Sunseeker Superyacht: VIP Dinner, Premium Drinks& Live Music

Dubai’s first Sunseeker superyacht dining trip turns a skyline cruise into a proper evening out. You’ll eat omakase sushi aboard the 40-meter, tri-deck Encore while a DJ and saxophonist provide lounge beats, with the Burj Al Arab and Ain Dubai Wheel sliding past in the distance.

I like the small 30-person limit, which gives the yacht a more private feel than a standard dinner cruise. I also like the all-inclusive drinks, especially the free-flowing bubbly and premium cocktails, since you are not reaching for your wallet after every pour.

The main point to check is the difference between day and night sailings. The daytime trip includes a swim stop, Zen-Med canapés, and cocktails, while the night party offers live sushi but no cocktails or Zen-Med menu. Guests under 21 cannot join the night party.

Key points to know before you book

• A 40-meter Sunseeker yacht: Encore has three decks, giving you room to move between dining, music, and open-air views.
• Only 30 people per voyage: The limited capacity helps the cruise feel polished and personal rather than crowded.
• Omakase sushi on board: The menu is set, Japanese, and prepared as the main dining feature of the cruise.
• Free-flowing premium drinks: Bubbly, top-shelf beverages, mocktails, and cocktails are included on the standard day experience.
• Live DJ and saxophone music: The soundtrack shifts the trip from quiet sightseeing to a relaxed yacht party.
• Different day and night formats: Day trips include swimming, while night sailings center on live sushi and music.

Boarding Encore at Dubai Harbour

Your starting point is Berth G01, next to Bar Du Port at Dubai Harbour. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to arrange your own way to the marina and allow enough time to find the berth.

Once on board, leave your shoes behind. Footwear is not allowed on the yacht, and towels and slippers are provided. Smart casual clothing is the right choice: polished enough for a luxury dinner, but comfortable enough for a boat and, on a day trip, a swim.

You must bring a passport or a copy of your passport. Sunglasses, a hat, and a camera are also sensible additions. Dubai sun can be strong, and the open decks are the best place for photographs of the yacht and skyline.

The yacht itself is a major part of the appeal. Encore is not simply a boat used to move you from one meal to another. The three-deck layout gives you several ways to spend the three-hour trip, from sitting down for dinner to stepping outside for a landmark view.

Three hours of sushi, skyline, and music

The cruise combines food, drinks, music, and sightseeing rather than treating them as separate parts. You can expect the yacht to move through Dubai’s coastal waters while the crew serves the set Japanese menu and drinks flow as part of the package.

The omakase format means the menu is selected for you. That suits this type of outing because you can focus on the setting instead of studying a long menu. The food offering also includes gourmet bites and Zen-Med canapés on the standard experience, giving the meal more substance than a few pieces of sushi alone.

Vegetarian options are available if requested in advance. If that matters to you, make the request before your sailing rather than waiting until you board.

The music gives the trip its social energy. A live DJ supplies lounge beats, and a saxophonist adds live performance to the mix. This is not a silent sightseeing cruise with a meal in the background. It is better suited to a birthday, anniversary, special date, or evening when you want dinner to feel like an event.

At the same time, the limited capacity should help keep the mood controlled. With no more than 30 people aboard, you get the atmosphere of a party without the scale of a large dinner boat.

The Dubai views from the water

Dubai is built for wide views, and the yacht gives you a different angle on the city. From the water, the skyline appears as a single sweep rather than a collection of isolated buildings seen from a road.

The route includes views of Ain Dubai Wheel and Burj Al Arab. The Burj Al Arab is especially effective from the sea, where its sail-shaped design has room around it and does not compete with nearby traffic or buildings.

The skyline is at its best around sunset. The changing light adds color to the water and gives you a short period when the city looks softer before its evening lights take over. Bring your camera, but do not spend the whole trip behind it. The open decks are there for looking, not just photographing.

You should also expect the weather to influence the cruise. Poor conditions can lead to a rescheduled sailing, so this is not the best activity to place on the one day of a tightly packed Dubai itinerary. Give yourself some flexibility if the yacht trip is an important part of your plans.

Day sailing or night party?

The booking choice matters more here than it might first appear. The standard daytime format includes a swimming stop in clear water, along with the fuller food and drink offering.

That makes the day trip a good fit if you want a relaxed yacht outing with time in the water. Towels and slippers are included, which removes some of the usual hassle around a swim stop. You still need comfortable clothing and should bring suitable swimwear if you plan to get in.

The night party has a different character. It is aimed at passengers aged 21 and above and includes live sushi, music, and the yacht setting. However, cocktails and the Zen-Med menu are not served during the night party. The night format should therefore be booked for its atmosphere, sushi, and entertainment, not because you expect the full daytime menu.

This distinction also affects value. If premium cocktails and a broad selection of canapés are central to your decision, choose the daytime experience. If the DJ, saxophone, and evening skyline matter most, the night sailing may be the better match.

What the all-inclusive price really covers

At $273 per person, this is not a budget cruise. You are paying for a high-end yacht, a small group, Japanese dining, premium drinks, entertainment, and three hours on Dubai’s water.

