City Cruises Washington DC: Buffet Dinner Cruise

Overview

Available languages

English

3 hours

Mobile ticket

Celebrate a special occasion, host a group event or have a fun date night aboard a dinner cruise along the Potomac River. Great for parties of all sizes, this cruise gives you the chance to dine, dance, and experience Washington, D.C. from a new perspective - the water!

Includes

2.5-hour cruise on the Potomac River

Delicious dinner buffet with freshly prepared entrees, salads, and desserts

The best views of the Washington Monument, National Harbor, Old Town Alexandria, and other iconic D.C. sights

Onboard entertainment with DJ music

Unlimited coffee, hot tea, and iced tea

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Boarding begins one hour prior to departure. Guests must arrive early, as late arrivals will likely miss the boat.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Buffet Dinner

DJ Entertainment

Additional beverages (available for purchase)

Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting points

Washington DC

Washington DC United States

Boarding: The Wharf DC. Parking: City Cruises does not own or operate any parking lots in the area. Local parking is available at The Wharf Parking Garage. Please arrive at the meeting point early – boarding begins one hour prior to departure.

End points

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

City Experiences By Hornblower

Board this sleek, five-deck, luxury cruise ship and cruise for a fun night of dinner, dancing and sightseeing in Washington DC. As you journey down the waters of the Potomac River, you’ll be treated to Washington DC's magnificent sunset views. Enjoy the all-you-can-eat, fine-dining buffet in an elegant dining room while being entertained by an amazing DJ, dance and comedy. After dinner, feel free to wander the ship’s decks and take a romantic stroll to enjoy more of the twinkling DC skyline. Or hit the dance floor as the DJ spins your favorite songs. Along the way, you’ll pass by Washington DC's popular attractions like the Washington Monument, the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, the Admiral’s Row colonial town homes and more. Bring your camera – the views on this Washington DC sunset cruise are not to be missed. -------------------- ITINERARY -------------------- Sample Menu Salads • Organic Mixed Field Greens: Grape Tomatoes | English Cucumbers | Carrots | Corn | Kidney Beans | American | Cheddar Cheese | Herb Croutons | House-Made Ranch Dressing | Balsamic Vinaigrette | Low-Fat Italian Dressing • Organic Spinach & Kale Salad: Aged Reggiano Parmesan Cheese | Red Bell Peppers |Red Onions | Lemon & Oregano Dressing • Roasted Red Beet Salad: Pickled Shallots | Fresh Mint | Italian Parsley • Orzo & Bay Shrimp Salad: Scallions | English Cucumbers | Cherry TomatoesMain Dishes • Oven Baked North Atlantic Sole Filet: Tomatoes | Shallots | Caper Sauce • Honey & Sesame Chicken: Scallions | Fresno Chilies • Whole-Roasted Pork Loin: Dijon Mustard Cream Sauce • Roasted Broccoli Florets: Toasted Garlic | Chili Flakes • Creamed Corn & Cheddar Cheese Casserole: Green Chilies | Scallions | Fresh Cilantro • Baked Ziti Pasta: Aged Reggiano Parmesan Cheese |Mozzarella Cheese | Spinach & Garlic Sauce • Mashed Potatoes: Idaho Potatoes | Roasted GarlicDesserts • Seasonal Fruit | Cannolis | Chocolate Drizzle Rice Krispy | Cheesecake | Chocolate Cake | Strawberries & Vanilla Custard | Apple Cobbler*Menu subject to change. Please inform your server if anyone in your party has a food allergy.

2 hours • Admission Included

Potomac River

Enjoy breathtaking views of the Washington DC skyline and waterfront

10 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Options

Dinner

Reviews

3.62

156 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Dinner Cruise
Katherine D,
Nov 10, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00
Tables are assigned so there is no need come super early to get a seat. Food was tasty. Views were very nice.
Great experience
Debbie C,
Oct 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
The staff was amazing and the music was perfect. I was not impressed with the food, but the 5 star rating is necessary.
Good food, Nice...
Jen B,
Sep 29, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Good food, Nice atmosphere, Nice Boat ride and dinner for the cost! Will recommend! Huuby & I traveled to Washington for our 21st anniversary. Good trip!
Not worth the money! The trip did not meet our expectations. Food, service and value for the money were subpar. Poor
Debi G,
Sep 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00
Before we even started our original booking and boat were changed. The experience felt like we were at a wedding buffet with cheesy mood music. There was literally no communication by staff to set expectations. We ordered 1 glass of wine and a lemonade. It took an hour to receive. Food was just ok and not as described. Definitely not worth the money!! Would not recommend and will not repeat the experience.
Hugely Disappointing.
jakpak2016,
Sep 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00
This was very definitely not the experience we were given to expect, poor quality basic buffet food served warm, ridiculously expensive white wine served less than chilled after a long wait, slow, inattentive staff and DJ whose selection must have come out of the Ark. A boat that moved so slowly that watching paint dry would have been more entertaining. Thank goodness for the plane spotting opportunity at DCA.
Don’t be late due DC traffic because Viator does not care
Sara P,
Jul 29, 2025
- Review from Viator
1.00
We were not able to attend because the 20 minutes it was supposed to take to get to the pier was 60 minutes and we missed the cruise. Viator did nothing to help, no credits, no refund even though we were not able to attend due to unforeseen circumstances. They should at least provide a credit for another cruise since we literally did not attend. Very disappointing.
nightmare
Vincent R,
Jul 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
1.00
The boat had engine trouble and never left the dock. They did not cancel and the band kept on playing. It was far from a romantic dinner cruise. It was a party boat. Loud dance music I requested to leave the boat and get assurances of a full refund. A manager came back with a response from the captain. "we are cruising" No money back. We took this cruise for the promised night time views of DC. The manager with an attitude took my phone number and said we will seen can do. I am still trying to get over how we treated.
Dinner & Dancing on the Potomac
34arto,
Jul 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We wanted to find some time away from all the tourist and the humidity. The dinner was what we hoped for! Excellent service, good quality food & the DJ was awesome.
Cruising on the Potomac River
Sabrina B,
Jul 7, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Relaxing and soothing fun ride on the Potomac River. Great view of the Potomac River. Pleasant, professional staff. Great music and pleasant people to be around.
Amazing
India C,
Jun 23, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
The experience was really wonderful, we had an awesome time. It was clean and the food was amazing.. I just wish the ride was a little longer.