Sunseeker Superyacht: VIP Dining, Premium Drinks & Music

Dubai’s Encore superyacht turns dinner into a three-hour cruise around the city’s most famous waterfront sights. You’ll eat handcrafted omakase sushi, sip free-flowing bubbly and premium drinks, and watch the Palm, Atlantis, Ain Dubai, and Burj Al Arab slide past from a 40-meter tri-deck Sunseeker.

I especially like the combination of fresh sushi prepared as part of the experience and the polished service. The DJ, live music, and occasional saxophone add energy without making this feel like an ordinary dinner venue. The main drawback is practical: finding the boarding gate at Dubai Harbour can take a little patience, especially with construction nearby, and the best view of every landmark is not guaranteed.

Key points before you book

• A 40-meter tri-deck Sunseeker: Encore provides an impressive setting, with several levels and open-air views around the boat.
• Omakase sushi and gourmet bites: Expect a changing Japanese menu, including black cod and crispy rice topped with spicy fish.
• Free-flowing drinks: LP bubbly, premium beverages, cocktails, and canapés are included in the experience.
• Dubai’s landmark circuit: The route includes Palm Jumeirah, Atlantis, Ain Dubai, Jumeirah Beach Residence, and Burj Al Arab.
• Music-led atmosphere: A live DJ is included, with live music and, on some sailings, a saxophonist.
• A small group setting: The maximum is 30 people, giving the yacht a more exclusive feel than a large dinner cruise.

Encore gives dinner a proper Dubai setting

The yacht is the main attraction before the food even arrives. Encore is a 40-meter, tri-deck Sunseeker, described as Dubai’s first 7-star Sunseeker superyacht. That label is marketing language, but the vessel clearly aims at the top end of Dubai’s dining and nightlife scene.

I like this format because the boat gives you room to change your view. You are not locked into one restaurant table facing one wall. The upper decks offer a better angle for photographs, while the dining and bar areas give you shelter and a place to settle in with your food.

The maximum group size is 30 people. That matters. You still have a social evening, but the experience should feel more controlled than a large party boat carrying a crowd. Service has been a major strength, with staff members repeatedly praised for being attentive and willing to help. Lauren, also referred to as Lola, received especially warm recognition for her care and service.

This is not a quiet sushi dinner. The DJ and live music create a party mood, and some outings feature a saxophonist alongside the music. If you want a calm tasting menu with soft conversation, this may feel too lively. If you want dinner, drinks, scenery, and music in one package, the mix makes sense.

The omakase menu is more than a plate of standard sushi

The food is built around an evolving omakase menu. That means the exact selection can change, but the experience is intended to feel chef-led rather than like ordering individual rolls from a fixed menu.

The supplied dishes include Saikyo miso-glazed black cod, a soft, rich fish with a sweet-savory Japanese glaze. Another feature is golden crispy rice topped with spicy tuna, salmon, or yellowtail. These dishes give the meal some variety in texture. You are not simply eating one piece of nigiri after another.

Fresh sushi is prepared as part of the onboard presentation, which adds interest to the meal. You can see the food being handled and served during the cruise rather than receiving a single meal all at once. Gourmet bites and canapés are also included, so the food is designed to continue throughout the outing.

Vegetarian options are available if requested in advance. That is useful, but you should not assume a full vegetarian omakase unless you arrange it before boarding. The menu is Japanese and seafood-focused, so anyone with dietary needs should make them clear when booking.

I see the food as one of the strongest reasons to choose this cruise over a standard sightseeing boat. The view is impressive, but food quality determines how the three hours feel. Here, sushi, black cod, crispy rice, and small bites give the evening a proper dining focus.

Free-flowing drinks change the value calculation

The advertised price is $128.39 per person. That is not a small amount for a three-hour activity, so the value depends on how much of the package you use.

The price includes LP bubbly, premium drinks, cocktails, and gourmet bites. If you were already planning to spend freely on sushi, champagne, and cocktails in a Dubai hotel or rooftop venue, the package becomes easier to justify. You are also paying for the yacht, the cruise route, entertainment, and the view.

