciating encounter. From the moment we left port, that pungent smell from the possible poor sewage system left a knot in my stomach. The performers on stage were worse than mediocre and the food was unappetizing. The tablecloths were reused with obvious food stains. That being said, I think that the only saving grace would be the view of the city and its lights. Never again will I set foot on this undeserving cruise. Best of luck to the next victim of pilferage.

At first impression, you would have thought that at 650pesos per head (about SGD21) for a buffet, you would be getting quite a satisfying outcome from the whole bay cruise. Sadly, when the cruise took off, we were greeted by a stinky smell (sewage kind of smell). Good thing it was breezy so it kind of helps blowing the stinky smell away. When dinner is ready, we were really disappointed with the choices of food; egg fried rice, chicken, beef, mixed veggie and banana fritters. Vegetables were undercooked and the only fruit on the table was WATERMELON! No sign of pineapples or bananas seeing that it's a very common local fruit for them. Really not the kind of buffet we were expecting. The worse part was the only complimentary drink inclusive in the cost was WATER. Other drinks are self paid. Ice lemon tea is served from the tin can (thought it was going to be made fresh). The other negative part was that the buffet food was not refilled so everyone has a limited amount of food on their plate. The so called 'live band' is merely two females with bad singing, singing along a karaoke tv in front of them. The choice of music did not suite the ambience. The music was too loud and we have to almost shout to speak to one another. Isn't it supposed to be a relaxing cruise?? I would definitely not recommend this to anyone.

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Manila Bay Sunset Cruise and Dinner Treat For Your Loved Ones This Valentines

I was able to ask one of the guys who are part of running this yacht. He said they follow very high standards when it comes to the safety of this Manila cruise tour. In every trip, 6 people form as a team to make sure that the guests will experience a very good cruise experience. This team is made of one Captain, one Chief Engineer, one Desk Officer, one Oiler and two Able Body Seaman.

Regarding my personal view, I think this yacht needs a retouch. The words "cruise" and "yacht" always meant a bit of luxury so I would suggest to maybe change the type of chairs or tables that reflect this kind of activity. Also, the walls could be painted with live colors and maybe change the type of decors they have. The outside look of M/V Spirit of Manila was very impressive so I think it would be also nice to compliment the look inside. Having said this, if you're looking for a budget kind of cruise, this is perfect. Hope to do a Manila bay dinner cruise with Sun Cruises soon with my family!

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Romantic Dinner on a Yacht Cruise

₱ 48,000.00 – ₱ 64,000.00

Plan your romantic date with us today. We would love to take you on a yacht sunset cruise in Manila Bay for a romantic dinner yacht with your loved one.

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A private yacht cruise is the perfect way to celebrate a special occasion, or simply make an ordinary date night unforgettable. Treat yourself and your loved one to an exquisite sunset cruise in Manila Bay, surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the sea.

Let us create the most perfect setting for your romantic evening as you sail on a private yacht, handpicked for its luxury and intimacy. Be captivated by the stunning sunset views as you sip on a bottle of red wine, and delight in a sumptuous four-course meal prepared by our professional chef.

With our yacht cruise, you can enjoy the privacy, elegance, and intimacy of a romantic yacht setting in Manila, setting the stage for a truly special and memorable occasion. Whether it’s a proposal or simply a date night to remember, our Romantic Dinner on a Yacht Cruise is the perfect choice to celebrate your love in the most extraordinary way.

Private use of the 46ft motor yacht.

Two (2) hour cruising around Manila Bay at sundown.

Romantic dinner set-up for two (2) people.

Delectable four-course dinner for two persons.

A bottle of red wine.

You may choose the start time of the cruise; the recommended boarding time is 5:00 PM for sunset cruise.

Bookings are subject to availability.

Pick-up and drop off at Manila Bay.

You can have an additional hour of cruise (P16,000 per hour).

You can request for additional bouquet of flowers or a violinist (additional fees will apply).

December rates : Minimum 3 hours cruise required

Cancellation

If for any reason the clients cancel the booking, there will not be any refund of any paid amount. The Clients shall be liable to pay the total price contracted for.

