Sunseeker Superyacht: VIP Dining, Premium Drinks & Music

The main attraction here is not simply a boat ride. It is a three-hour Japanese dining experience on Encore, a 40-meter, tri-deck Sunseeker superyacht, with sushi prepared as part of an evolving omakase menu while Dubai’s lights slide past the decks. You get free-flowing LP bubbly and premium cocktails, plus live music from a DJ and, on some sailings, a saxophonist.

I especially like the combination of fresh sushi and moving views. The route gives you looks at Palm Jumeirah, Atlantis, Ain Dubai, Jumeirah Beach Residence, and Burj Al Arab, while the small capacity keeps the yacht feeling more private than a large dinner cruise. The main consideration is the price, $128.39 per person, and the fact that finding the boarding gate at Dubai Harbour can take patience, especially with construction nearby.

Key points to know before booking

• Omakase sushi is the centerpiece: Expect premium Japanese dishes such as Saikyo miso-glazed black cod and crispy rice topped with spicy tuna, salmon, or yellowtail.
• Encore is a genuine superyacht setting: The 40-meter, tri-deck yacht gives you several places to sit, eat, listen to music, and take in the view.
• The drinks are included: LP bubbly, premium spirits, cocktails, and other top-shelf beverages flow throughout the cruise.
• The route covers Dubai’s postcard sights: You cruise around Palm Jumeirah and past Atlantis, Ain Dubai, Jumeirah Beach Residence, and Burj Al Arab.
• The mood changes with the sailing time: Evening departures focus on skyline lights and nightlife, while day tours include swimming.
• Plan for bare feet onboard: Shoes are not allowed, and towels and slippers are provided.

Boarding at Dubai Harbour

Your meeting point is Dubai Harbour, near the meeting pin listed as 34WV+V6, Dubai. This waterfront district sits between Palm Jumeirah and Bluewaters, with easy visual access to some of Dubai’s best-known attractions.

The location is well chosen for the cruise route, but the approach may not be effortless. Construction near the boarding gate has made it difficult for some passengers to identify the correct entrance. I would arrive early and allow time to ask staff for directions rather than cutting it close.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to arrange your own way to Dubai Harbour. The activity ends where it begins, which simplifies the return trip once you have found the dock.

You receive confirmation at booking, and the experience is capped at 30 people. That is a useful limit on a yacht this size. It does not promise a silent or private cruise, especially with a DJ onboard, but it should feel more personal than a large sightseeing vessel.

What Encore feels like once you step aboard

Encore is presented as Dubai’s first 7-star Sunseeker superyacht, and the setting is clearly meant to feel more polished than a standard harbor cruise. The yacht has three decks, giving you different ways to spend the three hours.

You might sit near the dining setup for easy access to the sushi and drinks, move outside for photographs, or find a spot where the music is less prominent. The yacht itself is one of the major parts of the experience, so this is not a meal with a short boat ride attached. The vessel, service, food, and scenery are designed to work together.

Shoes are not permitted on board. You receive slippers and towels, so wear something easy to remove and arrive in smart casual clothing. The dress code suits the setting: polished enough for a luxury dinner, but not so formal that you need eveningwear.

Fresh juice may be offered when you arrive, and the crew begins service early. Several passengers have singled out the staff for attentive service, with Lauren, also called Lola, receiving particular praise. The crew’s personal attention seems to be part of what makes birthday and anniversary outings feel special.

The omakase menu: what you are paying for

The food is the strongest reason to choose this cruise over a basic sightseeing yacht trip. Omakase means the chef decides the selection, so you should expect a changing menu rather than a fixed list of rolls you choose yourself.

The menu includes premium sushi and Japanese dishes prepared by a master chef. Notable examples include Saikyo miso-glazed black cod, a rich fish balanced by the sweet and savory miso glaze, and golden crispy rice topped with spicy tuna, salmon, or yellowtail.

That crispy rice is likely to provide a pleasant change from softer sushi pieces. The toppings also give you several familiar seafood flavors, while the broader menu may change according to the chef’s plan. Gourmet bites and canapés are included as well, which helps keep the meal moving throughout the cruise.

Sushi is prepared fresh onboard, including preparation on deck. That adds a visual element to the meal and gives you something to watch between photographs and skyline views. I would not book this expecting the formal pacing of a traditional omakase restaurant. The setting is social, the music is part of the program, and food is served during a moving party atmosphere.