If you do not drink alcohol, or if you only want a modest dinner, the value is less convincing. Much of the package price is tied to the free-flowing drinks and the luxury setting. This is not a simple sightseeing ticket with a snack included.

The drinks are available throughout the cruise, and food is served during the trip rather than restricted to one brief meal period. That helps the experience feel generous. You are not paying for a yacht photo opportunity and then being left to buy everything else onboard.

Premium beverages and cocktails are included, but personal expenses and add-ons are not. Check anything you may want beyond the listed package before ordering.

Dubai Harbour is the key starting point

The cruise begins at Dubai Harbour, at the meeting point listed as 34WV+V6, Dubai. The harbour sits near Palm Jumeirah and Bluewaters, with major sights close by. It is also positioned between Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport.

There is no hotel pickup or drop-off. You need to make your own way to the harbour, and the experience finishes back at the same meeting point. Allow extra time to locate the boarding gate. Construction in front of the entrance has made the approach confusing at times, so arriving at the last minute is a poor plan.

Once aboard, you receive slippers because footwear is not allowed on the yacht. This is more than a small dress detail. Wear smart-casual clothing, but choose something comfortable enough for going barefoot or using the supplied slippers. The no-shoes rule helps keep the interior clean and fits the yacht’s polished feel.

The confirmation is issued at booking, and the activity accepts mobile tickets. Keep the ticket easy to reach on your phone. Since the meeting area can be busy and spread out, having the exact location available will save time.

The route links Palm Jumeirah and Dubai’s famous skyline

The cruise route brings together several of Dubai’s best-known waterfront sights. The yacht is not stopping for long visits at each one. These are sightseeing points viewed from the water, so your enjoyment depends on the light, weather, position of the boat, and how clear the skyline is.

Jumeirah Beach Residence

Jumeirah Beach Residence, usually called JBR, is a 1.7-kilometer waterfront community along the Persian Gulf. From the water, its high-rise shoreline gives you a strong contrast with the open sea and the yacht’s low profile.

This is a useful early reference point because it shows the built-up side of Dubai. You get beaches, towers, restaurants, and waterfront development in one view. It is less of a single postcard landmark than Burj Al Arab, but it helps place the cruise within Dubai’s modern coastal setting.

Ain Dubai and Bluewaters Island

Ain Dubai is the large observation wheel on Bluewaters Island. Its scale is easiest to appreciate from the water, where the wheel can be seen against the open sky rather than surrounded by city streets.

The view may be better from one side of the yacht than another, so move around when the boat approaches. The small group limit makes this easier than on a packed vessel, though everyone will still want the best photo position.

Palm Jumeirah and Atlantis

Palm Jumeirah is Dubai’s most recognizable man-made island, and the water route gives you a clean view of its shape and shoreline resorts. Atlantis, The Palm is the major landmark at the outer crescent, with its distinctive architecture and broad resort frontage.

This is one of the most anticipated parts of the route, but do not assume you will get a perfect, unobstructed view. On one outing, the position of the yacht made Atlantis difficult to see clearly. Weather, route direction, and the boat’s orientation can all affect the sightline.

For the best chance of a good photograph, keep your phone ready and move to an open deck before the yacht reaches the Palm. You may need to give up your table for a few minutes, but the view is the point of being on the water.

Burj Al Arab

The Burj Al Arab is perhaps the strongest visual finish to the sightseeing portion. Its sail-shaped design is easy to recognize from the Gulf, and the view from the water gives you a cleaner angle than many land-based viewpoints.

A sunset departure is especially appealing because the hotel can be seen against changing evening light. The route around the Palm toward Burj Al Arab has been particularly well received for its combination of open water and major landmarks.

Keep your expectations realistic. This is a moving dining cruise, not a dedicated photography tour. You may have a few strong minutes for each landmark rather than unlimited time beside it.

Music makes this a party cruise, not a silent dinner

The entertainment includes a live DJ, live music, and electric shisha. Several outings have also included live saxophone, which adds a lounge-club touch to the evening.