The price makes more sense if you would otherwise pay separately for a quality dinner, several premium drinks, and a private or semi-private yacht setting. The yacht is the main value here, not just the food. You are buying a polished evening with staff, music, views, and a boat that would cost far more to charter privately.

The free-flowing drinks also make the package easier to budget. Bubbly, cocktails, and top-shelf drinks are included in the main experience, so the advertised price is closer to your likely final cost than a cruise where every drink is added later.

Still, you should be honest about what you want. If your priority is a long, formal sushi meal, the music and movement of the yacht party may feel like a distraction. If you do not drink, the all-inclusive drinks carry less value, although the yacht, food, and views remain part of the price.

The strongest value comes for a special occasion or for someone who has already seen Dubai from roads and observation decks and wants a more unusual setting. It is less compelling as a casual meal replacement.

Food, service, and the feel on board

The food receives consistent praise for quality and presentation, with particular appreciation for the sushi, gourmet bites, and canapés. One useful practical point is that the food is intended to be filling, not decorative. You should not expect to leave hungry after the full daytime service.

Service is another strong part of the package. The crew is described as attentive and professional, with staff checking in without becoming intrusive. That balance matters on a small yacht. Too little attention would make the package feel poorly managed, while too much would interrupt the meal and conversation.

The crew also helps make the evening feel easy. Drinks are included, food is arranged as a set menu, and you can move around the yacht without having to plan each moment. One particularly useful detail from the onboard experience is the personal care from the stewarding team, which includes regular help without hovering.

The menu is not fully itemized in the available information, so you should not book expecting a specific fish, number of courses, or named chef. The clear promise is omakase sushi, Japanese cuisine, gourmet bites, and, on the standard experience, Zen-Med canapés.

Photos, swimming, and practical comfort

Encore is designed to look good in photographs. The three decks give you different backdrops, while the water provides a clean view of Dubai’s modern skyline. The yacht’s polished interior and open-air spaces suit both posed photographs and quick snapshots between courses.

For the best practical experience, wear clothes that are smart but not restrictive. You will likely want to step outside, sit near the water, and move around for views. Since shoes stay off board, select clothing that works comfortably with the provided slippers.

The day swimming stop is a bonus, but it should not be treated as a full beach day. It is one part of a three-hour dining cruise. The night party does not include this swim stop in the stated inclusions.

This trip is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments. The boat layout, no-shoe rule, and movement between decks may make boarding and getting around difficult. Pets and baby strollers are also not allowed.

Who will enjoy this yacht trip most?

I would recommend it to you if you want a polished Dubai night with a strong setting. It suits couples, small groups, birthday celebrations, and visitors who want to combine sightseeing with dinner and live music.

It is also a good pick if you value service. The staff attention is one of the most praised parts of the experience, and the smaller capacity gives the crew a better chance to look after people properly.

Choose the daytime trip if you want:

• A swimming stop
• Cocktails and the fuller drinks package
• Zen-Med canapés
• Sunset views and a more relaxed pace
• A yacht outing that mixes food with time on the water

Choose the night party if you want:

• Live sushi
• A DJ and saxophonist
• Evening skyline views
• A more social party mood
• A 21-and-over setting

I would look elsewhere if you need hotel transfers, have limited mobility, want a quiet dinner, or are under 21 and interested in the night party. I would also check the exact day or night format carefully before paying, since the inclusions are not identical.

Should you book Encore?

Book it if you want the yacht itself to be part of the occasion, not just transportation for dinner. At $273, the cost is high, but the small group, 40-meter Sunseeker, premium drinks, sushi, music, and Dubai views create a package that is difficult to compare with an ordinary restaurant meal.

My practical choice would be the daytime sailing for the fullest range of inclusions. The night party is the better call for music and atmosphere, as long as you understand that only live sushi is served and cocktails and Zen-Med canapés are excluded.

The three-hour format keeps the outing manageable, and the trip returns to Berth G01 at Dubai Harbour. If your schedule allows some flexibility for weather, this is a strong special-occasion activity that gives you a fresh view of Dubai without requiring a private yacht charter.

FAQ

Where does the Sunseeker yacht cruise start?

The cruise starts at Berth G01, next to Bar Du Port at Dubai Harbour.

Where does the cruise finish?

The activity ends back at the same meeting point at Berth G01, Dubai Harbour.

How long is the yacht experience?

The cruise lasts three hours.

What food is included?

The experience includes an omakase sushi menu, Japanese cuisine, gourmet bites, and a set dinner menu. Zen-Med canapés are included on the standard experience but not during the night party.

Are drinks included?

Yes. The standard experience includes free-flowing bubbly, premium beverages, and cocktails. The night party does not include cocktails.

Is swimming included?

Swimming is included on the day tour only. Towels and slippers are provided.

Are vegetarian options available?

Yes. Vegetarian options are available upon request.

Are children allowed on the night party?

Passengers under 21 are not allowed on the night party.

What should I wear and bring?

The dress code is smart casual, and footwear is not allowed on board. Bring sunglasses, a hat, a camera, comfortable clothes, and a passport or passport copy.