Vegetarian options are available on request. Make that request when booking rather than assuming a full vegetarian menu will be ready without notice.

Drinks, cocktails, and the party atmosphere

The package includes free-flowing LP bubbly, premium beverages, cocktails, and gourmet bites. This matters when you compare the $128.39 price with a yacht ticket that includes only a meal or a welcome drink. If you plan to enjoy several cocktails or glasses of bubbly, the inclusive format can provide reasonable value.

The bar service is one of the experience’s central features, not a minor extra. You can expect drinks to be available throughout the cruise, although the exact cocktail selection is not specified. Personal expenses and paid add-ons are not included, so check the price of anything offered beyond the advertised package before ordering.

Music comes from a live DJ, and some departures also feature a saxophonist. The atmosphere can shift from relaxed dining to yacht-party energy, particularly on an evening sailing. That is a plus if you want music with your meal and a drawback if your ideal dinner is quiet.

The music selection has received positive feedback, but your enjoyment will depend on your taste and the night’s program. The yacht is suited to couples, birthday groups, anniversary celebrations, and anyone who wants dinner with a social soundtrack rather than a hushed restaurant room.

Electric shisha is listed among the inclusions. If that is important to you, confirm how it is provided onboard and whether availability varies by sailing.

Dubai Harbour to Jumeirah Beach Residence

The cruise begins in the Dubai Harbour area, positioned close to the Palm and Bluewaters. It is a useful starting point because the yacht can reach several major sights without spending the whole outing in open water.

Jumeirah Beach Residence, usually known as JBR, stretches for 1.7 kilometers along the Persian Gulf. From the water, the waterfront community gives you a different view of Dubai’s built-up shoreline, beaches, and high-rise residences.

Do not think of this as a stop where you leave the yacht and explore JBR on foot. It is a sightseeing point along the sailing route. The value is the changing perspective, especially as the yacht moves from marina and waterfront buildings toward the Palm.

Ain Dubai and the Bluewaters view

Ain Dubai is the very large Ferris wheel on Bluewaters Island. Its scale is easiest to appreciate from the water, where it can be framed against the surrounding island and skyline.

The cruise does not promise a stop at Ain Dubai or a ride on the wheel. You see it as part of the route, and visibility can change with the position of the yacht, weather, and timing. Keep your camera ready, but do not expect every landmark to appear at the perfect angle.

This section is a good reminder that the cruise is a moving dinner with sightseeing woven into it. You are not following a guide through a sequence of attractions. You are watching Dubai’s waterfront unfold while the crew keeps food and drinks coming.

Palm Jumeirah and Atlantis

Palm Jumeirah is Dubai’s most recognizable man-made island, and the yacht route gives you a water-level view of its distinctive shape and resort frontage. Atlantis, The Palm is the most famous landmark here, with its grand resort buildings and celebrity-chef dining venues.

The route around the Palm is one of the strongest visual parts of the cruise, especially near sunset. Several passengers have enjoyed the trip from the Palm toward Burj Al Arab, calling the boat itself a highlight as much as the views.

There is one practical limitation: you may not get a clear, uninterrupted view of Atlantis. Yacht position and sailing conditions affect the sightline, so this should not be your only plan for seeing the resort. If Atlantis is your main Dubai photo goal, visit it separately during the day and treat the cruise view as a bonus.

Burj Al Arab from the water

The Burj Al Arab is one of Dubai’s most famous hotels, known for its sail-shaped profile and luxury image. Seeing it from the water gives you the cleanest sense of its silhouette, away from the traffic and crowds around the shore.

The route toward Burj Al Arab is especially appealing on a sunset or evening cruise. In daylight, you can study the structure and nearby coastline. After dark, the hotel becomes part of a wider display of illuminated Dubai landmarks.

Weather has a real effect here. Haze, wind, or rough water can limit the views, and the operator may reschedule in poor conditions. That policy is sensible for a yacht outing, but it means you should keep some flexibility in your Dubai schedule.

Day cruise or evening cruise?

The timing changes the character of the experience. An evening cruise gives you the sparkling Dubai skyline, glowing landmarks, music, cocktails, and a more celebratory feel. It is the better choice for a birthday, anniversary, date night, or a special final evening in Dubai.