The music is one of the reasons this experience suits birthdays, anniversaries, and date nights. It gives the yacht a sense of occasion without requiring you to arrange a separate club visit afterward. The crew has also been praised for helping make celebrations feel personal, with service playing a big part in birthday and anniversary outings.

The trade-off is volume and mood. The atmosphere is designed to be social and upbeat. You can enjoy the views and food, but this is not the place to expect a long, quiet conversation over every course.

Electric shisha is listed as included. If that is not something you use, it does not reduce the other parts of the package, but it is worth knowing that the onboard atmosphere leans toward entertainment and nightlife rather than a formal chef’s counter.

What the three hours feel like

The cruise lasts about three hours, long enough to settle into the yacht and see the main waterfront sights without taking up an entire day. The schedule is built around eating, drinking, music, and movement rather than a tightly timed tour commentary.

At the start, you can expect a welcome onboard and slippers for the no-shoes policy. Fresh juice has been provided on arrival on some outings, though it is not separately listed as an included item, so do not treat it as guaranteed.

During the cruise, sushi and gourmet bites continue to be served while drinks remain available. The yacht’s different decks let you shift between the meal, the music, and the views. For a special occasion, that flexibility is valuable. You can spend part of the time at the table and part of the time outside with a camera.

Swimming is included only on the day tour. It should not be assumed for an evening sailing or a nighttime dining departure. The experience described here is most naturally suited to sunset or evening, when Dubai’s skyline and landmarks provide the main visual show.

Who should book this yacht dinner

I would recommend this for someone who wants a polished night out and is comfortable paying for the complete package. It suits couples celebrating a birthday or anniversary, friends looking for a stylish evening, and first-time visitors who want to see several Dubai landmarks without joining a large sightseeing boat.

It is also a good choice if you enjoy sushi, cocktails, and music in equal measure. The price makes more sense when you plan to use the drinks package and value the yacht itself as part of the meal.

I would be more cautious if you are mainly interested in a serious omakase meal. The menu sounds carefully prepared, but the setting includes a DJ, live entertainment, sightseeing, and free-flowing drinks. A dedicated sushi restaurant would offer a quieter and more food-focused evening.

Families and mixed-age groups can participate because most people can take part, but the nightlife tone may not suit every group. The activity has a maximum of 30 people, which keeps it relatively intimate, but it is still a social cruise.

Practical details that matter

The dress code is smart casual. Since shoes are not allowed onboard, avoid footwear that is difficult to remove or clothing that feels awkward without shoes.

The experience requires good weather. If poor weather cancels the cruise, you will be offered another date or a full refund. For your own planning, avoid placing this activity on the final few hours of your Dubai visit.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded or accepted.

You can book with a mobile ticket, and confirmation arrives at the time of booking. Hotel transfers are not included, so plan your route to Dubai Harbour in advance and allow time to find the correct gate.

Should you book the Encore superyacht experience?

Book it if you want one polished evening that combines dinner, drinks, music, and Dubai’s best waterfront views. The strongest parts are the yacht itself, the fresh sushi service, the attentive crew, and the chance to see Palm Jumeirah, Atlantis, Ain Dubai, and Burj Al Arab from the water.

At $128.39, it is best viewed as a full luxury-night package rather than a cheap cruise. You get the most value if you drink premium beverages, enjoy sushi, and want a celebration setting. Skip it if you want a quiet meal, guaranteed close-up views of every landmark, or a simple boat ride at the lowest possible price.

FAQ

How long is the Sunseeker superyacht experience?

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

What food is included?

The experience includes an omakase sushi menu featuring Japanese cuisine, gourmet bites, and dishes such as Saikyo miso-glazed black cod and 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 gourmet bites. Personal expenses and add-ons are not included.

Is hotel pickup provided?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You need to reach the meeting point at Dubai Harbour yourself.

What should I wear and do I need shoes?

Smart-casual clothing is required. Footwear is not allowed onboard, and towels and slippers are provided.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted or refunded. If poor weather causes the experience to be canceled, you will be offered another date or a full refund.