For cancellations caused by fortuitous bookings such as flood, typhoon or earthquake, we will reschedule the booking.

Only rebooking without additional fees are allowed should any Covid complications arise that may affect your cruise.

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Romantic Cruise on a Yacht with 3-Course Dinner by Manila Bay Yacht Cruises

• Helps you fulfill your dream date with a luxurious cruise along Manila Bay with a view of Manila Skyline, MOA, and Solaire
• Also ideal for family outings as you are immersed in the charming atmosphere with the fabulous Manila Bay as the backdrop
• Staffed by friendly and welcoming ship crew who are always ready to fulfill your requests
• They served as host for the romantic date which went viral on Facebook
• Mesclun salad
• Rib eye steak or salmon
• A round of red wine or beer

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What’s it like to dine on Tampa’s new riverboat cruise Craft? We took a ride.

• Helen Freund Times staff

TAMPA — We almost didn’t make the boat.

Traffic snarled through downtown Tampa and stretched onto the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, delaying what would have been a 45-minute drive from St. Petersburg to nearly an hour and a half in stop-and-go congestion.

We had reservations for Craft, Tampa’s brand-new riverboat dinner cruise set to depart at 7:30 p.m. — and a friendly confirmation email reminding us that our purchase was nonrefundable. We’d been encouraged to arrive 45 minutes early, when we would have presumably been able to commence a leisurely boarding, river breeze in our hair, Champagne flute in hand.

Life had other plans. At 7:25 p.m., my dinner date and I swung our car into the Garrison Street parking lot, narrowly avoiding getting struck by an oncoming streetcar.

Following a quick security wand-down (the boat adheres to U.S. Coast Guard rules) and a $30 event-fueled parking fee (Tim McGraw was playing a show at nearby Amalie Arena), crew members greeted us with a quick photograph and a glass of bubbly before sending us on our way.

“Welcome to our maiden voyage!” they exclaimed as we rushed aboard.

Shortly after 7:30 p.m., we were off, out of the Ybor Turning Basin and into the sunset.

Described as a “culinary and cocktail river journey,” Craft debuted its inaugural dinner cruise on March 15. The multimillion-dollar project is the latest endeavor from Jill and Troy Manthey, who also run several other entertainment-on-the-water concepts, including Yacht StarShip, Pirate Water Taxi and the Bay Rocket.

Designed with European riverboats in mind, the 130-foot-long vessel boasts a sleek, white silhouette with less than 11 feet of vertical clearance — meaning it can comfortably drift beneath many of Tampa’s low-lying bridges. But this ship’s real appeal lies in the coupling of an elevated culinary program, contemporary aesthetic and craft cocktails.

A trip aboard Craft includes a two-hour cruise up and down the Hillsborough River and a three-course prix-fixe meal. To start, there are lunch, brunch and dinner trips on deck, but a happy hour option may soon be in the works.

Running any kind of marine operation comes with steep operating costs — including fuel, dock rental fees and staffing — and the experience here is priced accordingly. But it still comes with a good deal of sticker shock. For two people on a Friday evening, we paid $392.59 for the boat ride and the three-course dinner — not including gratuity or drinks.

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I love a fancy boat ride as much as the next person, but the pricing gave me pause.

Would the experience be worth it?

Things were a lot smoother once we got on board.

We entered through the front of the boat, or bow, and were shown to our seats inside a narrow dining room, flanked by windows overlooking the water. Wood paneling combined with slight nautical touches lent the space a warm, industrial-chic vibe.

Servers clad in white collared shirts and gray aprons whisked back and forth between the tables, balancing martini coupes and taking orders. In an attempt to let the crew develop their sea legs, the boat wasn’t fully booked that evening, but the dining room still felt abuzz with excitement and curiosity.

Clutching our Champagne, we glided through Sparkman Channel at dusk, glitzy Harbour Island homes glowing in the evening light as a Maggie Rogers track played softly in the background. We let out a collective exhale as the chaos of the day faded away.

Over the course of the roughly two-hour cruise, the boat steered up the Hillsborough River, passing Riverwalk landmarks including the Tampa Convention Center, Armature Works and Rick’s on the River, before turning around and heading back.

Guests were encouraged to explore the boat. The Bow and Stern bar, beautifully designed and fashioned out of a vintage 1914 cruiser, provided additional seating in the rear for those looking for more of an al fresco experience.

Throughout the evening, the crew moved back and forth between the dining room, the bar and the kitchen, sometimes stepping out on the deck to alert passengers when their meals had been delivered. Guests roamed the boat taking photographs, while patrons inside chatted up their neighbors, much of the voyage illuminated by the lights of downtown Tampa.

Craft’s strongest selling point is its culinary program, and the menu here is a far cry from the goblets of white wine and dry chicken associated with most dinner cruises.

Designed by chef Allison Beasman (formerly of Edison: Food + Drink Lab), the list of contemporary New American dishes runs the gamut from a black grouper served with Little Neck clams and Pernod cream to a Wagyu coulotte with kabocha caramel and a Korean barbecue octopus. As part of the prix-fixe deal, guests are able to pick an appetizer, entree and dessert from a menu of roughly 13 different dishes.

Part of what makes the vessel stand out is the addition of an open kitchen with gas stoves, and the concept’s design allows guests to get a peek of the action if they’re on their way to the bathroom or the bar.

When it came time to order dinner, our server patiently guided us through the menu, pointing out the additional dishes we could choose if we wished to add a little something extra onto our prepaid meal. We opted for the olive oil-marinated sheep and goat’s milk cheese ($18), which was just as tasty as our server touted. It arrived in a rich red pepper-packed pisto, drizzled with a healthy glug of olive oil and served with crusty bread for dipping.

Dishes are made to order and don’t necessarily arrive at the same time as other passengers’ meals. Our appetizers showed up roughly 45 minutes into the trip, a delightful baby kale salad lightly dressed in a white balsamic vinaigrette that was toothsome with chicory and shaved carrots and plumped up with fried baby potatoes and a healthy shaving of ricotta salata. Also good was the hearty tomato bisque with roasted bone marrow and blackened cipollini onions.

For our entrees, a seared duck breast arrived fanned out over silky whipped potatoes and a creamy goat cheese fondue, framed by Brussels sprouts and fat wedges of roasted golden beets. Though the duck was cooked a little past the requested temperature, it was still delicious. A plate of sweet and sour braised short ribs packed powerhouse flavors that paired beautifully together, all served over a sweet and sticky coconut rice sidling bok choy and juicy tangerine segments.

For dessert, we paired a perfect few scoops of pistachio ice cream with a chocolate espresso dacquoise, an intensely rich and sweet layer cake featuring a tart blackberry curd and creamy dark chocolate ganache.

The fine print

The water was calm that night and the entire service appeared well-rehearsed — absent of any major hiccups and even graceful at moments. As far as I could tell, there were no seasick passengers or man-overboard scenarios, which felt like some kind of success, though I did wonder what type of balance or physical dexterity would be required to maneuver trays of wobbling martini glasses over stormier seas.

Though tiered pricing exists for Craft — for different seats, times of day or days of the week — there’s no overlooking that a trip aboard the vessel isn’t cheap.

With neither drinks nor gratuity included in the booking price, if you’re looking to enjoy the evening with a couple of libations, it’s going to cost you. The add-ons can feel excessive, from a $50 king crab leg tray to the preboarding photograph crew members try to sell you at the end of the night. A suggested gratuity is presented on your bill, based on the total sales tallied for the table that evening, including the cost of the original reservation.

Some changes are bound to be expected as the company assesses guest interest and feedback. Even after the first week, it appears some prices have been slightly adjusted. Dinner for two people seated in the dining room with window seats now comes to $369.89 after taxes and marine fees, while weekend brunches for the same seats start at $89.95 per person.

It’s hard to imagine making dining here a regular occurrence, but for a special occasion, an evening aboard Craft can be a real delight.

Next time, though, I’ll remember to leave myself plenty of time to get there.

For Craft reservations and information, go to crafttampa.com/ . The riverboat departs from the dock at 603 Channelside Drive, Tampa.

Helen Freund is the food and dining critic, reporting on and reviewing restaurants throughout Tampa Bay. Reach her at [email protected].

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