A day tour includes swimming, which is not listed for the night experience. Towels and slippers are included, making the daytime option more practical if you want time in the water as well as lunch or daytime dining.

The description emphasizes Dubai’s night skyline, but the experience is also sold in afternoon and sunset formats. Check the exact departure time when you book. A sunset sailing can offer the best blend: daylight for the yacht and Palm, golden light for photographs, and city lights toward the end.

Is $128.39 good value?

At $128.39 per person, this is not a budget cruise. You are paying for a package that combines a luxury yacht, three hours on the water, an omakase-style sushi menu, premium drinks, cocktails, live music, and landmark views.

The value improves if you would otherwise pay separately for a high-end meal, several drinks, and a Dubai sightseeing cruise. It is less compelling if you mainly want a short boat ride or a quiet sushi dinner. Those are cheaper and more focused as separate activities.

The 30-person maximum helps justify the price. You are not booking a private yacht, but you are also not joining a huge dinner boat. The service attention, the yacht’s interior and decks, and the included bar all matter more than the simple distance covered.

I would also factor in the occasion. For a regular evening, the cost may feel high. For a birthday or anniversary, the combination of food, music, staff attention, and skyline scenery can make more sense than buying several smaller experiences.

The activity is booked an average of 38 days ahead, so popular dates may fill early. If you want a sunset departure, a weekend, or a celebration date, booking ahead is sensible.

Who will enjoy this yacht dinner most?

You are a good match for this experience if you want:

• A polished night out with food, drinks, and music in one booking
• A special setting for a birthday, anniversary, or romantic occasion
• Fresh sushi with premium seafood choices
• Skyline photographs from the water
• A social yacht atmosphere rather than a quiet restaurant
• A smaller group setting with a maximum of 30 people

You may want another option if you dislike loud music, do not drink, or want a precise view of one landmark. The cruise is also not the best fit if your priority is swimming, since swimming is listed only for the day tour.

Most people can participate, and vegetarian dishes can be arranged if requested in advance. No specific accessibility details are provided, so ask Xclusive Yachts directly if you have mobility needs or other requirements.

Practical details that make the evening easier

Bring a phone or camera, but keep it secure and be ready to move between decks. The best view may not be from the same place as the best dining seat, so expect to change position during the cruise.

Arrive in smart casual clothing, then remove your shoes before boarding or when instructed. Slippers and towels are supplied. For the daytime sailing, bring appropriate swimwear if you intend to use the swimming option.

The experience requires good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. For your own cancellation, you receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before departure. Cancellations or changes within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted.

Because there is no hotel transfer, check your route to Dubai Harbour before leaving your accommodation. The reported construction around the boarding gate makes this one of the few parts of the evening worth planning carefully.

Should you book Encore?

I would book this if you want Dubai in its most polished, theatrical form: excellent sushi, unlimited premium drinks, live music, and major landmarks seen from a 40-meter yacht. The 4.9 rating from 46 reviews and 96 percent recommendation figure fit the experience’s strongest points: food, crew, yacht quality, cocktails, and scenery.

I would pause if you want a quiet meal, a private yacht, or guaranteed close-up views of Atlantis and every landmark. For the right occasion, though, Encore offers a lot in three hours. Book ahead for a preferred time, request vegetarian food early if needed, and allow extra time to find the Dubai Harbour gate.

FAQ

How long is the Sunseeker superyacht experience?

The cruise lasts approximately three hours and ends back at the Dubai Harbour meeting point.

Where does the cruise start?

It starts at Dubai Harbour in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The meeting point is listed as 34WV+V6, Dubai.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

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

What food is included?

The experience includes an omakase sushi menu, Japanese cuisine, and gourmet bites. Menu examples include Saikyo miso-glazed black cod and golden crispy rice topped with spicy tuna, salmon, or yellowtail.

Are drinks included in the price?

Yes. The package includes free-flowing LP bubbly, premium beverages, cocktails, and other top-shelf drinks.

Is swimming available?

Swimming is included only with the day tour. It is not listed as an inclusion for the night tour.

What should I wear?

The dress code is smart casual. Footwear is not allowed onboard, and towels and slippers are provided.

Are vegetarian options available?

Yes. Vegetarian options are available upon request. Request them when booking.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience is subject to weather conditions. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded.